Dark Xmas Party & YouTube Night

We hosted friends and neighbours this evening and it was a real success. So it was mostly friends that we made via the kids going to school and then also people from the village. Loads turned up and it wasn’t a quiet night, people let their hair down and the drinks were flowing, Wayne, Kerry and Sharon Millar (and the kids) all came as well.

Really enjoyed it and late in the evening Pete and Katherine Casey also arrived, Katherine was steaming drunk so that was amusing

Everyone left around midnight but I’d not finished my evening so I decided on a YouTube night and carried on drinking and partying on my own with my headphones on…sad maybe but I loved it. Then Lewis came in from clubbing at about 4.00am so we carried on and videoed it etc – I think we gave up about 6.00am! Hungover Sunday but worth it!!

I also posted an update on Twitter – loads on there!

Quarry Rovers Boys – Cup Winners 1981

Not 100% certain of the year but we were all young! This appeared on Facebook the other day and it brought back such fond memories. Very lucky to have played at a good level, really fortunate

Back Row - L/R - Raheem Hayat, Ellis Spearpoint, Richard Mellis, me, Andrew Gardiner, Maurice East, John (Speedy) Icot
Front Row - L/R - Glen Anthony, Matthew Elbro, David McGrath, Martin Harris, Anthony Penge & Wayne Holden

English Cricket disappointment in Australia

“It’s the hope that kills you!”

Never a truer sentence uttered! I’ve been keeping up with the Ashes Series in Australia and it was the second series today and – Day 5 and England had the faintest glimmer of hope so I set the alarm for 3.30am to watch the match because this time it’s on BT Sport and not Sky so I’ve been able to watch loads of it so far. Quite quickly I wished I’d not set the alarm…that familiar batting collapse happened and by 5.00am it was all over so I went back to bed and had a couple more hours sleep.

I seriously think this could be a 5-0 whitewash this time, we don’t have the penetration from the bowlers and in two matches none of our batsmen has yet made a century. It won’t stop me from continuing to push my body to early morning watching or even midnight slots (when it’s not a day/night match).

Anyway, we will see…

Night out with the Caseys

Went out this evening and caught up with Katharine and Pete Casey and had a really nice evening. Had a couple of beers whilst waiting for the taxi and then collected them and went to the new Westgate centre to the Alchemist restaurant and bar and was really impressed. Big queue but we had a reservation so straight into the bar and they made these great cocktails. The signature thing being that they used dry ice which meant steaming/smoking or bubbling concoctions – it was very good!

Had a really good meal and loads to catch with them about, and then more cocktails afterwards, sat in the bar bit at the end I saw Jermaine Ferreira and said Hi and then we made our way home and got a taxi back

It was a really nice evening – both Tash and I were a bit tipsy it must be admitted!!

A Close Shave!!

I have probably mentioned this before but before my 49th birthday Tash and I sat and made a list of 50 things to do before I am 50 years old – although I’ve only managed to get to 40 so far so still 10 more to add to the list!

Today I was able to tick one of the #50Things off which was a proper cut throat shave at a barbers

I was really looking forward to the experience, it’s something that Lewis had paid for my birthday and I took my time booking the right place which was Youngmans down the High Street. I didn’t shave for a week before today and even dressed up quite smart. I dropped the car off at Tash’s work and then made my way down there and Craig was the person dealing with me. I was having the Youngmans luxury experience so I got my hair cut, washed, face scrubbed and creamed and then the shave with the cut throat razor. I didn’t take a photo as it would have been odd but I really enjoyed it all – except for having to talk all the way through!! No nicks or cuts etc and then that was it done – I was there for 1hr and 45mins.

I went back to Tash’s work and sat there for a bit and it was then that I realised the shave wasn’t as close as I would have expected or indeed as close as I could manage with my own blades, I have to admit to being a little underwhelmed by that side of it. I don’t want to let on and I almost want to try another barber to see if this is normal, but it’s now 5.00pm and I feel as though I need to have another shave to tidy things up, bit sad really!

Anyway, I’ve ticked off the event on my list so that’s good – one down!!

Before:                                                                                   After:

                                      

Jack Football – Old Woodstock Town FC

Sat in the car typing this out waiting for Jack’s football to get going – he’s stepped into a vacant position for Woodstock today having texted the manager last night saying he was available. I don’t think he will even get a game but he’s at least involved so will wait and see what happens. I’ve been watching the warm-up, he looks tiny compared to the lads he’s playing with!! I feel real pressure about his football situation, the whole thing has been such a shame as it sounds like the rest of the u17’s at City are going to splinter and go elsewhere. Very sad.

