Day 244 & 245 (28 & 29/08/2010)

The rain has stopped, Thomas is coming home and we are off to see family we love at a party. Should be a good weekend.

Will update with some photo's.

Update - Sun 19:45 - Had a fantastic time at the party last night and at Brian & Stella's today. All lovely people and great company as always.

A few pictures of the events;











Thomas was very tired after not sleeping for three days whilst at Newquay, so was not taking photos but was trying to sleep, so we didn't get photos of everyone but enjoyed meeting up with all of them.

Day 243 (27/08/2010)

Had a day back at the venue tagged on after the course looking at some things, bit odd but worked out OK.

Thomas phoned from Newquay, where they have at least had one sunny day.

Looking forward to family party at the weekend.

Day 242 (26/08/2010)

Finished the course but have to go back tomorrow as we are doing a day looking at, well I can't tell you but they have left me in charge, so seeing as its a bank holiday weekend then we wont be staying much after lunch.

Day 241 (25/08/2010)

Second day of a three day course, going OK, the computers are much better than last time. I think nearly everybody is really happy with what they are learning.

Thomas has gone away for a few days to Newquay with some friends. It is now torrential rain so he will probably be soaked as they were camping but hoping to upgrade to a caravan. Hope this goes well and he stays out of trouble but lets face it, teenagers in Newquay, what a worry for a parent.

Day 240 (24/08/2010)

Well I had to get up early for the first day of a course. It started badly by some jobs worth telling me I would have to pay for a flip chart in a classroom. To**er or B**ch, I can't quite decide.

Anyway needless to say I had a flip chart within a few minutes as I had already been paid by the client, whose classroom I was using, whose staff I was training and whose Flip Chart I liberated.

Thomas had his GCSE results, which seeing as his school were crap, were not bad.

Day 239 (23/08/2010)

Did most of my course stuff at the weekend and booked the hotel rooms but just can't start those damned insurance forms. Must get them done today, but have other things to do first.

Update - 13:30 - The trouble with living in the countryside is that during the summer it smells like you have just S**T yourself. Why can't farmers use Air Fresheners rather than Chicken Poo.

Unconnected, listening to an early live album by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. I think I must get a studio album of their hits instead.

Day 237 & 238 (21 & 22/08/2010)

Spending the day printing out course material and doing those bloody laminates.

Must do the insurance forms and book my hotel rooms this weekend.

Update - Sat 17:45 - Broke my laminator, will have to get a new one tomorrow. Thankfully the printer is still working.

Me and Thomas have spent ages creating some identities and accounts on-line and may have upset Facebook by creating a few in made up names, Ooops!

Update - Sun 18:30 - Bought a new laminator.


I know, how sad. It's not as nice looking as the old blue one but hopefully it will work better.

Had a choice between wine at dinner or no wine and a clear head to do my work. I went for the wine, so now trying to do some work with a not clear head.

Day 236 (20/08/2010)

Taming Of The Shrew was very good last night but once again I fell asleep but only for a second, until Kelly elbowed me (as a producer she was able to sit with us).

Honestly it's the lack of Air Conditioning as I wasn't tired or bored.

Update - 20:30 - I swear that I have been busy all day but don't seem to have done any work.

Day 235 (19/08/2010)

The film last night was fun, as long as you forgot the plot and reality and just looked the beautiful people in nice places having fun and being all action. Went for a Chinese afterwards nice.

Kelly getting her results later, so hoping she's done well as she worked very hard.

Update - 15:45 - Kelly did very well with an A and 2 B's.


As always very proud of her, she always works hard, I hope she now gets what she wants with work.

Now I must do some work as going to see her show at the Brewhouse tonight.

Update - 17:30 - Not impressed by Apple's Customer Service. Had to speak with a manager on the phone after the Bristol store was messing Thomas about. I think she realized I was unhappy and it was probably best if I didn't have to come up there to sort it out.

Americans should be applauded for their patience, think about it, they all have guns and are bound to get pissed off every now and again but only have a mad gunman causing havoc every month or so.

If we had the same number of guns in the UK I think we would be having disgruntled people turning up and wasting a room full of unhelpful staff every couple of hours. Certainly I might have been a news headline myself twice this week.

However in the UK normal people don't have guns, so we just tut and refuse to leave a tip or use that company again.

So well done Americans you are good people really.


Update - 18:30 - Thomas went to the Apple store to pick up his repaired laptop and they have given him a free upgraded laptop instead, with all of his stuff transfered over. I wonder if it was something I said?

