Nicole Holden’s 18th Birthday

I did absolutely nothing all day today, I was heavily hungover and didn’t lift a finger, just browsed the internet or slept, fucking idiot!

Went to Wayne & Kerry’s in the early evening as it was Nicole’s 18th birthday and we sat in the garden and Wayne did a BBQ. nice food and relaxing evening. I did have a few beers but it was a struggle!

Zoe and the girls were over and other family and friends, it was nice. The girls went into town and slowly people left and we were last as usual.

Tash drove although I could have really.

Can’t believe they’re all turning 18, it’s so odd.

Elton John film – Rocket Man

I’m going to take a leaf out of Elton John’s diary and be more perfunctory with my diary entries now, he used to do everything in bullet point form and short sharp entries, I think if I do the same then I will not find creating diary entries such a chore, that’s not the right word, just so I can add them more quickly really.

Worked at Raintree today, went ok.

Finished early and home by 4.30pm – quick lunch then over to Grandma’s house to meet up with Brett and Melanie who are over here. Nice to see them if only for 45 minutes along with the rest of the family. We get on well with them and there is a nice/special bond we have with them so they’re always really pleased to see us.

Over to Bicester and met with Nikki, Gaz, Emily and Sue in Nando’s for a quick drink and then over to Vue for the Elton John film Rocket Man. Biggest thing of popcorn I’ve seen (free) and couldn’t finish it, felt a bit sick!

Film was very enjoyable, won’t win any awards but it was entertaining and we liked it – certainly gave us a taste for his concert to come in Italy.

Home by 11.00pm – saw that Chelsea beat Arsenal in the Europa League final – 4-1, not good for Arsenal at all!

Lazy (very) TV day!

Tash worked today and was up and out around 9.00am – I was dead! Stayed in bed for another hour before feeling guilting and getting up and walking the dog and doing chores. Went and got Lewis from Bicester and also the shelter and then home around midday in which we proceeded to watch TV literally all day long! Tash came back from work and just crashed on the sofa so we watched film after film, incredibly lazy but quite satisfying at the same time.

Complete waste of time but we didn’t mind

Has some food and then more TV and Lewis went back to Manchester about 8.00pm after I’d walked Bess once more

A really enjoyable weekend all told.

Victoria’s pregnant!

Pottering about in the morning. More of Sue’s garage clearance with help from Lewis then over to Danny and Victoria’s for a BBQ. We took our shelter and that was an excellent idea as it pissed down with rain at one point and it helped keep any heat in.

Loads to drink and nice and relaxing.

They then announced that Victoria was pregnant so that went down really well and everyone was pleased as you’d expect.

Tash had to work in the morning and surprised me by drinking as much as she did! We were planning to get a bus home but Jess offered us a lift so we didn’t turn that down and she gave Tash and I a lift home – Lewis stayed and went out into Bicester town with Katie and Oscar and a couple of other people

Really good day and evening and great news about the pregnancy – please about that.

Yoga and Punting–not a good mix!

Heavy head and tired but not too bad.

Did some gardening and then Tash dragged me to the gym to participate in a Yoga season. Oh my god that was hard. Sweat was pouring off me and I found it so hard, I have no flexibility at all and struggled. Was in pain for much of it. Afterwards we did some clearing out at her mums house and then made some lunches and went down to Wolfson College to get the HMC punt.

Zoe and Laoisa came with us. Zoe has never been punting before. We went to the same place as we did last month with Ivy and stopped for our food. Lewis was late so didn’t meet us for the beginning but he then parked at the Victoria Arms and walked along the bank to find us.

We then punted back to the VA and had a pint there and then back to college to drop the pint off.

My back was killing me from the yoga so I jumped in the bath and also slept a bit for an hour by which time John and Pauline came up and we hosted them and got the pizza oven going.

Had a few drinks but nothing mad and it was a really pleasant evening.

Stayed outside under the heaters and it was really good. It wasn’t too late either, they left around 10.30pm, we cleared up and off to bed.

A really good day.

Jon Ward’s Mum’s Funeral

Didn’t get too much done in the morning, quite distracted really and then got ready for Jon Ward’s mums Funeral. It was held at the crematorium near Wantage and it was a good turn out. Lots of familiar faces and Jon was pleased that we turned up.

We then went to Cosenor House in Abingdon and had a few drinks and food there. I wasn’t drinking but it was good to catch up with people.

