The early part of the morning was spent quickly doing last minute tasks, ensuring we were packed and the house was in order. Tricia’s Dad, aka Grampy, turned up at about 8:40, and we left for MK station just after 9. We were at the station in plenty of time… well, enough time for acquiring a flat white, and then we were onto platform 6, and onto the Glasgow train. We arrived in Lancaster on time, and left the train, and waited for the Barrow train which arrived a few minutes later. This was a lovely train ride… beautiful scenery, old railway stations, with Victorian station houses. At Barrow we had a very quick change… 3 minutes to pick up the next train on another platform, but that was fine. This was the last leg of the journey for now, arriving in Millom, where Lesley picked us up from the station.

We enjoyed a relaxed early evening with Les, Les, Chris and Hannah. Didn’t see much of Dan as he was playing tennis. We watched a dull game…. Belgium beating England 1-0. And then it was a relatively early night.

Friday June 1st was cataract day for Tricia’s mum, all went well and she has reported significantly improved clarity already. Seems it is a theme at the moment, Jennifer H has also had hers done this month, and my Dad has his scheduled for July. Friday evening was curry night, we trooped round to the Williams house with the Grays. We had thought we might be able to eat outside, but it was a bit too chilly out for that. Saturday morning I was across in Buckingham early for a spin class… good workout, but not always best advised after a curry night!

Tricia was full on with getting work done for Elliot, and Sally came round to help on the Tuesday. But this week heralded the start of Ellie’s A Level exams with the first one on Thursday. She had been studying, but it had got to the point she just wanted to get on with them. Wednesday evening Tricia and me went across to the school to see the Art exhibition.

Saturday was the church fete. Tricia was feeling uncomfortable after jarring her back and hip whilst running, so I set her stall up on Friday evening. Lovely day on Saturday for the fete, but not a lot of business for Tricia. Sunday was a practice walk, we picked Robbie up, and went for a walk around the Ellesborough area, and up Combe Hill, about 8 miles.

Tuesday 12th was a sad day… (Great) Granny’s funeral. Ellie couldn’t come across as she had an exam at the same time. Robbie had stayed over the Monday evening before, and set off with Tricia and me. We picked up Nikki en route, and arrived in Royal Wootton Bassett at 11:30 and caught up with everyone before the service at 12. There were sniffles and tears, but it was a nice service. Afterwards it was good to catch up with family that we don’t see too often.

Friday Tricia was looking after Isobelle in the morning, and then in the evening Tricia and me went over to the Fort in Buckingham for a curry with a group from the gym. Saturday was Tricia’s 53rd birthday… and we were booked into a restaurant in the ‘walkie talkie’ building in London, called Sky Gardens. The Grays and the Williams were with us, and we had a wonderful meal, and enjoyed the terrific views. Sunday was ‘family lunch’ being hosted by Nikki and Matt… BBQ, Rob, Amy, Ellie, Gran and Gramps and David and Manda came over.

Monday 18th was Ellies last exam…. And a huge sigh of relief. She flopped on the sofa when back home and overdosed on the dreadful ‘Love Island’. It was also the first game of Englands World Cup campaign. I went up to Peters (Tinky Winky) and joined him, Bob and Malcolm and watched England edge a game 2-1, that should have been a more comfortable victory. Tuesday evening the three of us went across to MK to see what was an excellent production of Matilda. A few G&T’s helped . Tricia was adding to her back woes, with an infection above one of her teeth. The dentist prescribed antibiotics, which seemed to bring her out in a rash, and make her feel like she had had the flu… not good. And she still didn’t feel good on Thursday when she had to drive Nikki and Ellie to Gatwick. The two girls were off to Morocco for a holiday. Loads of traffic on the M25 meant that having left at 1:45pm, she didn’t get home till 8:15… and was very tired. After speaking with the dentist, she was told to stop taking the antibiotics… and within 12 hours the rash was clearing and she was feeling better.

Saturday was another one of our practice walks. This time we picked Robbie up, and then met Rob, Karen and Sue at Dunstable Downs. Lovely weather, we did about 10 miles. In the afternoon I did the garden and we started to get ready for holiday . Sunday I sat and watched England stuff Panama 6-1… good grief. And then England finish off Australia for a 5-0 ODI series victory. Has the world gone mad.