Day 234 (18/08/2010)

I have now written a list of things I must do, which starts with filling out those bloody insurance forms.

Watched "That Mitchell and Webb Look" last night. It finished with a sketch about Sherlock Holmes with Alzheimer's. It was so horrible but brilliant and if you missed it catch it on the iPlayer. If you meet an MP insist that they bring in dieing with dignity.

Update - 12:45 - Got some Orange Wednesday tickets to see Knight & Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, should be fun.

Spent the morning trying out software to crack passwords on office documents and pdf's, very good stuff.

Day 233 (17/08/2010)

Our cleaner Ann is ill today, so good news we save some money, bad news the place will be messy for another week.

I like being in the decadent west and paying for things I could do myself and wasting resources. Saying that I fixed the lock on the front door yesterday, thank god (who doesn't exist) for WD40.

After a nice relaxing few days I have built up a backlog of work and agreed to do more courses.

I must fill out a few more forms (get the camera fixed) and book some hotel rooms.

Day 232 (16/08/2010)

I am updating my 2 & 3 day course and think its gong quite well.

Now heard from one company that we might have a contract to do some week long courses. Now how do I stretch my course out to 5 days. Might have to think up some cunning scenarios that take two days to work out.

It was really wet on Saturday but now the sun has got his hat on and he's coming out to play, sing along if you know the words.

Update - 18:00 - Spent the day checking out Facebook and opening multiple accounts with email providers and social networking sites. Very boring but has to be done for the course.

Had frustrating telephone call with Opal / TalkTalk my broadband provider, who would not supply my own information to me, as I couldn't prove who I was. I could explain but they were being utter Jobs Worth's and TOTAL W**KERS.

Day 230 & 231 (14&15/08/2010)

Its raining out.

I am nearly up to date with filling out all my forms and my work. I must go thru all my course stuff as I have loads of courses and presentations coming up. Plus remind me to book myself in somewhere nice.

Still no biscuits, cakes or crisps (or exercise). I'm not missing them although there are always cakes in the house which is just a constant tease. It's like a reformed alcoholic working in a pub.

Years ago I watched a Channel4 programme on really fat Americans. Nothing like me, these guys and girls where huge, OK so a little like me. There was one bit when this massive guy was asked why he didn't stop pigging out and he said something like - An alcoholic can stop drinking alcohol, a drug addict can stop taking drugs but you have to eat some thing every day and it was hard for him to stop after the first mouthful. So how would an alcoholic cope if they had to have one beer every day or a smoker had to have just one cigarette a day.

Still, he could of eaten fruit or something healthy.

Now work then a healthy breakfast (no it wont be, I love Frosties, They're Great)

Day 229 (13/08/2010)

Pick up my computer today, apparently it was some conflict between software. Why can't software get on, be a lover not a fighter, end this conflict now guys.

Day 228 (12/08/2010)

Didn't go out last night as the film we could have seen was on too late for us oldies and the wife had bought something for dinner, so we didn't even try out a new restaurant.

Have to take my computer back to the shop today as its playing up. Hopefully its something simple but I have backed up my stuff anyway. It's just a pain to reinstall it all.

Going to do a bit of shopping today, got a few things to buy and might treat myself to a new laptop for when I'm away, as I'm getting fed up with the small netbook.

Update - 22:00 - Spent the day setting up a new laptop.

Day 227 (11/08/2010)

Got my car back.

Nothing on at the cinema so might go out for a meal tonight.

Keeping up to date with the work but must fill out these forms.

Day 226 (10/08/2010)

Have work to do now but I must fill in all the forms that have been sat here for a month waiting to be done.

Update - 22:30 - Still loads of old forms to be filled in. Should get my car back tomorrow. Might do an Orange Wednesday, will have to see whats on.

Day 225 (09/08/2010)

Nearly caught up on my sleep and my work.

Update - 21:45 - Done all of my work, even some charity stuff (obviously I don't like to talk about my charity work). I don't think I have actually cleared all of my work for at least the last 18months if not much longer.

Saying that I still have loads of stuff to do. I must update all of my course material and websites and write a few reports for people who have asked for my views on things.

Must also do the insurance on the camera that smashed ages ago and I have to fill out a form, that asks if I have ever taken part in any espionage, terrorism or sabotage. I will probably fill it out properly and wont mention my Action Man Sabotagers outfit.


