It's been a while since this site was updated - well a year to be exact. Lots has happened in that time. Lisa is still working at Doorway, finding new and creative ways to get the message of homelessness across to the general public via the media. She has redesigned the original website that she created for the charity and even though I'm biased, she has made a truely professional job of it.

I was away in the Middle East for Christmas 2006 and also at Easter 2007. Not long after I returned home in April, I managed to rupture a disc in my back. This took a hell of a long time to diagnose as the tablets I was on for pain relief were strong enough to mask the true extent of my injury. A simple MRI scan would have helped, however the Royal Air Force was unwilling to spend that money on one of their aircrew and so I was referred to a specialist over a hundred miles away! Loyalty is a one way street in the military nowadays. Currently I am waiting for a 3 week spinal rehabilitation course in January before they will let me fly.

The boys are both doing well at school and they both have their respective SATs to look forward to come May 2008. At the moment, they fight like cat and dog and are each others best mate at the same time.

Lisa decided after a very wet Sandwell classic car show that she would like to have her own Interceptor for everyday use. With some scouting about we managed to find her an early Mk III in Crystal Blue with a dark blue leather interior. During the Wroughton show in August, Lisa succumbed to looking through the Jensen Chassis Data Book and found out that the car was 'born' (became a full car at the factory) on her 3rd birthday. At the moment the car is having some minor body repairs to the rear arches and should be back home in the next week.

Lisa has started writing a column in the Jensen magazine - it seems there is no end to her talents - and I have recently become an Area Co-ordinator for the Wessex Area of the JOC. We are also organising the club stand for the forthcoming show at the Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallett in February.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Work has been so manic that I haven't had a chance to update the website in months! I am making a huge effort now since my father-in-law has been giving me grief - I am sure that he is the only person who actually visits this site!

The Doorway website is up and running now - we had over 800 hits last month! I am loving my job - keeping the website running smoothly, writing press releases, having meetings, eating a fry-up with the guests at the drop-in centre and generally getting the charity's name 'out there'. It has been a very steep learning curve but I am teaching myself new stuff everyday. Oh and I now have my own BUSINESS CARDS !!!!!!!!

Doorway is living hand-to-mouth at the moment and the future is pretty bleak, but it is more promising than it was 2 months ago... I have a huge incentive to succeed at my job - if I don't get funding then I don't have a contract!

Lewi is now out in Oman for a 4 week detachment over xmas and the new year; refueling aircraft over Iraq and Afghanistan, so I have gone back into auto-pilot mode where I just get on with life on a day-to-day basis on the assumption that he will come back soon.

Have sent all the xmas cards out and all the decorations are up - can't believe it has been a year since the last bloody time I got them out!

Boys are okay - Callum has started puberty and won't let me cut his hair. His word of the moment is "fine" - his answer to every question, statement, comment, demand etc... Hayden is just Hayden and I love visiting his little world..

The Jensen was supposed to be have been off the road for the winter by now, with the leather and other dirty smelly jobs being done - however, Lewi is refusing to stop driving it! I was going to be keeping a low profile in the Jensen Owners Club Forum however, it appears to have got a little out of hand in there. It's basically turned into them versus me battle of wit, humour, sarcasm and abuse.

I have done a 5 hour photo shoot for "Classics Monthly" magazine recently, so that should be published in this months edition of the mag - they should print it as a 6-page buyers guide....Photo shoots are NOT as glamourous as they sound - it was cold, wet and soggy and most of it was spent holding a flash gun!

Happy Christmas to everyone (if anyone actually visits this website!)

Work is going well, website is coming along offline very nicely and the art exhibition that I am organising to tour the libraries in North Wiltshire is coming together. We have the opening press and publicity shoot next week at the NWDC offices with various bods coming along to show support.

I am enjoying the job - it is a big challenge, but very rewarding, especially when you go along to a drop-in centre session for the homeless and get their enthusiasm for the website content. I have decided to compile guest profiles with their backgrounds and stories and they are very willing to co-operate.

The Jensen is running very well (touch wood!) and we came 11th in the silver concours class at the International Weekend, out of 30 cars! The standard was shockingly high and the boys' obsession for detail was alarming!

Loads of photos of the car available here >>

I have decided not to return to my counselling course in September for various personal reasons - life is good at the moment and I am reluctant to keep returning to "the dark place".....

