Day 369 (31/12/2010)

So this is Christmas, and what have we done? Another year over, and a new ones just begun. Sure I have heard that before but it sums up things on this New Years Eve.

Anyway, Where The F**K Did That Year Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe another year flew by without me noticing (or tidying the house).

My wife was in bed all day yesterday with flu and still feels rough but is getting ready for work, I don't know why, she might as well have another day off to recover than going spreading her germs to all the customers.

If nothing else, I'm looking forward to Jools Holland on the telly tonight, I haven't checked but he must be on, or New Year won't be official.

Strange that Bobby Farrell, front man of 1970s disco group Boney M, died in St Petersburg on the anniversary of Rasputin's death in the same city. Although I suppose it would have been stranger if Bobby Farrell was poisoned, shot four times, badly beaten, and then drowned, rather than a heart attack.

I might download a few Boney M hits later, they were quite catchy as I remember.

Although I am a republican and quite like the Russian method of dealing with a royal family, I am once again stunned to find I have been over looked again in the New Years Honours. I think I will have to drop even bigger hints this year and might just send completed nomination forms to people I do favours for and tell them to send them direct to the Cabinet Office.

Day 368 (30/12/2010)

My wife is of work with flu and so I have decided to cancel to New Years Eve, well it will still happen, as will New Year but I don't think we will be having any celebration around here, maybe a glass of Beechems Lemon and a quiet night watch Jools Hollands.

I must go thru all the scratch cards and lottery tickets we had for Christmas and see if we have won anything. I know Kelly won over £20 on her scratch cards, hopefully there is a few millions sat downstairs waiting to be claimed.

I caught an episode of Yes Prime Minister this morning, what a great show, brilliant cast and so well written. It could have been set today and not 30+ years ago.

Day 367 (29/12/2010)

Back at work after a nice break that just flew by. It's hard to believe that four day's can go by so quickly.

Must get back in to the swing of work and doing things but have a dvd playing on my computer at the moment.

The house is very quiet as the girls are out at work and Mr Pix is out shopping with his girlfriend.

Colin the snowman has nearly gone.

The place looks so dull without the snow.

Day 366 (28/12/2010)

Well the last day of the Christmas break, its back to work tomorrow. No doubt we will still be finishing off the Christmas food and Booze well into the summer of 2011 if not longer.

The temperature has risen sharply in the last day and we have had quite a bit of rain, so there are only a few small patches of ice left. It seems strange to think how quickly the snowy Christmas look has gone and the place has returned to it's normal look.

Day 365 (27/12/2010)

We had a great night last night with everyone coming over to ours, although the first comments from my dad was to ask me if I had a spade or a brush to clear my driveway.

I know it's a generational thing but does it really matter that there is slush on my driveway or that we are continually decorating or cleaning. Just chill and relax.

Anyway we had a good evening with lots of food, drink and quiz's.

I am going to continuing with a few more days of indulgence then in the New Year will start going for a walk, building up to taking my bike back out.

Day 364 (26/12/2010)

Christmas morning was a mad rush as always, then off to my parents for a more relaxing Christmas Dinner and supper.

It was nice to be together as a family, we don't do it enough nowadays.

Anyway I didn't really see any telly or drink much, so will catch up with the iPlayer this week and get wasted today.

I put some rock salt on the driveway this morning as my parents will only complain about me not having cleared the snow,

but it looks more like I have been putting nutmeg on a rice pudding.

I think it will take a few warm days to clear all of the ice.

Day 363 (25/12/2010)

Ho F**KING Ho.

Did I mention that I hate Christmas. Well I quite like some Christmas music, like Happy Xmas (War Is Over) & Merry Christmas Everybody. Even the original Band Aid song. And I suppose the food and drink are good and some of the telly. But I do definitely hate Christmas.

So Happy Christmas to everyone I like & love, and Sod Off to everyone else.

At least Kelly is feeling a bit better today.

Day 362 (24/12/2010)

I don't know if I have mentioned it before but I hate Christmas.

I like some of the telly, the food, seeing my family and to be honest some of the presents are good but its the being organised bit that never sits well with us.