And so to a mad dash to get ready to depart and do the coast to coast … Tricia packing, ironing, cleaning etc. Monday evening I went for a read thru at Players for ‘Tomb with a View’ which is being put on in October. I was in it when I was at Safeway, playing Lucien. Let’s see who I end up with this time. Tricia went to the dentist and was given some more antibiotics. Tuesday evening was quiz night at the pub, which was good fun. Wednesday I was at a governors meeting which threw up a few issues. But come Thursday morning we were ready for the ‘off’ to do the coast to coast.

With an impending trip to Malaysia and Singapore for work, I had to get a short notice passport renewal. Even though my passport was valid till November, both Malaysia and Singapore wouldn’t let you in unless you had at least 6 months on the passport. So Wednesday May 2^nd I was in Central London on a passport fast track service. Thursday was local elections, and a first chance for Ellie to vote… and she voted for her friend Scott, who was standing as a local councillor. And he won.

Friday 4^th and Tricia and me set off for Hay on Wye. We stopped off for lunch in Ross on Wye, and went for a walk. Then it was onto Haye on Wye. In the evening we ate at the Blue Boar. Good steak J. Saturday morning we headed out to the Brecons. After some confusion over where to park, we were off on foot to the reservoir, then up onto windy ridge and along to Pen Y Fan, which is the highest peak in south Wales, 886 metres above sea-level. We completed a circular walk … it was a proper training session for the coast to coast, lots of hill walking. In the evening we went to Hay cinema to watch the ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’… which was a lovely film. Then off to the Indian. It was also Robbie’s 26^th Birthday. Happy birthday Rob.

Sunday was my book day. Tricia went off on a local walk, and we met up at late afternoon and enjoyed a glass of wine outside. We had been blessed with lovely weather over the weekend. Bank Hol Monday we headed back, I needed to be back for Trolls rehearsals.

Week beginning the 7^th was Trolls performance week. I wasn’t entirely taken with the production, but all went well. We performed Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. Tricia came to watch with Nikki and Matt and Ellie on the Friday. Saturday afternoon Nikki treated Tricia to afternoon tea at Woburn which they both enjoyed. Sunday I should have been at West Ham for the final game of the season, but I had my flight to KL in the evening, and I didn’t want to chance missing a flight, so missed the game. Didn’t stop Joe Hart making the flight with his family though. I flew out of Heathrow at 20:45 and flew to Abu Dhabi, and managed a few hours sleep. I stopped over in Abu Dhabi for a few hours before catching my connecting flight to KL. Landing in KL I then had to catch a train to KL central. I eventually booked into my hotel around 10:30pm local time.

Next morning my work colleague picked me up at the hotel and took me to the office. A day of presentations ensued, then back to the airport for my flight to Singapore at 7:30pm. I then had 3 days in Singapore, the highlight of which was a visit to the Kranji War Memorial on behalf of Ivy Robinson, to pay respects to her brother who died at the end of the Second World War. Meanwhile on the Wednesday I was away Tricia went to Chatham and took Janet G as company, and they visited Canterbury on the way back. On the Thursday evening Nikki went to the PL darts final with Ellie. Next morning Elllie had her ‘leavers assembly’ she had been working hard on, then in the evening her Year 13 prom.

I landed back at Heathrow on Saturday morning. Royal Wedding Day and Cup Final Day. I know which one I was interested in! Cup Final… which ended up being dull. Tricia was out with Sara and Rachel at a spa, Ellie was half asleep after a late night. But I unpacked, did the garden, found ways to keep myself busy and around 8pm crashed out in bed.  Sunday we (Tricia and Ellie and me) travelled over to have lunch at Deb and Carlos’ … very pleasant. Nikki and Matt made it was well.

