Monday 1st February 2016

Sunday

The last day of the month.

January always seems to long and dark, so far away from the growth of spring and the colour of summer. This year, January is spring, what with the bulbs either in flower or sprouting strongly. Of course it could all go wrong if there is a cold snap, but for now, the days are getting longer and it seems that there is optimism abound. That does not mean the world is a less ugly or dangerous place. The GOP race for the White House seems to be even uglier and more stupid than in previous years, and let's remember in past years we have George Bush Jr and Sarah Palin! And of course Trump has chosen Palin to be his running mate if her gets the nod. Dumb and dumber iff ever there was one!

But back to Sunday and the long pause before the week of work begins again.

Light rain was falling when we got up, so after coffee, I sat down to watch the cup highlights. Not many shocks, so it was all a formality really, but still, the magic of the cup and all that! After that, there was time for chores, stuff got done, stuff put in their places. And at 11 there was no more chores, the house looked clean and tidy and there was 11 more hours until bed time!

Jools' sister said she would come round after the Australian tennis open final, so we followed it on the BBC website, but sadly Andy Murray was not quite good enough this time again, but but up a good fight, especially in the 3rd set, but lost on a tiebreak. Always another year, Andy!

Half an hour late Cath came round to talk about redundancy and the future, and she is very positive about how things have gone. Probably the same as most of us on hearing we have been sacked from the crappy job we hate. That she had put over 30 years into the job, building the quality department up, getting it certified and all that nonsense. The worry and weight of all those years fell away like an old mouldy overcoat. She looks well, and is smiling and is motivated. Which is good.

After she left, we have a quick lunch of pork pies, removing the yukky jelly of course. Then it was time for some photography.

I decided to drive out to Alkham to snap the Dellingore as it is running again for what seems to be the 3rd or 4th year in a row. I drive out along the valley and stop in the front of a five bar gate so to get the shot looking towards Alkham. That done, my next task is to go back into town now that the riots were over, and so to take shots of the final stages of the demolition of Burlington House.

In fact, there is not much of it left, hardly anything other than The Light of India shows above the wooden fence around the site. Elsewhere, the car parks are being dug up too, ready for the next stage of the project. I am still not sure whether what is planned is best for the town, however, I am sure it will be better than Burlington House. Anyway, that is for another time.

Back home I watch Chelsea demolish Milton Keynes in the cup; initially I wasn't sure which team I wanted to lose more, but as the game went on I was aware I was willing Chelsea to score more and more goals. Franchis FC is something that should never have been allowed. But, we move on, and Chelsea move on to the next round with a 5-1 win.

We had planned on going to Whitfield for another cards night on Friday, but ended up bailing because we both felt shattered. We did re-arrange it for Sunday, which as it turned out I did not feel like going out for, but I thought maybe I should do some photography on the way, which is why shortly after six in the evening, I am standing on the cliff edge above the Eastern Docks taking shots. I mean where else would I be?

Then over to the old folks place for a few hands of cards; once they had eaten Sunday dinner, moved Betty about in her onsie, and all the other stuff. Oh yeah, like finding two packs of cars with all 52 cards. A harder job than you might think.

During the night they ply me with red wine and Doritos, which is all very well, but the effect hits me hard once we get home with me having won the last round of games.