Callum's Birthday
Mood:  bright

Callum is very excited that it is his Birthday.  Not for the presents really, but he knows that we will be travelling soon - in fact, Callum asks first thing "Are we going on the motor home now?"!

We go to The Canteen in Stokes Croft for lunch with Vicki & Polly and Sandra & Ramzey, have a tasty and 'loud' lunch with the kids tearing about all over the place.  A friendly Diamond White drinker professes to be the owner of the place and tells us that the kids can dance on the stage if they want to, he reckons it is a hard job being a professional alcoholic and a successful restaurant manager, hmm...

Back to our house to play in the garden for the rest of the day, which is lovely.  The sun is out and feeling more and more relaxed. 

Visit to Chilcompton

Spent a lovely day with Nanny and Granddad in Chilcompton.

Louise, Jules and Marie were also there, which was nice.  Julesy's presence always brings out a bit of a competitive streak in me (although it's never entirely hiding) and I insisted that we see who could eat a pickled onion the fastest.  We'd already had a huge roast dinner, but it seemed like a great idea.  I wouldn't say that our onions were exactly the same size, but I managed mine in 37secs, Jules in 1m15secs - you do the math 

Lorraine is just finishing off wrapping some presents for Callum's 3rd birthday tomorrow.  He's already had presents from his Grandparents, so I hope he doesn't get used to having multiple birthdays every year!!  

Spring cleaning
Mood:  energetic

We have a great day in the house and garden doing lots of spring cleaning.  One of those days where I feel like I have really made the most of my time and having a tea is well deserved.

First time this year that I have soaked up the sun in our garden - it was bliss - and makes me long for more.  

Also got a lot of packing done and sorting out documents, etc, etc.

Rounded off the day watching a good, but not entirely uplifting, French movie called The Beat my Heart Skipped. 

Good Friday & Saturday - Visit to Wells

A fun and productive visit to Wells.  

Have a great time with Granny and Grandad.  Get there for lunch, play about, get lots of bits and pieces in town that are required for our trip, drink some champagne, eat a nice fish pie, play on the Wii (some gut wrenchingly funny moments, watching Grandad pretending to be a flying chicken).

Early start, read the papers, back into town and a big pile of sausages for lunch.

We say our goodbyes, but it always feels as though we'll be in touch during our trip, so doesn't feel sad. 

Unemployment - Day 1
Mood:  quizzical

Nice start - wake up late.  Confusion sets in quickly... Where is my phone, need to check emails... hmm, no phone anymore, therefore no emails....  this feels a bit weird.

Very little gets done during the day.  Very much a 'house' day, but with no actual 'house' work, although Lorraine is as busy as usual.

My thoughts turn to the evening and going out with my work friends.  Tony and James turn up at mine and we head down to the Prince of Wales pub to meet the others.  Chris is still poorly, so there's 11 of us.  A quick pint, then next door to the Sheesh Mahal.  Despite phoning twice over the course of a week, there is no reservation for me.  Not panic as such, just the knowledge that I've got 10 hungry friends with me, it's 8pm and there is a chance that we haven't got anywhere to eat.  I absorb the jovial ribbing from everyone, whilst glaring at the owner as he sorts the table out.  On the plus side, it gave us another hour to have drinks before we eat.  Tony is suitably derisory towards me, but fair play to him.  Food is really good and we have some laughs + play an interesting game where I use 1 word to describe everyone and they can then do the same for me.  I think I got as far as calling James 'cocky', before I was called 'diplomatic' (strongly objected to by Lisa) and '[too] honest' by Sam.  I suggested that we stop before it got ugly - fortunate, as I couldn't really think of anything!!  Finished at the restaurant about midnight and went over the road to the Blue Lagoon bar for a night-cap.

I didn't spin out, which is kind of how I ended my last day at work - on a high!

End of an era
Mood:  bright
Topic: Countdown

After 11 years of working for Apak, I had my last day.

It was very strange saying goodbye, making the customary leaving speech that I had seen so many other people do time and time again and being the focus of so much attention.  It was a very positive experience and one that I will take with me with pride!

Lorraine and I went out for a lovely dinner together at a restaurant in Bristol, called the Wild Wood at the top of Colston Street.  We had a delicious meal and a great laugh.  It feels like a great weight has lifted for us and we can now view Apak with some nostalgia.

I am looking forward to tomorrow and wondering what it will feel like not to have the responsibility of running a company's finances and starting another countdown, 1 week until we go traveling! 

Last few days at Apak
Mood:  happy
Topic: Countdown
Well, I'm into the last week of work at Apak!