Back home I did some more work and then signed off around 5.00pm having taken Bess for a long walk run around the meadow, I’d done well, was pleased with my running and then worked around the house.

Zoe came up in evening and we sat outside eating nibbles and drinking. It wasn’t particularly hot so I went in and watched some TV but I was drinking double and treble gin and tonics!

Bedtime came but I wanted to stay up watching more Tv. Which then turned into a YouTube night! I eventually gave up and went to bed at 4.00am pissed up!

Good fun and hopefully not too groggy the next day!

Lewis pay-rise, Charlotte in France, Jack in exams

Really pleased for Lewis – he’s been away in Croatia for a week’s break and had a great time. He was driving and there were no reports of problems or incidents and the photos on Facebook suggest it was a lovely place and they loved it. Back to reality now but he’s just advised the family group that work are really pleased with him and he’s been given a pay-rise again so he’s now on £34.7k – which is brilliant for his age!

Certainly a lot more than I am on. Told Tash about Peters Books and she wasn’t surprised at all, positive attitude and all that but I need to get more work and in touch with people to get more money coming in asap.

Charlotte is now in Nice, South of France, she travelled down yesterday by train of course because Miles is still scared of flying and they didn’t get there until about 10.30pm – they travelled all day, nightmare really but there you are. She’s been sending photos throughout today and it looks lovely and hot there and she’s spending money on perfume and clothes so she’s enjoying herself

Jack as Business and PE exams today, I’ve no idea how he’s doing, I don’t think he’s doing enough and last night he went off and played football and didn’t d anything in the evening claiming that he’d done all the work he could in the day. I’m not convinced!

That’s it, I am in day 4 of a new diet and fitness attempt to lose weight, it’s not working yet but I am really watching what I am eating and I am trying to be more mobile and doing exercises. I’ve given myself 8 weeks to lose a stone – I’d love to get under 12stone, currently I am about 13st 9lbs, that’s depressingly fat and heavy for someone my size. It’s early days yet but I am not missing eating loads of food so it might be something that I can stick to…again, I doubt it very much but it would be great to not be self-conscious and embarrassed when I am on the beach in Crete. I hate my moobs and stomach so much, getting really pissed off seeing me in photos looking so big…well,  it’s up to me to sort it!

Jack’s A-Level Exams started today…

Jack starts his exams today and the first one he had was 9.00am this morning on Economics. We didn’t get much out of him when we asked him about it, I don’t think it went too well if I am guessing right.

Not much we can do about it now other than to keep encouraging and helping where possible, although I don’t think my idea of help is much appreciated.

Really hope he does well, he’s not asked for as much help from us as I’d like and when we push him he claims he’s in control, I am not so certain.

Well, fingers crossed, I am sure he’ll do well.

This was our encouragement last week…Tash’s idea – she’s learning well from me!

Game of Thrones – Finale

Today was the last ever Game of Thrones – I watched it this morning as I normally do at 6.15am and it was okay. It wasn’t particularly emotional or poignant, it was just…okay.

It’s a huge shame that a massive great story-telling machine has been wrapped up so quickly and the overall feeling is that this has been rushed. I think the show-runners and maybe the actors had had enough and wanted to move onto other projects, this has been running for about 9 years after all!

I think there will be other offerings but they won’t have the same impact and I suspect will feel forced and will slowly die off, but it’s been great fun and I’ve enjoyed it so much. But like all good things, it has to have an ending and this was it. If ever they wanted to do follow-ups then it would be possible because so many of the main characters actually survived, but I don’t think that will happen.

Anyway, that’s all done and dusted and it’s time for me to get into something else now with my time…

Garage clearance, Wedding Reception & FA Cup Final

Pottered around the garden in the morning and then went and got an eye test at Spec Savers – wasn’t in there for long at all and only went because my close up eyesight is a bit blurred now.

They advised that reading glasses might be a good idea but I didn’t need them for anything else, I wasn’t keen to spend money on them right now so I thanked them and made my excuses!

Back home and we went round to Sue’s and worked in her garage removing stuff and taking it down the dump. It’s going to be a long and full-on job to complete!

I then watched some of the FA Cup Final, this was between Man City and Watford, I said before the match to Tasha that I wasn’t too bothered about watching it because it would be one-sided and it would likely be 4-0 to Man City. It was okay for 20 mins, I was right about it being one-sided and Man City scored one goal and you knew it was all over so I got ready and walked the dog, no interested and sure enough it ended up 6-0! Not good really.

