How
embarrassing is that? Having started out with all those good intentions to this
year maintain a regular blog, I end up not writing anything for so long that I
forget the sign-in information! Still, all sorted out now.
It’s been
so long since I last blogged that I can't actually remember whether or not we
had the threatened snow. I think that we did but that it was nowhere near as
severe as expected.
I do
remember that we had a mini-heatwave and I think that it was actually the
warmest March in the UK since records began. But that's all changed and we've
returned to normal service.
The
problem that I was having with the previous landlord now seems to have
resolved, or rather, he gave me an ultimatum threatening legal action and I
reciprocated, also threatening legal action. He backed down and all is
resolved. The added bonus is that as a result of everything that was happening,
the letting agent was being "unhelpful", so I emailed her a
snotagram, copying in one of the partners from the estate agents, and she has
had a 180 moment, now being extremely helpful.
So the
new house is really starting to look like a home. Admittedly, there are still
boxes, mainly containing books, that have yet to be unpacked, but they will
have to wait until we've bought (yet more) bookcases.
No. 1 Son
has, unfortunately, now been discharged from the Army. Sadly, the injury that
he suffered to his ankle was such that, having had two lots of surgery, the
Army has told him that he will be unable to train for about 2 years, although
he has a place at Sandhurst available for the next 5 years.
In the
meantime, he has been applying to various universities to get a degree in
history, and has a provisional place at the University of Hull. The advantage of
this is that one of his best friends from school is already at Hull. The
downside is that when Alec left school, he actually had a scholarship from the
Army to go to university, but had turned it down to go straight to Sandhurst as
he was fed up with studying, so he will have to pay for it himself, although
the compensation that he will get from the Army should help.
No. 2 Son
continues to do well at college on his programming course, although the amount
of time that he spends on the computer does worry me. I suppose if he's to make
it his career, and he can make his first £million by the time he's 30, I
shouldn't really discourage him.
Maggie
has been conspicuous by her absence of late, but this is because her mother
arranged for her to have an exchange to France, and she has been staying at her
Godmother's house near Toulouse for the last six weeks. The only communication
that we have had has been via Skype, as it was far too expensive to call her.
She
arrived back in the UK this week, but I still haven't seen her as mother had
arranged for her to go on a narrow boating trip pretty well as soon as she got
back in the country!
Hopefully, she
and Alec will be coming over for lunch next Sunday.
In the
meantime, since I last blogged, I have carried on much as before, both civilian
and military-wise. However, it has been the military aspect of my life that has
given me the most opportunity, and just last week I attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace as a military
helper. This was organised by the same people that also gave me an opportunity
to attend a Christmas party at St James's Palace last December.
The
Honorary Colonel of my Territorial Army Squadron is also the Chief Executive of
the Not Forgotten Association, a charity
that provides help and support to both serving and ex-servicemen and women. We,
along with various other military organisations, are asked to provide personnel
to assist the older and more infirm guests, which we are always happy to do.
I was also
able to see the preparations that were being made for the concert that will
take place in front of Buckingham Palace this evening, part of The Queen's
Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
I watched
some of the River Thames pageant yesterday, but the coverage by the BBC is now
being severely criticised. I didn't see any problems, personally. It was a
shame, however, that it rained so heavily during the actual pageant, but I
don't think that the BBC can be blamed for that.
The
Queen's Jubilee has also meant that I have received another medal, The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
Medal, which is my second, The Iraq Medal being my first. However, I should
receive my third this year, the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal,
although I don't think that I will get that until later this year.
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