10 miles in 2 hours!

OK, so I had a meeting in Richmond at 9:30 on Thursday morning. I thought it would be a good opportunity to go down to London on the Wednesday night, spend some time with SJ and then travel to Richmond on Thursday morning. Its only 10 miles from SJ's so I thought this would allow me to have a bit of a lie-in and have an easy drive in...

Didn't quite work out like that...I think I underestimated London traffic! It took me 2 hourse to travel the 10 miles to Richmond! I won't be doing that again in a hurry!

Houses, flats & more

Went down to London on Friday night as it was my turn to make the trek! SJ is looking at moving out of her rented flat and buying a property. There are two options really, option 1 is buying a flat in Central London, option 2 is to buy a house somewhere outside of London but on the train line. This would be best for me (being a bit selfish) but it would allow me to spend more time down there as I could bring the dogs along. On Friday night we went for a wander round Soho...quite an interesting place I must say! We had a drink in Browns...a nice place but too smoky! I have noticed that since I've given up smoking, I can really smell cigarettes on other people and don't like going anywhere too smoky. Roll on 1st July I think!

On Saturday we went to have a drive round some of the areas that SJ is looking to buy a house in. This is basically St. Albans, Harpenden, Shenley, Radlett, Elstree, Letchmore Heath, etc. It's still surprising how little you get for your money around this area though. We looked at a property in Elstree, an old forge converted into a house. Was nice but the outside area wasn't really suitable for the mutts! Secondly we had a look at a cottage in Letchmore Heath. Very quaint but tiny. Letchmore Heath is also the home of the Hare Krishna movment so I guess it would be quiet!

We had a wander around Radlett. I really liked this village, very friendly people and nice shops/cafe's/restaurants.

Saturday night we spent in watching TV and Sunday we went round the Tate Modern. What a load of cobblers if you ask me! Had some lunch in Waggamama, a Thai restaurant on Southbank.

After that I made the long trek homewards...

Me and my Dad

Not often I get a good photo of me and my dad but I think this one is OK...

Cannock, Shareshill and beyond...

Went in to Cannock on Friday night with SJ. We met up with some of her friends, J & R in the Sports Bar. Had plenty (too much) to drink but was a good night. On Saturday we went to the Shareshill fete. They had some vintage cars there and I thought someone I knew with a Sunbeam might be there...they weren't. Still, apart from the rain it was quite a good show. I took Chief so hae could have a little wander around...I didn't risk taking Indi, she's not quite as calm as Shief and I think would have caused a spot of mayhem! The rain cleared up a bit later so we went in to Cannock to get some Fathers Day presents. We bought some stuff from the new outdoor shop - Hi Peak Leisure. It's a really good shop with some nice stuff in. As it was still sunny, we stayed and had a coffee there. Chief was in his element being the star of the show.

Saturday night we went out for a meal with my parents, my Grandad and his wife and also K & P, my mom's boss and also my Grandad's solicitor. It was a thankyou from my Grandad to K for handling his land sale. We went to the Dale in Willenhall. It was a very good meal - steaks were perfectly cooked and you really couldn't ask for better food. SJ drove as well so that was a bonus (well it was for me anyway)!

On Sunday, we had arranged to go out with SJ's parents for lunch. We went to The Horse and Jockey in Ironbridge. This is somewhere I'd never been before but they're reputed to have very good pies...sure enough I can confirm they do indeed have very good pies!

Sunday evening we went over to my parents and had some sandwiches etc. We took Indi & Chief with us as my sister was there and she'd not yet met Chief. All went well, Indi was a little boisterous around N but I think its because he's scared of her...she's basically a bully. If she knows someone/something is scared of her, she takes full advantage!

On Monday I drove down to Luton and dropped SJ off at the train station. I then carried on to the office. Tuesday I went to Wareham for work and Wednesday it was back down to Luton to visit a customer. Today I'm spending at home. Got to get my haircut later and I'm going to take the dogs over the Chase in a minute. They've not been for a week or so as its either been too hot, too wet or I've simply ran out of time.

The weekend I'm off down London to see SJ.

Glasgow...

Not a bad week so far...I went up to Glasgow for a Sales Meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is not a meeting I would normally attend but in my new role I have a responsibility for the products that the RAM's sell, hence my going to Glasgow. I flew on BMI from Birmingham on Tuesday morning into Glasgow and a clooeague picked me up and took me to the hotel. We had the meeting in the morning and then some of the guys went for a round of golf. I hadn't bought my golfing stuff with me so I didn't partake...luckily for me as it chucked it down when they were about halfway round!

The hotel itself was quite nice, apparently half of it burnt down a few years ago and the "periodic" restoration hasn't been that warmly received by all. Still, for the price I thought it was OK.

We continued the meeting on Wednesday before flying back to Brum early evening. My flight was delayed by an hour though so I was a little later getting back than I anctipated.

I picked up SJ from Moor St Station on Thursday. We had to go to a funeral for her Uncle's wife who did suddenly a couple of weeks ago. I must say that I don't like funerals, mind you, who does I suppose? Anyway, for me they're not great and it was weird going to a funeral of someone you're never met. Anyway, I went for SJ and that was the main thing.

Today I've been to Cheltenham to see a customer and tonight I think we'll be going into Cannock. Tomorrow night, we're going out for a meal with my Grandafther and parents. Should be interesting! Sunday is Father's Day so I guess that'll be spent going round the parents.

