Charlotte and a boy..

Beautiful day today, bright sunshine, amazing after all the rain and rubbish weather we’ve had lately. I pottered around the house and garden today. Mowed the lawn and also cut more of one of the tree down, Jenny wasn’t pleased about that and was out like a shot moaning at me. I carried on though and typically one of the huge branches fell into her patio…awkward!

I then took Jack into Oxford, he’s spending a lot of time with a lad called Timmy Gribble (what a great name eh?) and they went to the cinema to watch the Lego movie, later got a text from him to stay the night which was fine. I went to the dump to get rid of all the tree stuff and it took an hour because I went down the Abingdon Road and there were road works taking place and it was grid locked – absolutely nightmare!

When I got back Tash and I picked up her mum and the dog, Bella, and went to Millet’s Farm. Sue bought some new pots and plants but we were only interested in getting out for some fresh air. It was nice. The dog is mad but then so is Sue…

In the afternoon I washed the car, also Natasha’s and got them sparkling and then In the early evening we had a visitor! Charlotte has been getting quite close to a lad called Miles Phelan, he’s the son of a lad I went to school with, Terry so that’s a bit strange. Although, Terry was a year older than me and it was only recognition that we have in common from school days. Anyway, she’s been going round there quite often and it was his turn to come around to ours and it was very ‘sweet’. They fixed up pudding for the meal, Eton Mess, and he was chatty etc and very confident which was pleasing. Charlotte’s not into the ‘going out with each other’ thing, but she’s obviously keen on him as well which is fine.

It wasn’t very late, 8.30am, when I realised Tash was acting oddly, then I realised she was steaming drunk and off her head, and it was a strange drunk that was uncomfortable. Kept going on about how lovely Miles was and other stuff, it was really awkward and annoying. Anyway, I took them into town for pre-drinks, they’d had pre-pre-drinks at ours, and on the way Charlotte talked Rose into coming so I turned around and got her and told them to call me when they wanted picking up saying that 3.00am was fine.

Back home and Tash was so drunk, I was hoping she’d be asleep I must admit, but we watched Breaking Bad, or at least tried to, she kept talking shit but eventually shut up and went to sleep so I watched a couple more episodes and then we went to bed at midnight.

Sure enough, 3.00am Charlotte text and I picked them up from the usual place, all three of them again, and they were so full of it. I don’t think that Charlotte and Rose have been out together in Oxford yet and they’d got into the Cellar and loads of people were there and so on and so forth. They had a great evening and Rose loved it and was very thankful that Charlotte had talked her into going out.

Dropped Miles off in Headington and Rose home and then to bed. Charlotte was thankful, I don’t think too many of her friends parents to the same, I hope she remembers I’ve done this for her… I don’t mind it though to be fair as I like her to be safe and also not waste her money on taxis etc.

Night out in Deddington

Jason and I have been trying to get together for a couple of drinks for a while now and it was organised for last night. I was in Southend in the day for an MFC training roll out and it was very uncomfortable to be honest. Not particularly pleasant people but also very tough to involve them. Frustrated by the time the end of the session happened, quite a few issues to deal with!!

The area was familiar and brought back memories such as Billericay, Basildon and Canvey Island relating to my times playing Non-league football. I was home around 4.00pm and had been expecting a night out in Oxford but the plans changed so I went to Deddington instead with the intention of driving home the same night…didn’t happen!

Got to the Unicorn around 7.00pm and met with Jason, Kate Higgins and Peter Roberts. Loads of the Deddington friends of Jason were there and it was very busy and a good atmosphere in there, we stayed all night and it was an enjoyable evening. I tried to stay off the drink but after 3 shandies gave in and had a few beers (and a Jager bomb!) and then we went to the local Indian restaurant. JG was very drunk, and tired, and was soon asleep but the food was excellent and I made sure we all paid our way as Jason always pays for everything and Peter was very much expecting to wake him up and make him pay for it.

Kate got a taxi home and the three of us remaining finished off our drinks in the kitchen, Pete with a bottle of red wine and a stray, me with a Cobra and then to bed. I slept in the front room, it was fine and a nice evening.

