Day 1544 (19/03/2014)

A long drive over to Brighton to see Kelly, then a few hours spent at Frankie & Benny's at The Marina.

It was great to see her, she was on top form.

The room at The White Horse was quite nice

but had an ominous number.

Day 1543 (18/03/2014)

Home today (for the cleaner) before going off to Brighton for a couple of days to catch up with Kelly.

Day 1542 (17/03/2014)

We had a lovely breakfast at the Hotel,

which included an automatic pancake machine.

Wow if I win the lottery I would definitely have one of these.

Then we spent the day with Brian & Stella and the kids. OK I know they are grown adults, and in one case have kids of their own but they are all kids to me.

A lovely family, who always make us feel welcome.

As do Ricky & Christine who I must visit again soon.

Day 1540 & 1541 (15 & 16/03/2014)

I week off, well a few bits of work need doing but mostly off with my wife this week.

It was a nice day on Saturday, which we spent mostly relaxing and then visiting Gary & Elaine.

After we left we stopped off to look at the sea but it had gone quite cold, so we didn't stay long but had to stop on the way back to get fish & chips, to share.

On Sunday we had a lovely evening at the park Plaza in Cardiff, which is a very nice place we had stayed at before.

We had cocktails in the evening and I thought I would have a Bloody Mary, as I had always fancied one, but it was Bloody Awful. It might have been OK if it was being warmed in a saucepan with some pasta.

Then we had a lovely evening meal.

 

And finished off with a nice Baileys & Ice by the fire.

Day 1539 (14/03/2014)

I got a very sad email today from an old school friend who I haven't spoken to for years, to say that his mother and her new partner had died in a car accident.

His mum, Jill and her new partner Stan had become good friends of my Mum & Dad, which meant that I had to break the news to them.

I took the easy option of phoning, I know they only live 2 minutes away but over the years I must have given well over 30 death messages and to be honest since we lost Kim I am very affected by death, especially when it's so unexpected and so sudden.

I have a very good friend who I joined the police with who now refuses to go to any funerals for similar reasons.

The message in the Richard Herring show the other week, was that you should live as if you only have 3 months left to live, do the things you want to do & live for life as one day it would have been that day and you might have wasted your last three months with pointless things and just have regrets.

Life is so fragile, you never know what could happen and there are many cases when innocent people are in the wrong place at the wrong time and their lives lost in one of these pointless incidents.

I'm still going to the gym, with the aim of getting into shape and having a long fun life, so I will be fuming if I befall one of these events.

Day 1538 (13/03/2014)

Back to gym with a mixture of the bike, running (walking) machine, cross trainer, weights and then in the pool.

I don't know if I'm feeling better or worse but I'm sure in the long term it will be worth it.

Although I've been doing stuff in the office I haven't been doing that much, I'm really looking forward to a few days off with my wife.

Day 1537 (12/03/2014)

Went to the gym again today, so more time on the bike, running (walking) machine, cross trainer, the weights and then in the pool.

If I just slowly increase what I do every week then by the end of this century I should be just below my recommend weight. Mind you I will be long dead and in an urn by then.

Just about got my computer back and running how I want but still haven't got my music, which might be good as there was a lot of crap on there, so now I can just put tracks on there I like.

Day 1536 (11/03/2014)

I had to take my computer to the computer doctors today as the hard drive was failing and when it came back it was loads faster and better.

But I was aiming to just swap some stuff over from the old hard drive but it didn't quite workout like that, so I might have lost quite a bit of information.

I have got my photos but might have lost all of my music, which is a pain as that had taken years to collect and I didn't really have it backed up anywhere else.

I managed a good session at the gym, on the bike, running (walking) machine, cross trainer and a few weights.

And finished off with a few lengths of the pool.

It was nearly an embarrassing end as just after I got out of the shower the fire-alarm went off and they had to evacuate the building but I insisted on dressing first.

Day 1535 (10/03/2014)

I was aiming to go to the gym today and do a proper workout but I managed to book in for a haircut and the shear logistics of getting a haircut, showering then going to the gym and then showering again seemed a bit too much like hard work. So I had a haircut then went for swimming.

Then busy doing stuff in the office.

Day 1533 & 1534 (08 & 09/03/2014)

The weekend is here and I'm now just up about up to date with my work. Now to catch up on the post that's been waiting to be dealt with.

