Day 1229 (08/05/2013)

We had a nice meal last night at Oake Manor. It's a great shame that we can't get together more often as a family.

Then today we went down to Padstow for our night away at Rick Stein's to celebrate our Anniversary. It was lovely and sunny when we left Taunton but by half way at Okehampton it was awful, cold & wet, but by the time we got to Padstow it seemed nice again.

We stayed in the same room at his Cafe/B&B that we had 7yrs ago.

Then we had a lovely taster menus at the Seafood Restaurant. We had a nice Champagne Cocktail with a salmon amuse bouche.

Then the meal started with salmon & sea seem seed stuff.

Then scallops with chorizo & lentils.

Then John Dory, with aniseed.

A fish soup, which was lovely but reminded me of Shipams fish /crab paste.

Lobster Thermidore , which was really really nice.

Then passion fruit meringue to die for.

 

Day 1228 (07/05/2013)

Yesterday my wife started tidying the garden up, which was handy as otherwise I would of had to do it.

It was nice being able to sit out in the sun having a cup of tea & a piece of cake.

Kelly always look good in a hat.

Today it's my Dad's 75th birthday today and I'm looking forward to getting together as a family for a meal tonight. Then tomorrow me an my wife are going away for a quick & hopefully nice but relaxing break.

Day 1227 (06/05/2013)

Lovely day again and I have one very complicated report to try and do then I'm allowed out to play.

Although I have been working hard I've had Michael Clayton on the iPlayer, it really is a great film & I love it when he says "I'm not the guy you kill, I'm the guy you buy off! Are you so blind you can't see that?"

I'm looking forward to a few days away this week, which should hopefully mean a few extra photographs, especially of the food.

Day 1225 & 1226 (04 & 05/05/2013)

Its been a lovely sunny weekend but I've been stuck inside trying to get all of my work done before taking the week off with my wife.

Had a nice bowl of mussels in a white wine & garlic sauce.

OK they were in a pack but I had to cook them, well when I saw cook them I obviously mean microwave them.



 

Day 1224 (03/05/2013)

Trying to catch up with loads of wok that has come in and with winding down for a week off with my wife.

Managed to get some swimming in as well. Next week I will stat of in the gym again.

Day 1223 (02/05/2013)

Was in London having a few meeting, which went well.

It was a day of seeing famous sites.

With some nice food.

Day 1222 (01/05/2013)

It's May already, how did that happen. I must get the decorations down out of the loft as at this rate it will soon be Christmas.

I was up early and drove to Birmingham for a meeting, which went well. I'm really excited about a new venture and think it could be very good for all concerned. It's just a small issue of getting the money for it but its worth a try.

Lots to do as in London tomorrow.

Day 1221 (30/04/2013)

I had aimed to go to the gym today after my meeting with the accountant but the meeting went on for a bit longer than intended but was very good and I was happy with the amount of tax I have to pay this year.

To be honest I'm so much more than just happy with the amount of tax I have to pay. I know I spent a lot on company stuff last year, such as my legal fee's but I was expecting to pay a lot more in tax.

After coming home and having a cup of tea it was a bit too late to go for a swim but I will definitely go for a swim on my next day off.

Thomas's new camera has come back and seems to be working fine now, so I'm looking forward to seeing some of his photos taken with this camera in the press.

Day 1220 (29/04/2013)

Trying to think up company names & domain names isn't as easy as it sounds. It's gotta be something that hasn't already been used, slightly descriptive but easy to say & write as an email address.

Needless to say I'm still thinking.

Went swimming again today & did just under 40minutes. I have a busy week ahead but will try to go another couple of times.

Day 1218 & 1219 (27 & 28/04/2013)

A fairly relaxing weekend, with lots to do, that can wait a bit.

Made a Beef Stroganoff on Saturday night, which I thought was quite nice.

Then on Sunday they had some dressed crab at Tesco's so we stated with a crab & avocado salad, which was quite tasty.

Then had some pan fried sardines (on bread) with new potatoes.

Quite a nice if somewhat fishy weekend.

I have had a few different ideas about my company this weekend and have a near week full of meetings planned.

Day 1217 (26/04/2013)

I was able to collect a few freebies yesterday but failed in my attempt to collect any memory sticks.

It does amaze me nowadays, especially at an exhibition of such modern ground breaking companies, that they still handout pens.

