Electrician for en-suite

Had electrician around to put in fan in bathroom and sort out lights.

Georges GCSE exams start

First exam today - Music. Last exam 15 June

Evening of cheese

George's last official concert at school - Evening of Cheese(y music). Black tie - it all went very well. We did not go - mainly due to foot.

Freecycle.org

Used Freecycle.org to advertise a few things we did not want. The basic idea is that you post a message on a website and if people are interested they contact you and arrange collection. No money changes hands. Got rid of old scanner, some of Jaynes OU books, sink & toilet etc.

Paris trip postponed

Did plan to go to Paris to UQS workshop however had to cancel as could not walk. Took a couple of days off work resting.

Cut foot in garden - anzac day

While working in front garden I stood on something that went through wellies and cut the sole of my right foot. Don't know what it was. Went to A&E for x-ray, bandage & tetanus injection. Catherine & Chris came around to dinner and George did most of the cooking - what a star.

Gartner Agile event in Egham

Drove up to Egham for a Gartner workshop on agile development. Jayne & George went to see Aunty Brenda.

Easter in Italy

Wednesday 8th April
Up @ 4am, away by 5, breakfast at airport. Flight was on time and a couple of hours later were in Pisa. Lunch at a pizza restaurant and then Georgina & I went up the tower while Jayne waited at the bottom. Great views and the lean was really odd - especially walking around the top. Georgina tried out her new camera. Left Pisa mid afternoon, stopped for food shoping in Aulla. Prices have gone up alot - was €100 for a few bags. Apartment was fine and the central heating worked this time (although we didn't need it). Cup of tea and relaxation on the terrace. Fish & salad for dinner

Thursday 9th
Had a little sleep in til 9. Jayne & I went to Aulla to get me a couple of shirts and shorts - weather was warmer than we thought. Also bought a few more food items for dinner. Prio to shopping had a lovely caffe in Bagnone - ahh the coffee is fantastic! Lovely, warm and sunny day sitting outside. George was at the apartment revising :-( Saw Catherine briefly. Lunch at home outside on the terrace then some reading and more relaxing. Later afternoon we all headed out for a drive to try and see Angela (not there) and Catherins (busy with clients). Went to Opillo (heard it had a great restaurant) although didn't find it. Tiny village, not much to see. Had a wander around Malgrate castle. Home for dinner - pasta with asparagus, pears, pinenuts & lemon. Almond torte for afters.

Friday 10th - Good Friday

Pontremoli caffe : my bicycle : card shop in pontremoli

Bike ride in the morning to Pontremoli - very pleasant and had coffee and pastry in the main square. Everything was open (Good Friday). Note to self - add "holidays" info to apartment web site info. My hayfever was really bad - sneezing - obviously not a good time of year. Relaxed at home in the afternoon. Roast lamb & beans for dinner - yum.

Saturday 11th
Went to see Angela first thing and had a coffee (how many is that? I'm not counting) with her. She is well and B&B is steady. Went to Aulla market - plenty of cheap clothes but very limited food. Had lunch in Piazza Cavour at a nice winebar. Excellent choice of wine. Spent afternoon relaxing on terrace (where have I heard that before?). Takeaway pizza for dinner

Very large Easter Eggs in Aulla

Sunday 12th - Easter Sunday
Chocolate Easter egg for breakfast and then long bikeride (30miles?). Lunch on terrace, very warm and sunny afternoon

Bike ride route.


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Monday 13th - Easter Monday
Met Angela and friends in Villafranca and then headed up to Zeri (famous for lamb) for lunch. Beautiful sunny day. Lunch 25€ all you can eat and drink - brilliant value, excellent food - antipasti, several pastas, various combinations of lamb and vegatables, dessert, coffee and some unknown but very tasty firewater. After this went to a place called Bosco - at the end of a road in the middle of nowhere. A nice little village. Stopped at a lovely waterfall along the way. Back to one of Angelas friends (Gigi) for a drink & coffee. He runs the theatre in Bagnone and we talked about having a food and cinema (cucina & cinema) event in the summer when we return. Basically - watch a film about food then eat the food - sounds good to me!

waterfall & village of Bosco

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Tuesday - just potted about home - not the best of weather. Got all packed up

Wednesday - early start, drove to Pisa and eventually got home to Bath mid afternoon.

