Full on day at work

Say I was worried about today but it appeared to go okay. I got to their offices in good time and sat and worked closely with Steve.

Obviously there were a few problems but I worked with the guys at the Education Company and we got things fixed very quickly. 

Many of the problems could have been avoided if proper testing has been carried out in the time they had but clearly not enough had taken place.

Anyway it could have gone a lot worse but thankfully everything was quite positive and I am not overly concerned about the full training on Monday.

I still didn't leave until around 5 PM but I managed to catch the 515 train back to Oxford Parkway and made it home for 7:15 so a long day but quite productive

I am absolutely shattered now and typing this up waiting for Natasha outside of the new theatre know the playhouse as she is watching a show.

There was some drama at home because Charlotte stood on Bessie and the poor dog was limping around feeling sorry for itself and Charlotte was in floods of tears. However all is fine and the dog is as mad as ever she is lovely 

Oxford Parkway Train Service

Decided to try the new train station today to get the Marylebone and was really impressed. Parking currently free because of problems with their machines so that's a bonus immediately!!

Loads of space and nice and clean...well it is brand new! 6.31am train and hardly anyone on it. Stopped at Bicester Village shopping centre where more people joined but I had so much room. Very happy with that. Total journey time was 1hr

Trains back are very 30 mins so it should be fine. Can only use it for Marylebone at the minute and it starts from Oxford Parkway, not sure if they plan on starting in Oxford or not

A good first experience and I'll definitely use it again

A long day..

Was up and out to Bicester for the 6.45am train to London, watched opposite as the one to Burmingham that I will get tomorrow went past. It was then about an hour on the tube and walking to South Woodford and Groupcall 

Today was the first training session for the Spirit install project that has taken up so much of our time in the last few months. Something I was very nervous about which is unlike me. 

It all went okay to be fair and I had nothing to worry about but there were so many questions and new requests, it really was bloody hard work. By the time I left at around 5.00pm I was shattered. I earnt my money today!

Train home and got in about 7.30pm. Chatted to the student a bit and then collected Charlotte from work as she had to get a lift as her bike was locked to Tasha's and she'd kept the key...oops!

Tash went out with Nicki for a few drinks and I sorted of worked on the sofa whilst watching tv, I wasn't really in the mood but didn't go to bed until 12.30am which was stupid as I need to be up at 5.45am tomorrow again as I'm off to Peters Books. 

Jack went to football training which Paddy was doing but he was a bit underwhelmed which was disappointing to hear. He did the same session as before which I thought was okay so surprised it wasn't as good this time. 

Oxford City over 50's debut!

Set the alarm for 6.20am last night and was up and down working until 9.00am. Got quite a bit done, would rather not have to do it but the work's there so might as well do what I can

Got some food then took Jack to football, did some more work in the car and then went and watched. They played Ducklington and once again they proved too strong for our lads. But disappointing really as out lads didn't give it a really go. Ah well. Dropped Jack home and had something to eat and then went down to Oxford City myself for the over 50's vets. 

There were a few familiar faces and the usual silly chatter was taking place. We played Goring who only had 10 players and it was very comfortable. I struggled with my fitness, not impressed. 

We then offered to give them a player so I volunteered and it was ok. They weren't very good so I had to work really hard, I was still really competitive trying to tackle and beat my City teammates. We won in the end by about 6. I was shattered as I played the whole match. 

Had a drink and a chat afterwards and they want me to play regularly which suits me. 

Came home and our new Polish student was here and she seemed nice enough, very chatty and that so I think our concerns about her reduced. In email exchanges she seemed very nervous

I went back out into the office and worked until 9.30pm and then came in and went to bed. 

Worried about the session tomorrow at Groupcall, we've done so much work for them and this project has run and run with so many changes, God only knows what it will be like with people tomorrow

Futsal Tournament

Cut the trees back first thing in the morning and really worked the over!

Got ready and then took Jack to Swindon for the Futsal tournament we’d entered into. I had a pretty full squad but no goalies which was a frustration so we needed volunteers. There was a bit of a balls up when a few teams didn’t turn up so things were re-arranged and I had both my teams on at the same time.

I tried to leave them to it to do their own thing in terms playing time and goalies and it worked really well. We played a few teams we’ve already played and lost to (Ready and FGR) and they clearly thought they’d beat us comfortably…they were mistaken!

