Day 1039 (30/10/2012)

Thomas's car went off to the garage for an MOT today. Thankfully it only needed a new light bulb on the rear number plate, so wasn't that much.

Did stuff in the office today and by the time Ann was finished (Tuesday is cleaner day) it was a bit late to go to the gym so we ordered some pizza's for dinner instead.

I can't believe that October is nearly over and that it will soon be Christmas. I even had to buy a new diary today as I already have things booked for January & February next year.

Day 1038 (29/10/2012)

Thankfully the tube wasn't too packed and we got to Paddington nice & early. One of the many advatages of First Class travel is access to the First Class Lounge.

Nice seats, free drinks & nibbles.

The journey back was nice & quick, although the company was bit annoying.

Home nice & early so I could catch up with my work.

Day 1037 (28/10/2012)

Finished the course which went well with lots of positive feedback.

As a treat I thought I would go the Jamie Oliver's 15 restaurant for a taster menu & a few glasses of wine.

Very Very nice. I must buy a few bottles of this for Christmas Cheese & Biscuits as much lighter than port.

Day 1036 (27/10/2012)

Started a 2 day course for The Centre For Investigative Journalism in London.

It went quite well and was the first one I had done for a while.

Afterwards went off to see Ricky & Christine for the night. Bit chilly on the way back

Day 1035 (26/10/2012)

What a wet & gray day it is outside, truly winter is here and we are still on British Summer Time.

I have a few things to do then catching a train (first class) with Kelly later as we are off to London for the weekend, where I am, doing a 2 day course for The Centre For Investigative Journalism.

I think my letters will be going out from my solicitors today, so things should start hotting up for a few people next week.

Day 1034 (25/10/2012)

Yesterday we went to see Gary & Elaine as some of Gary's art was used in a "Day Of The Dead" Exhibition in Bristol.

It was good to see Gary's art being displayed, especially amongst other similar pieces but I think my wife's favourite parts was trying the tequila.

We finished the evening off by going for a curry.

Preparing for this weekends course today.

Day 1033 (24/10/2012)

To save myself the time & trouble I have asked a local printer to quote me a price for doing all of my laminates. I hope its a fairly reasonable price as it would be nice to not to have to do them any more.

At the gym for the third day on the trot today. Getting back in to the swing of things but not doing as much as I was before as I must not exhaust myself.

Then came home and made a lovely Chinese style pork & egg fried rice.

Hopefully going to Bristol later to see some of my brothers art in an exhibition.

Day 1032 (23/10/2012)

Modern life is so much easier at times but sometimes things really piss me off (that's probably not a surprise to anyone that knows me). Over the last few years I have always bought mine and everyone else's car tax (or Vehicle Excise Licence to be completely correct) online, it is so easy and saves me queuing in the post office.

I have been trying to get the car tax online for Thomas's car as it runs out at the end of the month but as our insurance runs out on the same day it won't let me, even though I have paid to renew the car insurance on four cars; However the Motor Insurance Database will not be updated until two weeks after our renewal, just in case we don't renew it or cancel it.

So the useful advice from my insurer and the Motor Insurance Bureau, who supply the details to DVLA of vehicles on the Motor Insurance Database, was that I should print off a copy of my insurance certificate and go to the post office, stand in line and buy the tax disc for real rather than online.

I pointed out to my insurance company and the Motor Insurance Bureau (I am one of those annoying people that insists on telling people when a system is wrong) that the problem of not updating the system for two weeks in case I cancel my insurance but letting my print off a copy of my insurance certificate is that I can still cancel my insurance once I have printed off the insurance certificate but now I have to go to the post office and stand in line.

It is at times like these that I actually admire the tolerance of Americans. The fact that there are well over 270 million guns owned by civilians (not including the 4 million guns owned by the military & law enforcement) in the country but only around 10,000 firearms murders a year shows their patience & tolerance. I reckon I could easily kill that many myself if I had unlimited access to guns & ammo. Obviously I wouldn't do that as its very wrong.

