Skiing - Day One on the Slopes

Everyone was more or less up around 10.00am – could easily have slept for a lot longer but needed to get going and have breakfast and get out on the slopes. But of course that couldn’t happen until we got the ski passes and our gear – all sorted eventually, always the worst part and then we were off!

There is a slope and lift right next to us so we have one trial run on the nursery slope before thinking we were ready and then went for it. Lewis stayed behind with Katie to try and teach her and we went off exploring…that could take some time…it’s clearly absolutely huge!

Went up a few lifts together and there was plenty of snow and it will definitely keep us challenged. I was worried that there would be a big lack of snow and skiing but definitely not, it’s amazing place, it really is. Quite busy but the slopes weren’t too bad actually so it wasn’t overcrowded or anything like that.

Katie was really struggling so we went back to see her and try and talk her into coming out but she was adamant that she’s not liking it and doesn’t want to do it – this is a real shame and could be awkward. We’ll try again tomorrow with her.

Went and had a drink and hot chocolate (or beer) and then got another 2 hours in and I went off on my own and did really well. Love it here, really impressed.

Back to the apartment at around 5.00pm as the slopes were closed and had a few beers and something to eat, everyone’s tired as yesterday’s travelling has caught up with us. We’ll go to the pub in a minute though and watch some football.

He’s behind you!!

Went to the Panto again this year and it was one of the best we’ve been to. The usual nonsense that is so much fun but it just seemed extra good this year.

Tash had managed to get us on the front row again this year and there was 24 of us! Only two short of completely filling the row… Ivy also came a along and she seemed to love it as well, just enthralled by what was going on and clapping along – lovely to see.

The 12 days of Xmas song was played which included a water fight so we have a few plans for next year!

What was really funny though was the main local guy (who does the 12 days song) singled out Natasha for clapping out of time to everyone else, he absolutely hammered her, we all know she’s got no rhythm but it was funny for someone to notice whilst they’re acting!! Obviously we didn’t make the most of it and tease her.

I don’t want to provide spoilers so look away now, but Aladdin wins Jasmine and they marry!

Had our team photo outside and then went over to Weatherspoon's for dinner and it was surprisingly good quality actually, I think we were all pleasantly surprised at how good it was. A few of the actors were in there afterwards so I said thanks to them for a good night and we then all made our way home

Such a good family get-together, shame Lewis was missing. Same again next year.  

Winter Wonderland

Went up to London today with Wayne, Kerry and the girls and also Zoe and the girls (and Liam). Managed to find some space around the Bayswater Road although not on it like Wayne did but got sorted for free parking and then into the Wonderland itself. It’s so huge these days, it’s just got bigger and bigger.

Massive fair and all the ‘traditional’ German market stalls offering food and drink. We just wandered round and it was good fun taking in all the sights, sounds and smells! Ate a few things here and there and had a really nice evening. Didn’t do any of the rides, as good as they looked!

It would be nice to do it and stay for longer and drink a bit and get involved with the live music and all that – perhaps another year! I cannot see how it can get any bigger, it really was so big!

Driving home was nice and easy so not too late night home.

My Xmas Party!

Night out at Milton Hill House tonight for my annual Xmas party!!

Had kids football in the morning over at Evesham – very frustrating 2-1 loss – didn’t enjoy it at all so less said about that the better.

Got sorted and made our way over to Milton for 4.15pm and most people were there in the bar already, so we joined them of course. Some of the girls went off to use the pool and sauna etc but the lads stayed and ended up with 4 or 5 pints so that was a good start to proceedings!

Quick freshen up and change of clobber and then back down to get on with the party. Nice food, same table as a few years ago and then the disco and more drinking…loads of dancing but it was a bit sudden when they just turned everything off at midnight, felt too sudden and without warning, bit of an anti-climax if I am honest, everyone (not just us) was up for it and really letting loose.

So we congregated in the bar and chatted but after about an hour we called it a night and went to bed, really good fun and it was nice because no one really overdid it so in the morning it was fine getting breakfast etc

A lovely crowd and we all get on so well with each other, look forward to the same next year!