Orange Wednesdays

George, Jayne & I went to Pizza Express then cinema (The Boat the Rocked) - both 2 for 1 deals as part of Orange Wednesdays. Had to queue for about 1/2 hour for restaurant - who said there is a recession?

Georges 16th birthday party & Mothering Sunday

Mother Day Flowers (choosen by George). George & Rebecca. Some of the birthday cards

It was a beautiful sunny day

People that came: Vivienne, Claire, Will, Gary, Lisa, Ruby, Andy, Elaine, Hector, Lisa, Cecily, Sherryl, Rebecca, Rachel & of course George, Jayne & Lloyd

Menu:

• French Onion soup
• Paella
• BBQ legs of lamb
• Roased root vegetables
• Liquorice & Pear gateaux
• Orange & Walnut tart
• Triffle (made by George)
• Brazillian Chocolate cake

Claire & Elaine. Claire & Hector. Vivienne & Ruby

Cicely & triffle. DIY BBQ for the lamb

22nd Wedding Anniversary

Our 22nd wedding anniversary. Bought a bottle of Dom Perignon - Jaynes favourite. Not for drinking just yet!

Went into town early and did some food shopping. Spent most of the day preparing for party tommorrow.

The girls (Jayne, George, Vivienne & Claire) went into town shopping.

Takeaway Indian for dinner

Dans engagement

After lunch at pub in Theale for Dans engagement

plumbers here

Mike and Phil the plumbers are here for a week putting in our new bathroom.

Dinner at raven Pub

Met Jayne in town after work and had drinks in Salamander then dinner at Raven pub - excellent pies

Work trip to Warsaw

A busy few weeks travel wise.

Wednesday (4th) morning I caught train up to Heathrow (excellent service) and then flew to Warsaw from Terminal 5. Evening was spent... Stopped off on the way to dinner and had an excellent hot chocolate at Staroswiecki Sklep. Seemed to be the normal thing to do.

First thing Thursday morning I gave a telephone presentation on Agile development to France Telecom IT Executive Committee - seemed to go well. After this, a quick dash to the office to run a workshop for the rest of the day.

Wandered around the old town. The restaurant I was hoping to go to Podwale Piwna Kompania was completely full at 7pm.

Friday morning was workshop again and then headed to airport after lunch. Got there early and relaxed waiting for plane. Everthing was on time and I even managed to get an earler train home - getting to Bath about 9:30pm

Work trip to Marseille

Flight Wednesday morning at 8:30 - Bristol to Nice. Picked up rental car at Nice airport and drove to Marseille. Lovely sunny weather. Went to hotel first (arrived about 3:30) and the made way to FT Office on metro.
Jeanne & Nicolas took me out in the evening - first to a bar for an aperitif and then on to a very nice (expensive) fish restaurant - L'Epuisette.
Work on Thursday with a long lunch near the Vieux Port. Didn't leave office until about 7:00 in the evening. Went to Toinou restaurant that only does shellfish. Had an excellent platter of Crab, King Prawns, Cockles & Languostines.
Friday morning did some work in the morning and then drove to Nice, taking a rural route for part of the way. The car I had was a convertible Astra so did some of the trip with the top down. A bit cold but very nice :-)

Nice Airport

Conference call at Nice airport @ 1:00 then went through security. Disappointing that there were no restaurants so lunch was a sandwich. Got home about 6:00

Wardrobe weekend

Spent the weekend making George's wardrobe. Still not finished however it is functional.

Slipped over outside and grazed leg.

George returned home from skiing (near Morzine, Port de Soleil) about 8pm Sunday night after a great weeks skiing. Excellent weather & snow

Georgina's new wardrobe

The progress on building a new wardrobe for George...

old wardrobe


new wardrobe design


progress...

ebay items sold

Sold a few things on eBay and they were picked up this week:

• Shower & base - £27 - Tuesday
• Water Feature - £7.50 - Tuesday
• Georges wash hand basin - £58 Friday

No luck with selling used tiles - even for £5

Valentines day

Did the flower thing and went to dinner at The Arch Restaurant 2-3 Queen St. Wouldn't rush back however nice evening.

George was travelling to skiing.