Day 545 & 546 (25 & 26/06/2011)

Well The Willow Tree was fantastic (not cheap). I started with the Montgomery's cheddar soufflé with a walnut and celery cream sauce;

Then the slow cooked belly of pork;

Then the bread and butter pudding with cream;

Enjoying the Glastonbury (or Pilton as us in the know insist on call it) coverage and would love to be there as a guest of a corporate client. I want a nice dry & secure place to sleep, with electricity to recharge my stuff and nice showers & toilets.

Until then I will watch it on the telly.

Work work work, that the rest of my weekend.

Day 544 (24/06/2011)

I seem to be doing lots of things except doing my enquiries, which I means I just have so many reports that need doing again and very little time to do them. Plus I have to prepare for a course next week.

Going out with my wife to a posh restaurant, The Willow Tree, to celebrate the anniversary of first meeting, 27yrs ago (yesterday).

In another 27yrs we will be 70 and probably in a home.

Day 543 (23/06/2011)

Well London was good yesterday, I did a few touristy things,

well to be honest I mostly just walked past these things.

Had a nice long lunch, sorry that should have said meeting, at a very exclusive private club but wasn't allowed to take pictures for obvious reasons.

Then off to give a presentation at a pub, I know its hard work but someone has to do it.

They didn't know how many were going to come to this free event for journalists & techno (hacking) type journalists. Usually they get around 25 people but tonight the room was packed out with many more than they had ever had.

The first talk made me worried as clearly there were some very technical & geeky types in the room and I often just think of myself as I guy who puts puzzles together and finds things that anyone could if only they looked. (false modesty I am a god at this sort of stuff)

My talk went really well with everyone learning things and enjoying my casual light hearted approach. Loads of positive feed back afterwards and requests to do some other things.

Long train journey home, glad I wasn't driving.

Now to catch up on my work as I am away next week.

Day 542 (22/06/2011)

I was knackered all day yesterday after my drive to London & back to see Richard Herring.

Mr Pix didn't have to go to college today but unfortunately I am back in London so had to get up even earlier than normal to catch a train. Thankfully I am travelling 1st class again so am being given loads of free tea, orange juice and fruit (to be honest the fruit cake and danish are also nice & free but I thought I better not mention them).

Getting to London early as having a meeting over a long lunch at a pretty exclusive club. As we are eating in the bar I didn't need a tie. Apparently the restaurant is very pricey and the guy I'm meeting said the bar would be better to eat and talk business.

The presentation tonight is fairly short and unpaid (again) but I am sure they will be grateful and it might lead to a few interesting contacts and maybe some other opportunities.

Update -09:45 - Meant to say well impressed by Mr Pix college results .... so far. Keep up the good work, but don't leave it all until the last month next time.

Also damn did I mention the fruit cake & danish.

Day 541 (21/06/2011)

So yesterday I went o London with a friend to see a Richard Herring show.

Obviously we had to have dinner and seeing as we appeared to be in China Town we went for a Chinese, which was very nice.

The show "As It Occurs To Me" was fantastic and afterwards we again meet some of the team and had our photos taken. I had done a few work things as a favor for Emma Kennedy and it was nice to meet her, she was very grateful & very nice.

Then I met Richard Herring again and as a present my friend, who has a habit of taking not great photo's, arranged for him to do a drawing of us both as a present.

What a great evening.

Got up early to drive Mr Pix to the train station. Feeling knackered and struggling to get my work done today.

Back in London tomorrow.

Day 540 (20/06/2011)

Its wet out and looking a bit like autumn.

Off to London later to see Richard Herring. Really looking forward to it but not the drive there and back.

Day 538 & 539 (18 & 19/06/2011)

I have checked my calender and it is defiantly June so why is it raining loads and looking & feeling like November.

Come on sun do your worse (taken from It Ain't Half Hot Mum)

I have gone thru all of my old computer magazines, so will now start tidying up other stuff. Still a long way to go to approach the minimalist look for the house (or to even fit in the garage).

Update - Sat 19:00 - Finished my reports :-)

Still have other stuff to do so just ordered a curry from The Saffron Takeaway, which is our current favourite.

Update - Sun 10:00 - Happy Fathers Day.

Having kids made me appreciate my parents even more. Nearly as much as appreciating peace & quiet, freedom to do what you want, money and so much more.

But I wouldn't be without my kids, I love them, even when they are being annoying, which they obviously get from their mother.

Day 537 (17/06/2011)

Some time between 8am and 6pm the new freezer will be delivered. You would have thought they could at least say morning or afternoon. And they call this progress.

Update - 09:15 - OK so at 8.205am I got a call from the delivery team to say they would be with me within 15minutes. And just a short 25minutes later they arrived.

You would have thought I lived on the tenth floor with no working lift. They only had to go down a 20 foot path and put it in the utility room.

Anyway new freezer now fully loaded and waiting to settle.

I have told my wife that she mustn't buy any fish or quorn products this year.

Day 536 (16/06/2011)

There is a nice amount of work at the moment, so no stress filled nights trying to get my reports done.

I am also getting through my computer magazines and from a pile going back a year or two I am done to the last three. After that I will go through all of my computer cables and related stuff to make some more space.

I am supposed to be going to the theatre tonight to see some comedian but might give it a miss.

Day 535 (15/06/2011)

Well the Spanish evening was great fun last night. The meal was nice, with Tappas (for two but I eat most it)

Followed by Paella.

Then some Spanish people stamping their feet. It was OK, and it was surprising how you can watch a similar thing quite a number of times without it become too repetitive.

