It is 18:42 as I begin writing this blog post. My sisters left about forty minutes ago and it was really good to see them, even it was a rather fleeting visit. They provided me with loads of food, cooked by my Mum and Julie made tea and did the vacuum around the flat. It was nice to see them, particularly as Samantha and Natalie had not been to Newbury to see my flat. Samantha, had just got back from Saturday in Leicester, so fell asleep on the sofa, pretty much as soon as she walked through the door. Overall been a good weekend, without being too busy or hectic. Although I did not get back to my flat until 1am last night on the train. More on that in a second. Firstly a quick round up from today. Somehow, I dragged myself out of bed before 7.30am, had some breakfast and caught the start of Match Of The Day on BBC1 before headed out to the gym. Although I had to de-ice the car first! I got to the gym a few minutes after 8am. It was closed, there were five people waiting outside in the cold, plus a few other people not brave enough to face the elements sitting in their warm cars (like me). Eventually the manager arrived and opened up, but we had to wait in reception for the facilities to be in operating order before we were allowed to the changing rooms. I completed my programme and left a few minutes after 9am. I headed to BP garage to check my tire pressures, they were a little low but well worth checking them, particularly as I have a long journey next Saturday. I got back home and then became my guise as domestic dreamboat. I finished the ironing and put another load of washing done. I usually have my curtains drawn during the day (no point having them open, as I’m at work during the day and it is dark by the time I get home) but it was a nice change to be able to look out of the window, at the sun beaming through such a classic winter scene.

After the ironing, I jumped on the computer to kill the time before my sisters arrived. I expected them to be here around midday but when they had not arrived by 2pm, I called my sister Natalie and left a voicemail on her mobile. She called back half an hour later to explain they were just leaving in a little while. So I watched episode three of Life On Mars (US version) before going into the lounge to watch the X Factor results show. I knew who had gone out, the left hand of Diana Vicker’s is no more! I wanted to see the results and some of the judges comments and Eoghan’s tears. I had downloaded the performances of both JLS and Alexandra from the X Factor News web site earlier in the day. The rendition of Umbrella was fantastic and I think it will be a close call between these two artists. I am looking forward to Beyoncé on the show next week, particularly her duet of Irreplaceable with Alexandra. Yesterday was quite a busy day, I got up around 9.30am, which for me is a lie in. I had a big breakfast and then set to work. I was on the computer for a while, trying to get my TV card loaded again but it is pointless. Looks like the hardware has failed and is no longer being recognised by Windows. Fantastic! Just as I fix a problem, a new one comes along. I have e-mailed Hauppauge but not sure what the response will be from the support team. That was perhaps the only negative aspect of my weekend. After the time on my computer (to charge up my Zen mainly) I started on the ironing of my shirts for work but as I was on a tight schedule for my train to London, I had to stop after just two. I had a quick bite to eat and then got ready and headed out the door around 2.15pm. I could have spent a few more minutes at home but I wanted to be waiting at the station in plenty of time for my train. As I waited on platform two, I took a photograph with my phone.

The 14:54 got into Paddington late, as there were trespasses on the line at Southall. I then caught the tube to Edgware Road and then the Circle Line train to Liverpool Street, although there was an eight minute wait, which seemed to last forever. At Liverpool Street I topped up my Oyster Card (it was running quite low) and then just waited for Ricki to arrive. There was a different vibe since last time almost exactly six months ago. I felt different and I knew it was going to be different atmosphere because it was the climax of the weekend and not the low of midweek. At around 9.30pm, I said my goodbyes around Austin Friars and as I walked past an icon of the City Of London, I could not pass without taking a photograph.

The journey home was a battle in itself. At Liverpool Street I caught the tube back to Paddington but on the Hammersmith & City Line. I got to Paddington at 22:10, ten minutes before the next train left for Reading. However, it stopped at every stop out to the west, so I thought I had missed the last train to Newbury (which according to my pocket timetable, left at 23:11). I could have got off at Maidenhead or even Slough and called up my Dad to pick me up and go home but I did not want to use that option. I texted my friend Savita, assuming she would be in and could check online but she was out in Enfield. I would just have to weight up my luck at Reading. Worse case scenario I could crash at Pav’s place if I really was in trouble. As I got off the train and looked at the computer screen, I was glad to see that the next and last train to Newbury was at 00:15. The annoying thing was the forty odd minute wait I had. I was surprised to find the station so busy and there were at least thirty people heading out in the direction of West Berkshire. I noted the time as I got off the train at Newbury (which was a bit disorientating as we got off at Platform 2, when I am used to getting off at Platform 3 and walking over the footbridge. It was 00:52am, I would be back at my flat at 1am. I listened to Five Live on my Zen, Dotun Adebayo was about to present Up All Night. I was cold and very tired but glad to have been out and done this, it was very important. If nothing else I got to meet up with my friend and go for a nice meal which is always good fun. Anything else is always a bonus, a by-product if you will. We shall see what happens. Rolling back to Monday evening, I heard the new song by Lily Allen on Radio One as I drove to the gym. The Fear is fantastic, particularly the clever satrically lyrics but what I like more is the sound. I look forward to the release of the album early next year. It is very good when an artist that you do not really like that much comes along and surprises you. A very busy week ahead but only two weeks to go until holidays, I am looking forward to being at home in two weeks time and be in the warm surroundings of home. Before then, there is plenty of work to be done and I think I will start by getting into bed and reading my book.