Up in the morning around 7.00am and was about to leave but the others got up so had a coffee and then around 8.30am made a move. I gave Pete a lift as he needed to get back to Oxford.

Had a bit of a heavy head all day

Lewis back home for the weekend

As the title suggests, Lewis was down South again for the weekend and he brought with him his current girlfriend Beth. We’d seen her a few time on Skype and Facebook photos and were looking forward to meeting her in the flesh and getting to know her. Mmmm, didn’t really happen…

They came down on Thursday and visited London, partly because it was cheaper to go there first but also it gave her the chance to see the place for the first time. They then got the bus to Oxford and I picked them up from the station and got them back home and we all caught up. I needed to work on Friday and we went out Friday night to the Kings Arms and she hardly said a word. In fact I’m not going to dwell on it but basically the whole weekend was quite awkward as she just wouldn’t speak. Lewis said it was shyness and homesick but it just really struck me that their characters were so opposite. I found it frustrating but tried to hide it all.

The meal at the Kings Arms was nice, it was partly as Lewis was down but also it was Derek’s birthday earlier in the week so a double celebration. Saturday morning I did loads of the jobs that Tash had listed and then watched a couple of minutes of the rugby match (England v Ireland) and made a throwaway comment about watching it up the pub and Tash said, ‘go on then, you deserve it!’ – so without further ado Jack and I went up there and watched it, we won and it was an enjoyable game and a nice couple of hours and 3 pints later I was home and starting on the drink at home…that was my night over!

Had a bit of a hangover the next day and Tash took Lewis and Beth home early, this was because he’d been offered some work at the Huddersfield FC stadium for the first time so he couldn’t turn it down, although it was a midday start so he left a lot earlier than planned.

Didn’t do a great deal Sunday as a result but it was fine

At the point of writing i am not sure what’s happening with Lewis and Beth, he and I had a long chat about the situation and him breaking it off but i think he decided against it and will see what happens, he was really frustrated and disappointed by the weekend as well because she just didn’t want to do anything and even had a ‘funny’ spell at Dan’s house and stopped talking completely. They both are wasting their time it seems, we suspect they just sit around at his digs as opposed to going out and experiencing Uni life…I think we need to change that in him!!

Fitness drive…again?!?!

Yes, yes I know, if you look through this blog you will see the odd post about me being determined to lose weight, get fit and get into shape. But this time…

I have been meaning to get going again for some time, but various excuses from the weather, and couldn’t be bothered had stopped me. Looking through this diary though I saw a post from 4 years ago saying the same thing and it hit home that I have been saying this for so long, I’d not actually realised it has been this many years that I’ve been talking about getting fit and not being happy with my body shape

So, I went out this evening for a run and it wasn’t good. Shit weather but also so out of shape, I think this is really the worst I’ve ever been, so I managed 3 miles (slowly) and I hope that’s the kick i need to get out more. We shall see.

I forget I’m middle-aged now and can’t eat and drink like I used to, especially when doing some exercise

I don’t have a target to aim for, which I probably should do, anyway, less talk, more action and all that!!

Social Media boost

I’m trying to boost my social media standing both personally and company-related so this weekend I got Hootsuite back up and running and scheduled in a load of tweets over the coming weeks and re-tweets in the coming months. I have set myself a target of getting to 100 followers by the end of the year, I think it’s going to be a tall order but it’s a challenge and I have increased by 7 within a week so that’s a start and is on schedule.

I am now looking for content to use and push so as to grab people’s attention but it’s time-consuming!

Watch this space

Charlotte’s NekNomination

This is a craze at the minute where they have to make a horrible drink, neck it and then nominate 3 friends to do the same. Not very intelligent or responsible but Charlotte wanted to be first of the girls to do it and we kept it down to a decent level so it's fine...

Loads of likes on Facebook, the best bit is the last 25 seconds…she thinks I’ve made a mistake recording it!!

