Early start

Dropped the student off at 6.45am so when I got home I wheeled the kayak down to the river and went down a mile and a half exploring. It was lovely drifting along in the early morning with no hassles from the river boats. Couldn't believe the number of fisherman out and about, there were loads.


Got back and after sorting out the car for the trip to Devon tomorrow we went to Aston Pottery to meet my mum and have a tour of the pottery and that was interesting. Treated ourselves to a nice lunch and then dropped the boys off at Team Taurus. 


Katie was dropped off at ours and after dinner at Sue's, Charlotte, Katie and I went for another trip down the river! Talk about over-kill but Charlotte was really insistent so we went down to the Perch and back. It was hard work as we didn't work as a team and kept turning round which was really frustrating but I kept quiet and we carried on. They enjoyed it though. Bit worried as one of the sides started to slowly deflate - we can't have a puncture already surely? Bit pissed off if we have and will send it back.


Well, off to Devon tomorrow, can't wait, surfing and exercise and fresh air and no work! See you later!

Kayaking in Wolvercote...

Well, got out on the kayak today at Wolvercote and enjoyed it. Hard work and we found that missing the skeg seems to make hell of a difference because we kept getting turned which was really frustrating. Have ordered one so hopefully that will solve the problem. Spent an hour or more going up and down the same stretch but need to go further afield next time. 


The furthest Charlotte, Jack and I went was to the Perch and back, took an hour.

Photos available on this link

Holiday time...well sort of

Kids are now on School Holidays for the next 6 weeks, lucky them, but it will fly by in no time at all. I was working from home today and it's getting harder and harder to cope with this job, I don't know what I can do. I wish I knew what to do. Just always feeling so out of my depth. Oh well, I now break up for a week and we're off to Devon on Monday.


No doubt it will be a manic weekend as we prepare for Monday, but to make things more manic is the canoe has arrived. It's huge as well! Can't wait to try it out on the river and if things go to plan in the morning then we'll take the kids down there in the afternoon. Should be a laugh.


Charlotte is at Rosie's tonight with her friends, they have a great time each week when they have their sleep-overs and it was good to have a chat with Shaun and Amanda, Shaun's really into his fitness and everything and showed me his canoe and kayak(s) so I was jealous! Well, best start saving for the next one!


Will let you know how the canoeing tomorrow goes....

Squirrels

Just heard on the news this morning that Squirrels can be regarded as a pest and disposed off accordingly. The example the chap on the TV gave was that if there is one in your house you're not allowed to capture it and set it free into the wild so you have to kill it and he said you could use a trap or shoot it. Shoot it?!?! Can you imagine walking round your house with a shotgun firing at a small furry animal running around the place? Talk about needing to redecorate afterwards!

Homesick already???

Bit fed up actually, I am stuck away for the week in Rochester and it's the last week at school so that means that they're having their end of term activities etc and Jack had his sports day today. Tash is useless and couldn't tell me what he'd done well in so will need to speak to him later and find out.


Managed to continue the fitness drive last night at the Village hotel - love it there, ran for 20 mins, rowing machine for 25 mins, bike for 20 mins and the sweat was dripping off, I was soaked! Bloody hard work. The went and did 20 lengths in the pool, I hate swimming so much but persevered and feel good for it. 


Not sure how much longer I'll be able to keep this up but it's worth making the effort, I look bloody awful at the minute and won't be taking my top off on the beach!


Well, best get on with work, should be interesting, got my document back from Jason and he's slated it and I need to re-do the whole thing, I am not very good at my job it has ot be said - I seem to get everything wrong!

No joy at the Orthodontist

Frustrating day yesterday, spent the morning at the Orthodontist in the JR with Lewis and after God knows how long they confirmed the worse and they won't be able to mend his teeth on the NHS. Really disappointing as it means that it's going to cost us £1300 to get them sorted. We don't have that sort of money! Will have to see what we can do.


Came into work and finished "You only live twice" on the audio book, enjoy listening to these so much.


Work was fine, busy. Got to stay at the Holiday Inn tonight (nowhere is free, it's unbelievable!). Anyway, went in the gym and worked hard on the bike and then on the rowing machine, did about 6000m, arms ached! Lasted just over an hour in there, but they're so boring. Tried the pool and then the sauna but I get restless so went an had antipasta in the bar which was lovely!


First big signing of the season for football, Joe Cole has signed for Liverpool after being made a free agent by Chelsea in the summer. He was holding out for more money at Chelsea and I think he's signed for less at Liverpool, but not bad is it - £90k per week!!! I just need one week of that to pay off the mortgage.

Jack's Tribute to Jack Black!

Not sure what to say or think about this, I think the Demon has gotten into him:

Easy like a Sunday...

Lovely day today, egg muffins in the morning and then pottering around the house until we went out to Shotover Park for a family picnic. Lewis was still tired from D of E yesterday so he didn't want to do the cycle ride that we planned. But it was fun and we had the usual good laugh we always have there. Found a rope swing which they all went on. 


Went to the sand area that I grew up in as a kid and made some damns which then burst with all the water and swamped the lower damns! Great fun and l will never grow too old to do! 


Relaxed for a couple of hours and played tennis, let the kids have a driving lesson in the car park and then I ran home. 


6.75 miles without stopping, took just over an hour, went through town and it was very hot and humid but did okay. Driven now by not looking good, I need to lose so much weight and get in shape. 


New student arrived today, Jorge, from Spain and he's here for a week.


I'm off to Kent for a full week in the office, should be interesting!

Update

Okay, I've been very quiet for a couple of years but I fancy trying to update this on a regular basis now and see what happens!

Had a great night last night with Katharine and Pete coming round and Tash did well with a lovely dinner. Drank far too much wine but it wasn't a drunken night at all. Learned even more interesting things about them both, really relaxing and lovely evening

Charlotte had Georgia and Rosie stay the night, waiting for them to emerge from the garage and will then cook them pancakes.

Need to sort out the garages today, Holdie phoned last night from Standlake as they borrowed our airbeds and we'd not given them the stoppers! Oh dear, they were trying to plug the holes with crayons. Oops...

Right, catch up later!