Day 1031 (22/10/2012)

Its great to have Kelly back.

Just watched "You've Been Trumped" on the BBC, about Donald Trump building a golf course in Scotland, it is truly shocking, the amount of corruption involved at the highest levels is like something out of a banana republic.

Anyway work and gym today.

Day 1029 & 1030 (20 & 21/10/2012)

Working my way thru Jamie's menu's. Got told off for finishing the pear tart so had to make my wife another one, but went for peach this time.

The meringue went a bit better this time. Doing his Sunday Roast Beef today.

My mum now has a tablet computer and Thomas helped set it up today.

Looking forward to having Kelly back later, we may have to spoil her to make up for her rather disastrous holiday.

Update - Sunday 19:15 - The roast beef was very nice.

No way was this a 30 minute meal

Day 1028 (19/10/2012)

Stuck in the office doing work.

Unfortunately Kelly has not had a great time in Prague as she has picked up a bug and spent most of it being ill. Looking forward to her being home, we might have to spoil her.

Day 1027 (18/10/2012)

Thomas got the back page in the local paper, which was good.

I can't wait for him to be able to move up a step or two, he just needs to get the right connection.

I did some work then went out for our regularly van get together in Bristol.

I really enjoy these get together with people I care so much about and whom will always have a special place in my heart. We shared many hours and many experiences together. The sad part of meeting is realising how the years have passed and how many people we worked with are no longer with us.

Whilst I enjoy getting together I wish we met somewhere better, I always end up with the same chicken burger and fries. 

There are some great restaurants nearby.

Day 1026 (17/10/2012)

An early start, when I say early I mean far too F**KING early, at the train station when it was still dark, that means its technically the night before.

Too early for breakfast and no budget for first class, so no tea & nibbles during the journey, so I had my usual Tea & Bacon Sandwich at a lovely little cafe opposite Goldsmiths.

To be honest I was too hungry to take a photo before.

At Goldsmiths there was an impressive set of TV awards outside the room I was talking in.

 Honestly the room seemed bigger than this photos makes it look.

Then the highlight of the day, Yo Sushi.

And Krispy Kreme.

Then home to catch up with my work.

Kelly seems to be enjoying herself in Prague.

Day 1025 (16/10/2012)

Today I was going to spend the early part of the day doing the presentation for tomorrow. It is now 8pm and I still haven't started it and am watching the Great British Bake-Off.

I went to the gym at lunchtime and weight less this week than I did last week, which must mean the Chocolate Ganache is diet food.

Popped into Tesco's for today's Jamie 90 minute meal. A very tasty steak sandwich, with potato wedges and a pear tart.

I haven't done meringue before so it was OK.

I must do the presentation now.

Day 1024 (15/10/2012)

Had lots of work to do today. At lunchtime I blitzed up the left over creamed spinach to maker cream of spinach soup. My wife finished off the tomato soup.

I am truly a soup god as it was lovely, well maybe not a god but I'm thinking of making more rustic type soups, as they are not that hard, taste very nice and are very filling.

I couldn't go to the gym today as it was a bit rushed in the afternoon as we had to take Kelly to the airport as she has gone to Prague for the week.

I hope she has a great time, enjoys it and is able to relax away from everything.

Day 1022 & 1023 (13 & 14/10/2012)

Had a nice breakfast this morning but had to share it with the rest of the family.

Catching up with my work today but will probably spend most of Sunday making a nice roast dinner, to try to compete with the meals last week.

Update - Sunday 20:15 - Busy day,did some shopping for my Jamie 30 minute meal.

Then cut the grass and tidied the garden. We waited ages for this flower to come out and now its nearly winter it is here.

The dinner went well but you do need a lot of space and to keep washing up or you end up with every pan you own clogging up the sink with these 30 minute meals. Plus you possibly need to allow another 45 minutes. But saying that tomato soup was fantastic, even if you do need quite few tomatoes.

Lovely chicken, with other bits.

Then chocolate ganache, which was a bit too rich for us.

Now time to relax in front of my computer.