A full on week then ensued. Tricia with festival orders had Sally over to help. I was catching up on work I had missed whilst away on business. Friday evening Tricia and me headed for the Peak District. We stayed in Castleton, and over both Saturday and Sunday completed two walks from Castleton. On the Bank Holiday Monday we met up with Ross and Deb, who we had met when doing the Pennine Way a few years before, who took us pp on a terrific walk on Kinder. It was a beautiful day… in stark contrast to the day we had last been there when we finished the Pennine Way.

So first day after the Easter break, it was date night for Tricia and me. We were off to see Classic FM live at the Royal Albert Hall. We dined in the Coda restaurant in the RAH, and then enjoyed a show of classical music, including some readings from Mr Titchmarsh. A very pleasant evening.

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful, I had rehearsals for Trolls, Tricia had a girly evening at Angela’s on Wednesday, and on Saturday morning Tricia and me went to Leamington Spa in the hope of finding me some new walking boots. There was a particular outdoor shop that stocked Altberg boots that come up narrow – which I need. Unfortunately they didn’t, but a pair of Zamberlan boots did :-). That and a new backpack and I was a happy chap. We walked down into the main town centre, which was a lovely place, had a good gluten free meal, and a walk around the park before returning. In the evening we went to Pat and Clive’s for supper, and to plan the forthcoming Isle of Man trip.

The following week we had our niece Sarah staying for a few days. Tricia, Ellie and Sarah had a day out in London.  Tricia made an interesting ‘unicorn’ cake for Tam during the week. Saturday in the evening  Tricia and myself went to see our friends Juliet & John, catching up on their South American adventure. Sunday we had the family over for lunch.

Monday the 16^th it was back to school for Ellie… her final term. In the evening, it was West ham v Stoke… crunch game in the battle to avoid relegation. Bob and I were both a little nervous, but confident we could get a result. Instead of going full on the gas for a win, but we were a bit cautious. 0-0 at half time…. Midpoint in the second half and Joe Hart spills a shot and Peter Couch puts Stoke ahead. On came Andy Carroll… and he scored with a beautiful strike to save the game and give us a point. Not as much as we needed, but enough to keep us above the bottom 3.

On Friday 20^th, Tricia, me Pat and Clive and Norman the Gnome all set off for the Isle of Man. We flew out from Luton and arrived in Isle of Man mid-afternoon. We picked up the hire car, and did a lap of the TT circuit. We checked into the B&B which was excellent. In the evening we ate at Macfarlane’s Restaurant, in Douglas.

Saturday morning we had a unique trip out on Segways. Great fun. Tricia fell off at one point, but no major damage! It didn’t take much to master, and we were doing laps in and around a forest. After the Segway fun and games we went on a little tour of the south of the island, beautiful little stretches of coast we enjoyed. Peel in particular. We visited the German cathedral, sat on the front with some ice cream in the lovely weather, and then walked up around Peel Castle. On the way back we stopped at the Creg Ny Baa pub, which is situated on the TT circuit for our evening meal.

Sunday and the weather was a little cloudy, and a hint of rain in the air, so we went off to the steam railway. We caught the train from Douglas down to a very quiet Port Erin. We mooched about, had a coffee… the place was barely awake … walked on the beach, then caught the train back. We then went on to see the Laxey Wheel… allegedly the largest working waterwheel in the world. We got in free courtesy of our NT cards. After a walk round here, we then went and got on a tram / train going up Snaefell. This was excellent… another coffee at the top J. Then back down, a drive around the north of the island before going back to the Creg Ny Baa for the evening meal. A packed day.

Monday, and we packed, paid and left the B&B and headed for Douglas. Tricia and Clive were booked on a trip to go round the TT course on a motor trike. They absolutely loved it, the driver taking them up over a 100mph! Pat and me meandered around Douglas and had a coffee. When the dynamic duo returned we ventured across to Castletown before reluctantly heading for the airport and coming home. A terrific weekend.

The week back was relatively quiet. Tuesday night was the local pub quiz, then I had a visit to the opticians on Wednesday – the good news was that my prescription hadn’t changed, and I ordered up some new glasses. Friday, during the day Tricia was looking after Isobelle, then in the evening, courtesy of connections at the local Rotary, we were able to get tickets to see a musician called Callaghan in Buckingham. She is from Boston in Lincs originally but now spends most of her time in LA. She had a fantastic voice, and it was a very pleasant evening.