I got the Christmas decorations down at the start of December but yet there are still cards left unwritten or undelivered.

I have to go out this morning to do some shopping for things that will probably never be used or eaten but we can't do without.

Bah Humbug. Next year I will suggest going away for Christmas, although with all the bad weather lately that might not be a good idea.

Update - 19:30 - OK we are at least 4hrs behind schedule and Kelly is possibly full of flu. I doubt my wife and her mother we be here much before 9 o'clock and then we have to have diner (I made a Fish Pie). Still not wrapped any presents or done my cards. It's going to be a late night.

Day 361 (23/12/2010)

Wow Mr Pix had a haircut yesterday that looks normal.

He went last night with his friends for a curry and a drink (or two). That makes he seem so grown up and makes me feel so old.

When I was out picking up my wife and doing a bit of shopping yesterday we missed all of our deliveries.

You wait in for days and then pop out for a few hours and then miss all of your deliveries. Sods Law.

Hopefully I should still be able to get them all today.

The girls drove themselves to work today, despite the 3" of ice on the local roads. That means when I go out later I am going to have to dig my car out of the snow.

Last night was listening to Hafdis Huld singing Silent Night in Icelandic on Radcliffe & Maconie's Radio 2 show (check out the iPlayer at about 40minutes).

Update - 20:00 - Two complicated reports to do but whilst having a shower I have come up with the plot line & start of my book. I suppose should try and do the reports then do some writing over the Christmas break.

I won't say what happens in story but I have decided to kill off a guy that used to be a friend of mine until he double crossed me. It would be better if I could use real names but if I did that I might end up in trouble myself. So I will be changing everyones names, including mine.

Update - 20:30 - Ordered a pizza and finishing for the night.

Day 360 (22/12/2010)

I booked a load of hotel rooms for my courses in January & February. I didn't realize my next course was so soon.

I really should spend some time updating my course this week but just can't seem to get motivated. It's like being on holiday but still being at home.

It's nice to have a bit of a break but I know next month I will have loads of work and be thinking that I should of done the course material whilst I was quiet.

As much as I hate Christmas, and I do a lot, it was nice to start the Christmas chocolates last night but I am still not allowed to start the Chocolate Log as apparently if I do I am likely to finish it before Christmas. Well why don't we have two then, one for me and one for guests. We have more than one bag of crisps, so why not a few more Chocolates Logs. Bah Humbug :-(

We now have a snowman watching us from the back garden thanks to Mr Pix and his girlfriend, who came round yesterday.

I think the snow will be here for at least another week, hopefully it will be fine on Christmas day otherwise no dinner for us.

Day 359 (21/12/2010)

I hate Christmas, all that preparation and shopping, these are things I am just not good at.

It should be like Comic Relief, every two years, at least. That way you look forward to it rather than it just being an event reminding you how quickly the year is going.

Day 358 (20/12/2010)

Woke up to this morning to even more snow.

I drove the girls to work but couldn't actually see the road.

On the way back it was quite interesting to see a petrol tanking rolling down a hill I had to drive up.

I took a few pictures as I was waiting for the inevitable accident and explosion but luckily there was Police Land Rover nearby that stopped the traffic which allowed the tanker to roll back and then drive off in a different direction.

Home safely.

Really sad to see Brian Hanrahan has died. His broadcast from the Falklands was instantly iconic.

Update - 21:30 - There are times when I think Dictators are just misunderstood geniuses, who get fed up when other people do not do what is clearly the best option, when they have been given a choice. Or is just me that think that as I see it so often when I give people a choice.

Life would be so much easier if I could just command things to happen.

Day 356 & 357 (18 & 19/12/2010)

Well with an inch or two of snow on the roads last night Mr Pix & his girlfriend wanted to go bowling, so at 10:30pm we were at the local Hollywood Bowl.

Apart from a group of very drunk blokes with tattoos, the place was empty as clearly most sensible people had taken the advice of only going out if your journey was essential.

Still, apart from me loosing and us all recording our the lowest scores ever, we all enjoyed ourselves.



So Saturday morning.

There is about a 8" of snow everywhere, which looks nice but is a bit slippery as it is on yesterdays snow and ice.

