We had a sleep over last night, our friends from school needed a little help so hopefully they can reciprocate later in the year. Their mum stayed to put them down so I popped to the pub. Too many cooks and all that...
Friday, 8 August 2025
Wednesday, 6 August 2025
Legoland on Sunday
Arthur has been asking to go to Legoland for ages now. It's not that we don't want to take him it's just we didn't want to go when the weather was rubbish earlier in the year. Our weekends get fairly booked up these days so it's also hard to find a free weekend.
Anyway, we're now going on Sunday morning and Arthur will love it. Having been to Euro Disney a couple of months ago the kids are used to the inevitable long queues. There's queues jumping available but I think it's not right so won't be doing that.
He's going to Diggerland with April next Friday and i'm taking him to a hotwheels show at the O2 in October. He's going to love that too! Lucky boy.
Back to the games cafe
We visited the games cafe for our latest game and had good fun. Only the 4 players as we had a couple of late call offs but still a laugh.
Monday, 4 August 2025
Kids park run
I ran around with Florence at her junior park run on Sunday. She's been having trouble keeping pace and stops still 10+ times to catch her breath. I'm no expert at distance running but managed to get her round 2 seconds off her pb which she's been missing by minutes this past year. We only stopped twice, and by stopped I mean keep walking. Very proud of her and will keep with her next time we do it.
Legoland this weekend so will have to be the week after.
Fancy Sunday food
Our usual Sommelier Soiree group (dinner party) decided to go on tour this Sunday and headed into London We usually take turns and go round each others houses, each taking it in turn cooking starters, mains and deserts, whilst sampling 6 bottles of wine.
This time we went to Marjorie's, on the recommendation from the Guardian's food critic Grace Dent
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/jul/06/marjories-london-w1-restaurant-review-grace-dent
It was pretty good. It was a sort of a small plate sharing affair similar to tapas where we had lamb carpaccio, escargot, langoustine, beef and an awful lot of cheese.
We were home in time at 6 for our childminder who looked after our 2 and another couple of kids from the other 2 couples.
Sunday, 3 August 2025
Have I been taking the jabs?
Fuck off! I've had two friends over the weekend complimenting me on my weight loss only to then ask if i've been taking the weight loss jabs! Fuck off! It's really annoying as i've friends that are on it and are losing weight but i've been doing it by eating better and in the gym as much as I can.
Thursday, 31 July 2025
One month till my birthday
I'll be 46 next month. Yes, I know it's hard to believe. My bathroom scales think i'm 49. Prick.
We're off to Fallow in the afternoon for my birthday
https://fallowrestaurant.com/
I follow the two head chefs on youtube and they've had a lot of positive reviews so thought i'd give it a go. We're on the Chef's counter which means we'll get to see them all preparing the dishes. Should be good fun.
As for presents, I have no idea. I've probably said it on here before but i've probably got everything I want (within reason). I don't want to get anything just for the sake of it but it's still nice to open a present or two on the day.
Pickled Ginger
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/pickled-ginger
Made this yesterday, I made some a couple of months ago but in a much smaller jar and it didn't last long. Let's see how long this lasts.
Star wars viewing with the kids
Wednesday, 30 July 2025
Plants update
Although short Arthur's sunflower has flowered. We watered it again last night
Last night's session
Last night we cleared out a mansion of vampires and cultists. Now only the basement to clear. I wonder what we'll find in there.
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Back to Vecna
We're back to playing D&D after about a month off. The GM has been busy with family stuff so we've been playing a quick short campaign whilst he was a away. I was also off on holiday one week so hopefully we can have fun tonight. It's in the pub so that should help.
We're now level 14.
Monday, 28 July 2025
Nice country walk round Penshurst Place
On Sunday morning we walked round Penshurst Place. Kent really is a beautiful place. Plenty of shit holes too mind.
Junior park run
In the rugby off season Flo's started up junior park run again. Despite being another year older her times are actually getting worse. She seems to be having trouble judging her pace and having to stop constantly. I ran the last half a k with her on Sunday. Next week i've said i'll run the lot with her to see if we can improve her time.
TJs win
I played for TJs on Friday night in a charity game against an invitational team based of West Kent players from local rival clubs. A handful of which I played with last year when I played for Leigh.
We had a squad of over 30 players, mostly kids but with a few old boys in there too. I played around 30 mins. It was good fun although very hot. Other than being a little stiff, no injuries to speak of.
Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Proof of life
Flo's away with her friend for a couple of days in Whitstable (they have a holiday flat there). Mark's been sending proof of life photos.
Health assesment
I had a health assessment through work yesterday. It's a free benefit but would normally cost £850. It's basically a full set of bloods, loads of other tests and a 45 min session with a gp. I've still got to do another test at home (shit in a jar) for a cancer test but it was very interesting.
I'm now no longer pre diabetic. I'm pretty sure I wasn't as have lost loads of weight and have been a lot healthier. As I stepped out of the clinic it was torrentially raining so went to celebrate in the pub. To celebrate further I went out with Arthur and April for a Chinese. At that rate i'll be back in the pre diabetic range!
Discount quail eggs
Flo had her first gig on Sunday
It was in the outbuilding of a local village pub. She goes to singing lessons each week and it's through them. The teachers fill in the gaps for the missing instruments. Flo was first up and sang 2 songs. She's been invited to go again to the next one. She was brilliant.
Lions watching
I watched the first Lions game at the rugby club, they've hardly advertised it for some reason. It was still a reasonable turnout. 40 or so. I ended up having a fair few. It's difficult to estimate how much you've had when drinking with jugs. Same again this Saturday! And will be after my first game of the season. I'll hopefully just get 20 mins or so.
Expensive meal
When staying with Shahen and Kate we always do our usual. Girls go out one night, boys the other. This time we went back to the Hide and Fox outside Hythe. The boys spend £650. Ouch! It's now double michelin stared. It was amazing.
Dymchurch Fair
BEing off on holiday a week before the state kids we had Dymchurch Fair virtually to ourselves
Another dog walk
I took the kids for a walk along the sea front and found my zombie apocalypse base. It's always a good idea to have an escape plan
Trip to the beach