The Conference

I've just returned from two nights in Harrogate. Nice place...apparently the second most expensive place to live outside the West End? Not sure about that but nice all the same...

The conference and exhibition was fine...no problems...all presentations went off OK and generated a decent amount of interest. We had an after dinner speaker, a Radio 4 presenter called Garry Richardson...interesting guy - very funny and his claim to fame is interviewing Bill CLinton at a rain-soaked Wimbledon one year...

On Tuesday night we walked into town to an Italian called Joe Rogatoni. Not bad I must say...I had Pasta as the main and baby Mozeralla as a starter---I'd recommend it...

Last night was the Awards Gala Dinner...the meal was dreadful...truly awful! It started off OK with Leek & Potato soup, although to be fair you can't really go wrong with this...the main course was lamb...just...I didn't eat it - odd colour, odd shape, odd smell...no thanks!

After the "meal" we headed into town to a bar called Banyan, where (happily) it was 2 4 1 cocktails. I had a couple of Mojito's and then we went back to the hotel.

Today had really dragged...very tiring diong nothing so was glad to see the end of the exhibition. Drove back down to Radlett and here I am!

Tomorrow I've got a day's holiday, but later in the day we're driving up to Staffs as J & L are coming over. I've booked in to the Terrazza at 8:00...

Stetching

Last night I went to my usual TKD classes. I've another grading in 2 weeks so I'm training quite hard at the moment. The one thing that seems to let me down though, is my flexibility - when I was doing martial arts as a junior, it really wasn't a problem - now, it's something I really have to work at. I'm already trying to do more at home, outside of the class, but I think I'm going to have to up the ante a bit...watch this space...

The week ahead

Today I'll probably stay at home, might go in to the office later...we'll see. Tomorrow I'm off to Harrogate to present at the Hazardex Conference. This is a Conference I've attended for the last seven years and was originally held in Coventry, then the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, then East of England Showground, Peterborough and now the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate. Last year wasn't so good but this year they apparently have 700 people registered. Seems a lot, so I'll be surprised if that many turns up.

Back down to Radlett on Thursday evening, then up to Rugeley for the weekend. We've got J & L coming over so we need to decide whether to go out to eat, or cook something in. I think we'll probably head to The Terrazza...

Cleaning

I've just spent the last four hours cleaning the bathroom...I'm not sure its ever been cleaned to such an extent, anyway its most definitely spick & span now!

Changeling

Watched Changeling last night...very good but pretty disturbing when you consider its a true story. Its almost too unbelievable to be true - maybe that's what make's it such a good film?

We had an Indian from Akash, the restaurant just down the road - it was delicious. I had Chicken Madras, SJ had Lamb Bhuna.

Not sure what to do today...its quite warm again...will probably take the dogs for a walk, then not sure really...we'll see how it goes...

Ciao Bella...

Just spent the day over in Windsor. We've been meaning to go for some time as, about 12 months ago, when we went to The Ideal Home Show, we saw some fully restored classic scooters. SJ was really taken with them and we said we'd go over and have a look a them when we had time. Anyway, today was a nice day so we decided to go over. We took Chief with us as he likes to be out. Indi, on the other had would not thank you for going...

I'd tried to find the scooter shop on the web but could not find it anywhere...god knows why.

However, in the end it was quite fortuetous as, because we'd got Chief with us, he attracted quite a lot of attention. We were walking past a music shop and the shop owner came out to see Chief. He had a scooter in his window so we asked him where it was from, sure enough it was from the shop we couldn't find! He gave us directions and we found it straightaway. Its called Ciao Bella Scooters and if you're in the market for a Vespa or a Lambretta, make the journey here...the scooters are truly beautiful...

SJ opted for the orange one, the same as the original one she'd seen at the show. It should be arriving in about four weeks or so...

Va Pensiero

Last night we went to our favourite restaurant in Radlett, Va Pensiero. It's also the closest one to us as well, taking about 30 seconds to get there. I had a beef starter, followed by meatballs...delicious. SJ had prawn starter, followed by a steak. Again, very nice, although I think in hindsight she would have preferred a pasta dish.

Today is nice, bright & sunny. We might head over to Windsor later to look at some scooters for SJ to use whilst I'm not around (she doesn't have a car). Probably take the dogs for a walk as well later, although they're both flat out at the moment, having had a very tiring morning so far of getting up and eating breakfast...

I've added a couple of things to the blog, namely a Twitter feed from myelf...if you want to follow me, I'm twitter user 777pj...and also a National Geographic pic of the day (scroll down if you can't see it).

The week

I went up to see my lodger in Rugeley on Wednesday. He's fine...should be there till around July minimum. I also saw my Grandfather...he was in the best mood I've seen him for about 12 months. Really good, coherent, logical and good-humoured. I know it won't last but while it does, I'm making the most of it!

I came back down to Radlett on Thursday and SJ and I went out to Tim's Table - a Radlett Chinese restaurant. We've been here a few times but its good food. I had Sizzling, Spicy Beef Szeuchan and SJ had 3 Delicacies. Was excellent...as usual...

This weekend we're down in Radlett - not a lot planned, probably out for a meal tonight but that's about it...

Roxy

A quick post to mark the passing of J & L's dog Roxy. She was a Staffordshire Bull  Terrier, god knows how old but she was old! She was very loving, always wanting fuss...RIP Roxy...

Valentines Weekend

We spent it in Rugeley, having travelled up on Friday night. I cooked the meal...thank god for Sainsbury's recipes...we had scallops in lime and chilli sauce, followed by steak in a red wine sauce with mashed potato and mushrooms. It was delicious...one of the nicest meals I've ever cooked...!

Sunday, it was back down to Radlett for another week of work...

On a somewhat lighter note, my Grandfather has moved into a Nursing Home near Stafford. Its called St Joseph's Convent Nursing Home and it is in fact, a convent. Its really good, exceptionally clean and peaceful with lots of activities going on. He's had a rough time over the last year so I'm glad he's finally somewhere he can settle.

More snow

Last night we had a couple of inches more snow. It was quite amusing to see drivers of "The Ultimate Driving Machine" or BMW (as its more affectionately known) trying to drive up a 5 degree hill covered in approximately 2mm of snow. They simply are rubbish in the snow!

Chief - the ultimate snow dog, has decided that he doesn't like snow...when it falls of the roof, it scares him half to death, so much so that he now refuses to leave his basket whilst that nasty white stuff is around...

Fyne food

On Wednesday night I went out to Loch Fyne in St. Albans. A customer of mine from Israel was over for the week and, knowing he liked fish, decided to try out Loch Fyne. I'd not been before but we'd seen it several times as we wandered around the town. We ordered mussels, oysters and kippers for starters, then salmon, haddock and cod for mains...it was absolutely delicious and pretty reasonably priced. We will be going there again...

I also discovered that The Slug & Lettuce does all bottles of wine for £10 on a Wednesday night - any bottle for £10! That is also something we'll be taking advantage of real soon...!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

The UK has been in the grip of a cold spell for the last couple of days. We were stuck in Staffordshire at the weekend, although we managed to get some walks over the chase with the dogs which they loved of course...

I've also got the week off work this week so today I thought I'd do the 9 mile route through Radlett & Aldenham. It was pretty slippy when I started out but was melting by the time I came back.

12.96 Km's = 2hours & 10 minutes, 607 calories