Saturday morning was Spin class followed by a haircut. Sunday Bob and me were off to see West Ham against Man City. Whilst I tried to be upbeat and optimistic, I have to say Man City deserved their 4-1 win.

Just over a year ago Ellie ascended to the ultimate heights within school for a student…. she became Head Girl. She has enjoyed the year in the main, the thing she didn’t particularly enjoy was doing the prefect rota each week, because she found she couldn’t please all the people all the time. So, a lesson in life :-). But last week she had to step down as the new Heads of school was elected. As she put it, she is now a normal ‘peasant student’… which means she has lost her power and status. Not that she is in school for much longer. She finished for Easter last week, and when she returns it will only be a month before she does her exams and leaves. At the moment she has yet another cold. Her fourth this year, she seems to get rid of one and she catches another. Not a happy (Easter) bunny. On a bright note we received a lovely letter from the school congratulating Ellie on her success in the role.

A few weeks back my Dad celebrated his 82nd. Tricia and me drove across to Aylesbury about 1:30pm on the afternoon of the Saturday before his birthday, the 17th. We picked up Ellie after she had finished work, and then tried to drive to Bracknell. I say tried because we seemed to be opposed by endless road closures. It took so long to get to Bracknell that we only had 45 minutes before we had to come back, as Ellie was featuring in a local murder mystery play, as a Gypsy.

On the Thursday I worked in Sunbury during the day,  and then picked up Robbie at Hatton Cross and we went across to Bracknell, so Rob could pass on a card and a gift to Dad. It was good to spend some time with Robbie, I don’t get much time to talk with him these days. On Saturday 24th March Tricia and I were at Bob and Carole’s for cocktails to celebrate her 60th. A very pleasant evening… just sat there and Jade or Adam kept supplying cocktails or whisky. Nice. Slightly thick headed the next morning though. Tricia was able to get up though and go to the Palm Sunday breakfast at the church, and then followed it up by getting out on the Lent Walk in the afternoon with Pat. Here is the birthday boy with his railway set.

This week Tricia had a large order for the Green Dragon. They were clearly expecting a busy Easter. Tuesday evening we went up for the pub quiz. We didn’t win this time, we came third. Nicki came along. Ellie was late as she had been at the school doing her A Level drama practical. Tricia went across to the Bell at Hardwick for the quiz there with the usual ladies… but they didn’t enjoy it, an d will probably give it a miss in the future. Thursday I was in Sunbury and went across to Bracknell to see the folks before Easter. Dad has been a bit under the weather recently, what with the shingles and the doctors having changed his medication for his blood thinner… and then countless blood tests as they tried to correct it. He is still somewhat flat.

Good Friday was a quietish day. Tricia went out and did a couple of classes in the morning. In the evening we were at Alan and Rachel’s for the monthly curry night. The highlight of which was looking back at some 70’s sitcoms. The things that were considered ok to be funny and could be said are substantially different to our own pc times.

Saturday morning I cooked Tricia breakfast… poached eggs on toasted muffins. The poached eggs were excellent… even if I do say so myself :-). Saturday also meant football. West Ham against Southampton in a relegation 6 pointer. And the first home game after the travesty at Burnley. This time the ladies were travelling as well. Tricia and Bob’s wife Carole came to London with Bob and me. When we got to Stratford Bob and myself headed for the football, the Ladies headed for the Westfield shopping centre. All the pre match nerves and tension evaporated as West Ham took Southampton apart in the first half… three lovely goals. It was rather nice to sit back at half time, and look at the scoreboard for once. West Ham played well. 3 vital points. And the other teams involved in the relegation scrap lost as well. We met up with Carole and Tricia at a champagne bar after the game… where else would they be? After a drink we traveled back to West London, and had a meal in a restaurant just off Baker Street. Excellent food. We got back home at about 10pm. An excellent day…. great result and perf by West Ham, great company, and a lovely meal. Tricia retired, I sat and listened to the boxing. AJ won on points to retain his Heavyweight crown. Here we have Tricia and Carole drinking champagne… and the usual foot traffic post game. We are all controlled…. And ‘Arnie’ scoring the second goal 🙂

