Ilkley Photo 1

Dad and Beth getting on famously.

Ilkley Photo 2

Liz, Nicola and Simon entertain Beth.

Story Time

Auntie Rosie and Beth reading stories. Nice dinosaur.

Boxing Day 2

Boxing Day was spent at Rosie and Matt's house in Manchester. More
smashing food and lovely presents and Beth and cousin Nat getting to
know each other a liitle better.

Boxing Day 1

Granny B and Nat enjoying themselves.

Christmas Presents

Beth and Parkes open presents on Christmas Day. We have had a lovely
day, smashing gifts and too much food. All good.

Domestic Chores

Beth gets to work with her new vacuum cleaner.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Nothing beats a good afternoon's snooze.

BJM

New Brian Jonestown Massacre album in January. Looks like it will be a good year after all.

First Class

Beth on the train to Macclesfield with her supersized cup.

Monday Morning

There's nothing like being stuck at Chartham on a Monday morning in freezing conditions. Fortunately my hot boffs kept me warm. It took me five hours from leaving my house in Ramsgate to get to Chartham, then get a lift back to Canterbury bus station with a lovely couple in a convertible BMW with a shitsu, then an hour wait for a bus, then home. I won't bother getting up on Mondays. South Eastern are appalling.

Crimbo @ Grandad & Grandma's

We had a lovely lunch and tea in Herne Bay with grandparents and uncle and cousins. We received lovely gifts and Beth was smitten with her new baby doll as per the picture. I'm feeling rather fat now.

Snow Cometh

A snowy day. Snowball fights in St Luke's park.

Eat And Be Merry - Age & Sons

Well, a couple of Saturday's ago, Strings and I frequented the Monts for a couple of ales then hot footed down to Age and Sons in Ramsgate. When you first walk in, you encounter the kitchen right in front of you, all the chefs looking busy and sweaty, if slightly stressed. We were shown to our table upstairs which again was a lovely building, exposed old brick and wooden rafters. The order was taken for our booze, a nice 2005 Chablis, then we were left for about ten mins to peruse the menu- which was limited, but in a good way. I chose the Carpaccio and Strings chose the cuttlefish risotto. But it was 45 mins before we ate, which was ok as we were having a lovely time and enjoying being out drinking together. The starters were delish, I really enjoyed the raw beef, also the risotto was very delicate and light. Another bottle of wine later (this time a Sancerre) the mains arrived, belly of pork for me, Dover Sole for Strings, both were divine, extra sides of veg and creamy mash was also devoured. All in all a lovely restaurant, food was A1, service slow, but don't let that put you off as it is a great place to spend a few hours. Be advised to book as it was busy that night (might explain the slow service). I would recommend this place but not for a quick bite!

Parkes out and about

Post Post

I am not sure what has happened to our post. Every day the only thing coming through our letter box is an assortment of take-away menus. Has our postman resigned? Is there a strike which I am unaware of? Is it just us?

Freezing Temperatures But...

...nothing can beat a rice cake.

Activities

I've just spent a lovely, relaxing weekend at home. On Saturday night I popped over to the Silk residence to watch stuff with Kaiser Keith and enjoy a breath-busting Garlic Chilli Chicken curry. On Sunday we went to Westwood Cross to get some Christmas shopping done. I spent the rest of the weekend playing "skipping" and pretending to be asleep with Beth. Her playing and conversation is coming on leaps and bounds since she started at her new nursery school.

Slow Train Mental Disintegration

Getting the slow train to Ramsgate is tough given the effortless
journey the High Speed service presents.

Pen & Ink

I moved into a different department this week at work. It is really nice to be busy but I seem to have gone from doing absolutely nothing to not even having time to use the toilet. Last night I left the office at a quarter past midnight and had to stay at a hotel in Fulham. Although I showered this morning and put on deodorant I am starting to stink a bit. It just proves that turning your underpants inside out doesn't work.

Southwark

The South Bank has changed dramatically since the days in the 90's when I used to work and knock around there. Southwark Street now has funky eateries and shops where there used to be dirty old pubs. The Tate Modern has certainly brought focus to this part of London and The Shard promises to make the South Bank something special. It is due to be completed in 2012 and will be the tallest skyscraper in Europe.

Walking across the wobbly bridge on my way from Southwark to Cannon Street.

Weekend Past

It was a mixed weekend. The weather in Thanet was goooood. The Saturday night beers and meal were excellent (Parkes' Age & Son restaurant review to follow). The Sunday hangover wasn't the best. And Beth wasn't well and had a high temperature.

Beth wearing her angel costume.

Weekend Activities

This weekend can't come soon enough. This evening I will be having an intercambio over Skype with my friend Juan in Madrid. On Saturday night Parkes and I will be having dinner at Age & Sons. I have heard good and bad things about this restaurant so it is time to find out for ourselves. On Sunday we'll be having a pub lunch with Dean and Sarah in Faversham. During the daytime there will be plenty of playtime with Beth.

