St Lucia. Last day. Thursday

Breakfast in the morning and then 9.00am shuttle to the beach. Only have 2hrs but enough to soak in the atmosphere again. Less windy than the first day and more sun so really is a good end to the holiday. 

It’s been lovely, a good mixture of doing things and relaxing. I think 7 days is enough, but definitely something we will think about next year so we can have “Winter Sun”. 

Writing this on the beach now so will update this when we get on the plane or arrive home. It’s going to be a long day/night as when we get back to Heathrow it’s going to be 6.50am and I need to work. 

Best sleep on the plane!! 

Day 7 St Lucia Wednesday

Up nice and early and asked to get shuttle bus to beach but then found out it doesn’t run today. Bit annoying but our own fault, it does say on the notice board. 

So went to gym and then breakfast and then a day by the pool

The weather today rained constantly, more rain than sun. Not ideal but you just got on with it. Caught up with news and all that. 

Sorted luggage for travel home tomorrow and had a few cocktails and beers. 

Nice last dinner and then it was Reggae night with a DJ. He was a bit hopeless to be honest and we ended up (well Tash did) chatting to the gay guys. They were really engaging and it was a nice evening and end to the holiday. 

Bed at around 1.30am so we were knackered 

Day 6. St Lucia. Tuesday

Hungover. Quiet. Pissed off about phone. 

Got a message they’d found it and would return it later. Great relief and all was well in the world again

Went down to Castries for a bit of a wander around. Nothing special and it rained the whole time. 2hrs was enough and then back to the hotel to relax and sleep. 

Weather was on and off. But it was fine. 

Day 4 St Lucia. Sunday

Hanging a bit

Tash did Pilates and then joined me for breakfast. I wasn’t overly keen but had loads of coffee. Not a serious hangover, just funny stomach and not wanting to eat really

Sat by the pool and had a WhatsApp video call with the kids. Cold and cloudy where they were. 

Didn’t do much else, relaxing day

St Lucia. Day 2. Friday

Didn’t sleep too well, nothing more than different bed and strange times. Wide awake at 5.00am but managed to get back off to sleep for a bit and were down for breakfast at 8.00am. Didn’t overdo it, fruit and poached egg and yoghurt. Might have a fry-up tomorrow, this is going to do any sort of diet a lot of damage!!

Got our bearings and booked tonight’s meal then jumped on the minibus through town (Castries) and to the beach. Bit secluded but nice and we walked along for a bit before coming back and reading or listening to music. Sea is warm and weather good, but cloudy and windy but it’s shorts and best weather so no complaints. When the sun is out the photos are great. Typing this now on the beach without a care in the world. It’s very easy to down tools and relax really

Will try the beach shack shortly, see how much it all costs. 

St Lucia. Day 1 Thursday

Up early. Did some work, cleared up Bessie’s shit all over the front room and finished last few bits and bobs. Have the kids a send off and then made our way to Heathrow. 

No hassle getting there and all good getting through security. Had some food and drink and then on the plane. 

Time seems to pass so quickly and we were finally on the plane. Okay, not half full and we were treated well. Tash made note of her birthday so we got some champagne which was nice. 

Sat on the plane typing this after 4 hours. Another 4.5hrs to go. Got another beer but might have a snooze. Very excited. Can’t believe we’re going to the Caribbean!!

Decent flight, then an hour to get through customs, was a bit stressful with the forms being right and also having to complete more but we got through it all and then got out 90mins transfer to the hotel. 

Bel Jou is the hotel. Really nice, everyone is super friendly, I think they’re so pleased to have tourists here. Dumped our bags, got into the wifi, and then went up to Lulu’s Cabana as it was Caribbean BBQ night. We were entertained with music and fire eating and limbo. All good fun. 

The food was good and we had a few cocktails and then a wander around before having a nightcap! We’re 4 hours behind here so 9.00pm was 1.00am and we were tired so called it a night. First impressions are good. We should have a good time here.

Back to Boot Camp

Oh my, I’m aching lying here typing this in bed about to sign off for the day. Went to boot camp at the gym on my own as Tash was in town and im knackered. Obviously I overdid it, that’s what I do! There were 5 of us there, haven’t seen the others before and it was a good session. I’ve not done any exercise since middle of November!

Anyway, busy day today. Loads done with work and dropped Tash and Pauline into town for a lm afternoon tea at the Ivy which they really enjoyed. 

