My Birthday – 51 years old…really???

It’s 4.15am and I am downstairs working! I couldn’t sleep this evening – the pain I am in with my back and a trapped nerve is terrible, so I thought I might as well get up and stop lying there in pain and disturbing Tash with my moaning and groaning. Not really enjoying the start to my birthday I have to admit!

Can’t believe it’s a year since all the celebrations last year – seems ages ago. But it’s nice seeing Facebook memories showing the trip to New York – great trip

Nothing planned today – have loads on my plate for work in terms of training clients so a busy day

Will go out in the evening for a meal – Mum will come. Feeling sorry for her because Derek’s still not in a good place (and I don’t mean that as a slight on Didcot!) he’s just not really improving much and the people are suggesting he be coming home in a matter of weeks and Mum doesn’t want to become a carer etc – it’s a tricky situation and is causing a lot of concern.

Also, Grandma is in a Community hospital in Witney and I don’t think Susan is coping too well so it’s all a bit of a mess

Glad we’re going away to Menorca for a few days tomorrow!!

Another family member in hospital!

So currently we have Derek in hospital for 3 months now, Grandma is in Emergency Ward due to falling and fracturing the top of her leg and today I got a phone call from Witney Sue saying that Kidlington Sue has severe stomach pains last night so they called an ambulance and she’s at the JR as well – so three people all in the JR at the same time!

Madness.

Derek’s not really changing much, he has sleepy moments and then the next day will be talkative – but he’s still confused when talking and often refers back to being in the army. It’s concerning, I honestly don’t know where things will go with his situation

Grandma is fine – I think being in hospital is actually doing her good. People to see and being pampered and resting. I do wonder now, as do the family I think, whether she will be able to return to her bungalow. If she needs more care then it might be a case that she’s admitted to a home/hospice. That’s a sudden turnaround of events but it might be something that she’s happy to do and the family as well. At 99 it might give her a new lease of life and she enjoy the company, no idea – will see how quickly things go with her mending her leg

All a bit strange and definitely exhausting it has to be said. I went to see Derek last night as Mum was at Molly’s graduation – that was fine and he was chatty

Charlotte’s First Day at work – Oodle

As the title suggests – Charlotte started work today at her new proper job as a HR Assistant with Oodle. They’re a car finance company and they’re the ones that she initially turned down until her other job went wrong.

She’s started today with 12 other people and they all had balloons on their desks and welcomed and she’s got her own desk and laptop etc so she’s chuffed to bits

A good start and I think she’s going to love it – they’ve already told her of events and parties so she’s excited.

Hopefully she’ll do well.

Jack Dark a livewire…

Jack gets a decent mention in the match report last night in the cup match against Thame which they won

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/didcottown/teams/85240/match-centre/0-4730685/report

“Jack Dark had been a real live wire all evening for Didcot and the young winger twice went close to getting his first Didcot goal, Hill saving a left footed effort before Dark skilfully tricked his way beyond the full back before drilling a shot wide when he had Isaac probably better placed in the middle of the goal.”

Rough Runner - 10k

Up nice and early for an 8.20am leave to drive to South London – Morden.

Parked okay – free on-street parking and then walked across to the park.

It was a 10k obstacle run – the emphasis on run more than obstacles! There were 16 in total. Hard the warm up and then off we went. Mum was there but obviously wasn’t participating and caught up with us a few times as we went round and she seemed to enjoy herself watching us and other people failing!

It wasn’t a mud-run – the obstacles were very much inspired by gameshows like Total Wipeout and things like that – it was actually great fun – we had a really good time and laugh. Loads of walking though, were not very fit and by the end I struggled to actually walk! Anyway, went through it all and gradually more water was introduced to the challenges and we all came a cropper in some of them, couldn’t be helped! I think the best one was the four balls to try and run across – that was hard.

Lewis was best out of all of us, he did really well, his balance and fitness really came out – very impressed – even Jack had to begrudgingly give him respect!!

At the end of the course there was a travellator that had speeds of fast, medium, slow and upwards! Lewis and Jack managed the fast one, I tried but failed immediately and as I came down got cramp, I couldn’t move – so hard to go on the belt of shame (the one going upwards!) and was laughed at as a result – but that was fine, I wasn’t the only one.

It was an exhausting experience and I am writing this the following day on the train – I’m broken! Let’s see if it helps me work on my fitness now then shall we?

We keep referring to the Nuts Challenge so we need to try and do that again – that’s still our favourite.

Came home and on the way heard that great grandma had fallen over in the night and found on the floor the next morning, she’s in hospital (same as Derek!!) but only really precautionary, scans show nothing broken but we’ll see, she’s struggling to stand.

