Category: Pic of the week

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They think its all over …

Pic of the week 24/6/18

… for Sophie, it is.

She had her last exam on Friday (Sam had his last exam last week) and so the whole house breathes again and begins to relax, at least until mid-August when results start coming in.

I’ve got another week to go – feel I have finally broken the back of the year: still a busy week ahead, but the glistening prize can be glimpsed glittering in the distance …

In other news, its hot, hot, hot, and set to be all week (lets hope it last well into the hols and doesn’t breakdown at the end of the week.)

England beat Panama 6-1 today in the World Cup, two wins in the first two games, already qualified for the knock out stages, despite history, enough to make one begin to dream …

Ran 10K today in 47m 6 secs, reckon my knee is better!

‘Till next week, when the long summer holiday loom …

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Milestones

Pic of the week 17/6/18

The end of an era.

Sam had is final GCSE exam on Friday, his last day at the Blue School, the last time Sophie drove them both in to school, the last day they went to school together. Sophie has another couple of exams this week, then its all over for her too.

No pick of the week from last week as Becky & I went to “Pub in the Park”, mainly to see Scouting for Girls who were, as ever, excellent.  They originally topped the bill, but were bumped down the order to make way fro Squeeze, who were good, but not as good as Roy and his mates.  First up were The Rifles who were good, well worth watching and would, I reckon, be a great act in a small, intimate venue.

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Decking, Park Run & Robin’s Nest

Pic of the week 3/6/18

So half term draws to a sunny conclusion.

Weatherwise, its been an odd one – started of hot & sunny, but by Tuesday that changed and it has, at times, been wet, wet, wet. But yesterday and today have been scorchio – brilliant azure blue skies.

Midweek I set to building the new (final?) deck and graveling in front of the sitting room French doors. All materials bought from Bradfords, am pleased with the results.

Yesterday I ran my first Park Run. Enjoyed it, running with others was an enjoyable change, and good for my pace. Ran the 5k in 22:49, the fastest I have run since my injury and it did help me run a little quicker today (ran my 7K loop.) Will run the Park Run again in the hols.

And we’ve got a robin nesting in one of the small metal trugs opposite the kitchen door.  Its been flitting in and out all week and now there are eggs in the nest. Hope they survive the attentions of the neighbourhood cats …

On the garden front,  at the start of this week I pulled up the Forget Me Nots and at the end of the week, planted runner bean and pea seeds.

Mini brake warning light came in so booked it in for the pads to be changed. Alas, the anti-rattle spring had corroded into the brake caliper (dis-similar metal corrosion: spring is aluminium, caliper, steel) so had to have a new caliper as well. Ouch! No change from £470. At least the sun has been shining, allowing some top down motoring, which is fun.

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Sue Woods Award

Pic of the week 27/5/18

On Friday, I was the very proud recipient of the annual Sue Woods Spirit of Millfield Award for contributions to Millfield Sport and beyond.

For the last four years I have been the fixtures secretary for Millfield Football, booking fixtures, food, transport, kits, pitches … Always the first to arrive at our Kingweston pitches and the last to leave, meeting, greeting and hosting opposition from Premier League academy sides, through to local schools. I’ve also managed to find the time to referee a fair few games, too.

I am proud of the part that I have played in Millfield Football, one of the nations top footballing schools and to receive a sports award from the top sports school in the country was a particular honour.

Half term has now begun, after a ropey start weather-wise, the sun has begun to shine, a week to put the feet up & enjoy the garden.

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Pipped at the post

Pic of the week 13/5/18

Going in to the final day of the season I was sat in fourth place in the predictor league, with a slim 35 point lead over 5th place.

As the games unfolded I looked in a strong position, until about 10 mins from time Palace got a second goal to beat WBA 2-0 giving “Beanabennet” a  90 pointer as he had that exact score on his banker, and pipping me to the money places at the death.

Not sure I shall “stat” next season – do get the sense I’ve just been going through the motions a bit.  Who knows, maybe come August …

Anyway, on a more positive note, the better weather has returned, had some lovely red skies last night, enjoy the pics below.

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Where did that go?

Pic of the week 29/4/18

Well, where did that week go?

It seems like only moments that I was sat here writing last week’s blog post.

So this week, I have gone back to school, the weather has gone from hot, hot, hot to chuffing cold, my knee has made a slow improvement – still not full working order yet, but now walking with a “just” a limp and not the full Herr Flick (as I was described by a colleague on Monday.)  Went spinning on Friday and today – great to do some exercise and also felt good for the knee , “loosening” it up. It also felt a lot better after yoga on Wednesday. Have a physio appointment on Tuesday.

Boiler gave up the ghost on Friday evening, now producing no hot water, no matter what you do. Have a man coming on Tuesday to install and fit a new boiler.

In fact, now I think of it, Tuesday should be an important day, the start of a new era: new boiler, new mortgage (Yorkshire bank offset) and new me (I hope!) after the physio sorts out my knee.

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Maximum Jeff

Same T-shirt, two Jeff’s

Pic of the week 22/4/18

I had plenty to write about today, but (probably I’ve got plenty to write about because I’ve been busy) today’s post will be reduced to a series of bullet points for brevity.

  • What a difference a day five years makes!  Same T-shirt, two different me’s. The first picture was taken in the summer of 2013, the right hand shot yesterday. Becky & I went to see “The Band” at the Bristol Hippodrome and the pic was taken after lunch, en-route to the show, which included my favourite line:
  • “You are looking at maximum Jeff.”  Show was great, but it did continue the tendency to stereotype “Jeff’s” as middle aged, boring, old men. Couldn’t be further from the truth!
  • As this post is, in part, dedicated to my vanity, it is only appropriate that I record my first “waxing” – on Thursday I had my back done, not as painful as I feared!
  • The weather has, at last, been fantastic. From Tuesday we’ve had wall to wall sunshine and, apparently, the hottest April day since the ’70s. After the cold wet Spring we’ve had, the good weather was long overdue.
  • Garden notes: planted up some lobelia, geraniums, hostas.  Gave everywhere a good tidy.  Over seeded the (barren looking) lawn.
  • Boiler – on Friday the boiler annoyingly started playing up, only giving hot water intermittently.  Can trick it into action (turn hot tap on, turn boiler off and then on) and it will (usually) stabilise and maintain hot water. But a pain. My money is on the PCB …
  • My knee continues to improve, but still not able to walk normally.  A lot less painful than it was and I have been able to swim on Friday and today.  Not sure if I’ve just forgotten how to walk!
  • Back to school tomorrow, holidays are over.  Still, the summer term is always the best (and the shortest. Are the two related, I wonder?)
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49!

Pic of the week 1/4/18

Turned 49 on Wednesday!

A big day, had a lovely cake, lots of presents and played football (staff v leavers 4 – 4), before staggering through to the start of the Easter holidays.

Age is taking its toll – hurt my right knee (twisted? swollen) playing football on Wednesday, was hobbling badly on Thursday.  Managed to go swimming today (Sunday) 48 lengths (on mile) first exercise for sum time (other than playing football). Still conscious of my tooth – not really hurting, but I think its a bit of fear that the pain could return.  Am having it out a week tomorrow, not looking forward to the procedure and pain, but am looking forward to it all being sorted.

Had a big family gathering last night at Ask, lovely to see everyone again.

Weather is rubbish – Friday was wet, wet, wet and tomorrow promises more rain. Its cold. A few green shoots on plants but we haven’t had any springlike weather. One begins to doubt that summer will ever come …

 

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Tooth part II

Pic of the week 25/3/18

So, a week ago I was in pain. Mind bending, throbbing pain. I woke on Monday morning and I was no better.  I couldn’t go on like that.

Phoned “my” dentist – nothing they could do for me until my appointment on 26th (tomorrow!) Given the number for Somerset emergency dental, called them up and they got me an appointment for that afternoon (Monday 19th March)

Dentist had a look, took an x-ray and diagnosed an abscess.  Gave me a big injection and my face froze. The dentist began her work – not exactly sure what she did, but I was euphoric – no pain for the first time in days, combined with whatever was in the anesthetic, combined with the knowledge it was going to be sorted. Bliss.

A mini vacuum hoovered around in my mouth, I was bashed & beaten – apparently the abscess was drained, packed with antibiotics and fillings placed over my teeth.  I picked up a prescription of antibiotics and headed home, happy as Larry.

A few hours later, the anesthetic wore off and the pain returned, I was worried that the problem hadn’t been sorted.  But as the days moved on, so the pain became less – today is my first pain-relief free day.

Back to the dentist tomorrow for my scheduled appointment, to find out what my dental future holds.

In other news – clocks went forward today, accompanied by sun & blue skies, the first hint of spring, although its due to leave us again next week for more rain & cold.  And I booked two tickets for Deacon Blue in Portsmouth in November – something to look forward, other than the absence of dental pain and the warm weather that must, surely, just be round the corner.

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Mother’s Day

Pic of the week 11/3/18

Mother’s Day.

I’m struggling for words, other than I have the best mum possible for my two wonderful children.