Easter Sunday …. I managed to get the timing for perfect for the boiled eggs at breakfast. I am the King of cooking eggs! Tricia and Ellie went up to church whilst I tidied up, and started the Easter Sunday roast… Lamb in red wine. Gran and Gramps came over even though they haven’t been too well and were clearly still not too well. Nikki and Matt came over, and Janet G joined us for lunch. In the afternoon Matt took a tree down for us, and trimmed back some of the other silver birches. Great job, and should help with the garden. The garden at the moment is sodden with all the rain we have been having, so unlikely we can get out and do too much work in it yet. In the early evening we sat and watched a film, and then Nikki and Matt went home.

Easter Bank Holiday Monday. Rain. Tricia and me went to Cotswold Outdoor to look at some walking boots for her but they didn’t have what she wanted. This afternoon she cleared out a load of old Brownie stuff… Ellie went into work. And I typed this up.

Back to work tomorrow. :-(.

There is a moment in the film Star Trek IV (the one where Kirk goes back in time to rescue some humpback whales – Scotty to Kirk: Cap’n there be humpback whales on board – one of my favourite Trek films) where Kirk is sending a heavily static message to the federation HQ explaining that they were going to go back in time to get some humpback whales to answer the probe threatening to pulverise earth, he says ‘we are going to attempt slingshot around the sun’. Well, I have to say, my attempt to do this blog is not too dissimilar. The world may not be at threat from a probe (a Putin or a Trump maybe, but not a probe), but I am on the Eurostar going back in time. I am travelling back to London from Brussels, and in doing so claim back the hour I lost when I travelled to Brussels the other day, and I am attempting to use the crappy Eurostar wifi to blog on. My attempt failed, it was so poor I couldn’t login, so I am working ‘offline’ and will load up later when I return to 8 Carters Meadow. Here we have Kirk and Spock with their humpbacks…

Since I last blogged … which almost sounds like the opening to a Catholic confessional, Father it is 2 weeks since my last confession, and since then I have tormented my brothers, nicked a can of carnation milk from the larder and drank it in my bedroom, and had carnal thoughts about Oonagh at school etc etc, for which I would get a few Our Fathers and a few Hail Mary’s. Anyhow, since I last blogged I have had the annual ticking over of my birthdate which means I am now an elderly, and not very statesmanlike 57. The 6th March arrived with an early morning conference call to a BP man in Australia, then a drive into Sunbury and a rather difficult workshop in the afternoon that came out alright in the end. I drove home where Ellie made me a salmon meal for my tea (salmon is one of my favourite foods so this is ok 🙂 )… and then served a rather delightful gluten free chocolate cake. She also gave me a frame for putting old album covers in… great idea :-). Nikki then came over with Matt and delivered some Whisky, and gluten free beer, so a pleasant way to end the day. I am now starting to look into the barrel of being 60. Gulp. That is an old person. Here we have Matt being ‘catted’, the lovely cake, and my Out of the Blue album cover up on the wall.

On the Monday before my birthday I completed a hard Pilates session, and then on the Wednesday after I was put through my paces in a spin class. Boy, it was hard work, but you know, not a bad effort for an old feller. I went to rehearsal after, having been talked into being in Trolls by Derry. Hmmm. Not really my sort of thing, a bit of over acting which is never a problem, but too ‘pantoesque’ for my liking. Tricia stayed on at the gym and did a Boxercise class….

The week before Tricia, Ellie and myself joined Pat and Alex at the Pilgrim for the monthly quiz. We were last after the first round… but came storming back to win by a half point at the end of the evening. All good fun, and free drinks for us at the next quiz. Tricia went to Hardwick on the Wednesday for a quiz with the Ladies. They didn’t do quite so well, but they enjoyed it nonetheless. The weekend of the 3rd (Carlos turned 40-18) and the 4th was a quiet one. Tricia did the Lent walk on the Sunday.

We had snow! The ‘Beats from the East’ didn’t really deliver much in the way of snow, just cold. It felt like walking into a freezer when you went outside. But at the end of the week the snow arrived. So, of course this meant Pat had to get her sledge out!

