Wednesday already

Didn't get up to a great deal last night, just chilled out and watched the TV and did a bit of t'internet surfing.

Should get back to the painting tonight with any luck, and will post my progress tomorrow.

If anybody has any ideas for my next project, bearing in mind my distinct lack of artistic ability, drop me the link to the webpage etc.

M

Long weekend

That was the weekend that was...

A pretty decent one too as it happens. L's nephew J had his birthday gathering Friday evening, and after a bit of a slog back up the hill from the train station with my golf clubs, I made it down to the party about 9pm or so. J seemed very pleased indeed with his new golf clubs and no doubt he and I will manage to organize a game at some point.

Saturday saw us shop, chill out and then head off to T's bbq, a most enjoyable occasion was had by all, and the weather behaved itself too.

Sunday - went for a walk on Sunday before heading up to our friend J's house, her foot is continuing to heal well after the operation to correct the bones that didn't heal properly after she broke her foot some time ago. Only a couple of weeks left until the aircast comes off, we wish you all the best J.

Monday - Donw to town to collect the car, then off to Basingstoke to collect the DIY bits and bobs we needed, and to have a wander around the shops, Plenty of walking especially to try and walk off all the meat from the BBQ but compounded by ending up at Pizza Hut for the buffet lunch. Oh well the scales suggest that I am still about the same weight so there's a bonus.

Afternoon was spent putting up the new curtain rail, afixing a bath panel thing, sealing around the bath and fitting the shower screen (which has been in it's box in the living room for 6 months).

So another four jobs ticked off. We are getting there, bloodly slowly admittedly but we are getting there. Next major job is sorting the Archway that the previous owner created in the wall between the living room and the kitchen and makiing it back into a proper doorway, wish me luck.

Football.

A disappointing weekend as Arsenal went down 1-0 to Manchester City at Eastlands on Saturday, Arsenal missed a whole host of chances and a rash tackle from Justin Hoyte resulted in the penalty which gave City the win. A couple of excellent chances that the Gunners failed to convert and a decent penalty claim of our own will not alleviate the pain on defeat, England euro qualifiers at the weekend lets hope that all involved return fit and healthy - up the Arsenal

Ok so this is me

Course and Champs league

Have returned after a couple of days in London attending an "Introduction of Supervision and Team Leadership" course, which I have to say was superb. A very clear and well presented course with extremely helpful handouts and course notes.

I would recommend that anybody who is a Team Leader of Supervisor role should try to convince their Company to allow them to attend. The course was run by Reed, and was among many differing courses that were being run that day.

Arsenal eventually sealed passage to the Champions League proper on Wednesday after coming from a goal down to beat Dynamo Zagreb 2-1 on the night, making it a comfortable 5-1 on aggregate. Again not playing abywhere near their best Arsenal survived a scare by going 1-0 down after 12 minutes and slowly imposed themselves on the game.

Though never really looking likely to score, the gunners never looked like conceding another, and an aggregate win was all they needed. In the end late goals from Ljunberg and Flamini gave Arsenal the win, but there is still work to be done if they are to compete this season.

Chelsea lost to Boro on the same night in the Premiership, so there goes another opportunity for a top team to go the season unbeaten LOL.

Long weekend, golf tonight (Friday) pub at Lunchtime, T's BBQ tomorrow and it's payday today, what more can a man ask... well apart from the obvious and it is a family Blog so just use your imaginations (wink)

See you all soon

M

Comments

Afternoon all,

Just to let you all know, my blog is being sent quite a few spam comments each day, and as the notifications are being sent to my work e-mail and are getting stuck in my Spam Filter I haven't been able to see your real comments.

Hopefully I have rectified this problem now, so I look forward to hearing from you all, if you are not a member please add your initials to the bottom of your comment to help me identify you (if I know you obviously)

Am off on a course in London on Wednesday and Thursday so will be unable to update the blog (yes I could go to mobile blogging) will update again Friday if I don't have to much to catch up on.

As I am away tomorrow, I will preview the Arsenal v Dinamo Zagreb game now. Reports state that Henry is only currently 60% fit having returned to training late from the World Cup, with a 3-0 lead, I would be surprised if Mr Wenger risks him in the second leg at Emirates. Young Theo Walcott made his Arsenal debut Saturday against Villa and must be in the reckoning for a starting berth. My expected line up. Alumnia, Hoyte, Djourou, Toure, Eboue, Hleb, Silva, Fabregas, Ljunberg, Van Persie, Walcott (though don't bet on it).

I can't see us having many problems against Zagreb and expect us to ease our way through to the Champions League proper, Up the Arsenal.

Thanks

More Pictures

Here's a few pictures of my beautiful guitar, just got to improve my playing ability and the World will be my oyster.

Monday evening

A new painting got underway yesterday evening, don't seem to be quite as into this one as the previous efforts so far, hopefully an evening on my lonesome tonight will help the concentration and I can pay it the attention I would like to.

