Open Spaces, Work, Knees - anything else?

Went to an open spaces meeting on Monday night, was feeling a bit rough but they aren't usually that long. Just the four of us there + the clerk so only just quorat. A few interesting things came up on the agenda, St Peter's garden the trees need seeing too so we agreed to have three sycamores and one other thinned - it was the recommended solution - the residents have been mentioning it for 10 years apparently. We also agreed to install a new dog bin for £200 odd quid + twice weekly collections of £2.50 each I think it was - one on Austenwood Common next to bull lane - all the others overflow apparently - good that dog walkers are now being considerate. There was also the helter skelter issue on Gold Hill to address - how we are going to replace it. The Parish has about £6k budgeted for it, but would be great if this was matched by Chiltern and also maybe other companies or organisations as the play equipments lasts so much longer than just one years budget.

Rebecca is being her usual super cool self - had a bit of a cold but she is galloping away - she shouted out 'oh yes' to Sarah the other morning when she woke her up and kept repeating it! Nursery write in her daily log book that she is a cheeky monkey - wonder where she gets that from - must be sarah. Gave her her first clementine this week after nursery:



This weekend I'm playing hockey for the 2's as usual against Sonning away - as usual it won't be an easy game for the team. My knees are really painful today, bit odd as they don't normally hurt, just swell up and that is the reason for the pain - bit swollen but just painful when I stand or walk on them - fine when sitting down - forget about it - all very odd. At least my temperature has gone down anyway and I'm not feeling exhausted today - didn't go down the pub as a precaution though - and probably won't drink or hardly anything for the rest of this year.

Plenty of work achieved this week - some great results coming through at CSE and Cater For You. I think J & J is stuck due to the previous hosting arrangement - so Google thinks it is a new site and has sandboxed it unfortunately. Not done my November invoicing yet either - whoops. Someone mentioned Christmas shopping as well - suppose I ought to look in to that soon. Going to think more seriously about taking someone on to help out in the New Year / Spring time - I definitely cannot cope - but how much do you pay someone - what type of person am I looking for - some serious thought needs to go in to it.

I've lost my old passport as well - have finally completed the forms to get it renewed and cannot find the old one anywhere - good job we don't need it for Wales in the New Year. Wonder if i'll get withdrawl symptoms from my PC as I'm away from it for a week - will be very strange.

Flippin' ill again

Went out with a few bods on Thursday night to the White Hart Quiz - then went straight down ill again and still ill this morning - so not drinking again for at least the rest of December - possibly longer. Anyway, tried to carry on as normal so went out with Gary Able for lunch on Friday at the Village Hall and very pleasant it was too. Great to see Gary again - he was full of beans as usual - though I think he was a bit perplexed at my lack of interest in hockey! Stayed in on Friday night - nothing on television - amazing - might have to start buying some DVD's - didn't feel up to working you see!

Saturday woke up with a temperature of 101 which was nice. Didn't want to let Jim down yet again though so turned up to hockey - we had a strong team and 13 - so I could have pulled out - I played centre forward and right half - didn't play noticeably any worse than normal - is that saying much I'm not sure. Came home and went straight to sleep on the sofa which is most unusual - didn't even make the club house for a tea again. Finally woke up and went out in the evening to Ask in Amersham with a few people who we don't normally socialise with and we really enjoyed it - so hopefully will be invited out again for another one of those. Meal was very tasty too.

Sunday morning I was feeling rotten but had the pleasure of looking after Rebecca as Sarah was at Junior hockey - she cheered me up no end! We popped round the corner to the shop and then cooked a roast chicken ready for when sarah got back from hockey. Actually did a spot of gardening in the afternoon for an hour or two - which I thoroughly enjoyed - then back on the sofa for the rest of the day!! It also dawned on me that i'd better start enjoying hockey again as its probably my last year or being able to play regularly - knowing what it was like with sarah and I last year and working around each other. So might turn up to training more and get my enthusiasm back up again for it - hopefully improve my general fitness and not go down ill so bloody much.

Sarah with Rebecca on Sunday night - Sarah is getting larger now with No. 2 baby and Rebecca is growing well too. She is now saying a few words and understands quite a lot as well - except when we say no and she sneaks behind the television and looks back at us with such a cheeky grin!!


Anyway, its Monday morning now, my first CSE mailer is going out today arriving on desks tomorrow - only a small tester for an ABB Drive special offer - if it works though it will justify doing some more. Also just realised its end of month time so need to do my own accounts!