Tax Situation–Nice Surprise

Got the tax update from Simone today and it was very pleasing indeed.

Obviously it's not much fun owing the taxman £13k but it meant I knew my financial situation and to cut a long story short I have about £16k available for my own use. Amazing bonus for the years work!!!

Tash was pleased as you would expect and immediately planned how to save and spend the money!! More than likely it will all be hidden away for a lavish holiday for our 50th birthdays and 25th wedding anniversary

Very pleased with myself and now need to go again to raise that sort of money next year as well.

To be honest though, it has been draining. But when that happens then it's worth it. Especially if you think of the monthly amount I've earned as well.

Wow!!

My Desert Island Discs!

I’ve always had this as a list of Desert Island Disks on my iPhone but I thought I would add them to this blog just as a keepsake…I’ve added some extra details to these as well. Probably could add a lot more songs to this but that’s it for now

Real Gone Kid – Deacon Blue – Saw them play at Cornbury as they started doing a reunion tour and they were brilliant, one of my favourite bands and album, love their music

Two Tribes – Frankie Goes to Hollywood - my favourite Frankie song without a doubt. Just brilliant. Fortunate enough to see it live when Trevor Horn played live at Cornbury in 2015 and the original guitarist from the song played as well. Loved it!

That's Entertainment - best Jam song ever!

Baggy Trousers – Madness - summed up school and also 2 tone music was all we could dance to at that age! Always able to dance to this music wherever and whenever it strikes up. Enjoy seeing The Inflatables play it and was fortunate enough to see Madness live in Brighton as well

With You I'm born Again – Billy Preston & Syrita - school discos – always the last song of the night and your chance to get a slow dance with one of the girls there that you had your eye on! Lovely melody and brings back those memories whenever I hear it

Jupiter from Planet Suite – Gustav Holtz – inspirational music. Reminds me of the Rugby Unon World cups but still more than that

Omen – The Prodigy - Team Taurus skipping competition that Lewis and his karate friends won. So proud to be a part of that

Too Nice To Talk To – The Beat – I just played over and over in my bedroom when a teenager. I liked my own company and would happily spend hours listening to music, reading or playing chess alone, this song was great as were some of the other Beat songs (Mirror in the Bathroom!)

Such a shame – Talk Talk - as above

Prince Charming – Adam and the Ants - first album I ever queued up to by on first day of release. Outside Music Market when it was in Covered Market. Used to spend hours in that shop spending all my pocket money on records. Loved music as a teenager

Without You – Nillson - first dance at wedding. Great day

Pet shop boys white album - can't remember first song

Book? Legend by David Gemmell. First book I bought of his and became a fan and read them all. Gutted when in Holiday Inn once reading obituaries in complimentary paper to see his name. Very really quite sad that I'd not be reading any more material by him. Odd feeling that was.

Or Magician by Raymond Feist - great story telling on an epic scale that pulled you into it and spawned so many sequels and additional spin-off stories, really good author.

Football Weekend Update

Saturday we played home match against Gloucester but at Garsington. It went well and was a very competitive match. Goal down to go 2-1 up and then find ourselves 4-2 down.

Somehow we pushed and showed great commitment and team spirit to fight back to 4-4 and with the last kick of the game our forward was brought down and a penalty (rightly) given. Will slotted home and that as it, won 5-4.

The enjoyment was taken away from me though as I'd not given a couple of players a decent run out and Tom Rolfe's dad approached me as much. I was posed off about it for the rest of the day as it was also Jack, Jonah and Naz. It's not often I put the result ahead of the players and this time it worked but it didn't feel like it was worth it in the end

Sunday we were in action in the PGA u16 cup and we played my old team Summertown stars. Wyn and James O were there and James seemed really pleased to see me, stopping short of a hug!!

The game was very one-sided as expected and we ran out 13-0 winners. The two managers were the ones that took the team over from me and the coach David still struggles to be not rude to me. Not sure what I'd done to make him dislike me so. Ah well

Coincidentally the ref was David Rundle. Funny old world isn't it??

