2021 DIARY WEEK NINE 22nd FEB - 28th FEB

Ninth week of 2021 and we still in a lockdown, in fact I now have a letter to confirm "shielding" till end March 2021 at least. Thought we were all shielding to be honest, so that was a bit strange, never mind we carry on as you were as March looms into view. Will be paid during this week which is nice, get some bills paid and hopefully this time around will have some money for myself, if I don't lose it all as I usually do. So let's see how Monday begins, and try to be positive. Bored and unable to do much work wise as site(s) down so will try to get out today or tomorrow for a few bits for lunch. A quiet evening try to rest, then see if you can get some sleep into Tuesday morning which of course you didn't but the sun is out and try to get a decent day after all. Been out for some supplies today, and it's the gaming evening with the guys which was fairly slow going to begin with, but has picked up.

Wimbledon won 1-0 which was nice and gives us a bit of a boost. Hopefully can do some more resting with some sleep leading into Wednesday. And although some sleep was possible, I fell into the usual habit of wasting loads of money, down £300+ sad. And it gets worse and worse sadly, you cannot help yourself. I don't know what to do now, just try and reach weekend, get rent money out and relax. Thursday was a busy day, work has loads on, and went for a short walk lunchtime, at least clawed a little back that evening and done some dogs for Friday, not really the spirit of things but might give us a chance on the weekend. No local buses running due to roadworks today so we will be home, aim to get out early on Saturday morning to get rent money out too and a few bits for yourself. The weekend we have football to follow (Wimbledon playing Hull City) plus more six nations rugby too including Wales vs England in Cardiff.

2021 DIARY WEEK EIGHT 15th FEB - 21st FEB

Another cold week begins, still working at home, waiting for my second vaccine jab but generally keeping well and safe. Should have a fairly busy day on Monday to get us up and running this week, raining outside, still feeling cold but will get on with things today. Updated other blogs, tidied up a little bit and still doing some work pieces too. Get some trains out and test run if you can, especially the new ones.

Long afternoon of meetings and update so overall a slow day but we are fine. Enjoy a quiet evening and then see how you sleep before Tuesday, was awake about 3am as usually but did manage to rest through to 8am which was nice. Raining outside on Tuesday so doubt I will venture out unless it clears up later on, after all the boring meetings and failed releases. A gaming session tonight with the guys and hopefully I will be feeling better for that. The when Wednesday arrives we are into a final week before being paid. Need to go out around lunchtime today and get myself a few things, feel tired, and it's still very grey out there but with only a demo later on in the afternoon can get out lunchtime fine. The evening will have another Kempton Park blog to update and will still be in front this year which is nice, then quick bath and possibly an early night. Limited success on the blog, but we still up and the three lays all lost so next week we can try again. Didn't have the best of nights, though awake around 4am on Thursday and it looks like another rainy day out there, cleared up in afternoon but the plan will be to go out on Friday for some lunch and few bits. Keeping busy and trying to find other things to do so that the weekend is a peaceful one. Friday arrives after a strange night sleep and we plan to head out later on. Nothing exciting happening and will get my other blogs prepared for next week, have to survive a few more days till paid which will be nice and we are about a month away from Cheltenham Festival. Weekend will follow Wimbledon vs Peterborough and whatever else we can find. 

2021 DIARY WEEK SEVEN 8th FEB - 14th FEB

New week, been up into the small hours with the NFL Super Bowl LV on BBC Tv featuring Kansas City Chiefs vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers a 31-9 win for Tampa so Tom Brady wins his 7th Superbowl ring. This action was soon followed by some test cricket and day four of the 1st test India vs England (Channel 4). Midweek we have three days of FA Cup action as the 5th round was moved to midweek and all games will be completed on the night with two ties shown live on BBC, so a good week full of sporting action. Monday back to a week of work, hopefully we can enjoy a good one. Updated other blogs with FA Cup football action, Wimbledon's game on the weekend against Rochdale and also some entries to Dad's pages for heritage railways. Received another eBay purchase my third Western Class loco, 'D1036 Western Emperor' nice runner, immaculate condition so quite happy. A very tiring day for us and very cold too. Hopefully I will find that Tuesday is a bit better for once, still very cold, seemed very apprehensive about things and completely snowed under at work with no support from team. Load of issues, dealt with as much as I could then we had a very entertaining gaming night with guys. Slept better than recently, up with alarm at 8am for Wednesday which again felt rather tiresome to begin with. Going out for some shopping later as the weather looks more favourable and expecting further ice/snow later in week. 

Bins out tonight, always important, then we shall start looking towards another weekend. Nice little chat with Phil via facebook and his horse, Calva D'Auge (pic above), is running on Thursday at Kempton in a NH Bumper event so fingers crossed he has a win, sadly finished midfield. See how cold it is on Thursday morning and get yourself through to the weekend, hopefully will be fine today as I have few bits in for lunch. Fairly quiet day without too much drama which is nice, peaceful evening and have a better night sleep. Then it's Friday and nearly the weekend. Will go out again today and get bread, filler and dinner for the weekend, then relax and have a peaceful evening. No gaming session this Sunday as Richard is treating his wife to a romantic evening. We shall just try and catch up on sleep again, see if Wimbledon can win back to back games (vs Rochdale Saturday) and ensure that all is fine money wise.

2021 DIARY WEEK SIX 1st FEB - 7th FEB

That's January seen off and now we begin the short month of February, let's see what changes there are for us, we need to get through the coming weeks and try and sort the money situation out too. 

Let's start off on Monday and have a better day to start the week with, got some free bets to use on Betfair and hopefully can pick up few quid to help out the situation. Respond to guys regarding the gaming night, didn't enjoy Sunday but that was my fault, tired. See if the day can get better, and have at least received my new work laptop to try and get set up, think it will take a few days to be honest as there is plenty to update. Seemed to sleep a bit better and Tuesday morning we begin a new sprint at work, the day will be updating new laptop, got a message to book in a first of two Covid jabs this week at the Assembly Halls, and then tonight we have our regular gaming night. Appointment is booked in for Wednesday morning at 10:20 Feltham, hopefully won't be too long then go pick up some lunch and shopping too? As I expected it would indeed be raining, but not too bad, up and out having had a reasonable night sleep for a change. Jab done fairly quickly was then on my way walk over bridge and get a few bits. Home for 11am, nice quick chat with Cathy, then back to work, feel a little sore, but generally fine. Awake about 3am Thursday though not too bad, looks a nicer day out there, reply to Jane's message and then find some work to do. Trying to keep things together, 'won' another item on eBay to add to my N Gauge collection which was nice and hopefully a good runner, would be great to have a little set up to play now and then. We reach Friday and near enough to the weekend to think about what we can do, we have live cricket on channel four England vs India which was very slow going and dull but then later over the weekend it's the Super Bowl on Sunday and will be gaming again with the guys too, as well as thinking of Dad. Xx.

The week ends on Sunday 7th which would have been Dad's birthday, 87, miss him loads.