Dodgy areas and hotels for the night..

Actually I am just exaggerating for comic effect, but it’s not particularly funny really is it so that didn’t work!

What a long old day it’s been today, I was up at 6.00am and went to Oxford Train station today because of the time and the school holiday and I breezed through. Even tweeting that I had the Matrix sound track playing and all the traffic lights went in my favour…coincidence?? Included a couple of Oxford companies and got a couple of re-Tweets so that was nice

Train journey was uneventful but I got a lot done and emails all up to date etc and to the Edustaff Office back on 9.00am. Long meeting with Andy and Wayne on TED and then working with Trevor, the IT chap from Deverill. We worked on the PCs for all the staff and everything went fairly well and I picked up some new hints and tips for PC management which I wasn’t aware of before

By early afternoon it was clear that things weren’t going as quickly as expected and I was asked to come back in tomorrow which I was happy enough to do. Stayed until 6.00pm and then decided that there wasn’t much point in going home so I found a hotel that seemed nice and booked in and left. Decided to walk to it and it was 2.9miles and took me an hour! Very rough area Plaistow it is, very intimidating but it was okay I am sure and the actual hotel is a bit like a shining beacon amongst the gloom of the area!

Really nice chap and free fruit, drinks, use of the kitchen and free wi-fi – couldn’t believe it really. Got settled down and then got some chips and a pie from across the road and then worked in the evening but had an early night – well 10.30pm.

As a result of my IT work today I checked out my 365 account and found out I have loads of data storage available so I decided to start using that – slow upload process but it’s a start and I can fire it off again tomorrow in the office!

Kept getting texts from Natasha throughout the night, we wasn’t liking it as I was away and Jack & Charlotte were out and about so she was home alone. I am sure she was fine just watching TV.

Accounts up to date…I think!

Well that’s been something I have put off and put off but I got there in the end!! I’ve spent 3 nights sorting out the Bank Accounts and tonight I finally got them to balance and get everything else that the Accountant needs for completely my tax return. It’s been hard work and not surprising really as I’ve not done anything since November 2013, bit of an idiot really.

So, that’s all gone over to Simone for her to work out what I will owe, really hoping to get it scaled down so that I find that I am in a good position financially. Quite an obvious thing to say I appreciate but if my calculations are correct I could be sat on £10k which would be ‘nice’!! We shall see.

Worked at Raintree today and Peters yesterday, not much to report, was busy at both places and got so much done, very productive.

Now for an early night as I am off to Brighton tomorrow – need to be on the road by 6.30am ideally

Shopping and travelling home

Up at 7.00am and down to the gym by 8.00 – well not the gym but the pool. Did a couple of lengths and then into the sauna and back out again – I really don’t appreciate swimming!

Quick shower and then down to breakfast and this was excellent, had far too much to eat but I treated it like my Last Supper with the intention to eat less and more healthily for the next couple of weeks. Kept in touch with Lewis and decided not to go and see him again and made our way home. Got to Sheffield and went to the Meadowhall Shopping Centre there. Huge great place, on a par with Westfield and that.

Wandered round and managed to get some clothes etc and in the afternoon came home. Journey down was okay and didn’t hit as much traffic but there was some which was frustrating. Nice to be home, Charlotte did a Bolognaise which was good and I then worked on my Accounts to get them balanced and up to date

Been putting it off and off so it was nice to finally get down to sorting them out, wasn’t quite as bad as I feared but still not finished! Early night (10.30pm)

Really nice weekend and it feels like a long one which thinking about it we did start on Thursday night!

Another year older…ah well!

Up North to see Lewis

Had a heavy head this morning, hardly a surprise!

Sorted ourselves out, loads the car, made sure Jack and Charlotte were okay with the plans etc, had Sue come round for a coffee (got some booze!) and then we jumped in the car to make our way up to Huddersfield and see Lewis. Journey was okay until on the M1. There are road works on there (and have been for at least a year) where it’s about 20 miles of 50mph – it’s so dull!

Anyway, a coach had broke down causing all sorts of tailbacks and we couldn't’ avoid it, even once past that there was another set of issues so it took us an hour longer than it should have done. More frustrating than anything really. Not much you can do about it but the radio was good, Danny Baker was funny and then after that was Fighting Talk so that was a couple of hours of good entertainment

Got to Huddersfield in the end and great to see Lewis. Tom and Beckie were up and ready to go, Ellie was ill (I think genuinely ill and not hungover ill) and we then walked into town to the Wetherspoons pub. It was a nice feeling to be able to say to choose what they wanted and we would pay – I think it’s something they really appreciated – I hope so anyway!