Jacks Diary Entry Saturday 19th November

I woke up and got ready for training as our match got cancelled so we had a training session instead. At training we were all cold so we warmed up with shuttles and relays, with forfeits. We then went on to play head tennis which was funny as people were constantly messing up with silly mistakes.

We also played frisbee and it was crazy because no one knew how to throw it properly!

Nearer the end of the session we did crossbar challenge which we filmed. It was so funny as it is what professional football team do so we were messing around. Only one person did it and we all bundled him.

After training we came home and I revised for a while until one, my Mum and Dad went out to go shopping, we went to look for football boots but they had none my size. It was very annoying! After I got home I continued revising and soon after got ready to go out to a party.

My great grandma had come round for dinner, it made me laugh as she was talking about how she get indigestion although everyone had finished their dinner about half an hour before she had.

At the party it was very boring, the music was rubbish and nobody was dancing, the kebab after was the best bit

Crossbar Challenge - OCFC JPL u16s

No match today because the other team had a cup match so I decided on a fun training session which is exactly that we did. The lads seemed to really enjoy it.

Frisbee as part of the warm up which they were useless at!! Head tennis and other things so it was really good fun. We finished with a crossbar challenge and they were appalling...as can be seen via the video on this link!

Only our keeper Ben managed to get it to work. I edited and uploaded the video the following day and it got loads of views and likes so that was pleasing

The point of this was to create memories they'd look back on with fondness much like me and the lads do with our times at Oxford city. The fact it's on video means it's even more memorable.

Jacks Diary Entry Thursday 17th November 2016

Throughout my morning I was very excited as I only had 3 lessons because I had a Nationals Football Match away against Milton Keynes Academy. We played them last year at home and beat them 3-2. We could remember them being decent with a dangerous player in centre-midfield. When we got there , we were right, he was there!

The game started and it was close but we were clearly the better team. The pitch was sticky and constantly getting worse and worse as the game proceeded. At half time we were 2-1 down as there was a bad mistake, a sloppy clearance at the back. We pulled it back to 2-2 then shortly afterwent back to 3-3. Before the final whistle we missed a clear-cut opportunity. We then played extra time which finished off to be 3-3. Penalties!

We missed one and went down but quickly pulled it back up and won 5-4. A very intense match but a win takes us into the next round.

The journey home was very fun as we were chanting all the way home listening to music.

When I got home I had a bath, afterwards I continued with my revision…again!

Jacks Diary Entry Wednesday 16th November 2016

I continued my day normally, going to school. After school I went home and did an English Mock Paper. I was excited for when I finish as I would then be going to football training tonight but it got cancelled due to short numbers and I had to stay home and continue revising, it was a boring day

Jacks Diary Entry Tuesday 15th November 2016

Today I woke up early to walk to school with a friend, as it was his birthday. As we were walking we saw some other people and walked with them too. During school everyone gave him beats because he always gives the worse beats to everyone else. After school I had basketball training and I went home to finish my revision for my mocks.

*He was talking about Corey Grant!

Jacks Diary Entry Monday 14th November 2016

I woke up to my alarm at 7.30am. Tired! I was dreading the day ahead of me; as it’s Monday! Continuing with my usual normal morning routine, I then left at 8.10am for school. During school I had the same day as usual. After school I realised that I didn’t have work in Kidlington, so I went straight home and revised for Business by completing a past paper. After I finished all my homework then got ready for football training.

At football we began to warm up without my Dad, Manager, as he was getting changed. We then began a simple passing drill through the cones which then dissolved as defenders were introduced rather than cones.

Shortly after we played a match of defenders v attackers where my Dad angrily stared me down as I had done nothing wrong! This is what we did for the majority of the training. We then proceeded on to play keep ball in the box which turned out to not work so well as everyone seemed to have tired legs at the end

At home I continued to revise by doing my homework I have been set on the day. After a nice, long hot bath.