Obviously the best thing to do would be to stay in, nice and safe in the warm.

So Kelly is driving herself and her friends who are home from Uni to the cinema and then going to work. I did offer to drive but she wants to drive herself.

And my wife is visiting her mum in Bristol to take her shopping. She could do this on Tuesday when she's off and the weather might be a bit better but she decided to go today.

They are all mad, I'm staying in.

Update - Sat 16:30 - Half hearted attempt to clear the snow from the driveway.

Well it's the thought that counts. At least I wont be completely lying when I tell my parents that I cleared all the snow off of my paths and driveway.

Day 355 (17/12/2010)

Guess what happened over night.

Me and Mr Pix stayed in and sent the girls out to work.

Update - 11:30 - It has gone very dark and is snowing very heavily. Think the journey back for the girls may be a bit eventful. Luckily we have already stocked up on the wine and Larger for Christmas, so we should be OK for a few days as long as the broadband is not affected.

Day 354 (16/12/2010)

Well I only went out for half an hour to clean my car and post some Christmas cards to friends abroad but I managed to do about a third of my Christmas shopping at the Spar / Post Office. Curly Wurly's & Scratch Cards again.

I came back to the office, phoned Laithwaites and did another third.

Now only a few more things to get and thats all of my Christmas shopping done in plenty of time.

Day 353 (15/12/2010)

What happened to my nice quiet December, I now have more work than ever. Honestly I still want to write my books but at this rate I might have to make them audio ones with the sound of me typing in the background.

And it's Orange Wednesday, so we might go out this evening.

Day 352 (14/12/2010)

Defrosted three cars this morning then took my wifes car to the garage for an MOT. Hopefully it will not be that much, otherwise I might just leave the car there.

Update - 17:30 - Got the car back, only £110 and we have an MOT for another year. We must change the car next year, finance withstanding.

Suddenly have loads of quite complex reports to do and I have other things that need arranging. What happened to a relaxing December.

Day 351 (13/12/2010)

I swear yesterday was a nice day. It was minus 4 taking Mr Pix to the train station this morning.

Why do they make so many different types of toilets and toilet seats. I bought a new toilet seat yesterday and it doesn't really suit out toilet as the seat only goes up 90 degrees but our cistern is slightly further away, so if you lean back it will break off.

It was easier in the 1970's when all toilets were the same design. Damn progress and the decadent west.

Update - 10:30 - Have already booked my wifes car in for an MOT and myself in for a hair cut. Might have to lay down for a while after this busy start to the day.

Update - 12:15 - Just received a Christmas Card from a retirement village, nice that they are thinking of me but I don't think my wife and kids would want to live there yet.

Day 349 & 350 (11 & 12/12/2010)

I do prefer to be at home and probably wont do many more weeks away. I will just do few days instead and concentrate on what I do best rather than staying for a whole course.

Whilst I was away I seem to have had about 2 weeks worth of work coming, so December will not be the nice easy relaxed month I was hoping for.

At least the decorations are up early this year.

Update - Sunday 20:30 - Me and the wife went out to a Thia Resturante last night.



It was very nice, so will be visiting the Thai Jasmine again.

Woke up this morning to the horror of no Internet. The local telephone exchange was down and my 3G Dongle is playing up.

It was back on by lunchtime but after a few glasses of Pimms with dinner work was not an option.

Day 348 (10/12/2010)

Sickly class today, 1 gone home already, 1 walking dead and about 4 coughing & spluttering. I am healthy at the moment but sharing a room with all of these ill people is likely to take its effect eventually.

Looking forward to being at home but not looking forward to the drive but will be trying out my iPhone as a satnav.

Update - 11:30 - I now have a thumping head & the start of a sore throat :-(

Update - 21:00 - Took some tablets and had a hot curry for lunch. Felt better after the drive home, hopefully managed to bypass the worst of it.

Day 347 (09/12/2010)

The course is going well but one person stayed in their room all day with flu and half the class are coughing and sneezing. I'm wondering how many people will be in the class tomorrow. I'm hoping I stay healthy as I have a long drive home tomorrow.

