Day 1070 (30/11/2012)

The month is nearly over and I think it is quite clear who was able to grow the best mustache.

I can't wait until midnight as I shall be shaving the bloody thing off.

Loads of work to do at the moment. Suddenly swamped with things that need doing.

Day 1069 (29/11/2012)

Finished the course in Preston and then a long drive back down south.

I love getting home and getting in to my own bed. No matter how nice the place you stay at its never home but I don't look forward to the journey as I know its going to involve being sat in traffic for a while.

Day 1068 (28/11/2012)

The second day of the course is over and I can't wait to get home.

Spent an hour on the phone trying to stop the bank from continually refusing my card as a suspected fraudulent payment when I was trying to make a payment to my Tesco's credit card, a thing I that I have done every month around the same date for around the same amount for the last 4 or 5 years.

Going out for an Italian later then work to do.

Update - 22:30 - Went to a nice & fairly posh restaurant in Chorley called Pinocchio's. I had the calamari for starters.

Then the slow cooked pork belly followed by the lemon cheese cake.

No nice dinner tomorrow night as I will be driving home, so will only be able to get a sandwich at the services.

Day 1067 (27/11/2012)

Up in Preston doing another course. Seems to be going OK but missing home. As I'm staying in the nicer Premier Inn this time I have the choice of walking next door to a gastro pub, The Walton Fox. Started with a Goats Cheese Crustini.

Then a nice Gammon joint, with a lovely light lemon meringue sundae to finish.

Day 1066 (26/11/2012)

I have had loads to do today and had aimed to leave for Preston before 6pm. It is now just after 6pm and I'm still here with loads more to do and still have a 3hr drive up north to look forward to.

Day 1064 & 1065 (24 & 25/11/2012)

It was like one of the kids birthdays from 10 years ago, a visit to the Pizza Hut and the Cinema.

There was a slight problem in the cinema in as much as the projector had turned itself off or they forget to turn it on in the first place and we were sat there for 15 minutes waiting for he film to start. Thomas had been with us for a pizza but went out afterwards so it was just us three sat there taking silly photo's.

My mustache is coming on and thankfully I can shave the bloody thing off at the end of the week.

It is still raining loads but I shan't be going out as I have to prepare for next weeks course in Preston. 

Update - Sunday 19:45 - We had every intention of having a lie-in this morning but we woke up as there was water coming out of the bottom of the shower. It was turned off but clearly something had broken on the inside and we couldn't stop it without turning off the water for the whole house.

Thankfully our very nice maintenance man came out in the morning and now we have a new shower, so for the second Sunday running we have spent a bit more money than we had intended.

Now that the shower is new we must clean up the shower cubical and re-do the grouting and sealant.

It's still raining. We are not too affected on this side of Taunton but Thomas has been out taking a few photo's from nearby.

Hope it clears up soon.  

Day 1063 (23/11/2012)

As Stevie Wonder once sang, "Happy Birthday To You, Happy Birthday" OK his song was to Martin Luther King jr but mine is for our lovely daughter Kelly who is 21 today.

How quickly they grow up, children not sun flowers.

As the floods have hit the South West an event that Kelly was going to today has been canceled so we will spend some time with her. I feel a session at the cinema and pizza may be happening.

Day 1062 (22/11/2012)

Busy day, have to take wife's car to the garage to see if the gears are OK (they are not as it's sometimes difficult to get them in gear), go to the gym and also have a meeting later.

And its raining.

Update - 19:30 - It's raining lots. If you no anyone called Noah it might be a good time to give him a call.

I took my wife's car to the car wash today for the first time. Previously I has jet washed it but I took it to a car wash, where they spray your car first then you go through the automated car wash. The man sprayed the car with detergent and then I realised that the car has automatic washers, which I don't know how to turn off. I spoke to the man and he said that if I couldn't turn them off I should turn the engine off and just let the car be pulled along. Next problem was that I realised the car has an automatic handbrake which comes on as soon as you turn the engine off.

In the end the guy had to wash the detergent off he had just put on and I had to reverse out of the car wash as I have no idea how to turn of these automatic features off on the car. I bet the guy at the car wash thought I was a complete W****R.

Thomas had another photo in the local paper today.

Really interesting meeting today with someone who unlike me is thinking on a much larger scale. Could be very interesting.  

