Christmas Jumpers…

…nothing more to add surely?!?!? Surprisingly, everyone was jealous of our fashion sense…

Tasha’s idea, and a good one it was too. Actually, it was her idea of the kids to have them but mine to make the whole family have one.

Current favourite track..

My music tastes change all the time I appreciate but currently I can’t get enough of Swedish House Mafia…which is a shame because they’ve split up!! Anyway they’re astoundingly good and perhaps I am too old to be listening to them but this track is on my playlist all the time ratcheted up to full volume!!!

Mind you, there is also Miami to Ibiza and One…but this is great…

Greyhound by Swedish House Mafia

A new heir to the throne..

So it was announced, early I suspect, that Kate and William are expecting their first baby. I say early, I think she’s only something like 13 weeks gone but went into hospital with acute morning sickness, apparently a strain of morning sickness implies she might be expecting twins! So you can well imagine the fuss the press are making, but it’s nice and they’re taking it in their stride. However…

Some Aussie DJs phoned the hospital pretending to be the Queen and Prince Charles and were actually put through to the ward and spoke to one of the nurses and she gave out various details thinking it was genuinely them! I don’t think the details were particularly sensitive, I haven’t listened to the recording but that was that and a pretty harmless practical joke was played out…not so harmless though…

Two days after the prank call (and I must stress there was no uproar or disciplinary action that we’re aware of) the nurse who took the call was found dead, an apparent suicide.

Can you imagine how fucked up that is???

As you can imagine, Twitter went into meltdown, journalists and all sorts got into a lather lambasting the DJs and they’ve gone into hiding. It’s calmed down a bit now, this is being written a couple of days later but I can’t help feel for all concerned.

The DJs were just simply carrying out nothing more harmful than an April Fools joke, but the person it was played on was clearly more fragile than they could possibly have expected and it backfired in a devastatingly tragic manner. I can’t see how anything can come of this in terms of punishing the DJs, it will be interesting to see what action if any does occur.

All very sad in what should be a truly celebratory time for the Windsors!

Xmas Present arrives early

Our TV has been on the way out for God knows how long, you basically can’t read the text at any time, so Tash and I decided to get a new one and went for it without telling the kids. It was only about £300 so decent one and decent 42 inch size. Tash took some convincing on that score but I won for once!

Had a bit of concern about the website buying this from but they kept saying it was on its way.

What was odd though is that2 days after placing the order the existing telly refused to work any more, just wouldn’t turn on, it was like it knew! So we were without TV for a week which was actually quite nice!

Another odd thing was on Friday the BT Engineer was round and upgraded us to BT Infinity, and the the delivery of a picture frame took place and as the engineer left I made some toast and said to myself, “All I need now to make the weekend is the TV to be delivered”

Almost immediately, within about 5 seconds, the doorbell went and I ‘knew’ who it was, sure enough a huge great TV was being delivered – how spooky is that?!?!?

So even though I should have been working I quickly put it together and got it working…it’s gorgeous!! I didn’t waste too much time on it and when Tash went out in the evening I sorted it out so that it connects to all the external devices and I’ve finally got surround sound working for all the devices as well, I am a very happy bunny…Tash not so…

Piss-taking banter…

Nothing more to say other than check out this link for the banter one of the lads has started on the Oxford City message board…

OCFC Veteran Lookalikes

Terrible news…

I had a text from one of the lads on Sunday saying, “Isn’t that awful about Andy Parsons?”. Assuming he’d died I asked what happened, I wasn’t prepared for the reply… “He’s stabbed his wife to death!”

Un…be..lieve…able!!!

All sorts of accusations and rumours are flying around as you might expect but he’s been charged with murder and more will happen next Monday. I’ve known him since being a player at Thame but not really had any more contact with him. Although we were due to play him yesterday as the vets team were against Thame in the cup but it was postponed because of this tragic event.

Nikkie has been keeping us informed as people have visited Andy and the stories are contrasting. I won’t type anything now because it’s not appropriate. As you can imagine it was all over Facebook and made front page of the Oxford and Daily Mail (Link)

It’s obviously a tragic story and there are two young children involved and the wife was incredibly attractive, but then so’s he…it’s simply astonishing this sort of thing can happen but then it’s happening all the time all over the world, it’s the law of averages that it’s going to happen close by but you don’t expect to know the person involved.

Awful

Training in London…x2

I’ve had the pleasure of visiting London twice this week already and had quite a tour of the place actually. On Monday I was at Electric Word which is near the Barbican and when that finished I crossed the Thames and saw a potential new customer, Encyclopaedia Britannica, which was right by Tower Bridge. I finished there at about 5.00pm so I took the opportunity to go by the Thames and get some decent photos.

