February started with some snow, not significant but enough to remind us it was still winter. Tricia had lunch with Juliet, once on the main roads it was clear from snow, so didn’t stop Tricia getting out. On the Saturday we went over to Rob and Amy’s to look at a problem Rob had with his bathroom extractor fan. Whilst Rob had a new extractor, there was condensation leaking down from the extractor pipe, so that needed a clean out first. On Sunday morning we had a trip to the vets for Reg, to get his stitches checked out. In the afternoon we went across to Brackley Antique cellar with Rob and Amy… we had tea, and it was a pleasant afternoon. We then had cake… a Tiger cake Robbie had made… for Amy’s birthday.

Monday it was one of the big games of the season. West Ham v Liverpool… An evening kick off, I travelled off with Bob, knowing that defeat was the likely outcome, as they could win the title this year. Liverpool took the lead, with what looked like, and was later confirmed, to be an offside goal. Oh dear… but West Ham showed great character, equalising before half time, and matching Liverpool in a good game. 1-1. We left happy. The rest of the week was run of the mill, Tricia went to the Wesley Flicks, and caught up with her old mate Pat Pitts. On Friday the 8, with the Robinsons now recovered we went to Malcolms and celebrated the New Year again. Saturday, Tricia was at a meditation lunch during the day. In the evening I went across to Winslow Players and did box office for the evening performance of the panto. Afterward, we all went around to Pat and Clive’s for drinks. Sunday was a family lunch… after which everyone helped clear the dining room, in readiness for the ceiling to be repaired.

Monday the 11th the builder arrived to start work on the shower / bathroom, after the leak. Things were slowed down by finding the old shower tray, which we hoped to reuse, was cracked… So, we managed to get Steve the plumber to source and fit a new one. End of the week though, the shower area looked better. End of the week, Tricia and me went into London to visit the Ashurbanipal exhibition (BP sponsored) at the British Museum. After we went and did some ‘jeans shopping’ for Tricia and then had a meal at Bill’s near Baker St. A nice day out. It was our late Valentines day out :-).  Sunday morning and Tricia was leading the service at the Wesley Centre. In the afternoon it was a long rehearsal for me…. MADS and ‘Keeping Down with the Jones’ was imminent.

It was half term week now…not that it means much to me and Tricia now. But Feb half term means MADS, and so it was rehearsal every evening, and the play itself on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Tuesday Tricia went to look at flowers with Amy, who stayed and helped Tricia with the cakes after. Deb and Carlos, Amy and Rob came to the first night of the play, and all went well. Friday, I had a day off and I drove up to Lincoln to pick up Ellie and bring her back for the weekend. Tricia, Ellie and Matt (and Matt’s parents), Nikki and Matt, Tricia’s parents and Sally all came along to the play. Saturday… the decorator was in to paint the dining room walls. Using a premium paint, it bubbled and blotched, and so the guy abandoned for the day while we took stock. Tricia went up to the church to see Pip Randles wedding. Ellies Matt played rugby for the first time in years and did his ankle… In the evening it was something of a sluggish audience and a slow end to the MADS shows. I was glad it was over, and am now determined to have a little break from learning lines. After the play I was off to Buckingham Golf Club where everyone else was, to celebrate Dave’s 40th. Sunday was the usual work to get the set and stage down… the set was so good this year (better then the acting) that we took forever in doing so. After a roast lunch it was then on the road to Lincoln to drop Ellie off and return. Long weekend. Knackered.

We finished the month with the pub quiz on the Tuesday. Tricia had been to RHS Wisley with Janet G during the day. Then on Thursday 28th, it was off to Malcolms with the Robinsons, Webbs and Docies for a social evening. Alright for those retired who didn’t have to work the next day!

After a restful day, which was to be expected after a late New Years Eve, I sat and watched Michael van Gerwen become World Champ again, beating Michael Smith in a pretty good final. No argument, he is the best, so should be World Champ.  Tuesday the 2nd and it was a return to the normality you get after the Christmas and New Year celebrations… in the evening Tricia was at the Wesley Flicks, and I went off with Bob to see West Ham play Brighton… they are something of a bogey side, always seeming to beat us, and at 0-2 down it looked that would be the way again. However, two Arnautovic goals got us back to 2-2 and we managed a draw. Outside on the way back to catch the train we saw some trouble between supporters, Brighton fans looking for trouble. The 3rd and for Tricia it was one of those things that you don’t want to do, but seem to have to do… breast screening. Uncomfortable, but worth it for the peace of mind when the scan showed no issues.

Saturday and Bob and I were off to the football again, the FA Cup 3rd round game at home to Birmingham. A comfortable win for West Ham and into the hat for the next round… sadly there was more trouble on the way back. This time police and horses had to see off a number of Birmingham fans looking for trouble. Not a good week, it was like being back in the 1970’s. In the evening we were at Elizabeth’s for cheese and wine.

The following week Tricia had the Xmas meal for the Watercolour group at the Crown in Granboro’. I had the car serviced and had a few minor items sorted out. Ellie returned to Lincoln briefly for an exam, before coming back for a dentist appointment and then off for a short holiday in Norfolk with Matt.

Saturday the 12th and Tricia was hosting a meditation lunch at home… I escaped for the day, off with Bob to the football again. This time home to Arsenal, a lunch time kick off. We played really well, and won 1-0! A first league goal for Declan Rice as well. Tricia’s lunch went well. In the evening we went over to see Matt’s new house, enjoy a meal, and play the train game ‘Ticket to Ride’.

Monday 14th and Tricia was back at Brownies. On the Tuesday she was at a rotary dinner with Roy, to say thank you for the funds raised for the Brownies. Saturday 19th, and it was a return to Lincoln for Ellie. Not a good day for West Ham when their recent good form deserted them with a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth. A few pictures from a lovely frosty walk with Reg on Sunday morning, and Nikki with the animals when she popped in one evening, and Ellie when she was away in Norfolk.

Monday 21st and Tricia took the Brownies to Hazard Alley. Tuesday I was in the Sunbury office, and it started to snow as I left at 5pm… Took me 4 hours to get home. Not a happy bunny. I was in the BP Milton Keynes office on the Wednesday doing some presentations. it was cold but a lot of the snow had gone, just that in the fields. On a walk with Reg, Tricia bumped into Jim Tattam, who gave her a brace of pheasant. Tricia plucked and prepared them…made for a good meal! Friday night and we had a slight change to a curry night standard. We had a taster night, each couple preparing samples for a course. We started at Alan and Rachel’s, and then went onto Pete and Sara’s…. we did the dessert course at Pete and Sara’s as we were still waiting to have the dining room ceiling done. A good evening, as pictured below… then a couple of pictures taken from the car on the long drive home…

And so to the final week of January. On the Monday I was taking Reg out for a lunch time play over the sports field. In chasing a ball he slid into a set of goal posts laid down in the grass and gashed his back leg open… oh dear. A visit to the vets resulted in him having stitches, and the cone of shame for a while. Poor lad, even though he had hurt his leg he was only interested in chasing another ball. :-). A good pub quiz on the Tuesday evening. But Thursday the 31st was a sad day. Oli, the son of our former neighbours in Buckingham, Tim and Jayne, was buried. The funeral was difficult. Oli used to play with Robbie before we moved.