Day 1190 & 1191 (30 & 31/03/2013)

Having a relaxing time, although doing quite a bit of admin.

In between work and tea & hot cross buns (well it is Easter) I have been playing a few games of scrabble against my aunty, Christine.

I seem to be having quite a lucky streak at the moment, with lots of 7 & 8 letter words. And look at that highest score, pretty bloody impressive. If only I played scrabble that well in the real world.

Off to my Mum & Dads tomorrow for a nice Sunday roast lamb dinner.

Day 1189 (29/03/2013)

I've been working today but it has generally been a relaxing day for the whole family. Saying that it has been very confusing, it's a Friday but it does seem like a Saturday.

I will be having the evening off and aim to have a very relaxing weekend with my wife.

Day 1188 (28/03/2013)

It really is nice to be back home with everybody, even if the house is a bit full of stuff and I have lots to catch up with.

Looking forward to a day or two off this long Easter weekend.

Day 1187 (27/03/2013)

The course went well, although it is fair to say they were a fairly talkative bunch.

Then a long drive home, which was a lot longer than it should have been due to a hold up for about an hour on the M25. Then when I got to Somerset I couldn't tell if I was travelling at hyper-speed or if it was snowing.

Day 1186 (26/03/2013)

Second day of the course and its going quite well.Then off to Frankie & Benny's for dinner.

Hang about that sounds very similar to yesterdays except I had fish & Chips and then a waffle.

It was quite funny tonight as I wanted afters but Mick didn't but when they brought my waffle they handed us both a spoon for some reason. Whenever we are at work and go out for dinner everyone is convinced the me & Mick are a couple.

Mick is Nice but he's no Neil Pearson (joke for Kelly).

I must try to act more butch or stop going out with men.

looking forward to being home tomorrow night.

Day 1185 (25/03/2013)

First day of the course and it went quite well. Then off to Frankie & Benny's for dinner, for a pizza & apple crumble.

Day 1183 & 1184 (23 & 24/03/2013)

No lie-in for anyone today as we were all busy. Roll on next weekends Bank Holiday Weekend and a day off and a lie-in.

Update - Sunday 23:30 - Arrived in Stevenage quite late after having lots of stuff to do at home.

It is a little bit colder and snowier than what I had left behind in Taunton.

As I set up my laptop for tomorrows course I quickly counted the training I had done this year so far and was slightly surprised that after this weeks course in the first three months of the year I would have done 5 courses and 4 presentations, so is been quite a busy start to the year.

This weeks course is quite full, so I'm hoping it still goes well.

Day 1182 (22/03/2013)

The last day of the course went well, with very positive feedback from everyone. Then a long rive back in very crappy weather from  London back home.

After two courses and one presentation in two weeks I am nearly at the end of this busy month. Now home for a not quite two days but not really able to relax as I have loads to catch up with and to do for next weeks course.

My poor wife is a s busy as I am as we have some new tenants moving in to the house and we had to clear out all of the furniture and stuff. Busy & emotional time.

Day 1181 (21/03/2013)

Last night Mick had a friend visit and he didn't go until gone midnight. I could have left Mick and him chatting but it was nice to sit with people but I did have things needed to do but in the end I couldn't.

So a late night and then another early morning. The course is going well but it is true to say that none of the delegates are going to win computer investigator of the year (and a free meal).

We went out for an old style Italian, which wasn't that bad.

Looking forward to getting home, shame its for only just over a day.

Day 1180 (20/03/2013)

Had a fairly nice Mexican last night and will probably be having a Sushi tonight.

The course set up went OK but even with only 10 people in the class it was a bit of a struggle at a time as it would be fair to say that they are not all great at computers.

Hopefully tomorrow we can catch up and do a bit more.

Day 1179 (19/03/2013)

I stayed in the same room in scary wooden clad castle as I stayed in the other year but was too tired this time to be worried about the spooky surroundings.

Gave a talk to a room full of investigators, which went quite well. Even if I say so myself I was easily the best thing on during the whole day, and there were four speakers in total. Having sat thru many boring presentation over the last 20yrs especially during my year with the NHS, I can never understand why people don't try to make them interesting as well as informative.

Nice breakfast but very poor buffet.

Then off to Hammersmith for this weeks course.

Day 1178 (18/03/2013)

Busy day making sure everything is right before I go away later.

Not looking forward to trying to load all my gear plus 13 laptops and all of my training equipment into the car and carry it to the hotel & training venue. Thankfully I will have Mick helping out for the next two weeks.

Day 1176 & 1177 (16 & 17/03/2013)

Busy weekend doing some reports and then preparing for this weeks presentation, next weeks course and the course the weeks after that.

So lots of printing & stapling, then loading polly pockets.

To busy to cook so had a pizza on Saturday and maybe a Chinese tomorrow.

Update - Sunday - 20:15 - Lovely Chinese today with enough left over for tomorrow before driving off to Leicester.

Day 1175 (15/03/2013)

So my day off was spent trying to catch up with a load of urgent emails in the morning then off to a funeral in the pouring rain.

The funeral was for John a neighbour of my parents, who they were quite close to. He was a lovely man and the church was packed and it was a nice service.

The family had arranged a lovely send off at the local pub, which was a bit overwhelmed by the numbers. I could have stayed there all day as it was unlimited champagne (they were quite well off) and had some lovely food. I had a cup of tea (to warm up) and a sandwich.

Then home to catch up on my work.

Day 1174 (14/03/2013)

Last day of the course, which was nice. One down two more (and a presentation) to go.

Then had a nightmare drive home due to traffic problems on the M6. The journey can be done in just over 3hrs but I left at 4:30pm and eventually got home at 10:15pm.