The offices overlooking the Thames and Tower Bridge are stunning, would be great to work in those, although I’d be day dreaming out the windows all the time…

I was there today as well but this time only to Collins who are based in Hammersmith so none of the scenery but the chance to be part of the hustle and bustle which coming home wasn’t so great because I had to stand for much of the way because of over-crowding. You pay £25.00 for a ticket and stand…not impressed!

London is a cool place much of the time.

		General London VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Lewis and University Offers…

There is general excitement in the house at the minute...Lewis is getting his replies from the Universities that he's applied to. It's been a bit nerve-wracking because Katherine, has received three refusals and she's done better in her exams than he did.

However, he's had two replies and both have provided him with conditional offers, Loughborough (Which he really wants) and Plymouth. Really pleased for him, they are stretching requirements that's for certain but this must have given him the push he now needs to really knuckle down and push on to get the grades he needs. He will only have himself to blame if he fails to get these right now.

I need to help him more with his PE work and will get stuff sorted with him more regularly from now on.

Wow, could be losing my little boy this time next year!!!

How scary is that?

Jack back from Germany, Father Xmas, Night out and lazy Sunday…

Jack had a great time in Germany. Spent a fortune but made friends and came home with plenty of stories. The only problem was picking him up! Got the phone call that they were going to be back at the school at 3.30am. I went and got him but was knackered the rest of the day!

Lazy weekend though in the end. We went to Blenheim Palace in the afternoon so that Jack could see Father Christmas and wandered around the place. Pouring with rain so we didn't venture into the gardens but had a lovely coffee instead!

Tash and I then went out in the evening with Vicki and Geoff and also Loretta and James from the Red Lion. Went to a Oriental restaurant in Hythe Bridge Street called SoJo and it was fantastic. Great food. We had a good laugh, had a lot to drink and ended up at Geoff and Vicki's where we stayed until at 2.30am. Can't remember getting home to be honest as we were playing spoof for some very strong alcohol, I lost one of the games as well

The next day Tash went out with Zoe to London and stayed over the night at some nice spa hotel where they were pampered. I instead was too heavy-headed to move and sat watching TV all day...not a very productive day to be fair...but it was nice to do absolutely nothing. There was no football because everywhere in Oxford it's flooded.

Tash came back on Monday and had a good time, although noticed that we'd done nothing all day...ah well!

		Blenheim Palace VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Just don’t mention the war…

Was up very early again this morning. Couldn’t sleep because of the worry about two items at work so was awake at around 2.20am which wasn’t ideal because I knew that I’d set my alarm for 4.45am anyway!

Why was I up so early? Simply, Jack is doing German at school and his class went off to the German fair and were meeting at school at 5.10am.We was up and about at the right time and I took him down there, a few familiar faces, Mark & Danny, but he’s big mates with Stefan at the minute and was on his coach so he was with him and didn’t even wave goodbye to me…charming!

Tim Selwood retired this year but he was asked to go along with them as well so that means that he’s been involved with all my kids and also me! Some achievement!

Anyway, the house is a lot quieter without Jack around already.

Had a good day of work in the end, shattered though so early night for me.

Christmas Lights in London

Travelled up to London today and had a great day out. Sue and Brendan came up on the coach and we met them in Primark at Marble Arch. Got to London around 11.30am and got the usual parking place on Bayswater Road, Lewis and Katherine went off on their own and we started shopping. Primark was packed and then Jack insisted that we went to Harrods. I wasn’t so keen because of getting a parking space and losing the one we had but he got what he wanted!

Wandered around for a bit in there and it’s such a fantastic place, it’s hard not to be over-awed by it, if only we had some money to spend! Had a coffee and something to eat outside and made our way back to Marble Arch and in fact got a parking place even closer this time!!

Walked up Oxford Street and by this time the lights were up and looking very impressive. Went to a couple of shops but didn’t find anything and then met up with everyone again in St Christopher Place just off Oxford Street and went to the Pizza Express we’d booked. Had a decent meal in there and then went back to the car and made our way home.

Got home in an hour! All in all a lovely day and had a really good time.

 

		Christmas Lights & Shopping in London Nov 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Brighton Graffiti

Went down to see a customer in Brighton today and I do love the place! I park in a bit of a run down area and walk through the narrow streets where there is an array of fantastic shops and also graffiti on the sides of so many houses. I’d love to spend more time down there exploring the place and will have to organise it one day. Below are some of the examples and there is loads more all over the place..