Anyway I had a quick snooze and updated a few other entries in the diary and will now wrap up warm and cheer the team on…or more likely watch and get very frustrated by it all!!

We shall see.

So that went well – Jack wasn’t brought on until later in the game but got at least 25 minutes and he did well. As predicted the football wasn’t the best but I kept my comments to myself although I did shout a few suggestions for better movement etc. The opposing team (Shrivenham I think) were on a run and Woodstock are not so I think the opposition were expecting an easy ride, this didn’t happen and Woodstock rose to the occasion and did well – eventually somehow winning 5-0. A very surprising result.

I was pleased watching Jack, he’s quick and very skilful – I hope he doesn’t lose that ability.

We stayed afterwards and I had a couple of pints in the bar.

An enjoyable afternoon in the end. Still think I could do a job if fit…!

Oxford City ex-Players Day

Well this did NOT disappoint. I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time, in fact as soon as it was announced I was like a kid again excited about catching up with loads of old faces and having a day and night on the beer and having a crack!! Got down to the ground with a bit of a hangover from the previous night having been to Emily’s 18th birthday pub crawl celebration around Bicester and took it easy to start with. In fact even started with a coke – okay because the options were Stella!! Everyone was worried by that…
So gradually more and more players and managers turned up and it was really enjoyable seeing old faces and catching up. We stayed in the classroom side and when the matched started (Wealdstone) some of us went out and watched a bit but after 20 minutes I’d seen enough so went back to the bar and just stayed and chatted. We went out onto the pitch at half-time to have a photo – below – and then back in the bar!!
After the matched we were all the last ones there as you’d expect and then organised lifts into town. Alan Foster drove a group of us down there so that was good of him, I got a round in to say thanks, and we met up in the old Living Room. That was quality because there were all the lads from the Marston racing day down at Cheltenham so loads and loads of ex-footballers on show – it was mad! Everyone is drunk about now so it was such a great atmosphere, I loved every minute of it. At some point, and I don’t know why, there was a decision to leave the Living Room (Slug and Lettuce?) and go to All Bar One – so went there and half were there and the other half were at the old Brewhouse pub – never know what they’re called these days do I? All Bar One was fun and we took some other photos and then some of us (you know I have to be last man standing!) went to the new bar which is what Maxwells used to be. Can’t remember who made it – I think it was me, Paul Creed, Shaun Bradbury, Tim Bowley and Specky. I was flagging a bit in there and just wandered round or were dancing – bumped into other familiar faces, Chris Jones and a few others. By the end I was on lemonade and lime and water – left about 3.00am when it closed and Tash is texting me throughout! Got Shaun Brads to a taxi, he was falling asleep on me at the end of the night and then got a kebab and bus to the cemetery and Tash came and picked me up from there, sat on the sofa watching MOTD eating the kebab and went to bed. I think she was very surprised that I wasn’t completely and utterly bollocksed..in fact I think I was surprised!
So then, a really, really good day and night – loved it!

Some faces/people I was really pleased to see included:

• Eddie Inness (he’s not too well)
• Andy Lyne (down here from up north)
• John Sheppard (he looked really old – he’s 84 I think he said in the bar afterwards)
• Keith Knight
• Lewis Craker (haven’t seen him in years – moved to Radley about a year ago – hasn’t changed a bit!)

Iceland Family Holiday – Day Four – Last Day

Walked to town

Whale watching cancelled because of the weather Bus tour Sleep

No hurry with getting up today so no alarms or anything but we were up and out by 10.00am. We planned to be out all day so walked towards town and made our way along the waterfront. Quite bracing is how you’d probably describe the weather. Sun was out and it was beautifully clear and fresh but there was a cold wind coming through.

Saw a couple of the sights and then had breakfast at the deli we did yesterday and went down to the Old Harbour area to go to the Whale Watching area but not before popping into a flea market

Sadly, all out good luck had been used up and when we got to the kiosk there was a sign on the window announcing that our tour had been cancelled due to the weather. This was such a surprise and obviously a disappointment to all. Nothing we could do about it so tried to sort a refund and then made other plans

Walked further along the harbour to the Viking Centre they had set up called the Saga Museum. We decided to go in and it was fine. We had an audio tour through their history of Vikings settling in Iceland and then had costumes at the end for a photo opp! All a bit of fun

Left there and jumped on the Hop On/Hop Off bus tour that we had tickets for. Did the full one hour tour but we all slept through HJ it!! Everyone was shattered. We did a full circle and got off right next to the brewery and went in for a drink

That was nice and the others had hot chocolate and that. We then walked through the old harbour once more stopping at another bar for a local beer before making our way into the main shopping street where we went to the Chuck Norris Grill. Only two options in the menu, burger or double burger!! Along with beer and chips. Lovely!!