What a nightmare – it’s all going on!

30 Day Challenge

So today I am going to start a 30 day challenge – I need to write it down so as to make it stick.

I am going to try and follow/meet the action points I get from my Alarmed App.

So eating the Frog, exercising, doing my diary.

I have removed Twitter from my phone and each time I am tempted to use it on the website I try and force myself to do something else.

We’ll see how this progresses…I can’t see it lasting!

Jack makes an impact

Jack has been very patient with football, he’s been on the bench for about 6 games and not been used at all. He’s getting pissed off but we’re trying to keep him positive and patient. It’s paid off

On Saturday he got 20 minutes and did okay and yesterday he also got 20 minutes in a cup match against Kidlington. I was working at home but watching Twitter and he made an impact right at the end when he beat the full-back, got brought down and won a penalty which was converted by Phil Thomas’s son so they went through 2-1.

He was rightly buzzing and everyone was pleased for him – Andy Sinnott and loads of others have recognised how patient and determined he’s been and he’s taken his chance.

Hopefully he will build on this now, not sure how the rest of the game went and he might well be on the bench again this week and he be used as an impact sub, but for 18 years that’s okay

Really pleased for him – very proud.

This is the match report and also my tweet which also showed how much his team-mates like him with some decent banter!
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/didcottown/teams/85240/match-centre/0-4697127/report

Jack signing for Didcot

Jack has put pen to paper and signed for Didcot Town this season – this is the announcement on Twitter!

Hopefully he will do well and get game time, he’s comfortable there and feels wanted and welcomed.
He came home from training the other night with all the kit so he’s part of it all!

Will be good fun to go and watch him on a regular basis – looking forward to it.

Quite funny because Noz and Tommy’s sons are both part of the squad as well – and what with Millar over the in the club-house all the time it could be interesting how much I spend on drinking there!!

Derek Minor Progress Update

Went up to see Derek tonight and Jack came with me. He went in first and then he and mum were kicked out during the handover and I went in with mum afterwards. The breathing tube has been removed from his throat and his breathing was better. He responded in terms of looking at us but it does feel as though there’s not much really registering behind his eyes. I’m a bit concerned as to how cognitive ability is there if I’m honest.

But again it’s another day of improvement so mums pleased and clutching at anything remotely positive which is understandable. Let’s see what tomorrow brings

Jack run out with Didcot

Went and watched Jack at Didcot where he got a decent run out in the second half. He didn’t get a lot of the ball but when he did he was okay. I made a mistake of telling him to take a player on when he should have crossed it. I need to learn not to say anything to him from the sidelines now

I went with Wayne and we had a few pints and it looks like they want jack to sign so this could be a regular thing...not good for my liver as Millar is there all the time!

Back to ours for more beers and I got the pizza oven out. Zoe came over as well and it was a really nice evening l, drank far too much. Got respect for my pizzas though as they were all cooked to perfection!!

Also went to Sue’s in the morning and helped with some of the boxes following her house move. It’s a huge great house with a massive garden. I’ve no idea why she bought it, it’s definitely not a move to downsize at all. Madness.

Derek Update, but not much to report

No improvement today with Derek, in fact he might have gone backwards to some small degree. I worked at Raintree so couldn’t help out with lifts or anything in the morning but Tash worked early so she could get up to the hospital for about midday and support Mum and bring her home afterwards when they’re kicked out at 1.00pm. Tash said that he just slept throughout and there was little response to any discussions etc and it was an emotional morning with plenty of crying.

So I got some stuff sorted when I got home from work and then went to the JR about 7.15pm in the end and again it was the same thing, I think he opened his eyes a couple of times and reacted to both Mum and my voices but it was little else that happened. He does move and flinch from the discomfort of the tubes down his throat so we see that as a positive thing because it shows there is feeling and activity, if he was doing literally nothing then that would be much more concerning.

Mum did most of the talking as usual, it’s a nervous talking and is constant, but it’s good for her that one of us is always there for her. Charlotte is going to go tomorrow, I think she’ll find that really tough and emotional and understandably so. We haven’t put any pressure on the kids to go and it’s their own decision, it’s shocking but you do sort of get used to it but it’s still so sad. Not sure if Jack will go, I think he wants to and it would be nice if he did but again, we’ll see how things progress.

So tomorrow they are likely to take the tube helping him to breathe out so that he does breathe on his own, apparently you can become so used to things helping you that your mind switches off and “forgets” how to breathe…not good! The tube is not breathing for him, it’s just increasing the oxygen when he takes a breath, but he does need to do it himself asap apparently.