Bounce at breakfast time

A normal Sunday morning in the Dark household...I'm cooking pancakes for Charlotte and Tash is doing what she does.... :-)

Jack & Jevans School Project

Jack & Jevans are working on a school project together and Jevans has been around the last couple of weekends to build it up

They want to have it erupting so were planning for it but I then suggested they have a trial run to make sure they get their measurements right.

The following is their attempt, it wasn’t the only one but this one we videoed

First phase of testing…

Breaking Bad…

Woke up with a bit of a hangover, nothing too major but had a tough stomach all day long. Caught up with jobs not done yesterday by chopping loads of wood up, this helped clear up the area where all the wood has been stored so it’s beginning to look a lot better around the side of the house now. Put some pictures up and also put some things on eBay, Gaggia Coffee machine, table and chairs, Xbox wife adaptor so quite expensive things of which the coffee machine has already had a bid (starting price of £75.00)

Also made it down to the dump to get rid of the patio door, the Abingdon Road was closed because of the flooding so it was a bit of a ghost town down there. Collected Jack on the way back, he’d been at Isaac’s until 3.30pm and then went to Sue’s for dinner.

In the evening we finished off jobs and got ready for the weekend and then set up the laptop so that we could watch Breaking Bad. Everyone has said it’s one of the best things to have been on TV, I’d missed the original series so we were watching it on the online streams and watch two episodes. Tash wasn’t too bothered by it but I thought it was good and look forward to getting through it all – 60 episodes!!

Millars’ Dinner Date

Bit of a nothing day really, wasn’t in the mood to do the jobs that Tash had assigned me, the weather is really shit at the minute, constant rain and the flooding is unbelievable all around the country. Oxford is badly affected, mostly Botley and Abingdon Road. The meadow is flooded but we’re not remotely affected by it. I wanted to watch the Liverpool v Arsenal game at 12.45pm so after getting some wood for the rabbit hutch from Blanchfords, cutting wood for the fire and pottering around I did watch it and it was incredible. Liverpool were fantastic and were 4-0 in 20 minutes. Arsenal were abject so it wasn’t a good combination!

Jack had Jevans over and they were working on their volcano project for school and playing on the Xbox all day, they seem to get on really well which is nice, Jevans is a nice lad. My Summertown football was cancelled so got the message out to all the parents. We were looking after Bella for Sue as she was in Ikea and I took her out for a walk, mental dog with so much energy. Unfortunately, I noticed that her claws have scratched and ruined the kitchen floor so I’ve banned her from the house now and she can sit outside and whine/bark for all I care.

Tash went out with Zoe as it was her birthday and no one else had treated her and Liam was in Anfield etc etc. When she got back we took the dog home and dropped Jack at Isaac’s house as Stefan was going round as well and they were having a sleepover.

We then went to the Millar’s house for 6.00pm. We stayed there until midnight and as usual us men got very drunk indeed. Wayne was steaming already but the beers flowed and we got a Chinese takeaway and it was a really good evening. The girls (Kate, Laura, Chloe & Nicole) kept coming down and dressing up and entertaining with dance etc and eventually we all ended up having a head-stand competition, very amusing. It was a really good night, had such a laugh.

Got home fine and Charlotte was still up with Isobel Wright as she was staying over. Chatted for a bit and then straight to bed!

Horspath Training

Bit of a strange day today, had a webinar in the morning but the rest of the day was used catching up with things. I’ve set myself a target to increase the number of followers on my Dark Enterprise Twitter feed so I have scheduled in a load of tweets and also followed a load of people to try and increase that way. Will see what happens!

I did Summertown training in the evening and then took Jack to his training at 8.00pm at the Oxford Academy, Peers School. Was about to work in the car when Jack came running back and said that Phil wanted help. So I went along and actually did the whole session. They think I speak funny so they were joking initially but once I got going and worked them and made a fun session, more than just playing football for the whole time, they seemed to really enjoy it. They were buzzing when we finished and also some of the parents were impressed. I was pleased, I want to get involved with them and I can use that session as my way into the group. I’ll offer to do some more sessions in the coming weeks for them.