Tasha’s friend Ria got dropped round and we then went out to Thame for a wedding for Tash’s old work colleague Michelle, we also picked up Mike on the way. I had agreed to drive and it was a shit decision, I was bored out of my mind and it was a pretty shit evening, just sat there drinking water and eating cheese people-watching. We were not involved in anything and I was relieved when we left at 12.45pm – everyone there had a nice time, but we were very much on the fringes. Dropped them all home and got back about 1.00am.

What made the evening worse??? It was the Vets end of season night out..so WhatsApp was full of daft and drunken messages and photos. They had a great time – the only consolation is I didn’t spend too much and I didn’t have a hangover!

Family BBQ out of the blue

Worked in Raintree today and pretty full on but finished and got home as we were hosting again this evening with a BBQ for Mum, Derek and Grandma. They came over about 5.30pm and I got the coals going, wasn’t the best one but it cooked all the meat fine in the end, we had loads today for some reason. Miles was also over and we got on the gin that Pauline and John gave to Tash for her birthday. It was a small-ish bottle and it didn’t stand a chance…it was so tasty we actually finished it.

We then went through loads of wine as well…anyone would not think it was a school night. It was a lovely evening, a bit cold but those near the patio heater were okay…I wasn’t one of them! Wrapped up in blankets it was fine, stayed outside chatting etc until about 9.00pm when they left and we then stayed out until about 10.30pm. I think both Charlotte and Miles would happily have stayed up longer but we’d run out of wine, so that was the signal for bed.

A very nice evening and Mum appreciates us doing it for them and Grandma just enjoys being out and about so it works well. It’s so nice for the kids to have a great grandparent – she’s 99 in a couple of weeks – we’re going to host a lunch for her then as well, all the families are invited, that’ll be interesting.

Lewis on holiday in Croatia, and a quick family update

Lewis is in Croatia right now, he’s gone with some friends and he’s the designated driver! Not too sure how I feel about that because he’s responsible for about 9 people in a minibus. He’s pretty confident about it all so I am sure he will be fine. They’re just travelling around places and sight-seeing and enjoying a week away from work. Looks nice what I have seen of his photos so far so I hope he has a great time.

Not much else to report, work is desperately slow, I am getting fed up with a client who won’t pay me so that’s a stress I could do without and obviously I don’t have as much work as I’d like..so stress from all areas!

Charlotte is working at Anna Balance’s old school and she’s enjoying it but the real stress in the house is Jack’s A-Levels coming up thick and fast. He’s been working really hard with revision and such like but we have an argument almost daily because I still don’t think he’s doing enough and is too easily distracted. We will see soon enough, they start next week, I really hope he does well in them

Game of Thrones is finishing…one episode to go

So Game of Thrones is coming to an end…sad emoji!!

We’re in Season 8 and have just had episode 5, so Monday will be the last one ever. I have to admit that the show I fell in love with has faltered this season and last, it’s gone too much towards the CGI and action instead of the story-telling and intrigue that made it so great to watch. There’s also not a feeling of dread/danger for some of the characters now, I think it’s referred to as “Plot Armour” or “Character Armour” in which they flirt with danger but then survive!

Anyway, it’s been a great adventure and I will be disappointed when it ends and I strongly suspect I will be very disappointed with the last episode, there is just far too much for them to wrap up in a single episode of 80 minutes, I think it will break the internet with complaints!

What’s been nice is that Charlotte, Miles and their friend Freddie have been round on a Monday night and we’ve watched it together. It’s funny, we’re in total silence taking it all in, it’s not a social event by any means..!

Well, fingers crossed that I am mistaken and with low expectations perhaps I will be pleasantly surprised…I’ll let you know!

Sad news today – Helen Candlin

Mark O’Hara phoned be today and told me that Helen Candlin had died last week having lost her battle with cancer. He knew we’d been together as 16 year olds and he’d always got on with the family and thought I’d want to know.

He’s right, I was glad that he’d told me. Such a shame, she was a nice girl and she was my first proper girlfriend back in the day, we were together for about 18 months I think, and she used to have a scooter/moped to get around and I would cycle to her house in Garden City, Kidlington. I’d not seen or spoken to her since about 20 years old but it’s still a sad thing to hear and consider. What I feel about her death doesn’t matter, it’s not about me, it’s about her family – her older brother had cancer when we were together so it’s a shame for that family that it seems to be with them.

