Day 737 (02/01/2012)

Bank Holiday today and spent most of it on the computer updating my letterheads, powerpoints & website.

Day 736 (01/01/2012)

Had a lovely evening with Gary & Elaine to see in the New Year.

It was a shame that the rain didn't stop other wise we could have gone up onto the Downs to see the fireworks from around the city.

Then after a fairly decent nights sleep my Mum & Dad came over for a nice Sunday Roast.

Day 735 (31/12/2011)

New Years Eve and off to Bristol this afternoon / evening to spend it with Gary & Elaine. It's a shame Thomas is at work & then going out otherwise we would have all been together, but that's growing up for you.

Day 734 (30/12/2011)

Cold & wet again, roll on the spring, its just a shame that it so so far away. What, the New Year, this weekend, how did that happen.

Looking forward to going to Bristol to see in the the New Year with my family.

Day 733 (29/12/2011)

Unbelievably I have finished all of my work. I can't remember the last time I had actually finished all my work and it's so nice knowing that tomorrow I can get on with planning things, like the new training material and website.

Thomas is out at a party tonight, it looks fun as someone posted a photo on twitter.

I remember those days but being so old nowadays I can barely finish two pints of shandy.

Day 732 (28/12/2011)

Back to work today doing a few reports but also spending time thinking of the changes I am going to make to my reports, website & powerpoints for next year.

Although I am working I must admit that I am at the same time playing my new comedy dvd's, which makes work a bit slow, as for some reason I keep stopping work to watch them.

We discussed New Years Resolutions today at dinner. I did mention that rather than picking a resolution I would have trouble keeping up throughout the year I should choose as a resolution of "eating more chocolates & cakes in 2012". This did not go down well with my wife but honestly I was only joking. I will definitely try harder this year to get fit, loose weight (without the aid of having my leg cut off), get someone to help do my work, spend more time relaxing with my family & write my stories. Or should I just pick the eating more chocolate.

Day 731 (27/12/2011)

It was nice to have everyone last night for a bit of a do.

It seems that Christmas is over already, just as I was getting into it.

I suppose it really is time to start doing my work again.

Day 730 (26/12/2011)

After a nights sleep and a bit more of a lie-in this morning we are preparing for people coming over to our today, as usual. Although a nice happy family day it will be sad as this was always a day when Kim would have spent the whole day with us.

I have put loads of food out for the birds but we haven't seen any in the garden yet. Before we had the garden done we had loads of them, perhaps when we have plants in the garden they may return.

Day 729 (25/12/2011)

ITS CHRISTMAS

As always my wife made the house look very Christmasy & lovely.

I had some great presents (OK I bought this one for myself).

We then had a lovely time at my parents house, where my mum made her best ever Christmas dinner.

Day 728 (24/12/2011)

Yo Ho F**King Ho, its Christmas Eve and it seems like we need at least another week to be ready but my mother-in-law will be here in an hour and Santa will be following her a few hours later.

Day 727 (23/12/2011)

Bah Humbug, apparently its nearly Christmas.

Not done much, no real enthusiasm for work might wrap the prezzies tonight.

Day 726 (22/12/2011)

Last night we all got together for a nice meal and went to see Kelly's show.

It was a great evening, we just don't get together enough.

I have bought nearly all of my Christmas presents but not wrapped anything and am far from prepared, just like any other year.

Still have work to do but am not going to bust a gut to do it, there is no real rush as most of the clients have stopped already. I am hopping that next year I will get some help with the reports, so I can spend more time on the training courses and a couple of new ventures.

Day 725 (21/12/2011)

Yesterday I noticed about 4months worth of lottery tickets in my wife's purse, so checked them in the hope that we may have won the odd £10 or two.

I was more than surprised that we had won, nothing earth shattering but when I told my wife and Thomas, apparently when the kids picked their numbers 15yrs ago, although they have never paid for the tickets, this was a legally binding contract fr life that meant it was their winnings.

Unfortunately for them I had never signed up to this but relented slightly and negotiated a new family rule whereby whoever picked the numbers gets 50% of the winnings and the other 50% is shared between us and the other number picking but non paying child.

Basically a win win situation for the kids as they still don't pay but get to share the winnings.

Going out for a family meal tonight followed by seeing Kelly's show.

Day 724 (20/12/2011)

We now have our Christmas tree and decorations up. I might even be felling a bit Christmasy but just a bit.

I was about to finish all of my work this morning when a client sent over a load more work,oh well I shan't rush to do them as they will not be needed until the New Year.

Over the last few days I have cleared the back log of magazines that needed reading and have now started to tidy up my desk. During this I came across one of my favourite photos.

I don't think we have changed that much over the last 17yrs.

Day 723 (19/12/2011)

Well we got the decorations down from the loft over the weekend but we didn't quite get around to putting them up, so no we haven't got a Christmas Tree up yet.

I had a package arrive today which I have to wrap up for my staff as a Christmas present, as a thank you for all their hard work this year. I know they will love it but don't tell them about it as its a surprise.

Day 721 & 722 (17 & 18/12/2011)

The weekend is here and although the rain has stopped it is still quite cold and windy.

I brushed all of the leaves and helicopter things off of the patio, so that's looking a bit tidier but needs a bit of a jet wash to get all of the mud off of the slabs, which I might do during the week, as this will bring out all of the different colours in the slabs.

The aim of the weekend is to actually get all the Christmas stuff down from the loft and to transform the house in to a Christmas scene. To be honest I get the stuff down from the loft and my wife puts all the decorations up, I haven't helped do the tree for years, apparently I never space the baubles out properly.

Day 720 (16/12/2011)

Well it wasn't raining so much today but still cold.

The Renault went in for its MOT today. The car is 12yrs old and after all of these years and all of the cars we have owned I don't think I have ever put a car in for an MOT and only had to pay for the MOT, usually the charge you for something stupid but for someone reason the car was fine and sailed thru.

Not much else happened but we had a nice lunch thanks to Kelly.

Day 719 (15/12/2011)

Another cold and wet day spent writing emails and not earning any money.

Will try and do something interesting tomorrow and take a photo of it.

Day 718 (14/12/2011)

Its been very cold & wet, I hate winter time. I want a summer holiday, if not a holiday then just the summer, when I will be sat in my nice garden.

Its hard to know how you can work nearly all day and yet have achieved next to nothing. Annoying that you can spend hours writing & answering emails, earned no money and still have the same number of emails in my in-box as I did when I started.

Spoke with someone on the phone today talking about renting out Kim's house. It was like speaking to someone from the 1950's or 60's, you would not believe that we had moved on at all in relation to race relations. Truly shocking attitude amongst some people, especially those who are supposed to working in a caring industry.

Day 717 (13/12/2011)

Gave my last talk of the year today, now just all the research & trace stuff to do that comes in.

Horrible drive back and then home to lovely dinner, chessy tuna pasta with a nice glass of wine.

Nice to be home and I was only away for the night.

Must get the Christmas decorations down from the loft tomorrow as apparently its nearly Christmas (Bah Humbug).