By the time I’d got home it was 9.45pm so bit of a wash out really in terms of a Friday night!!

Mid-week update

Sat in the car outside Jack’s dance lesson in Rose Hill (doors locked!) writing my diary update and there’s a fair bit to report.

Monday was early start for all of us, I went to Peters Books and got a 6.47am train from Bicester, made such a saving it’s ridiculous. Enjoyed working there today and got loads done. The seem pleased with me as Margaret said to me at the end of the day that they’d like me to work weekly for the next month or so and then once a fortnight. Pleased with that as the original agreement was only once a month! Travelling was fine, got home and was shattered, hard work getting up so early that’s for certain!

Tash was up early as well as she was taking her mum in for the operation that was cancelled before Xmas. This time did all the pre-med and that and then they gave her the option to not proceed if she didn’t feel it was necessary. Obviously she didn’t go ahead. I don’t think that’s the best decision but there you go, it’s not up to me. So they went for a slap up breakfast and all that they do to waste as much money as possible.

Tuesday I was in St Neots, near Cambridge, doing more MyFinanceCentre training. It went well and I am back there again tomorrow. Nearing the end of these training sessions, it’ll be odd going back to normality when these are finished. Need to look at how to get more buy-in and follow up sessions organised. Again, another long day so did nothing when I got home.

I was at Raintree today, a full on day, loads on my plate to get sorted which I did and then had some spare time to catch up with other things for them. Went well, very productive yet again.

At the minute there is a NekNominate craze going on within Facebook. People are videoing themselves drinking ridiculous concoctions of drinks in one go and then nominating three other people to do the same. Lewis has done it, and now Charlotte has been nominated which I am not very comfortable with to be honest. She’s excited and wants to do it when she gets back from work this evening, but I might try and put her off. I think I am worried about the possible reaction/consequences of this, she’s not a big drinker and she’s lining up all sort of spirits. I might over-rule her on this one, that’ll be interesting…she won’t be used to me saying ‘No’!

What a weekend

Madly busy but good weekend. Got home from Leicester around 5.20pm and Tash and I then went out for our Red Letter Day. We’d booked a hotel in the Cotswolds, Lower Slaughter, which was your 100% picture postcard location of a Cotswold village, it was lovely. The hotel was great, really nice room and we opened a bottle of bubbly and had a fantastic meal. The food was excellent

Had an odd phone call around 11.30pm from someone called Gracie which caused a bit of friction, no idea who the fuck that was or how they had my number, very odd.

Next day, lovely breakfast, good quality again, went for a quick walk around the village and made our way home. Pottered around during the day and then in the evening Victoria picked us and the Carrolls up for a night out over in Bicester. So we were there from about 6.45pm in this famous Highfield club of theirs. It was nice to be fair and I liked it, very cheap as well, a pint was £2.50!!

The Inflatables were playing and they were as good as usual and it was a great evening, Ted and Kay were there as well and we all got very drunk indeed. Don’t remember too much else other than Liam having a real go at me about missing out on a round in the car journey home. It was incredible and has obviously been gnawing away at him for some time as he was saying it wasn’t just last night but for the last 15 years and everyone else thinks the same etc etc. I stuck up for myself and we almost came to blows outside his house. All very unsavoury indeed.

Next morning he called and didn’t back down and wanted to meet in Sainsbury to discuss what he’d said, I said No, I had other plans and to be honest there was nothing to discuss. I just took his comments and said to move on, I could have destroyed him if I’d wanted to because when it comes to spending money I think I’d rather be known as being tight than be in his situation. But each to their own! I was quite surprised as Tash appeared to be on my side for once. Didn’t expect support from her, usually I am always in the wrong!

The rest of the day was a bit of a nothing day, the hangover kicked in and I struggled until after lunchtime. Ben and his kids turned up as planned around 4.00pm, Ruth didn’t come, not really a surprise, but his kids were lovely. Emily is the youngest and was so happy, but Jorge and Helena are growing up well too. They stayed for about 90 minutes which was good to catch up with them and Ben has lots going on, he’s doing well for himself.

