Sun burning down, Brendan Croker playing, time to think at last.

As you all know, Jays are incredibly beautiful birds - and very, very shy. So few people ever see them. They are big - as pigeons but a much nicer shape - and have a lovely pinky brown body, white and bright blue wings and a Mexican moustache. They are described as the most colourful of crows. Well Herself loves her birds and our back garden is planted and managed for them. So we have Mr & Mrs Jay plus two new ones as residents. They are so confident that they spend ages in the garden, eating, drinking, bathing. It’s hard to get things done because they are so lovely to see. Aaaah.

Herself has been in a frenzy for a while because on Sunday she has a Dolls House Fair at which she is exhibiting. She makes such lovely things. Gobsmacked, I am. Please wish her well.

OFFER: Join in! She has a half-litre brandy bottle full of Smarties (M & M’s kind of thing) and FOR FREE you can enter the Smarty Challenge. How many are there? The answer is somewhere between 1 and 500. If you guess near enough you win £15 of Vouchers to buy in-miniature stuff (pls see web site in-miniature.com) You know you heard it here first!!

I’ve been flat-chat this week mostly with Year in Industry stuff. This scheme places students in a company for a year between leaving school and going up to uni. Phew! Award semi-finals, a presentation to a school and a student who got fired. I give up. I’m going to hibernate from now to Monday when it all breaks loose again.

So much to say - so little time.

Dad’s thought?
Every day needs a Focus. Is today a day for ‘work’? (go for it) Is today a day for ‘celebration’? Is today a day for ‘reflection’? Is today a day for ‘rest’? Re-arrange your priorities according to ‘your day’. Dear me, it prevents guilt and simplifies choices.

Sleep well and have a tranquil weekend -

Dad

Lovely evening and sweet music playing. Herself is watering the new plants in the front garden and is off tomorrow to help with her Mum’s 80th. birthday. I have to say that I love my wife to bits - and we discussed this phenomenon yesterday. We decided it’s because we are friends first. It’s good, though.

A funny day today. Odd e mails to answer, odd stuff to do in the village. BUT - cheese fondue for lunch. Oh do I love that.

So why is the world full of idiots? Example 1 - Mail shot from Staples - where we have a business account - and we liked the Toshiba laptop. Phone up, give credit card details. Mail shot says free next day delivery. No. Call a few days later - where laptop? Not availbale. But I ordered it and ‘he’ said it would be shipped. Nope. Cancel order? Nope. And etc. And etc. Phoned today - Toshiba will deliver it in 2 / 3 days. Stupid.

Example 2 - Nationwide Bldg. Soc. Don’t ask. 3 phone calls and the last one hung up on me. Fourth one - get some sense. AAaarrggh.

Now I’ve been to the gym Monday and Wednesday. Increased my work on each machine every time. And now I ache everywhere. Should I go there tomorrow? Pls vote yes or no. I#ll do what you say.

Dad’s last word?

Just for one day you will not be afraid.
Just for one day you will put your past into its place - in the past.
Just for one day you will look out for what is lovely in the world.
Just for one day you will offer friendship and beauty to others.
Just for one day you will be calm, relaxed and amiable.

You can manage that just for one day. So manage it for the next day, too.
And if you fail? No sweat. Start over again.

You know you can do it.

Love to you all - Dad

Evening time and unusal for me to be writing a blog. Playing Chet Atkins. Been a hot day and is now a calm pre-night.

Well the weekend was fine. Friday I visited and stayed with long standing friends (since we were all teenagers) in their new house. Then on to Lucy, Matthew and THEN stayed with their Mum. All really great visits. Come Sunday I’m on the boat with Henry and Trouty. Call for directions, drive there and park up. Car behind me pulls up in front of BIG GATES and a small guy gets out and opens gate 1. Scuse me I say, but I’m supposed to meet a boat here - could you tell me where it might be? Oh, you must be Henry’s Dad. Knockout. Henry hasn’t got the boat there yet so Stuart brings out a chair for me to sit in whilst I await Henry’s arrival. Beat that. Magic. SUCH a nice bloke.

Smashing trip on the canal, lovely picnic lunch, and, and. Perfect.

Drove home. Marvelled at driving idiots. Oh well.

Knackered today after all this social intercourse but went to gym and raised performance on all machines. Promise myself I’ll repeat Wednesday and Friday. Grow muscles (again) Be strong. Die later. Huh?

Lots more happening but it’s late. Dad’s thoughts?
Be very conscious of your body language. 55% of what you communicate to others comes from what they SEE of you. Think friendship and so out-think the plug-uglies. Sleep well. Dad