We will see how that goes later, I am in Kent tomorrow so won’t be home until late and not able to go up there until the evening.

Still don’t know how Mum is managing to cope with it, she must be under such strain and be exhausted.

Derek seriously ill

Whilst we were away on holiday last week Derek suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage – basically a bleed on the brain. Mum got him to the hospital and he was operated on and placed into the Intensive Care Unit. It’s not possible to stress how important life-threatening this is. At the time of writing this it’s now 6 days and we’ve visited him with Mum for the last two days (having not come home until midnight on Sunday) and we’ve only seen him open his eyes in that time.

During the holiday we kept in touch with Mum and it seemed he was progressing and she was positive but something went wrong and he had to go back to ICU which is where he’s remained and where we’ve seen him. Tubes coming out of him in all places and helping him to breathe, it’s heart-breaking to witness.

Mum is bearing up okay but she must be exhausted, it’s tiring for us and we’ve only been there a couple of sessions – we’re allowed there in the morning and afternoon/evenings. It’s hard to know what to do or say and slowly we’ve got more information from the nurses or doctors there. They’re very good and he’s on a constant watch, it makes you realise how serious this all is and reading the literature, it’s not positive reading whatsoever!

We can only keep supporting Mum and hoping for the best. Tash went up there with Mum this evening and they came out much more positive as his eyes were open and they were trying to communicate with him, how much he sees or hears we don’t know but you hope it’s helping in some small way.

It’s draining physically and of course emotionally, it’s so sad to see him like this and also see the desperation in Mum willing him to be well and to pull through this, she’d be so lost without him and it’s a terrible thing to face up to and think about, but it’s a real possibility that he won’t survive this, but also, if he were to survive, what sort of state he will be in terms of mental and physical health. We can’t and mustn’t speculate, we just want him to get through this first hurdle and then go on from there.

Tash spoke to the nurse today asking about their experience in this sort of situation and they advised that it’s the first 10 days that’s the main milestone for someone to survive, tomorrow is day 7!

The kids are not sure about visiting, I think Charlotte might go but Lewis is up in Manchester and I think Jack won’t feel comfortable – he might wait and see what Charlotte says if she does go on Thursday.

It’s hard to think of anything else at this time, it’s a horrible, horrible situation and as I mentioned above – absolutely heart-wrenching.

Fingers crossed is all we can say

Jack playing in front of 841 people

Played for Thame Utd in the second half against Oxford Utd – right mid – did well

Jack’s got an ear-ring!!

Got a Snapchat through to the Dark Dickheads family group and Jack has got an ear-ring in Aiya Napa! Mad. It’s fine, it’s a diamond stud but he makes us laugh!

Haven’t seen any update from Tash, in saying that, Raff has got a big tattoo as well…not sure how that’s going to go down with his family, huge great rose on his forearm

Jack#s get us up to date well and it looks like he’s had a fantastic time, he’s been on the paraglider and even talked his way into an all-inclusive luxury hotel and send videos from there in the infinity pool and getting free drinks

No idea how he manages it!

I go and collect them from Luton tomorrow…

Working away from home

Haven’t worked away from home in bloody ages! I am up n Derby today working for EdCo to try and help with their Support team set up and reviewing calls that are coming in. Not sure how it’s going to go but it’s been okay today, hopefully I will impress, but it’s going to cost a fair amount so I hope they don’t get funny when I send in my invoice!

Left for home this morning at 6.00am and it’s now 10.30am in a pretty ordinary hotel, won’t come back here again in a hurry I must admit.

I have gone from being quiet and worried about money to being quite busy again now, but I think I like that as it focusses the mind and makes me push myself that bit harder – I am not a good person with too much time and being the one that has to motivate myself to work, definitely a stick not a carrot person!

Oh, have ordered the building materials today from Blanchfords for them to get working on my new office next week, exciting! It’s costing a bit but with this extra work on my plate hopefully we’ll be fine with setting it up…the bar in getting closer all the time!

Jack has now finished his A-Levels!

That’s it, he’s finished his A-Levels and his school years!

Makes me and Tash feel old, but it’s not about us. He’s worked hard but this has been a hard time to get through, he’s an annoying little shit who has an answer for everything and we’ve really had to push him to keep his focus. I am concerned that he’s not done enough but it’s clearly too late now, he’s NOT doing retakes.

I so very much hope that he’s done enough to get some decent grades, he keeps saying that he’s not going to go to further education but he still needs to have some decent grades to show for the last two years, else they were a waste of time and he might as well have done an apprenticeship.

