Day 2026 (15/07/2015)

Thomas was still not feeling great but we went for a wander and some breakfast.

Then in the baking heat we went on a bus tour around the city and walked around a bit site seeing.

The city has some lovely places but I was exhausted beyond belief.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped off for dinner at a place that looked nice but unfortunately wasn't great.

We didn't want to give them any more money, so didn't stay for afters, so ended up in a McDonalds for a McFlurry.

Then back to the hotel for a shower and bed.

Day 2025 (14/07/2015)

It was a late finish & early start, it always is every holiday, we are just never organised.

Although we only had a holiday a few weeks ago I really need a few days away from the stress of the last few days.

We left a little late but still had time for a cup of tea & bacon roll at the airport before the flight.

Thomas slept throughout the flight, still in shock at the early (pre lunch) get up time and a cold.

Barcelona was baking hot and Thomas felt awful, so after we checked in we left him to sleep in his room whilst we went out and had a look around and some lunch.

 

We had some nice sandwiches and I wanted a cold lager but settled for a beer because of the label.

My wife knocked over a bottle of olive oil, which smashed and caused loads of mess, they were OK about it but I left a massive tip to say sorry.

When we got back Thomas was still feeling awful so we left him sleeping whilst we all went to the pool, which was lovely.

It was a great idea of mine (well to be honest it was my wife's idea) to have a hotel with a pool. It was very small but really redressing.

Afterwards we all went out for a great Italian and far too many drinks.

Apparently they could tell we were English not because the amount we were drinking but because my wife asked for Parmesan cheese with her sea food ravioli, apparently it's not the done thing, so he closed his eyes and put it on her food.

Day 2024 (13/07/2015)

A very busy day, with lots to do before going away tomorrow for a few days for Thomas's 21st.

I've been trying to book a restaurant for my birthday in a few weeks but it seems everywhere I want to go to on my actual birthday with my wife is closed on Monday's, that's just so unfair.

Day 2022 & 2023 (11 & 12/07/2015)

A busy weekend, with lots to do but it started with a nice breakfast (OK it was technically lunchtime).

Then I got around to cutting the grass after a busy few months.

I'm defiantly going to enjoy spending a lot of August relaxing / working in the garden.

Then we booked a few days away next week in Barcelona for Thomas's 21st, which will be great as we rarely get to go out as a family nowadays.

Then it was a matter of waiting for the papers, I wonder what will be in them.

Sunday - Well the papers weren't as explosive as I had hoped for, only page 26 but it will have an effect.

Anyway nice dinner but very busy.

Day 2021 (10/07/2015)

A really busy day, with loads of things to do, like getting my car serviced, picking up my course laptops and work to do.

Now on my second visit to see a nice lady to chat about life; last week she said I was "interesting" but I guess she could have said so many worse things. Thankfully she is not too shocked by most of what I say but some of it takes some explaining.

Anyway busy times.

Day 2020 (09/07/2015)

The course finished and it went OK, then a very long drive home in the evening sun listening to the cricket.

Lovely.

Day 2019 (08/07/2015)

Day three of the course and its still going OK.

Things happening in relation to some other stuff, so I ended up chatting to a few journalists in the afternoon, so lets see what the weekend brings. I guess I'm not going to be popular with my old employer but WTF.

In the evening I went back to the Italian restaurant. Tonight it was a mozzarella salad, carbonara then a chocolate fudge cake.

Day 2018 (07/07/2015)

Day two of the course and it was going OK. We stopped for a minutes silence during the course as one of those present had said about it, otherwise I would have forgotten and carried on.

In the evening I went back to the Italian restaurant. Tonight it was an anti-pasta started, followed by seafood risotto then a nice lemon ice-cream.

Day 2017 (06/07/2015)

The course in York this week was at a different venue from last month, as there was a problem with the other room. This venue was a little further away, which I hated as I hate walking, especially carrying all the course stuff, on a lovely hot morning.

It wasn't that far or that bad but the venue wasn't ass nice and although there was the same nice lunch, there were no biscuits or nice jugs of ice-cold water.

In the evening I went to the Italian opposite my hotel, which was quite nice. I had the Mushroom starters, then the lobster ravioli, then a nice ice-cream.

Day 2015 & 2016 (04 & 05/07/2015)

A busy weekend, the grass is getting so long but I'm too busy with reports and getting next weeks course together.

On Sunday, even thou it was still busy, I mad a nice dinner, with a nice avocado and prawn starter.

and a lamb roast (under the instructions from Kelly who wanted a roast dinner before going back to Rottingdean).

I hate working on Mondays as it means I can't have a nice glass or two of wine with Sunday dinner but as I had arranged the course I was running this week so only had myself to blame.

Finished dinner then a very long drive to York, again.

Day 2014 (03/07/2015)

It was nice to have a lie-in until 9am before getting in to my office and starting the month belatedly by putting the new month / photo on my Kylie calender.

Lots of work, then in the evening it was Friday Night is Burrito Night.

With the added advantage of a massive jug of Pimms, it ice and fruit :-)

Day 2013 (02/07/2015)

After too few hours sleep I was up and was giving a talk at a breakfast meeting.

The talk went OK and will probably mean a few more training courses and meant a nice freebie bag.

Then another long drive.


 

Day 2012 (01/07/2015)

I was up after a few hours sleep and had to long drive, during the hottest day of the year, for an early start in Farnborough.

The day was spent in the shaded air conditioned offices of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch as I trained some of their staff and their colleagues from the Air & Maritime Branches.

It was fun day but getting up at 5am I was never going to be on top form.

I left here just before 5pm. I had left an ice-cold bottle of water in my car, which was now hot enough to consider adding a tea-bag.

Then a long hot drive through rush hour traffic to Cheshter, where I didn't arrive until 10pm, what a long day, full of driving, which I hate.

Day 2011 (30/06/2015)

Still really really busy in the office and didn't finish until after midnight, even though I have to be up in a few hours.

Day 2010 (29/06/2015)

Really busy still catching up with stuff that came in when we were away on our holidays.

I have a busy week, so lots to do before I can go away.

No time for the gym this week but will get back to it soon.

Day 2008 & 2009 (27 & 28/06/2015)

Having just got back from our holiday it is truly shocking what has just happened in Tunisia to the tourists there; more senseless pain & waste, when if anyone the baddies should just target politicians as they are the cause of all the wars & destruction that have given rise to these terror groups.

If we stayed out of other countries, didn't prop up vile dictators or start illegal wars, then the world may be more peaceful.

Also there maybe less people fleeing these countries if we hadn't destabilised them in the first place. Who wouldn't do the same for their family if the roles were reversed?

I sort of have to get back to work, and possibly prepare for another course in the Middle-East, oh well, everything has a price.

Day 2007 (26/06/2015)

It was a sort of lazy day, clearing emails and the like.

To save cooking we ordered a Chinese.

Day 2006 (25/06/2015)

The last day of the holiday but the last day is always the packing up and getting to the airport day.

We were supposed to be out of our apartment by 10am but that was never going to happen so we paid to have it until 4pm, so had a lazy morning and a few hours by the pool before getting ready.

This ended up a stressful few hours for me as I again ended up juggling things between issues in my life; trying to do the right thing, whilst causing those I hate the most discomfort. In the long term I think what I have done will be best but a few people I like may not quite see it like that and may hate me in the short term.

A lot of people I hate will hate me even more but I don't care about that; I'm burning bridges with people I hate as if things work out then eventually I will be at the other end of the country and have nothing to do with any of them ever again.

I can't say what it is yet but it should be in the papers in he next few weeks.

Anyway at least we got to sit next to each other on the flight home.