Lewis home for Mothers Day

Worked in St Albans on Friday and then as agreed wen down to St Pancreas Station in the centre of London to pick Lewis up. Found each other in the end as busy as it was at 5.20pm on a Friday night and then we travelled home to Oxford. Took a long time to get out of London but it was nice as it meant we had time to catch up with things.

On the way back we picked up Jack from a friends house in Headington, Miles’s brother funnily enough and I had a quick chat with Terry and then we went down to Cherwell School where Tash was at a parents get-together organised by one of the parents for Yr 8s! I wasn’t overly bothers but popped in and had a drink and a chat and then had to drag Tash out as she was enjoying it all. We’d stayed in the school a little too long really as the boys were still in the car waiting for us, about 35 minutes!!

When Tash got to the car Lewis popped out and shocked her! Loads of swearing and a few tears but it was a great surprise. Went home and sat around in the evening, had a few drinks and something to eat and watched TV.

Next day we all had different things organised, I cut back trees over the pond, quite dangerous and Lewis was helping, I then went to a seminar at the Holiday Inn about Forex currency exchange dealing, lasted a couple of hours and was a waste of time. Wish I’d not gone.

Everyone was out when I got home as they were in town getting Mum some presents for Mothers Day and Tash was working so I went out on my bike with the intention of getting two hours under my belt.

I went on a large circuit of the ring road and around Cumnor etc and it ended up as 2h 45m bike ride – 37 miles – it completed wiped me out! When I got home I was shattered. Need to work on that more and more and build up the miles/time in the saddle. This 100 miles is going to be shear pain. Not looking forward to it one bit now, it’s starting to dawn on me what I have let myself in for…

In the evening there was a Barclays reunion – it’s now 20 years that the office has closed. It was held at the Red Lion pub in Kidlington and there was a decent turn out. Spoke to a few of the people and spent much of the evening with Little Heather and Sarah. Had a chat with Gill, Roger and Ken. Roger is looking older, as I am sure we all are, but it was good to hear everyone’s news. As we said, everyone seemed very positive and things were looking up. Stayed quite late and had a few beers and then home

Next morning it was Mothers Day, Tash was in a funny mood so it wasn’t a normal nice morning but it was fine. I think it was actually her mum that caused the awkwardness as Tash invited her round to share breakfast but she preferred to stay and clean her patio slabs! Sometimes I think Tash feels left out, I don’t think Nik cares but it’s all about Tiffany which is a shame.

Around midday it was time for football for Jack – and they were playing Didcot in the cup semi-final, it was a great game and performance by all concerned, really enjoyed it and was buzzing afterwards, Jack was quality and it was a very competitive hard game but Horspath ran out 5-1 winners to book a place in the final. Really pleased for Jack about that. Lewis & Tash came along as well so that was nice for him.

Back to Sue’s in the afternoon and we had all the family turn up and we organised a Chinese take-away which was surprisingly good and everyone enjoyed it.

Tiffany then announced that she was pregnant, not to much surprise, but everyone was pleased for her and Paul. I think we’d guessed but it was good to hear it was confirmed, she was about 11 weeks gone but doesn’t want it to be proper news just yet.

I’d agreed to drive Lewis home on Sunday and we said our goodbyes to everyone and then made our way home to Huddersfield around 8.00pm. Some bad traffic on the way (20 miles of 50mph in some road-works) but we got to his halls around 11.00pm so wasn’t too bad, I crashed out at his as I am down to Birmingham the next day (what a bad decision that was!)

It was a very good weekend, really enjoyed it and really enjoyed having Lewis home for some time with us. He’s down again in a fortnight as well and once again I can time it with my work so can collect him after training a new client in Manchester.

Gangster time in the West End you slag!!!

Dropped Charlotte and Liam at Bicester Train station to visit Lewis – she had a great time

Joes friday night to treat Jack – really nice

Saturday – Nik and Gaz to London

Pie and Mash shop, liquor

Cemetary – Krays graves

Pub at 3.00pm – meal in the evening – very drunk indeed!

Hangover/still drunk – Columbia Road flower garden, Blind Beggar, home

Slept all the way and then when home.

Picked up Charlotte in the evening following her trip to Lewis – loved every minute of it!