Day 1061 (21/11/2012)

I was giving a talk in Preston yesterday and then had to drive back home after the rest of the country appears to have had lots of rain. This added about an hour to my journey as the M5 at Gloucester had lanes closed due to it being flooded.

So when I got home I thought I would have a drink & make myself a sandwich. As usual I passed comment on twitter.

It was only later I saw that this tweet had been picked up & used by a travel app.

At times like these I wish I could be bothered to use one of the more mature normal plates rather one of the old bugs bunny kids plastic plates, but they are just so handy & useful.

Day 1060 (20/11/2012)

Even before the council have collected my wheelie bin full of leaves the garden is full of them again.

I have a few things to do then going up to Preston tonight and giving a talk tomorrow.

Had a quick diner before getting ready to go to Preston. I made a Chinesse style chicken, with mushroom, chili and egg friend rice out of some left overs.

It was so nice I had to share it with Thomas.

Annoyingly everyone else is going to see Piff The Magic Dragon tonight at The Brewhouse. I wish I could go as he was very funny when I saw him on the telly but I don't fancy driving to Preston at midnight.

Day 1059 (19/11/2012)

Last night was a bit rushed so it was a quick roast chicken dinner rather my Jamie 30 minute meal but still had time to do the cheats rice pudding with stewed fruit.

We I thought it was very nice.

Busy again doing things, going to the gym and I have talks to prepare for.

Day 1057 & 1058 (17 & 18/11/2012)

I can't wait until the end of the month. Not that December is my favorite month, far from it, I hate Christmas, but on the 1st of December I can shave this bloody mustache off.

It might not luck impressive but it fells uncomfortable, unclean and very annoying. Why does anybody have these things through choice.

Update - Sunday 12:30 - The day didn't start too well, but these things are sent to try us. Had planned another Jamie 30 Minute meal but have had to change things slightly as I have to pop out later to pick Kelly up. Tidied the garden again and collected even more leaves from the garden.

The wheelie bin is now full and no doubt in a day or two the garden will be full of even more leaves. I wouldn't mind but they are not even from our trees, they are from the park at the back, so really I should get the council in to collected them.

Day 1056 (16/11/2012)

Yesterday when I got to the gym I realized I had only taken a hand towel (actually an old terry's nappy that was never used as a nappy) which I usually use to wipe my face whilst working out, and had forgotten my towel for a shower. I could have gone without a shower but that would of meant also not having a swim and then having to have a shower at home. But I wanted a swim after working out in the gym, so after my shower I had to dry myself with something that was really only big enough to cover a newborn babies bottom. At the end the towel was soaked and I was hardly dry.

Needless to say when I went to the gym today (fourth time this week) I made sure I took a hand towel and a shower towel.

It has been a very grey, wet, cold and foggy day. On days like today you can see why people leave this country for warmer & sunnier places. So to bring some colour in my life I had nachos for a late lunch.

I didn't eat them all, most of them yes but not all of them.

Day 1055 (15/11/2012)

Yesterday we went to see James Bond, which was quite long but very good.

Still busy doing things but always have a few minutes everyday to play my Aunty at scrabble.

I know this winning streak is very hard to believe but what can I say.

Anyway work to do and the gym to visit. It is nice being at home, shame I have to go away again during the next two weeks.

Day 1054 (14/11/2012)

Last night had a great time with all four of us and Gary & Elaine at FlavourZ in Bristol. Basically an all you can eat, Indian, Mexican, Chinese & Italian.

I didn't include photo's of all of my food but it was very nice. As always Gary & Elaine were great company.

I only had a glass of orange juice & a yogurt for breakfast this morning as for some reason I wasn't that hungry. Going to the gym later.

Hopefully going to see James Bond tonight as its Orange Wednesday.

Day 1053 (13/11/2012)

No time for the gym today (honestly I was there yesterday) just had a hair cut now time for a bit of work then over to the other house for a boiler service.

Out tonight with G&E for a piggy all you can eat buffet from around the world (there is a heaven after all).

Day 1052 (12/11/2012)

Looking out into the back garden it's hard to believe that on Saturday I tidied it up and collected nearly a wheelie bin full of leaves. Guess I will be doing the same again this Saturday.

My Movember mustache is slowly coming on. It is very annoying and uncomfortable & I can't wait to shave on the 1st of December. I think my wife is regretting challenging me & Thomas to see who could grow the best mustache, neither is great but both are scruffy.

Day 1050 & 1051 (10 & 11/11/2012)

Really nice to wake up in your own bed.

