Day 704 (30/11/2011)

Finished this weeks course in a cold portacabin, now home for a few days catching up with work.

I can't believe that its December tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing the garden in the day light, and in the sun would be nice.

Day 703 (29/11/2011)

Second day of the course, going well.

Still cold & wet.

Garden not yet finished but it was too dark for me to look at it when I got back anyway.

Day 702 (28/11/2011)

Been working all day on a course in Bristol for the next three days, leaving far too early of a morning and driving for 45minutes to get home of an evening.

The course went quite well with most people appearing to be interested and learning the points I was trying to get over, which is very rewarding. It was a bit cold though as it was in a portacabin and didn't really have too much in the way of heating, I even kept my coat on all day, which I haven't done for years, being as well insulated as i am.  

The garden is not quite finished yet and it was too dark to see outside by the time I got home anyway.

Day 700 & 701 (26 & 27/11/2011)

A couple of photos from the garden, hopefully should all be finished Monday or Tuesday.

Off to see Jack Dee tonight.

Update - Sunday 18:45 - Well it was good to see Jack Dee last night but in truth it was not a great show, even for a work in progress.

At Mum & Dads for breakfast, where Kelly decorated some biscuits for a Christmas sale for my mum.

I am still on tablets for my leg and am not that fussed in the great scope of things but it gets very itchy and when I scratch it I end up ripping the skin and end up bleeding. I'm guessing that this isn't good but I'm sure it will get better eventually.

This afternoon there was sad news about Gary Speed, the Welsh Football manager killing himself. Whilst I in know way knew Gary Speed or was really aware of him as a footballer, nowadays I am greatly upset by anyone's death.

I think about Kim everyday, as I know do the rest of the family. Whilst life gets easier over time I don't think we will ever get over the massive loss. We miss her at events we know we all would have been at. We miss her when there are things on the news that would have meant one of us would have called or texted her.

Sad times.

Day 699 (25/11/2011)

The have now started the decking but spent most of the day doing the path at the side of the house.

Spent ages putting furniture together for the spare room as next week we will have three thearte types staying at Kim's.

I hate D.I.Y and cleaning, that is why I have a cleaner & a maintenance man, so why did I end up doing this stuff myself. I'm aching now.

Trying to catch up on my work and prepare for next weeks course.

Day 698 (24/11/2011)

So Kelly's birthday yesterday, which was nice.

We went upto Bristol in the evening, and went to Zizzi with Gary & Elaine.

They are laying the grass today.

Day 697 (23/11/2011)

Today our daughter is Twenteen, so technically still a teenager and in no way old. She has hardly changed in all these years.

But Thomas is totally unrecognizable.

The garden gets nearer completion, apparently tomorrow we will have turf as well.

Will try and get some work done whilst doing family things today.

Day 696 (22/11/2011)

Got up too bloody early then drove for about 3 1/2hrs up to Preston to give a talk in the afternoon, then another long drive home.

Time to clear my emails then collapse in front of the telly.

Day 695 (21/11/2011)

Rain Rain Rain. Think they gave up on the garden after a few hours.

Rhod Gilbert was very good last night. Tonight we are seeing Greg Davies.

Have some work to do then driving to Preston in the morning then giving a presentation then driving home the same day. I will be knackered.

Day 693 & 694 (19 & 20/11/2011)

Today I gave a talk at the WAPI  Annual Conference.

There were some interesting exhibitors.

My talk went well but it wasn't until I was nearly finished was I aware of how many recordings were being made, both audio & video. I wish people would at least ask before they record me at these things but would rather they didn't, as some of the things I would rather just stayed in the room. Oh well.

Home to relax and then seeing Rhod Gilbert tomorrow.

Update - Sunday 16:00 - Thought I would include a photo of the garden, which is looking better.

I cant wait for it to be finished, all clean with a few nice plants. We haven't really used the garden for the last few years as it was so untidy, so it will be really nice to just be able to sit out their, relaxing in a nice comfy chair with a chilled glass of wine. Roll on the summer.

Day 692 (18/11/2011)

A quick photo of the garden from this morning before I drove into London.

I had a very interesting meeting in Soho, followed by a meeting at the UKAI Sushi bar on the Portobello Road.

Staying at The De Vere Hotel in Greenwich tonight as giving a talk to tomorrow.

I have a view of Canary Wharf from my room.

Day 691 (17/11/2011)

Well we saw TinTin last night. It was OK but I probably wont see any more if they make them.

More work for me. At least the weather has been good so the garden continues to be done.

There will probably be a lot of changes before the next photos as I am away in London on Friday & Saturday.

Day 690 (16/11/2011)

Work to do but hopping to do an Orange Wednesday and see TinTin tonight if its still on.

The garden is taking shape.

Hopefully if the weather stays good they should be finished next week.

Day 689 (15/11/2011)

Managed to get quite a bit of work done today.

The garden is coming on but it was to dark outside for me to take a photo for the blog.

Probably more of the same tomorrow.

Day 688 (14/11/2011)

Back to normality, with lots of rain and lots of work to do.

Thomas drove me for the first time in his car today. He was quite good although he probably didn't think so, as at one stage there was an ambulance on a blue light run so I had to get him to drive thru a red light. Learning to drive is not easy.