Riverdance & BBQ

The weather was really nice this weekend so on Friday night SJ and I decided to have a BBQ in the back garden...was really nice, plenty of food and plenty of drink...

On Saturday night we went to see Riverdance. It was absolutely amazing! It was on at the NIA in Birmingham and we'd bought the tickets a couple of weeks prior. We did have a slight mishap in that I thought the NIA was actually the NEC Arena...wrong...

I must admit that Riverdance was one of the best shows I've ever seen, the tap dancing is unbelievably fast but the best bit in my opinion) is the guy who does the percussion. He must have about 15 instruments to play and he is worth paying the money just to watch him play.

I didn't realise that there was more than one Riverdance company. The one we saw was the Carrib. They have others who tour the US and Ireland.

The NIA itself I wasn't that keen on, it was very stuffy and not particularly welcoming...just a load of seats and lighting, still it does its job I suppose...

Wharncliffe Woods

Today, Dan and I had our MOST meeting and afterwards went mountain biking over a place called Wharncliffe Woods near to Sheffield. Its somewhere Dan found on the internet. It took a bit of finding but eventually we got there. We decided to try the black trail - recommended to those who have the correct equipment and are well experienced - something Dan and I are not, me having bought my bike 3 weeks earlier, Dan 2 weeks earlier. Anyway, we decided to try it out. It actually wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be. Admittedly we did take it slow but there was no real mishaps. We got lost a couple of times and ended walking over a couple of fields but all told, it was a good day. I should add as well that neither of the pics above are Dan or I!!! If the real riders are offended, please let me know and I'll remove...

Londinium

On Friday night I drove down to London to SJ's. We had a meal and some drinks and generally chilled out. Was good to go down there again...I don't think its really fair for her to keep coming up to me all the time. Anyway, the reason I went down there on this occasion though was because we had been invited to a wedding reception on Saturday night in Essex.

Saturday morning we had a wander round Covent Garden. Its somewhere I don't think I've actually been before and it was pretty entertaining. Inside what resembled and old railway station they had some cafe's and bars and a live opera singer...most intriguing. I managed to buy a new pair of sunglasses which I'd been after for a while. They're Oakley Spike's and really comfortable to wear.

We had a meal in Fuel and then headed back to pick the car up for the trip to Essex.

We stayed in a hotel close to the wedding venue - Layer Marney Tower. This was a really nice place, sort of a stately home but open for weddings, meeting, etc. The couple who got married were work colleagues of SJ. It was a good night although the drinks left a bit to be desired!! he funniest part was when the bus that was hired to transport the guests from the hotels decided to try and turn around on the lawn. Much churning of grass later and the bus managed to free itself from a 2 degree incline...the sheep were looking a little perturbed...

We headed back to London on Sunday and had some lunch and then I started back up the motorway up North, well, I tried to...the traffic was horrendous in Central London. It took me nearly an hour just to go round Russell Square! I couldn't fathom a reason, just sheer weight I suppose...

Catching up...

Picked up SJ from the train station on Friday night. Was good to see her again. We then went round to her parents to show them the photos we'd taken in Cannes, particularly the large format ones. After that, back to Rugeley and then off to The Wolseley Arms for some tea. Was very nice...again...

Saturday we decided to test out the new bike so I said it was about 5 or 10 mins to the Chase from my house and we could probably just cycle there. Big mistake...its not 5 or 10 mins...its more like 30 mins. Its actually 5 mile but its all uphill on the way there! Suffice to say, we were rather tired before we even got to the Chase! Anyhow, we continued from Punchbowl up Sherwood Valley and back down the other side of the stream. We then cycled back (downhill and via the pub)...

On Saturday night we went to The Hartley Arms, a pub in Wheaton Aston. Its right by the river and is a bit like the Anchor in Coven. I thought the meal was OK, but not as good as it was supposed to be. SJ drove tonight so I was able to have a drink although the route through the lanes was a little tight to say the least!

Sunday we decided to go shopping to The Fort. I'd got to take some stuff back and SJ wanted some tops. After that we came back, headed down to Bridgtown Bikes as I wanted to get a Camelbak and SJ wanted to look at the bikes there. We were then going to have a bit of a quiet night but J rang, SJ's friends and said there was a fun day on at The Elms. One call to my Dad and we were there. Was a good night actually, although the fun day (sumo suits, etc) had finished some time before.

So on Monday, we were a little hungover but we went out anyway. We took the dogs to Seven Springs for a walk and then we had a look at the new Ramada hotel they've built in Cannock. Its nice but a little small in terms of footprint. What I didn't realise though is they have some buildings around it, a couple of bars, a Costa Coffee, a restaurant etc. Some aren't open yet and the ones that are have only been for a week or so but I think it'll be nice when they're up and running.

Monday night was a quiet one watching the TV and having an Indian. A good one way to finish off the weekend!

The mountain bike

Today I bought myself a mountain bike from Bridgtown Cycles. I've been meaning to get one for a while, I suppose I just needed an excuse. Well, I've got one now as SJ is into mountain biking and has a Gary Fisher (apparently they're very good). The one I bought is a Scott and by all accounts seems pretty good. I don't really know the first things about mountain bikes, the last one I had I was more worried about the colour and how many gears it had! I took it for a trip round the block and it seems ideal. The first test will probabaly be at the weekend over the Chase. We'll see...