Brighton Graffiti VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Bloody Long weekend

I need a rest! Friday I went out with work into Oxford as Jason had organised a tour of the Inspector Morse frequented pubs. There was about 8 of us, although I got there late because of kids football and picking up Jack from a party he went to where he was go-karting and he’d had a fantastic time, but when I arrived at the pub the lads were all steaming!

We didn’t go too far and just stayed in the Eagle and Child, went down to the Randolph and made a schoolboy error of 8 absinthes for over £90, God knows what Darren was thinking of…we then went to what used to be Poo Na Na and that was a laugh. Sadly it was underground so my phone was out of service and that didn’t go down too well with Tash and it was a late finish…1.30am in the end and I was quite drunk by then. But then they’d been insisting that I have double shot chasers with each pint so no bloody wonder!

Headache all of Saturday, but I was fine. Pottered around all day and Tash went out with her mum to get her Christmas present which is a sewing machine this year…

In the evening we went to Risinghurst for the fireworks and the crowd that we have become now is huge, we all met at Paul and Pauline’s and then went to the park and the fireworks were really impressive once again. The kids had sparklers and all that again which they loved and then it was back to Holdy’s and the boys were on the beer! I drove last night and Tash made full use of the fact and got absolutely steaming drunk!

I was a bit worried about today and what sort of state she’d be in but somehow she’s okay – not fair is it, she should be in bed throwing up the number of cocktails she’s had!!

Had Jack’s football this morning and played against Chalgrove Cavaliers and it wasn’t pretty, yet another week where the lads let themselves down, very disappointing and we lost 4-2.

The day today was lovely, cold but so bright in sunshine and we took the opportunity to go to Shotover and gave mum a shout and she came as well, she was a bit fed up because they should have been in Portsmouth but the car broke down on the way there so they were back home instead. We took Brendan with us and went to the sandpit as usual and it was a lovely afternoon. Showed him building dams which was fun and is always a nice memory for me from my childhood.

So very busy indeed, need an early night needed!

 

		Shotover November 2012 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Business up & running…slowly…

So I’ve started then. How have a I got time to write this?!?!?

I’ve now done a couple of days with Raintree and some work for OUP doing exactly what I want to do! Raintree I was working on their e-mail campaigns and creating lists and also working through problems I could see in their current set up so that these work better and they’re updated to the best version of SPIRIT – all benefits that I thought would be the case if I worked for people in this manner!

I did work my nuts off today and produced so much in the time that I was there, but it was also nice to get a break and something to eat which I never do. I think they’re pleased with what I’m doing as see it as a good investment.

During my time there I had a call from Kate G at OUP and she was asking my situation and whether I’d do some urgent work for Nick Hay…can’t be a coincidence because that’s exactly what I was talking to Peter about on Tuesday when he said he couldn’t cope with all the work that’s being sent his way and I said that’s what I could do to help. I stayed up and did the work and over-delivered to impress and impress I did!!!

Nick and Karl were delighted and I advised my situation to them and Kate and straight away have more work they’d like to be action – delightful result! Especially as they agreed the hourly rate I offered, so everyone’s happy!

I was working until 2.00am though as a result and was up at 6.30am for the training visit to Usborne International but it was worth it because emails today were really positive and as I say, they’ve emailed some more work for me to action tonight.

I already have loads I need to do but not going to turn it down am I?

So, as a beginning that’s not a bad start as it keeps things ticking along and gives me some breathing space when it comes to go live in January. Still nervous but it’s given me a real boost to think my work and time is being appreciated.

Fireworks night

We went up to The Plough tonight to risk our lives for the annual test of fear. We joke about the time some years ago when fireworks crashed into the crowd and this year only one did! We went up there with Wayne. Kerry and the girls and we also took Niamh and Laosia and they all went off dare-devils!

Pottered around and caught up with a few people as well, it was bloody cold though, winter is certainly closing in and I am sure there will be a frost tonight.

There was a ton of fireworks going off behind the Plough which was the same as last year and Paul Harvey mentioned that is might be a chap who’s son died around this time of year so every year he sits in his garden and lets off all these fireworks in memory of him. Sad story but nice all the same.

Came back to out house to warm up and get a hot drink and then planned to do the same this Saturday at the Risinghurst display

007 is back..with a bang..

007 is back with a new film, Skyfall, which we went to see this afternoon at Didcot cinema complex. First time I’ve been to Didcot in a long while and they’re making a real effort to improve the place. I was impressed.

