Peters work lost today…

Worked at Peters Books today and was called into the office at the end of the day and told I’d been given a months notice. Claire was apologetic and all that but it’s not the point. That’s money I really need and I said as much that I don’t have any work currently. Really pissed off about it, but they do need me still for some work so I will quote for ad-hoc work and rate and see what comes about from that.

I really feel a bit lost at the minute, where is money going to come from to pay all the holidays and breaks that we’ve got coming up? Even this weekend we have things lined up in terms of going out to the Perch for a beer and cider festival and then everyone round to our house for a BBQ on Monday.

I’m getting stressed just typing it!!!

Not sure when I’ll tell Tash, will get the cinema tomorrow out of the way first!

Also, I’m being ignored by people and Hodder owe me thousands and aren’t answering my emails for payment – this is really worrying me, I have a horrible feeling they’re going to refuse some of the costs I’ve charged them, this is a nightmare.

I’m sure it’ll be okay but it’s not ideal and I really don’t need these problems.

Natasha’s Birthday Celebrations – Part 3 – and Jack’s end of era of Youth Football

Hangovers all round this morning! Didn’t get much done.

Jack had football in the afternoon so I went along to that – it was his last match of the season and in fact his last match as a Youth Team player. They were playing against Milton and everything was at stake, if Oxford City won or drew they would win the league, if they lost then Milton (their opponents) would win the league. Sadly, City simply weren’t at the races and ended up losing about 4-1, a real shame for them. I was disappointed, I’d have loved for Jack to win that trophy as well.

I came back a bit earlier from his match as there was a gathering at Sue’s for Tash’s birthday, all the females in the family came along – shame that Gareth doesn’t make an effort and always there is an excuse for him not to be over at either ours or Sues – ah well, his loss. Dinner was fine and Tash had a nice time, a few more wines!!

It wasn’t a late one but it went well and it was nice for her – she’s had a good birthday celebration I reckon

Bluebell Woods & Vicky’s 50th Party

Bit of a slow start in the morning initially and then worked in the garden and around the house

In the afternoon we took the dogs for a walk in the Bluebell woods and that was a good decision, they were in full bloom and looked great. Nice walk, although I was struggling to get around to be honest, my back is hurting!

Back home in the afternoon and we crashed out and fell asleep in the afternoon, sat outside in the sun we were knackered.

Went up to the White Hart in the evening because it was Vicky’s 50th birthday celebrations,  John Bampton was there and we joined him and saw loads of old faces. Caught up with Matty Timberlake (Scatty) and that was really nice to see him. It as a really good night, enjoyed it loads, got quite drunk…again and then wandered home about midnight I think…probably a bit later

Vicky enjoyed it though so that’s the main thing

Tash’s Birthday Celebrations – Part 2

Friday Worked at home today and didn’t get too much done

In the evening we got Charlotte to drop us in Summertown where we met Nikki and Gaz at the Dew Drop, they’d been there for a meal already and then we got to the serious part of drinking!! It was a nice evening and we did get through a fair amount to be honest. What was nice is that they don’t kick you out at 11.00pm anymore, there is not that stress and we were there until about 12.30am in the end!

Left and they missed their bus as usual, they got Jess to come and pick them up, she’s just passed her driving test so that’s great news for everyone

Tash and I just walked home – bit drunk!

Natasha’s Birthday Celebrations – Part 1

So up and about early and we handed out the presents to Natasha in the morning, not a lot this year really but she seemed happy with what we’d got her. Then off to work for everyone, I was at Raintree today as I’d changed my working day so that was nice to be around. Left usual time and home by 5.00pm to Charlotte and Miles cooking a chilli. Tash home and we started straight away. For some reason, I still don’t get why, Sue told Charlotte that she wasn’t going to come round and see her and gave Charlotte her present, she’d also told Tash as well so she was a bit upset about that, it pissed me off so I messaged her and she replied that she was coming round after all. Very odd indeed!

Whilst eating there Wayne and Kerry also came over and then my Mum as well – nice crowd, we quickly finished our food and then went outside to sit in the garden. It was bloody cold but it’s what she wanted to do so we wrapped up in blankets, got the patio heater(s) on and got the drinks out! Nobody stayed very late but the drinks were flowing and it was a really nice evening – it actually warmed up a bit once the wind died down. Gave up about 10.30pm and off to bed, I think Tash might have a heavy head in the morning! But she deserves to relax and celebrate!

Easter Saturday – Book of Mormon

Woke up around 9.00am and everyone was hungover! Lewis was in a bad way, no surprise there really and slowly we all got going.

Around 10.30am we got on the road to London, I went and picked Mum up from home and Lewis and Jack just slept in the car! We drove so slowly waiting for Tash to catch up but they didn’t until we got to the actual parking place which was so odd, I could not have driven any slower! I know they have the black box but I was 60mph all the way there! Anyway, we booked a parking place near Marble Arch which was cheap and convenient and walked to Marble Arch and went past Claudia Winkelman washing her car with her kids so that caused a bit of excitement!