I then treated myself to a glass of milk and biscuits and went to sleep

Mum’s Quote

When she was talking about her Cancer diagnosis

“I don't want to die now. I want to live another 20 years.”

Hopefully now she’s got the all clear from then she will be able to see out 20 years and more!

Working all weekend!

I worked all weekend which wasn't much fun as a lots of the work was a waste of time on the First News upgrade. It is so frustrating when technology doesn't work as you want it today and unfortunately I do not have the skills to be able to fix those problems. So things I promised couldn't be completed I gets pissed off and things get tight
However, It was nice this weekend because Charlotte came down and spent some time here it was Miles Mum's birthday so we went that on Sunday afternoon for food and drinks as usual I ate too much.
On Sunday afternoon Tash and I went shopping and spent the vouchers we have had for ages I bought a new jacket after I had lost the other one when we were drunk in Huddersfield
We also found me an evening suit which is for a party in a couple of weeks time when we go out with the Kasey's - a bit extravagant but my old one which we bought from a charity shop is no longer smart enough

Oxford Half Marathon

Ran the Oxford Half Marathon today – I had done x3 runs before turning up for this – 2, 3 and 5 miles the last of which was 4 weeks ago! So unsurprisingly I was anxious about entering this and how it would pan out because so many people were taking it so seriously and really putting in the training hours

Tash dropped me off down at the Uni Parks and then I met with all of Team Taylor before making my way to the start line where I met with Tash and Pauline Bampton & Julie Goodall. There were over 9,500 people entering and it was quite exciting and good to be part of the crowd. The start began at 9.30am and it took 20 minutes for us to make our way to the start line and cross it. I went at my slow and steady pass and managed to maintain it (albeit getting slower) throughout, I did get round the whole course without stopping – I couldn’t believe it, very pleased with myself in that I’d done no training but embarrassed by the time it took.

I didn’t go past many people and at the halfway point it got to the stage that people were walking, I’d go past them, they’d run past me and walk again and I’d go past them again! Familiar people were then dragging me along so to speak. Kept seeing Tash along the way which was nice and Jack as well after his football had finished down at Oxford City

It was nice being part of the Team Taylor as there were a lot of other runners with the same t-shirts so we kept encouraging one and other.

Got over the finish line in 2h 47m and got some goodies and then walked to the car and went home – the rest of the day I didn’t get much done at all, it really flaked me out and I crashed out on the sofa and that was pretty much it. I have so much work on my plate but I couldn’t face it so just went to bed early after a long bath – although we did make it down to the Apple Day in the village, that was nice as usual – we live in a lovely place.

Anyway, I’ve done it now so that’s that! Might enter the one next year but will see how it goes, I have pre-registered my interest, I think I should surely be able to improve the time if I try a bit harder!!

On the Start line…

At the Finish Line…almost 3 hours later..not smiling now!

Charlotte at Uni

Was training in Nottingham today which wasn't the best, didn't enjoy it at all. Wouldn't be surprised if I don't get full pay for it. Never mind

Afterwards I met Charlotte in the town Centre and we had a lunch meal at Turtle Bay which was lovely. Nice food and it was great to spend time with her, she didn't stop talking!!

She's really enjoying herself and the lifestyle she's experiencing at the minute which is pleasing of course but she will have to learn to work when the work is there to do. It's only 2 weeks in so it's all new and exciting and it's just so pleasing that she's settled and enjoying things. She's in the ski society and also tonight in the cocktail making society (yes that exists!!)

We were there for about 90 minutes and then I had to get home. It's nice that it feels close although it's 2 hours. Will meet her again soon. Nottingham city centre looked interesting with some nice shops so will explore that next time I guess. Some rough types though which sounds like some students are being targeted which is such a shame.

Went out for a run in the evening which was pretty pathetic and with the half marathon on Sunday I am not in a good place!!

Decent Weekend

Decent weekend overshadowed by not doing work I should have done…oh dear!

As per a previous post Jack passed his Karate black belt grading and we had Lewis down as a result as he wanted to be part of it and on the panel judging him.