Monday 5th I transformed myself into the socially responsible, upstanding member of the community (some transformation) and became Chair of Governors, as the school was having an inspection. This wasn’t ofsted, but SIAMS, an inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools. Well, lots of bull and bluster from me, trying to sound like I know what I am talking about, but the school did very well, and looks like it has retained its outstanding status in that respect. Excellent job by the new Head.

Thursday I took the opportunity of going across to Bracknell after work, to see my dear old Mum and drop in a present and a card. I haven’t been for a while on account of Dad’s shingles, but he is now recovered and they are both fine. Friday evening Ellie and myself went to Pats with the rest of MADS to see the recording of ‘It Runs in the Family’… I always cringe seeing myself on stage, seeing the little mistakes, but we had a good laugh. Clive went round to Tricia, who cooked a meal for them. Tricia made Clive some cupcakes… he has always been an admirer of Tricia’s cupcakes :-).

Saturday I was off to the football. No Bob, his pass had been cancelled by Carole on account of her 60th. So I travelled to the London Stadium, trying to convince myself we would win. And we started well enough, played well, had some good chances to score. But didn’t. Burnley hung in there, and then in the second half made a tactical change, and before you knew it we were 2 down. Then we had idiots on the pitch making some sort of protest, we had idiots surrounding the area where the owners sit, throwing coins, and wanting to ‘sack the board’. Shameful. They are owners. Hardly going to sack themselves. Meanwhile Joe Hart spilled a harmless shot into the path of a Burnley striker and we were 3 down. Not sure why he had even been called back into the side. Hopefully that will be the last we see of him. The stands emptied, and by the 90th minute it was a desolate place. Except for the nutters. Before the game started there was a tribute to Bobby Moore. He was my boyhood hero, captain of the World Cup winning team, captain of West Ham, one of the finest players in the world. Always immaculately turned out, pride in his work and his appearance.. And sadly cancer got him 25 years ago. It was a nice touch the tribute… and then it was all marred by the goings on. Trevor Brooking sat in the directors area and faced down the mob. Lord only knows what he was thinking. To West Ham fans, Sir ‘Tricky’ Trev is held in the same esteem as Bobby Moore, and yet he had to face down their vitriol. Sir Bob was no doubt uncomfortably turning in his grave. I left feeling I didn’t want to go back. I will go back on the 31st for the game against Southampton, but I won’t forget what some of the morons who claim to support West Ham did to the club on the 10th March.

Back home I had a quiet evening… I didn’t want anything else. Tricia and Ellie went off to celebrate Carole’s 60th at Pink Punters in Bletchley, and it seems they had a whale of a time. Earlier in the evening Tricia had been at Lorraine’s 60th, having supplied the cake. Sunday was Mother’s Day and we had Robbie over, and Gran & Gramps, at lunchtime, Nikki came over later in the day.

Monday it was off to Brussels for me for a Microsoft event, the ‘Consumption and Deployment Advisory Council’ … I’m not sure I am good for giving advice on anything :-). Didn’t see much of Brussels, mostly the inside of trains, cabs, hotel room and meeting rooms. But what I did see didn’t make me feel drawn to going back there for a visit. Whilst I was off to Brussels, Tricia had a few days on a retreat at Stanton St John. She took everyone on a walk of course…

To finish with… cat pictures of course. I was trying to work from home recntly, and Ninja decided he wanted to help in some way!

I didn’t update the blog last week, mainly on account of being rather tired on Sunday after a hectic week getting ready for, and then delivering the MADS production, It Runs in the Family. The week didn’t start out to well, a busy work day on Monday, then I knocked my head on a door frame just before going on for my first lines, and messed up… and was all over the place. Midway through the second half I just wanted to go home… Tuesday I was up early, and into the office in Sunbury. I only just got back in time for rehearsal, and ended up eating my pancakes in the changing area. Now, I had barely had time to look at my lines all day, but I then went on and barely missed a line. Very different from Monday. Wednesday we ran through some scenes that needed a bit of work on timing, and then it was first show.

