Day 1022 & 1023 (13 & 14/10/2012)

Had a nice breakfast this morning but had to share it with the rest of the family.

Catching up with my work today but will probably spend most of Sunday making a nice roast dinner, to try to compete with the meals last week.

Update - Sunday 20:15 - Busy day,did some shopping for my Jamie 30 minute meal.

Then cut the grass and tidied the garden. We waited ages for this flower to come out and now its nearly winter it is here.

The dinner went well but you do need a lot of space and to keep washing up or you end up with every pan you own clogging up the sink with these 30 minute meals. Plus you possibly need to allow another 45 minutes. But saying that tomato soup was fantastic, even if you do need quite few tomatoes.

Lovely chicken, with other bits.

Then chocolate ganache, which was a bit too rich for us.

Now time to relax in front of my computer.

Day 1021 (12/10/2012)

Mark Watson was very funny last night. It is hard to say he told any jokes or even had a routine, he just rambles in a very funny way.

I had my very expensive meeting today with my lawyers at their quite nice offices in Bristol.

The worst cup of tea I have ever had but apart from that it went quite well and I think they were slightly bemused as to why the police hadn't taken the opportunity to put things right when I pointed it all out to them. Hopefully they should send some letters which will force the police to apologies, put things right and at least pay my costs.

I have my new glasses already, which was unbelievably quick. They make the world a lot clearly, to look at least.

Now to catch up on my work.

Day 1020 (11/10/2012)

Had my hair cut earlier and had lots of work to do so couldn't go to the gym today. Tomorrow I'm off to Bristol to see my Lawyers so won't be at the gym either but will be loosing many more pounds.

Thomas had another photo in the papers again. Only the local papers again but I'm sure he will progress well within the next year.

Off to The Brewhouse tonight with my wife to see Mark Watson.

That's me and Mark Watson, not me and my wife, although both grew up in Bristol and have glasses. I have seen him a few times but this is a new show, so should be fun.

Day 1019 (10/10/2012)

I weighed myself at the gym yesterday and again today when I went. Today I am 1204 pound lighter, well to be more precise I am £1,200 poorer and 4lb's lighter.

I don't really think I've lost 4lb overnight, unless my mums cake is a magic weight loss cake. I knew I should have had a whole slice instead of only half a slice. Last night I even had a nightmare about eating a bag of hula hoops, trying to argue that technically they were not crisps, I woke up slightly sad that I didn't get to finish the hula hoops and this was only day 1 of the new diet.

The £1,200 poorer was because I had to pay my lawyers up front before our meeting, so I can be taken on as a client and be given some advice. It was going to be another £600 if I wanted them to read the papers I had sent them before the meeting. I went for the option of telling them the whole story very quickly when I get there.

I get a feeling that I may use the lawyers sparingly but it might be money well spent.

I went for an eye-test today and was told that I must not drive without wearing my glasses. I'm so glad middle age isn't effecting much, apart from just about every part of my body & mind.

Day 1018 (09/10/2012)

Cold, wet & grey, it appears to be winter now.

Aiming to go to the gym later but will be easing myself back into it.

Update - 19:30 - I went to the gym this afternoon, just easing myself into it but still slightly knackering. Reassuring that after about 6 weeks away from the gym and a weekend of total food indulgence I am still a few Kilo's lighter than when I first went to the gym.

Have a busy few weeks ahead, so trying to stay healthy.

Day 1017 (08/10/2012)

At the weekend me & my wife said we must start going to the gym again after a weekend of indulgence. We then realized we couldn't go on Monday as we had arranged to take my parents out for lunch.

Oh well, I think I may have to give up cheese, biscuits, cakes & crisps and not eat after 9pm, well for a few days anyway.

Update - 17:45 - We had a long(ish) lunch at Oake Manor Golf Course, the soup was a bit watery (I didn't have the soup, it was my Dad) but the rest was fine.

Start my diet now and going back to the gym tomorrow.

Have work to do but spending a lot of time plotting the down fall of others, which is quite fun and takes me back quite a few years when I was a bit crueler and a lot slimmer. In some respects these people should actually be glad they upset me now and not then.

At the moment I have sent off a few emails to a couple of government agencies whose role is to investigate the very things I'm complaining about. When I read the emails it's hard to believe that these things weren't investigated when I brought it to their attention. I think their failure to act may have been a bad decision on their part.

My emails raise questions over the potential of offences and wrong doing which really should be investigated. That way I have not actually accused anyone of anything, so no libel here then.

Day 1016 (07/10/2012)

So yesterday (Saturday) we had a nice breakfast at the hotel.

Then we went to Cliveden House a National Trust property which is also an expensive hotel but had a bit of a detour as we had a flat tyre. We had a lovely walk around the grounds before going back to the hotel to get ready for my next treat.

Apparently my wife couldn't get us into The Fat Duck as there is a really long waiting list and we didn't know we were going away for the weekend until only a few weeks ago. But Heston Blumenthal also has a pub, The Hinds Head opposite The Fat Duck, which is just the best pub food in the world. Again they did a Happy Anniversary card for us and we started with a glass of Champagne.  