That was us done then, got a cab back to hotel and packed and crashed out. Everyone so tired. Also, because of lack of food the beer went straight to your head, I felt a bit pissed!! Anyway, as disappointing as it was to miss out on the whales we turned it into a successful day.

We’ve had a great time here. Very interesting country and very unique. Would definitely recommend other people to come and visits that’s for certain

Iceland Family Holiday – Day Three

Pouring with rain when we woke up, didn’t have anything organised until 1.30pm but were determined not to ease time so we stuck on the waterproofs and planned to walk to town centre but once outside we realised how much it was raining so we got a taxi from the hotel back to the bus terminal that we knew

That was quick into town and we walked round in a bit of a tour to the church and then the lake and back through the main area. Really nice walk although it was pouring and windy!

Stopped at a nice deli for brunch and then walked down the main road the same as last night and made our way home. Saw a really nice watch that I liked but I doubt we will get it. The walk back took about 40 mins which we expected and we crashed out for 40 Mins before being picked up for the Blue Lagoon trip. I’m on the transfer minibus now typing this and we’re not sure what to expect as it’s cold, raining and windy and we’re basically going to an outdoor swimming pool!!

So this was interesting!! Into a modern spa type facility, very nice set-up. Changed and then out to the lagoon. It seemed quite busy initially but once out there into the lagoon itself it was spacious and free.

So out we went into the cold and walking towards the water and in...bliss!! It was so very hot in there, it was amazing

Very salty water but so nice just to wade around the area. It didn’t disappoint at all. In fact the opposite, we were all so pleased and surprised with how good it was.

As part of the package we went up to one of the side bars there and applied silica compounds to our faces which was supposed to act like a face pack. It was quite amusing gliding round the pool with this white face pack on looking like Mrs Doubtfire and loads of other people exactly the same!! It caused a lot of mirth!!

The hard thing was washing it all off!

After that we then went to a bar that was located in the lagoon and we had beers and smoothies and that was relaxing.

The rain and wind didn’t affect the experience at all, what was cool was that often you couldn’t see anyone because of the steam coming off the water being so think. It really was a surreal experience.

After about 90 minutes of this relaxing we decided to make a move, there was no time limit at all and then got ready and caught the bus home

Quick change at the hotel and back into town!

We stopped at the Boston bar on the Main Street as it was just happy hour and in there we discussed other ideas for my 50 experiences which was amusing and we made some additions. Even with this pint because we’d not been eating all day I felt quite light headed. We then went down town and found a pizzeria and had a lovely dinner there. Huge great 16” pizzas that went down well

After that we found an Icelandic bar and had a couple of pints in there, I’d happily have stayed out but I think our new guy was done. We were all knackered.

Walked down the Main Street again and flagged a taxi again and got home

A great day and evening.

Iceland Family Holiday – Day One

Up at 5.45am and got everyone sorted and on the road towards Mums by 6.25am travel to Gatwick was no problem at all and we made really good time.

Through customs and a nice breakfast and then onto our Wow plane. Their service was fine even though we fell foul of the baggage size so had to pay for two items to go in the hold

Flight was about 2.5hrs and then we were here in Iceland. Had a coach organised that took us to the hotel which is basic but fine for us

We wandered around our area after a quick freshen up and found a lovely restaurant to eat. It was like a cinema club and was excellent. Really nice bloke in charge and Lewis and I had our first taste of Viking beer.

One thing about Iceland is the cost, it’s ridiculously expensive here. £8 a beer is cheap. Food is through the roof! Went back to the hotel after that and waited for pick up for our first excursion of the holiday.

We were taken out for the Northern Lights tour and we’d been told there was a good chance of witnessing them tonight...they were not wrong!!

Out we went away from Reykjavík into the wasteland and stopped a couple of times until we found a really good place to witness it happening. It was incredible to be honest.

It started in slow motion and expanded across the sky, it appears white to the naked eye but when captured on camera the blues and mostly the greens become apparent. I got pissed off with trying to take photos of it because I just could not get the right settings but I think I got two good photos out of god knows how many I took!!

We travelled round a bit more but the main place we stopped was the best one and soon the light show was no more. Since then the weather has been appalling and the trips have been cancelled so to have got the view and success we did on out very first day was incredibly lucky.

It was quite tiring in the bus travelling around and what with a long day anyway it was no surprise that we nodded off.

