Day 247 (31/08/2010)

Having a good day so far.

Went to the accountants to see how much Tax I have to pay. Pleasantly surprised, though next year will be a lot lot worse.

Then got a quote for Kelly's insurance that was better than expected.

Off to see Rhod Gilbert in Bristol tonight with Kelly and my parents. Hope he's good as I bought the tickets as a present for my parents.

Day 246 (30/08/2010)

Its a Bank Holiday but I don't work in a Bank.

Have some work to do (I know, boring but true) should cut the grass and tidy the garden and aiming to pop out to do some shopping.

This week, weather permitting, I will get out on my bike.

Have to admit to having some cake at the party on Saturday night but it was technically wedding cake so was compulsory.

Update - 10:55 - So far I have swept up all the apples on the ground in the back garden from my neighbours apple tree, cut the grass and cleaned the back door after a dam-buster type raid from a squadron of birds. Now for breakfast then a lie-down.

Update - 22:00 - Well I did one lot of insurance forms but not the camera one yet, but hopefully will start it tomorrow.

We went and tried to get Kelly a car.


She didn't like that one so might buy her an old crap one instead.

Went out for dinner, didn't have any Cake, Biscuits or Crisps but did have a very nice Eaton Mess.

Day 244 & 245 (28 & 29/08/2010)

The rain has stopped, Thomas is coming home and we are off to see family we love at a party. Should be a good weekend.

Will update with some photo's.

Update - Sun 19:45 - Had a fantastic time at the party last night and at Brian & Stella's today. All lovely people and great company as always.

A few pictures of the events;











Thomas was very tired after not sleeping for three days whilst at Newquay, so was not taking photos but was trying to sleep, so we didn't get photos of everyone but enjoyed meeting up with all of them.

Day 243 (27/08/2010)

Had a day back at the venue tagged on after the course looking at some things, bit odd but worked out OK.

Thomas phoned from Newquay, where they have at least had one sunny day.

Looking forward to family party at the weekend.

Day 242 (26/08/2010)

Finished the course but have to go back tomorrow as we are doing a day looking at, well I can't tell you but they have left me in charge, so seeing as its a bank holiday weekend then we wont be staying much after lunch.

Day 241 (25/08/2010)

Second day of a three day course, going OK, the computers are much better than last time. I think nearly everybody is really happy with what they are learning.

Thomas has gone away for a few days to Newquay with some friends. It is now torrential rain so he will probably be soaked as they were camping but hoping to upgrade to a caravan. Hope this goes well and he stays out of trouble but lets face it, teenagers in Newquay, what a worry for a parent.

Day 240 (24/08/2010)

Well I had to get up early for the first day of a course. It started badly by some jobs worth telling me I would have to pay for a flip chart in a classroom. To**er or B**ch, I can't quite decide.

Anyway needless to say I had a flip chart within a few minutes as I had already been paid by the client, whose classroom I was using, whose staff I was training and whose Flip Chart I liberated.

Thomas had his GCSE results, which seeing as his school were crap, were not bad.

Day 239 (23/08/2010)

Did most of my course stuff at the weekend and booked the hotel rooms but just can't start those damned insurance forms. Must get them done today, but have other things to do first.

Update - 13:30 - The trouble with living in the countryside is that during the summer it smells like you have just S**T yourself. Why can't farmers use Air Fresheners rather than Chicken Poo.

Unconnected, listening to an early live album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. I think I must get a studio album of their hits instead.

Day 237 & 238 (21 & 22/08/2010)

Spending the day printing out course material and doing those bloody laminates.

Must do the insurance forms and book my hotel rooms this weekend.

Update - Sat 17:45 - Broke my laminator, will have to get a new one tomorrow. Thankfully the printer is still working.

Me and Thomas have spent ages creating some identities and accounts on-line and may have upset Facebook by creating a few in made up names, Ooops!

Update - Sun 18:30 - Bought a new laminator.


I know, how sad. It's not as nice looking as the old blue one but hopefully it will work better.

Had a choice between wine at dinner or no wine and a clear head to do my work. I went for the wine, so now trying to do some work with a not clear head.