It was a league basis and in the combined 8 games my two teams had we won 7 of them. Some good football played and it was enjoyable. Team A went through to the Semi final but Team B seemed to get stitched up and didn’t get through – I still don’t quite get how that happened.

So they played the strong FGR in the semi and held them and that went to penalties and we beat them

In the final we played a very strong team – not sure who they were – but we lost 3-1 in the end. Never mind, it was a good afternoon and they should now have that confidence that they can compete and beat these teams. I was very proud of them.

Jack’s First Proper Concert

He loved it!

We took Jack and Harvey to Birmingham this evening to see Major Lazer in concert, neither had been to a full on concert before, and certainly not on their own. They were excited and nervous as the same time. We drove up no problem and parked opposite Peters Books and I gave them a very quick tour or my area there!

We went to the O2 Academy and the queue was massive, we were worried about them being checked for their age so we decided to wait with them, we had their passports but we didn’t want them to keep them so we waited in the queue and it wasn’t so bad actually. They had no problem whatsoever getting in and then they were gone!

We went round the corner and found a very nice authentic Chinese restaurant (you’re spoilt for choice in the Chinese Quarter!) and had a nice meal. Far too much food but it was good. Tash had a few glasses of wine and a few things to get off her chest at me, wasn’t very pleasant and was a bit unnecessary and out of the blue. I ignored it after initially being pissed off but it was going to ruin the evening.

We then had time to kill so got a nice coffee in a local hotel and then it was time to get the lads, we managed to get them from outside with flukey driving past at the right time but it worked

They were buzzing, so pleased for them, they had such a great experience and are keen to go again asap. They were chatting for much of the way home, we stopped and got them some burgers and made it home around mid-night.

I was pleased they had a good time, the support acts weren’t so hot but Major Lazer were very good – and very loud! It made me smile when Jack and Harvey got in the car they asked if they were shouting because they couldn’t hear themselves properly!

Money and time well spent! We’ll do that again and hopefully Tash will be more relaxed with me!!

New laptop

Testing this out – any good? Seems okay so far!!

Centre Parcs Sunday

Up at around 8.45am without a hangover so nice bonus!! All round to Sue's for breakfast, had a big fry-up. No hurry to do anything as our hooking for an activity was at 4.00pm

So we pottered around and then went for a walk to the Jardin de Sports and had a drink there. Cycling down the massive hill was a laugh and it was pleasant

We then went to the centre shops and did some shopping before people went their separate ways. Jack and I went to the car and found my camera at last and the cycled round exploring. 

Tash needed up home at 2.00pm as she didn't have any keys so we did that, watched some TV and I then got ready and went to the JDS again but this time on the train. 

We then had out table tennis tournament and it was good fun. Jess and I were teamed together and we did well, a couple of exciting games and we made it to the final against Jack and twice we were at a tiebreak but we couldn't quite finish him off and he triumphed. 

Everyone seemed to enjoy that and we then went for a pint in the Spirts cafe. After that we stopped at the park and there was a strange apparatus that enables you to go upside down that was brilliant. We were stupid!!

Got to the swimming pool and we'd timed it so it was dark now and had a few goes down the Rapids. All good silly fun. 

Didn't stay much longer than an hour or so and then got the train home. Had a 10 mins snooze and then round to Niks for dinner. Pulled pork, pulled pork as the chant went...

Everyone was absolutely shattered so it was a quiet night but it was still really pleasant and we had a laugh. A few rounds of pieface were played but no one was really up for it so it didn't last too long

Had a coffee and came home and in bed writing this by 11.30pm

A lovely day with a lovely family. We all get along so well. 

Giving blood & Jack's sleepover

Did my bit for society today by going up to the JR and giving blood. Always a nice atmosphere up here and I wish I could do it more often. Nice people and relatively painless, although I do hate the first time the needle goes in!

Knackered today, stiff as a board and hobbling around, Tash had to help put my socks on I couldn't reach down!!

After the blood donation I went to Aldi and got a load of snacks for Jacks sleepover this evening. He's got about 12 friends coming over, boys and girls, so that's going to be interesting!!

We accepted the idea because we don't really know his mates so it will be a good chance to do so. 

Worked quite late into the early evening before having a bath and then bed. Really struggling to walk around. I'm typing this whilst listening to the music being played outside on the patio

Jack's friends all turned up and it's a nice atmosphere so far, I lit the fire pit and their all sat round it in blankets chatting and having fun. If it stays like that I'll be happy, I'm not confident though, I think there's a few excitable lads here. We'll see, I'm not judging yet