OK I stopped for an hour for a burger & a sleep but the traffic wasn't moving much anyway.

Nice to be home.

Day 1173 (13/03/2013)

The weather is better today and I didn't have to scrape the ice from the car in the morning.

The course is going slowly as there may only be 8 people in the class but there are a few who aren't really that keen on computers. saying that there are a couple in the class who are keen and seem to be quite good.

A new Pope has just been elected, which will have no effect on my life at all and does make me wonder why it's attracting so much coverage in this country, given it's not really our religion in this country. Without even knowing all the possible candidates I will be surprised if the new Pope isn't either a paedophile or someone who has used his position to protected his paedophile friends.

Time for dinner then answering some emails.

Looking forward to being home tomorrow night.

Day 1172 (12/03/2013)

As I ended up finishing off a report last night, I did not leave until just before 8pm, so it was a long drive in the cold arriving at around 11pm in the snow up north.

I was knackered and the course hadn't even started but thankfully after a good nights sleep I felt a bit better today.

The course is going OK although it would be fair to say that some of them are not natural at computers and are struggling to fully grasp the principles behind what I'm saying. Thankfully as there is only 8 people in the class it's not too much trouble.

Off to the pub next door for a nice meal before coming back to do a few more reports later.

Day 1171 (11/03/2013)

We had a nice meal last night with Mum & Dad.

Been working all day but only seem to have answered my emails rather than having done any paid work.

Off to Preston later, may take warm clothes with me as the weather is awful and I feel like crap. I can't wait for this month to be over as its hectic.

Day 1169 & 1170 (09 & 10/03/2013)

Trying to have a relaxing weekend, whilst preparing for next weeks course and having the day away.

Update - Sunday 15:15 - Had a nice even away and a nice meal at The Old Spot in Wells.

Off to The Worlds End to celebrate Mothers Day.

Day 1168 (08/03/2013)

Funny week, funny day.

Up to date with work but don't seem to have prepared much for next weeks course. Hopefully having the laminates and a lot of the printing already done, it shouldn't be to timely to get everything ready.

Might have a relaxing weekend, with a day away back in Wells with my wife then Mothers Day on Sunday.

Day 1167 (07/03/2013)

After the blog the other day about the start of the financial year always looking grim as my company looks to be in the red until I get a few invoices paid, today I was very happy as I was paid for a course I haven't even done yet (they needed to spend the money before the end of the financial year).

So I should now be in the black, so to speak, for the rest of the year.

I am down to using only about 20 tissues a day due to my cold, so hopefully my cough will clear up soon as it has been an annoying month and kept me out of the gym.

I have three courses over the next three weeks but will try to fit in the odd gym session, though I might ease myself back into it with a bit of swimming.

Day 1166 (06/03/2013)

I didn't real feel like it but me & my wife went out to The World End for a meal last night. It was OK but I wasn't in the mood. We had a Texan Platter to share for starters and then I had a fish mixed grill.

I've spent the day installing software onto 12 laptops ready for a course in a few weeks time when I have to supply all of the laptops.  Seeing as I bought them quite cheap they are quite nice.

Individually they are not that heavy but a bag a 6 off them weighs a ton but thankfully I will be getting Mick to do most of the carrying.

Annoyingly the couple that were moving into Kim's have now dropped out so it is being re-marketed.

Day 1165 (05/03/2013)

The trouble with March is that it is the start of my new financial year for my company, with the accounts starting at £0.00 and so for the first few weeks until I receive a few payments it looks like my company is in the Red.

It's very depressing even though I know there is money in the bank, money owed to me by clients and a lot of worked booked for the next few months. Role on getting paid for a few courses then my company will look very healthy again.

I now have picked up all of the laptops, so have 12 spare laptops in my office for use on my courses. I just have to install all of the software on them and then get used to carrying an awful lot of kit around with me.

It's nice that this week is fairly relaxed work wise as the next three weeks are going to be very very busy.

Sometimes when you are at crossroads in your life its hard to decide which way to turn, but what the hell, whats the worst that can happen.

Day 1164 (04/03/2013)

Have tidied my very small office in preparation of picking up all of the other laptops later in the week.

It's looking better but I haven't finished going through everything yet.

It may all be wasted anyway as I'm thinking of moving to a new office at the end of the week for a change of scene.

Day 1162 & 1163 (02 & 03/03/2013)

Kelly made another nice meal last night, with a Mexican theme.

In the office just about up to date and even aiming to have tomorrow off before quite a few busy weeks. So I feel a nice Sunday roast & a nice bottle of wine will be the main focus of the day.

Day 1161 (01/03/2013)

What do you mean the first of March already, how did that happen? This year is flying by, we must organise our holiday or if we leave it too late again there won't be much of a choice.

We decided to get a property management company in to rent out Kim's house (it well never seem right referring to it by any other name). We went for the nicer company, who also suggested offering it at what we thought an extortionate price but they said people would pay for the area but if no-one was interested after a week we could just drop the price. All we really need is for the mortgage to be paid on it but anything extra would be nice just in-case things need doing later.

Well within a couple of days they had four viewings, all of whom wanted it, three at the asking price and one at slightly below. Hopefully an elderly couple with be moving in soon, with no intention of moving for the foreseeable future, which is what we wanted.

Anyway one of the problems of going away to do a course is catching up on all of my work when I get back, so I had better start doing that now.

Day 1160 (28/02/2013)

The meal was OK, not great but OK. I had a seafood crepe for starters,

then the pheasant,

then the cheesecake, which was probably the highlight of the meal
.

Last day of the course, which seemed to go well and was much better and easier than the last one, there being less than half the number involved was probably reason.

Then a long drive home.