The Royal Exchange. Apparently the food was rubbish and the service was disorganised and slow. We won't be going back there in a hurry.

Sea Minus

If I owned a boat I would not be silly enough to sail it anywhere near any of the following; North Korea, Somalia, Iran or the Isle of Sheppey. Silly boys. You can put kids through public schools but you can't teach them common sense.

Gobble Gobble

Tonight I will enjoying a good meal with my colleagues, as it is Christmas party time!!! We will be dining at the Royal Exchange near Bank tube station and hopefully the food will be tip top. However, this year will be dry Crimbo party as I do not want to repeat my exploits from last years bash (sleep walking around a hotel in my pants, vomitting, missing work the following day etc).

This morning I took the 07:05 train from Ramsgate into town which meant I travelled on the tube at around 08:30. I gave me a reminder of how overcrowded the Underground gets at peak times - it really wasn't built for that many people. It is the perfect way to start your day off really badly.

Cot Becomes Bed

On Saturday Parkes and I transformed Beth's cot into a bed. We braced ourselves for a disruptive night as Beth got used to her new sleeping arrangements but it passed without a problem and the little lady got out of her bed at 7:45am on Sunday morning. Last night Beth fell out of bed (onto carefully positioned pillows) between 2:00am and 3:00am but, apart from that, had another good night. We are not out of the woods yet but it has been a very promising start.

Hey, I know it is still November but we ran out of ideas for things to do on a cold and wet Sunday. My halls have been well and truly decked.

Weekend Accumulator

I have never been a fan of the National Lottery. I know a friend of a friend who got 5 numbers correct in the main draw and received a thousand pounds (or maybe two thousand - can't remember exactly). I don't think that represents a decent reward for coming that close to the jackpot. Instead, I like to think I got a better chance trying to predict the scores at the weekend. I have put down £2.50 and could win near £500 if all of these slap-happy predictions come in.

Scotland vs Argentina / Scotland @ 4/9
Man. City v Hull / Draw @ 4/1
Portsmouth v Man. Utd / Man. Utd @ 1/3
Wigan v Sunderland / Wigan @ 7/5
Wales vs Australia / Wales @ 10/11
Arsenal v Chelsea / Chelsea @ 6/4
Barcelona v Real Madrid / Barcelona @ 4/5

Back in Docklands again today. I've managed to fix the issue that has been bugging me for the last week. Sungard (the company whose office I am currently sitting in) are a great company to work for. They have a vending area serving free cans of Lilt!! Wow. I haven't drunk Lilt since I was in short trousers. It really seemed like a totally tropical taste back then to a small, spotty boy growing up in Basildon.

Midlife

I think I am having a midlife. It would be called a midlife crisis by some but I don't particularly feel it is a "crisis" - my family and I are happy, we are financially sound and we are in good health. So no worries on that front, just maybe a career change is needed or maybe a change of location. I like my contract work in the City because it pays well but if the money disappears then so do I. I have toyed with the idea of teaching English as a foreign language but I worry about the amount of prep required and the standard of my grammar ain't great. However, I do enjoy my language exchanges with Juan in Madrid so maybe I should investigate further the teaching option. Apart from that, I really don't have a clue. Any ideas?

New Indian Restaurant Sensation

Out of the glowing embers that was The Akash has risen the firey phoenix that is Spice Lounge. Parkes and I tried the newly-open restaurant for a take-away on Friday night and found the food delicious. We didn't have to wait too long for the food either.

Lazy Sunday morning. What's going on with the hair?

Wow this is a nice place to be. An ear-popping 41 floors high. Magnificent vistas. I just wish I could get this software working.

I am loving the new high speed service from Ramsgate to St Pancras International. The trains are spacious, have decent air-con and are very, very quick. Not Japanese bullet train quick but fast never the less. I sip my coffee, relax and arrive at my destination refreshed and ready to do business (which it is great but unfortunately I have currently nothing to do at work). Tomorrow I am being packed off to Canary Wharf to sort a couple of things out. It will be nice to be doing something for a change.

Cheesy muffins hand-baked by Parkes and Beth. We booked our tickets to the Cinderella panto at The Granville yesterday. Looking forward to the hiss and boo.

Beth relaxing with a good book on Sunday morning.

Snoozing Part 1

Sleeping Beauty

Check out these two sleeping beauties! Whilst watching the sea roll in and over, strings fell asleep as did Beth- great company..

Parkes out and about

Snoozing Part 2

Wagon

I have fallen off it. I had a glass of Chrissy and Damien's white wine last night and have four pints of Gadds' No 3 ready for tonight. Still, 20 days wasn't too bad but some way short of 365.

The face of someone who got wet putting the petrol in this afternoon.

