Friday 18th November
Friday was spent discussing my work with Alex in the morning, who had sent me an email the previous night about my show suggestions and had then stopped on the way into the lecture to have a chat. Something he has never done before. 10 minutes later he picked my name out of hat and we were partnered up for the morning. We never got to see or discuss his work as it was at home.

Lunch I met with Vince and Kevin. Kevin needs to change jobs soon as he’s given up with the management across the road. Vince was on good form and invited me to the Liverpool Biennial the following Wednesday.

I bought cakes from the fourth years and polished up the baseball bats using bri wax. I stained them in the morning. Tested one with Mahogany and Pine base and one with just a pine stain.

Went shopping for all the picnic food for me and Jamie followed by work and then home to iron and pack.

Saturday was really good fun. Jamie had a good game and played his heart out, had a chat with Penny, very unusual. After the footy I took Jamie down to the driving range where he took several pounds off me on the putting green. We ate and then watched a bit of Chingford town rugby union. We drove over to Enfield and cued for Bond tickets and got the last two seats. Bond would have been proud. After the film, which was great fun, we had some more food and then got an ice-cream on the way home.

All in all a wonderful day. Next time I see my son he will be 9. Saturday night I stayed at my parents ready to see Sami and the boys as well as my Grandfather who is still recovering from pneumonia. Had to meet Olwen, mums younger sister, for the first time in 6 years. Olwen and I used to be very close; I would eat out with her in London, leave the office and meet her for lunch or dinner. We made some kind of peace under pressure from my Grandmother. Until my mum receives an apology from Olwen their will be no real peace, and rightly so. Families are great.

Drove home and met Alex at his new home in Beaston. Helped him do a little unpacking and helped drink a load of beer and had a smoke with him. Got in a taxi and went home where I collapsed in front of the tele before retiring to bed with blurred vision.