The photo below came up on my laptop background slideshow while Jamie was behind me and I said that photo always reminds me of upsetting both Reagan and Lincoln by dragging them away from that snow when all they wanted to do was play in it for a while, and I just wanted to go get something to eat.

Jamie said straightaway “They probably do not remember that they just remember the photo!” and added “Nothing pisses me off more than thinking about the thousands of hours I spent making their young lives magical and they don’t remember a thing about it…!”

Its true Jamie more than anyone has and still does strive to make their lives the best they can be everyday while I do try I support her in that goal more than I attempt do things on my own and I hope that works and they see that when they are older! That day we travelled from Middlewich with no snow up to Lyme House near Macclesfield where snow was covering the ground so we were not prepared for it, or I wasn’t is probably more truthful so I was cold and hungry after walking around the National Trust exhibition and made them get in to the car which upset and saddened both of them.

Its funny I can’t remember much about the day other than the choir and how I spoiled my family’s fun…

It was Billy’s 5th birthday today and on our daily morning walk I was wondering what Billy will think when I start my new job and I am gone all day everyday? I used to go out to work all day until COVID lockdown happened and after that we have been working from home for the last four years and I doubt Billy would remember what it was like before. Jamie will still be working from home so he won’t be on his own all day but will he start to learn what time I arrive home like Jack used to.

When Jack heard the countdown theme he would sit in the window and wait for me to arrive, he knew that meant I was on my way, maybe Billy will learn the routine too?

Tonight we decided to go to the pub while the kids were at church and have a couple of drinks, something we may be doing from time to time now the kids are becoming self sufficient

It was a lovely way to end the weekend but of course when we turned up on foot sent Reagan walked off because she was expecting to be driven I caught her up and talked to her even if she didn’t want to and I thought I was doing very well until Lincoln caught us up and was immediately told to “piss off” which stunned me and she just waked off on her own.

That basically was the end of the weekend because Reagan had decided it was…?

We are about to have two teenagers in the house for the foreseeable future I can’t wait!

I loved today a lay in till 9am a walk up to Norman’s Wood with Jamie on a beautiful sunny March morning, cleaned the kitchen before FINALLY getting into my shed for a few hours.

While we walked we formulated a an to make the bathroom tolerable for the next 18 months until we can afford to get it redone properly. The plan is paint the ceiling add a row of tiles along the length of the bath paper the rest make a bath panel and re-box in the pipework behind the sink allowing Jamie to paint them the colour she wants in her ideal bathroom? I love the plan because I get to make the panel and box in me shed!

Tonight we sat and watched Taylor Swift Era’s on Disney+ Reagan had been looking forward to the premiere and was I to deny her and I even stayed and watched it too…. it wasn’t as irritating as I thought it might be?

Concentration barely blinking!

Today was a strange day I worked and visited surgeries and people were so sad to hear I am leaving and it felt very humbling but I was also aware that Jamie had a difficult day at work and needed managing…?

I know Jamie prides herself on delivering exemplary work and being the best she can be and yesterday replied to an email backing one of her team in how she dealt with a difficult scenario and pointed out why she thought it happened and how it could be avoided in the future. This was taken as a slight on how a clinic was being run by the head of that clinic and she strongly defended the clinic which shocked Jamie because she did not intend to offend nor cast any shadow on anyone or any clinic!

It was eventually resolved but not before the head honco himself became involved and this unsettled her because being anonymous unless being praised is what she strives for, and this sent her in to panic mode!

I chose not to bring it up preferring to let her use me as a sounding board to talk it through with and not give opinion, unless asked, just reassure her that it’s bigger in her head than it is in real life.

We made it through the evening walking Billy eating curry and  by bedtime all was OK

I am being made to feel very humble every day, now that my impending last day at work has become common knowledge. The people I have endeavoured to help every day for the last 13 years seem genuinely sad to hear I’m leaving and would like to see me and wish me well…

Which is nice….

Tonight my team were 4 nil down and it was looking like another tough night especially for me as captain but I had a plan tonight and stuck to it and it worked. We played really well and fought to win 5 of the next 6 frames to win a point against a good side and it was so great to hear the lads afterwards enjoying the little victory meant a lot to hear!

You wait for a bus and two turn up….?

Not sure why I missed blogging today but this is being written while sat watching Taylor Swift Era’s on Saturday night just to fill in the gap

With Jamie so used to travelling first class she paid for me to join her so agin not having coffee available in the digs we arrived at Euston and headed for the posh lounge for pre-breakfast nibbles and coffee which was all complimentary and plentiful but we were planning to eat a full english on the train so I had smoked salmon and a cheese scone well it would be rude not to….the coffee was excellent and we headed to the train and found our seats. Sunday first class is not like Monday to Saturday first class apparently although it was much more refine and comfy the train was slow the food was scarce and the WiFi was poor but Jamie managed to work the whole way home and I just looked at my phone for most of the journey.

Upon arrival at Crewe Karl picked us up and took us to his house where Reagan and Lincoln were along with nannie for a mothers day tea which was very nice and we were joined by Helen Andy and Abbie for sandwiches and cakes a plenty. It was great to finally be home and that can especially be said for Jamie who had been away since Wednesday and we both nodded off in front of the TV so when both of us woke and ralised we had missed it all the weekend was over and an early bedtime beckonned

All in all it was a First Class Trip