Working hard. My second week of my thirteen week contract has been slightly busier. I now have my ID pass and can move around a bit. Next week I will be visiting the 43rd floor of the Citigroup tower in Docklands. That'll be ace! Hopefully the air won't be too thin and I'll be able to get some pics.

This weekend looks to be quiet. There is a possibility I may be going to the gym with Keith on Saturday night. Gym on Saturday nights?! Oh booze, why has thou forsaken me?

My booze ban has entered its 19th day and I have noticed that I now have a tubby belly. Get that!! I thought that giving up beer would help lose weight rather than put it on. Parkes wants me to start drinking again. Kaiser Keith is still going strong on his booze ban and is the pinacle of health and fitness.

Thank You

Many thanks to Damien, Chrissy & Otto for their lovely gifts of booze and chocolates. We have started on the chocs and they are delicious.

Parkes and I went to see The Specials in Margate on Saturday night. They were ace! A very tight band, lots of energy and a few thousand thirty, forty and fifty-somethings. Everyone loved it! On Sunday Jed came over in the afternoon and enjoyed visiting the park and eating ice cream. Good skillz.

Here's Charles! Charles is a jazz man, likes raw meat and can stand on his head for up to an hour.

Here's Dave! Dave is a good shot with a camera, dislikes squirrels and has a large collection of guns and munitions.

Here's Bal! Bal has recently started wearing a shirt and jumper at work and is looking very smart.

Work Update / The Specials

Not much going on in my first week back in the smoke. I haven't got a desk or a pass or a manager or anything to do. So I have been quietly minding my own business and lurking in dark corners. Business as usual really.

Back in Ramsgate Parkes and I will be going to see The Specials on Saturday night in Margate. It promises to be a fun-filled evening even though I know none of their tunes (well maybe a couple).

Father and son combing the sands at Kingsgate. We spent a lovely day
relaxing and eating.

Beth in the shop window. We went shopping today in Ramsgate - taking
advantage before starting back in London on Monday. Didn't buy
anything but Beth seemed to have a decent time.

Four days into my beer ban and I have started thinking about a pint of
ale with foxy bra and knickers on, powting at me, wanting me to take a
sip. Am I ill or just strange?

Jus' 40th: Strings ready for action. Il Divo.

Jus' 40th: Jus and K getting cosy in the midnight hour.

Jus' 40th: Parkes getting ready to rock with her new outfit and boots.

Jus' 40th: The party in full swing. The vino was flowing and so was
the chat.

Jus' 40th: JC and Strings enjoying conversation in the kitchen. JC was
on form - eating cheese and talking brum.

Jus' 40th: Jus and John Taylor celebrating their respective birthdays.
Fab party and great company.

A Year Without Beer (and other alchoholic beverages)

Here I am lying in bed, feeling very sorry for myself after drinking
too much beer and Tio Pepe last night. I have been a casualty too
often this year and have decided to give up booze for a whole year. My
daughter and common-law spouse deserve better from me. So, on Sunday,
my quest begins. Maybe Kaiser Keith will join me.

Parkes, Beth and I visited the Rare Species Conservation Centre in
Sandwich yesterday. We had a fairly pleasant time and saw some animals
and birds that we hadn't seen before. For us the stars of the show
were a couple of Sun Bears and a couple of Snow Leopards (beautiful
creatures). The facility is fairly compact and the £8 per adult fee is
a little over-priced. Still it was quite interesting. Beth was more
interested in talking about the cake I said I'd buy her.

The picture is of a couple of Asian birds with luverly blue plumage.

The girl from Ipanema enjoying herself on Palm Bay beach on a bright
and sunny Sunday afternoon.

Beers With Keith

Keith and I popped out for a quick couple last night. Andy at The
Monty was serving Darkstar's Oktoberfest and, weighing in at 5.9%,
it's a bit of a brute. It has a lovely peachy nose and drinks
beautifully. We downed several pints of this nectar then wobbled home.
From there on I had a one way ticket to Headspin City.

Last Day

Tomorrow is my last day at BCS. There are some lovely people there but the job isn't for me. Maybe I'll regret my decision but I doubt it. Maybe something new will crop up. It's "Hello" to new opportunities wherever they may lie. I have a feeling everything will be just fine.

Sunday morning on Westgate beach, scaring crabs and washing shells.

Beth chalking in the back garden.

Essex Boys

I know I am an Essex boy but please can someone tell Jamie Oliver to shut his puppy dog gob. Parkes has been watching another cooking programme on TV and, while JO's cooking seems quite fancy, the jibberjabber that comes out of his mouth ain't. It just isn't cricket!

Beth trying out her new pillow and duvet set with covers courtesy of
Keith & Nicole Babywear Ltd.

Valencia: Parkes woofing black pudding with beans in Las Cuevas. It
was amazing.