Roses and things

The theme for our wedding (more on this later) is red roses. We saw these in Selfridges and they are exactly the colour we want. Lets hope we can ensure the flower lady in NZ can match them.

The orange rose is one called Simply The Best and represents my grandfather - it was his saying. The amazing thing about this rose is its hardiness - look at the weather around it!

Grandfather

I took my grandad to his wife's funeral today. Quite a surreal event really. He'd been married ot her for about 20 years...the relationship had caused a bit of a split in the family although I'd always maintained on good terms with everyone (I think).

Anyway, he's not in the best of health and is a resident in a nursing home in Stafford. His wife was taken in not long after he was and they'd been apart for some time. He didn't really know what was going on unfortunately...the strokes have cost him his mental abilities. Still - he went and that's important...

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...

Holiday

I've taken the last few days as holiday...nothing special, just fancied a few days off. On Tuesday evening, I went up to Rugeley to catch up with a few things. I had tea with my parents and then had a drink with Mark - the guy renting one of the rooms in the Rugeley house...

Wendesday morning was spent removing a plant from my parents pond, transplanting it into a different (more wind-resistant) pot, then putting the now much heavier plant, back in to the pond. I then went to see my Grandad who is still not home. he's moved from the Manor though, he's now in Parklands, in Bloxwich. Still not great but a bit better all the same. I also picked up his golf clubs and trolley whilst I was there. He doesn't use them any more and so said I could have them. There's virtually a full set but I'll still need to buy a new bag and some bits and pieces.

Wednesday night, it was back down to Radlett. We went to The Round Bush with SJ's parents. Strange...the car park was packed but there was hardly anyone inside? Still, I had the fishcakes and very nice they were too...

Been a long time...

So this is the first post in over two months!!! I've just been so busy that I've not had chance to update this as often as I would like. Anyhow, I'll do a brief update of the last few months and then upload some piccies...

Well, we arrived back from Cannes safe and sound and may I say, what a cool trip that was...we're so lucky to be able to do these things...I then went up to Scotland for a couple of days with work. I also had a Golf day at a course in St. Neots...blowed if I can remember the name now though...

I started Tae Kwon Do as well at the end of May. I used to do Karate for quite some years when I was younger but like most things, I got bored of it. I got up to a brown belt which is only one away from black. I've been wanting to take up some form of interest for some time now and I found this one on the internet and its only round the corner. Its called Spirit TKD. I've been going for 2 months now and have just completed my first grading. I'm now a white with yellow tags (I had to start as a beginner again).

We attended the BBC Summer Festival in June at the NEC. That was really good - is basically a combination of the Good Food Show, Ideal Home Show and the Garden Show. I bought a new plant - an Acer.

My parents went on holiday as well in June...can't remember where to though now! My grandad was also taken ill. Basically it transpires that he's had a series of mini-strokes and his left side has now been affected. He was taken to the Manor in Walsall and as of writing he's still there, 7 weeks later...

From a work point of view I gave a couple of lectures, one being in Stratford at the Profibus Conference. My role now is EMEA based and it gives me more freedom to do what I feel is necessary. At the moment, I'm still UK-centric but I'm starting to spread out a little now.

We went to watch Kung Fu Panda at the IMAX. It was a HP/BMI thing so was free. It's actually not a bad film. I quite enjoyed it...

I also had to get a second passport in June. Because I'd been to Israel and therefore gained an Israeli stamp, it meant I may have difficulty in entering certain countries, namely the Middle Eastern ones. It was actually quite painless, I thought it would have been quite difficult but it wasn't.

We met up with some friends at a pub called the Carpenters Arms. We'd been meaning to go there for a while as the chef is the brother of our friend. Food was really good...we'd definitely go back.

Heading into July, it was my nephews 18th birthday and so we decided to hold a party on the 5th. Good night although we did have to miss going to the Severn Valley railway trip.

The following weekend was my birthday and wow...what a birthday! I'll write a separate entry about this as it needs more explanation!!

The last couple of weeks in July we were in Cuba, again I'll write a separate entry...when we came back, we had a couple of days and then SJ's friends's came over from Sydney...I'll write an entry about that as well and we should then be up to date!!

Xmas is coming...

Saw my Grandad and Lil today. They're going on a cruise again over Xmas so we popped round with their presents. They're looking OK if not a little old. They're away for nearly 3 weeks...very nice!

We then drove down to Radlett in the afternoon. We're in Radlett all week as I've got meetings in Luton for a couple of the days and SJ is in work for most of the week. Back up on Saturday...

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.

86 today..86 today...!

Today is my grandfathers birthday - as you may have guessed from the title of this post, he's 86. We all went to the Molinueux for a meal. He'd hired a box and the food was broght to our table. There was 23 of us, only 3 of whom were blood related to my grandfather! I have a very small family, my only blood relatives are my mother, father and grandfather. I do have a half sister though and she has two children so I have two half nephews. Anyway, the rest of the party was my grandathers wife's family. Meal was Ok, nothing special. I had rib-eye steak and "fat chips". Had to drive though so that was a bit of a pain!

Catching up...

Well, what a busy week! Was in Luton again on Monday & Tuesday, finally managed to get the MOST node & SCADA package to work. Then, it was off down to Richmond, Surrey on Wednesday. Nice place, if a little cramped mind you. Very expensive to park though, I guess cars are not really wanted in Richmond. Yesterday I started to travel to Bristol but halfway down, my customer emailed to say he couldn't make it so I turned round and drove back home. To be honest I was glad for the break...feeling very tired this week. Too much driving. Whilst I'm on the driving front, I had confirmation this week that my RAV 4 is OK and is now in the "Signature Loop" whatever that is. Hopefully it should be here in a few weeks. Can't come soon enough really, the Saab is getting a little long in the tooth. It's now started to click whenever you use the windscreen washers! That is pretty frequently in this weather! I'm told its the recirculation vent so I suppose I'll have to get it done at some point...

Indi's improved, it took her until about Tuesday though to actually make any marked improvement, this stomach bug has really knocked her about. Its the last day of her anti-biotics today so hopefully she'll be back to her normal self soon. Haven't been kickbking in ages and I really wanted to go this weekend...oh well, never mind...

A & K have now split up...will they get back together, who knows? They're still at the "maybe" stage I think...here's hoping anyway, I think they make a good couple.

Indi was singled out at dog training this week to demonstrate how to do an "About Turn". I must say I was a little shocked to be honest, but anyway we gave it our best shot. Indi grumbled the whole time we were doing it but never mind it was "do as I do", not "do as I say" I guess!

Off to Cannock tonight I think. Haven't spoken to anyone as yet though so will have to see. Going out for my grandfathers birthday tomorrow night, he's 86. We're all going to The Jack Hayward Suite at the Molineux stadium, home to Wolverhampton Wanderers. Somewhere else I've never been so hopefully it will be good.

Wedding Cars & Tax Returns

Just sorted all my stuff out to send to my accountant who fills in my tax returns. Not sure if I mentioned it before but I also have a wedding car hire business. You can see the cars here. The cars have been in my family since 1977, my grandfather buying them both the same week from the Express & Star. He did a few weddings in them but they are a bit unwieldy to drive so he gave that up as he got older. I resurrected them a few years back and have been doing weddings simply to pay for the cars upkeep and earn enough to pay for a holiday or so. This year I've been doing less weddings simply because I was moving house this summer and had enough on my plate without wondering if a 80 year old car was going to start (or stop) on someone's big day...