As it goes January is the title of song from the 70’s, done by a group called Pilot. Released in January 1975, it got to number one in the UK charts…. in February. A lovely little irony. I loved the song when it first came out, but by the time February came along it was worn out for me, and whilst I hear it occasionally (as I tend to listen to 70’s music), and it brings back memories of the era for me…. I don’t often get to the end of the song.

Jan 1st was a Sunday, so the Bank Holiday was carried over to the Monday, but then we were back into the usual routine of life pretty quickly. Work for me, Ellie back at school on the 5th, and she was also told by M&S that she had a new contract, so she continued with them. The decorations didn’t last until the 6th. On the 3rd Tricia had a belated Christmas do with her Watercolour class. On the 5th I was at the podiatrist, to work out why my right big toe gets so sore when I do any distance walking. Some new orthotic insoles were ordered up…. they arrived a few weeks later, and interested to see if they would help I put them straight into my walking boots and went off for a jaunt. My big toe was fine…. but boy oh boy I had two nasty bloody blisters. When I read the instructions (after the event) it recommended wearing then in gradually. Dickhead.

On the 7th we were invited next door to Elizabeth’s for a cocktail evening. Tricia was full of cold so I went across with Ellie who was helping make up the drinks… well I have to say the measures were generous, and it seems that after a few of these cocktails I became ‘loud’ and entertained people with my slightly different demeanor. Blimey…. my head was thick the next morning! It was the weekend of the FA Cup 3rd round, and a weekend to forget. West Ham dumped out by Man City :-(.

The following week on the Thursday, I was doing a school assembly… with a difference, Ellie did it with me (takes some nerve to do a school assembly with your Dad!). We did the generation gap. At the weekend we were at Pat & Clive’s on the Saturday evening, looking at cruise holiday options, and then on the Sunday we were over at Deb and Carlos for lunch – very pleasant, and good to catch up. Here we all are… with the Green’s and Jay’s as well.

Week beginning the 16th was ‘mock exam week’, so Ellie was slightly tetchy as she faced her AS mock exams. Tricia was having all the kitchen worktops sanded down and re oiled. On the Saturday Tricia drove Nikki down to Hartbury College where Nikki is planning to do an MSC.

January petered out with a Curry night on the 27th, and then Tricia and me went to David and Manda’s on the Saturday evening for a meal. Some pix from Jan. Rob with Lilly on his lap, and Nikki with a cockerel on her shoulder…. Ninja in a box, and Pickles spread out on Tricia’s legs.

A small footnote… I enjoy watching sport, including tennis. Sunday morning 29th Jan, I loved watching Federer roll back the years to beat Nadal in the final of the Aussie Open. A true great.