Bonus Photo March 26th, 2018

Danesfield House

Anyone who watched the fascinating Colin & Ewan McGregor RAF AT 100 programme on the BBC last night will have seen RAF Medmenham mentioned, and the vital role it played in gathering intelligence during World War 2 at its Danesfield House base. Now a hotel and spa, it's literally a couple of minutes up the road from me at work. 

I first went there in the mid 1980s just after I started work with Dad, as back then we delivered some carrier bags to Carnation Foods, who had taken over the house from the RAF in 1977. Although I drive past it pretty much every day, I think I have only been in there a couple of times since, going back over 10 years ago, when the hotel was thinking about having some up market paper bags. The RAF programme triggered a spark of curiosity in me, so I popped in today and took this photo of the place.

365 Photos The Final Results

So I managed to complete the 365 photo challenge during 2017. Over 38,500 views more than surpassed my expectations, so a big thank you to everyone who followed the challenge. The final results were rather random in terms of the most popular photos, but here goes...

No.1 The Big Hug - 579 views
http://365photos2017.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/august-5th-2017-photo-217-of-365.html

No. 2 The Jam - 555 views
http://365photos2017.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/august-12th-2017-photo-224-of-365.html

No. 3 Blaze of Glory - 538 views
http://365photos2017.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/may-20th-2017-photo-140-of-365.html

Until the next time... 😊

December 31st, 2017 - Photo 365 of 365

Prince's new Cushion

The final photo of the 365 day challenge. Yesterday I got Prince a new extra large cushion for the dining room, and as you can see he is very happy and content on it. 2017 has been a very difficult year for Prince. Having lost his mum, Storm, to cancer in June, he was just about back on track when his serious spinal problem came to light at the beginning of November. He is doing really well, enjoys his physio sessions, and has been ever so good with his new regime of no stairs, short walks and being lifted an awful lot. We've been sleeping on the living room floor for a couple of months, so we both deserve a medal! 'Princey Boy' remains the most wonderful and affectionate dog xx

December 30th, 2017 - Photo 364 of 365

Palmer Park

A couple of minutes from my house is Palmer Park in Reading, which is where I played the majority of my Saturday afternoon home football matches for 15 years or so. We would tend to play here for a year or two, then move somewhere else, and then come back here. We played at a pretty low level, and we won just the one trophy during all those years, but I think this is where we would play our best football, and it felt like home too. For all but a couple of those years I played in goal, partly because I wasn't too bad there - certainly during the early years, but also because I was never capable of running after Friday nights out on the town! I can't believe it is now 16-17 seasons since I stopped playing when our side folded.

December 29th, 2017 - Photo 363 of 365

Serious Drinking

Avert your gaze from the public water pump in Sonning-on-Thames, and look at the stony wall instead. This is the scene of where, in December 1997, I got out of a moving taxi and fell into this wall breaking my nose, and smashing the cap on one of my front teeth, and basically knocking myself out. I ended up in hospital, and it could have been a whole lot worse if my friend Paul Way hadn't spotted me unconscious on this pavement in the early hours. It was a defining moment for me, as it brought to an end my years of drinking to oblivion every Friday and Saturday night. I have no recollection of this incident as I would invariably black out when drinking, but it happened after a late night lock-in at The Bull where I was once part of the furniture! Something had to give, and as painful as the episode was, it finally got the message home to me, and if I am being really honest scared the hell out of me. I don't claim to be a saint these days, but I rarely drink, and when I do I usually limit myself to just a couple. I still find it hard to be sober in a drinking environment, and the shyness that alcohol used to disguise is never too far away. However I have managed to come out of my shell a bit in recent times, especially due to the fundraising I now do, and the people I have met through it. So the lesson is when you have had too much to drink, and the bar staff kindly put you in a taxi to take you home, don't try and get out of it while it is still moving, as the outcome is painful, and a wonky nose! 

December 28th, 2017 - Photo 362 of 365

200 for Alistair Cook

Alistair Cook celebrates his 200 in Melbourne with the English fans on their feet in appreciation. Great television back home, but my brother was lucky enough to be in the crowd today to witness this remarkable innings. Of course the Ashes have gone, but nice to finally have a couple of days of good cricket from England boys, and how fantastic have the Barmy Army been throughout the tour!

December 27th, 2017 - Photo 361 of 365

Prince at Physio

A post Christmas trip to see the physio at Fitzpatrick Referrals for Prince today. Usually when he goes to the vets he has to be dragged in. However Michele had to hold him back this morning, as he was very keen to go and say hello to Charlotte the physio lady, who Prince absolutely loves. The last week or so has not been Prince's best, as his back legs are not quite as good which is the first backward step since he started the physio. Prince enjoyed today's session, and he got a double dose of the laser treatment and some manipulation, so keeping everything crossed that he responds well over the next few days. He is such a star! x