At Marble Arch we were greeted with the strangest sight, there were no cars to be seen at all and it was a tent city wherever you looked. It was part of the Extinction demonstrations which are part of the global peace warriors initiative. Or something like that! It’s taking place all over the UK and the world which has been in the news but it was so interesting to see it in place – there was no way any traffic was coming through these areas and the police presence was really high, we walked through the middle of it and it was interesting and we made our way to Hyde Park. Today is also 420 Day which is the universal weed/drug day as well…so that was good timing!

We found a nice spot and had our picnic which included Moet Champagne which Lewis struggled with! Bit of relaxing and then walked down Oxford Street (empty!) to Regent Street down to Piccadilly Circus where the theatre was for our show – The Book of Mormon. We got in as they were calling people to their seats and our seats were very good, high up, but we had a decent view so we were all happy with that.  I had heard reviews about the show in that it was supposed to be hilarious but didn’t know what else to expect…and bloody hell, was it a shocking surprise. As suggested, it focussed on the Mormon church and teases religion and racial stereotypes and prejudices. But it was disgusting! I can’t describe the songs or the dances, it was just simply appalling bad taste but very, very funny indeed. The shock value was turned right up to ten! I later found out it was written by the guys that write South Park so that put it all into context for me/us.

After the show we all agreed it was brilliant and we loved it, but at the same time could understand how it could infuriate and disgust people of a different constitution. I would certainly consider wisely anyone that I would recommend it to!

Afterwards we started walking back towards the car  but took the back streets parallel with Regent Street and found a nice pub/bar to stop for food and drink and we had a couple of pints in there. It started to get a little cold because it was in the shade so we walked on further down Carnaby street and then down Oxford Street again and we found another pub and two more pints in there. I kept extending our parking end time and it was great because there were no extra charges for doing so, excellent value for money. We finally gave in and walked to the car properly going through all the protesters again and near an incident where the roads were all cordoned off by the police but luckily it wasn’t our way out so didn’t affect us. Tash drove as I’d had a couple of pints…and Lewis and I slept all the way home…nice!

Stopped for MacDonald's on the way back in Headington – although my quarter-pounder wasn’t included and then went straight to bed, everyone was knackered!

Outside the pub after the show…

Wishing Happy Birthday to Lewis in Hyde Park before the show…

Lewis’s Birthday Weekend–Bank Holiday Easter

I didn’t write this at the time, instead I had bullet points from the weekend that were listed below – I will try my best to detail what we did!

1. Thursday - Lewis down - drinking until v late

Lewis came down from Manchester after work and we got on the beers, not too sure how or why but we ended up watching TV and stayed up very late. He fell asleep eventually but as usual I carried on until I fell asleep but not after spilling drink on myself – not a good role model really am I?

2. Friday - late up, jobs in morning, chicken roast and drinks all afternoon, Zoe, John and Pauline - meal in evening Hugh and Dierdre

Yeah so we didn’t get up very early at all, the drinks in the afternoon was fun. The weather was really nice and after doing some stuff in the morning we had a lunch and then suggesting having gin and tonic, one thing led to another and we got really drunk! Zoe turned up and joined in and then Paul and Pauline did as well. All this happening and we knew we were going out at 7.00pm! Everyone left about 7.00pm and Tash and I cycled up to Cutteslowe for a meal at Hugh and Deirdre’s. They’ve done a lot of work on the house and were keen to show it off. It was lovely and they’re right to be proud of it. I think (hope) we did a good impression of relatively sober people for a while. Jill Partridge was there as were a couple of other women and it was a really nice evening. Lovely food and all that and we enjoyed it. Cycled home without incident and straight to bed, hopefully Lewis was okay as he also went out having drank all afternoon with us!

3. Saturday – we went to London for Book of Mormon – there’s a proper diary entry for that one!

4. Sunday - Lewis birthday, fry up, Easter egg hunt, pottering about, home early, dinner at Sue's, pub with friends

Lewis’s actual birthday – as the points about mention we had a nice big fry-up and also they had an Easter Egg Hunt and were fighting over things as per usual! We went round to Sue’s for Easter dinner which was nice and then Lewis made his way back to Manchester as he was going out with friends in the evening but I think he enjoyed being down here with us. Then walking back we saw Vicky and Geoff walking up to the pub so after being at home on our own for about 20 minutes we decided to go up the pub and join people. Sat in the garden and it was all very nice, only had a couple of beers but it was a nice evening

5. Monday - punting with Tash and Ivy

I went and collected Ivy from Bicester, got a lovely welcome from both her and Woody so that was nice – “JULIAN!!!” – when they saw me on the doorstep! Ivy and I then met Tash down at work and we went to the boatyard and got the punt out. We left left this time towards Marston and it was pleasant enough chuntering along and avoiding people struggling to steer their punts. We went past the pub in Marston and realised neither of us had brought cash or cards so we pulled over later down the river and had our packed lunch. Ivy was really enjoying it all, she got more and more adventurous and was dangling her feet in the water and then walking up and down the punt, she loved it. Bess fell in which was amusing!

Came back home and had a BBQ and then dropped her home.

All in all a really lovely weekend