Lunch at home with James & Lisa

James, Lisa, Ciceli and baby Rufus came around for lunch. Georgina is Rufus' godmother.

Ruby Naming and Georgina's Ball

Big and busy day today. First stop was down to the hairdressers to get Georgina's hair done for the school Ball. This took about an hour.

Then it was off down to Gary & Lisa's for Ruby's naming service. Got there about 12:30 - in time for the start at 1:00. It was great to see Mum & Dad and of course Gary, Lisa & Ruby.

Service went off well and great food afterwards. Sadly had to rush off again to get back in time for the Ball.

Quick change by Georgina into a dress that was far too short and off we went.

Pick up at 11:00.

Sofas away and Christmas tree

Truely horrible day weather wise. Worked from home.

Eventually the Transport company arrived to take our sofa and matress back to Italy. With a bit of luck they should arrive sometime next week.

Bought a small christmas tree and then decorations by Jayne & Georgina.

Carol concert in Bath Abbey

Yearly Kingswood school Carol concert in Bath Abbey. Packed as always but great atmosphere. Pity about the bad weather outside.

Bath Xmas market has started - very busy.

Packed up Sofa and matress ready for shipping tommorrow. Updated blog

Day in Leeds

Day trip up to Leeds for a workshop on TV over broadband.

Found out that Marks & Spencers started in a market stall in Leeds.

Train was fine, although after 4 hours each way I was pleased to get home.

Quite weekend with a cold

Very quite weekend, resting and getting over the cold I picked up while away.

Mum & Dad arrive & back from travels

Mum & Dad arrrived safely in UK today. Gary picked them up. I arived back from travels in Paris & Bratislava.

Bratislava

Swiss alps from plane; coming into land; fields outside Bratislava

Street corner & tramlines; Bratislava xmas market in old town

Orange Slovensko offices

Paris

Trip to Paris and Bratislava. Lunch with Kabira on Tuesday was nice (near Opera).

Matress delivered and busy travel week

George - Grade 5 saxaphone

Sunday around the house, clearing up first.
George heard she passed her Grade 5 saxaphone - a Merit (4 points from a distinction).
I did some online xmas shopping

Dinner at our place - Mark, Barbara, Graeme & Marion

Day was spent getting ready for dinner party. Menu was:

• Marinated mozzarella, ciabatta & tomatoes on herb salad
• Pork tenderloin stuffed with dried fruit; bacon & sherry vinagrette
• Black Forest Gateaux - Heston

Black forrest took the longest by far. Taste was good but stucture needed improving. Contained - madeline base, flourless chocolate sponge, chocolate cake, kirsch cream, chocolate ganache, cherries & chocolate mousse.

Jayne and George went off rowing in the afternoon. Not actually rowing but helping out with the racing

Rowing, Cycling & wood

Took George down to rowing and then headed off on my bike. Went along the bike path and got to the center of Bristol and back again - about 30 miles. Got back just as George was finishing.

Firewood had been delivered in the morning and while George was doing prep Jayne and I got it all stacked in around the back.

Went to Catherine and Chris' for dinner - really enjoyable evening. Couldn't start Jaynes car so had to take mine

Bandages off

Apointment at Frenchay hospital at 10:30. This time it was very efficient and thankfully fingers are healing really well so was able to lose teh bandages. It is so much nicer to be able to wash your hands properly again.

Called into work and put expenses in.

Review of ISAC slides with Lucien in the afternoon went well.

George got top of her class in Physics !?!?!

Dressing changed

Went to doctors surgery to get dressing changed

George grade 5 sax exam

Took George to her Grade 5 sax exam in Batheaston. It went fairly well, although like me always think could do better. We await the results....

Frenchay hospital

I had an appointment at 11:00 at Frenchay hospital, Bristol to get fingers checked. Unfortunately 'they' didn't have the appointment so I ended up going between departments and wasting a lot of time. Finally got seen and they were very professional, friendly & appologetic.

Went into Bristol to try and find a matress for Italy however no joy. Felt like a wasted day just sitting around.

Fingers burnt 2

Went down to Walk-in center, first thing (open at 10:00). A bit of a queue however was seen fairly fast. Suggested to go to Frenchay hospital burns unit tommorrow to get fingers checked properly.

Fingers burnt

Plans for the day - chop up some wood and meet Sherryl, Paul & Girls for luch at Firehouse restaurant.

Unfortunately I managed to burn my fingers on the chainsaw in the morning. Went down to the Bath Walk-in center and had to wait a couple of hours, so missed lunch. Jayne and George went to restaurant. Nurse suggested I come back tommorrow morning to get dressing changed and fingers checked.

Quiet night in.

My birthday

Number 47.

Lovely fine day.
It's a bit busy in the morning so decided to keep cards and presents till the evening.
Took the car for MOT and passed first time - (as most times)

George cooked dinner - steak and a fantastic chocolate cake - from the new Italia magazine.

SOme lovely cards and main present was coffee grinder.

All in all a pleasant day

Paris for a night

Trip to Paris - one night for IS Alignment meeting preparation
George in Germany all week - back on Friday 26th

Judith from Germany

Judith, exchange student from Germany, is here for the week

Now we own the Virgoletta apartment

Pictures are: Notary entrance; Views of the terrace; Our stuff in the kitchen

A busy week, culminating in us owning our apartment in Virgoletta. Bottle of Dom Perignon on the terrace - on Dad's Birthday.

Inside Virgoletta

Some pictures inside the village of Virgoletta.

On the way to buy an apartment

Dads handrail

Pics of Dad's new handrail down the drive.

Visit to Toulouse

Work trip to our development team in Toulouse with Kiruba. It was his first time to France.


Interesting restaurant - L'entrecote - completely packed, had to quese and all they did was 1 dish - Entrecote steak and chips. I thought it was fab - Kiruba wasn't convinced.

Georgina gliding

This was a birthday present for Georgina - a session gliding. She enjoyed it but didn't want to follow up.

Glorious summer evening

Day was spent in the garden - weeding, mowing, strimming and general tidying.


BBQ for dinner and relaxing watching the view - a glorious evening.

Bank holiday weekend

Glorious sunny day on Saturday and I spent the morning taking more rendering off. It is coming along really well. See here for the latest.

Fairly quiet on the apartment front. Heard back from estate agent - the vendors don't want to sell the bed and bedroom furniture. Currently thinking of buying a bed here and taking it over.

Annie & Davids for dinner.

Bluetooth speakers

Bought some bluetooth speakers from Orange shop in Cribbs, for the apartment. They are great and were only £27 (on sale plus I got discount). More details here.