I know the details of the funeral, I really don’t know if I will go, whether it’s appropriate or not – I will decide on the day, at the time of writing this I would like to, to show some support to the family even though they won’t know who I am.

This is going to be the sort of post that will happen more and more I sadly suspect – in our 50’s now, people are going to die, however young or old we feel inside.

I have some old photos of Helen and our time together, I won’t be sharing them with the memorial page or anything.

Such a shame, I hope she had a good life.

This is her tribute page online - https://helen-candlin.muchloved.com/

Nice meal out in Jericho

Pottered around in the morning and worked on jobs around the house, I spent most of my time in the pond! In the afternoon I was still working in there and also on things in my office whilst Tash went out for a picnic for Jessica’s birthday, they went to Brill. I decided not to as I had a lot here I wanted to get through and it was a productive day all told. In the late afternoon we both sat out in the sun and crashed out for about an hour, absolutely knackered, it just hit us. The sun was beating down and making it nice and relaxed.

We’re watching a decent drama at the minute called The Widow with Kate Beckinsale in it, it’s been quite good and is gripping so we made time to watch an episode this evening before getting ready to go out. Taxi arrived on time and we picked up Katherine and Pete on the way and then went down to Raoul’s in Jericho. We saw Tony Thomas and Sheri go past and then had a couple of drinks before heading over to Branca. A few more drinks and then a lovely meal in there, I had the kebab and that was a great choice so I was happy with that!

By the end of the night (10.30pm) TT and his friends were in the bar and calling us over so we joined them for a couple of drinks and it was a really nice end to the evening. Found out he’s a diabetic and has a strict diet now, Tash immediately starting pointing the finger at me and my weight which wasn’t really appreciated!! But then the truth hurts.

Tash was getting tired so we called it a night, got the taxi and dropped the Casey’s home and back to ours.

As we got out of the cab we bumped into Geoff and Vicky who had been to the White Hart and were steaming drunk (surprise) and it was tempting to ask them into ours for a few more drinks but I resisted the temptation, probably rightly so and we said our good nights and parted ways.

A nice evening

Jack’s Prom Night

It was Jack’s Prom Night this evening and after a bit of a panic throughout the week to get the suit and then get it the legs taken in so they were a bit “skinnier” it was time to go. He looked good, as you can tell from the photos below. A few of his mates turned up to the house but he, and they, weren’t here for all that long and after a while they jumped into Jack’s car and drove off to school. Tash and I wanted to be there to see them off but it was too awkward to get in there and also no other parents were there so we wished him well and came home.

It’s a strange year group, they’re all too cool for school and parents aren’t really welcomed, a shame and a big contrast to what we’re used to with the other kids, ah well.

They went to Worton Hall near Witney and they had a great night and they went to Atik afterwards – we saw that through Snapchat! Jack doesn’t drink so he was fine driving and he said the following day he’d had such a good evening. So that was pleasing to hear.

End of an era, a couple of weeks of exams and then he’s finished with school – very odd to have them all done and dusted. Where has the time gone?!?

BBQ Hosting

BBQ hosted at our house - loads of beers and v drunk including a walk on meadow in the evening where I sang to myself and then laid down and stared up at the stars for about 20 minutes!

A good end to the weekend!

The Perch Beer & Wine Festival

Around midday the family from Bicester arrived and we set off with the dogs down to the Perch. Had a couple of beers for the walk and it was a nice stroll down there and they had a Beer and Cider Festival set up – we knew about it as it’s there all weekend.

Loads of space, so we got a table and then started on some of the beers. There was nothing that I was particularly keen on so I stayed with anything that resembled lager, everyone else was a bit more adventurous, except Nikki who got a bottle of Prosecco – good choice!

Had some food and snacks and it was a good laugh, but it was strong stuff, we didn’t go mad but within a few hours of drinking and being in the sun we were a bit tiddly. Jess took Nik and that lot home quite early – I think about 4.00pm but we weren’t ready so carried on.

So there’s me, Tash, Lewis, Charlotte and Miles. Jack went off to get the car and then it started to rain so we went in the tent hiding and Lewis and Tash walked home with Bess. Apparently she feel off the kerb near the Trout and into the road – lucky escape!

Jack drove us home and we all had more to drink in the evening – sat outside with the heaters on and it was a good evening. Everyone went to bed quite early actually…steaming!