OK this is a photo I took off of the Internet as my Action Man didn't allow photographers on his secret missions.

Day 223 & 224 (07 & 08/08/2010)

The weekend is here, a few hundred emails to go thru, reports to write and my parents to pick up from the airport at an ungodly (he doesn't exist) hour.

Update - Sat 14:30 - Interesting afternoon doing someone a favour on the Internet. It was a strange favour and one that might mean that my computer now needs a clean.

Now time for work that pays money.

Update - Sun 20:15 - Got up at 3.45am to pick my parents up from the airport. I have been knackered for the rest of the day.

Used my new thermal mug twice today, its very good.

Day 222 (06/08/2010)

The course finished and I got a gift, one of those nice thermal mugs.


Very useful, it will keep my Green Tea with Lemon nice and warm.

Got home after a long horrible drive. It was nice to be back but slightly disappointing that there is no steam room, jacuzzi or swimming pool.

Day 221 (05/08/2010)

Spent another day in the classroom. I gave a bit of input on a few issues that seemed to go down well. Running a few of my own courses at the end of the month and looking forward to doing them. Have to make a few changes to the material and do those bloody laminates.

Looking forward to having a swim, steam and jacuzzi before my dinner.

Day 220 (04/08/2010)

Spent the day in the classroom, did a bit more instructing today. It carried on a bit latter than before, so I didn't get to go for my evening swim, steam and jacuzzi.

Will be going for my dinner then a few reports to do, looking forward to getting back home on Friday.

Day 219 (03/08/2010)

Spent the day in the classroom.

In the evening I had a swim, a steam and a jacuzzi, followed by a curry and a couple of pints.

Not a bad day but I must dio a few reports one night.

Day 218 (02/08/2010)

Drove the Mercedes for a few hours last night, got here in time for Sherlock.

The room is quite good and includes a little kitchen, for those staying longer, so you can cook your own stuff rather than have a full mean in the restaurant.


I brought some fruit but am in the restaurant for my meals


Still avoiding he temptation of biscuits despite there being lots of baskets like this everywhere.

Going to go for a little swim and then do some work later.

Hate being away from home, especially for a whole week.

Update - 21:30 - Had a dip in the Jacuzzi, a sit in the steam room and a few lengths of the pool.

Had a nice meal, no afters and didn't go to the bar. Tomorrow going out for dinner so will eat too much and have a few drinks.

Have a few emails to send and a report to write.

Day 216 & 217 (31/07 & 01/08/2010)

Skeleton was very good last night. If get a chance to see it then do. It won't be on at any big cinemas as they have not get a distribution deal so you have to check out local theatres etc.

I wore my glasses and the screen looked clearer.

Got things to do today, plus got to go to Exeter to try and get Thomas's Apple fixed.


The screen has a two inch wide rainbow on it, which looks good but stops you from seeing all the screen. Thankfully its still under guarantee as I don't fancy spending another £1,000 this week.

Update - Sun 09:30 - Well we had a nice meal last night at the Pink Garlic in Taunton. We hadn't been there before and it was very nice.

However the staff had heard people saying Happy Birthday to me so after the meal they turned the lights down and sang Happy Birthday to me and presented me with a little cake with a candle.


It was only slightly embarrassing. A few other people in the restaurant joined in with the singing and the round of applause and must have thought I was a regular (as opposed to extra large haha).

BTW the drive to Exeter appeared to clear the fault with Thomas's computer. Not to annoying then. They cleaned out all the dust, which probably caused the fault then I ended up spending loads of a few extra Apple things (all for work obviously).

Day 215 (30/07/2010)

Hopefully should get the courtesy car today.

Going to the cinema tonight to see Skeletons. It should be good as there is a Q&A with the Director and one of the actors afterwards.

Update - 13:30 - Well I now have a Mercedes.


I know it's not exactly a sports car or an executive limo but it is a Mercedes, courtesy car.

I have heard from my insurance company that it is likely that I am going to be held liable for the accident. I have pointed out that this is more than a bit unfair as I wasn't even driving but was sat at home at the time.


I now have my glasses but the world is still fuzzy and a strain but perhaps that is just reality.

Day 214 (29/07/2010)

Arranging to get my car to be repaired.

Not been in the mood for work since my Birthday. Perhaps my body didn't expect to still be working at age 43.

Downloading some interesting stuff from the internet and apparently its going to take about a week but it might be worth it. It's not a film or music but some stuff for work thats in the news.