Day 236 (20/08/2010)

Taming Of The Shrew was very good last night but once again I fell asleep but only for a second, until Kelly elbowed me (as a producer she was able to sit with us).

Honestly it's the lack of Air Conditioning as I wasn't tired or bored.

Update - 20:30 - I swear that I have been busy all day but don't seem to have done any work.

Day 235 (19/08/2010)

The film last night was fun, as long as you forgot the plot and reality and just looked the beautiful people in nice places having fun and being all action. Went for a Chinese afterwards nice.

Kelly getting her results later, so hoping she's done well as she worked very hard.

Update - 15:45 - Kelly did very well with an A and 2 B's.


As always very proud of her, she always works hard, I hope she now gets what she wants with work.

Now I must do some work as going to see her show at the Brewhouse tonight.

Update - 17:30 - Not impressed by Apple's Customer Service. Had to speak with a manager on the phone after the Bristol store was messing Thomas about. I think she realized I was unhappy and it was probably best if I didn't have to come up there to sort it out.

Americans should be applauded for their patience, think about it, they all have guns and are bound to get pissed off every now and again but only have a mad gunman causing havoc every month or so.

If we had the same number of guns in the UK I think we would be having disgruntled people turning up and wasting a room full of unhelpful staff every couple of hours. Certainly I might have been a news headline myself twice this week.

However in the UK normal people don't have guns, so we just tut and refuse to leave a tip or use that company again.

So well done Americans you are good people really.


Update - 18:30 - Thomas went to the Apple store to pick up his repaired laptop and they have given him a free upgraded laptop instead, with all of his stuff transfered over. I wonder if it was something I said?

Day 234 (18/08/2010)

I have now written a list of things I must do, which starts with filling out those bloody insurance forms.

Watched "That Mitchell and Webb Look" last night. It finished with a sketch about Sherlock Holmes with Alzheimer's. It was so horrible but brilliant and if you missed it catch it on the iPlayer. If you meet an MP insist that they bring in dieing with dignity.

Update - 12:45 - Got some Orange Wednesday tickets to see Knight & Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, should be fun.

Spent the morning trying out software to crack passwords on office documents and pdf's, very good stuff.

Day 233 (17/08/2010)

Our cleaner Ann is ill today, so good news we save some money, bad news the place will be messy for another week.

I like being in the decadent west and paying for things I could do myself and wasting resources. Saying that I fixed the lock on the front door yesterday, thank god (who doesn't exist) for WD40.

After a nice relaxing few days I have built up a backlog of work and agreed to do more courses.

I must fill out a few more forms (get the camera fixed) and book some hotel rooms.

Day 232 (16/08/2010)

I am updating my 2 & 3 day course and think its gong quite well.

Now heard from one company that we might have a contract to do some week long courses. Now how do I stretch my course out to 5 days. Might have to think up some cunning scenarios that take two days to work out.

It was really wet on Saturday but now the sun has got his hat on and he's coming out to play, sing along if you know the words.

Update - 18:00 - Spent the day checking out Facebook and opening multiple accounts with email providers and social networking sites. Very boring but has to be done for the course.

Had frustrating telephone call with Opal / TalkTalk my broadband provider, who would not supply my own information to me, as I couldn't prove who I was. I could explain but they were being utter Jobs Worth's and TOTAL W**KERS.

Day 230 & 231 (14&15/08/2010)

Its raining out.

I am nearly up to date with filling out all my forms and my work. I must go thru all my course stuff as I have loads of courses and presentations coming up. Plus remind me to book myself in somewhere nice.

Still no biscuits, cakes or crisps (or exercise). I'm not missing them although there are always cakes in the house which is just a constant tease. It's like a reformed alcoholic working in a pub.

Years ago I watched a Channel4 programme on really fat Americans. Nothing like me, these guys and girls where huge, OK so a little like me. There was one bit when this massive guy was asked why he didn't stop pigging out and he said something like - An alcoholic can stop drinking alcohol, a drug addict can stop taking drugs but you have to eat some thing every day and it was hard for him to stop after the first mouthful. So how would an alcoholic cope if they had to have one beer every day or a smoker had to have just one cigarette a day.

Still, he could of eaten fruit or something healthy.