It’s so good at these places, the food’s not the best, which is why for 5 of us we could have food and a drink for £34.00!! Swapped stories and listened to them chatting and it was nice being involved, I was tired I must admit so was a little quiet. Got another drink in and then we went through to the University and they gave us a quick tour of the new Sports building and we saw where Lewis works in Starbucks.

The facilities there now are excellent, looks really good and impressive and they should be loving it there. The University is going from strength to strength. Walked back to their house and had a chat upstairs in Lewis’s bedroom before saying our goodbyes and leaving them to it.

Really nice afternoon and great to spend some time with them

The Hotel was only 20 minutes away so that was good to be that close and we got settled in there around 5.00pm. Had a quick change and went the pool/sauna area. I went ‘tired’ and sat there whilst Tash did her length and then it was back to the room where I slept for an hour.

Just relaxed in the room and then ordered room service and had a small meal of sharing Caesar Salad (chicken) and some dips. Watched the film ‘Limitless’ which was really enjoyable and then to sleep.

A very pleasant day indeed

46 Years on this planet…

46 today…sounds too close to 05. Not sure I like that sound to be honest!

Tash was up early and got a full fry-up on the go and I wandered down around 7.15am. Lovely breakfast, was perfect and then some cards and presents handed over, got my jumpers and shirt I bought the other week at Bicester village so I was happy. Lots of sweets!

Worked from home today but wasn’t really focussed on the job in hand if I am honest, I think I was a bit hungover from last night, anyway, it was a dis-jointed day. Got a lot of Facebook messages which was nice and I answered them at the end of the day, pleasant to hear from people I don’t normally speak to.

We got ready in the evening and then walked down to Summertown to meet Nikki and Gaz at the Dew Drop for 7.30pm. They weren’t much ahead of us and I soon caught up with Gaz and his extra pint!. They’d bought me a bottle of wine and left it under the Xmas tree so I had to go and collect it which amused everyone. Then at 8.30pm we went next door to Joe’s.

Had a really nice evening in there, good food (although my Thai Green Curry lacked the flavour I’ve become accustomed to!) and plenty of wine! Good chatter and when they finished with coffees I had a Mojito which was a good way to finish the night!!

Said our goodbyes and then Tash and I walked home, both a little drunk, she a little more drunk than me!

A pleasant and enjoyable birthday so no complaints at all!

Start of the Birthday Celebrations..

Start of the birthday celebrations..Charlotte wants to go out tomorrow night so we organised an early birthday meal for Mum, Derek and Grandma for tonight so that she could do both! Busy day with work and then I did the Horspath training – we seem to be getting fewer players at each session which is strange.

Got home and they were there, quick change and then a normal/usual evening. Had a few drinks and chatted etc and then food which was really nice. Tash did a lovely Mediterranean Chicken. Grandma was loving it and ate all of that and the pudding! She was quiet tonight but seemed okay. Derek was enjoying himself and helping himself to wine which is unusual but was nice that he felt relaxed.

Had a good laugh actually – it was a really enjoyable evening. Derek had an ‘announcement’ to say that it’s 40 years that he and Mum have been together. Tash and I made a mental note to try and do something about it later as he obviously felt quite proud of that achievement, he’s not someone to normally be sentimental along those lines.

Had some presents after dinner which were good and then they were off. I had another couple of beers and watched some TV and then went to bed, a nice start to the weekend!

Another day in paradise…well London…

Back in London again today – third day in a row that I’ve been at Bicester train station! Wasn’t as early today but because of that travelling on the tube was a nightmare, so crowded, very unpleasant. Got to Scholastic on time though and met with Jason and then upstairs to carry out the training with the new/existing users who are going to become power users.

Interesting session really, Jason doesn’t do anything different to the way I do my training but it was still interesting to see how he does it and pick up some additional points. I’m glad he did it though as the questions coming in were very data specific.

Had a chat afterwards regarding the TED project and it was all fine, he said his bit which was relevant and I took on board his comments, happy to change my ways to fit in and ensure things remain smooth and obviously improve on the issues that are causing concerns in both offices. Take the emotional sting out of the process!

Delays coming home but will be home in time for football this evening against Didcot Vets – I really suspect this will be my last Vets match, I am still struggling from last week so shouldn’t really be playing – ah well, let’s see how it goes!

Nightmare day today…

Hard work today as up at 5.45am again and off to Birmingham on the train, did some work on the way and then into the office not before stopping off at Greggs to get some cakes for the office but also a bacon & sausage bap and lovely coffee! Very nice but not good for my non-existent diet!

Got loads done for Peters today but allowed myself to get distracted too many times by Edustaff work for a release that was required. Need to remain focussed on the customer in hand in future and also slow down in trying to help people, my work at the minute is almost 100 miles an hour as I try and keep everyone happy instantly, a bit less haste will help and if it takes longer than a couple of hours to reply to people then so be it. That’s the theory/plan anyway!