The download has settled at around the 24hr mark, so at least thats better and it might be interesting (hope so after 24hrs of downloading).

Day 213 (28/07/2010)

Well we had a great evening; however it started rather scarily about 2 minutes after I took this photo when someone nearly crashed into us.


The Clifton Sausage was very nice and a pleasant change from curry.


Then my brother had made me a lovely Birthday Cake.


I can't get into the work frame of mind today, though I must as I have loads of things that need doing.

Don't think we will be doing an Orange Wednesday today as there is really only Inception on, but it's over 2hrs long and we would have to go to the 8.30 screening. I'll be asleep well before it finishes.

My hand is not so painful today but still uncomfortable.

Update - 17:15 - Shit day but could have been worse. Last night I noticed a little scratch on my front bumper but I no longer have to worry about that as now you can't even notice it.



See you can't notice the scratch on my bumper.

No-one was hurt and I didn't even loose my temper, it's only a car. I haven't mentioned who was driving but it wasn't me.

The funny thing was when I got a lift to bring the car back to save K***y driving it back, it was parked next to another grey Peugeot and I was thinking "well that looks OK", then I realized it was not my car, mine was the crumpled heap next to it.

Oh well, we live and learn.

Day 212 (27/07/2010)

Its Happy Birthday Cake Day.

Looking forward to my Cake and seeing my brother and his lovely partner later at The Clifton Sausage.

Lot of cards reminding me how old I am and lots of nice presents.

Day 211 (26/07/2010)

My last day for a while of being younger than my old wife.

Busy week as I am way all the following week. Things to do and plans to make.

BTW saw Sherlock Holmes last night, very good.

Update - 09:30 - Two things really pissing me off this morning.

Firstly a farmer must be spreading something awful on nearby land as it smells awful with the window open and it's too stuffy to keep it closed.

Secondly genetics and parents. I love my parents but the pain in the joints of my hand today is so bad I couldn't even butter my toast or write the time of my Dr's appointment down.

Why has my Mum given me this. Why couldn't she pass on Ginger hair or the Eden ability to drink like a fish.

Really luckily it's my left hand so it's not as if I use it for everything I do, Oh I do, you utter bastard joint pain. Lickoly I con stil tipe :-().

Update - 17:15 - Two sickly people off to the Doctors.


Thomas wasn't well so we both got appointments at the Doctors.

I explained about the unbearable pain in the joints of two of my fingers and that whilst I occasionally have numb stiff joints this was the first time that the pain had been intense and had left me unable to use my hand.

The Doctor said (no word of a lie) "yeah I have got a numb joint on this finger, god knows what it is"

I would hope that in the many years of training to become a Doctor that they might cover joints and the human body but apparently not.

I have to take ibuprofen and see if it helps.

I'm guess it will be more useful than the Doctor.

Day 209 & 210 (24 & 25/07/2010)

Simon Callow was very good.


It was a one man show all about Shakespeare, his life and his work. It was very interesting and entertaining but the theater could do with air conditioning as it gets very stuff in there, so I always feel sleepy. Luckily I was sat next to Kelly who nudged me awake when resting my eyes became snoring.

I don't know if I have ever mentioned it but I hate driving. So today I have to drop Kelly in Yeovil, then this afternoon pick my parents up drive them to the airport then go and pick Kelly up. I reckon I will be driving for nearly 4 hours today. What utter joy.

Update - Sat 12:15 - Decided all drivers in Yeovil except me are utter ****s. We were in a 60 zone stuck behind some tosser in a red Renault doing 42mph. Then two vehicles pulled out in front of me at roundabouts.

At times like these I wish I had a shut-gun and a get out of jail free card.

Update - Sun 17:45 - Went to the Brewhouse with Kelly to see Tapes and Ashes. They are an improvised electronic music band. Imagine Jean Michel Jarre but without a tune. Check it out and think about me sitting thru 50 minutes of it.

Thanks Kelly really appreciated it but please don't get me any of their cd's for my birthday, it's not really my cup of tea.

Day 208 (23/07/2010)

The Chinese was nice and as usual we have enough left over for the next few days.

I must get some work done today and this weekend as I have done anything but do paid work all week (well I have only done a few jobs).

Off to the theater to see Simon Callow tonight.

Update - 15:00 - Sat having a cup of tea and a raspberry yogurt. Thomas had a bag of crisps and my wife had a large bit of cake :-(

Still avoiding crisps, biscuits and cakes. Only had the one slice of birthday cake. Can't wait for Tuesday and will have more.