Who uses a pen.

I refused to collect any yesterday as I easily have enough pens to last me for the est of my life. To be fair if I only had 6 pens it that would probably be enough to last me the rest of my life but I have dozens of the things, all with different company details on.

That is only a small collection I keep on my desk just in case.

Day 1216 (25/04/2013)

A long day, catching the training into London to talk at a Terrorism / Forensics Exhibition at Olympia. Thankfully it was made more bearable by the First Class service on the train.

It was a hot day and the exhibition was really noisy but interesting, full of boys toys, that apparently you weren't supposed photograph.

It didn't look like the presentation was going to be very good, what with all the noise and the fact that the stand didn't have any internet available and due to some very last minute changes the time of the talks had been moved by an hour, without publicising the fact, so anyone that had wanted to come to my presentation would turn up just as I was finishing. And then I discovered a big hole in my trousers. 

It was looking like a nightmare but then someone got a code for some Wi-Fi and a small audience turned up, so it was OK in the end.

Obviously the only true reason for going to London (at any time) is to stop off at Yo-Sushi at Paddingon. 

And it was great as always.

Day 1215 (24/04/2013)

OK its Wednesday already and I will try to go to the gym today but I have stuff to do.

Update - 16:30 - I went to the gym and did a hard 15 minutes swimming.

OK I know its not much but I haven't been for a few months and I needed to ease myself back in to it.

When I was there I realized how much I had missed it, as it clears my mind and gives me time to think about things, mostly about what I'm going to eat when I get back home.

Will be back in the pool on Friday as in London all day tomorrow.

Just got my company tax assessment from my accountant and was shocked. It's no wonder the country is in a state, I can't believe how much (little) I have to pay.

Day 1214 (23/04/2013)

It is nice having an extended period at home after a busy couple of months doing courses. The only trouble is it doesn't matter how much work I do there is always more to do and more things that I could do if I had the time.

Anyway once again we have left it fair to late to book our holiday again, so its not a case of where we want to go but where is left that we can go.

I'm thinking of getting "Canary Islands" nationality but at least it will be hot & relaxing and I will be with my wife.

Next Years holiday will be booked at the start of November, when we get the Christmas decorations down and finish clearing the crap out of the garage.

Day 1213 (22/04/2013)

Henning Wehn was very good last night.

Whilst we were waiting to go it dawned on me who my daughter reminds me of.

Busy this week but aiming to go to the gym this week but starting with swimming for a couple of weeks to get back into it.

Day 1211 & 1212 (20 & 21/04/2013)

On Saturday my wife was out in Bristol, Kelly was on an induction for her new part-time job and Thomas was in Slough taking photographs.

It would be fair to say that I got loads of work done and was also able to start watching the first 10 episodes of House Of Cards.

It's very good if you get a chance to see it.

off to see Henning Wehn in Bristol on Sunday with Kelly & Sam. I hope he is as good live as when I have seen him on tv and heard him on the radio.

Day 1210 (19/04/2013)

Busy day doing lots of work but had time to take Thomas of to buy him a proper set of waterproofs from Taunton Leisure.

When we first went in there the lady was having him try o jackets that were over £250. I want him to stay dry and not go down with a cold after every wet football match but £250 would buy a lot of Beechem Lemon's.

Anyway we got a reasonable set which will hopeful keep him dry.

No that the garden is a bit dryer I got Nick from ND Maintenance to come over and sort the washing line out.

Hopefully now its cemented in it will stay up straight.

Day 1209 (18/04/2013)

Next week I'm in London giving a talk, which is fine but not my most favourite places, even thought I will probably have a Yo Sushi whilst at Paddington.

In a few months time I'm even going back to Eastern Europe, this time Latvia, for a conference, which will probably be OK but not that much fun. Then on Monday someone spoke to me about going to Beirut and other such lovely places to work but it didn't take me long to say that I have restrictions on where I'm wiling to go.

Now someone else has asked about me about going to Ghana, in Africa. The money is OK but not great, it might be fun but it might not be and to be perfectly honest unless I go with other people I tend to just stay in the hotel, so its not as if I will even get to see any of it.

It seems to be one of the problems of being good and having a slightly raised profile now, people ask me to go places to show them what I do but mostly I like sitting at home with my family but can't really say no to everything.

I might flip a coin to decide about Ghana but Beirut is definitely a no as is anywhere else in the Middle East.

