Michelle and I have come away on holiday for a few days.
This has meant we have had to get on a plane. This in turn means we have had to go to an airport. In this case; Heathrow.
What is it about airports that turns normaly sane, rational and polite people into utter morons incapable of thinking outside of their own selfish wants and needs?
Today I have seen Brownian motion in action with people. They wander round the departure lounge in seemingly random directions with no sense of direction ;indeed no sense, and get in other people's way seemingly deliberately; certainly with no thought whatsoever for the consequences of their actions. I talk here, of course, of 'Homo Airportensis' a category of Homo Sapiens, with very little of the Sapiens. I have seen goldfish move around with more thought and purpose than these primitive creatures. The humble mollusc has more social awareness. Show these beings a duty free shop and all pretence of civilisation disappears. They do have self awareness, more like a two year old, but any resemblance to a human being is quickly dispersed once a bargain is spotted in the numerous emporia in the terminal building.
I sometimes wonder whether the building is aptly named; in that we are witnessing the terminal decline of human beings.
Fortunately my torture is short lived and we are directed towards th gate where our flight will depart. Unfortunately my fellow passengers are also pointed in this direction. How do the ground staff cope with the incessant flow of idiots, who think they have to get on the plane before anyone else. The social inadequacies come to the fore again. Don't these people realise that,once they and their luggage have been checked in the plane will not depart without them unless they stubbornly refuse to board that is.
The staff had tried to assert some form of control over the flying public and so tried to have the passengers board in a particular order. We were, of course, the lowest of the low and were amongst the last to be called. We saw our more fortunate fellow travellers depart on a bus marked Helsinki. I was slightly worried here, was this a bus replacement service? If so, it was very crowded and there appeared to be no toilet facilities. A three day journey seemed out of the question really. My dismay turned to relief, when the bus we were on stopped at a parked aircraft and the contents of the bus disgorged itself towards the steps leading into the plane.
We are now firmly ensconced in our hotel room in Helsinki where I a writing this. We are both looking forward to the next few days, though I think that I really ought to have applied for a few more credit cards.
I would have liked to be able to travel over to Turku during this trip to some good friends. Unfortunately I don't think that is possible this time. The good news though is that I may well be going there for work fairly soon.
Tomorrow, as they say, is another day and this time there will be a different sort of Brownian motion. This is Homo Shoppingensis, a species dominated by the need to shop, and almost uncontrollable when the word 'Ale' (Finnish for sale)appears in the shops.
We arrived safely, went to our first restaurant of the holiday an finished in the bar on the top floor of the Torni Hotel.
We are both looking forward to the rest of the holiday and the great food and drink. We will, naturally, also be experiencing all the culture Helsinki has to offer, Fazer chocolate, ice hockey and Koskenkorva.
After a few Kosus, I think we will probably indulge in a little Brownian motion of our own, trying to get back to the hotel.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Friday, 20 January 2012
The Countdown has started
Only a few days to go now and I will be on holiday.
In the meantime, however, I'm still in Dundee commissioning. We're close to the end of this stage and should be finished by the time I get away on Tuesday. Once in production there shouldn't be too much standby, so by the time I get home from holiday there should be a brief free couple of weeks before the next phase for some golf.
I'm really looking forward to the break and the chance to lose some more balls. Hopefully the weather won't be too bad. There will be a couple of trips to the driving range required, I've almost forgotten how to swing a golf bat. Once I come back up to Scotland the days will be getting longer and the opportunity to play here will arise. Fortunately there's plenty of room in the boot of the car for the clubs.
I also can't wait to see Michelle, I've really missed her, and the rest of the family of course. We bought our iPads so that we could use FaceTime to keep in contact , but unfortunately the wifi in the hotel has been poor and we've been unable to use it. With any luck when I come back next time I'll be in a room with better reception.
