2008

The year up to November felt like it was dominated by WORK – with the offshore project and Nationwide. Spending a variable two days per week in Croydon played havoc with everything.  Impossible to plan social life / take enough exercise / eat properly /  attend professional talks, etc etc. And the naus of having to re-claim travelling expenses was one of the factors in driving me into a permanent role.

The end of my 50^th was a good birthday celebration, to end my birthday blog.

 Nat's relationship with Fern came to an end after eighteen months, just as he went away on skiing holiday with George – very opportune timing as he had a whale of a time and got over the sadness in double quick time.  We were sad it ended…

 While he was away, he "forgot" Mother's Day – apart from a text at 17:30. Not impressed.

Nat left for South America just before Phil's birthday. We kept in touch via emails and skype. When he returned, the time just seemed to go and then he was off to Bath.  Because of text, skype, email, he hardly seemed to be away. I'm sure Phil missed him much more than me. But then he doesn't use text or email….

We had a good holiday when Nat was back (Liverpool and Yorkshire). Nat started a new romance with Laurie, who is very attractive.

I was delighted when Nat returned to the ERRFC "fold" for rugby training, but in December, he decided to give up for the rest of the season at least – his knee had complained, then his shoulder after his only match in Exeter, and Freshers badly organised.

Mum was taken into hospital with suspected stroke in November – stressful. I think that's why I caught the heavy cold that then lasted five or six weeks.

We invited all of the in-laws for a "family Christmas" - well, the sister-in-law actually invited herself but what the hell. Eventually the other in-laws did decide to come. And eventually on the day, they arrived. At 4 o'clock for 2 o'clock. Oh well, never again, unless attitudes change.