Caught up with Silent Witness episodes in the evening and an early night as early start tomorrow for both of us. I have an early train to Birmingham to catch from Bicester and Sue’s going in for her operation which Tash is picking her up at 7.00am

It’s going to be a tough few weeks now with Sue being immobilised as a result of the op!

P.S. Forgot to mention…no football for me or Jack because of waterlogged pitches yet again

Tyre issues!

My car has been making a terrible noise lately and stopping on the way to Northampton this morning I found that where the type pressure should be 33 for the passenger rear it was actually 7!! Pumped it up but the noise was awful and unbearable to drive.

After the training work I checked it into Kwik Fit and they showed me the problem, the tyre had lost any sort of shape, replacing it should work, they didn’t have a cheap tyre so paid £140 but well worth it. Back to a normal car once again!

Definitely need to keep a check on that sort of thing as it could have been dangerous

Bad Dad

I thought I was doing so well to be picking up Jack from karate today. I got there on time and waited outside the dojo, hadn’t seen him but I was outside the door. Katharine Casey walked past me with Finn at the end and asked why I was there, ‘waiting for Jack’ I replied, ‘but he’s not here’ says she…

I looked in and he’s nowhere to be seen, got on the phone and he answers ‘Where are you Jack?’, “Never mind that Dad, where are you? I’m waiting at Wolvercote Boys club”

The penny drops, he’s TEACHING at karate, not participating!!! Tash is then on the phone to me and she’s got there before me…in the dog house for me!

Up here in Brum..

Working for Peters Books today and decided to come up by train instead of driving and I think I have made the right choice. It’s a longer day but with organisation and once I have found my feet I will be able to leave their offices on time and then catch up with other work for clients. It also means that I can use the travel time more effectively – although updating my diary probably isn’t the most effective use of my time!

Got the 7.36am journey up here, bit of excitement near Birmingham as a fare dodger got caught out and was arguing with the guards, lying git! Really full on day in the office, I hardly spoke to anyone, they’d asked me to get so much done, still not finished when I left. Might do some tonight, haven’t decided yet. I think they like what I have to offer so hopefully my position is secure…for now.

Left around 5.30pm and then wandered through the Bullring to the station and got the 6.33pm train home. Might look at Bicester as it’s cheaper next week. We’ll see.

All in all a decent day, busy couple of days ahead but that’s fine, that’s what I get paid well do to!

The Great Train Robbery

Interesting weekend as it was Gareth’s birthday and we organised (well he did!) a tour of the Train Robbery key areas. We met at the Oxford Services, where Tash dressed up in a boiler suit to look the part and then we went off to Highgate Cemetery in North London. This is where Ronnie Biggs and more recently Bruce Reynolds are buried.

Didn’t really know what to expect but it was some cemetery, incredible sculptures and the like and so atmospheric. Other famous names were there including Karl Marx, Malcolm McLaren, Douglas Adams & even Jeremy Beadle. Some people I’d not even realised were dead!

Highgate is such an affluent suburb of London, really impressed by some of the houses there, very interesting.

Stayed there a while wandering around and then went to Leighton Buzzard to see the bridge where the robbery actually took place, not much there but took some photos and then made our way to Brill. We were planning to have lunch in the pub but it had stopped serving so we let Benson out and then quickly got back inside the car…it was freezing up there and then chucked it down with rain. We visited the farm where they hid out but didn’t venture outside of the cars – we’ll come back and do a walk when it’s nicer weather as it’s so close by

That was it, we then went to Bicester and had dinner before going home and continuing to drink! Charlotte was going out with friends so they were all round our house drinking and getting ready before going clubbing and Tash and I went up and watch the Great Train Robbery BBC series that was on just before Xmas, as predicted, the wines had done her in so she was asleep before the opening credits had completed!

It was a strange thing to say we’ve done but I am glad that we did as it was really enjoyable and interesting.

