Another Xmas Weekend Completed

A decent weekend again…it’s getting to be a regular occurrence!

Friday I was up a little late because of being out last night with Jason, nothing to worry about, just tired and couldn’t be bothered with working. Did have a few calls and training to do but it was fine. In the afternoon I travelled out to Witney to meet up with a woman I’d been recommended to try out for my back problems. It wasn’t a chiropractor as such and was more of an intense massage and exercises for afterwards. It was fine but I am not 100% certain how well she has fixed my issues. I will carry on doing the exercises that were recommended and see if that helps otherwise I might go and see Chris. When I got home we had a nice dinner and then we had a lazy evening sat in front of the TV and we watched the Bruce Lee film Enter the Dragon say that was one of the films that have been ticked off the list that we need to complete .

So on Saturday I got jobs done in the morning and took the dogs out for a walk etc etc. We had Jack's football in the afternoon, he was with the first team again and was on the bench to start with. I kept watching out the window and unfortunately he didn't actually get to run out so it was a bit of a waste of time however he was told that he would start and play the game on Tuesday night say that was one bonus. Whilst I was at football I took the opportunity to work on the quiz and that went well – I got the music round sorted!

Went home and got changed and then Tash and I went out to the White Hart where we met with Nikki Henderson and Matt Todd and proceeded to get quite drunk together – the night flew by and it was late quickly, we left about midnight I reckon where both women had a bottle of wine each – Matt and I were fine…the girls less so!

Next morning Tash was struggling and was being sick – a pattern that lasted all day! I worked downstairs on the quiz and other chores that needed doing including cleaning out my office ready for people coming over during Xmas and so on. We then made a trip out to Wallingford to put the holly on the graves (Tash was sick in a bag and the layby on the way there!!) and we stopped at the cemetery for grandad as well, always a sad occasion and we all miss them a great deal.

In the early evening we then went over to Bicester, just me, Tash and Jack as it was Danny’s 30th birthday and Victoria had organised a surprise birthday meal for him, we were there in good time so ahead of him coming in and there was family from both sides there and about 16 of us – he was pleased and it was a nice evening. Had a couple of beers and the food was really good – loads of it as well! Chatted to his brother and girlfriend and that was nice as they’ve travelled – well the brother more so and it was interesting

Came home and watched some TV before going to bed and getting an early-ish night.

Charlotte was at Miles, she’s now back in Oxford for Xmas period, she was having a party at their house yesterday and it lasted all night, so I can imagine how tired she is.

Again, a nice weekend

Xmas Drinks and Catch Up

Went out this evening into town and met up with Jason, Chris, Allan Smith and Pete Roberts for a few drinks ahead of Xmas celebrations. I met with Pete in the Four Candles on George St and we caught on a few things work-related and chatted and then Allan Smith walked in. I’ve not seen him for about a year and I was shocked by his appearance – he’s lost loads of weight, it transpired he lost about 7 stone. It was a process that is akin to hypnotism I later found out where the cravings for certain foods is taken away. I thought he’d been seriously ill and was careful not to say anything initially, I think it’s too much weight to have lost but I think he’s comfortable with it and happy so that’s great.

Jason turned up with Chris who I like and we had a few drinks and chatted nonsense etc and it was a nice and relaxed evening. We left there and went to O’Neill’s and it was more of the same, got some food etc and about 10.00pm Jason and Chris had to get their train, Allan had already left as he had an early start in the morning and Pete left with JG so I had one more pint and made my way home as well. I was under very strict orders not to ruin the evening as she was out on her works party as well.

Her and Jack came home not too long after me actually and all was fine.

Good to catch up with Jason as usual – it’s been ages since we’ve seen each other, I think about 6 months!

Xmas Weekend with the kids…oh no it wasn’t…

What a great weekend we have had.

Charlotte has been down here since Wednesday so that’s been lovely and on Saturday, Lewis came down and was here about 10.00am. So we had a nice cooked breakfast and then put the tree up with all of them plus Miles and that was enjoyable as always. Got the usual photos. In the afternoon we just relaxed and then went out for a dog walk but Lewis was going to meet with Dan and Liam to go to London so we popped into the White Hart for a beer and I dropped him at the train station and then in the afternoon Tash and Charlotte watched a Xmas film whilst I worked on the Family Xmas Quiz that Paul and I are doing this year. Was pleased with my progress as I did a couple yesterday as well so it’s moving forwards.

Charlotte went over to Miles’ house as it was Ozzie’s birthday and Jack went out with his mates so Tash and I just sat in and had a few drinks, she went to bed and I was a bit drunk and stayed up on the sofa watching MOTD and then a film and then YouTube!! Lewis came in about 1.00am and we carried out, Jack came in at 3.00am and was absolutely pissed as anything, Tash then came down because of the noise and it was really amusing, He was talking so much shit, all the “I love you” and happy drunkenness. He then went upstairs and threw up! I carried out drinking and fell asleep on the sofa at about 5.00am in the end!

Woke up about 10.00am and wasn’t too bad, and Tash wasn’t cross so that was a relief! Pottered around in the morning and did another couple of dog walks and got things sorted for the following week and then made our way to Aylesbury, took a detour to Old Marston because my poster frames had been delivered there instead of my house so picked those up and then went to the pub opposite the theatre, we were in loads of time so it was nice to relax and not be hurried. Jack was wiped out…bless him!