The cinema there is a normal complex and we had some special vouchers so bought into the hype for this new film, and it didn’t disappoint. I’ve not been to the cinema is ages as it’s so bloody expensive and off-putting but this was really enjoyable. Lewis has been already so it was me, Tash, Charlotte and Jack. I wasn’t sure if Charlotte would like it but she did.

Very good film, great nods to older Bond films (it is the celebratory 50th anniversary) and the story was plausible. It probably lacked the huge impact scenes but it worked well.

Next up is the Hobbit, looking forward to seeing that but I understand that they’ve turned it into a Trilogy…how on earth can they justify stretching it out that long?!?! Well, I’ll be paying to go and find out I must admit!

Start of the fitness fight back

Working this morning at 6.30am and then Tash came down at 7.45am and suggested going out for a run.

Couldn’t really turn it down after the fuss I made yesterday about my weight…we only ran two miles but both of us were blowing! I didn’t add it to Run-Keeper as I was concerned about the speed I’d run, will be so slow!

Nice to get one under my belt but need to progress now

Father Xmas visit still required

Whilst Jack was carving out the pumpkin for Halloween today Tasha asked him about visiting Father Christmas this year and whether he still wanted to go and visit him…

“Yes of course I do”

Coming from a 11 year old who’s at Secondary School now that was a bit of a surprise and we exchanged knowing glances as if to say he’s still not quite as grown up as we think he is. Bless him. In saying that, it’s nice for us that we can still take him along, Charlotte and Lewis have just about grown out of that by now…

Sweet little Charlotte

Just clearing up some files off my laptop and found a Word document that contains the following text…I remember when she was a sweet little girl...of course she still is!

Diet not working…

THIRTEEN stone, thirteen!!!! Count them, 182 pounds…

I have never been so heavy in all my life, couldn’t believe my eyes when I stood on the scales. Mind you, I shouldn’t have been so surprised, the spare tyre is looking more like a tractor than a car tyre so I’ve been avoiding the mirror recently.

So, it’s the diet and exercise for me in earnest to get down to 11 3/4 again, just in time for Xmas??? Watch this space…large space!

Business is up and running…

With a bit of a hangover this morning we went to work on some of the outstanding tasks to get my business up and running so we have done the following:

1. Made the url live so that it directs to the proper website now – Dark Enterprise

2. Created a logo that we can use now:

3. Set up the invoice documentation

4. Organised the documents for recording information and online

5. Created business cards using the newly created logo – can’t wait to get these through the post and start handing them out!

All I need to do now is be good at my job and make it a success…!!!

Vampirate Party…

What’s that?

At the Red Lion they have some friends who meet once a month and dress up as pirates – the full monty, it’s incredible the level of commitment they have gone to so as to be pirates. Anyway, they make a good party and as it was Halloween suggested that theme – pirates and vampires (and ghouls etc)

So we went along as usual and had too much to drink and had a good evening.

Exciting times ahead…self employment here I come

So…what’s the state of play?

I’ve been made redundant and after various considerations I am going self-employed and intending to work with existing customers to cover admin, projects and SPIRIT. After some initial set backs I now have the following:

1. One day a week with a customer to carry out email campaigns and the like – 12 month contract

2. Projects with another existing customer who has a lot of work in the pipeline to discuss with me – ad hoc

3. Couple of days a week with a third customer – 6 month contract

4. Brand new venture with Jim Austin’s company who do Financial Services, need to get up to speed with their the Finance area but they’re interested in me working with them after I did a training demo and interview on Monday – ad hoc

Needless to say I am absolutely delighted by this turn of events, can’t be happier, in fact, I am a little concerned that I will have too much work…ah well, if it means late nights and weekend work then so be it. Hopefully putting this into print isn’t going to cause a collapse in the promised work but all in all very, very excited for what the future holds…

Mum’s coming round later for my birthday so might open something more fizzy than lager tonight!

Watch this space!

My Birthday…another step closer to the grave…

I was 44 this year and had a good day, got up early and helped with the paper round and then the kids gave me their presents. Usual things so that was nice, smellies and Thornton’s toffee and Lovehearts! It’s an accepted tradition that’s what I get and I love that to be fair, I will still expect those from my grand-children!

Charlotte put together this card for me which I loved, can’t believe all the things we do, this card hardly scratches the surface but it was lovely and I kept looking at it all day long.

I then worked in the morning but kept checking Facebook and loads and loads of people were sending messages so that was flattering, didn’t get much work done. Went down to meet Tash in Little Clarendon Street at 1.00pm and we went to Strada Italian restaurant and that was lovely. Got some olives and I had pasta with sausage and she had a fantastic looking pizza, which I’d had that instead if truth be told…ah well…and she didn’t offer me any!

