Off to Boston in the morning to see Tucks and go through what would have been his wedding. Really sad state of affairs and he’s so pissed off about it, can’t blame him of course.
Still up and it’s 3.53am, but have managed to blitz so much work before signing off. Not ideal but I will feel better for having offloaded so much of it.
Nice evening tonight as it’s Charlotte’s birthday in the morning, shame we’re going to be away but went to the Harvester this evening and spoilt her
I can hardly type…8 pints later I am ready for bed…interesting night with Jason but I am knackered!
Busy weekend that’s for sure, have been working a lot of it, had John and Pauline round and I had a bit too much to drink so ruined things when they’d left with Tash which was a sour point that’s for certain.
Anyway…Jack had his first 11-a-side proper match today at home to Rotherfield Utd, yes I don’t know where that is either! They’d played last week and drawn 2-2 so were not going to be mugs and after our performance with Comets last week I must admit I was a little bit anxious.
The lads were nervous before the match but once we started they did fine. In fact they did more than fine, they had a good game, it was open and Rotherfield were a decent side but were the same standard as us so it was pretty even. Our defenders played well and Jack was looking lively up front but he wasn’t have as much joy as I hoped as they had a quick defender that we couldn’t get past.
Anyway, Jack scored a lovely break-away goal, running from the halfway line from Hal’s through ball and then slotted it home into the far corner. As the match went on into the second half then Rotherfield got stronger, but both teams had chances to score but couldn’t find that final touch. Eventually, with seconds to go we didn’t clear a corner properly and they scored to level the scores and before we could even get the ball out of the net the ref blew the whistle. Frustrating to lose the points right at the death but it was a fair result really.
Everyone enjoyed it and hopefully we can improve on things
Quick lunch break and then it was Lewis’s team to play Cholsey who are always sharp. After last week’s thrashing that the hands of the u18’s and the hap-hazard approach we have to games I was very nervous about this game. Thankfully that concern was quickly brushed aside as we played the best football I have ever seen us play, as a team they were awesome and worked so damned hard it was incredible.
Having a couple of new players with such talent such as Myles and Elias is always going to help but there was a real hard working team ethic today from every single player, it made me really proud of them. It was a very close first half in which we edged it at half-time 3-1 but the second half we destroyed them and the final score was 8-1. They did miss a penalty and had a chance cleared off the line but at the other end we carved them wide open and Thabelo missed so many chances it could have been double-figures.
So all in all a good day’s football really.
Caught up with Mum, she’s just got home from Norfolk for the week and had a great time and was chatting loads.
Had dinner at Sue’s afterwards and then did some chores at home before leaving at 9.00pm to come to Kent and the Encore Hotel for the night. Unfortunately there was a crash on the M25 which closed it off it was that serious which meant a few times of simply sat in the dark with the engine off. So my 2 hours journey took about 3.5 hours in the end – not good as I wanted to do some work in the hotel to carry out some final testing.
Hopefully this week I will get to bed at some better hours than last week because of my work load. Tues, Wed, Thurs I didn’t go to bed before 2.30am and on Friday night I finished working at 3.40am – ridiculous and unsustainable.
In saying that, it’s not 00.35am so I had better sign off now as I have Hodder coming in tomorrow for training, should be fun….
Started the new season on Wednesday and played against Wantage. We have a very strong side again with some teams folding, Kidlington one of them, and their best players wanting to join us. It was good to see some new faces in the changing room but all the old ones from last season too.
I was really worried about playing as I have been struggling with my back lately and also have done no fitness work for about 8 weeks but actually I felt okay and had a good game. Went on a couple of my runs and enjoyed myself.
We have a game every week now for a few weeks which is good as it builds up the fitness.
New kit as well because Steve Tavinor who got badly injured has received some compensation and wanted to thank us for the support we gave him so that was a really good touch from him.
We had our first 11-a-side match on Sunday for Jack’s team now that they have become u11’s. It was only a friendly against the Comets but it was still important for them to get used to the differences of playing and also the offside rule. They did well, it was very congested and they will need a lot more coaching but it was encouraging.
