Finished off the paving stones on Monday and replaced the wood  around one of the raised beds. An AFD. Can't remember doing much on Tuesday but it was another AFD. On Wednesday did a ride with Kelvin out to Yattendon and had lunch in the cafe at Bucklebury Farm. We picked Madeline and Owen up from nursery later and James came round for tea. Amy was in South Africa with work. In the evening went to see a chap called John Wesley Harding also known as Wesley Stace at South Street. An amusing singer songwriter. He was supported by another called David Lewis and they did some stuff together as they are old friends. Went with Kelvin and also saw Stuart and Mary there. Went swimming on Thursday morning, my first one since ghetto cataract op. Did first Thursday drinks in the evening at the Greyfriar. No JR or Russ. Had to complement them on the music being played. One band sounded like The Byrds but I think they said it was The Gin Blossoms. Had a band practice at Pirate on Friday for Tribute Night. On Saturday drove over to Alex and James' for a belated Kelly Xmas do. M went with James and the kids and I went in our car as I had to leave early to get back for  the Simon and Garfunkel Tribute Night. One of the new guys. Emre, helped out on sound along with Graham. We played as Slime'n Carbuncle and did Homeward Bound and Keep The Customer Satisfied.
Did OK, a lot there and they ran out of beer. Only Fosters left at the end. We nearly won the prize for best band name again. There was decider between us and Reading Bridge Over Troubled Thames Water, We was robbed A lazy day on Sunday.

M went over to no 81 on Monday morning to look after the kids as they had a viewing for their house. I went for a follow-up appointment with the consultant (Mr Constable) about my cataract op. All looking good and he's put me forward to have the right eye done. Tony came round for a rehearsal after. We played the Castle Tap Open Mic in the evening. Did Can't You See, White Rabbit and Rooster. All on the dobro. Jake joined us on fiddle for White Rabbit. Their were quite a few there and some new faces. A lot of dreary stuff though. Tony had filmed us so spent Tuesday editing the video down to 3 separate tracks. Went to see URZ draw 2 2 again this time to Exeter. Just me and Ralph as usual. A cold wet and windy evening. On Wednesday I tried out Sunday's society walk and it was very wet. James came round with the kids for tea. Amy was up in Scotland. An AFD. Tried a drier version of the walk on Thursday. Had some paving stones deliver from BnQ. Met up with Penno and Clive in The Allied early evening. On Friday we started laying the paving stones.I popped over to RSAC early evening to help set up for Atilla The Stockbroker. He'd said he wanted a Bluetooth connection so I took along  couple of receivers to if they would work but he didn't need them in the end. On Saturday we went up to London for the annual Shenanigans. This time it was a Hidden City treasure hunt all done on the phone. Great fun and arounfvtge inns of court area. Here we are planning except for Sue

James brought the kids round on Monday morning as he was looking after them and their car needed to go in for a service. Picked up some framing from Ralph after. Tony came round later for a rehearsal. An AFD. Popped down to RSAC on Tuesday to take some stuff down the tip. Another AFD. Booked up some more of the Canada trip on Wednesday. Another AFD. Met Mike and Judy for lunch on Thursday at this newish pizza place called Zia Lucia. They do different bases including a charcoal one.

Tony came round in the afternoon for a rehearsal. Did a couple of songs on the dobro. An AFD. On Tuesday it was Carolyn Webb's funeral. It was family only but we watched the cortege leave the house and then went to the wake afterwards in The Rising Sun. They had framed pictures in the bar. A good turn out.

Took down the Christmas decorations on Monday. James popped round with the kids for an hour or so in the afternoon as they had the cleaners in. Went to a meeting at RSAC in the evening. An AFD. Had a bit of snow on Tuesday morning. When M was tidying up the old office she found that the futon mattress had been nibbled a bit. Hopefully this was down to the mice we had  while ago. Anyway I took it down the tip. Another AFD.

On Monday we heard the very sad news that Carolyn Webb had died. James popped round with some ham for us to try and to print off the Canadian crossword. M went out for lunch with Mandy and Fiona. I did a ride out to Maker Space with Kelvin and Stuart. Amy popped round with more ham on Tuesday morning as I ate most of the previous batch. Spent most of the day doing Christmas prep. On Cristmas Eve we picked Madeline and Owen up from nursery. Warren and Mary Ellen came round for tea. James and Amy picked the kids up and then the grandparents went to Derek and Steve's party.

Last week I got an Xmas animation from Penno that I assume she'd made and one from my cousin Linda that she definitely hadn't. Anyway as a result I thought I'd make one and started in earnest on Monday. An AFD. Warren, Mary Ellen and JAMO came round for the traditional lasagne tea on Tuesday. Madeline found my selfie stick. On Wednesday I finished my Xmas animation. I went up to London later to see BRMC with Wynn at The Troxy. I went up early and walked from Embankment.We met in The Clement Attlee which was rammed. Support was from Night Beats who were OK but their recorded stuff is more interesting. They were just playing as a straight 3 piece, guitar, bass, drums. I really enjoyed BRMC. Quite a mixture of stuff from folk to heavy rock but they didn't have much off as they would say up north. One of them also seemed to be having medical issues and we found out later from a review that they had flu. We left before the encore so I could get the 23 32. Meanwhile Edith had been singing. Went swimming on Thursday morning. In the afternoon went up to London again with M to meet up with Anne and Wynn. We were staying in The Hazlitts Hotel in Frith Street, Soho. We had drinks in the library honesty bar then went to Zedel for dinner. Had a bit of a walk round then went the Arts Club that M has just joined.