Monday 7 May 2012 (Bank Holiday)

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Georgina woke at 3am and wanted to chat before she eventually went back to sleep nearer to 4am. She also wanted me to read whilst she got back to sleep. I was very tired this morning, but as I had promised Luc a trip to Mersea Island, I got up earlier than I would have liked.

I cut the lawn for the first time in ages and tried to fix the pool heater. The grass looks great but the pool heater still isn't working.

I made rolls for the picnic and then we all set off for Mersea Island including Buddy. It's a lovely drive to Mersea Island on the B1026 and B1025 and we listened to Five Go to Mystery Moor and Five On A Treasure Island. We decided to go to the Country Park at East Mersea where it was very windy and quite cold but the children still had a good time on the beach and Buddy enjoyed running round. We went home via Danbury in order to drive through the ford but then got stuck next to a 4x4 with an enormous caravan!

When we got home, the weather was sunny and quite warm. I had yet another attempt at getting the pool to work. I played a bit of football in the garden with Luc in the evening sunshine.

Sunday 6 May 2012

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We went to Southend to do the Rotary Pier Walk. It was raining and windy as we drove to Southend, but fortunately the rain stopped but even so it was cold and windy. We met Chris (Julie's Aunt) and we walked all the way to the end of the pier and back. Georgie managed the walk as well.

We stopped off at the end of the pier for an ice cream and looked at the in-shore life boats. I had to yomp most of the way back to the car as we had only put 2 hours on the parking meter. It was an off-shore wind blowing so it was a less happy walk back. We were all given medals for completing the walk.  There was lots going on in the estuary. As the tide was in there were lots of dinghies and yachts sailing including lasers, Dart 16s and lots of small keel boats with an S on the sail.

At the End of The Pier

We had a picnic in the car and then went to Tesco for a few bits of shopping and clothes for the children, the bill was more than £100.

Jack and Jean called in  to say hello before dinner. Fulham won again, this time beating Sunderland 2-1 at home to go eighth in the Premier League table. Elsewhere, Manchester City beat Newcastle to top the Premier League table with 1 game to play.

Saturday 5 May 2012

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I woke up to pouring rain and was worried that Luc and my trip to Danbury would be ruined. However, it hadn't rained at Danbury and stayed dry all morning although the ford had flooded when we drove round to take a look at it before checking in at the Danbury Outdoor Centre.

Luc did bushman skills and archery and did really well. He really enjoyed the archery.

Whilst Luc wa doing his activities, I did the same run around Danbury as last week but set off far too fast and subsequently suffered all the way round without going that much faster overall. The course took me 1 hour 13 minutes and 9 seconds which was 30 seconds faster than last week. There were loads of cyclists on the roads and at one point I was zig-zagging across the road to avoid the bikes.

In the afternoon, we all went to Basildon and bought clothes for Luc's and George's "Build A Bear". We also bought Luc some lego with Luc's W.H. Smith's voucher.

I watched the FA Cup Final in which Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-1. Chelsea were 2-0 up and cruising to victory, but Liverpool substitute Andy Carroll nearly turned it around. The Cup Final controversially kicked off at 5.15pm which suited our family time-table.

I had the rest of yesterday's excellent Indian take-away for dinner.

Luc played with Charlie, Harvey, Mitchell and Megan this evening. He also built his lego.

Friday 4 May 2012

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I slept very well, probably because Georgie slept through the night. I finished reading "The Falcon's Malteser" by Anthony Horowitz before I got up. It was a very light easy read and the pages seem to fly past. Consequently in the last 7 days, I've read "The Devil and His Boy" which was an historical drama - my first ever book in this genre - set in the reign of Elizabeth 1 and, of course, "Scorpia Rising". I really enjoyed all three books even though they are very different.

It's a Bank Holiday weekend and the weather looks like being cold and cloudy. As I've got plans for us all to spend the next few days outside, it isn't looking promising. 

I had my mid year review at work and it went ok. It certainly has got me inspired to achieve more in the next 3 months but particularly in the next month. I'm hoping to create some video content.

The traffic at Sadlers Farm tonight on the A130 was really light largely due to an accident or incident just north of the junction of the A129 and A1245. It delayed my journey by 10 minutes but I sailed through the rest of my journey. I could see tow trucks, police and fire engines with hazard lights flashing but I couldn't tell what had happened.


We are now expecting frost tonight (in May) so I put the plant pots into the summer house. The tomato plants are already looking poorly.

My treat for dinner is an Indian take away from the Village Balti House. It was absolutely brilliant. 

Luc played with Harvey and Mitchell this evening. Luc played in Harvey's garden and ended up watching a movie at Harvey's house - he really enjoyed himself and outstayed his welcome!.

 

Thursday 3 May 2012

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Julie wasn't feeling well, so I dropped Luc off at school. It was raining and the traffic on Canvey was ridiculous so I had to drop the car off in a side street and run with Luc to school. The snotty headteacher was in the play ground to look down her nose at the children and parents as they arrived. Consequently, I arrived a bit late for work this morning.

In spite of my diet, I have a yearning for pizza that only a Friday night Dominos pizza will solve.  There's something wrong when I'm looking forward to a meal that I probably won't actually have tomorrow.

This evening, I had  chicken and pasta for the third day running for dinner.

Luc did some excellent homework again.

Watched a very poor game of football as West Ham bullied Cardiff 2-0 in the first leg of the Championship play-offs.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

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Georgie woke up again in the night and ended up in the spare bed.  Her cough seems no better at night, but it's barely noticeable during the day.


The traffic layout has changed again at Sadlers Farm roundabout and I ended up going down the A13 and having to take A132 to work via Basildon. Consequently, I was late.


The Sun newspaper has done a front page news item on Roy Hodgson's inability to pronounce his "r"s. Clearly, that will be the difference between success and failure at the forthcoming European Championships.

A more productive day at work.

All sorts of drama awaited me when I got home. The pool heater is installed but not working and Karen and Steve (2 parents) had a fight in the playground when Julie picked Luc up from school.


Luc did his homework without making much fuss. It was to add up the numbers on a telephone keypad and Luc did it easily.

Watched Spurs thrash Bolton 4-1 away. I think it's now Wolves, Bolton and Blackburn for the drop. Wigan play Blackburn on Monday, whilst Bolton play West Brom and QPR play Stoke on Sunday.

Tuesday 1 May 2012

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An earlier start to the day than normal as it was dustbin day and I had a meeting re the estimating success rate and the costs of estimating. Some baffoon had left their rubbish bag out overnight in Palmerston Road so their was rubbish strewn all over the place.


Luc had an appointment at the Lighthouse Centre today to discuss his ADHD. He looked a bit of a sight as he had fallen off his scooter yesterday and had a cut over his eye and cuts and bruises on his legs and arms. I met Julie and Luc there and it went ok.

It's been confirmed that Roy Hodgson is the new England football manager.I expressed my guarded satisfaction on his potential appointment yesterday and I hope he brings about the start of a summer of sporting success ahead of the 2012 London Olympics.

A new regime at home for Luc and he has to be in at 7.15pm and then can read quietly before bed. As it was the Doctor's directive, Luc seems to have accepted it!

Unbelievably, Fulham beat Liverpool at Anfield tonight 1-0!