Off out tonight in Bristol seeing the boys I used to work with for one of our nearly regularly get together's.

Day 1208 (17/04/2013)

I could do with a couple of weeks off, so I can do all of the work things that I need to do but unfortunately I also need the money that the work gives me, so its a very busy time at the moment.

After many months we got around to taking my wife's car to the garage this week to be repaired.

And today, slightly ahead of schedule it came back, looking very good.

Day 1207 (16/04/2013)

The news from Boston is terrible, whatever or whoever caused it. We have friends in Boston so I was worried for them but they all appear to be OK.

 The media always jump to conclusions far too quickly at these times and really should wait for a bit of confirmation before stirring up the usual hatred & prejudice.

Yesterday I was speaking to a company who wanted to use me on some of their training courses but they mocked me slightly when I mentioned that I don't go to countries who've recently been at war or where my country wouldn't try hard to get me released.

They said I shouldn't go to London if I'm scared but I said if a country isn't sold as a holiday resort then there's a reason for that and I'm not going.

I don't feel inclined to sell them use of my course abroad or to write something especially for them, as it would not make much financial sense for the amount of courses they are talking about doing compared to the risk of giving them my course.

Day 1206 (15/04/2013)

I'm really quite busy, which is annoying because there are many things I would like to do at the moment but things I must do first.

My wife's car has gone off to the garage at long last to be put right after the lady drove into her, so we are sharing cars at the moment. We could have had a courtesy car but quite frankly its nice to have some room on the drive and I'm sure we can survive with just the three cars for a few days.

I am very much looking forward to the time when we are retired and just have one car to think about. I shall gladly let my wife drive all of the time as she still enjoys driving whereas I hate it. It gets you from A to B but its not much fun always having to concentrate on sticking to the speed limit.

Day 1204 & 1205 (13 & 14/04/2013)

I would like the weekend off but have loads of work to catch up with.

Day 1203 (12/04/2013)

The thing about going away to do courses is that it takes me a couple of days to catch up in the office.

In the evening I took my Dad to see Max Boyce at the theater in Yeovil.


It was a mixture of songs and funny stories (to be honest i don't think his act has ever changed) but he sang one of my favourite songs (Duw Its Hard) but didn't tell my favourite joke, which is about Gareth Edwards.

It was very funny and my Dad laughed from start to finish.

Day 1202 (11/04/2013)

The course finished a bit rushed at the end but everyone was happy and hopefully the feedback and reviews will be good and hopefully will help the company move on a bit.

As I had quite a few heavy bags to take to my car I asked Mick to help me and said I would drop him home, so rather than drive straight home I took a slight detour and then the weather turned bad and the motorway got flooded so I ended up not getting home until 8:30pm, which was rather depressing.

Nice to be home for a little while now.

Day 1201 (10/04/2013)

Second day of the course and it's OK but rather slow.

It would be fair to say that there are a couple on the course who do not really get it and they don't have the excuse that they speak English, where as the lady the from Greece has an excuse but isn't that bad.

I then had a bit of a walk through Birmingham, a city I really love. It has everything and the people are genuinely quite nice.

I met another old colleague in Birmingham for dinner and went to Jimmy Spices, a great place where you can pig out and I did.

Day 1200 (09/04/2013)

The first day of the course went OK, there isn't great internet coverage at the venue, its a bit like being in a bunker, which is rather annoying. Also a mixed bunch on the course.

It was nice to meet up with an old colleague tonight, eating at Purnell's Bistro. We had to wait for a table so I had a Charlie Chaplin cocktail.

 Salmon starters followed by the guinea fowl, which I had always fancied trying and did not disappoint.

 The creme brulee and poached pears was very nice, as was the coffee's and petit fours.

Also both Kelly & Thomas have had good news about work recently.

Day 1199 (08/04/2013)

Just getting ready for this weeks course in Birmingham. Annoyingly I have to take a load of laptops with me again but I guess its money.

Hopefully there will be a nice curry and a visit to Purnell's squeezed in whilst I'm there.

Day 1197 & 1198 (06 & 07/04/2013)

I'm not saying that these things are evil, they are just wrong.

Crumpets are supposed to be round - enough said.

Wow look how many games of Scrabble I have won in a row against my Aunty.

If only Scrabble was an Olympic Sport.