Lewis was down on Friday when I got in from working in London and I didn’t see much of him as I was working outside once I was home. Saturday morning we had a fry up and got ready for the grading but I then went off to football as we were playing Worcester City who I was nervous about because they’d won so well last week.

It was a decent game and we challenged them but we fell short and were 1-3 losers in the end. Couple of injuries made life difficult but it was an improvement on last week. Once finished I went and got some balloons from Jericho and then we went out to see Jack’s karate grading result and had a nice evening out

Sunday we were up fairly late in the morning, so surprised Tash wasn’t hungover, and we pottered around, again I put off working.

Took Jack to watch his football team at Harwell in the afternoon – his bruising came out really bad – he was even more proud of those! We then went back home as we were hosting friends and family up for Charlotte’s birthday, leaving for Uni and Jack’s black belt celebration…any excuse!

It was a really nice day/evening and people stayed late. Of course I had a few beers so got absolutely nothing done in the evening which is making me more and more stressed, even typing this diary feels like I’m delaying the inevitable. Early to bed but really nice relaxed evening.

Jack Black Belt Karate Grading–Part 2–Passed!!

So very, very proud of Jack today – he’s done it!

We have another karate black belt in the family.

It’s such an achievement and he’s proud of himself it’s obvious. He went to the school at 2.00pm and obviously worked all afternoon with interviews, katas, paired combinations etc and finally the fighting at the end. We got there about 5.30pm and they finished soon after – we saw nothing of course – but we know what happens…Jack was being beaten up!

We went in when they finished and it was clear there were a few tears by both lads – the other lad (Fred) was a shaking nervous wreck, but you could tell that from him size etc, same age as Jack but looked like he’d blow over in a strong breeze.

We watched as Rob made speeches to them – which they no doubt will forget because of the adrenaline coursing through them and they were then presented with their certificates and belts. It really was so pleasing, he’s worked so hard for this.

We took some photos and made the usual thanks and pleasantries and then went home to get ready to go out. Jack was talking about all the experience and Lewis was adding context as well, Jack’s face was a bit puffy and swollen but he was in good spirits. We went out for a meal in the evening to Jamie’s Italian which all the family including Sue and Mum & Derek. Lovely meal and then went to the Wig & Pen for a couple of pints afterwards – Jeez that was rough…taxi home and then bed.

He’s now quite excited as he’s been offered working in one of the classes with Mary and he’s expecting £12.00per hour which is pretty decent by anyone’s standards!!

I’m still smiling now thinking about it, I’m really proud of him – Facebook photo got so many likes and well dones for him. Pleasing

Jack Black Belt Karate Grading–Part 1 done

So Jack has got through the first stage, the one he was most concerned about, the exam.

He got 69 and the pass mark was 65. Bit tight but a pass is a pass!

I watched him do his paired combinations in front of all the class this evening and was proud of him. Sensei Rob also appeared to be happy with what he and Harry have worked on with their own choreography.

So now it's the grading on Saturday. He has an interview and then the katas he needs to do and then finally the fight. He's nervous of course but I think, and hope, he will be fine.

Will be very proud of him if he makes it, obviously we will be proud of him if he falls short as he's done so well to be grading at this age and we know that OSMA don't just hand out these belts for the fun of it. He'd have properly earned this belt.

He's looking forward to fighting Lewis...should be interesting because Jack is possibly at the fittest and strongest he's ever been, Lewis is not!!

I also found time to make it to the gym at the Nuffield today (I still think of it as Esporta) as I have a two week free membership. I was there for an hour on the rowing, bike and running machines...it was fine. I'm not a good gym person though it has to be said!! I find it dull and boring, will take my swim kit next time but also need to find more time for the running with the Half Marathon so close on the horizon!

Tash had been out in the evening with Lucie and Chrissie catching up so I was the taxi driver. It was ok.

Finally seem to be shaking my cold off, still feeling really rough though, hate feeling sick. And of course Man Flu is so much worse for us than a normal cold!!