After last week's running around at meetings and working late, we stayed in on Friday night and watched a DVD from the library again - Love Actually - quite a good film - amusing and very relaxing.

Saturday played for the 2's - now played for all the men's teams except the vintage - fortunately I don't quite qualify for them yet.  We drew 3-3 with the team who were equal top - quite a good result - not too disappointed with my own performance - bit easy again though to be honest - this meant though for the last 10 minutes I tried to dribble up my own arse past the whole of the team trying to find a winner - though this is how I set up the first goal.  Good to see Simon Mould at City of Oxford - chatted with him in the bar afterward with Rebecca falling asleep which was handy.

Saturday evening went to Drew's UK wedding reception at the sports club - very busy evening. Saw some old friends as well - Andy Pearce and Charlie down there too which was good - as well as the usual suspects.  Had to go home at 10.30 as was so shattered.

Yesterday morning looked after Rebecca whilst Sarah was out helping with Junior Hockey practice at Newland Park - then put up the remaining 4 fence panels with my neighbour Simon - did it quite quickly - but we'll see how long they last.  Got to put up a fence at the back sometime soon but that is going to be very dificult with many trees and part of an original old wrought iron fence x 2 still lurking.  Also trimmed the lawn and pruned the roses - still a lot to do to put the garden to bed - but good to have finally done something - feels like I've done nothing since Rebecca was born - as everyone predicted!

Now got to work flat out all week to catch up again with my paid for work...

Been out most of the week at meetings - which is quite annoying as it means I can't actually get any work done - and its all very stop start.  My inbox is back to overflowing again - which means I'll have to work Sunday again to get it cleared - I'm out at meetings all day again today!

Did go to an interesting meeting yesterday though - a multinational much larger than anyone I've dealt with before, they want an email campaign to their option database, the web site optimised and a pay per click strategy devised - a very exciting opportunity.

Playing hockey for the second XI tomorrow - they are playing the next to top team so that'll be interesting!  But it means I'd have played for all five teams this season already!  The 1's picked up some nasty injuries from their game against Ramgarhia Slough hockey club at the weekend.

Last night finally swapped over my decent sound card and speakers from my old machine to my works machine - don't know why I didn't do that ages ago - going to buy a massive hard drive for all the music now - well about 160GB - they are so cheap its unbelievable.  When I used to work for Connexe Peripherals - a hard drive distributor, the price never went below £100 even for the smallest drive (the biggest was about 80MB back then!!).

Well done and good luck to Simon Green who today becomes the official licencee landlord or the Waggon and Horses in CSP.  My most frequented haunt in Chalfont St Peter as it is the closest to me - and the friendly service we always receive.

I'm sure he'll do well as he has been manager for the past few years and has some great ideas for the future.

Went to the Waggon again last night - with Martin and Simon (neighbour) - and I had a brilliant evening - the place was fairly empty but I felt like I was laughing most of the evening - top entertainment.   Great to see Earnie as well last night - popped in for a couple.

Back to earth this morning - still trying to get my October invoicing completed - trying to think of some interesting things to put in the October newsletter which accompanies the invoices / monthly web stats and general commentry.

You'll be delighted to know I put the bird table back out yesterday, and the pair of Nuthatches were straight back on it - as were some sparrows and tits - not sure which of the latter - might be the coal tit again. 

Friday night went down the Waggon with my neighbour Simon, played some darts and had too much to drink (as the athlete I am for the next day's hockey!!).  Also bumped in to Beanie down there which was a pleasant surprise so chatted to him most of evening.

Next day hopped out of bed at 7am to attend to a noisy Rebecca, in the middle of changing her nappy when I realised how bad I felt!  Sarah wondered why I had lept out and could have left her a bit longe!! whoops.

Played for the 3rd XI vs Bracknell - we really should have won - they were bottom by a long way and we lost 4-3.  First time I've ever seen a goalkeeper be sent off - that honour goes to Geoff who was rather too vocal about the short corner being outside when struck.  Never mind - hopefully lessons were learnt (the hard way).  I managed to nick a goal and did a great run to set up the third - but had terrible cramp at the end of the game and couldn't move!! Maybe one lager too many the previous night....  Mark Stevenson up front though really does look like a quality prospect for the future - his first goal was superb - I hope he sticks at it as I'm sure he could be 1's in the next few years and go on to be a great club asset.

Stayed in last night - baby sitting, Sarah went to the fireworks at the sports club.  I left at about 7.20 after an EGM for minor amendments to our constitution to enable us to claim more money off our business rates amongst other things and the place was buzzing - I trust it was a good evening - hopefully someone took some photos and I can put it on the club web site.  I was tucked up in bed by 10.45, knackered.

She has now figured out how to roll over to one side as of yesterday. Sticks her legs in the air, then falls to her right hand side (she doesn't seem to be able to do left yet!).  The look of concentration is highly amusing.  Rebecca is from today having more bottle feeds rather than just the 10.30pm feed - Sarah has done very well to get this far. 

Playing hockey for the 3's tomorrow against Bracknell I think. Looking forward to it - we still haven't managed to get to have a look at a gym to join - which kind of indicates that if we can't even look at one - we er aren't actually going to go that often...

Finally getting through the backlog, and as predicted, feeling ill again - sore throat and swelling knee.

Anyway, launched another small web site http://www.arrowgeophysics.co.uk - rather interesting - and its in Eastbourne so can put the travel to my parents on business as I combine the two!!  Did finish another one last night but internal only so can't tell you about it!

Went to a sports club meeting last night, there is some concern that the men's fifth team is going to be lost.  I feel rather upset and disappointed at that - when we merged (amersham and chalfont) I warned that if there was existing apathy in the two clubs then it would simply transfer - that's a little harsh maybe as the two were a great fit - astro + club house - and the ladies are really strong nowadays.  However, I feel I am able to say my disappointment as someone who has been there and done it - when I took over the 3rd XI in chalfont days and two months later was getting out a 4th XI.  I hope the hockey committee can come up with some proposals ASAP and get the board backing to ensure its survival as inevitably it will lead to the 4th xi disappearing and we are then smaller than when we merged.  The bottom team is unfortunately always dificult to run - made more dificult when there isn't a captain.  I did contemplate taking it over again but am unable to complete my existing duties let alone anything additional.

The photos are now up in the photo gallery - yes lots of Rebecca - some of her being absolutely delightful.  She really came in to her own on the trip - she was a little angel - and was impeccably behaved throughout the actual wedding.  She had just learnt to do a number of new things (yes something new every day its brilliant) such as squealing when she's happy trying to chat - that just melts my heart every time and sucking her thumb loads now (just like her Dad!). She is also grabbing the bottle when I'm feeding her at night.  All extremely cool and wonderful.

Oh yes. Italy.  Drew got married in Ravello - an absolutely beautiful place - must say I wasn't overly impressed with the rest of it though.  Glide over to the photos for more commentry and info - also some of Pompeii if you are interested!