Also, I went to the Churchill first thing this morning and basically got accepted for a hip operation. Loads of tests and pre work, makes it all feel very real, have to admit im a bit nervous about it. But pleased that it’s appearing to be happening!

Finally, after sharing that we’ve booked our holiday, Zoe and the girls have booked the same as well. Not sure how happy I am about it to be honest. 

Motivation starts now!

Jack talked Tash and I into going to his gym today. Tash did a workout with him, I did my own thing. I’ve not done any exercise for 2 months and it showed. I struggled. 

It was nice in the sauna and steam room though. It’s a great fitness club there, although they’re all fit already it seems!! 

In the afternoon we worked on listing the things we want so that was productive

Charlotte and Miles were in Westfield Shopping centre in London all day so didn’t seem them

Nice crispy duck for dinner and then tv and lots of Gin and Tonic. Dry January is definitely out the window!

Nice day

Dry January drink January dry? . 07.01

Worked from home today. Loads on my plate so was downstairs working by 5.30am. Got a lot done but it was a long and busy day. Finished up around 6.30pm

Decided that my effort at Dry January had been impressive enough so had wine and beers watching TV. Watched the Hitman Bodyguard’s wife, really very poor. Waste of time that I’ll never get back. 

Nice evening though. Set us up for a nice weekend hopefully. Tash sorted some more things for the St Lucia holiday so hopefully that will be going ahead after all. Fingers crossed. 

Down in Kent

Got a new starter with the team so travelled down to the office today. Up and out around 6.15am and a long day and typing this at 11.00pm. Haven’t stopped working

The new lad Scott seems on the ball which is good. Spent all day training him and the. Came to the Holiday Inn here in Sittingbourne. Must admit I hate it down here. Scared silly about Vinnie being left in the car park. So worried he won’t be there in the morning!

When at the hotel I just worked solidly. I’m absolutely knackered now.  At least I get breakfast at this one and then I go home tomorrow night instead of staying down another night

Tash, Jack and Mum went to the cinema taking advantage of the cheap tickets they get. Watched the new Kingsman film. They enjoyed it. Bit disappointed they went without me. Bit harsh!

Some good news on the travel front, sounds like some tests and restrictions are being eased up. So hopefully our trip to St Lucia is on!!

Catch up before back to work

Spent the day from 8.30am until about the same time in the evening doing jobs! Loads to do and was productive. Decorations all removed from the bar and lights from outside. Job after job..even sealing the kitchen sink. I was knackered. 

One good thing was Charlotte and I put the other decal on the side of Vinnie and we did it perfectly. Really pleased with it. 

A long day. Early night. Back to work tomorrow!

Birthday Weekend - day 1!

 Up early for golf - Wayne, John Hawkins - good round

Bath

Walk round Burford - mum, sweets, beer, coffe

Meal at home, um, family, Sue, presents, drinking, Who am i?

Stayed up instead of bed - too noisy in front room - out to bar. On my own - absolutely loved it, 3.00am finish... 

trip to the seaside

Decided to go down south for the day so as to feel we’ve got out the house. Me, Tash, Charlotte and Mum drive down in Vinnie and decided to try somewhere different and ended up through the New Forest at Milford on sea

Nice enough place and walked along a spit that was getting absolutely blasted by the wind

Made it to the castle there and when walking back got hit my a rain storm that soaked us through. There was nowhere to shelter so we endured 30 mins of rain and wind. Soaked!

Didn’t dampen our spirits though, was nice to get out and by the sea but didn’t stay any later and jumped in the van and came home. Nice and easy and a nice day. 

Watched the film Spotlight in the evening with Jack about the Catholic Church hiding abuse. Been meaning to watch it for a long time and it was well worth the wait. Excellent film but hugely frustrating and thought provoking. 

Anyway, one more day off then back to work. A good day today. 

Happy New Year

Up around 11.00am. Heavy head. Tash absolutely knocked out and throwing up. She didn’t surface until about 3.00pm. 

I finished the Witcher series and did some tidying up. We did well last night so there wasn’t too much anyway. 

Walked Bess when Tash woke but then watched films. A nice lazy day and start to the year. 

The kids were all fine and had a good time too. 

Old man…arthritis

Sat in the Churchill hospital waiting for a scan on my hip. Saw the GP earlier and he referred me up here. Thinks I’ve got arthritis in the hip that’s causing the problems I’m experiencing

Not a good thing to be told but at the same time, if they can identify the issue then we can look at getting the solution implemented.