Google mail

Just set up a google mail account which I can access from my treo. No great plans to use this account other than hopefully being able to e-mail blog posts without getting all of the work disclaimers at the end of the post!

Myhotel Brighton

Funky pod-like room!

Treo, treo ...

.... Cadbury's make them and they cover 'em in chocolate!

No, not that sort, but my new phone/pda has arrived. It is a considerable improvement from the old k-jam, and I think that I will put my phone sim card in it and start using it as my phone as well. Who knows I might even manage to get some music on it and then I won't have to bring my ipod on the train as well.

Been in London all day today. Had a fairly manic start to the day dashing to be ready for my 6.45 taxi, but still managed to make the earlier train from Chatham and found myself at St Pancras at 8.30 with time to spare before my 9.00 meeting just along from the station.

Got out of my first meeting at ten and poked my head around the door of the British Library on my way back to the tube. Looks fascinating, and the kind of place that deserves a good few days / weeks to look around properly.

Then off to our offices for meetings for the rest of the day. It was the first time that I had been in one of the 10th floor meeting rooms, and the views down to the river were very impressive - especially when it stopped raining.

This evening we've been to an Italian restaurant close to Victoria called Santini. We'd moved the booking forward by an hour as Jeff's jet lag was kicking in, so I'm on my way home on the train now and it's not too late.

Grass

The garden at Haig is coming on rather well! Having cleared debris out (30 tonnes of it apparently!) and spreading 20 tonnes of new topsoil, the turf has been laid.






Now we're all doing our rain dances for next week so that we don't have to spend ages watering the new grass!

Trees

What a difference a day makes! The gardener made a start at Haig Avenue yesterday, and wow does it look different now. When I first saw it this morning, I had a bit of a queasy moment rather like the one I had when they had just started knocking down the wall between the dining room and the kitchen.

There's no denying I feel a real sense of sadness that all bar one of the fruit trees are gone now. Whilst they were old, gnarled, growing at stupid angles, and in some cases dead or rotten, it's another little piece of Haig history to say goodbye to. Given that my family had lived in the house for more than the last 70 years, no doubt they had been planted by my grandparents many years ago, and we all know how Nan loved them.

Still, there's no point clinging on to the past, and I'm really pleased that one pear tree has been kept. The garden couldn't go on how it was, and hopefully we're in the process of turning it into a delightful open space that will be great for a family to enjoy in the future.

Just as a reminder, here's the "before" photo.





And here's how it is looking today, taken from the same upstairs window.





Next week clearance will be finished, the crooked concrete path will be removed, the coal bunker will be knocked down, and then new topsoil will be put down and then turfed as well as a deck outside the back doors and shingle to the side.

We need to get on with fixing and painting the fence, as well as giving some TLC to the garage in the form of painting, new windows, new guttering and stripping and repainting doors.

One small step ...

This week has been the 40th anniversary of the moon landings, and Nicky decided to mark the occasion in her own unique way. On Thursday night, she decided to step into space at the top of the stairs, and unfortunately came down to earth with something of a bump (or several bumps in fact) about half way down!

The bruises are really quite spectacular to behold, and so Nicky has been taking it easy for the last couple of days. It only hurts when she sits, stands or lays down!

This afternoon, for a little trip out we popped over to Bluewater. Whilst Nicky went for a consultation at Boots, Jake and I went to Game so that he could choose his good school report treat (GT3 for PS2 plus a new version of Guitar Hero for the DS). Then, as seems to be becoming the tradition at Bluey it was Eds for tea followed by a trip to Krispy Kreme to pick up a dozen to bring home.

We Had Him

"Now we know that we know nothing ... In the instant that we learn that Michael is gone, we know nothing ... With the abrupt absence of our treasure, though we are many, each of us is achingly alone ... But we do know that we had him, and we are the world." Maya Angelou

Catching up

Lots to report since the last blog. As can be seen from that one, we had a lovely time on our trip to Brighton last week. We discovered lots of new games at the end of the pier which give out loads of tickets that can be swapped for prizes. Jake came home with a remote controlled car, three model Porsches, some aeroplane kits and a Chelsea keyring - we should rename him the Ticketmaster.





Last weekend we painted at Haig, and Jake went Banger racing with Cameron on Sunday, and then on Monday it was Bec's graduation. It was fantastic to be part of her big day and we were all delighted for her (as hopefully the volume of cheering made clear!)






On Thursday I was at the Kent Awards at Leeds Castle - and even managed to avoid mucking up my speech.





Yesterday was Independence Day and we were invited to a BBQ with Chris and Carolyn. Good food and good company, and we rounded off the evening by releasing some Chinese lanterns in the back garden.






Today it's been back to Haig for more painting. Progress is impressive, all of the plastering is finished now, the new boiler is in and the radiators have been fitted, and the footings for the new garden wall have been done. Next week will be finishing off electrics, lots more painting, garden wall building, and bathroom being fitted next weekend.