There has also been very little time to blog, and certainly nothing really interesting to blog about. No exploits down the pub, I've been really boring and generally getting back to my room between 9 and 10 o'clock, and even staying in 3 nights a week! A far cry from when I last did this job, a combination of age and a desire not to look like a barrage balloon.
Tonight I've got back early, hence the blog, the downside is that I'm going back into work for tonight's run. It's an important one so there will be two of us in, hopefully we won't be too late as we're back into work tomorrow morning.
Still it will be one day closer to home,
In the meantime, however, I'm still in Dundee commissioning. We're close to the end of this stage and should be finished by the time I get away on Tuesday. Once in production there shouldn't be too much standby, so by the time I get home from holiday there should be a brief free couple of weeks before the next phase for some golf.
I'm really looking forward to the break and the chance to lose some more balls. Hopefully the weather won't be too bad. There will be a couple of trips to the driving range required, I've almost forgotten how to swing a golf bat. Once I come back up to Scotland the days will be getting longer and the opportunity to play here will arise. Fortunately there's plenty of room in the boot of the car for the clubs.
I also can't wait to see Michelle, I've really missed her, and the rest of the family of course. We bought our iPads so that we could use FaceTime to keep in contact , but unfortunately the wifi in the hotel has been poor and we've been unable to use it. With any luck when I come back next time I'll be in a room with better reception.
There has also been very little time to blog, and certainly nothing really interesting to blog about. No exploits down the pub, I've been really boring and generally getting back to my room between 9 and 10 o'clock, and even staying in 3 nights a week! A far cry from when I last did this job, a combination of age and a desire not to look like a barrage balloon.
Tonight I've got back early, hence the blog, the downside is that I'm going back into work for tonight's run. It's an important one so there will be two of us in, hopefully we won't be too late as we're back into work tomorrow morning.
Still it will be one day closer to home,
Saturday, 31 December 2011
A Farewell Round
On Wednesday I played my final round of golf as a full member of the club.
Next year I will have social membership only, this means that I will have to pay to play, although it will only be £20.50 per round and I will be able to play anytime I'm available.
We arrived early for a little practice beforehand.Unfortunately whilst we were whacking balls all over the place on the range, in a good imitation of my actual game, many people arrived and started queueing by the first tee. We tried a bit of putting practice and than waited our turn. While we stood by the first tee, a solitary golfist cam along and we invited him to join us. This is a little difficult for me as I get slightly intimidated when playing with people I don't know; it manifested itself as my tee shot only ran 20 yards along the ground. Ignoring this, I took another whack and placed my ball slap bang in the middle of the fairway near the top of the hill. The second shot was pretty good, followed by a couple of duffers but my fifth left the ball a couple of inches from the hole leaving an easy putt for a creditable 1 over par 6. So far so good.
I doubled my score on the second; no, not a total of 12 shots, but 12 shots for the hole! Oh dear intimidation city here we come. The par 3 third is best left unmentioned, but on the fourth I played a blinder. The tee shot went straight and further than I had before on this hole. The green on this hole is off to the right of the fairway down a hill. It is possible for a big hitter to drive the green, but most mortals stick to the fairway. I pitched towards the flag but left the ball just on the fringe, however a further chip put me next to the hole. So my first par of the day.
Normal service resumed on the fifth but the sixth was a good hole, only 2 over on the hardest hole on the course, well according to the SI, actually the twelfth is harder.
The seventh; although well over 500 yards, has been a good hole for me. Not on this day, a 14 was not really going to get me below a sub 100 round. The eighth was not much better but I made par on the ninth, followed by a couple of decentish holes. The twelfth is usually my nemesis and this was no exception. The short par 3 thirteenth was another par.What was going on? My game was going up and down more often than a disreputable lady's under garments!
