Day 570 (20/07/2011)

Belated entry for yesterday, shit day, thoughts with Kim for a good recovery.

Day 569 (19/07/2011)

Update - 12:45 - Well that was a nightmare getting up at 3:30 and then driving in the rain to the Bristol Airport.

Edinburgh is nice & the sun is out.

The offiocers are massive & really posh, so I was I had added a zero onto my already outragous fee.

Day 568 (18/07/2011)

Today I have to prepare for a talk I am giving tomorrow, in Edinburgh.

To be there by 9.30am I have to be at Bristol Airport at 5am. Which idiot arranged this; Oh me. Yes I thought it was a good idea to travel up & back in the same day for a 6hr presentation. What a fool I am. At least its to an investment bank so I am charging them quite a few quid for the pleasure. today I am thinking I would rather have a lie-in tomorrow but it might actually be easier not to go to bed at all.

Update - 20:30 - Must finish soon and go to bed, will I be at 4am in time to get to the airport?I hope so, can't afford to loose any more money.

Day 566 & 567 (16 & 17/07/2011)

Well last night we went out for a curry, for an early celebration of Mr Pix 17th.

Today we are going out for lunch, the Mr Pix is out tonight with his mates.

Thinking of having a few days away next week. Well when my wife booked he holiday she thought we might go away for a week or two on holiday but unfortunately me and Kelly have commitments so we can only go away for 4 days.

Thinking we might go to Brighton, bit of shops, restaurants and sea air.

Update - Sun 10:00 - Eight of us had a nice Birthday lunch out yesterday at The Worlds End.

Blame Kim & Kelly for the balloons.

Once again my wife went made with the candles on the cake, I will try and load a video later.

I started my new tablets today as my leg has not fully recovered yet. The Doctor had said that rather than taking two 250mg tablets he would give me 500mg tablets so I would only have to take one at a time. You could choke a horse with these tablets, I wish I had the 250mg tablets.

Day 565 (15/07/2011)

Much the same as yesterday.

I remember when first going out with my wife, when she was just my girlfriend, of only a few weeks going into few months, the great difficulty in splitting your time between your family and your friends / girlfriend. Christmas was such a rushed time, travelling between families so know one felt left out.

In fact here is a picture taken on the day of my 17th Birthday.

I am wearing my new watch that my then girlfriend (now my wife) had bought me.

The day started at the training school, which we were all just leaving after a year. I got home about lunch time and then that night me & my family went out for dinner at The Wishbone restaurant in Saltford, where we had Hawaiian Sunrises for afters (yes they were that memorable).

I didn't see my girlfriend that day but saw her the next day, when we went out with some friends clubbing.

It seems like only yesterday but was actually 27yrs ago.

It is a sign of me getting older and my kids growing up that we have these issues, which I fully understand and am cool with (does saying cool make me sound like a hip dad).

I don't think we will be having anymore family holidays, which is actually a good thing as me & my wife can go during term time and get much cheaper flights.

Anyway we will all be going away for a few days next week but haven't decided where yet.

Day 564 (14/07/2011)

Much of the same as yesterday. Going to the Doctors today to get some more antibiotics as its not cleared up completely.

Very sunny out, wish my garden was done then I could relax outside but still waiting to get it done.

Update - 12:55 - The Doctors was OK and he has given me more antibiotics to help clear things up. Nice to know I'm just one of those people that has something that they will never be able to cure completely.

Day 563 (13/07/2011)

Things are continuing in much the same way, not doing as much work as before, sitting with my leg raised all day and taking the tablets.

It's not completely gone, so I might go and get some more tablets.

I can't believe Mr Pix is 17 at the weekend. It seems like only the other day he was a kid & we were having to do everything for him; Oh that's right it was only the other day. He is somewhat spoilt, I don't think he has ever made me a cup of tea (that's a hint Mr Pix make me a cup o f tea).

Day 562 (12/07/2011)

Really enjoyed last night at The Louisiana last night, with a few new paintings from brother,

and listening to Gareth (of Gareth & Laura fame) playing in his reformed band These Things Take Time.

Mr Pix was taking lots of proper photos.

Still easing myself back into work.

Day 561 (11/07/2011)

Getting back to work, with my leg resting on my new black cube / poffee.

