Going underground...

Last Friday we went into town for some birthday drinks with one of SJ's customers. We headed round the Underground to Putney and then walked over what we thought was Putney Bridge but actually turned out to be the railway bridge! Anyway, we got over the river and headed along the banks past the Star & Garter building to a pub called The Dukes Head. We met the rest of the invitees there, had a few drinks and then went on to the main event of the evening - The Jamm...

Not a spelling error, The Jamm are a tribute band to The Jam. They were playing at The Half Moon pub and we had tickets. It was a sellout and very busy. They started about 21:00 and went on for a good couple of hours. Having never seen The Jam, (or Paul Weller for that matter) I've no real reference but in my (non-fan) opinion, they were very good. The lead singer looked like a cross between Paul Weller and Rhys Ifans but in terms of sounding like The Jam, they were excellent! Adam, who is a bit of a Jam fan, also reckons they are "one of the best".

Birthdays

On Thursday it was my Dad's birthday. He was 69...we bought him a signed Dickie Bird picture. He used to play cricket a lot and he's always been very interested in all things cricket and particularly Dickie Bird. I bought it from Heroes Memorabilia and it was a good buy I thought...

We travelled up on Friday to Rugeley and had a night in with pizza and a few wines...

On Saturday we took the doggies over the Chase, then took SJ's mom over to Merry Hill as its her birthday on Tuesday.

Saturday night we headed into Cannock as it was C's birthday. We went to China Garden, a Chinese restaurant at High Green Court. It was really nice food, very fresh and very tasty. They also have a takeaway restaurant which I've tried before - that's also very recommended. Next it was cocktails in Pique's, then on to The Bank. We actually ended up leaving quite early...maybe we're getting old!

Snow...in April?

So, we finally got some snow! Yay! I love the snow, so does SJ and so do the doggies! Indi of course has seen it all before but for Chief it was a bit of a new experience! I don't think he's ever seen that much snow but he took to it all the same...

We went over to a field local to us...here's the pics...



and videos...


not sure why this video doesn't preview correctly, but it's there...just click on the play button...

Ideal Home Show

On Sunday we were up bright and (reasonably) early and after taking the dogs for a walk, headed into town to Earls Court for The Ideal Home Show. SJ nor I had been before, my parents had but it was quite a while ago. It was fairly quiet, which was good as it was easy enough to get around and see the exhibition then. This is probabaly because it runs for so long...its about 3 weeks in total which is a hell of a long time if you're on Stand Duty!

The show itself was quite good, they had some interesting things there. SJ managed to spend a bomd, she bought lights, wine, cleaning stuff, etc, etc. I didn't buy anything but I did come close to seriously looking at a set of Roland Electronic Drums. They were fantastic! If they'd been a bit cheaper I'd have had them...as it was £2.5K was just a bit too much for something you basically hit!

We headed back into St. Pancras as my parents hadn't seen the station before. It's still impressive and I think we'll be doing the Eurostar before long...

Sunday night, we ate at The Red Lion, the parents favourite before we all (minus SJ) headed back up to Rugeley on Monday.

The Barns

On Thursday night, SJ and I headed North to Rugeley. We'd got the friday off as holiday so wanted to not spend it on the M6 and M1. Actually, it was a good time to travel, we left around 9:00 and got to Rugeley about 11:00...no traffic...

On Friday I took SJ to the Chiropractor and then we headed over to Telford for a spot of shopping. I actually bought some clothes! Its been years since I bought any clothing so for me, this was pretty good.

On Friday night we went to The Barns in Cannock for a surprise birthday meal for J, SJ's friend. It was organised by R, J's partner, The meal was not that good really. The best part was the soup! Overpriced and underwhelming. We didn't carry on into Cannock, we just caught a taxi back home as we'd got to be up early on Saturday...

...or so we thought...SJ was really quite ill on Saturday morning, being sick all over the place...delightful...we eventually managed to get on out way about 12:00. We were heading back down to Radlett as my parents were also heading down to stay with us as we were going to the Ideal Home Show on Sunday at Earls Court. About halfway down the trip, SJ perked up and then seemed to be OK. Whatever it was had gone.

Back in Radlett, my parents arrived about 4:00 and I took them down the town to McNeill Gallery and then round to M & S and Sainsbury's. We came back, had some tea, watched a DVD and then went to bed.

Update...

So we came back up to Rugeley on Friday evening. It was quite an interesting car ride with Indi in the boot, SJ squashed in the back with Chief, and me and all the luggage piled up in the front. We had a pretty quiet weekend, we stayed in on Friday night, then went over to SJ's aunties on Saturday morning. She's moving from her her flat in Pleck to a new one, just off Slaters Lane. Her old flat is being demolished - its a high-rise which are now not in favour. On the other hand though, her new flat is fantastic! Very posh, all brand new, video entry, gas CH, double glazing, secure and quiet. They're built by Walton Homes and are a definite improvment on previous council properties. Funnily enough though, Slaters Lane is where my Great Aunt's Lizzie, Pem & Marie lived...just around the corner...

On Saturday night we went round SJ's parents for a few drinks...ended up staying up till 3am!

Early start on Sunday as we had to get back for the doggies...it was a very cold morning, -7 as we came over the Chase! Talking about the dogs, they're OK at the minute, still separated but there's no animosity so fingers crossed for the weekend when Indi's lampshade and stitches are removed...


NB...They're not my pictures above so if anyone has copyright on them and wishes me to remove any, let me know and I will...

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...

Portuguese Eating

On Friday night I picked up SJ from B'ham Airport. She was a bit tired from her week in Frankfurt so we decided to stay in. We tried one of the curry sauces we'd bought from the Good Food Show. It was absolutely magnificent...Parampara they're called and thoroughly recommended.

On Saturday we took the doggies over the Chase. They'd not been for a while and they loved it, despite the rain...

On Saturday night we went over to SJ's parents to check all is OK with the house. Then, Janette & Richard picked us up as it was Richard's birthday. We went into Stone to a new Portuguese restaurant. The place and the people couldn't have been better...just a shame the food wasn't quite up to scratch...don't get me wrong, it was nice...it just could have been better. One thing that was nice though was the starter - clams...b-e-a-u-tiful...!

Good Food Show

On Sunday, we had tickets for the Good Food Show at the NEC. We managed to get these through HP and included tickets to the Gordon Ramsay demonstration live cooking. It was a really, really good show, and I was really surprised by it. We bought quite a bit of stuff including, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, curry powders, candle decorations, sausages, etc...

I had to take SJ to the airport straight afterwards as she's in training in Frankfurt until Friday. This week, I'm going to be in London/Luton on Tues/Wed and Bournemouth on thursday...going to ask a man about an order... ;-)

Rugby...continued

Well on Saturday night we decided to go and watch the Rugby in Bar Sport in Cannock...would you believe that England won...again! They're now going to be playing South Africa in the Final next week!

Also took the dogs over the Chase on Sunday...SJ wanted to try out her new camera lens she had bought the previous day...its a new zoom lens and pretty impressive...

Sales Meeting

Another Sales Meeting this week, this time in Bristol at The Hilton hotel. Was OK...a little quiet as we were three people down, one whose wife was having a baby, one whose wife was going a little strange and one who was quite violently ill aftert only being there for half a day! Anyway, the hotel was alright but the food was pretty good. I also ventured into the Sauna/Steam Room/JAcuzzi and Swimming Pool on the second day so that was good...

This weekend I'm picking SJ up from the station this afternoon, tonight I don't think we're doing a lot as I've got to pick my parents up from the Satation as well at 8:30...they've gone to see the Grand Designs show at the NEC today. Tomorrow we'll be watching the Rugby in Bar Sport in Cannock then we're also going out in Cannock with L & R later that evening...should be good fun!

Oh, and we'll be watching the Grand Prix on Sunday...Lewis Hamilton could be World Champion...

Plans...

This weekend I'm off to London. I'm going down with J & R and I'm picking them up about 3:30. I think tonight we'll be watching the rugby in a pub somewhere...not too sure about the rest of the weekend to be honest, although I'm sure a lot of drinking will be had by all!

Wedding...

On Saturday night we went to The Bonser Suite at Bescot stadium. It was the wedding of C & J. Wasn't a bad night, the suite was OK...nothing spectacular I don't think...my dad took us and picked us up so no taxi fare, thank god...it would have been a bit expensive!

They actually got married in Great Wyrley but had their reception in Walsall...bit of a distance I must say...!

On Sunday afternoon, aside from the paddling pool, we also took the two Moot's for a walk with Harry, a black labrador owned by SJ's friends J & R. Harry was absolutely petrified of Indi & Chief and it didn't help that they weren't overly keen on him!

We wandered around Shareshill & Calf Heath and by the time we walked back, they were getting on OK. It was also an opportunity for SJ to try out Chief on Cani X. This is something she wants to try out this winter and we thought we'd give Chief a whirl to see how he got on. He didn't do too badly, although it was too warm really and the bungee he was attached too was a bit long. We'll try it again on a cooler day and with a shorter lead on think...