Vets Match v Didcot

Played football last night for the first time since November when I had that awful match against Thame and lost all interest in playing again. Wayne asked me to play and it was for the over 40s cup. We’d been promised that we’d be on the main Didcot pitch, I’ve not played on there actually, but when we arrived clearly we were going to be on the training pitch – and that was shit!!

The pitch was bone dry and hard and impossible to pass the ball, we tried to play football as usual and got caught out loads of times – eventually had to play a lot longer and we got in the game in the second half. Went a goal down and then with 8 mins left I went into midfield to create some energy and was involved in creating our equaliser. Went to extra time and penalties and their keeper was useless and we won 4-2 after Graham Savin saved two. Pleasing to beat them but it was a strange atmosphere with some of the lads.

Managed to last the match and it was okay, can’t say I really enjoyed it but was pleased to make it through and not feel too bad afterwards. Started stiffening up and feel stiff this morning but it will pass, it’s my back that’s the problem!

So, need to decide if I want to play u35’s football again, I don’t think that I do.

Last Team Talk

Received a nice photo from Alex’s Dad, Paul…

Got my Cycling gear…

Tash said, ‘You don’t look at stupid as I thought you’d look!’

Not sure how to take that to be honest! When she sent the image to Lewis he simply replied ‘OMG’…

Oxford City Girls FC

In the afternoon yesterday we went and watching Wayne’s girls side play in the u16’s cup final at Thame Utd. This is the u15’s team that win all before them which Chloe plays in and they were in control from the first minute. I took my camera and wandered round taking snaps so hopefully I’ve got some decent ones. Saw a few people we know and caught up, it was good to see Sharon Carroll as she was over from Ireland. The football was enjoyable and City finished convincing winners at 6-0. Jim Austin’s daughter Dara was very good as was Chloe, she reads the game well, has good energy and seemed to get in the right positions most of the time – I was pleased for her.

Afterwards it was back to Old Man Holdy’s for a couple of beers and a few hours and that was good fun. Didn’t stay too late and then home and bed – a really nice weekend again. Busy week ahead and early start on the train today, although I chose a later one because I couldn’t face getting up at 5.30am today.

I need to find some time to get out on the boke this week as well, this is the week I have to push myself and get some miles under my belt.

I also need to get my head around my business and what I’m going to do about it going forwards with things dropping off work-wise.

View from Port Meadow

When Tash and I went for the walk in the meadow it was dusk as we returned and the sunset was amazing. Loads of rabbits out and about as well

Sunset in one direction, the moon in the opposite direction.

A routine Sunday

For the second Saturday running we had a bit of routine of working in the morning and then up to things later. So today I cut more wood and nicked more from the skip next door. I think I’ve got a lot in readiness for next winter, I doubt I’ll collect any more for now, I have nowhere to store it! I also cut back one of the trees again and then made a visit to the dump as I had other stuff to get rid of as well.

I then continued to Sports Direct and bought myself a pair of cycling shorts and a top – I’ll look the dog’s bollocks now!! I then had a call from Mum as they’re sorting out their kitchen and there were a couple of things they needed help with so I got under the sink and sorted that as well. Wasn’t there for long as they didn’t need me to do too much.

When home Tash and I went for a walk to the Perch and took Bella – she loves it – and then back again. I dropped Charlotte off at Miles house and we had a nice curry for dinner and watched TV, I collected Charlotte at 11.30pm and that was the night over. Another lovely day, very hot again – seem to be getting nice weather at the minute!

100 Mile Oxford Cycle Challenge – Day 1

Day one of my new fitness regime, this time cycling!!

So I went out on my bike at 4.30pm quite excited having finished promptly at Raintree so I could get out on it, got back from work, got changed and straight out on the bike. Up to the roundabout and down the Witney Road – managed to get a really good speed. It certainly helped having all the cars sat in the traffic not being able to get anywhere and it gave me that incentive to go zooming passed them all.

Got past Eynsham and Cassington and then the road disintegrated so turned back on myself and instead of returning to Oxford went left towards the Hanboroughs. That wasn’t the best idea as by now I’d been out for 45 minutes and was starting to feel a bit flaky and tired – already!!

On checking where I was at Church Hanborough I realised I was halfway to what I wanted to do so I decided to continue on to Long Hanborough and through Bladon. Walked a bit in Bladon and then got to the Woodstock roundabout and came back passed the airport and to home

All in all, I did 15 miles – took me an hour and 20 minutes and it was hard. I struggled to be fair and I am concerned now about the cycle ride. I definite, definitely, definitely have to work on this to get anywhere near the fitness I need to be at as it’s affectively a marathon. And that really is the best description for this, it’s a marathon for bikes because on doing the maths, even if I managed something as good as 15 miles an hour that is still 8 hours that I will have to cycle for, and I think 15mph is being very generous indeed, I can’t see that happening!