Looking forward to supporting my brother tonight at The Louisiana tonight for the start of his exhibition.

Day 559 & 560 (09 & 10/07/2011)

My leg is getting better albeit very slowly.

My appetite is starting to return, as I had a lovely bit of trifle last night and will have some more tonight. Only small portions though, not finishing it all in one go. My face is looking slimmer but if you hadn't seen me for a few years you would still think I had put on a lot of weight (I have). When I am better I will get on my bike. This is the new me (hopefully).

I have loads to catch up on but am taking it easy, I have decided that my life needed putting into a better work / life balance as I was definitely working too much, and whats the point.

Day 558 (08/07/2011)

Nice being back at home and in my own bed.

I may have over done it yesterday, clearing all the emails, as after having been sat at my desk for 4hrs my leg was not looking as good and was a bit swollen, so now spending long periods lying down with my leg raised.

Hopefully it will carry on getting better.

Day 547 to & 557 (27/06 - 07/07/2011)

Well an unexpected break from my blog, my apologies but I have a fairly reasonable excuse.

Monday I woke with the worlds worst flu, shivering & aching all day in bed. Tuesday was much the same but by Wednesday the flu had just about passed.

Unfortunately by this time the virus that I have in my leg was fully inflamed and the worst it had ever been.

Just to say about 6 yrs ago I was walking thru wet grass in Ilminster, when Kelly was playing football and I felt something bite my right ankle. Since then whenever I am unwell this virus flares up, so I have antibiotics at home to control it.

By Thursday my leg was so inflamed & painful we decided that the the hospital was probably worth a visit. Being unable to walk from the car park my wife had to get a wheelchair to help me get into casualty, where I nearly passed-out when being seen by the triage nurse, so got to lie down on a trolley for the next few hours until being admitted to hospital so that I could have intravenous antibiotics & other tests.

I haven't been to hospital for a few years now. It is fair to say as a family we have been really lucky with our healthy, especially given the state of the people I was sharing my ward with. I felt a bit of a fraud amongst some seriously ill people.

But why do hospitals wake you up at 6am. Fair enough in my case it was the time for my antibiotics but what a time to be woken up to have all your tests done, it seemed a bit cruel, why not start the day at 10am, much more civilised.

Anyway after over a week without my phone or the internet etc I needed to make a few calls for work. Most times it would have just been a slight inconvience to take a few weeks off but this has caused me to cancelled two courses which had been planned for a long time, so might have cost me a fair few quid.

So having my phone I thought I would take a few pictures for the blog. This is my bad leg, which by this stage had improved loads and was no longer painful unless touched (when it really hurt).

Obviously you can only guess how bad it was a few days earlier when it was really inflamed. It was so painful :-(

I had also had a few problems with the needle thing for my intravenous antibiotics, so had to have it changed from one arm to the other.

I also had so many blood tests that both of my arms are still like bruised pin cushions.

I appreciate I am quite lucky as at the end of the day I have a bad leg, so what. My thoughts are with others who actually have really problems.

If nothing else my new diet has started well, having hardly eaten over the last 10days I am a little bit lighter than I was last month. I have lost my appetite and will take this as an opportunity to start a fresh with food and eat less.

I have also decided to cut down on the amount of work that I am undertaking. Whats the point in working yourself into a grave, so time for days off & lunchtimes (when I will go cycling).

This could be a blessing in disguise, though a F**KING painful one.

Anyway time to catch up, 528 e-mails that need reading, well maybe just deleting and a few bemused clients to contact.

Day 545 & 546 (25 & 26/06/2011)

Well The Willow Tree was fantastic (not cheap). I started with the Montgomery's cheddar soufflé with a walnut and celery cream sauce;

Then the slow cooked belly of pork;

Then the bread and butter pudding with cream;

Enjoying the Glastonbury (or Pilton as us in the know insist on call it) coverage and would love to be there as a guest of a corporate client. I want a nice dry & secure place to sleep, with electricity to recharge my stuff and nice showers & toilets.

Until then I will watch it on the telly.

Work work work, that the rest of my weekend.

Day 544 (24/06/2011)

I seem to be doing lots of things except doing my enquiries, which I means I just have so many reports that need doing again and very little time to do them. Plus I have to prepare for a course next week.