Lots of stuff to catch up with in my office and then loads of leaves in the garden to tidy up.

Finished a game of scrabble with Chris, just for a change I won and then had a fantastic start on the new game.

She no doubt will think I am cheating but I ask you, would I cheat? OK well obviously the answer is yes I would cheat if I could but this time it was just lucky letters.

Update - Saturday 17:45 - Started tidying up the garden but it got dark and started rain so only time for he before photo.

Just imagine it with shorter grass and less leaves on the ground.

Day 1049 (09/11/2012)

Gave a talk to a class during the day then a long drive home and home.

Really nice to be home, it doesn't matter how nice the hotel, its never home.

Day 1048 (08/11/2012)

Finished the course in Penrith and drove to Preston for tomorrows presentation. Staying in a Premier Inn tonight, so not as nice as as my previous accommodation but at least there are lots of tv channels to choose from.

Went out for dinner (for a change), had a prawn cocktail,

  Steak with a pepper sauce and then some cheese cake.

Now stuffed and ready for bed.

Day 1047 (07/11/2012)

Well today the course went much better and we are nearly up to where we should be but these things can be hard work and this is, as there are a few people in the room who are not completely computer literate. When I say not completely computer literate I mean basically people who struggle with the basics.

To be fair they aren't helped by very poor and outdated computer systems but it's very frustrating when you explain something clearly at the font of the room and then your get asked the same question 2 minutes later by the same two or three people every time.

Still look on the bright side it's dinner time soon. I might go for the lamb tonight, followed by cheese & biscuits.

Update - 21:00 - I did go for the lamb shank, followed by the cheese & biscuits.

I'm stuffed now.

Day 1046 (06/11/2012)

The day started well as the fog had lifted and it wasn't frosty.

Then the course started and things went downhill from there. The room we had been allocated had been previously checked for using the 3g dongles but when we started on the course the reception was so poor we couldn't carry on. We then had to find another room and move everything. Then as we set up in the new room, which was much smaller and quite a squeeze, the power went off.

Thankfully the power only flicked on & off a couple of times and we were able to get on with the course but the whole thing was delayed by a couple of hours which means I will have to spend the next 3 days catching up.

Back at the hotel, I went for the local Venison Sausage & Mustard Mash, followed by the cheese & biscuits.

Day 1045 (05/11/2012)

Doing stuff in the office, then doing the recycling, then paying cheque's into the bank then going for a swim at the gym then a nice relaxing 5 hour drive up to cold & wet Cumbria.

What a day.

Update - 22:00 - What a long F**KING drive that was. When I got into Cumbria it instantly became foggy and very cold. It was so foggy that when I arrived at the hotel I had to ask if I was at the right place as it was too foggy to see and signs.

The room is nice and big.

The dinner was nice.

But to be honest it doesn't matter how nice the hotel or room its not much fun when your by yourself.

Day 1043 & 1044 (03 & 04/11/2012)

I picked up the laminates from the printers this morning.

As my staff keep reminding me I'm a hard man to please and although getting 500 laminates professional printed saved me days of work and they are probably much better than I would have done, there are a few things that could have been done a bit better. When I have used all of these I will get them to put those annoying things right.

I know the other month I was happily giving up doing any more training courses and now have plans to train thousands of people a year but trust me, if it all works out then hopefully I will actually have more time off & more money.

I have a few things to do before going away on Monday but its mostly done. Slightly annoying that I won't be home until Friday evening but sometimes you have to do these things and by combining the course and a presentation it has saved me a long trip up north another week.

Still at least next week I am staying in something a bit better than a premier inn as the closest hotel was the Roundthorn Country House Hotel.

November is a busy time for birthdays in our family. Before my brothers birthday tomorrow it would have been Kim's birthday today, so we will visit the grave and leave a card & flowers for a friend who is greatly missed.

Update - Sunday 14:30 - Had a great curry last night.

Currently on day 4 of Movember and although my mustache doesn't really show up in photographs yet, I think it is quite impressive. When I say impressive you could also use the word annoying, as I do prefer to be clean shaven and it just feels wrong and dirty. 

I feel it is still some way off having to decide on the style of mustache to go for but you do have to think of these things. 

Obviously a toothbrush (Hitler / Chaplin ) mustache wouldn't look right but neither would a Tom Selleck or the Mexican bandit look.

Whatever I go for I think I may end up looking like a fat extra for the Village People.