So, yeah, I don’t think I realised or appreciated how hard this is actually going to be – but it’s a challenge. It will help with my legs, arms and back because these are killing me now but it’s really given me an incentive to get up to speed. It’s going to drive Tash mad as it will be very time-consuming

Let’s see how it goes!

Day One of Bike Project

I finished work at Raintree bang on time today, in fact early, so that I could leave at 4.30pm and get home, got changed and was straight out on my new bike. I only wanted to go for an hour but over-did it as usual and was out for ages. I went well going down the road to Witney but on the normal roads I then found it quite hard going.

Love the bike though, felt good and it was a pleasure to be out there. Anyway, the link to my effort on Run keeper is below and you can see I did a 15 mile loop. It was quite slow and I definitely need to ensure that I push myself over the coming 15 weeks to get into the shape to be able to do the 100 miles I have entered for. Bit concerned I must admit!!

I was knackered in the evening but I was all finished by 6.20pm, although I didn’t do anything else, just sat on the sofa recovering!!! I will certainly aim to be out on the road in the mornings from now on, if only for 30-45 minutes to get the legs and heart going.

Anyway, I’ve begun…

Run keeper Entry Link

Bike Ride

Okay this is something I’m probably going to regret!! When Tash and I went on our long walk yesterday I mentioned that some of the old footie lads are signing up for a 100 mile ride around Oxfordshire, she replied that I should sign up for it as well – even though I don’t have a bike!!

So I said on Facebook that I would go and today after football we cycled to Cycle King in Cowley and I purchased a new bike, a very nice one! Really pleased with it. I’ve not cycled for ages but need to get going and get into some sort of training. Which is what I will do.

I think Tash is worried about my weight, and not without reason, so hoping that doing this will help, we shall see!

Giorgia & Football

This week I announced to all the parents that I am stepping down as Stars manager and I’ve had a couple of people say thanks but most important to me is the response I had from Giorgia Laird’s dad, Julian. I’m really pleased and proud to get this below:

“Also, to respond to your important announcement - I know Giorgia has only joined the group this year but I'm grateful to you for the coaching you've given her.  Thanks to the matches she's done with you, and the confidence she gained, she challenged the school to let her play football and she's now playing in one of the school teams - the only girl in the whole school to play football as the rest are condemned to netball!  She's also started a girls football club at school, so one unintended consequence of your Summertown Stars coaching is a contributing role to a feminist revolution!”

Had the match this morning as well, didn’t do very well and got beaten easily by Oxford City. Had a few players from the Comets, they held their own and did okay. It’s been a while since we’ve had a game so everyone was a little rusty.

Cup Final Win for Jack

Jack’s school football team were in the local cup final this afternoon against a team from the Ducklington area. He was very excited by it and was buzzing in the morning but only my mum was in a position to go and watch as both Tash and I were working.

Anyway, I cried off one of my appointments so I could make it, it was down at Rover and as I got there after a phone call that over ran he was being substituted! I was a bit miffed and he said he’d not played too well but others said he was fine. They were in control of the game, they’ve got good players in their side, many from Horspath and they ran out comfortable winners, 4-1. I was pleased for them and proud of Jack, he’s a good lad.

Managed to get a photo of him at the end, for some reason my phone stopped working during the presentation so missed that part, annoying!

They went off to MacDonald's to celebrate and were in high spirits – but then they always are!!!

Saw a few parents I know, including Liam Carroll, this was the first I’d seen him since our incident and he gave me a hug and it’s all brushed under the carpet now.

Start of another week…

Decent day today, up nice and early to get the 6:47am train from Bicester and then into the Peters Books offices. I knew it was going to be because of the email from Margaret on Thursday that it was going to be a full on day and it certainly was – I worked my bollocks off!

We had a load of mailings that needed to go out, i needed to create the mailing lists and Tom worked on the design etc but we got them all completed by the end of the day which was good. I had to push EdCo to upgrade the Data Mining App as it wasn’t doing what I needed it to do. A bit frustrating working with them at the minute as they seem to be making all the requests more work than they need to be. Ah well.