And so to the fourteenth. The tee shot did a rawhide after bouncing off the ladies' tee box. The second flew long and hard into a staked tree, making a very loud bang as the protective cover took a bashing. The ball was unplayable so, after free drop, I lined up my third shot. It started low and was just starting rise when about 15 yards into its flight it hit a very very narrow tree trunk slap bang in the middle. The ball rocketed back finishing about 10 yards further back from where it had started. How could I have hit a tree that narrow? I usually can't hit a fairway 80 yards wide! I did get onto the green 2 shots later and 2 putted to finish off.
Two further disaster holes saw me on the seventeenth tee. I decided to use the driver, and bugger me it flew straight and further than I normally achieve on this hole. I managed a very creditable 2 over par 7.
We proceed to the eighteenth, my last hole for 2011, and my last at the club for who knows how long.
I hit a beautiful long tee shot with my driver which flew skywards and again, further than I have hit before on this hole. The only problem was it had landed over the trees on the first fairway! Undaunted, I hit a magnificent shot back over the trees to finish 20 yards short of the green. I was flying, at last. Unfortunately, not for the first time, my short game let me down. I took a further 4 shots to finish 2 over for the hole.
All in all it was a typical round for me shots, mixed with some bloody awful ones. This actually summed up the past year for us, some really good times, mixed with some truly awful ones. If ever golf was a metaphor for life, then my final round of the year was magnificently appropriate!
Today is New Year's Eve, so all that remains is for me to wish a Happy New Year to all of you who take time to read my ramblings. I look forward to blogging again in 2012.
So Happy New Year, and don't lose too many balls!
Next year I will have social membership only, this means that I will have to pay to play, although it will only be £20.50 per round and I will be able to play anytime I'm available.
We arrived early for a little practice beforehand.Unfortunately whilst we were whacking balls all over the place on the range, in a good imitation of my actual game, many people arrived and started queueing by the first tee. We tried a bit of putting practice and than waited our turn. While we stood by the first tee, a solitary golfist cam along and we invited him to join us. This is a little difficult for me as I get slightly intimidated when playing with people I don't know; it manifested itself as my tee shot only ran 20 yards along the ground. Ignoring this, I took another whack and placed my ball slap bang in the middle of the fairway near the top of the hill. The second shot was pretty good, followed by a couple of duffers but my fifth left the ball a couple of inches from the hole leaving an easy putt for a creditable 1 over par 6. So far so good.
I doubled my score on the second; no, not a total of 12 shots, but 12 shots for the hole! Oh dear intimidation city here we come. The par 3 third is best left unmentioned, but on the fourth I played a blinder. The tee shot went straight and further than I had before on this hole. The green on this hole is off to the right of the fairway down a hill. It is possible for a big hitter to drive the green, but most mortals stick to the fairway. I pitched towards the flag but left the ball just on the fringe, however a further chip put me next to the hole. So my first par of the day.
Normal service resumed on the fifth but the sixth was a good hole, only 2 over on the hardest hole on the course, well according to the SI, actually the twelfth is harder.
The seventh; although well over 500 yards, has been a good hole for me. Not on this day, a 14 was not really going to get me below a sub 100 round. The eighth was not much better but I made par on the ninth, followed by a couple of decentish holes. The twelfth is usually my nemesis and this was no exception. The short par 3 thirteenth was another par.What was going on? My game was going up and down more often than a disreputable lady's under garments!
And so to the fourteenth. The tee shot did a rawhide after bouncing off the ladies' tee box. The second flew long and hard into a staked tree, making a very loud bang as the protective cover took a bashing. The ball was unplayable so, after free drop, I lined up my third shot. It started low and was just starting rise when about 15 yards into its flight it hit a very very narrow tree trunk slap bang in the middle. The ball rocketed back finishing about 10 yards further back from where it had started. How could I have hit a tree that narrow? I usually can't hit a fairway 80 yards wide! I did get onto the green 2 shots later and 2 putted to finish off.
Two further disaster holes saw me on the seventeenth tee. I decided to use the driver, and bugger me it flew straight and further than I normally achieve on this hole. I managed a very creditable 2 over par 7.
We proceed to the eighteenth, my last hole for 2011, and my last at the club for who knows how long.
I hit a beautiful long tee shot with my driver which flew skywards and again, further than I have hit before on this hole. The only problem was it had landed over the trees on the first fairway! Undaunted, I hit a magnificent shot back over the trees to finish 20 yards short of the green. I was flying, at last. Unfortunately, not for the first time, my short game let me down. I took a further 4 shots to finish 2 over for the hole.
All in all it was a typical round for me shots, mixed with some bloody awful ones. This actually summed up the past year for us, some really good times, mixed with some truly awful ones. If ever golf was a metaphor for life, then my final round of the year was magnificently appropriate!
Today is New Year's Eve, so all that remains is for me to wish a Happy New Year to all of you who take time to read my ramblings. I look forward to blogging again in 2012.
So Happy New Year, and don't lose too many balls!
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
A Pleasant Afternoon
I flew back from Scotland on Friday morning.
The weekend had been planned for some time. It was Ross's birthday on Tuesday; so a night out at an Indian restaurant had been planned. It was also our wedding anniversary, Michelle's, her mum's and sister-in-law's birthday; thus another night out was arranged for Sunday. Of course there was also the small matter of the Portsmouth v Southampton match on Sunday afternoon!
Saturday afternoon was free and Michelle, bless her, had arranged with Ross for me to go a-golfing with him. Thus it was that Ross called for me in his gentleman's conveyance, well Tracey's conveyance actually, at noon. It was a C class Mercedes estate of similar vintage to my previous car. On arrival at them club we found that there were no bookings Fi them rest o f the day so we went straight out. There were a couple of problems, however. First of all, it was winter tees. This was no great shakes really, but the second one was; temporary greens! In other words no point in trying to putt whatsoever.
My tee shot at the first was straight but not very long; it was on the fairway however. Ross had put his over to the right making for a difficult second shot. I soon found that a long break had made little difference to my golf; I was as awful as ever. We had decided not to score the round, but to use matchplay. This resulted in me going one up after the first hole; hitch I won 9 to 10. The second was worse and Ross levelled the score.
Ross won the next two holes, but I did pull one back at the fifth. I never really managed to do well after this, and by the tie we got to the twelfth Ross was 6 up with 6 to play. At the par 3 thirteen I got the score to 5 with 5 to play, but despite a great tee shot on the fourteenth, Ross won the hole making the rest f the round irrelevant. We still wanted to play but we were stuck behind a very slow 3 ball, we decided to cut across and replay the eighth before repairing to the bar for a well earned pint.
I am determined this will not be the last time I play the course before I turn my membership to social, so we have arranged to play sometime between Christmas and New Year.
Sunday was a bit of a contrast, it was 'Derby Day'; this meant road closures in Portsmouth and an early start as the kick off was to be at 1 pm. Michelle and I got to her mum's around 10, had a cup of tea and then wandered off to the ground. It wasn't quite a full house but the atmosphere was electric and threatening.
The final score was Portsmouth 1 Southampton 1; a fair result at the end of the day. Fortunately the was litte trouble and we got home safely at 4.
We returned later to pickup Michelle's mum and go for a triple birthday dinner at Gunwharf.
I returned to Dundee the following day and then drove back home on Thursday. Christmas has been great, we have eaten far too much but tomorrow I can start walking it off; Ross and I are off to play golf.
The weekend had been planned for some time. It was Ross's birthday on Tuesday; so a night out at an Indian restaurant had been planned. It was also our wedding anniversary, Michelle's, her mum's and sister-in-law's birthday; thus another night out was arranged for Sunday. Of course there was also the small matter of the Portsmouth v Southampton match on Sunday afternoon!
Saturday afternoon was free and Michelle, bless her, had arranged with Ross for me to go a-golfing with him. Thus it was that Ross called for me in his gentleman's conveyance, well Tracey's conveyance actually, at noon. It was a C class Mercedes estate of similar vintage to my previous car. On arrival at them club we found that there were no bookings Fi them rest o f the day so we went straight out. There were a couple of problems, however. First of all, it was winter tees. This was no great shakes really, but the second one was; temporary greens! In other words no point in trying to putt whatsoever.
My tee shot at the first was straight but not very long; it was on the fairway however. Ross had put his over to the right making for a difficult second shot. I soon found that a long break had made little difference to my golf; I was as awful as ever. We had decided not to score the round, but to use matchplay. This resulted in me going one up after the first hole; hitch I won 9 to 10. The second was worse and Ross levelled the score.
Ross won the next two holes, but I did pull one back at the fifth. I never really managed to do well after this, and by the tie we got to the twelfth Ross was 6 up with 6 to play. At the par 3 thirteen I got the score to 5 with 5 to play, but despite a great tee shot on the fourteenth, Ross won the hole making the rest f the round irrelevant. We still wanted to play but we were stuck behind a very slow 3 ball, we decided to cut across and replay the eighth before repairing to the bar for a well earned pint.
I am determined this will not be the last time I play the course before I turn my membership to social, so we have arranged to play sometime between Christmas and New Year.
Sunday was a bit of a contrast, it was 'Derby Day'; this meant road closures in Portsmouth and an early start as the kick off was to be at 1 pm. Michelle and I got to her mum's around 10, had a cup of tea and then wandered off to the ground. It wasn't quite a full house but the atmosphere was electric and threatening.
The final score was Portsmouth 1 Southampton 1; a fair result at the end of the day. Fortunately the was litte trouble and we got home safely at 4.
We returned later to pickup Michelle's mum and go for a triple birthday dinner at Gunwharf.
I returned to Dundee the following day and then drove back home on Thursday. Christmas has been great, we have eaten far too much but tomorrow I can start walking it off; Ross and I are off to play golf.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Living the High Life!
I have been back in work for 7 weeks now and have spent the entire time (excluding weekends) living in hotels. Well just 2 actually; one in Milton Keynes and one here in Scotland.
If you think that staying in hotels is glamourous and you live the high life; think again. During my time in MK, I stayed in a lovely old coaching inn.
I had 4 different rooms during the 6 weeks I was there. Each had their own characteristics; one had a bath with a fixed shower off the taps but you couldn't reach the controls from outside the bath as the sink was next to the bath and a wooden post holding up the ceiling. Another had a bathroom so small you could turn the shower on from the toilet! The third had a floor that meant the table needed cardboard under a couple of the legs to keep it level and I rolled into the middle of the bed. The telly was small and at the other end of a long room so you needed binoculars.
My favourite room had a large telly and not too far from the bed. The bathroom had an interesting feature; it had a sloping ceiling and I was just the right height so when I went to the loo my head brushed the slope at the correct distance from the toilet, a handy feature if drunk!
I also spent 'glamourous' nights in my room eating salad as I tried to keep the weight off. This was to counter the occasional curry and beer. Even then most nights I was in bed by 8.30.
This last week I have been staying in a place called Broughty Ferry, near Dundee. There are five of us and tonight is the first I have managed to stay in my room and eat Slimming World food. I will try and stay in a couple of more times this week and watch telly or read.
I'm off home on Friday, just for the weekend. I will be flying from Edinburgh to Southampton; I hope the weather doesn't turn nasty as we are going out for our wedding anniversary, Ross's birthday and Michelle's mum's birthday. Besides all that we also have to fit in the game against Southampton.
On Monday I fly back up here to work, for a rest.
If you think that staying in hotels is glamourous and you live the high life; think again. During my time in MK, I stayed in a lovely old coaching inn.
I had 4 different rooms during the 6 weeks I was there. Each had their own characteristics; one had a bath with a fixed shower off the taps but you couldn't reach the controls from outside the bath as the sink was next to the bath and a wooden post holding up the ceiling. Another had a bathroom so small you could turn the shower on from the toilet! The third had a floor that meant the table needed cardboard under a couple of the legs to keep it level and I rolled into the middle of the bed. The telly was small and at the other end of a long room so you needed binoculars.
My favourite room had a large telly and not too far from the bed. The bathroom had an interesting feature; it had a sloping ceiling and I was just the right height so when I went to the loo my head brushed the slope at the correct distance from the toilet, a handy feature if drunk!
I also spent 'glamourous' nights in my room eating salad as I tried to keep the weight off. This was to counter the occasional curry and beer. Even then most nights I was in bed by 8.30.
This last week I have been staying in a place called Broughty Ferry, near Dundee. There are five of us and tonight is the first I have managed to stay in my room and eat Slimming World food. I will try and stay in a couple of more times this week and watch telly or read.
I'm off home on Friday, just for the weekend. I will be flying from Edinburgh to Southampton; I hope the weather doesn't turn nasty as we are going out for our wedding anniversary, Ross's birthday and Michelle's mum's birthday. Besides all that we also have to fit in the game against Southampton.
On Monday I fly back up here to work, for a rest.
Thursday, 1 December 2011
Sorry about the lack of posts!
It's been quite a while since my last post; for which I apologise.
I was in Milton Keynes all this time (ok, I went home at weekends) where I was preparing for the job I am on now. On Monday I travelled to Dundee for a press refurbishment. I realised a couple of days ago that when I arrived on site, on Tuesday, it was 12 months to the date since I last set foot in a press hall. It's been a tough time for us since then but now things have picked up significantly and, although I have to be away from home, I am doing a job I know and love.
As part of my preparation for coming to Dundee I looked up local golf courses. St Andrews and Carnoustie are not far away, but in all honesty I really don't think they are ready for my style of golf, so I shall not grace them with my presence, yet!
There are some much nearer courses; one of which is about 2 minutes away fom the site and is quite cheap. I will, however have to wait until the spring or later to play as I don't think there will be much time to get out there. As the job is going on until next October a round after work is definitely on the cards due to the long, long days.
Michelle has had to cope with me being away and has done so magnificently; although she was ill for a week. She is going down to 2 days a week after Christmas giving her some time to write her book. This will also mean that she'll be able to visit me at weekends occasionally. It's also been tough as her Grandma and father have been ill. Hopefully they will recover soon.
The situation at Pompey has also taken a turn for the worse, hopefully a new buyer will surface soon. I am able to get to the next two home games, including Southampton! I just hope they aren't our last.
This time last year Pompey were in the doodah and I was about to leave the print industry. This year I am back in the print and Pompey are still in the doodah.
Bugger knows what next December holds!
I was in Milton Keynes all this time (ok, I went home at weekends) where I was preparing for the job I am on now. On Monday I travelled to Dundee for a press refurbishment. I realised a couple of days ago that when I arrived on site, on Tuesday, it was 12 months to the date since I last set foot in a press hall. It's been a tough time for us since then but now things have picked up significantly and, although I have to be away from home, I am doing a job I know and love.
As part of my preparation for coming to Dundee I looked up local golf courses. St Andrews and Carnoustie are not far away, but in all honesty I really don't think they are ready for my style of golf, so I shall not grace them with my presence, yet!
There are some much nearer courses; one of which is about 2 minutes away fom the site and is quite cheap. I will, however have to wait until the spring or later to play as I don't think there will be much time to get out there. As the job is going on until next October a round after work is definitely on the cards due to the long, long days.
Michelle has had to cope with me being away and has done so magnificently; although she was ill for a week. She is going down to 2 days a week after Christmas giving her some time to write her book. This will also mean that she'll be able to visit me at weekends occasionally. It's also been tough as her Grandma and father have been ill. Hopefully they will recover soon.
The situation at Pompey has also taken a turn for the worse, hopefully a new buyer will surface soon. I am able to get to the next two home games, including Southampton! I just hope they aren't our last.
This time last year Pompey were in the doodah and I was about to leave the print industry. This year I am back in the print and Pompey are still in the doodah.
Bugger knows what next December holds!
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
50 not out!
Well, I've finally made it; today is my 50th birthday! I never thought I'd get this far; especially in my 20s as I was convinced my liver would give up the ghost. This was exacerbated by becoming a commissioning engineer and drinking on expenses.
Survived I have, however, and am now firmly in the land of the middle aged. I don't feel middle aged though, I still feel young even if my knees are knackered and I play golf.
I'm still in Milton Keyes training and will be here for a couple more weeks, with time off for good behaviour at weekends. Yesterday, though, I had the best surprise of my life. Trying to lose weight, I have been staying in my hotel room in the evening and eating salads from Asda. I finished my repast and retired to bed for a splendid evening of televisual pleasure, it was 10 past 7 of the evening clock. There were knockings on my door; I got out of bed and hastily dressed. The hotel duty manageress presented herself and said unto me that, as it was my birthday, I had been upgraded and a bigger and better room awaited downstairs. She then offered to help me move my stuff. My inquiry as to how they knew it was my 50th birthday went unanswered but I went along with her to my new room. We entered and I placed my suitcase down on the extra bed (yes, extra bed, this room was much bigger than my hitherto residence). I caught a glimpse of movement in the corner of my eye and looked around to see Michelle coming out of the ensuite to give me a kiss and a hug!
I was speechless; this was the best birthday present I could ever have. Michelle had come straight up from work and had planned this in advance. After fetching her car and suitcase, she changed out of her work clothes and we went to the pub for a steak and much beer; so much for the diet
We had a wonderful evening and, ahem, birthday celebration. Unfortunately, due to her running a Slimmimg World group on a Wednesday night, and having to be in Waterstones in Petersfield, Michelle had to leave right after breakfast.
This evening I went out for a splendid curry and some marvellous beer in the pub opposite. All in all, I've had a brilliant birthday; certainly a lot better than I thought it was going to be.
Saturday evening we're off out for a meal with friends to round off the week.
My liver still has a lot of work to do.
Survived I have, however, and am now firmly in the land of the middle aged. I don't feel middle aged though, I still feel young even if my knees are knackered and I play golf.
I'm still in Milton Keyes training and will be here for a couple more weeks, with time off for good behaviour at weekends. Yesterday, though, I had the best surprise of my life. Trying to lose weight, I have been staying in my hotel room in the evening and eating salads from Asda. I finished my repast and retired to bed for a splendid evening of televisual pleasure, it was 10 past 7 of the evening clock. There were knockings on my door; I got out of bed and hastily dressed. The hotel duty manageress presented herself and said unto me that, as it was my birthday, I had been upgraded and a bigger and better room awaited downstairs. She then offered to help me move my stuff. My inquiry as to how they knew it was my 50th birthday went unanswered but I went along with her to my new room. We entered and I placed my suitcase down on the extra bed (yes, extra bed, this room was much bigger than my hitherto residence). I caught a glimpse of movement in the corner of my eye and looked around to see Michelle coming out of the ensuite to give me a kiss and a hug!
I was speechless; this was the best birthday present I could ever have. Michelle had come straight up from work and had planned this in advance. After fetching her car and suitcase, she changed out of her work clothes and we went to the pub for a steak and much beer; so much for the diet
We had a wonderful evening and, ahem, birthday celebration. Unfortunately, due to her running a Slimmimg World group on a Wednesday night, and having to be in Waterstones in Petersfield, Michelle had to leave right after breakfast.
This evening I went out for a splendid curry and some marvellous beer in the pub opposite. All in all, I've had a brilliant birthday; certainly a lot better than I thought it was going to be.
Saturday evening we're off out for a meal with friends to round off the week.
My liver still has a lot of work to do.
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