 

I had the Ham Hock and Foie Gras Terrine with Piccalilli and my wife had the Soused Mackerel with Cucumber, Pickled Lemon and Horseradish.

Then I had Pure Bred Hereford 10oz Ribeye, Bone Marrow Sauce and Triple Cooked Chips whilst my wife had Fish Pie with ‘Sand & Sea’.

Then I had the Chocolate Wine ‘Slush’ with Millionaire Shortbread and my wife had Lemon Scented Quaking Pudding, Citrus Sorbet, which was like warm Horlicks Pannacotta, unreal and lovely.

Then we shared the cheese board with a glass of port each.

On Sunday after recovering from the night before we went to Grays Court, another National Trust property.  

Then home to normal life.

Day 1015 (06/10/2012)

So yesterday (Friday) my wife drove me on my mystery weekend. I was slightly concerned when we came off of the M4 at Slough but we stayed in Maidenhead at The Thames Rivera, which was quite a nice hotel on the side of the Thames. Our room over looked the Maidenhead Rowing Club and we were able to watch them all going out rowing.

I thought we were just staying at the Hotel for dinner and was looking forward to a few Tapas but we went out for a late sitting to The Hand & Flowers, a 2 Micheline Star restaurant in Marlow run by Tom Kerridge, one of my favourite chefs. It was very dark and we didn't want to use the flash for the photo's but believe the food was unbelievable, checkout the menu of the website but basically we had some white bait which came with the bread before your starters.

I had the Crispy Pigs Head starter, which was the porkiest pork I have ever eaten, whilst my wife had the Scallops.

Then I had the Venison and my wife had the Hake.

The afters was unreal and was really special as they had written in chocolate "Happy Anniversary" for us.

Day 1014 (05/10/2012)

Last night we went out for dinner at Edwardo's at The Brewhouse.

The food was nice, as always.

The idea was that we were dropping Kelly off so she could go and see Bridget Christie and we would pick her up later. Half way thru the cheese board we gave in and agreed to go to see the show. It wasn't that I didn't wan t to see Bridget Christie, I just wasn't in the mood to see a show.

The weren't many people in for the show, so we were asked to move forward. She was quite funny but not the finished article yet. Towards the end of the show I ended up on stage as a token of a Misogynist (I'm not, I believe women should be treated as if they are equal, don't worry its a Richard Herring joke).

Today my wife is treating me to a long weekend away. It's a bit of a mystery tour as she hasn't told me where we are going but I'm sure wherever it is will be lovely just to be together without the distraction of work.

Day 1013 (04/10/2012)

Doing a few things in the house today before going away again for the weekend.

Sad week with the two funerals in Manchester of Fiona Bone & Nicola Hughes.

I went to a few funerals of colleagues during my time, which were smaller than the Manchester ones but were still full uniform affairs with outriders and the force flag on the coffin etc.

Whilst one was for quite an elderly man who had retired but stayed at work in another role, the other two were for a lady who died in a car crash chasing a stolen car and a man who died in a mountain climbing accident while on holiday. Both were only in their 20's, I knew them well and I cried at both, as I always do at funerals.

A friend of mine, who is the same age as me, no longer goes to funerals, having gone to quite a few work & family ones in the last few years. I can understand that but still think that a funeral is a place to show your last respect.

Day 1012 (03/10/2012)

Well to catch up with yesterday, our room at the Park Plaza in Cardiff was very very nice.

We had a nice meal before going to see the show.

Jesus Christ Superstar was really really great (though a bit loud and too quick) with everyone having good voices and it being brilliantly brought up to date. OK not every-ones cup of tea but I really like musicals.

One comment I would make is that the hair they have given "Jesus" does make him look like the boss from the IT Crowd.

See what I mean.

Anyway on the way home we popped into to see Brian & Stella and ended up staying for twice as long as intended, catching up & chatting about things.

Then home to catch up with my emails.

Day 1011 (02/10/2012)

Today we are off to see Jesus Christ Superstar in Cardiff.

I love musicals and remember listening to this one at an early age as my uncle Brian had it on 8 track cassette (remember those) which used to slot into the side of his reel to reel machine.

We are staying in Cardiff overnight, in hopefully a nice hotel and the popping to see Brian & Stella on the Wednesday on our way home.

So Wednesday's entry should have a few photo's of all of this.

Day 1010 (01/10/2012)

I eventually finished updating all of my training material & putting it together for the University to assess and posted it off. Fingers crossed that it goes thru easily & quickly. Either way its going to cost me a few £1k's but should be money well spent.

I went thru a car wash today. I always remember as a child having to get out of the car when my mum & dad put the car thru a car wash as I was scared of the noise, water and being attacked by giant whirling bits of blue foam.

Nothing has changed, except I'm now just too lazy to get out or clean the car myself, so I just sit there thinking if this goes wrong I could be decapitated or soaped to death.

Looking forward to seeing Jesus Christ Superstar in Cardiff tomorrow.