The first day of March, was the second day for me in London at the Microsoft Cloud Roadshow. A dull day, and I didn’t last the full sessions, coming away early. Wednesday and I had a long drive to work via Marlow. I had to pick up a BP colleague, who for medical reasons couldn’t drive at the moment. After work I dropped him back in Marlow, and then drove onto Bracknell. I popped in to see Mum and Dad, dropping off a Mothers Day card and a gift. Friday I went to the gym first thing, and then worked from home for the remainder of the day. Tricia was entertaining at lunchtime, a ‘Lent lunch’. Clive was around helping, as they produced a parsnip and chorizo, and leek and potato soup. I stayed out of the way. In the evening Tricia and me were at the Williams for curry night… and received an early birthday cake … well, cake of sorts, a roulade with candles in it :-).

Saturday evening,  after picking up Ellie from work, we went over to Nikki and Matt’s, where Nikki cooked us a roast lamb dinner. And very nice it was too… the lamb was perfect. Nikki and Matt have been busy lambing… putting in a lot of hours.

The same evening, Amy and Robbie were at a party near Thame… all poshed up.

Sunday I turned 55… I really can’t believe I have got to be so old. When I look in the mirror and see the grey hair, and the developing jowls it is no mistake that I am 55, but I am just not 55 in my head. A quiet day, Tricia and I went on the Lent walk in the afternoon, and Ellie made me a gluten free birthday cake which we had in the evening.

Monday I worked from home, as Tricia was taking me to the theatre in the evening for my birthday. We went into Aylesbury, and had a nando’s, and then casually walked down to the Waterside. It was only when we were in the theatre, that we realised we were in the wrong place… we should be in Milton Keynes. We dashed to the car, raced to MK, and managed to get in the circle seats and only miss the first 20 minutes. At the interval we were able to get to the stall seats we were supposed to be in. The play was Hobson’s Choice, with Martin Shaw playing Hobson…. which he did brilliantly. Tricia was of course mortified over the mistake, but I had a great evening. Memorable :-).

Tuesday the 8th was another trip to work via Marlow, and then back again to Marlow. This time though I was off to Reading afterwards for Governors training session. It was a long day by the time I got home. Friday evening Tricia, Ellie and myself met up with Amy and Rob in Aylesbury … we had a nando’s and then saw Deadpool. The film was ‘ok’… although I nearly fell asleep during it.

Saturday evening Tricia and me met up with Juliet and John for a meal at the Black Boy in Oving. Nice company for the evening, but the meal wasn’t all that. Tricia and I both had lamb, and the meat Tricia was given was very fatty. Sunday afternoon, Tricia, Ellie and myself went across to Tring. Amy and Robbie cooked us a Sunday roast.

Monday 14th I worked from home… and could feel a cold coming on. From a small sniffle, are great and horrible colds founded. By Monday evening I was full of head cold… and so my week  was wasted. I had a few days off work, and I had to miss a GB mtg, and an appeal I was supposed to go to… but I wouldn’t have been thanked for sharing the cold with anyone else. On Saturday evening we went out to Milton Keynes theatre to see Chicago. The right theatre this time :-). I thought it was a terrific show, but I had to keep looking around the bloke in front of me who was large, and had a particularly fat head. On the way home Tricia drove… and went the wrong way. She has been somewhat unnerved this month to discover she is no longer infallible.

Then on Sunday we went over to Bracknell, via Tring to pick up Robbie, to celebrate my Dad’s 80th. Nikki and Matt joined us there… all the family were present, both my brothers and all their families. Eightlem was full. Dad said a few words, and even got a little choked up. Considering he has had a peep through the curtains a couple of times at the grim reaper he has done well, and is pretty  fit for an 80 year old.