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.