Icing on the cake

I bid for a desk which was just 8' from a big screen for an England game, and lost to a higher bid at the last minute. Ryanair changed all my flights to France this year which has caused me grief. We had to cancel our trip to London because of MIL's fall and England were humiliated in the World Cup. So, did I have a good week? I did, yes!

To balance things up, I've had the opportunity to help out again with Wanda's garden and gave Martin a hand with his bathroom. We've had great fun knocking walls down just to build them up in a different location and shape. We also had family come round for Father's day. It was brilliant.

I've painted, studied, walked, dined in the garden and yesterday we drove three hours to attend church in Basingstoke, had a family lunch, watched England capitulate and drove back.

I changed an e-mail I had today to read the following...
A new film based on a true story entitled 'Out of Africa', starring...well, it doesn't star anyone really but it's full of drama, comedy, horror and farce. The director was Fabio and he misdirected it perfectly. That's all I'm going to say on football.

I've been up, down, stretched, bruised, cut, optimistic, pessimistic frustrated and elated. Life is the same as it ever was it seems. The rough and smooth are seldom far apart.

I reckon another few weeks will see an opening for total relaxation though. I see clear, still, calm and silent waters on the horizon and I'm ready for a dip.

This Friday is our re-arranged London trip, followed by tiling in Martins bathroom on Saturday. Saturday evening is a surprise party for Dot and Sunday, which promised to be the hottest day of the year, will see me stretched out after church in a garden that has exploded with colour, charm and fragrance. There will be jobs to do but Sunday has never yet seen me desert it in favour of work.

For Ash, today was the last day at the same workplace as his Dad. He was the only one of our children who has worked for a wage in the same company and I think I'll miss him.

He finished by getting his photograph in the local newspaper dressed as an England football fanatic pretending to be working. There's always a Devine willing to make a fool of himself and he does it almost as well as me.

While he is enjoying a meal with his team, I'm painting a banner for Dot and Bev is in the garden.

A little chat with Juli provides the icing on the cake.