Right, so I have finally figured it out, so here are my paintings so far, including the new one I started last night and a copy of the original, comments are welcome (by the way I don't profess to being able to actually paint!)

Another weekend

And yet more work on the flat. This time after whizzing round Sainsbury's to do the weekly shop, we got right down to the jobs in hand. Me carrying on boxing in the additional pipes in the bathroom and L wallpapering the rest of the lounge.

Suffice to say that when 6:15pm came I could hardly believe where the time had gone and I was truly knackered. Lovely ham salad for tea and then out to the White Horse for an evening unwinding.

Didn't go quite to plan as there was a Hen party of about 30 already in the WH, which if anybody knows that establishment will help you to visualize just how tight a squeeze that was. Well after an hour of girly shrieking over the sound of the juke box they left, only to be replace moments later by the stag party. Always the way, thankfully they were no trouble and soon moved on.

Saw our friend J who popped over from the Dukes, sdly not very long as she soon headed back there. Oh well a good night nevertheless.

Sunday bought a lazy day, chilled out a bit, went for a walk, got some sarnies from Sainsburys and sat on a bench at Kings Pond, which was very nice indeed.

Premiership season got underway over the weekend, slightly disappointed not to have made a winning start, Arsenal only managing to draw 1-1 with Villa in the first league match at the emirates stadium but better than losing to Bolton which is all that Spurs managed so it could have been worse. Up the Arsenal.

Am off on a Introduction to Management course Wednesday and Thursday up in London, am a bit nervous as I generally get that way when going places on my own (always amazed me that I went to Frankfurt on my own the second time strange how confidence comes and goes).

Wednesday sees the Arsenal take on Dinamo Zagreb in the 2nd leg of the third qualifying round of the Champions League, Arsenal leading 3-0 from the away leg should hopefully wrap things up at the Emirates stadium. It could be that I find a bar Wednesday after the first day of my course to watch it rather than try to get back home for the start, will keep you posted.

Payday Friday, hopefully more golf with G and C which should be nice, hopefully the weather will treat us kindly.

Starting to discuss the Stag Do with J, my best man, am very much looking forward to getting away with a few close friends and letting my hair down. Amsterdam seems like a good shout at the mo, but again will keep you posted.

I thinks that it for now, stay happy y'all

Tuesday

Not a great deal has happened since my last post, still being anonymously hassled by a blogger somewhere who is sending tens of comments each day linking me to their own blog site.

Trains have been knackered this week due to 5 hours of torrential rain causing a landslide at Ash Vale Sunday, trains are currently going from Alton to Guildford where we have to change to get to Woking.

My colleague S's house flooded due to the downpour really feel for her, must be a real nightmare.

Going on a Management course next week, but looks like I am going to miss golf because of it, and it would appear that we may be too late to sort a game out this week, so another golfless week which is a shame, still it keeps some cash in my pocket ready for the weekend.

Still planning our holiday in September, not sure where we are going as yet, and to be honest am not too bothered as long as it is not too expensive and is nice and warm and sunny.

Spam, spam, spam, spam...

Saw a new TV programme "Turn Back Time" last night, where Dara O'Brien asks acelebrity about his or her past and they review their regrets etc. Far more interesting and amusinng than it sounds I promise.

Last night was ex Python Terry Jones and along with a variety of Python clips inluding "Holy Grail" and the "Spam" sketch, they discussed a few incidents that Terry Jones wished had gone differently. Well worth a watch BBC - 10 pm - Wedensdays.

Talking of Spam, you are just never free of it if you have a blog, an e-mail address or your own website. I recently got excited when I received an anonymous comment from the Blog site but that joy turned to despair as it turned out to be the first of 50 spam comments with are bombarding my spam quarantine checker at work. Oh well hopefully if anybody real actual leaves a message I hope that I don't just delete it without realising.

No spam on show at the Gurka Hat on Wednesday as I joined a few others for the Buffet lunch there. Very nice it was too, though a little quiet, as we were practically the only people in there, but the food was great and the company even better.

Tuesday saw a very young Arsenal side overcome stiff opposition in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round. An excellent performance saw the gunners in their first competitive game of the season stroll to a 3-0 victory away in Zagreb, courtesy of two goals from Cesc Fabregas and one from Robin Van Persie.

The comprehensive victory will hopefully mean that Thierry Henry is not required in the second leg in two weeks time at the Emirates Stadium. Up the Arsenal!!

I now have a New Canvas so hopefully will be starting my new art project shortly, will have to have a go at finishing the DIY first as there isn't quite room to have all the tools out as well as having space to draw and paint but the next week should see it under way. I just need a subject to concentrate on. Will keep you posted with updates and hopefully picture of my progress.

Weekend

Another lovely weekend, well anything beats being in the office.