What was really pleasing is how quickly Jack adapted to it, he appeared to be quicker than everyone and was certainly really sharp and scored a good variety of goals. We drew 4-4 in the end and Jack scored all 4!! He missed an open goal and a penalty so could have had a hat-full. I seriously think he could score 50 goals this season, that will be phenomenal if he managed that. We’ll have to wait and see.
Lewis had a friendly against the Summertown u18s and got thumped, the less said about that the better. Seriously lacking any sort of fitness which we will have to address.
A new student arrived, she’s called Bella, is from Switzerland and should be with us until Xmas. Seems nice enough so hopefully she’ll stay. That will help with the various expenses we have on our plate at the minute
On Saturday night we went over to Jason Millar’s as it was his birthday celebration and that was nice, James & Melissa were there as were Wayne & Kerry and the girls and Paul & Pauline. Went over to Didcot club to watch Man U stuff Bolton 5-0, all over after 25 minutes, they’re too good at the minute and we ended up have 5 pints in a very short space of time, James drinks too quickly for me! I was very drunk by the end of the night but I think I was okay…
Have been at King’s Lynn today with work to see Learning Resources and Pandora Books, finished a bit early so went to the beach (Brancaster) and then Mum called to say they were at the holiday cottage they’re staying at this week with Grandma, Sue & Roger and Sue & Simon. It was nice to see where they were staying and see them all, I only stayed an hour and then left for a the 3 hour drive to the hotel as I am staying down in Rochester tonight. I think they were pleased I went and saw them.
Curry at the hotel on arrival, needed it but didn’t need it if you know what I mean. I am so very overweight at the minute, but I simply can’t be bothered to work to get rid of it. We have a Veteran’s match on Wednesday and I really think I am going to injure myself. Bit worried about it, but not so worried that I have bothered to do anything about it. Shame really. Not sure what’s wrong with me. Work seems to be affecting me at the minute which I need to fight against.
Not looking forward to being in the office tomorrow, it’s going to be a long day!
Every year the families of Oxford get to attend the biggest fair you’ll ever see in St Giles. Fantastic event and well attended and dates back to Victorian Times, although what they’d make of the rides these days is anyone’s guess. I haven’t been for a few years and won’t be going this year but Lewis is there now and Charlotte had been down there earlier in the day. Jack is going with William tomorrow so he’s looking forward to that.
Having just come back from Florida I am not certain the fairground rides will thrill enough but it’s a good experience and you see so many people from Oxford
So, today was another very busy day but thankfully it wasn’t as stressful as it could have been, loads of changes and emails from OUP again but I had to focus on the Capstone upgrade that I am conducting over the next two days. It was pleasing to get some closure on nearly all the points they raised but this evening when kicking off the build for the databases I experienced loads more issues which I was able to sort out – am I starting to learn something?!?!
I got my timesheet emailed through this morning for last week and my 37.5hr week turned into 73hrs instead. I was shocked and even though this week will be busy I am definitely not doing that sort of time of work again for a very long time – that’s just mad if you ask me.
It’s been quiet around the house today, just me working and the kids have been out, or reading. Tash has been at work and got back late and went bowling as well so not see much of her.
Tired this evening writing this, was about to go to bed but I want to try and keep on top of things with this diary, get into a habit and all that.
So, the saga with OUP continued…I was up and out at 9.00am down to their offices, Tash dropped me off and Lewis cycled down so he has the flexibility to come and go as he pleased – Taurus training and all that. Got in and I was really impressed, he was positive and confident and organised and thrived. It was a side of him that I haven’t really seen and I was very proud of him.
So whilst he was organising things I was Skyping with Darren and then testing his fixes and we got it all sorted by about 10.30am so then Lewis and I could get on with him setting up all the syncs and then passing over to me to sort out the testing. Charlotte came down at 11.30am and Lewis showed the ropes and she too was identical, really business-like, I was doubly bowled over and proud, she was really good as well.
We had a break at 2.00pm and went to the Jericho Cafe and had a nice meal and then back into it and she wanted to carry on with me doing it and we eventually got completed at 6.00pm.
Will say it again, they both really, really impressed me. Jason was pleased with our work and said I could take everyone out for a meal, couldn’t take him up on it this weekend but will try to later.
