Derek’s 80th Birthday Celebrations

Derek was 80 this weekend, quite a milestone!

Friday – worked in the morning and then Jack, Charlotte, Miles and I went down to Tasha’s work, left the car and walked down to Gloucester Green, Derek and Mum were waiting and he was quite surprised to see us there. He had no idea where he was going to who with, so we told him and I think he was looking forward to it. The coach came and we settled down and chatted, I was getting a bit anxious about the time as I understood the Shard to be quite officious with their bookings and when the traffic got bad at London we got off a couple of stops early (Westfield) and used the Tube. We got there with minutes to spare and all was fine, there wouldn’t have been a problem…but you just never know! We were taken to our table and the view from the restaurant was stunning. It is very much an upmarket place and we were fortunate to have a set meal offer and decent choice. Ordered drinks and food and just enjoyed everyone’s company and it was lovely. Food was great and the service and we took loads of photos, it was excellent and would recommend to people.

I ended up paying the bill, £345.00, didn’t quite expect it to be that much and I paid it all…bit taken aback, especially as at the minute work isn’t exactly booming for me right now, I kept quiet though.

We left there and fancied a couple of drinks so we walked round the corner to Borough Market and found a pub and got seats and stayed there for a couple of pints, Derek appeared to be getting tired so we got the Tube back to Victoria and Miles and I went and got some beers for the coach journey home. That was enjoyable, we got quite drunk! Mum and Derek got out at Headington and we continued into town and Jack drove us home.

A really lovely evening and we had a great time.

Sunday – Lewis and I went to The Britannia in Headington and Lewis was struggling big time, kept throwing up on the walk up Line Walk – light weight!! When we got to the pub it was Mum, Derek, Louise and Molly. We ordered and that took a long time to be delivered but it was fine and it was a nice atmosphere chatting and catching up. Tash wasn’t there because they’d taken Zoe on a spa day for her birthday but it was fine. Derek seemed to enjoy himself and he said how much he’d enjoyed the meal on Friday so I think that went down well. Had a full Sunday Roast and Treacle pudding and that was it, time to leave. Said our goodbye’s and they wandered off towards home and we went back down Line Walk to retrieve the car. It was nice that we went and we enjoyed it.

Got home and Lewis just crashed out on the sofa and I watched TV! He left about 5.00pm to go back up north and Tash was home about 6.30pm – they’d had a nice time so a decent weekend all in all.

I think we’d helped Derek celebrate his 80th in style  

Fatboy Slim

Dropped Tash off to work this morning so the cars were all at home and then went shopping to Aldi and that was surprisingly pleasant because it was early and not many customers in the shop!

Went home and worked but didn’t get a huge amount of work done during the day because of the concert in the evening. On Twitter there were quite a few videos of the show last night at Wembley and it looked great, so

I was working but half watching other music videos and the like. Got stuff done but also distracted!

Had some food and then got things sorted and went and picked up Tash around 3.30pm. Miles arrived on time as well and we drove to London, took just over 2 hours because of the traffic but we weren’t far behind John and Pauline and we dumped our stuff in the room and were down in the bar! Went across the road for some food and then a taxi to the venue

Loads of space and we just had a few drinks there and then the acts came on, even as early at 7.50pm we were dancing – the DJ was Hannah Wants, she’s local and she was good. Then the main event at 9.20pm with Fatboy Slim coming on, and wow, it was amazing! Didn’t stop dancing at all, absolute banging tunes and videos and lights and fireworks. It was everything that I wanted it to be and more. It was so good. Got some videos and they’re good, we were right at the very front and it was no hassle, loads of space and we were dancing away. Loved it. Buzzing now writing about it! Would definitely go and see him again if the chance arose.

We left the venue and went across the road to a bar and had more drinks – there was a great atmosphere in here and we had a laugh, bit of dancing and saw a fight so all good fun! Got a taxi home but took a detour to McDonalds for a drive through and then back to the hotel to crash out

The following days I check social media and there are some great videos from the night – loved it

Meal down the Cowley Road and nice weekend

Not much to update this diary on to be honest, feels a bit of a routine at the minute, I think it’s the usual come-down from Xmas and being flat throughout January and can’t be bothered to do much. But this was a nice weekend in that we went out with Wayne and Kerry on Friday night down the Cowley Road, started at Be At One and had some good cocktails, best one being a Jaiger-Mega Drive – lovely! We then went down the road to the Syrian Restaurant, the Walnut Tree. Starters were lovely but the main meal less so, I had a stew which was okay – a tagine? – but I’d not be in a hurry to return there. We then walked back towards the plain and went in the bar we went to with Charlotte and Miles and that was really relaxed and nice and we had quite a few pints in there.

Jack picked us up about 12.30am and dropped Wayne and Kerry home before taking us home but not before a detour to the kebab van for him!

Saturday I felt slow and ponderous nearly all day, a cross between the drink and the food I think, Tash was the same! There was no football because of the snow we’d had yesterday so I worked in the garden and Jack helped me with building our new log store, looks okay and we’re pleased with it, also cleared a path for the trees being chopped down later this week by Merlin, that’ll be a sad sight! Walked the dog and our student left whilst we were out which was a shame as I think she wanted to say goodbye to us, she’d enjoyed her stay, Mica from Argentina. Jack still had football training and when that finished we met him in town and we did some shopping for the wedding, I got some new shoes, not for the wedding but I needed some new black shoes which was pleasing, and we got Jack a shirt etc. I ended up with a tie but it cost £45.00 – I was shocked! I was surprised we were even looking at the £27.00 ties so when this ringed up for that much I was speechless, far too much however nice it looks.

Back home I watched the second half of Ireland v England in the first game of the 6 Nations rugby and we won so that was pleasing. Had a nice dinner and then Tash spent the evening doing her puzzle and we watch House of Cards and other things on TV, a nice evening.

Next morning I helped Jack with his applications for apprenticeships, that was tough going and we took the dogs for a walk over Shotover, still some snow around so it was a nice picturesque visit, back home we had nice dinner, did more with Jack’s work and then watched a film and more TV again with a couple of bottles of wine.

So a nice weekend in the end