Friday night we stayed in and entertained our friend J who is starting her recovery from the operation she had on her foot, time flies when you're having fun and a couple of hours disappeared before we knew it.

Saturday saw L and I down in Portsmouth, wandring around Gun Wharf Quay which was really nice. The sun was shining and the shops, restaurants and bars made a wonderful backdrop next to the harbour area.

Saturday evening meant an evening in the White Horse, which is always nice, more drinking at home after the pub had closed was also a welcome change, as we sta chilling and chatting while L tested me with some music intro's. Also entertaining as the drink flowed.

Sunday. More DIY Sunday, finally got around to afixing the blind in front of the old boiler cupboad, and started the work on the boxing in of all the new pipes in the bathroom, progress at last, more to come tonight no doubt, still it should get me out of the washing up.

Technology - hrumph

Spent some time trying to get into the Arsenal Box Office today to try and get tickets for Arsenal's opening game in the Premiership at the Emirates stadium only for the site to crash.

Apparently there was a technical fault and the sale of tickets to Red Members was put back to 2pm and then to 9:30 tomorrow morning, will try again then.

Photographs

Over the coming weeks I am hoping to get out and about and start taking some photographs, there is a nice park here in Woking and my office is only a few minutes walk from the Canal (and the BridgeBarn public house, hmmm sozzled pictures, oh well).

Hopefully once I figure out how to post pictures on my blog here, I will be able to amaze you with my complete inability to take pictures.

I will also be starting to paint again, ok so I am not master, but it is a cool way to relax and occasionally, mostly with my drawing rather than my painting, I surprise myself. If I am happy with the results I may well start posting pics of my pictures' progress on the site. Will need to get myself some new canvas at the weekend, a trip to Basingstoke I feel.

I really must look back into learning how to play my guitar, which proudly stands in the corner of my bedroom like an ornament and has done so for 5 years or so. I will keep you posted as to what happens and how I get along, I may even be able to record something and attach it the blog somehow, though bear in mind my computer skills I wouldn't exactly be expecting to see (or hear) this feature anytime soon.

Anybody else who enjoys drawing, painting, photography or playing guitar please feel free to get in touch.

M

August

A new month - and it would seem for the time being some new weather. Although July ended wet and windy, for the most part it was a scorcher. Well August appears to have carried on in th same vein as the end of the month with it being a bit too windy and not quite sunny enough for my liking. Oh well, apparently it is supposed to improve and we will end up having a very nice month indeed.

Was pleased to see the Emiarates Stadium in all of it's glory recently when Channel 5 televised Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial against Ajax, it was the first game to played in the new ground and despite limiting the attendance to 55,000 or so, it looks a fantastic sight and a worthy new home replacing Highbury. Roll on the Premiership opener against Villa which I am going to try to get a ticket for but am not holding my breath.

All well on the majority of fronts, garden is looking very nice indeed after L's efforts over the weekend. Cats still being a real pain and waking us up at 5am every day, please no comments about my obvious lack of beauty sleep. Work still good, though with B leaving to be replaced by S I wonder what might actually change in the coming weeks for me and my career, will keep you posted if anything positive happens.

Been trying to help A at work as she is in a similar position to me career wise, I really hope that she gets the recognition she deserves as it would be a real shame is she felt that she had to move on, not only would I lose a friend and the Company would lose yet another of it's star pupils. Finger crossed for her.

England swept Pakistan aside in the 2nd Test Match at Old Trafford over the weekend, typical English weather lead to me missing the last 5 or so wickets as we went to do the food shopping while the players were off the pitch due to the rain, by the time I came back an hour later not only had the weather improved but England had strolled through the rest of the Pakistani batting order.

Onto Headingley for the third Test, England having replaced Geraint Jones behind the stumps with Nottinghamshire's Chris Read are hoping to build on the excellent 2nd test result and wrap the four test series up.

The weather came to bite us on the ar*e last Thursday as we entered into another round of Golf at the Shey Copse, torrential rain, thunder and lightning ended what was a fairly average round for me on the 5th hole, driving the Par 4 3rd hole and two putting for birdie (a net 2) was the only real highlight. Sympathies for S though as he was flying round and was on 16 points after 5 or 6 holes when the rest of us, fed up with being soaked to the skin finally called it a day.

Our friend J seems to be starting her long road to recovery after surgery on a very troublesome foot, we wish her all the very best as she starts her Physio shortly.

L is out at Pilates tonight, though apparently there was only her and her friend last week so they and the person who takes the class went to the pub instead, I wouldn't be surprised if something similar ended up happening tonight.

Looking forward to payday drinks Thursday, should be quite a few of us there and will give us an excellent opportunity to let our hair down.

Well that's all for now, hopefully I should be able to keep the blog up to date most days, please feel free to leave a comment and if you do, please leave your name.

Thanks

M