Back home for 3.00pm and Mum came round and more presents and a very generous cheque, doesn’t need to do that any more but she does. Blew out my candles and that and then she was gone round to Grandma’s.

We have Mum and that coming up for dinner on Friday night so we popped out to Aldi to get some food and then I was off to football, what a waste of time that turned out to be. The lads knew it was my birthday and Creedy got me a cake…pictured…and then we played Old Hooky.

We have been so in control of games and this was one of those matches where everything went completely pear-shaped and we ended up losing 4-1. No idea where that result came from, not a good way to spend my birthday I have to say. Had a quick drink afterwards and then came home and caught up with a couple of programmes on TV.

At this time in my life I love watching a couple of series and these include the following…Boardwalk Empire, Grimm, True Blood, Game of Thrones and Hunted. It seems there’s always something on the planner, I didn’t get to bed until 12.30am…got distracted!!!

All in all though, a lovely birthday and I really enjoyed it, except for the rubbish football!!!

Gordon Ramsey’s, the Ice Bar & a pink limousine…London

What a night last night…it was Kerry’s 40th birthday celebration and we went to London with them, James and Melissa, Paul Cox and his wife Lindsay, Jason and Sharon Millar and Paul & Pauline. Started off at Paul’s house where we were picked up by a huge pink Limousine and then went round to Wayne’s so that was a surprise right from the start. Took some photos and the kids had a look around before setting off to London. That was fun and we had a few drinks an a bit of champagne along the route.

Dropped off at Regent street and then walked down the road to find a bar and had a few drinks before going to the Ice Bar (http://www.belowzerolondon.com) in which we were provided cloaks and went into the bar for 45 minutes in –5 degrees for cocktails. That was a great experience, but it did seem bloody cold!!!

Had a couple more in the bar once that was over and then walked round to Gordon Ramsey’s restaurant called the Maze Grill. (http://www.gordonramsay.com/mazegrill/) More drinks whilst we were waiting and unfortunately Wayne and Kerry had a an argument and the whole night completely soured, it was over his drinking and she’d asked him to slow down and then things just went completely pear-shaped. It was such a shame. We continued with the meal but really might just as well have gone home there and then because the atmosphere hanging over the table was awful.

Anyway, we went ahead with it and the food was lovely, I had the burger as it was the cheapest option there and some olives which both were excellent. There was the option of a steak for £80.00 which I would have loved to have tried, couple of people went for the £30.00 option. I enjoyed myself anyway and it was a laugh but in a bit of a forced manner to be honest, I think people were starting to tire as it was about midnight when we finished. We then called the limo and got a ride home, I was in charge of the music!

Stayed at Wayne’s in the spare room and a bit hungover in the morning

It was a great experience but it was ruined by Wayne at the end and the evening will be remembered for the wrong reasons sadly.

Would I do either again? Yes I think I would, definitely the food and perhaps the ice bar just as a new experience for a friend…

Social Media

Where will it stop?!?!

I am writing a blog using Windows Live Writer which is posted to Blogger.com. I have a LinkedIn account, a Facebook Account, a personal Twitter account, because I am about to go freelance I now also have a business website and a business Twitter account. I also use Google Analytics to see the feeds to the websites and this blog…

I have now enrolled in Hootsuite and playing with that has been interesting and I can see the advantage of using this functionality. I have just set up an online CRM application to record all the communications and work I shall be carrying out for the business and I have my Google account to use for the online spreadsheet storage and most likely calendars and emails, although I have a personal BT email account, a business email account and a Gmail account as well as my work email account and then an iPhone that means I am accessible 24/7.

And guess what, when I was young…I used to use a simple diary and the local library!!!!

Sponsorship Success

On Saturday morning I created an email to request sponsorship from local companies to get new kit for Jack’s team. I sent out abut 25 emails, just grabbed the addresses from websites and sent them off blindly.

Tash said I was wasting my time but within two hours someone had replied to say they’d be interested but would need to convince the partners of the firm and he’d let me know on Tuesday…today is Tuesday and I’d forgotten until I just received an email to say that they’re all interested and that they’d sponsor us.

How cool is that?!?! Now to sort out the kit order and see how much this will all come to!

Really pleased with that.

University Challenge

So that’s it then, we’ve sent Lewis’s application to UCAS for his attempt to get into University. He’s trying for Electrical Engineering in Loughborough, Cardiff, Plymouth, Nottingham and Coventry so hopefully he’ll get some offers for one or more of them. I think Loughborough will be out of his range but you never know and his exams might improve, he’s certainly working hard for them.