Day 207 (22/07/2010)

Got things being delivered today but have to pop out about 4 times to take people to work etc. What are the chances of me being here when they knock at the door. I may cry if I don't get my software and monitor :-(

Update - 17:30 - Well my office looks like a chavs front room, the monitor is a bit too large for the room.


I think if I went for the next size up I would have done away for the need for curtains. It's a good job I don't like looking out of the window as now I can't.

I have chosen my glasses, I picked the ones that my wife laughed least at.

Just viewed Kelly's college film on youtube. I can appreciate the technical skill but think if that's what she was thinking about she needs treatment and I might take away all the sharpe knives. No wonder it took them so long to clean our bathroom up afterwards. Good work by the actress and all involved but you are all clearly in need of care.

Might have a Chinese takeaway tonight.

Day 206 (21/07/2010)

Feeling like an alcoholic who fell of the wagon and had a can of shandy, I must remember that I don't eat crisps.

Obviously my new regime is working so well I must have thought, diet what diet.

Having real problems with Microsoft Office, should I waste money and buy the latest edition or download the free and very good www.openoffice.org but then appear to not know what I am doing at work when asked to work with Microsoft Office.

Update - 11:30 - Well two things, firstly the garage phoned to do a follow up call on how we rated their service. Needless to say they didn't want to talk to me only my wife. This is despite the fact that she has never booked the car in to the garage, she had never taken the car to the garage, she has never collected the car from the garage and she has never paid for any work to be carried out by the garage.

You would have thought if they wanted feedback on their crap service it would be best to speak to someone who dealt with the garage rather than just the person who owned the car.

Secondly I have downloaded the free open office but also ordered a new Microsoft Office. It would not of been so bad if I stopped there but yesterday they all had lovely really large monitors and my wide screen 22" monitor seemed a bit small. So I thought I would go for a 26" wide screen monitor. It will be like sitting in the front row of the cinema.

Update - 21:00 - Orange Wednesday. I can full recommend Toy Story 3 in 3D it was great and all the adults were laughing.

You might have heard it was sad, well it was but I didn't cry. You just don't expect that sort of ending from Pixar and in 3D the machine gun attack on Andy's family was even more horrific, clearly a comment about gun control and illegal wars, well done Pixar.

Had to change my facebook photo, as I had to send a link to it to a lady for work. She is German and my current photo is me and Richard Herring, with him in a Hitler Mustache.

Day 205 (20/07/2010)

Early morning and a few hours drive to Farnborough for a bit of a corporate day and a few hours watching the plans go by at the air show.


Honestly it was hard work, well avoiding the free booze and cakes was hard work. I forgot I was not eating crisps so I had a few with my buffet which was gorgeous.

The planes were really loud but I only had my phone with me and it was so sunny I couldn't see the screen, so my pictures are crap.



More importantly I picked up a few good freebies.


I missed out on the cowboy hat but quite happy with what I got.

Did a bit of business and will probably do some training for a company I met there.

Just realised that technically I might have agreed to work for a US military contractor. My hypocrisy knows no bounds. I may have to make a donation to Liberty & Greenpeace to cleanse my sole.

Day 204 (19/07/2010)

I remembered to get my suit from the cleaners.


Now I can go to the corporate thing tomorrow looking like a tramp in a suit rather than just like a tramp.

Other stuff done and to do - posted acceptance card about 4 weeks late but must do some sort off urgent reports and fill out the insurance forms for the camera.

Still no biscuits, cake (other than Fridays Birthday Cake) or crisps (and there is an open pack of Pringles calling my name). Looking forward to next Tuesday as we will be going out with my brother and his lovely partner to a nice restaurant as it will be Happy Birthday Cake Day again.

Just think if I was the Queen then I could have two Birthday Cake days a year, lucky cow.

Update - 20:45 - Have completed one very long report and a few other bits.

Came across this today,


sort of funny and hopefully not rascist.

Day 202 & 203 (17 & 18/07/2010)

Had a good time at the Indian last night.

Thomas concentrating on poring his lager (I think it's in his DNA)


The food was very nice but the table could have been bigger or we might have ordered less, I cant decide.


Kelly and Aunty Kim went for the kids ice-cream in the penguin toy


Done a couple of short reports already, hope to get another three done today then will have a day off tomorrow and tidy the garden.