So home and something to eat and then it was round to Kay and Gordon’s for the bi-annual piss up a their place. All the usual suspects were there and it was a really enjoyable evening. Both Tash and I were pretty drunk, I’ve not had a drink for what seems like ages. Nothing much to report but home around 2.30am and spent much of today struggling with a heavy head.
However, there was football training at 9.30am so I was up for that and it went well. 9 lads there and they look good. Hopefully we’ll have a good season.
Home and lounging around, went round to Sue’s for dinner and I sorted her bathroom door with a new handle as she got locked in the other week and needed rescuing!
That’s it I think, quite worried about the coming week with the OUP upgrade and also the Capstone one to deal with, I can see a few more late nights ahead of me!!!
…this weekend is going to be painful as hell.
Moaning once more, not good, or interesting to read. It’s now 1.00am and I have been working since 8.30am on this OUP project either in their offices or at home, still not sorted and found more problems this evening which I can’t deal with but Darren and Guy I hope will tomorrow. Lewis and I will be going into OUP offices tomorrow to carry out the work that I was hoping to do today in terms of syncing all 90 laptops that we’d installed databases on.
Jason has given me £50 to give to whichever child helps me with the work so Lewis and Charlotte were fighting over it! It’s going to be along day though as I can’t see it being completed in less than 10 hours.
I’ll be so glad once this is all completed.
Not much else to report really. Just Charlotte and I in the house as Tash went out with Pauline Bampton for a drink, Lewis shut himself away upstairs and Jack stayed the night at William’s house.
Celebrity Big Brother is on at the minute and Charlotte is completely hooked. I sat working in the front room for a while and it was on and Jedward have been quite entertaining throughout and I’d be surprised if they don’t win it actually. It’s poor quality TV, that’s the problem!
Right, 1.06am, might get a beer and forget about work for a bit before going to bed…wishful thinking
What a day…
Was at Philip Allan in the morning doing Communigator training and it went fine. Intelligent people who picked up what I was covering really quickly so it was a pleasure to be involved in that and away from the hassles of other work going on. Although I was dipping in and out of emails when possible to see what was going on whilst I was away. As suspected, it wasn’t good reading.
Went home after PAU session and caught up with things and planned for the Raintree Offline upgrade I need to run next week and then worked with Guy/Paul to get updates for OUP conference call. Nothing I want to talk about on here so let’s leave it there shall we?!?!?
I had to finish at 5.00pm today because of going over to Stratford-Upon-Avon to see Macbeth at the RSC. I really wasn’t in the mood, so stressed with this OUP crap that I was miserable company for Tash, Charlotte and Jack which is a shame, I really need to find a way to switch off from it all and not take it so personally. But then I have always known I am like that but never been able to detach myself from the emotion and responsibility.
Anyway, got to Stratford and parked up and went to the new(ish) RSC theatre which I think is a year old now and it was fantastic. Really, really impressive. That was just on the outside! Within they have basically mocked up what the Globe would have been liked 300 years ago, or however long it was in Shakespeare’s time and it feels so good to be within it.
Whether I was distracted because of work, or tired or whatever, I don’t know but I found it tough going to begin with. Luckily Tash had printed off a detailed synopsis which meant having read it we were able to piece together the scenes and what was happening. The dialogue is a pain to be honest and that’s why I perhaps can’t get enthused over Shakespeare. In saying that I got into it and enjoyed the performances and it was an unusual adaptation – would still be better in current English if you ask me…call me a Philistine should you wish…just saying!
Anyway, enjoyed it in the end and drove home and then worked this evening from 11.30pm until now – it’s 2.00am. Not good, tired and pissed off, not a good combination for working tomorrow. Going to go into the OUP offices to sort out the mess which I think will be covered simply by syncing, but it’s 90 laptops…bugger!
I think I could well be working in their offices on Saturday as well.
On top of that I also got the Summertown Stars season up and running in terms of organising training sessions this week, haven’t focussed on that at all, we’re going to struggle I reckon this year. Players dropping out and others not being reliable. Who’d be a football manager eh?