He deserves to get something so let’s wait and see…

Voice Memos on iPhone

Wow…travelling up to London this morning and thought I’d tidy up the voice memos I have made for this year…bad idea, how many?!?!

Haven’t got through half of them in an hour, I don’t think that’s the idea behind making them. It was interesting though to listen to my thoughts as I’ve been travelling to work, making promises to spend more time at home with the kids, plans for football training and moaning about my role and workload. I think I am in a much ‘better place’ right now having listened to the memos from February and May but it did reinforce things that I should be striving towards.

So hopefully this means more interaction and fun with my family, more exercise, less drinking, up earlier in the morning and better focus of my time at work. All very respectable ideas, just wondering how many will come to fruition…watch this space!

Charlotte’s 16th Birthday

So, Charlotte has turned 16 and I think she’s had a birthday to remember!!! Friday night she went out with 4 friends to Joe’s cafe in Summertown for a meal and I went and picked them up at 7.45pm to come home to ‘watch videos’. Little did she know that a surprise party had been organised by Lewis and Rose and there were 20 friends all waiting in our back garden for her to return. She walked in and was obviously shocked, they’d done a fantastic job of keeping it quiet and she had no idea whatsoever. Cue loads of screaming and singing and shouting.

Lewis stayed but Tash, Jack and I went to Paul Holden’s mum’s 90th birthday party down at Oxford City for a couple of hours which was really nice. We then went back to the house around 11.00pm and the place was rocking! No hassle or trouble just all the girls singing and dancing, a bit drunk, but nothing out of order and they were loving it. Slowly people were leaving but at 1.00am I have video of 17 of them crammed into Lewis’s bedroom, including Liam and Jack, singing. One of the neighbours complained but that was fine really and understandable and by about 1.30am they’d all gone home and Charlotte settled down.

We went out on Saturday night for a meal at the Kidlington pub we usually go to and then the next day she went off with Rose to Greece for a week’s holiday, how lucky is she?!?!? In saying that, she paid for it herself with the money she’s earning. She came back yesterday and loved every minute of it I am pleased to say.

She’s grown up into a lovely girl and we’re so very proud of her. Very pretty young thing who still knows where to draw the line and doesn’t drink (too much) or smoke, although she was on a moped in Greece which didn’t go down too well here at home!

She now wants me to take her out in our new car we’ve got, only to the Park & Ride so that she can start learning to drive in preparation for next year when she turns 17. In saying that, Lewis is now driving us around so that he becomes more accustomed to being on the road, it’s a bit nervy but he’s doing okay so far…

General Update

God only knows how long this is going to type up. This will just have to be a run through of all we’ve been up to since the last blog!

Olympics, I’ve just updated some posts I’d written ages ago, if only to record them in the blog. We were caught up in the interest and signed up for the Paralympics for the stadium and it was unbelievable. Saw David Weir win gold and the place was mad. Everything in the Olympic village was very, very good, they’d done such a fantastic job on it all. It was all quite a come-down once the games finished, but it was wonderful.

We then went on holiday to Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, with Wayne, Kerry and the girls and had a great time. Very, very hot but not uncomfortable. It was an all inclusive holiday which isn’t like us at all but we loved it. So many memories but for me it had to be the scuba diving that was the highlight. Lewis and I took to it really well but Wayne unfortunately couldn’t get to grips with it so dropped out. But down under the sea in the aquarium-like water with the most colourful fish you could imagine was wonderful. There are no adjectives that my limited vocabulary can give it justice. We also had a drive out in the desert on quad bikes which was a great experience and the kids got a go at driving which they really enjoyed.

We went into Sharm one night and Jack & Charlotte got to go on a camel which they were dying to do. The place looked pretty good actually but no one wanted to stay out which was a shame. Had some laughs in the evening and we all had a go on the Shish pipes which was good. Staring up the stars and relaxing. Snorkelling during the day was excellent as well because the stretch of beach that we had was perfect for this and we could go and look at the fish as much as we wanted to. Food-wise it was all good and the choice was fine for everyone. I was sick for many days but just got on with it, I did miss one night being so ill but I tried my best not to let it affect anyone else. Definitely would like to go there again and have also got the interest in the scuba diving having done that now.

Forgot to mention, Lewis and Charlotte went off to a night club and didn’t get back in until 5.00am, Charlotte wasn’t sure about it and once she’d been persuaded to go it was her that was the one jumping in the pool that you weren’t supposed to go in and living it up! Party girl in the making here!!!