I took the day off work, the last thing I needed was to have all my lines removed from my head by BP stuff :-). I went across in the afternoon and rehearsed a particular scene with Pete and all went well. Thursday night Act 1 was excellent, Act 2 a little sticky, but I’m not sure that anyone would have really noticed. Friday I worked from home. Deb and Carlos and Big John came over to see the play. Ellie was working till 7, so I went off, met her as she walked out of M&S, drove straight back, and was on stage at 7:30 :-). Deb and Carlos and Big John, enjoyed it. Robbie, Amy and Jordan came to see it as well.

Saturday started with breakfast with Deb and Carlos, before they went off to Bath to see Simon and Katy. Saturday evening, Tricia came to see the play… of course she had been hearing all about it, and I was worried all the good reports may have built up her expectation too high… but she really enjoyed it. Nikki and Matt, Gran and Gramps, and Manda and Dave came to see it. Ellie did really well in her role, and it was quite nice to be able to spend time on stage with her. After we had finished, it was down to the pub, and a few drinks to unwind. Tricia observed that I had been somewhat ‘anxious’ leading up to the play… and I was, loads of lines, and lots of on and off stage, I didn’t want to let anyone down.

Sunday all the cast were at the hall for 10am, and we deconstructed the set. The rest of Sunday was something of a quiet one. Tricia, Ellie and me sat and watched Call the Midwife then all headed for bed.

This week, Ellie started with a cold, and wasn’t well… so wasn’t in school. In the evening I was back at Pilates, which was good… need to keep doing Pilates. Tricia was off at Brownies. During the day the boiler was serviced – no problems found thank goodness, it is very cold at the moment, and so we need the heating. I was in the office Tuesday, and didn’t get back till after Tricia had gone off to Watercolour, and was in bed asleep before she came back, so we didn’t see much of each other. Wednesday I worked from home but then had Governor meetings early evening. Tricia was off doing spin and boxercise. Thursday evening Ellie was helping out at the school for the 6th form open evening, doing Head Girl duties, and Tricia was out at Sara’s for the ‘girly’ evening. Me… well I had been in the BP office during the day, and went to bed about 10’ish. Around 1:30am I woke with what I can only describe as ‘gluten’ stomach. I felt very ill and spent a good few hours  in the ‘facilities’…. I am still not sure what I had eaten, but boy oh boy it was not good. This meant a slow start to Friday for me. Here is Ellie in the car just before her 6th form evening.

Friday evening was curry night here, then Saturday evening Tricia, me, Pete and Sara, Alan and Rachel all went to a quiz at the village hall. We came 4th out of 11. Respectable. During Saturday, Tricia and I removed the knackered Smeg fridge / freezer, and brought in the LG from the garage. I then took the old Smeg to the dump. It was at this point in the day I sat and watched England get well beaten by Scotland at Rugby. On top of West Ham being beaten 4-1 by Liverpool, not a good sporting day.

Today has been a quiet day. Tricia went out this morning to Nikki’s farm, and helped muck out the chickens. I cooked lunch. Tricia then went out and did the Lent Walk, Quainton to Oving. I watched Man U v Chelsea. Ellie made tea, gluten free scones and angel cake… nice 😀

I completed 10 years at BP at the end of Jan… they congratulated me, and let me select a gift to mark the occasion. My blue tooth headphones turned up this week :-). Very nice they are as well.

Tricia attacked the week with a ‘bodypump’ session, and carried on from there, with various fitness classes …. getting her mojo back after illness at the end of December and into January. I haven’t made quite the same steps yet, although I did manage to get to the gym twice, so, moving in the right direction.

Nest week Ellie and me are in the MADS production, ‘It Runs in the Family’… and right now line learning and rehearsal is all consuming. Rehearsals Tue and Thu evening, I painted some of the stage set Friday evening, helped with putting up curtains etc on Sunday morning and then rehearsed all Sunday afternoon.