We were dropped back at the hotel around 11.00pm and everyone collapsed in bed in minutes.

A great start to our short break already!!

Melanie & Brendan over from Canada

So I tried downloading a new voice recognition app called text to speak and as good as it seemed I think this OneNote voice recognition might just be as good anyway it is a case of decent annunciation and speaking proper.

I found that when I was in the car the interference and noise meant that some of the text that was written was utter garbage.

What was disappointing with the text to speech application was that when you stopped talking and saved your work it would then over-write what you had written when you spoke again which was mad.

Charlotte has come home today and she is home all weekend and next week for my birthday and going to Iceland so that it is lovely to have her back here.

I am about to go and meet Mum and the family at the turnpike pub because Melanie is over here from Canada so we are meeting up with her however it is only me that is going because the kids and as it is Natasha meeting with a friend. Should be an interesting evening but that should be nice.

In fact it was really nice evening, everyone was there which was nice and Melanie brought along her son Brendan with her and he was very interesting. They were sat at the end of the table and only had Roger and Sue to speak with so after my dinner I picked up my chair and went and sat with them and it was appreciated and I was glad I made the effort

Brendan was something else, I suspect he's had/has drug issues if I was to guess by his manner - that's not a negative at all, he was very engaging and I said to Tasha afterwards I really liked him. Full of tattoos and gold jewellery and swearing loads - very amusing in my family's circle. Anyway the evening ended and I went back to Wolvercote and it was 10.30pm so I went down to the White Hart as Tash was still there and had a couple of pints with her, Nicky and then her partner Matt - that was a nice way to end the evening.

Lewis in Germany on a training course

Lewis has been away for a fortnight so far and is in his last week over in Nuremburg in Germany as part of training for his new job. It’s been going really well and he’s made friends and enjoyed the course. What’s been nice is that he’s phoned and checked in with me a number of times and he’s done so again today to chat about how things are ticking along and so on. Very sweet of him but very much appreciated.

He’s going to find it tough going on Tuesday because he comes back to London about 10.00pm and then comes home and we’re off the next morning to Iceland!

Anyway, it was nice to get a call from him today and hopefully that will continue!

Alison, Grace and Olivia over for the weekend

We pottered around in the morning getting jobs done before setting out just after 11.00am to go and collect Alison, Grace and Olivia from Bill and Junes house. They were over here for a couple of days before flying out to Italy to meet up with Andrew who is working. It was surprising to see Grace grown up as she was only a year old when we saw her last year on holiday and she is lovely, very chatty, very friendly, very social - she and also Olivia were incredibly lovely girls.

Alison was so very relieved that Natasha and I were taking her out for the day because I think she was going a bit stir crazy around Bill and June who are of course very lovely but getting a little forgetful and I’ll say a little deaf, sadly, that’s what always happens with old age.

So we drove out to Millet's farm which they have been to before but it worked out perfectly when we were in the play ground and also with the animals, Grace was very active climbing trees, climbing the frames, running around - it was lovely to see and it reminded Natasha and I of what Jack was like. She is pretty fearless!

It felt strange walking around the playground looking after a one and two year old, when we obviously have 22-year-old children, I said to Natasha that I felt a bit like a granddad. We stayed at Millet's for about two hours which flew by and then we made our way home and took Alison and the girls out to Jacobs Inn for dinner.

The food was good and we had a nice time and Jack joined us for dinner which was amusing because he had worked at Jacobs Inn for over a year which meant he knew the staff and the menu. I managed to only have a gin and tonic again and we then took them back to Cowley to drop them off at Bill and June's, however, when we got there we went in for about an hour because Steve and Sue were there as well so we stopped for a chat and a catch up.

That was that, we said our goodbyes and Alison later texted to say how much she enjoyed coming out and we went home watch some TV and then had an early night because of school and work next week.

Shopping & Concert in Birmingham

We had training in the morning at Cutteslowe Park, there was only seven lads so I had to train which was fine and I work hard but it was a very enjoyable session. I made it a good laugh to try and encourage and find our team spirit again. We then rushed around doing various jobs around the house and the took Jack and two a friends to Birmingham for a J Cole concert that they had tickets for

We got to Birmingham just after 3:30 PM and wandered around the bull ring shopping centre and managed to find me some birthday presents which was nice.

Natasha and I then made our way towards the arena and found the Café Rouge restaurant that we had booked a reservation for and had a really good meal there. I went for steak and also we had gin and tonic‘s which were excellent.