Another late night

Lovely weekend at the minute – the sun is out, it’s mild and we’ll go for a walk shortly to go and soak it up. I am at the Academy again doing some work in the car whilst Jack plays football.

My Summertown side played Oxford City this morning and got beat 6-3, a little disappointing as we were awful in the first half, I had a real go at this which is unlike me but I was getting so pissed off! Much better in the second half and got back to 4-3 but conceded two really sloppy late goals.

Yesterday was tough, worked in the morning on my accounts, then worked with Tash in the office to tidy that up a bit and after lunch Tash and Jack went to the cinema. I stayed and worked on my accounts again and got there in the end. Still more to do but I am more up to date now. In fact, just finished the receipts entries in the car!

Late night in the end yesterday, we took Bella fro a walk and then sat round Sue’s and drank a lot of wine, I then made some rude updates on Facebook and Twitter and we then watched a film at home, Bridesmaids – it was good enough. But when Tash went to bed I watched the last episode of Dracula and then instead of bed got onto the Xbox and GTA5 – what a mistake that was…finished playing at 3.30am! Not very clever…

Great game though, loving it. I can’t imagine what it must be like online

Very busy week indeed…

So it’s Friday evening, 9.00pm, and I am sat in the Peers Academy car park working and waiting for Jack to finish his football training. We’re down here at the minute because of the awful weather we#re experiencing, everywhere is flooded.

So why so busy then??

Monday – brand new client. Worked at Peters Booksellers in Birmingham as part of a lead in from Teresa Morris. Was nervous and meant I didn’t drink at all the night before for Liam Carroll’s 18th Birthday party. Anyway, made it up there fine and enjoyed the day, they definitely need me up there and I was able to book in three more days over the coming weeks so that was good

Tuesday – this was the first of the My Finance Centre training sessions and was at St Albans. I have been fretting about this for so long and was dreading it but the two sessions went well and hopefully that will continue to be the case for the others that I have ahead of me. 13 in total!

Wednesday – I was working with Raintree and had a part in their Sales Team Conference, it was fine and the usual thing. But in the evening I took Lewis back up to Huddersfield. It worked out perfectly because I needed to be in Warrington on Thursday so I slept in Lewis room, he was on the floor. Nightmare sleep, loads of students coming home pissed up at all times through the night making so much noise! Before then, I picked up a Chinese takeaway from Summertown and then we drove up there and I made a wrong turn for some reason so we got their 30 mins later at 10.45pm. I said he could go off with his mates but they weren’t around.

Thursday – left him to stay in bed. Had a hug, gave him some money and then went to Warrington, 90 mins away, for another MFC training session. Bit cosier this time as they don#t have the facilities there and this time Jim Austin was involved. It was fine but I need to polish up the act a bit ahead of the sessions next week I reckon. No idea what Jim thought of my delivery and style – will have to find out one day!

Friday – finally got to work from home. Busy again though but nice not to have to go all over the place

We have a student this week, a lad called Oliver who is from Germany, really nice lad, 27 and an absolute giant. I didn’t think he’d stay because of the size of the room and bed but he was fine with it and he feels comfortable coming down and chatting with us or reading so he’s fine. He’s had to return to Germany today because his grandmother died, expectedly, so he’s going back for the funeral. A shame but he said it was a bit of a relief for her so they’re all okay with it happening. He’ll be back sometime next week

So that’s my week. Probably missed out loads but there you go. I think we have a full on weekend as well, Tash wants me to complete a load of jobs…no rest and all that!

Grand Theft Auto 5

Jack got this for Xmas on his Xbox – I think I have played it more than him now. I keep staying up late and getting hooked on it. Really enjoy it and have spent hours on it and still only 11% through, amazing!

Anyway, saw a lovely car and posted the following on Facebook – but behind the joke there is some seriousness, I really did have the urge to walk across and pull the driver out..who says video games corrupt you?!?!?

“Been playing Jack's Grand Theft Auto 5 too much - instead of admiring this Lotus in Summertown I wanted to drag the driver out & shoot him, speed off and beat up some whores. I went to Costa Coffee instead...”