Summer holiday has been a bit wet this year, the kids have had a good time though so that’s important, plenty of parties, both Lewis and Charlotte are out nearly every weekend, late nights and Charlotte is becoming more of a party animal!

Kids went back to school and Jack has now started at Cherwell, scary! He’s settled in brilliantly and loves it. There are not enough hours in the day, he’s got into the football team and then does lots of activities after school like dodge ball, rugby and so on – he’s not got enough time for his karate and Taurus which is causing us problems and embarrassment.

I’ve missed loads off here, I can’t think for the life of me now all the things that we’ve been up to.

Oh, we’ve booked a skiing holiday for next February which I can’t wait for, should be good.

The Olympics are over…

The hangover has started for the country, the Olympics finished on Sunday night with the closing ceremony and every feels a bit deflated and at a loose end now. The Olympics fortnight has been absolutely brilliant, so good for the country and a real surprise at the success of the team and the organisation – it’s been incredible.

On Sunday night the closing ceremony was basically a huge concert and as much as I enjoyed it the overall feeling is that it was a bit of a let down after the amazing opening ceremony and the quality of the performances of the athletes. I guess it depends on expectation though, I thought it was okay but at the same time I can see why it was criticised, if felt a bit messy and some of the acts just weren’t right.

It was good to see the Pet Shop Boys, the Spice Girls and Eric Idle was funny and hopefully it didn’t distract from the amazing fortnight, I don’t think it did.

It seems strange now not having something to watch on the TV and get excited about, but we have our holiday and then the Paralympics to look forward to. So not all is lost!

Olympics Success

This have been unbelievable! Team GB have been so successful and every day has been addictive TV and a feeling of being involved in the shared success is running through the whole country. Where to start??? The cycling has been stunning, Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy, Victoria Pendleton, Laura Trott, Jason Kenny and so many others making up the teams and they’ve absolutely wiped the floor with the opposition.

But it’s not just there, the Equestrian are winning gold for the first time in 50 odd years, Judo, Triathlon and of course Jess Ennis in the Heptathlon when on Saturday night she won, then Greg Rutherford won the Long Jump to be finished off by Mo Farah in the 10,000m which was a stunning performance. 3 gold medals in the space of about 45 minutes, 6 on the day!

The rowers too are pulling in the medals – it’s been very, very impressive and so intriguing, I can’t help but watch it on TV, or website or catch up on Twitter.

I’ve loved how interested Jack is in it, he won’t move from the telly and is constantly updating me with information about runners and events, it’s brilliant.

Unfortunately, it’s highlighting just how big I am! So I went out for a run this evening and did a load of exercise, won’t be in time for my holiday sadly!

The Olympics are here–London 2012

Well, after about 7 years since the announcement of the awarding of the Olympics to London and constant press stories going on about all the problems it’s finally here. At last. Gold place!

Actually, I’m writing this on Day 4 and Gold hasn’t been won yet unfortunately but Team GB have done well in some of their competitions and to be fair, a lot of the previous days have been heats or not the events that we usually do well in. Rowing and Cycling to come. Yesterday we witnessed history though as the Men’s team Gymnasts won Bronzer in the most thrilling and amazing session which saw them briefly have Silver in their pockets until a Japan enquiry on the Pommel Horse edged us out…by a nose! Remarkable achievement all the same though.

So, I’ve jumped ahead of myself slightly. We were unfortunate not to get ay tickets for sessions, although don’t get me started on the number of empty seats visible, so we decided on still being involved by attending the Opening Ceremony concert in Hyde Park. What a brilliant day we had. Everyone has been told to stay out of London, so we hoped that would enable us to drive in with no bother which we did at around 2.30pm on Friday – sure enough – no traffic to talk of. Just as we were pulling into out car park, The Kasey’s were at the traffic lights and waved us down, we were meeting them anyway but that was perfect timing.

Spent the next two hours in the Lady Diana Memorial garden and then wandered down to Marble Arch where it was getting busy. Had a meal in Prezzo and then around 7.00pm went to the concert, not good news, the place was absolutely packed out with queues outside which were moving so damned slowly. I guessed right, it took us over an hour to get in and eventually at 8.10pm we got past three levels of security to see Duran Duran – they were wonderful! Really got the place going.

That was 9.00pm so the screens came on and we had a live link to the Opening Ceremony over at Stratford. Danny Boyle was the director and went through the history of the UK in terms of the Industrial Revolution to the present and it was absolutely spellbinding. It received criticism in the press or Twitter from various individuals who felt it was political or were just too stupid to understand what they were seeing, but the very vast majority of people watching it couldn’t fail to be impressed. Loved it! Some good humour, James Bond and although I am not a fan of Mr Bean his involvement was amusing and worth including for certain. Loads of great music and things that made you very proud.