I also had a meeting with Ray and Richard Butler (in charge of Customer Services) as they want to get CRM fully integrated with all areas of the business. Had to answer a ton of questions from Richard but I think he was satisfied that the system will meet his requirements. Now to proceed with a project on this for them, I also had a meeting with Ray in the evening to review and discuss all the other items that need to be addressed. He seems happy with the work I’ve done for them and there is additional work if I want it for them. Also met with Krishna who has various demands and also finally with Teresa. She was in good form, she’s off to Australia for 5 weeks so is looking forwards to that.

I left in the normal time and on the train home there was an almighty bang and the window across the aisle from me shattered. Some kids obviously had thrown a brick or stone at the train, luckily it is shatter-proof so it looked like frosted glass. Not good!

Did some more work in the evening, got a bit stressed with the kids which was wrong as I was trying to concentrate on some work and also get things sorted for tomorrow. We managed to have some pancakes though as it’s Shrove Tuesday tomorrow!!

Return to football, for one of us..

Up nice and early and went and picked up Jack from Timmy’s to go and played against Oxford Blackbirds in the cup. My football was cancelled last night so I was pleased that I’d be able to take him and watch and I took my camera as well. His mate Timmy, who plays for Oxford City and would have been against me today said he wanted to come along and watch so that was fine.

Blackbirds are in our league so I know what they were like, it’s the loud female manager, and it was an okay game. Too easy for Horspath and they ran out 10-2 winners in the end. I managed to get a few photos and video and when I got home I was pleased with some of them so it was a good morning’s work! Jack played well, he’s getting his left back position well established, certainly as an attacking full back, it was pleasing to watch him.

On the way home I spoke with the Comets manager and we agreed the handover from my Stars to him and in fact it’s going to be in 2 weeks time…scary!! Unfortunately, I missed out the cancellation message to two parents, and they turned up at football for the match, how awkward?!?!

Anyway, got home and Tash was quiet but she’d been busy and got a load of chores done and then suddenly went very ill! She was being sick and sleeping everywhere. So from 12.30pm we didn’t see her again until 8.00pm. I just continued with various jobs I wanted to get sorted, books on eBay, train tickets for Charlotte and Liam’s visit to Lewis at the end of March and so on.

When Charlotte got home from work I took her out driving and we managed an hour around Headington and Wood Farm etc. She’s put in for her test, should be end of April, it will have been 30 lessons all told, that’s a lot of money, but it’s all hers though!

In the evening I watched the new episode of The Blacklist, it was a very good start in fact, a lot darker than the previous series, I really enjoyed it.

Set the alarm for an early start as I am off to Peters Books tomorrow – 5.45am alarm call…not nice!

		Horspath Match VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Summertown Coach No More

Today was my last stint as manager for Summertown Stars, quite sad to be honest but also a weight off my shoulders and I will move on now. So this season I have been running the Stars team that I started as 7 year olds even though Jack has been playing for Horspath. It’s been really tough going to be honest and at Xmas I said that I was standing down and we talked the Comets managers to take over and they’ve been involved the last fortnight and brought some players across with them.

Today we played Oxford Blackbirds who are pushing for promotion, I had 19 boys to choose from and I used them to my own ends for once and for the first time that I can remember the result was more important and 4 of them didn’t get a game!!! I felt guilty for that but the nature of the match made it hard to give them all a game because we ended up edging them out 4-3 in a thrilling match which I was delighted with.

Obviously I apologised but they were fine with it. I played some of the new lads and they were excellent so hopefully the team will do well next season. Had a few speeches afterwards and some cards and alcohol given to me. It was all a bit of a blur to be honest but I shook all their hands and the parents and it was quite emotional all round. I got some photos taken as well, I’ve really enjoyed seeing them grow up and I am saddened that it’s stopping now, I would have liked to have seen them through to 18s but Jack is more important and I will likely get more involved with them now and help Horspath improve.

Some nice comments in the cards thanking me for encouraging them and teaching them their football, I liked a comment from Cian that was he’s known me ‘half his life’!

Some nice comments on Facebook as well so all in all a nice end to an era. We will organise a get-together at the end of the season, probably paintballing.

I’ve made the right decision though, in Jack’s match it was too easy, he was pushed up to centre forward and scored a hat-trick, shame I missed that, but won’t from now on!

Some other photos from days gone by: