The last day...

Tonight is the last training session before THE TEST on Sunday. Just my luck, that this falls on April Fools Day! Is hould add that for those who are not up to speed, this is Indi's obedience test. She and I are taking it for the second time round as we didn't pass it last time. I'm feeling more confident this time as I know she can do what is asked from her...last time she couldn't but I went for the experience anyway. So, for the last two weeks we have been doing practice runs for the test and she would have passed on both occasions. I'm starting to feel the pressure now...hopefully all will go OK tonight as well.

I must say though I am a little apprehensive because if she does pass she'll be in the Intermediate class - a whole new ball game entirely where it is extremely hard (I think).

Incidentally Chief is booked in to start his lessons from 11th April on a Thursday. Problem is, the class doesn't start till 8:30. Chief has normally been asleep for about two hours by then!

Intrac

Took the dogs to have their kennel cough vaccinations today. This is a vaccine that is administered through the nose. Indi was fine but the vet and I were chasing Chief around the room! He didn't like it at all! Still, it was OK in the end...

I also went over to see D & C's new house. They moved yesterday so popped round with the dawgs. Its a nice place over in Essington. The dogs had a good run round in the back garden (and a drink out the pond)!

Don David

Had an unexpected dinner invite today. R rang up and asked if I wanted to pop round for a beer. So, off I went, had a couple of Stella's then they asked if I'd like to stay for tea (obviously I did!). Had steak, chips &....something!. Was very nice, think the something was mushrooms onions and celery? The wine was Don David, now this was something special. Really, really nice. Apparently it was bought from West End Wine - a small shop just down the road. I think I'm going to have to go and get some!

We also decided to get the dogs to know each other better so we don't have to keep leaving them in if we go round each others house.

Well, the car passed its MOT - wonders will never cease! I still don't know how though as the indicator is still not working. Still its good for another couple of months. Hopefully the RAV 4 will be here in about 6 weeks. Can't wait!

Also went down to Bournemouth, was OK...nothing special...took my customers - CT. They seemed to have a good time. I didn't have a lot to drink and was able to be back on Saturday morning at 8:15. Talking of Saturday, I went over the Chase and had a good walk around. I also started to clean the grout in the kitchen floor. This has gradually started to turn brown with grime (it should be light grey). Cleaned it all off and then applied some grout protector, this should keep it looking (relatively) good.

Went over to Cannock on Saturday night. R & L cam out along with A & C. Was a good night I thought. Usual places (Bank, Bar Sport, etc). Sunday was a relatively quiet day. Did a spot more on the floor, watched the MotoGP, took the dogs for a walk and that was about it! It was nice to have a quiet couple of days though...

Plans for the weeks ahead

Thought I'd take a little bit of time to outline my plans for the upcoming few weeks. Today, I have to catch a train for the first time in years. It's only from Rugeley to Birmingham but I'm actually quite looking forward to it. The reason I'm doing this is to go and collect my car from the garage where its having its MOT. Normally my Dad would take me but he's not around today so I droped the car off last night and am fetching it back today (hope it passes)!

Tomorrow, I'm heading off to Bournemouth where I have to attend the IMC Dinner at The Wessex Hotel. I went last year and it was OK. Nothing spectacular but OK. I've got to stay the night so I'm a bit worried about Chiefy as he has been waking earlier and earlier (today it was 6:00). When he wakes he cries and whimpers and I don't think my neighbours appreciate it at that time in the morning.

Off out as well on Saturday night, L & R are supposed to be coming out for the first time in ages so it should be a good night. They were supposed to be out last week but unfortunately, their daughter was ill - the joys of kids...

Oh I should say as well that I'm seeing my solicitor on Friday. I've had to change solicitor as I was unhappy with the service I was receiving from my last one. Hopefully all seems to be progressing quite smoothly now. There've been a couple of hiccups along the way but I think we've finally managed to get things on track. The divorce petition has been issued and the financial settlement agreed. Now, it just needs documenting and signing. We should be able to do this in the next week or so with a bit of luck.

Next week I've got a relatively quiet week. The glazing company are coming to replace the patio window (again) on Monday. They came a couple of weeks ago but realised after they'd taken the window out that they'd brought the wrong size replacement with them!

D & C are moving house hopefully on the 27th so I said I'd give them a hand if I could. Problem is I'm also in Rugby in the morning so not sure what help I'll be able to offer though. Still if I can get finished early enough I'll pop over to see if I can lift some boxes etc.

I've got a week off soon as well. I'm finishing on the 5th, then returning to work on the 16th. Not a bad holiday. Officially its only a week off work but because of the Easter holidays, I am having in effect a week and a half off work. I've also got to take my parents to the airport on Easter Saturday. They're going to Mexico for a fortnight...lucky beggars!

Bloody tyres!!!!!!!!

My car's MOT is due to expire on Sunday so I've booked it in for an MOT today (Thursday). When I was on the phone to the guy at the garage he suggested that I take it to Kwik-Fit first just to check if it needed any tyres prior to the MOT. Good idea I thought...off I go to Kwik-Fit, where a fitter checked the tyres over and said 2 were fine, however 2 were borderline. As the car is leased, the lease company tends to want the tyres to be illegal before they are replaced so he suggested I come back on the following week (this week) as more would have worn down. So, I go back to Kwik-Fit on Tuesday of this week where I see another chap. He tells me that all 4 need replacing and 3 are illegal! Of course, they don't have them in stock so I have a bit of a nervous wait to see if the tyres come in to be fitted in readiness for the car's MOST today! If the tyres were that bad, why didn't the first Kwik-Fit guy pick up on this? This could all have been sorted out last week. Anyway, as it happened the tyres did come in, although I had to wait over 2 hours for them to be fitted. So much for "Kwik"-Fit!

Camera woes...

I think I've finally managed to get my camera sorted out. I currently use a Canon IXUS 750. It's very nice and easy to use but for some reason I've always struggled to get a decent picture. Anyway, I've been playing around with the settings and seem to have hit on a suitable mix of exposure, ISO, AF, etc. Hopefully some of the shots that I take should now be better!

and not to be left out...

Indi...

Chief pics

Managed to get some good pics of Chief today...hope you like them...

Richmond & PArking Wardens

Had to travel to Richmond today for work. They are renowned for their pretty much anti-car policy. They were the borough that attempted to ban 4 x 4's a while back...anyway I paid £6 to leave the car for 4 hours, however I thought it was £6 for 6 hours. I was therefore a little annoyed to find that on my return I had a nice parking ticket as I was 9 minutes over the allotted 4 hours! This will now cost me £40! Bloody parking wardens!