I really must get back into the habit of blogging on a weekly basis instead of playing catch up all the time. I last blogged on May 4^th, the Bank Holiday Monday… the day when Ellie finally got to see her Christmas present, Olly Murs. Nikki took Ellie, who was rather excited about it… they had a great time. Even Nikki enjoyed it, and she isn’t a fan of Olly Murs. The late night meant a bit of a long tired Tuesday for Ellie at school, but she got through it. The Tuesday was Robbies birthday… 23! A happy birthday to him. It was a bit of a non-event for him in some ways as he had to work, and so seemed just like any normal day. Here are Ellie and Nikki at the O2.

That same week saw the Winslow Players production of ‘Coarse Acting Strikes Back’, when I got to play Buttons in Cinderella, and Oedocles, King of Thebes. As always it was a busy week, performances on the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and we had seemed to be rehearsing non-stop in the days before. Tricia came with some of the North Marston folk on the Friday night, Nikki came along with Matt on the Saturday evening. Peter, my workmate also came along… The Saturday I wasn’t feeling very well, sore throat and aching etc. Strepsils and ibuprofen were the order of the day. When it came to time to go to Winslow, I went out the car, found I didn’t have my keys, and put my glasses and phone on top of the car, and went back in…. when I had my keys I just went and got in and drove off… When I got to Winslow I realised what I had done, and had to borrow Nikki’s phone to ask Tricia to go out and see if she could find the glasses and my phone. Which she did… fortunately the glasses were unscathed, but the phone… well it had been run over 😦

I managed to get a new iphone 6 as a result… and very nice it is to. The performances went well, I particularly enjoyed playing Oedocles, plenty of audience response. But I was glad when it was done… glad as well that the election was over and done with. I had sat up a little on Thursday night to see the first results, heard Paddy Ashdown say he would eat his hat if the exit polls were to be believed, and went to bed. On Friday morning, it would seem that Paddy would indeed have to eat his hat. Tories win, Liberals took a pasting. Here I am as Oedocles, the younger version and then the older version when I have had my ‘globes’ removed.

Week beginning 11^th May was a quiet one. Nikki went down to Bath for a fitness assessment. On the Thursday Tricia took Janet Gowin into London to visit the Imperial War Musuem. Tricia and Nikki went and did a bit of shopping on the Saturday, for some items before their St Lucia trip. I went down to Bracknell to take the folks shopping.

Monday and Tuesday, Nikki was in Loughborough at a Bobsleigh camp, then when she got back in the evening, she quickly packed and I drove Nikki and Tricia down to Gatwick. They flew off Wednesday morning. I had a day off on the Thursday, in the morning I was in Bracknell to take my Dad off to the hospital for an appointment about his wonky eye. Then I had to race up to Milton Keynes to see a school film Ellie was in being shown at the cinema complex…. Then it was off to the school for two Governors meetings. A long day! Here is Ellie with Jess and Lucy with their little Oscars after the screening of their film 🙂

On Saturday, Ellie was working, and Robbie was off in London at ‘comic.com’ or whatever it is, dressed as Starlord from Guardians of the Galaxy… I went across to Chipping Norton to see some old friends. It was good to catch up with Ceri, who I have known since around 1980… but who I haven’t seen for many years. Tea and cake in a local bookshop with Ceri and her son George, was followed by a visit to Jill and Gwyn, who used to run the White Hart in Charlbury…. Where the not so famous Mystic Wizards used to visit J… A very pleasant afternoon was had. I got back home as Ellie got back from work… then after picking up Robbie, we sat eating pizza until Eurovision came on… Robbie went up to his room, I migrated to the study and left Ellie to it…. Here are Jill and Gwyn, Gwyn as ever promoting White Shield, and Ceri (who doesn’t like having her photograph taken) with George.

On Sunday Robbie went off to London for a day out with his new girlfriend Amy. Ellie worked again… I caught up with the house chores. I hoovered, whilst Tricia was being pampered in St Lucia. All the messages home said how wonderful it was out there. I tried not to be envious! Bank Holiday Monday I went to a bbq at lunchtime, everyone asking me how was Tricia enjoying St Lucia. I smiled of course and said she was loving it, and tried not to be envious. Amy came across to see Robbie in the afternoon, I cooked a meal, and we sat in the garden enjoying a meal outside for the first time this year. Here are Tricia and Nikki  …. having a great time… and loving the horse ride in the sea 🙂

On the Thursday Tricia and Nikki arrived back, tanned and rested. Matt picked them up from the airport – which was good of him. It seems I hadn’t killed any plants, and in fact was told I had over watered a few of them! Tricia gradually got back into the time zone, sleeping till 10am a few days, before managing to get up at 9 on Sunday. On Saturday evening we went to see the MADS production at the village hall, which was excellent.

… and then it was back to normal. Ellie back at school after the half term. Tricia cooking mountains of items – getting ahead of production with some festivals coming up. I was busy with work, had some issues to sort out, which involved a couple of late evening conference calls with the Americans. The highlight of Ellie’s week was when her form won the ‘interform’ rounders competition. Yesterday I went to the gym early, and was then glad to get a haircut in Buckingham, and then I finished off the painting in the dining room. That is complete now, job done! Next week is a short week, as I have Friday off… Tricia and I are off to Corfe for the weekend. A picture to finish with….Ellie and Nikki ‘working’…. although I am told this was when they had finished work 🙂