Interesting on the news today, with all the demo's and the royals car being attacked. The Liberals are destroying themselves, like a modern Judas, still hoping to be voted in as a disciple after the crucification. I know the Jesus thing isn't real but it sort of fitted after a few pints and was easy to write using my iPhone.

Day 346 (08/12/2010)

It warmed up to day, for the first time in a few weeks the cars were clear of ice.

The course is going well and my input seems to be going down well.

Went to the gym, spent a few minutes in the sauna & jacuzzi, then a few to many glasses of wine with dinner.

Day 345 (07/12/2010)

Guess what, It's Still Bloody Freezing. Wish I was home, at least I would be warmer.

Did more today and took the class for half the day, it went well and was more fun than just helping to distribute the hand outs. I will probably do a few of the other sections where I know more. The technical stuff is beyond me but I do know what I know.

I didn't quite manage the gym tonight as I fell asleep watching a very old David Niven war film. It wasn't one of his best.

Because my laptop is playing up I can't really watch any of the dvd's I brought, not good.

Day 344 (06/12/2010)

Got to the training venue last night after a long drive in cold and frosty conditions. My room was very cold and took all night to warm up. The telly only has the free channels and my laptop is still playing up but I thought it was so had packed my netbook. When I get back I must visit my usual IT people and get them to sort it out as I can't be arsed to set up another one.

The day went OK though I think I am in a minority of 1 of left-wing liberals who are in favour of wikileaks. I think most of the rest of the room take the American view. It probably wouldn't be well received if they knew I had sent funds to help support it. I do think its a case of wanting to shooting the messenger (though I guess it will be a car crash) rather than addressing the issues raised.

After the course I went to the gym, obviously not to use the weights or exercise bikes but to sit in the jacuzzi and the sauna. It was just like living somewhere hot apart from the walk from the accommodation block in the freezing fog.

Really enjoying The Trip with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon

Day 342 & 343 (04 & 05/12/2010)

I have to drive to the other side of the country tomorrow so not happy, no wine with my Sunday dinner :-(

I must get my new laptop sorted today so I can work whilst I am away.

I might get the Christmas stuff down before I go away.

Day 341 (03/12/2010)

December has been a very cold month. OK I know its only the 3rd but even so its got a 100% too bloody cold ratting. I have to pop out to town later to pay some cheques in as I am away all next week, which I am not looking forward to even though there will be a sauna and steam room available.

I am now on Level 2 of Angry Birds and each one is nearly impossible, I'm getting by with luck, I hope Level 3 is easier.

Update - 18:30 - I thought it better to stay in the warm than go outside and will just wait another week before I pay the cheques in. They weren't for that much for it to be worth scrapping the ice from my car.

Day 340 (02/12/2010)

It was nice to have a lie-in this morning and to know that I didn't have to go out in the cold; however it had snowed over night, so I had to drive my wife to work.

I must remember to pick her up or she wont be happy.

I have a few jobs in and other stuff to do but it's nice to have a quiet time as I know next year will be quite busy.

Day 339 (01/12/2010)

It was far too early and far too cold to be up and about but I was at the train station first thing this morning with Mr Pix, who had forgot his gloves, so I lent him mine. I'm going to an exhibition in London and having a meeting about some work, which may be quite interesting.

I'm now sat on the train writing this on my iPhone (4) and listening to Bugsy Malone, one of my favourite soundtracks, whilst drinking a nice tea & having a danish pastry. With all of this marvellous technology around me it seems rather petty to complain about the speed of the Internet. How soon we get used to things that would have seemed like science fiction only a generation ago.

I have reached level 125 on Bouncing Bullets but am still struggling with Angry Birds. I love my iPhone but hardly ever phone anyone. I think it could have been called something else like an itheonlyelectronicdeviceuneedthatisalsoaphone but I guess the iPhone is a catchier name.

Update - Had a good day at the exhibition and picked up loads of freebies.

Lots of pens, packs of mints, jelly beans, chocolates, sports bag, mouse mat, coaster, keys rings, memory stick, note pads, postcards and dozens of magazines.

I don't think I will ever need to buy a pen again.

Then a useful meeting followed by just enough free time at Paddington for a visit to Yo!Sushi.

Now home in the warm and an evening off.