Friday evening Ellie and Tricia drove up to Lincoln. They spent the Saturday looking around the uni, before coming back late afternoon. I went to football with Bob, and we watched West Ham beat Watford 2-0. A tense game at times but West Ham worth their win. We quickly dashed back so that I could get on a train in time to get to the theatre in Aylesbury to see ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’. I met Tricia at the theatre after her return from Lincoln, and Nikki and Matt also joined us. Brilliantly done, a proper belly laugh at times. Ellie went out for a friends 18th (Kieran)… and returned Sunday morning at 4am! Some photos from Lincoln, including one of Ninja trying to get himself packed for the trip :-).

Tricia went to church Sunday morning, and then Nikki and Matt came over in the evening where we had roast beef and the trimmings. Tricia was falling asleep in the chair at 9pm so went off to bed…. and I sat and watched the final episode of McMafia. During the week Robbie was at a gaming exhibition at the Excel… where he bumped into Sara Williams. Here they are, along with a picture of Trixie and the two lambs she had during the week. Nikki and Matt are flat out with lambing at the moment.  Nikki got a distinction with her latest course essay, so she has had a good start to her Masters.

First thing to say is a Happy 70th to Roy Randles. Roy is the local handyman, who has done loads of jobs for us over the years, and who turned 70 on Monday. Roy came in on Wednesday to reprise his role as handyman, he sanded down the kitchen surfaces and then oiled the surfaces and sealed all around the edges. With the kitchen clear, Tricia took the opportunity to freshen up the kitchen, giving the walls a new lick of paint. Pleased with this, she then refreshed the porch on Saturday…. and then got up on Sunday and did the downstairs loo! The paint brush was working overtime.

Tuesday evening I was at the London Stadium with Bob, to see West Ham play out a fairly tame draw with Crystal Palace, 1-1. A reasonably fair result. Tricia meanwhile was at the pub quiz in North Marston, where her team came second. Then on Wednesday evening was at Hardwick for another quiz. Wed and Thursday evening, and Sunday afternoon, Ellie and me were at rehearsal. The production is getting close and the words aren’t sticking :-(. Don’t panic….

Pilot, a Scottish rock group, recorded ‘January’, and it reached No.1 somewhat ironically on Feb 1st 1975. Apparently the song was about a girl called January, but the first line of the lyric sums up my feeling about January. Or to be more precise, the Winter. Cold and wet. Roll on warmer days.

A quiet start to the week, Ellie at school, Tricia off to exercise doing bodypump and pilates classes. Tuesday I was in London for the day, attending a BP IT event. It was ok, made for a long day having caught the 6:20 from Aylesbury. Wednesday I was in the office in Sunbury, again an early start, I was up at 5:20, and at my desk for 7am. Meteings kept me at the office till 6pm… and I thought it may not be too bad getting home in the traffic. Wrong. Took me 3 hours. I was not a happy bunny.

On Thursday Big John arrived for the weekend. On Friday morning John and me headed for Bletchley Park, and had a day marvelling at the intellect of the codebreakers. We didn’t get to see all the site, so will have to go back at some point. In the evening it was the monthly curry night at Pete and Sara’s. Here we have John having a quick bit of shuteye after being at Bletchley Park… the ‘Bombe’ rebuild, and the Mansion house.

Saturday morning, Tricia went off to see Nikki play hockey. John and myself sat and watched the Ladies Australian open final on TV… An enthralling contest. Wozniacki outlasting Halep. Just. Then we went off to the National Museum of Computing. This is adjacent to the Bletchley Park site…  there were some interesting items from the codebreaker and WW2 era – an older chap gave us a half hour talk that was very informative, but for me the highlight was an old ICL 2966 machine they have, which was very similar to the ones I used to work on back in the day. Wow.

John returned home, and then in the evening we celebrated Burns night, with Pat and Clive, Peter and Jane, Elizabeth and Malcolm. A fun evening with plenty of laughs.

And also a late night. Ellie had been in Aylesbury with friends and rolled in around 2:30am, and of course whilst she tried to be quiet, she wasn’t. So it was an interrupted nights sleep, and so Sunday was a somewhat tired one. I watched Roger Federer win the Men’s final on Sunday morning. Ellie and me were at rehearsal in the afternoon. In the evening we all sat down and watched Call the Midwife. Then it was off to bed.