Sunday - 19:30 - Lovely Sunday Roast, with a nice bottle of wine, that went down far too easy.

Day 1532 (07/03/2014)

Much the same as yesterday , busy in the office and then went for a swim.

Then the day finished off with some left over Chinese.

I have watched a few things about World War One lately, most of the documentaries and very sad. I've also started watching 37 Days a TV Series about the days in-between the shooting of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand on the 28th of June 1914 to the United Kingdom declaring war on Germany on the 4th of August 1914.

It's quite good and very interesting but on a slightly connected note I stood on the very spot at the Latin Bridge in Sarajevo where the assassination took place.

I was working in Sarajevo in 2007 but despite having a phone with a camera I only took about 4 photographs in the whole two weeks I was there and they were of the view from the revolving restaurant of the Radon Plaza Hotel where we were staying.

How technology changes our lives, as within only a few years I was taking photographs of everything.

Day 1531 (06/03/2014)

Busy times in the office, despite getting rid of some clients more work comes in, taking me away from planning more courses, which is what I really need to do. Oh well.

Went swimming again, then had tea & pancakes at mum & dads's which was nice.

As my wife had a double session at the gym and wouldn't be back til late I thought I would send out for a Chinese as we haven't had one for ages.

We didn't eat it all, Ii's probably three meals worth, fun times :-)

Day 1530 (05/03/2014)

Loads to do in the office but still went out for a swim. Next week I will start back in the gym proper.

Looking forward to delayed pancakes tonight.

Slightly annoying that Thomas has a problem with his new laptop and he might be without it for a week or so. Also they diagnosed a similar problem on the old laptop, which may mean a £300 repair bill for him to have both working properly.

Update - 21:30 - Quite full of pancakes now, both sweet & savoury.

Day 1529 (04/03/2014)

So another long day, training a very large group then a very very long drive back in time to watch The Mentalist.

Now just wait for the next few weeks to see if I get any letters from the police for the drive back. Fingers crossed as a tried my best to stay within the limits.

Day 1528 (03/03/2014)

Well Sunday was spent mostly driving, for five hours in the rain but thankfully next door to the Premier Inn was a Toby Carvery, so at least there was a half decent Sunday dinner.

Monday was a busy day, trying to do a 4 day course in 2 days to 20 people but thankfully we spotted a Franky & Benny's so we had a nice evening meal.

It will be another busy day tomorrow then a long 5 hour drive home, which I'm not really looking forward to.

Day 1526 & 1527 (01 & 02/03/2014)

The weekend is here and is as busy as ever.

First its the first day of a new month, so a new picture of Kylie on the calender.

Next I have been finishing off preparing for next weeks course, which is going to be busy as there will be a lot to do in 2days and we have 20 people to train.

This evening I seeing Richard Herring in Bristol with my friend Sam.

Tomorrow I have to leave by about 3pm to drive up to Middlesbrough so once again no Sunday Dinner with my family and no bottle of wine. I really should sack whoever books my courses but its me.

We have booked our holiday in Portugal and I can't wait to go away with my wife for a nice relaxing week in the sun.

Update - Sunday 10:30 - Well Richard Herring was as funny as ever. His shows aren't full of jokes but they are very funny with a message.

Every year the show is different with a different message. From Hitler Moustache, which ended with the message of voting against Fascist, to Christ On A Bike, which ended with the message of just being a good person.

We're All Going To Die, ended on the message of live every day like you have only three months to live as one day you will have. It might seem sad and dark but was actually very funny.

As always I bought some stuff and had a photo taken with him, which led to a funny story and showed just what a nice guy Richard Herring is.

Now time to pack and get ready for Middlesbrough.

Day 1525 (28/02/2014)

How can February be finished all ready.

I've had a couple of weeks off from training but haven't done half of what I had intended to do, which is really frustrating.

I have given up the majority of my research work but still seem to attract lots of other enquiries, which side tracks me from what  had planned.

I may have to do some work in the evening when I away next week.

Day 1524 (27/02/2014)

Picked up Thomas in the early hours, he was still quite excited but fairly tired.

Although he didn't get any publication in the papers he had a picture used a few times online, so he was quite happy.

We had to re-watch the match so he could watch it and point himself out.