Update...its been a while...

Well, considering I said that I wanted to update this blog more regularly, I haven't been doing very well!. Its a good two weeks since my last entry and thats pretty rubbish I must say! Anyway I thought i'd do a quick catchall update rather than individual posts...

I went to London the other day. I've met a girl called (funnily enough) Sarah who works for HP in London. For clarity's sake I'll refer to her as SJ otherwise things might get confusing...! We'd met a few weeks ago in Cannock and got talking but I finally summoned up enough courage to take things a little further! Anyway, cut a long story short we eventually agreed for me to go down and see her on Tuesday. So, off I trot down to the Big Smoke, eventually found the place and my god, its nice. Perfect location right in the centre of London, really close to St Paul's (Although I didn't actually know this was St Paul's initially). We had a really great time, we went out for a meal at a restaurant called Fish. Very nice indeed...then back to the flat for some more drinks (Grey Goose Vodka - also rather special). We got on really well so I asked her back to my place for the weekend.

In the meantime we had our Sales Meeting in Luton on the 18th & 19th. Was pretty good this time around, much more positive and I left there feeling like we're actually getting somewhere. Went out on the night to Chicago Rock Cafe (Again). D was really pi$$ed and I had to eventually put him to bed. Still, twas a good night.

SJ came up on Friday, we had a really good weekend, although we did spend an awful lot of it looking for a freezer! Not exactly the way to a girl's heart but enjoyable all the same!

I dropped her off at the train station in Cannock then went to pick my parents up from the airport. They'd just returned from a 2 week holiday in Mexico...very nice and very tanned...jammy sods! The rest of the week was really just spent working and staying in, although I did go and see a rescue Mal whom I think was having a little difficulty integrating into his new family. Shouldn't really post about it but I think its all sorted now...

SJ came up again last night, she wasn't intending to but she cadged a lift from her friends back and I dropped her off at Luton train station this morning as I'd got to be in Luton for a meeting anyway..all worked out quite well really and was great to see her again. We went round her parents and also one of her friends. They're all really friendly and I like them...lets hope they liked me!

This week, I'm in Luton on Wed/Thursday for a MOST meeting although...................................................I'm picking my new car up on Wednesday as well...yay! I'm also meeting SJ at Luton train station to bring her back up here for the Bank Holiday Weekend. Looking forward to a good time...

Holiday

So the weeks almost over...I had this week off as holiday and I'm glad I did - I needed the break. Haven't really done much, ordered a new suite from DFS and walked the dogs a lot. Now its a bit warm to be walking them so I've left ot for today. I can finally say that the house monies have gone through. I now officially own my house! It's a bit of an anticlimax though to be honest, now I've nothing left to worry about! Still, it'll be fun filling the house with things of my choosing, although a little weird no doubt. Next week, I've got a sales meeting in Luton so have got to put the dogs in kennels from Tuesday to Thursday. Chief didn't do so well in kennels previously so I hope that this short stay will be OK...

Memorials

Went for a different walk around the Chase today...decided to follow one of the marked routes. They give you an indication of times to complete the walk so I decided to follow the blue route - 2 hours apparently. Anyway, I'd finished it in about 45 minutes and I wasn't walking particularly quickly! I did see something I hadn't seen before though, it seems you can have a memorial planted when you die. I think that's something I'd like to do. I love it over the Chase and would never move away from the area because of that...

Weekend

Took my parents to Brum airport today. They're off to Mexico for 2 weeks...jammy sods. They're actually flying from Gatwick on Sunday morning but are catching the National Express from BHX to LGW. Went out on Friday night around Cannock, the usual...

Saturday night, I (we) went round K & L's for a Chinese. I drove though and took Chief with me. He's a little unsettled at the moment, I think meeting up with his sisters etc, has made him feel like he might be off again. Anyway, he had a lovely time, I think he thought he was royalty!


Sunday, A and I decided to go to the Festival of Transport at Weston Park. A's friend was exhibiting a classic car there so we decided to go along...

There was all sorts of cars there, ranging from early vintage right through to pretty much modern vehicles. Its strange to think that cars I grew up with (XR2's, Cosworths, etc) are now considered Classics. There were some wonderful cars there though, the time and effort it must take to prepare some of the cars to this standard is immense...

Chief's Family

Chief's breeder rang and suggested a meet up on the Chase with the rest of Chief's littermates. We met up at the Barley Mow car park and set off towards Punchbowl. It was one of the first really warm days of the year and after "Cardiac" Hill, most of us (and the dogs) were just about done in! Anyway, we made it and even had an ice cream afterwards! All of the dogs were very well behaved with no problems...

Picture below is Chief and his family:



From left to right its, Chief...Indi...Kayla...Chantz...Naya...Storm...Breeze...Fleur...? (can't remember the name!)

Easter bunnies

Today is my last day at work before I break up for a week. It works out really well actually as I'm only taking 4 days holiday but I've got 11 days off. No real plans, just want to chill out and relax a bit. I suppose I'll be doing the annual gardening bit - mowing the lawns, etc...

I really need to tidy up the front of the house...I have a lot of weeds growing out of control!

I suppose there'll be the usual dog walking etc as well...hopefully the weather will still be nice over the weekend although knowing the usual British Bank Holidays, it'll be raining from tonight onwards!

Moving on

It looks like things are finally moving forward with S and I. We have now both signed the Consent Order which basically allows me to transfer the lump sum payment to her and also for the property which I currently live in to be transferred to my sole name. We've set a completion date of the 16th April. After that, the house will be mine! We've already split up the house contents so I've got a big shopping spree coming up...just need some funds to pay for it all though now! The next thing to do will be the Decree Nisi and then a few weeks after that, Absolut.

THE TEST...take 2

We went through a mock test on Thursday night with which Indi sailed through...no problems whatsoever so I thought all will be well on Sunday...

Hmmmm...all started well, we did the heelwork both on and off lead. We did the recall, all went with no problems. It then came to the sit stay and the down stay. These are timed exercises, 1 minute for the sit, 2 minutes for the down. Unfortunately Indi broke the sit just over halfway - something she doesn't normally do. I thought, OK, she can still pass because we'd got enough marks from the other aspects of the test. Just the down stay now. Settled her down and then 30 seconds in she decided to get up and have a look around...failed! Never mind, we gave it our best but she just didn't want to do it on the day...little bu**er!!

It looks like we'll be back in the repeat beginners class again for the next 13 weeks. Still, that may not be a bad thing, I'd like to get her better at doing the things in that class anyway so if/when she does pass, she is able to go into the Intermediate class with confidence. Chief will also be starting the training as well this term, so I'll have Chief on a Wednesday and Indi on a Thursday - the way its going I'll have Chief passed before Indi!