At the minute Gin and Tonic is my go to drink as I feel I have gone off lager a bit - especially this month that I have managed to stay pretty sober and not drink much. It's Stoptober but I am not actively participating, just coincidence really

We were worried about the time the concert was going to finish because we asked to security guards and they said most likely 11:30 or midnight, so we were getting ready to find a pub to kill the last hour but thankfully Jack came out at 10:45 so it was normal time and we got home at 1 AM.

He was buzzing saying that the concert was absolutely brilliant so a good day overall.

Working in York

Worked in York today having come up on the train last night. The session went okay but I’ve done better. It was hard work and if not prepared very well so I need to learn from this experience and ensure I’m better prepared in future. I do leave things to last minute and then panic about the data set up etc.

Came up the train and that was really good. 3 and a half hours working etc and it was productive and I did the same coming home. Typing this now on The was from Banbury station so will be home shortly. Long day though

Charlotte has been doing data entry work for me and it’s been really hard work. We’re both spending hours on it when we shouldn’t be. I need to get more or explain the situation with how much EdCo would charge.

It took an age to do some earlier and it’s not worth my time to do it!!

I’ll make sure Charlotte gets paid properly though

Right, home for some food. I’m trying not to drink this October and it was so tempering at the train station as I had an hour to kill and knew I’d not be driving when Home…I resisted though so I’m pleased with myself…also resisted buying crap food or sweets-that hurt harder!!

So this is my latest attempt to lose some weight and get in shape. Again!

Charlotte’s Birthday–what celebrations!!!

Where to start???

I will update this one day but we managed the following:

• Trip to London for great meal at the walkie talkie building after having an alien experience in an escape room
• Zorb football on her birthday on the Saturday
• Surprise party at the wig and pen in the evening

Fantastic time had by all!

General Update

Been busy with the family.

Quick recap of things we've done

Went to Brighton for Katie's birthday. It was a surprise and we'd hired a minibus to take us down there. Very nice bus and even though we hit bad traffic it was still a great day. Sat on the beach drinking and eating. Some of them went on the zip wire and we had a game of cricket which was a laugh. Actually it was rounders. On the way home we decided to go out and ended up at Raouls with Charlotte, Miles and Lewis. That was good fun

We then had centre Parcs in Woburn for Sue's birthday. Great weekend.

I played football the other day in an over 50's tournament that was hard work. It was incredibly hot and we didn't have enough players and I had an appalling hangover. True to form for Sunday football I was sick in the bushes after the first game. Absolutely hanging

It was good and we made it to the final where the Welsh beat us a second time. I could barely walk!! Enjoyed it all the same.

Struggling with work

I am finding motivation for any sort of work hard to come by at the minute, not sure if it’s because I have so may things on my plate and I am struggling to focus on one thing so I am procrastinating on anything else. Work is a bind, Oxford city football is not enjoyable at all and stressing me out, holidays lined up, birthdays and so on etc.

It’s been like this for a number of weeks and I need to snap out of it – just feels like a rut!

Centre Midfield Maestro

Took Jack to football this afternoon at Woodstock as he had a friendly organised for first against reserves, I didn’t have any money so went and got some from town and stopped in the King’s Arms for a pint before wandering back to the ground. I was surprised, but pleased, to see Jack was playing in centre midfield and he did really well. The match wasn’t ideal and I had a couple more pints whilst watching although second half I was linesman!

I couldn’t keep quiet as I should do and it amused me in the car on the way home when Jack said that a couple of players commented that “your dad is quite scary when he shouts across at you like that isn’t he?” – I wasn’t being aggressive but it was interesting to hear that!

Came home and had a few more drinks and a relaxing evening.

Another good game for JD

Jack played for Woodstock Town again last night in the friendly over at Launton and he got a decent second half run out and 15 minutes in the first half as well. He did well and I was very proud of him. He impressed the players and management alike so that’s really pleasing for him. I ended up running the line which I didn’t mind doing but I do fond it hard to keep my mouth shut, I can’t help but contribute to the proceedings – I will learn though!

It’s quite time consuming though because I had come back from London early and then was out from 5.45pm through until after 9.00pm!

When we got home Charlotte and Miles were over and he’d been driving our car – we have insured him on that so he’s pleased although a little anxious about doing so but I think he’ll be fine, just needs to drive more and build his confidence in that way.

Not sure how many other families would do that for a daughter’s boyfriend but we like to try and help others as much as we possibly can

Anyway, Charlotte and Miles are both into Game of Thrones and they were watching Season 4 so it was good to sit and watch two episodes with them, especially as it was the Mountain versus the Viper episode that we watched and I made Tash watch that final scene – brutal!!