Not sure how long we have to wait for the results, but he just doesn’t care about them and now will be dossing about and then goes on holiday next Wednesday which I am sure he will absolutely love

Charlotte’s Dissertation Result…what will it mean overall??

Charlotte got a FIRST in her dissertation – she was almost crying, Tash said she was shaking she was so pleased and shocked about it – I am delighted for her and so very, very proud. She’s worked incredibly hard so to get the recognition now and the feeling that she’s capable is so pleasing for me, Tash and herself – she rightly deserves it too, she’s very good at what she does and I don’t think she has that confidence in her ability. She’s going to do so very well whatever it might be and I hope this result gives her that confidence. So what does that result mean?

Well, all this year she’s got mostly 2:1’s and a few 2:2 – I think this is her first time she’s got a 1st this year so I am expecting her to get an overall 2:1 which her and Tash are going to be delighted with. I really, really don’t think she will drop to a 2:2, that can’t possibly happen, we’d be stunned if that happened. But what about sneaking a First????? I don’t know, I think we all think that would be a real stretch, but we won’t rule it out and none of us are really thinking about it, so let’s hope for the best and that will be a 2:1 which like Charlotte said, she didn’t think she’d even get into University in the first place!

So proud of her – she’s lovely!

MRI Scan & Raff’s Family for Dinner

Went to the JR this afternoon for an MRI Scan – they’re not much fun at all it has to be said. Tash dropped me down there and it was about 25 minutes in this little tube that is quite claustrophobic and tight. I just accepted it and closed my eyes and then all the noise starts up and it’s odd feeling in there. In saying that I almost fell asleep…! Will find the results out in due course and hopefully they’ll be able to see what’s wrong with my back, if they say there’s nothing obvious I will be so surprised.

In the morning we did work on the house and got loads of jobs done including another dump run for Sue, but then found out that Nikki has been round as well and has suggested getting a skip and then took Sue for lunch – it’s pathetic it really is, the answer to everything is spending money and eating food. Tash was quite upset because it was obvious that Sue’s been moaning about her being round and she wasn’t invited to the Jacob’s Inn with them – I do feel sorry for Tash.

In the afternoon we hosted Raff’s family for dinner and it was nice, Jack and Raff are going off to Aiya Napa in a couple of weeks so it was some last minute planning and we’d been to their house so it was our turn. It was a nice enough evening and they left quite abruptly when Raff said “Can we go now?” – quite shocked by that rudeness but there you go. Stayed up and watched a film and then had an early night.

Another nice weekend all told

Chernobyl drama – brilliant TV viewing

We’ve been watching a fair amount of TV over the last few months, we always get an hour or so at the end of the day to sit and relax. Got through loads of programme and the latest one we’ve completed was one on Sky Atlantic called Chernobyl.

As the title suggests this is a short 5 part docu-drama about the events at the Chernobyl Power Plant in April 1986 – it was fascinating and has garnered constant praise and acclaim, I’ve not heard anyone moan about it.

Last episode was this evening and it finished as strongly as it started and was a shocking view into the mentality of the men involved and what being Russian involves and their hierarchy and command chains – it’s scary.

Anyway, I am sure it will win awards and rightly so, it’s been great. Now to find something else to watch…what’s on the planner?

Kate Millar’s 18th Birthday

Up quite early washing the car this morning and 3 people (including Charlotte) said “You can do mine next!” – made me smile putting that on Facebook and got some good reactions. I did actually do mine, Charlotte’s and Tasha’s cars in the end. I then sorted out the wood in the stable and then trimmed the hedge out the front, so was busy busy busy. Took the dogs for a walk, hot again.

Our latest student, Michele from Switzerland, left this morning as well, she was a lovely girl and really enjoyed her stay with us. She was very quiet but would get involved if only to sit and observe us being drunk or a bit crazy (as she put it in her card). She gave us a thank you card that was lovely and also some spaghetti because of her first meal and Jack throwing his on the floor! Doubt we'll ever see her again, we never do, but I think we made a nice impression on her.

Over to Didcot to the Millar’s house, haven’t been there for a long time I don’t think, they’ve sorted out the back garden and it’s really nice there – done it well. Phil Thomas was there cooking at the BBQ and Tracey was on form, usual suspects were there and it was a lovely afternoon. Had to go inside near the end because of the rain but food was all good and loads to drink!

Jack was driving so Tash and I had a few  and when we got home Charlotte was on the sofa so we watched some films and it was a nice evening.

Everyone was knackered, it’s been a long weekend.