The hedgeman came round this morning. I do like it when the hedge has been cut, it looks so neat but starting before 8am probably wasn't the most neighbour friendly thing to do as it was quite loud and annoying.

Trying to arrange a holiday with my wife is hard work. I gave her some dates in November when I'm free for more than 5days, not good but its work.

Day 534 (14/06/2011)

After yesterdays very early start Mr Pix didn't even make the 7.51am training today. Oh well, I enjoyed the lie-in.

Have to rush to do my work now as me & the wife are off to see Jaleo Flamenco at the Brewhouse tonight and are having a Spanish meal before hand.

Day 533 (13/06/2011)

Early start this morning as Mr Pix wanted to catch the 6.51 train. It was a struggle but we managed it but how bloody early is that.

Might as well start work now as I'm awake & up.

It's a slightly disappointing week for me & the wife as we should have been seeing Take That :-(

Day 531 & 532 (11 & 12/06/2011)

An early star, picking up Mr Pix from a party.

Then, seeing as I was up and about I went and ordered the freezer, which will arrive next friday.

Then went to the car wash.

Then home and starting work by 10am but feeling hungry.

Update - Sun 15:45 - Its been raining all day.

Making a nice big curry & selection of stuff for dinner, the kids choice not mine but I didn't argue.

Day 530 (10/06/2011)

Well Mark Watson was great last night.

So yesterdays clearing of the guttering, which I arranged but didn't actually do myself, cleared big clumps of grass that were growing and making the place look untidy.

To be fair I can live with it but I know it annoys my parents, whose places is always spotless.

So today the replacement handle for the fridge arrived.

The tea towel over the broken handle was a short term measure to save anyone catching themselves on the broken bit.

And within 20 minutes I had changed it and its a good as new.

OK, so its been broken for about 3 years but it has now been replaced within 20 minutes of me being bothered.

Now to clear the garage, or perhaps later.

I can't believe that its nearly 1pm and I haven't done any work yet. Time to get serious.

Day 529 (09/06/2011)

In the office early still trying to clear the work.

Going to see Mark Watson at The Glee Club in Cardiff tonight with a friend. Mark Watson was great when we saw him last time but not been to the Glee Club before.

Must buy the freezer on the way out later.

Update - 10:00 - The other day I had to give some advice to the police on a high profile court case.

Then two days ago I helped a chap I gave some training to, probably solving a twitter type liable job without the need to go to court & spend thousands trying to identify the writer. It probably won't make the news as its not that important but a fun little challenge, that I hope he won't take all the credit for.

Then yesterday I helped an acquaintance with a presentation he is giving in Prague.

I can't decide if I am mug or just a nice guy. Wait there, the sound of thousands of people (especially those working in call centres) are shouting at me that I am not a nice guy.

Mug it is then.

If I had more free time I could type up some invoices to send these people.

Day 528 (08/06/2011)

Getting loads of work done & emails sent but there is still so much to do.

Can't wait till my desk is clear.

Day 527 (07/06/2011)

It was wet & cold this morning but it turned out to be a lovely day in the end.

We are having to get a new freezer & Hob as both are playing up.

Looking forward to burgers & a jacket potato for dinner.

Update 19:45 - Dinner was nice, now having some coconut whilst doing some reports.

Day 526 (06/06/2011)

The 6th of June has many memories, not just D-Day, although that is obviously the one most people think of and probably the one of most historic importance but on the 6th of June 1986 I was somewhere else;

It seems a lifetime ago and certainly many things have changed in my life have changed since, many of which I could not have been foreseen and probably would not have changed.

I wonder what will happen over the next 20+years.

Day 524 & 525 (04 & 05/06/2011)

The weekend is here, the sun is out, my wife is off, and I'm stuck in the office with about 3 weeks worth of work.

I'm not complaining but am emailing a few clients saying I can't do the longer enquiries as I need free time and time to devote to writing some books. They may be crap and might not earn me any money but it is something I want to do but something I have no time to do at the moment.

This morning in the post I got a letter from my accountants, with a copy of last years accounts. My company needs to spend more money but I am chuffed at the tax bill. I don't think I will be saving any libraries this year but I will be getting my garden done.

Update - Sun 18:00 - We ended up at The Boston Tea Party in Honiton for lunch, very nice.

Home in time to do a few hours work then time for Scott & Bailey on ITV.

There is some great stuff on telly at the moment, The Shadow Line is just brilliant, with Rafe Spall just chilling as Jay Wratten.

Day 523 (03/06/2011)

Out all day yesterday with Kelly having an MRI Scan in Cardiff. There's nothing wrong with her it was just part of a medical enquiry called Children of the 90's.

While we were there we went over to see my cousin, who recently gave birth to baby Harvey.

I told my wife to not get too attached, we are not having any more.

Afterwards we went to Bristol and went out for a curry at the Bengal Raj, with Gary & Elaine.

In the office today with loads to catch up on.

Day 522 (02/06/2011)

We saw Dom Jolly last night, it was OK I have never really seen any of his stuff, so seeing as it was a show of his career it had plenty of clips, so was quite fun.

The kids went to see Derren Brown in Bristol and seemed to enjoy it.

Might pop into Cardiff today and see family and do stuff.

Day 521 (01/06/2011)

June, are you sure its June, how can it be June already, wasn't Christmas just the other week.

Gave a talk this morning up north then the long drive home. Off to see Dom Jolly tonight, not a big fan (not actually seen any of his stuff) but it was a free ticket.