At around 10.15pm the concert kicked back in and Stereophonics played for just under an hour in which Jack and I got close to the front which was cool, then it was back to more of the ceremony and then it was Snow Patrol’s turn to play and they were fantastic. Charlotte wanted to go to the front with me this time and Jack came along as well and it was lovely for the three of us to be right up there in amongst it. Very special.

Once they played their set it was after midnight and we switched back to the ceremony to see UK enter the arena and also the all important lighting of the flame. There has been so much speculation over who was going to be granted the honour, I think it’s fair to say the overwhelming favourite was Steve Redgrave, with Becks and Daly Thompson pushing close but what happened was a great twist. Becks, Thompson, Daly, ah bugger, some other famous Olympians from the past had nominated a teenager and future Olympic athlete to do it for them. And the torch was something else, petals of a metal flower that turn upwards and lit up…and then the fireworks closed it out. You could see the sky lighting up from where we were!

Paul McCartney then came on and that was the cue for everyone to make their way to the exits. We had a long 20 mins walk and then a wait in the car park for a useless attendant to sort things out but eventually got home at 2.45am, everyone shattered but what an amazing and unforgettable experience.

As I say, I’m writing this a couple of days later but it’s so fresh and the photos and videos that I will include will make the memories stick even more. Now’s just hoping for more medals from the athletes…

Charlotte has the voice of an angel!!!

Clearly she is messing about but…

She’s going to kill me when she sees this online…

Lewis coming home when we’re asleep in bed…

As the title suggests…

It’s making me feel quite old now that Lewis is getting home after midnight very often with parties or just working at karate and we’re not staying up worrying about him. We do have the rule that he has to wake us to say he’s home but it’s still the fact that he’s out there late at night with friends or baby-sitting or whatever. Not getting into trouble though I hasten to add.

It made me think of when I was his age and that’s mirrored that as well. I used to sit up with mum watching TV and then when I started going out to see girlfriends or into town I’d get home and creep around so as not to wake everyone up. Full circle…

Charlotte is out at parties a lot more now, but she still likes to be picked up. I don’t mind doing this but it has meant that I am driving around at 3.00am with her and some friends dropping them left, right and centre. Her friends can’t believe it…and to some degree nor can I!!! But at the same time I don’t want her worrying or not going or leaving early because of it.

Jack’s Last Few Days at Primary School

So, this was the week that Tash has been dreading, Jack finally leaving Primary School which in turn means our involvement with Wolvercote school has come to an end. We worked it out to be 14 years that we’ve been involved so it was all quite sad really as the end of an era in our lives. Admittedly I was a bit less emotional than Tash, but then I’ve not been as involved as her.

So we had the Leavers’ Assembly on Wednesday, they had various performances and anecdotes, a bit hit and miss as you’d expect for an assembly written and performed by the students themselves but they enjoyed themselves as did the parents and teachers.

Jack repeated his talent show routine and that went down well. Did some singing as well. Some tears throughout from parents and then the class teacher Miss Boaz read out her speech and started crying and that set everyone off! The kids were in floods! Hugs and photos and all sorts. All very sad and draining.

In the early evening there was a school disco organised so we went along to that as we’d organised it, well Tash had, but I helped out on the bar so that was fine, had one or two drinks…Tash was a bit tipsy as well.

Friday came and Tash had the day off so walked Jack up to school and did whatever throughout the day. We then went up to the school at 1.00pm and waited as they all came out. The lads were all in tears again, the girls not as many. When Jack came out it was clear he’d been crying nearly all day! Red, puffy eyes…so that set Tash off.

We pottered around in the playground for a while as they signed each other’s shirts and then went down to the Plough where it was agreed that the parents would all stay for a while and the kids all went off playing and more signing of anything that moved. I had a pint and stayed an hour and then went home to carry on with some work, Tash stayed another couple of hours before making it home for something to eat and then we went to the Red Lion for 6.00pm. Not many people there but we spent time chatting with Loretta and a couple of other people I didn’t know. All very pleasant and again Jack and what kids he knew played in the park.

Left around 9.30pm and then walking past the White Hart I saw Liam through the window so went in for 30 mins for a half, but it went slow so i had two and came out at 10.50pm instead! Took some prawn crackers as a peace offering and all was fine!

So that’s it then, time to move on. Jack is definitely ready for the jump and looking forward to Cherwell, I am convinced he’s going to be a huge success there, the teachers are looking forward to receiving him already we know from Lewis so that’s a definite benefit!