The panto this year was Peter Pan and we were right at the front again so that was pleasing, it wasn’t quite as good this year for some reason, I personally don’t like Peter Pan as a story anyway but it was enjoyable of course and the guy Andy who is always there did his usual 12 days of Xmas that went down a storm, so many people (including us) brought their own water pistols and even toilet rolls – clearly regulars! It was mental when the water pistols came out, he was soaking!

Photo outside and then home…had nice cheese and biscuits and watched the final of I’m a Celebrity and Harry Redknapp won, I don’t think was a shock and then all went off to bed around 11.00pm – aha, but not before I’d bought tickets to see Pete Tong and the orchestra for Ibiza Classics in Manchester next December!

A long but really enjoyable weekend – great to have the kids all here

Failing eye-sight

Bit pissed off to be honest, just lately I have found it harder to focus on text when close up whether it’s hand-writing or on instructions. Arms length it’s fine but anything closer I am struggling with. Tash told me to try on some £1.00 specs she got from the pound shop and the difference was remarkable, so clear and in focus. Took them off, and fuzzy as fuck again!

So it looks like I am becoming long-sighted (just Googled it to make sure I got the correct definition!) so might have to get some reading glasses. I am not going to use the £1.00 ones as I wouldn’t trust those not to be damaging my eyes at the same time.

I’ve always been luckily with my eyes so I guess I shouldn’t complain but it’s another sign of creepy old age…I am fifty you know…

Derek Retirement

Worked in Birmingham today at Peters Books and on the way into work collected my new camera. It’s basic but I hope it’s what I need/want and it can deliver. So I was a bit distracted with that throughout the day!

Normal day’s work with Peters and then home on the train but just outside Banbury we came to a halt and we were told there was a broken down freight train and they couldn’t move it, so we sat there for 1hr and 20mins until they finally got it sorted and moved. So instead of meeting at the Turnpike at 7.30pm as planned I managed to get there for 8.00pm and my meal wasn’t too far behind! It was nice as there was obviously Mum and Derek but also us, including Jack and Sue and Simon. The food was okay and it was nice to be catching up on things.

Derek didn’t really say a lot to be honest, but we kept trying to involve him in conversations and that.

Anyway, paid and left and it was a nice evening. Tried my camera and that seemed to be okay!

Weekend round-up

A lot done and achieved this weekend starting with working in London on Friday for Hodder at their offices with the Assessment Team there. It was a good session though and they were the best of the people I’ve been working with for the training carried out. Finished and left their offices around 4.00pm and fancied a beer so had a couple of pints in the Marylebone station itself for once and then got the train home. Got on the wrong train initially but luckily heard the announcement and changed pretty quick – had about 90 seconds to spare…oops!

Home and changed ready to go out and we picked up Katherine and Pete from theirs and make our way into town for a meal at Mowgli. We had some drinks in Victor’s and then had a really nice meal, loved it and then back to Victor’s afterwards for more drinks and some dancing…was a really enjoyable night. Taxi home and then walked down from First Turn as they had to go and pick up Lily as she was having taxi problems.

Saturday had a bit of a lie-in and then blitzed so many jobs! Icicle lights up on the front of the house and all other lights inside the house, kitchen etc all sorted. My drinking photos all arrived, they’re so good, really pleased with them so I was laying them out and sorting through them, my Star Wars Blueprint posters also arrived so that was good! More chores out in the garden, fixing the shower, porch light fixed, did really well. Took Bess and Bella on a massive long walk on the meadow and then back for something to eat and we even bought our Xmas tree from Carl’s shop and got that home ready for next week when the kids are all down.

Tash and I then went out to watch Jack’s football, we got there at half-time to avoid paying and he wasn’t on and when we watched the match it was soon clear the other side were better than Abingdon and they were soon 2 and 3 nil down. Jack came on and he was put into centre midfield and he did well. He went on one run which should have ended up with a goal but the forward messed it up – Jack really made an impact and should be pleased with himself even though he got 20 minutes and they lost 4-0.

He told us later that his manager praised him in front of everyone and pointed him out as the only one to come out of the game with any credit and also the other team’s manager praised him and said he should have been on the pitch sooner! So he was pleased about that. And to be honest, he’s absolutely right.

Tash and I went to Tesco on the way back to get some bits and pieces we needed and then home and our new student arrived, she’s with us for a week and seems nice enough, had dinner and then watched TV in the evening.

Sunday, Tash finally went through the Japan book I made, I think she liked it but did think it was a lot of writing – whereas I was downstairs and working on the drinking images, I’ve put them in one of the maxi poster frames I have (will get a new one for Iron Man!) and after a bit of trial and error and a lot of patience I got it sorted and it looks absolutely brilliant – I am so pleased with it. Shared it on social media and loads of people thought it a good idea. You can see below!

We worked on jobs again and I also went out to check out the camera I want to buy and decided on one which I then ordered on Argos and will pick up tomorrow in Birmingham. Got a picture frame delivered for the movies scratch poster I got for my birthday and also sorted out drinks for Xmas and then we got a fire going and Tash wrapped presents, nice dinner and went through x2 bottles of wine whilst watching The Gangs of New York

That was it – loads done and very productive indeed.