Happy Birthday Paul!

Happy Birthday Paul! We wish you all the happiness and trust that Janine & little Jamie treated you on your special day.

Just a little tip...keep that BBQ warm for our arrival in coming days.....

Love Blair & Grigoria

Amsterdam It Is…..!!

Yes after five clues in as many weeks, last night I finally got the last clue and the obvious answer was Amsterdam!


Amsterdam you say, well yes the home of clogs, canals and tulips and where we’ll be spending my birthday weekend.

Late today we left work, took the train to Gatwick Airport and flew over (45minutes) the English Channel to Amsterdam with bated anticipation of what lied ahead.

Over past few months Grigoria had been planning the trip without much input from me (for obvious reasons) and her brilliant organising skills and understanding of what I would enjoy, was proven with our beautiful 17th century styled canal facing accommodation http://www.canalhouse.nl/. Actually the house was two joined into one.


So tonight we’ll be settling back, thinking of what surprises and exciting times lay ahead….

The BIG One....

Today I awoke, it was dark (not unusual for November), I clambered out of bed, my back was aching and I couldn’t remember what day it was. Apparently all signs of the ‘over-30 club’ as a close friend pointed out!

Yes today is MY BIRTHDAY and I’ve made it to the BIG ONE – 30! Luckily none of the above is quite true but still not too far off I’m sure.



Well, where have the years gone I ask myself, it only feels like yesterday when I turned 21 but then a fare bit has happened since that milestone. I guess 30 is not a bad point in life, finely I’m not considered a ‘young buck’ within my profession, I’m old enough to do virtually anything legally and yet still too young to get a discounted bus fare, something to strive for I guess…..

Once over the number crunching shock, I had a thoroughly enjoyable day with many surprises from Grigoria, nice gifts from both my parents and Grigoria’s too and a lovely dinner at the ‘Bleeding Heart Bistro’ http://www.bleedingheart.co.uk/bistro/functions.html, not to mention a delightfully homemade dessert by close friends Olga, Geoff & Arielle.

In addition to the gift surprises today, Grigoria also had been hiding one more surprise….where we were heading away to for the weekend..?
For months now Grigoria had been saying that we were going to Birmingham!?

But I knew better and hoped it would be a place I was yet to visit….Amsterdam, Rome or maybe to Paris.....I guess I’ll just have to wait and see….stay tuned for more details....

Update: Madrid Trip, Cycle show & Office Halloween Party...

I know it’s been a few weeks now since our last post and today I’ve finally folded to the constant pressure from our treasured readers, so here goes….



Mid October Grigoria spent four days visiting her parents in Madrid; it had been some months since her last visit and the last opportunity before we head off to New Zealand for the Christmas break. As always she thoroughly enjoyed shopping, eating and relaxing.


Meanwhile I took the opportunity on one of the days to spend a few hours visiting the London Cycle show event; http://www.cycleshow.co.uk/ The avid readers out there will remember last year’s blog entry and this year was very similar, with all the top road & mountain bike brands on show. I think this rare ‘Ferrari’ road frame (see image) was the show piece along with this new helmet light; http://www.use1.com/exposure/products/joystick_maxx/index.php

Finally a couple of weeks back now, my office celebrated the Halloween season with a costume themed party. The day started with pumpkin carving in the office before moving down to hired venue for drinks, ‘scary’ music videos, apple bobbing and a ‘frightening’ good time….