November entered the world with me feeling tired after getting home late from the previous evening’s football… Friday came along though on the 2^nd, and a curry night at Pete and Sara’s, which lightened the mood up somewhat. Mind you, not before a heap of work on Thursday and Friday for Tricia, getting the wedding cake for Claire and Ieuan sorted out.

Saturday was the wedding day. I had an early start, getting down to Nikki’s B&B in Hartspury to pick her up. She was unable to drive on account of her broken leg. We then drove across to Cold Ash… meanwhile Tricia was driving directly to Cold Ash in the morning with the cake, in order to get it set up. Ellie was travelling down with Deb and Carlos. She had got the train from Lincoln to Market Harboro’ the previous evening. Nikki and I met up with Ellie at the hotel. A quick change into my suite and then we were off to the church… where we met up with Tricia. A lovely, lovely service. Deb did a Reading. Carlos was the chauffeur.

Then to Wendy and Robs, a short walk, and we enjoyed the wedding. I had to do the introductions to the speakers, a kind of ‘MC’. A terrific afternoon and evening. Good news from London as well, West Ham had won 4-2 against Burnley. In the morning I was up early, as I had to get Nikki back to her class in Hartspury for 9am. We made it… and then it was home. Two hours later I was back home. Tricia and Ellie stayed on for lunch in the marquee in Cold Ash. I then had to pack, and get ready to go to Hungary for work.

I flew out to Budapest from Luton, arriving in the hotel around 11pm. The old buildings in Budapest were floodlit and looked beautiful along the Danube. Monday was in the Budapest office in the morning, and then travelling to Szeged in the afternoon. Tuesday was spent presenting in the Szeged office before returning to Budapest. Wednesday was spent presenting… and then a flight home. Knackered. I must go back with Tricia, what I saw was lovely and definitely worth more exploring.

Saturday 10^th. Tricia was off to a Meditation Lunch. West Ham struggled to a 1-1 draw at Huddersfield. The 11^th was Remembrance Sunday. Tricia marched with her Brownie unit at the local parade… I stayed at home to reflect. One Grandfather who fought in the First World War, and was buried at the age of 90 exactly 30 years to the day. He would have been 120 today! Another Grandfather who was evacuated from Dunkirk.

The following week Tricia went into London with Gill and Janet to visit the Churchill War Rooms, and the Cenotaph. I picked them up, and was off again myself. This time to Hull. It was a little like a trip down memory lane … 11 years since I used to do the trip with Kcom.

The Saturday was the 17^th, and Nikki’s birthday. 30… gosh. Made me feel old having a daughter that old. Tricia did the Xmas bazaar at Granborough. On the Sunday we had a late afternoon meal for Nikki’s birthday, before Matt N and I went off to see the Illegal Eagles at Aylesbury Waterside. They were brilliant… great performance.

During the following week, Tricia took Nikki to the hospital for a check up on her leg – all was progressing very nicely. Friday 23^rd I was up to Lincoln to pick Ellie up from uni, and bring back a pile of washing J. Ellie came in, went thru some hellos with Tricia and Reg, then it was make up and the pub to catch up with her friends. Saturday was Nikkis 30^th birthday bash in the evening. I sneaked off to watch the football with Bob during the afternoon. West Ham 0 Man City 4. And we didn’t play that badly either! Oh well. On the way there I could feel a lump on my elbow… this had given me some grief when in Norfolk. Now, for some unknown reason I had a golf ball size lump on my elbow…. Turns out it was a ‘elbow bursitis’. When we got back it was change and then onto Nikki’s do at the Wesley Ctr. A racing night. All very random, Isabelle won a prize, and she was just guessing all evening.

Sunday was slow starting. A roast lunch then I packed Ellie and all her clean clothes into the car and we were off to Lincoln. I got back home about 8:30pm. Tricia was out, she had gone with Pat to see ‘The Carpenters Story’ which they both enjoyed. The following Friday we hosted Curry Night…. A few laughs to see out the month.