I must get my suit out of the cleaners as I need it for Tuesday when I am attending a corporate event (free lunch!).

Update - Sun 09:00 - I did another two reports yesterday and must send a few emails out today.

Apart from the one slice of Birthday Cake I have still managed to avoid all other cakes, biscuits and crisps. If I can only keep this up for another 5 or 6 years I should then be in a better shape to start doing some exercise (or not).

Must tidy the garden. The wind over he last few days have taken all the leaves from the trees in the park and dumped then in our garden. It's like Autumn already.

Must get my suit from the cleaners tomorrow, should set a reminder on my phone.

Update - Sun 19:00 - Being teased by my brother and his lovely partner who are having the perfect in every way Elise Rayner over for Dinner.


It's annoying when people ask me what I want for my birthday as I don't really need or want anything; however dinner with Elise would have been great.

Day 201 (16/07/2010)

Its Birthday Cake Day.

Thank god (who doesn't exist) its been a hell of a week but the day has finally arrived, it's Happy Birthday Cake Day.

BTW Happy Birthday Thomas. He's taller than me and now getting to be nearly as old as me. Looking forward to the Indian Restaurant later and the Birthday Cake.

Update - 18:30 - The big even that we have all been waiting for.


And very nice chocolate cake it was.

Oh yeah and here's Thomas wining a tenner on one of the many scratch cards he had for his birthday.



Off to the Raj Poot later.

Day 200 (15/07/2010)

I can hear the cake calling out to me, eat me eat me. Damn you cake, my will is holding strong, for now.

Update - 18:45 - My staff making the most of the ipad.


Still resisting the cake but I can't hold out forever.

Day 199 (14/07/2010)

Well its Orange Wednesday and we plan to see Get Him To The Greek with Russell Brand. The kids both said it was great so hopefully us oldies will enjoy it.

Have to take the wife's car to the garage today. I hope they fix it all properly and don't tel me something else is broken. I might have to be a bit strict with them.

Still no biscuits, crisps or cake yet, though only a few days and I will have to eat cake, just to be polite.

Update - 13:15 - Heard from the garage, they clearly think I have mug written on my head. They are saying that the filter is blocked on the fan that's why it is not blowing out much air.

I pointed out that it was working when I dropped it off and it was not working when I picked up so it seems unlikely that the filter clogged up whilst the car was parked up and being worked on by their mechanics.

Think I might have to take it elsewhere and pass on the bill to Renault who I will then take pleasure in annoying. I wonder if the domain wellingtonrenaultrshit.com is still available.

Update - 13:45 - I have decided its a conspiracy against me. A friend has just popped round with a sponge cake she has just made.


The house is now more full of cake than ever. My will power is holding but only just.

Update - 14:05 - Garage are convinced the filter is blocked and offered to do it all for free if I paid £15 for the part. I refused and said I would have the car examined and then advertise the faults that were found with their workmanship.

I know I should have just paid but I am convinced they have done something to the car. Now I must find a mechanic who I can trust to find out what they have missed.

Its just petty but that's me. It could be the withdrawl symptoms from the lack of biscuits.

Update - 14:20 - Started a Facebook Group called Wellington Motors Renault are CRAP now I just need thousands of supports and a press campaign and I wont have to pay that £15.

Update - 21:00 - Well Get Him To The Greek was funny but very rude, I am shocked that someone let my kids see it.

I have to finish a report about a lady who started her own cake making business. Its like Cake pornography.

Its a conspiracy to test my will power.

Day 198 (13/07/2010)

Its has been raining for about 12 hours and is just lovely. I hope the sun comes back, I was getting use to it, like being on holiday but with better toilets.

I did lots of things yesterday but not much work and have loads to do. I am going to have to explain to a few clients that they are now at the back of the queue as the training and main client must now take priority, as they provide the most money. I wish I could do it all, not just for the cash but I do enjoy the work (mostly) and don't want them to lose out but I do need to have some time off and to be able to finish at a decent hour.

Still no biscuits, crisps or cakes despite my wife's best efforts. Getting over the shakes but still have an emptiness in my tummy. I think if I can only last a year or two I might have cracked it.

Update - 21:30 - Had a long chat with another client today about the fact that I would have to stop doing their work as there are not enough hours in the day.

I just hope that now that I have jettisoned two large clients that everything that I think is going to happen is going to happen or I will cry.

I could not carry on doing everything I was doing and had to give up something but as always you just hope you have gone with the right ones.

