Booking

Following up on last week's post, I made another call to DVC this evening, as a result of which we are now booked in to Old Key West for our entire stay at Christmas, as well as being on the wait-list (for all 14 nights) for the Boardwalk Villas.

Lovely.

Oh yes, and I still ache!

Ache

Golf day today - very nice club, and very hot weather.

Dave and I combined forces and managed to come up with 30 Stableford points between us (off 28) which was at least respectable. The winning team scored 41 (no doubt off a much lower handicap as well).

Disappointed at exactly how much I ache now, and probably should have applied a little sunscreen!

Range

Home early from work today, just in time to get to the doctor's for my appointment (not that it mattered, as they were running a little bit late). Came out with a fistful of prescriptions (not all for me) - just need to save up for a visit to the pharmacy now.

Went to the range with Jake this evening. We were both hitting the ball pretty well (occasionally) - just hope that I manage to do the same tomorrow at the golf day and avoid showing myself up too badly!

Sporting J

A sporting J day today:

First game of cricket for school - wicket taken.

Awards evening for football - trophy received.

Cool photo!

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Panels and curry

Twelve more panels today, bringing the total for the week to 22.

Followed by a trip up the road for a curry!

£71,175

... was the Math School total for this year's Sport Relief.

Been to a celebration evening at school today, marvelling at all the crazy things the students did to raise money.

Wait-list

First of no doubt several calls to the DVC hotline this evening (a day after I should have done the first one) as we start to manoeuvre and manage our Christmas bookings.

So far wait-listed for the Boardwalk Villas for the first eight nights - they had preferred view one bed villas available but not the standard view ones, and it makes over a hundred points difference across our two week stay.

More calls to come ...

How deep is your love

Nicholas

On Friday, I finished work a little early so that I could head down to Winchester, have some dinner with Mum and Dad, and then join them at a local literary festival where both Ed Stourton and James Landale where talking and reading extracts from their books.

Mum and I had both already read Ed Stourton's book (Diary of a Dog Walker) and so we got those signed, but we hadn't come across James Landale's book before. It's called "Landale's Cautionary Tales: Comic Verse for the 21st Century", and after we'd listen to him read from it, Dad did a great job of dashing over to the bookstall, and claiming a couple of copies (there weren't many available as the book is now out of print).

We also got those signed, and at my request, James kindly wrote the following: "Jake, please note the open about Nicholas!".

The poem about Nicholas was the first one that he'd read during the evening, and it had struck a chord. From this extract, perhaps you can tell why:

His bed, of course, was never made.

His clothes were everywhere displayed.

Like so many north London boys

He never put away his toys:

Discarded teddies, bits of Bike,

Boring jigsaws he didn't like,

Remote-control cars, Model Planes,

Double-O gauge electric trains,

Unread novels, an empty box,

A bag of useless Sandstone Rocks,

Computer games, whose screens were dim,

An Action Man with a missing limb,

Cowboy guns, a festering sponge,

Batteries oozing Noxious Gunge.

It's almost like the author had been round to visit! When I came home on Saturday morning, I read the poem to Jake, and it got several laughs (of recognition).

As this photo demonstrates, everyone here was thrilled to see me when I got back home:

The other Saturday highlight, apart from the previously mentioned footie, was a super supper of Jamie's fish pie! I think that our resident chef will be receiving a request for a repeat performance in the near future.

Champions

Well, what a final. Chelsea had the worst of it for 80 minutes and somehow it was still 0-0, but with little more than five minutes to go, Munich finally made the breakthrough.

One of the most telling statistics of the night, showing how the German side had dominated the game, was the corner count, which was about 15-0. With only a couple of minutes left, Chelsea get their first one of the game, Drogba comes to the near post, and heads it home.

Off we go into extra time. Drogba is the centre of attention again as he brings down Ribery in the box, but Cech saves the penalty, and there are no more goals in the 30 added minutes.

Bizarrely, Chelsea send Mata forward to take their first spot kick, and it is saved, but they cling on, and Cech makes a save on the fourth penalty and it's back to level pegging at three out of four each.

Schwiensteiger hits the post, and all of a sudden Chelsea have a kick to win it.

Up steps that man Drogba again, and coolly puts it in the corner.

Amazing stuff!

And yes, I was cheering Chelsea on. Having Spurs in the Champions League next year would have been great, but Chelsea deserved their moment of glory.

Chez Crockford

Been to see the Crockfords today - nice to see them all in their extended and impressive abode.

End of season

Jake's football season has come to an end, and his team signed off with a good performance in the cold and wet weather, only narrowly losing 2-1 to a team that were third in their league.

And in the Premier League, Spurs continue their determination to make it painful until the bitter end, spurning a chance to go third after Norwich did us a great favour at Arsenal yesterday.

It's all going down to the final weekend - the title, the Champions League places, and the relegation battle ...

Mud

A certain dog enjoyed a walk in the mud today.



And had to have a bath afterwards!

Dog

Why is it that Barley waits until just after I've gone to bed before deciding that she'd like to have one more trip to the garden?

Ready

Nicky was out this evening, so I put my culinary skills to the test, and yes, I can cook a microwave ready meal to perfection!

1-4

This isn't turning into a football blog - honest.

But, having said that, good away win for Spurs this evening at Bolton.

Still hoping for top 4 ...

Roy

So, great news about the England Manager appointment - if you're a Spurs fan.