Day 686 & 687 (12 & 13/11/2011)

We spent a weekend over in Swansea Bay. Well they call it Swansea Bay but if you know it then it is really Port Talbot, which has never been high on the list for tourists. Saying that it is actually a nice looking beach.

We stayed at The Aberavon Beach Hotel, which looked a lot better on the inside than it did on the outside.

So we obviously tried out a few restaurants and visited The Botanic Gardens of Wales which was fantastic.

So a few photo's, from the restarant at the hotel, not bad.

Just a few of the several hundred of The Botanic Gardens of Wales which was lovely in so many ways, including that all the slopes were very gradual so it was nice to walk around.

Then Hanson At The Chelsea, a lovely restaurant.

Then Sunday we went to Cardiff Bay, in search of Torchwood.

We even went on a boat trip.

Day 685 (11/11/2011)

If the weather stays nice the gardeners should do another big chunk of the garden, although there is loads yet to do but it is starting to look very good. I love the way they have disguised the manhole cover in the patio.

Have a few things to do today then me and my wife are have a few days away to chill out.

Always a sad time today at 11:00am and worth remembering those who made sacrifices for us. I always put money in the tin for a poppy but find it inappropriate to wear one nowadays for my own reasons.

Day 684 (10/11/2011)

The weather is better today and the gardeners are getting on with the garden after yesterdays non-stop rain.

The gutter-men also came round, so I now have clean (on the inside & out) gutters that are not split & leaking and not full of silt & greenery.

So now thew gutters are fully working its not raining.

Day 683 (09/11/2011)

Its wet, again, when I saw wet, its bloody raining all the time.

I had to take Thomas to the hospital for his regular eye check up today. When we got there I thought it was strange that the appointment card said the 16th of November but my wife had told me the appointment was this morning. Well guess what, the appointment is next Wednesday. Only there for about 15minutes but had to pay the minimum charge at the car park.

Then I spent most of the day over at Kim's house getting aerials fitted (obviously not by me), so now at least when people stay they can watch telly in their rooms.

We were going to go and see Tin Tin tonight but I must do some work, so we can't.

Day 682 (08/11/2011)

The guys doing the garden turn up at about 7:45am and by just after 8:00am this morning they had a pneumatic drill going. I'm so glad they are working for us as otherwise I would be really pissed off with our neighbours. Come to think of it that's what our neighbours are thinking. Oh no Christmas cards again this year then.

Update - 20:15 - I have answered loads of emails today, cleared lots of paperwork and not really stopped since around 8:00am but am yet to start any paying work. Where does the time go.

Thought I would include an update on the garden.

Day 681 (07/11/2011)

It was so cold out this morning I expected ice on the cars but it was just cold, not freezing.

Update - 20:00 - Not much change, the men have been working in the garden and I've been trying to catch up on my work, etc etc etc.

Day 679 & 680 (05 & 06/11/2011)

Yesterday should have been Bridgwater's day. It is a place that lives all year for the carnival, with tens of thousands of people coming not only from all over the UK but from all over the world to see it but unfortunately the torrential rain caused flooding and a large part of the river wall in the town centre to collapse a few hours before the start of the carnival. This had caused the carnival to be restricted. Then within a few hours a massive accident on the M5 a few miles away has left many dead and injured, with many families lives being changed for ever.

Lots of work to do this weekend and off to see Shappi Khorsandi & Jon Richardson at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil.

Missed seeing my brother on his birthday yesterday as he was not well, but lets face it the writing was on the wall, even with the hat things are not looking good for him.

Update - Sunday 08:00 - The comedy was OK, funny but not great from start to finish. The trouble with comedians that you see and like from TV is that you see a heavily edited version, the best bits, which sometimes an hours live performance can not mask.

Saying that I had nice fish & chips before hand. 

Day 678 (04/11/2011)

Yesterday was our friend Kim's birthday. We went up to the grave and put some fresh flowers out, with a birthday card. I know that the passing of time make things easier but it was still very sad, her first birthday without us.

Then in the evening we all went out for a curry night at the Worlds End, which is something we had done with Kim a number of times.

It is when there are events that you know you would have all been together, where the loss is felt even more.

Sad times but in a lighthearted way, being a lazy sod I do very little (nothing) around the house & garden but in the last few days Kim has had me planting a tree & flowers. That is technically manual work and my hands just weren't built for that.

Still catching up with work.

Day 677 (03/11/2011)

Last night saw Richard Herring do his new show, What Is Love Anyway, it was fantastic. I know most of my family don't really like him but I just love his humor & style.

Today it is raining, when I say raining i mean it's RAINING, like torrential, so I don't think they will be doing much in the garden today.

I will confirm the guttering man today as with weather like this better make sure that the gutters are clear and working properly.

I must get some work done today.

Day 676 (02/11/2011)

Today started early with a new washing machine being delivered to Kim's.

Then quite sometime spent with Santander who are useless W*****S, although this man was quite helpful but why do you have to complain and do an interview with the Daily Mail before anyone actually deals with you properly.

The gardeners are back though the weather is now bad and the nights are getting very dark very quickly.

I'm looking forward to spending summer evenings sat in the garden drinking a nice glass of wine.

Now going off to Bristol to see Richard Herring.