If it all falls thru I will have to collect trolleys at Tesco's.

Still no biscuits, crisps or cakes. I am having more fruit but its just not the same as a bar of chocolate or a few hob nobs.

Day 197 (12/07/2010)

Busy week, apart from shed load of work that needs doing.

Take my suit to the cleaners for its annual clean, sort out my wife's car (again), visit to the dentist, Orange Wednesday, fill out the insurance form for the camera, start tidying garage so we can have the electricity meter changed, pay in some cheques, book some hotel rooms for work, avoid all biscuits, crisps and cakes.

I think there are some other things but can't remember them yet.

Update - 12:00 - Car booked in.

Sent an email to Bristol Airport;

-----------

Your rude unhelpful security staff.

I appreciate the world we live in and the threat that the government say that terrorists are but if you insist that I have to take my shoes off and walk along your floor then have it cleaned. Some passengers were in bare feet walking along a floor that was filthy and covered in a sticky brown substance resembling s**t which the rude security girl (I know its a patronising term but she deserves it) said was just kids sweet.

I stand more chance of dieing after catching an infection from your filthy floor than I do from a terrorist attack.

Also when putting my possessions thru the x-ray machines it would help if your staff stopped chatting to each other long enough to clear the empty baskets, so that things can move along the conveyor and not get held up until members of the public clear the empty boxes, so that your rude useless staf can carrying on chatting to each other.

If there is a terrorist attack at the airport I hope someone will tell your staff as they seem too busy talking to each other to pay attention to anything else.

I have flown from many airports and your staff are amongst the rudest and your floor is the dirtiest.

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It does make me think that if there was a terrorist attack at an airport and they decided to machine gun just the security staff, how many people would complain.

Certainly if it happened in Bristol Airport they probably wouldn't even bother cleaning the floor afterwards.

Update - 15:00 - Booked the car in, booked a haircut, dropped my suit of for cleaning, paid the cheques in still not had any biscuits, crisps or cakes.

Can you get patches to help with the symptoms of missing biscuits and cakes.

Day 195 & 196 (10 & 11/07/2010)

It would have been nice to of had a lie-in but I had to get up early to give back the courtesy car and pick up my wife's car, which was finally repaired on Thursday afternoon.

When I got to the garage I could see that they had not cleaned it and also tried to charge me for the examination to find the fault.

I pointed out that they must have a blind garage man, who must have cleaned someone elses car twice as mine was still dirty and that I wasn't paying for the examination to find the fault this time as I had already paid last month for a deaf mechanic who to failed to hear the fault, despite the car sounding like an old London Cab.

Thank god (who doesn't exist) that I got a few quid off as the total bil awas around £1,000. Words fail me.

Then had to drive Thomas for about an hour to a festival where he is spending the weekend.

Loads to catch up with now I'm back.

Update - Sat - 21:00 - So my wife is in Bristol seeing her mum, Kelly is working all day at an outside performance of some Shakespeare and Thomas is at a festival for the weekend.

I have spent to day going thru a few hundred emails, arranging my work, loads of which came in whilst we were away and updating my blog, twitter and websites (all work).

Have been good and not had any crisps, biscuits, chocolate or cakes, so far.

Update - Sun - 10:00 - Apparently Thomas is having a good time at the festival, hopefully he can get a lift back, otherwise it will be a pain picking him up when a few thousand people are all leaving at the same time.

Update - Sun - 18:00 - Picked up Thomas who had a good time. The air-conditioning in the wife's car is like a sickly asthmatic child chewing an ice-cube, so the car is gong to go back to the garage.

Still not had any crisps, biscuits, chocolate or cakes but did finish off a lovely bottle of champagne stuff, which was a present from my brother and his lovely partner. Thinking I should not do anything for the rest of the night apart from watch the world spin around.

Day 192 - 194 (07 - 09/07/2010)

Dublin trip.

We flew from Bristol, with the usual humourless gits at the security gate. We went with Ryan Air, obviously people only fly with them for the reason of price not customer service.


It was all work, honestly;


Dublin was great. We did a few touristy things, including a guided tour on the top of an open double decker bus;


and saw lots of great things, including;





Disappointingly I later went to the shop but they don't, neither of them.

We stayed at a nice hotel but the advertised WiFi was not good enough for me to log on and do my blog.

The food and the drink, I can't recommend Dublin enough.

Time for a diet and to detox.