Boys are doing well at school - eldest has been placed in the top sets for Yr 8 in all subjects except maths which proves that he is coping with his ADHD without medication.

Working for The Doorway Project now as the PR & Marketing Officer. Doorway is a homeless charity covering North Wiltshire which provides 2 drop-in sessions a week for people who are homeless or are at risk of being made homeless. I have been employed to build the website and design and produce promotional material in order to raise the profile and secure future funding...

Very busy - more info to follow!

Lewi's sister passed away at the end of April. Julie will be missed by all those that knew and loved her. After open heart surgery in 1982, she never let her steel and nylon valve stop her from cramming so much into her lifetime including an Atlantic crossing in a sailing yacht. Our thoughts are with her husband Andy at this time.

Soggykitkat is spending so much time in the garage that I have sent him out a kettle and teabags! (I wonder how much a portaloo is on ebay...)

He now has red overalls and blue disposable gloves and is looking just like a mechanic (is a lexus engine anything like a V8? - would save me a fortune on main dealer servicing costs)

I am desperately trying to look vaguely interested in the technical stuff, but it isn't fooling him. However, I have washed his polishing cloths for him and put a clean travel rug in the boot

The Kitkat boys have spent half term getting muddy - they say that they are playing cricket and football - but all I can see is dirt.... Cricket season has started and it looks like I will spending hours and hours and hours down the Cricket Club.. Have just bought a full kit since the eldest Kitkat boy is now playing serious cricket in the U13's; almost had to remortgage the house.....

Update: having just found out how much Jensen wing mirrors cost I have decided that they are NOT a good idea for driving down the M4....

Counselling course completed and now on a break until the next one starts in September.

I resigned as SEN governor in protest at the government's policy on inclusion in mainstream schools and then since nobody noticed, I re-instated myself through guilt!

I finally gave in to Soggykitkat's consistent demands for buying a 3rd car.....Mainly down to the fact that I felt sorry for him since he has reached his midlife crisis. (Photos and info can be seen via the Soggykitkat page)

1. He cleared the garage. Now this doesn't sound worthy of being no.1, however bear in mind that it has taken me nearly 4 yrs to achieve this goal
2. It is an investment and makes more sense than spending a small fortune on upgrading my Lexus when you take into account depreciation values; and let's face it, I ain't ever gonna get an IS250 anyway
3. He has the biggest grin on his face i.e. Cheshire Cat
4. He can now live in the garage with it. Actually this should be reason no.1 since it may get him off the computer
5. The boys think it is wicked
6. I drove it home and it is MAD! However, wing mirrors are a good idea for the M4
7. It was a bloody bargain; especially when you consider that he has been demanding an E-type
8. The Jensen Owners Club is very friendly - the chairman is an ex BA flight engineer who lives in Devizes and is very willing to help with technical stuff that is way over my head
9. I love the smell of brake fluid, engine oil and petrol fumes; ooooh I can just picture him in overalls!
10. It has a 7.2 litre V8 engine and I fall over (or insert appropriate comment since this is a family site!) every time the engine starts
11. We get to socialise with a new set of people at car shows and meets (will make a pleasant change from RAF talk)
12. Soggykitkat was out cleaning and polishing it and 15 people stopped to comment on it; well he claims that they did - however, someone did make a point of asking him whether he had heard the budget - car tax increase (sodding bloody thieving gits)

New year, new obsession:- www.perplexcity.com

Perplex City is a society built around puzzles and lots and lots of shiny puzzle cards, costing me a small fortune.....

Now, I could get really into this and follow the hunt for the cube so far... damn, I already have....convinced that the cube is hidden somewhere close...

Slowly getting into christmas mode - have now seen the Coca-Cola advert on the television which prompted me to put the tree up!

The Kitkat boys are looking forward to breaking up from school - it has been a long hard term for both of them.

Soggykitkat & I have just about recovered from our week long trek around Moscow & St Petersburg - should have brought more caviar back with us for xmas blinis...

I am still busy at school in my combined roles of parent governor and SEN governor; much happier now that I have resigned as Chair of the PTFA. In September I went back to college to start 4 years of counselling courses - it's proving to be hard work but hopefully there will be a rewarding end result! I am also hoping to start my Samaritans training in 2006.