21st June 2009  Roger and I flew from Luton to Sofia to visit my step-brother David, who lives in a tiny Bulgarian village called Ritya. Just a couple of weeks prior, they’d been burgled, so I was carrying five CCTV cameras in my luggage. Our flight landed at midnight, and by 1:00 a.m., we’d collected… Continue Reading

2nd June 2009 Sarah has battled bravely through her exams, all while sweltering in what can only be described as tropical conditions. Despite the heat and the academic pressure, we managed to squeeze in a bike ride, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She even promised to go on more once the exams are out of the… Continue Reading

25th May 2009  Sarah is still in the thick of her GCSE exams, but remains relentlessly cheerful and full of life (I think, though it’s sometimes hard to tell with teenagers). She’s 16 now, which feels quite impossible. The years do sprint past when you’re not looking. Over the years, I’ve quietly filed away every… Continue Reading

19th May 2009 I’m getting thoroughly fed up with the weather. The wind and rain seem to be on a rota, with the “weather witches” hurling heavy downpours and gales our way on a near-daily basis. The poor plants, which by now should be basking in open-air beds, are still cowering behind greenhouse glass. Watering… Continue Reading

11th May 2009 Since returning from Italy, the sun has been putting on quite a show, but it’s been partnered with a gale-force wind. Venturing outside has felt less like a spring stroll and more like an Arctic expedition. Still, the fruit trees are blossoming, the vegetables are pushing through, and, fingers crossed, we could… Continue Reading

29th April 2009 Thanks to the economic recession, now officially affecting everyone’s Christmas card list, Jamie has, unfortunately, been made redundant. The family joinery company he worked for has seen work drying up faster than a paddling pool in August, and John, the owner, had no choice but to let his only two employees go.… Continue Reading

20th April 2009 This week, the family vanished in all directions like confetti in a gust of wind. Sue headed off to the West Country to stay with her sister, Philippa. I, exercising what I believed to be sound judgement, consulted the weather forecast and was reassured (foolishly) that the Midlands would be basking in… Continue Reading

9th April 2009 The weather has been kind since the last entry, with some lovely sunny days and the occasional chilly night. I managed a few days at school, including an afternoon compering a children’s talent show. Seeing things from a different perspective was certainly eye-opening, especially when the teaching support assistants performed Mamma Mia,… Continue Reading

30th March 2009 Fresh from recovering from a pulled hamstring, I pulled a calf muscle in the very next match I refereed. Then, in the one after that, I twisted my knee. I was starting to wonder if my body’s warranty had expired. Thankfully, by the following Saturday, I made it through a full game… Continue Reading

March 13th 2009″ The hamstring I pulled has kept me off refereeing duty for a few weeks, so I’ve been reduced to the role of sideline spectator, watching Harborough’s 1st team when they play at home. Thankfully, the enforced rest worked, and I was able to return to the pitch for a mid-week fixture, albeit… Continue Reading