Paddling Pool

We went into Telford on Saturday to do a spot of shopping...joy of joys...but we did end up buying a new present for Indi & Chief. Take a look at the video below...they absolutely loved the pool...Chief was so funny as he kept trying to dunk Indi's head in the pool!

More dogs...

We decided to do the Follow The Dog Trail on Sinday evening after we'd been round to my parents. So we started off at about 6:30, thinking we had plenty of time before it got dark. Incidentally, the car park closed at "dusk". Now, just when is "dusk"? IS that as it starts to get dark or when it is dark? Anyway, that was another minor niggle but still...

So off we trot around the course and we get to the big hill in the middle and its starting to get really quite dark. There was no way we would have got round the rest of the course. What we'd failed to realise is that in the wooded parts of the trail, its dark in daylight, let alone in "dusk". Anyway, we cut short the ride and headed back down to the car park by road...

The test...

Well, the Moot's failed again. In all fairness, I didn't expect Chief to pass but I did have some hope for Indi...still, it wasn't meant to be...Chief did great heelwork but not good Stay's whereas Indi did OK Stay's (not great) but rubbish heelwork anyway. Its really annoying as I would like to progress to the next class but I just can't seem to get them through this damn test! I do have one excuse though, today was the hottest day of the year..not great for Malamutes!

A night at the proms...

On Saturday SJ and I went to Shugborough for their Night At The Proms spectacular. This is an annual event where you take chairs/tables food and lots of drink, sit in the open air in front of a stage and watch a "proms spectacular" This year, like last, was hosted by Angela Rippon. There was quite a few of us who went, about 15 in total. It was pretty good really, they had a Spitfire doing flyby's at the start and fireworks at the end. All in all a goo night even though it did take quite a bit of stumbling around to find my dad who was picking us up!

New Zealand or bust

So today was the last day that SJ had to spend with her parents before they go to New Zealand on the 1st August (next week SJ can't come up here). We spent Saturday looking for some houses in Harpenden, St Albans and the surrounding areas. On Saturday night, we went for a Chinese around SJ's parents house followed by a few drinks at The Elms.

On Sunday, I invited them all over to my house for some dinner as they hadn't seen my house and I guess they'd be wondering about where their daughter would be spending most of her time whilst they're away!

All seemed to go well, I think they liked the house and approved so that's good.

On Sunday night, SJ and I went to see the new Transformers movie. We went to Gold Class at Star City. It was really good. I was a bit unsure as to what SJ would make of it - she's not exactly a film buff - but she quite liked it I think. There's not a lot of plot but the action is unstoppable. I'll be getting it on DVD when its out anyway!

Birthday -Safari Park

So, today is my birthday! Yay! Weather is pretty rubbish, absolutely throwing it down with rain but never mind...

We decided to go the West Midlands Safari Park. At least here, it doesn't matter about the weather as you're in your car. Well, it took us ages to get there, the traffic was dreadful. Anyway, we got there and headed in to the Park. I enquired as to the monkey's but was informed that there isn't any anymore so my car aerial was safe. The first section was the zebra's and antelopes. It was funny actually as they suss out whether you have any food or not...if you haven't they ignore you and move onto the next car! Following that, you move round to the wolves, tigers, lions and elephants. The white tigers and the white lions are the big draw here and youc an see why, They are absolutely stunning. I didn't realise that the white lions and tigers are not albino, they are a recognised type of cat. The best/worst part was the African Wild Dog section. Now, as we came through the gate, these dogs looked a bit lively but as soon as we got into the section, they swarmed round the car, surrounding it front, sides and rear...I couldn't move forwards as I would have run over them and I thought that was probably a bad move!! Eventually I inched forward and escaped the mob, but even as I was driving away, one of them was hanging onto the exhaust! It took a ranger driving up behind me to scare it off. I checked round the car later and despite the noise of teeth on metal and the general manhandling of the car, there didn't appear to be a mark on it! Amazing...

Following that we went to the Wolseley Arms for a meal and then out into Cannock on the night. Was a great day and made all the more enjoyable as I was sharing it with SJ...ahhh...

July - the birthday month...

July is basically a month of birthdays for me and my friends...the first of which was Mark's on the 7th. We caught the train into Birmingham, something we should do more often actually as its pretty convenient, and met the others in Brum. We started off in the Joint Stock. Not been in there before but it was a nice place. Apparently it was a bank prior to being the pub it is now. It also has a theatre within it which I couldn't quite get my head around but still....

After Joint Stock we went for a meal at Bella Italia, I think this used to be called Bella Pasta but for whatever reason its now called Bella Italia. I had pizza...surprise, surprise. It was really , really nice and I would go their again. After here, we went to Bachus, a bar underneath The Burlington Hotel. Again...very, very nice...