Off to London (Scholastic) tomorrow with Jason, have been concerned about this one but he’s advised he’s going to lead so that was a relief and I can concentrate on matching his training style and learning the ropes for Scholastic as a company I can then support going forwards.

Long day in Peters but it’s always a real pleasure being there and the people are lovely.

Typing this on the train home, won’t have an evening like yesterday, will leave the laptop shut down and relax for a couple of hours!

Full On Working Day…

Up at 5.45am today and off to London for an early meeting with Wayne at Edustaff. Really productive morning and discussed the plans and requirements for the next couple of weeks. After that I was working with a new starter and then left around 5.00pm. Got home very late (i.e. about 8.00pm) and then worked through to midnight as I have so much on with Edustaff that needs completing.

Absolutely knackered and I was a little rude to Tash when she was criticising me for looking tired. After the amount of work I carried out over the weekend it was little wonder I was struggling.

London is mad to be in during the rush hours though! I end up going to Oxford Circus and it’s such hard work – so many people crammed into the tubes and the walkways – so dangerous!

Anyway, another day ticked off…one day closer to retirement!

Another win for Horspath..

Up early this morning, sorted out Jack’s bike puncture and then went to football. We were against Cumnor today in another tough match and had a full contingent of players to pick from. We set up the team and they went out and done the business, a little rusty to start with and slow but it was an okay game and after some cajoling and that we ground out a 3-2 win. There’s a strange atmosphere within the team at the minute which I can’t put my finger on it. Morale or team spirit just isn’t there. We’ll get there in the end I hope. I think there is also a difference between me and Chris which is becoming apparent so hopefully this will sort itself out.

Jack did well but his focus for football and anything for that matter appears to have reduced – not sure what to do about it, he’s hard work with most things at the minute which is a shame

After the game Jack and I came home, Charlotte and Tash were shopping in Milton Keynes, so we had the afternoon to ourselves. He went upstairs and played his Fifa and I (instead of working) watched Stardust – love that film. Once it was finished then I got on with some work and spent another couple of hours working and getting myself sorted for the coming week.

Nice roast dinner and then last bit of work and then an early night. Off to London tomorrow so setting the alarm for 6.00am…not a nice thought!!

Dinner with the In-Laws

Worked all day today, was up at 7.00am and in the office all day with minor breaks. I have so much on for edustaff and I needed all this weekend to get up to date, I’m writing this on Sunday night and it’s been good to have got so much done – head’s spinning though I must admit!!

I didn’t do much else other than work to be fair and Tash went out etc and then in the afternoon around 4.00pm we needed to go out to Miles’ family for a meal. It was ‘Bring a Curry’ which was interesting as it meant so much food was there. It was a big family affair and we were made welcome and had a few drinks and plenty of food. People didn’t really stay long which was interesting so we didn’t over do it but we were still there as one of the last set of people there.

Chatted to other people and it was a pleasant evening – main food and the desserts were amazing!! Terry and Ru are really nice people and we get on well with them, we’re all very similar – it’s quite scary how similar!

Came back home around 9.30pm

2 Year Anniversary…work!

Through LinkedIn I’ve been congratulated by a couple of people for hitting my 2 year anniversary with my Dark Enterprise venture. Can’t believe that’s been two years I’ve been doing this, it really has flown by.

Things are going well and have gone well throughout the whole two years which is pleasing, lots of work coming in and being processed and I am enjoying it, it’s nice having a bit more money to be comfortable with especially when we can go to Thailand and skiing without it breaking us and paying for it without hardly noticing! That’s admittedly the only extravagance really, we’re not spending our money and time on going out loads or anything like that.

Hopefully things will continue the way they have been, there is a lot of work ahead of me until Christmas time I think but I need to start considering ways to expand further I reckon now. Jason had a good idea recently which I will follow up

So, raising a glass of champagne – although it’s 7.21am on a Saturday morning so raising my coffee cup instead!

Veterans Football again

Played this evening over at Chinnor and it was the usual expected unpleasant experience. Pissing down with rain throughout and the angry exchanges with them as players which makes it so un-enjoyable to play these types of matches. As well as that we had constant arguing and bickering with the ref and each other. That was the worse thing, I’ve played for a long time and been criticised by good players in my time but getting stick from players who aren’t up to scratch is hard to take

Perhaps I deserve some of it and perhaps I am getting past it – admittedly I am struggling to keep up and my fitness level is not acceptable but I don’t need it and seriously thinking about knocking it on the head. I’m not too sure what it is that’s keeping me going and turning up.

Will see what it’s like against Didcot this week…

We lost 1-0 by the way!