Day 1363 (19/09/2013)

Thomas is a bit happier as some of his new and replacement kit has arrived.

He should be back to work next week, so look out for more publications.

Hopefully the football club will reimburse us the money we are out of pocket as it is quite a few quid.

Day 1362 (18/09/2013)

Years ago I had a staff appraisal when my group Inspector told me that my problem was that I was always "Tilting At Windmills". From my expression he guessed that this went straight over my head, so he said "Don Quixote".

It was clear this conversation was going nowhere so he eventually said that my problem was that I kept picking battles with everyone, even when there wasn't a battle. I slightly agreed with him but didn't care, saying that sometimes people need to speak up for things that they knew to be wrong.

When I left the meeting I went back to my crew mate for the day, Tim Campbell, a graduate who was never going to be a proactive policeman, who asked me how it went, I said "Tilting At Windmills" he just smiled and said that Don Quixote summed me up well.

I was obviously off school the day they did that bit of literature history during my CSE English.

Anyway today I spoke to someone at the Glatonbury Festival who clarified a little discussion / argument I was having with Nick Gargan the Chief Constable, over who had paid the £15,000 for the 11,000 water bottles, 4,000 torches & 3,000 phone pouches handed out by them for free to festival goers.

The Police said that the Festival had paid for them and that no actual police or tax payers money was used.

I thought it would be strange for the Glastonbury Festival to do this given that stall holders who had paid to be on the site, were selling these items, so surely by handing out 1000's of these things for free would not be good for their business.

The Glastonbury Festival seem to agree with me and it would appear that the police won't be handing these out again. They also didn't like the way that the police were saying that the Festival had paid for them and they will be receiving a letter to explain their displeasure.

So anyway happy to still be Tilting At Windmills.

Day 1361 (17/09/2013)

Either Thomas is feeling;

A) inspired by The Great British Bake Off
B) competitive after hearing about Kelly's banana cake
C) bored as he is still waiting for his camera equipment to be replaced

or possibly all three, as he made some very tasty chocolate corn flake things.

What a good chap.

Day 1360 (16/09/2013)

I remembered that my friend Sam had sent me a voucher for one of our favourite local restaurants, The Globe in Milverton, so today was a bit of work but mostly contemplating the lovely food.

It didn't disappoint, it never does.

Above, scallops with slow cooked pork & apple; below, braised pigs cheek with fennel and squash puree.

Above, creedy carver duck breast in a red-current sauce; below potato & ricotta noche.

Above, raspberry something; below, bread & butter pudding.  

Thanks Sam.

Day 1358 & 1359 (14 & 15/09/2013)

A full day on our way home after another winning breakfast from the Little Chef.

We popped into the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum to visit the tree planted for Km the other year.

Then off to Uppark House for tea and cake and a walk around the house & grounds. For some reasons I didn't take many photos of the house but did have quite a few of a very nice cheddar & chutney sandwich and our cream tea.

Then a slow drive back where we had some fish & chips watching the sunset and Sandbanks, which was really nice.

Sunday with a very nice lamb steak dinner.

Day 1357 (13/09/2013)

I must say Little Chef is quite nice, they do a lovely porridge with maple syrup.

Then off to see Kelly and take her a few more important things.

We tried her fantastic banana cake,

then went out,

where we spent the day in Yo Sushi,

then had a walk along the pier,

It was a great day.

Day 1356 (12/09/2013)

Off to see Kelly in Brighton, so we had a long lazy drive down to Brighton; although we nearly didn't make due to a dangerous driver in a camper-van towing a car.

Still we recovered with a cup of tea and nice bit of lemon cake.

Arrived at our travel-lodge where we had dinner next door at a Little Chef, who do fantastic Nancho's.

Some of the best I've ever had.

Day 1355 (11/09/2013)

Well Tyntesfield was very nice,

but the beetroot was interesting,

but the cakes were great as always in a National Trust place.

Then popped into see Gary & Elaine and ended up at a great Chinese all you can eat buffet, which was fantastic.

Got a few things to do at home today then aiming to go away for a couple of days.

Day 1354 (10/09/2013)

We are on holiday this week but for a few different reasons didn't go away, which I was looking forward too.

If we are ready in time today we may go to Tyntesfield, a National Trust property we haven't gone to yet. This is obviously because we are boring, white and middle-aged. But also as we are National Trust members its free and they have tea & cake.

Day 1353 (09/09/2013)

For the first time in a long long time I've won a game of Scrabble against my aunty.

May get a lucky dip this week for the euro-millions

After making a roast chicken dinner on Sunday I thought I would try my hand at making Chicken Soup with the leftovers.

It turned out to be more of a broth.

Unfortunately it would have been nice but I couldn't eat it as I put too much garlic in it, and I like garlic so there must have been way too much.

Still it was my first attempt, so I might try it again another week.

Day 1351 & 1352 (07 & 08/09/2013)

The weekend is here and owing to a few issues we aren't going away to Paris, which is a shame but we will try to get away for a day or two.

Having a bad run of luck playing scrabble at the moment.

Day 1350 (06/09/2013)

I have lots to do but not much work in at the moment.

I must take this time to push start my new venture but just wishing I had the resources to get the administrative help as its a pain having to put everything together.

I do feel that this is where my work future lies, fingers crossed.

Day 1349 (05/09/2013)

An early start as the heating engineer was coming round to fit a mixer valve so our hot water wont be scalding.

Much better.

Got some news about Thomas's camera equipment today, one camera & one lens repairable and one camera & one lens written-off, as was his new laptop, with a total bill of £8,967. Thankfully we have insurance but it might not cover everything and might not get sorted soon. What a pain in the butt.

Day 1348 (04/09/2013)

Still catching up on my sleep after getting back home at about 3.30am.

Kelly settling in and having a nice walk to the bus stop, with an impressive view from the front door of her block.

We didn't quite get that view as it was quite misty while we were there.

Day 1347 (03/09/2013)

We helped move Kelly into her new place, with a car so full of stuff that my wife had to drive there as I couldn't put the drivers seat back far enough for me to drive, and we have a fairly big car.

I haven't been to Rottingdean before and I must say what a lovely place, where I think Kelly will be very happy, I know I would be.

Kelly's place is very nice and quite roomy but needed a bit of cleaning to make it home for her.

It's right on the seafront, which you can see from her room.

 Very very late drive back home afterwards in very bad fog.

Day 1346 (02/09/2013)

Kelly left home today for the next chapter of her big adventure and moving to Brighton.

How she has grown, or the door has shrunk (OK its a different door, we have done a few things around the house).

We miss her lots but I think this will be so good for her.

Thomas went off to Exeter today to visit the Apple store to see if his new Apple Macbook Pro could be repaired but it couldn't. Next step finding out about his camera equipment.

Other things happening at home.