Going out with my wife to a posh restaurant, The Willow Tree, to celebrate the anniversary of first meeting, 27yrs ago (yesterday).

In another 27yrs we will be 70 and probably in a home.

Day 543 (23/06/2011)

Well London was good yesterday, I did a few touristy things,

well to be honest I mostly just walked past these things.

Had a nice long lunch, sorry that should have said meeting, at a very exclusive private club but wasn't allowed to take pictures for obvious reasons.

Then off to give a presentation at a pub, I know its hard work but someone has to do it.

They didn't know how many were going to come to this free event for journalists & techno (hacking) type journalists. Usually they get around 25 people but tonight the room was packed out with many more than they had ever had.

The first talk made me worried as clearly there were some very technical & geeky types in the room and I often just think of myself as I guy who puts puzzles together and finds things that anyone could if only they looked. (false modesty I am a god at this sort of stuff)

My talk went really well with everyone learning things and enjoying my casual light hearted approach. Loads of positive feed back afterwards and requests to do some other things.

Long train journey home, glad I wasn't driving.

Now to catch up on my work as I am away next week.

Day 542 (22/06/2011)

I was knackered all day yesterday after my drive to London & back to see Richard Herring.

Mr Pix didn't have to go to college today but unfortunately I am back in London so had to get up even earlier than normal to catch a train. Thankfully I am travelling 1st class again so am being given loads of free tea, orange juice and fruit (to be honest the fruit cake and danish are also nice & free but I thought I better not mention them).

Getting to London early as having a meeting over a long lunch at a pretty exclusive club. As we are eating in the bar I didn't need a tie. Apparently the restaurant is very pricey and the guy I'm meeting said the bar would be better to eat and talk business.

The presentation tonight is fairly short and unpaid (again) but I am sure they will be grateful and it might lead to a few interesting contacts and maybe some other opportunities.

Update -09:45 - Meant to say well impressed by Mr Pix college results .... so far. Keep up the good work, but don't leave it all until the last month next time.

Also damn did I mention the fruit cake & danish.

Day 541 (21/06/2011)

So yesterday I went o London with a friend to see a Richard Herring show.

Obviously we had to have dinner and seeing as we appeared to be in China Town we went for a Chinese, which was very nice.

The show "As It Occurs To Me" was fantastic and afterwards we again meet some of the team and had our photos taken. I had done a few work things as a favor for Emma Kennedy and it was nice to meet her, she was very grateful & very nice.

Then I met Richard Herring again and as a present my friend, who has a habit of taking not great photo's, arranged for him to do a drawing of us both as a present.

What a great evening.

Got up early to drive Mr Pix to the train station. Feeling knackered and struggling to get my work done today.

Back in London tomorrow.

Day 540 (20/06/2011)

Its wet out and looking a bit like autumn.

Off to London later to see Richard Herring. Really looking forward to it but not the drive there and back.

Day 538 & 539 (18 & 19/06/2011)

I have checked my calender and it is defiantly June so why is it raining loads and looking & feeling like November.

Come on sun do your worse (taken from It Ain't Half Hot Mum)

I have gone thru all of my old computer magazines, so will now start tidying up other stuff. Still a long way to go to approach the minimalist look for the house (or to even fit in the garage).

Update - Sat 19:00 - Finished my reports :-)

Still have other stuff to do so just ordered a curry from The Saffron Takeaway, which is our current favourite.

Update - Sun 10:00 - Happy Fathers Day.

Having kids made me appreciate my parents even more. Nearly as much as appreciating peace & quiet, freedom to do what you want, money and so much more.

But I wouldn't be without my kids, I love them, even when they are being annoying, which they obviously get from their mother.

Day 537 (17/06/2011)

Some time between 8am and 6pm the new freezer will be delivered. You would have thought they could at least say morning or afternoon. And they call this progress.

Update - 09:15 - OK so at 8.205am I got a call from the delivery team to say they would be with me within 15minutes. And just a short 25minutes later they arrived.

You would have thought I lived on the tenth floor with no working lift. They only had to go down a 20 foot path and put it in the utility room.

Anyway new freezer now fully loaded and waiting to settle.

I have told my wife that she mustn't buy any fish or quorn products this year.