Sunday 31st October

8.15am

A strange and quite challenging week - hence the lack of blogs folks sorry!

I had my 12 week check-up on Wednesday at the Melanoma clinic in Poole NHS Hospital. Unfortunately a small lump has developed on my neck which has raised concerns....Ever since then I have been back and forth to hospital for more tests including a CT scan on Friday. We are all in a state of limbo know as to what the results (due in the next few days) will show...


The Crafty Cockney is understandably concerned as are my close family and friends. I'm quite stoic about the whole thing as usual although underneath the confident facade I'm a little bit on edge I must admit....

Anyway we have had some good times as well this week and went shopping to Southampton following all the tests to take our minds off things....We saw a car that we both fell in love with:-

Watch this space!!!!

Ready Steady Cook April 19th 2001.m4v

My appearance on Ready Steady Cook in 2001

I thought it would be fun to apply to Endemol for a place on the show as I was using the Ready Steady Cook concept with the ETE students at the college on their cokkery/life skills sessions.

I also had worked with Ainsley Harriet back in the late 1980's at Dolphin Square when I was the Restaurant Manager there... (he remembered me almost straight away)

It was a great day, although I found it quite nerve-wracking!!!

Friday 22nd October

8.10am
Sorry folks have had a manic week (I'll have to watch how I use the word "Manic") and haven't had a minute to do any blogging.

Sitting here in Poole after our first week of students attending the course it's good to reflect on all the positive stuff from the last few days....

Unfortunately the week has been overshadowed by the Governments Spending Review announcement on Wednesday which will have a major impact on most people in this country.

On a personal level the news of a 25% cut in Further Education funding over the next few years has got me very worried about my own job security...

Anyway a busy weekend ahead with a visit to Southampton planned with the CC on Saturday and yet another Car Boot sale on Sunday morning...

Will try and be a more regular blogging person this week!


Just a random picture today....Photoshop is great!!!!

Location:Blanchards Coffee Shop, Poole

Tom Jones - Help for Heroes Concert 2010

20th October 2010
Just thought I would start the day with a bit of Tom..

Sunday 17th October

10.10
Having a coffee in my favourite cafe (Ocean Bay) in Swanage. Using my iPad to blog this morning. So easy and pleasurable to type on a bigger screen than my iPhone..

Just got a direct reply from Jonathan Ross through Twitter.. Mentioned I was in Swanage and he said he would be down here in a few weeks... Look at me chatting with the celebrities!!

Waiting for the CC to come home from her trip to Weymouth (College reunion) about 12.00midday and then we are off to see baby "Eddie" at Jake and Donna's....

Location:Ulwell Rd,Swanage,United Kingdom

Saturday 16th October

9.56pm
"Whirlwind!" often a word used to describe someone's pace of life and is certainly a word I can use about the last week. The extreme, mostly joyful) feelings which last weeks wedding party left me with were immediately replaced with a huge workload and a poorly wife (Sylvie was signed off for a week with a virus on Monday and has been quite under the waeather, poor thing).

However, we have reached the weekend and managed to cope quite well with everything that was thrown at me..... During the week I completed my application to represent the college staff on the Board of Governors. After noticing this post being advertised last week I initially put in for this, not really believing I would have a chance of winning but as the week as progressed my thoughts are now much more positive and I think I might be quite dissapointed if I don't get voted in.... (Voting starts on the 1st Novemeber and results will be announced on the 5th November...fingers crossed!)

Before I settle down to watch Match of the Day I just wanted to mention my new aquisition of the last few days....I've bought an Apple Ipad and as a lover of all things "gadget" this piece of technology tops the list of must-haves. Such a well designed and functional piece of kit....Still haven't done a full blog from it but I will be using this while my broken iPhone 3GS gets repaired... (anyone see the irony of buying an iPad and in the same week your iPhone breaks down!!!)

Anyway goodnight and I will leave you with a picture of an iPad....

Mmmmmmmmm!

14th October 2010

12.45pm Centro

Been off the blogosphere for a few days as I've been really busy in work.... Enrolment week so been filling in endless amounts of paperwork and official forms. Going to catch up with my tales at the weekend... So watch this space?

Location:Lansdowne Crescent,Bournemouth,United Kingdom

Monday 11th October - Review of the Wedding Party Weekend

6.50am
What a weekend!! - Saturday saw all our family and friends arrive to celebrate our wedding which took place a few months ago...(we had a quiet registry office ceremony on 18th June) and boy was it a celebration!!!

I will let the photos speak for themselves on this one but just to say it was one of the best nights I've ever had in my whole life....

Friday 8th October

GeoTagged, [N50.68590, E2.11035]

8.30pm at home

A long and exhilarating day which started this morning at 3.30am! Yes you read that right 3.30am I was up and dressed ready for a trip to Southampton to watch the arrival of the new addition to Cunard Cruise Lines... 'The Queen Elizabeth'

Had a great morning down at The Royal Victoria Park with a couple of old ex-QE2 crew mates Sean and Kenny.

Arrived just after 5.30am and apart from 2 other enthusiasts and a film crew from ITV's Daybreak morning programme there was little activity.

By 6.45am the place had got quite busy and the feelings of anticipation were thick in the air.

Finally at about 7.10am we saw our first glimpse of the new vessel peering through the morning haze.

It had sailed past by 7.45am and the excitement of the last 3 hours had finally subsided into the lingering sea mist.






Back to work by 10.00am and following a tiring admin day we are now going through final arrangements for our wedding party which takes place tomorrow evening..

5th October - Day trip to Cherbourg

GeoTagged, [N49.63977, E1.62229]

1.40pm French Time

The poor CC (because of flu) couldn't join me on my day trip to Cherbourg. I'm sitting in the square with a coffee and ciggie thinking how much she would have enjoyed the trip and just as I write the sun is breaking through the heavy Normandy Clouds.

Only got about one and a half hours left. Enough time to get a bowl of the delightful local mussels and a glass of crisp dry wine before boarding the sea-cat home to Poole.

I love France and all it's idiosyncrasies and being here today has reinforced my feelings to live eventually in another country in Europe. Photos and thoughts from the trip to follow. Off to eat!!!

Sailing past Old Harry Rocks - Purbeck

The Class of Sea Cat for the journey

Our Favourite Cafe in Cherbourg

The Theatre in the Square

Pumpkins for Sale in the Market

The Old Atlantic Terminal where the QE2 used to dock

Sunset as I return to Poole following the day trip

 A fabulous day all round....

Monday 4th October

GeoTagged, [N50.72221, E1.86675]

8.15am
It's back to work for Prancing Taffy today. Just sitting in Centro with my coffee pondering the last 2 weeks and all they have brought with them. The Macmillan Charity Event and all the organising for that. The sale of the flat falling through and the resulting financial worries. The CC being ill for a few days and in between was just room to celebrate my 51st birthday!

An admin week this one so a bit of paperwork to complete before we enrol next week.

Simon has turned up for coffee now so more later.....

Sunday 3rd October

GeoTagged, [N50.68513, E2.10951]

8.00pm
A quiet weekend spent mostly watching the Ryder Cup Golf Competition on Sky Sports. This was combined with nursing the CC as she had a bad cold all weekend. She seems a bit better this evening and she has just ate a huge home cooked chicken dinner and has settled down in front of the X Factor.

I'm really looking forward to the second edition of the ITV drama "Downton Abbey"

We were both a bit disappointed with the Arsenal result this afternoon, but to be fair Chelsea deserved their 2-0 win.

Back to work in the morning but as it's an admin week it should be an easy week. Off to France with the CC on Tuesday for a day trip. Mmmmmmmmmmm!