Now work then a healthy breakfast (no it wont be, I love Frosties, They're Great)

Day 229 (13/08/2010)

Pick up my computer today, apparently it was some conflict between software. Why can't software get on, be a lover not a fighter, end this conflict now guys.

Day 228 (12/08/2010)

Didn't go out last night as the film we could have seen was on too late for us oldies and the wife had bought something for dinner, so we didn't even try out a new restaurant.

Have to take my computer back to the shop today as its playing up. Hopefully its something simple but I have backed up my stuff anyway. It's just a pain to reinstall it all.

Going to do a bit of shopping today, got a few things to buy and might treat myself to a new laptop for when I'm away, as I'm getting fed up with the small netbook.

Update - 22:00 - Spent the day setting up a new laptop.

Day 227 (11/08/2010)

Got my car back.

Nothing on at the cinema so might go out for a meal tonight.

Keeping up to date with the work but must fill out these forms.

Day 226 (10/08/2010)

Have work to do now but I must fill in all the forms that have been sat here for a month waiting to be done.

Update - 22:30 - Still loads of old forms to be filled in. Should get my car back tomorrow. Might do an Orange Wednesday, will have to see whats on.

Day 225 (09/08/2010)

Nearly caught up on my sleep and my work.

Update - 21:45 - Done all of my work, even some charity stuff (obviously I don't like to talk about my charity work). I don't think I have actually cleared all of my work for at least the last 18months if not much longer.

Saying that I still have loads of stuff to do. I must update all of my course material and websites and write a few reports for people who have asked for my views on things.

Must also do the insurance on the camera that smashed ages ago and I have to fill out a form, that asks if I have ever taken part in any espionage, terrorism or sabotage. I will probably fill it out properly and wont mention my Action Man Sabotagers outfit.


OK this is a photo I took off of the Internet as my Action Man didn't allow photographers on his secret missions.

Day 223 & 224 (07 & 08/08/2010)

The weekend is here, a few hundred emails to go thru, reports to write and my parents to pick up from the airport at an ungodly (he doesn't exist) hour.

Update - Sat 14:30 - Interesting afternoon doing someone a favour on the Internet. It was a strange favour and one that might mean that my computer now needs a clean.

Now time for work that pays money.

Update - Sun 20:15 - Got up at 3.45am to pick my parents up from the airport. I have been knackered for the rest of the day.

Used my new thermal mug twice today, its very good.

Day 222 (06/08/2010)

The course finished and I got a gift, one of those nice thermal mugs.


Very useful, it will keep my Green Tea with Lemon nice and warm.

Got home after a long horrible drive. It was nice to be back but slightly disappointing that there is no steam room, jacuzzi or swimming pool.

Day 221 (05/08/2010)

Spent another day in the classroom. I gave a bit of input on a few issues that seemed to go down well. Running a few of my own courses at the end of the month and looking forward to doing them. Have to make a few changes to the material and do those bloody laminates.

Looking forward to having a swim, steam and jacuzzi before my dinner.

Day 220 (04/08/2010)

Spent the day in the classroom, did a bit more instructing today. It carried on a bit latter than before, so I didn't get to go for my evening swim, steam and jacuzzi.

Will be going for my dinner then a few reports to do, looking forward to getting back home on Friday.

Day 219 (03/08/2010)

Spent the day in the classroom.

In the evening I had a swim, a steam and a jacuzzi, followed by a curry and a couple of pints.

Not a bad day but I must dio a few reports one night.

Day 218 (02/08/2010)

Drove the Mercedes for a few hours last night, got here in time for Sherlock.

The room is quite good and includes a little kitchen, for those staying longer, so you can cook your own stuff rather than have a full mean in the restaurant.


I brought some fruit but am in the restaurant for my meals


Still avoiding he temptation of biscuits despite there being lots of baskets like this everywhere.

Going to go for a little swim and then do some work later.

Hate being away from home, especially for a whole week.

Update - 21:30 - Had a dip in the Jacuzzi, a sit in the steam room and a few lengths of the pool.

Had a nice meal, no afters and didn't go to the bar. Tomorrow going out for dinner so will eat too much and have a few drinks.

Have a few emails to send and a report to write.