Olympic Torch in Southampton

I woke up again, this morning, to the sound of torrential rain outside - another wet day ahead.  Sara escorted Tom around his paper round - part of her exercise regime - and left me to snooze.  I finally got up at 9 a.m. (very late for me) and after a breakfast of sausage and bacon rolls, helped Sara take a load of old games and other bric a brac over the the village hall for the Church Fete.  I also bought £20 worth of prize draw tickets which resulted in winning a large box of Thornton chocolates and some "smellies".  This afternoon, Tom and I drove into Southampton and after parking at Trethowan's just off The Avenue, we walked into the city centre where there was a wonderful festival atmosphere in anticipation of the arrival of the Olympic Torch later that afternoon.  There were many stalls selling all sorts of goodies and food.  A group from the Amana Trust were giving away free study New Testaments which we acquired.  We left the razzmatazz of Above Bar and walked to St. Mary's Stadium where there was another festival air to the place.  Upon showing our tickets for the Markus Liebherr Memorial Cup tournament we were admitted to a funfair outside the stadium and indulged ourselves on a small "ghost train" ride.  The Jeremy Kyle Show is probably scarier. Still, it was free and a fun thing to do.  Inside the stadium we were entertained with three games of football lasting 45 minutes each - Saints v. Anderlecht (0-1); Anderlecht v. Arsenal (0-1) and Saints v. Arsenal (5-4 after penalties).  Each team won one game but Arsenal won the Cup by virtue of only losing to Saints on penalties - Arsenal's first silverware for five years! During the break between the first and second games, the Olympic Torch arrived in the Stadium and was run around the pitch (see picture).  It was quite an emotional moment to see "The Kiss" as the runners exchanged the flame in the corner between the Northam and Itchen Stands.  Tom and I finally arrive back home at around 10.15 p.m.  We had missed the Church Fete but had an incredibly enjoyable and interesting day, once more, in Southampton.  Back there again tomorrow, hopefully, to see Hampshire v. Durham in the CB40 cricket match at the Rose Bowl.

A day of mediation

Michael and I had to be up early this morning as we were due in Tribunal again at 9.30 a.m. to take part in a Judicial Mediation with the hope of finally settling our case.  We ate our, by now, customary “continental” breakfast at the Gypsy Moth and took the taxi into West Croydon.  Today we had a Mercedes E-Class with a white middle-aged driver – something unique in this part of the world.  He got lost!  I ended up having to direct him the final few yards to our destination.  We started promptly at 9.30 a.m. and apart from a lunch break at 1 p.m. went right through until 6 p.m. this evening.  For obvious reasons I can’t write the details here but, suffice it to say, after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing we managed a settlement which was quite satisfactory and which, apart from some tidying up of the agreement on Monday, means that we have avoided a 10-day trial in March and will free my diary up, considerably, to concentrate on finishing my portfolios for my ministry training.  I drove back this evening along the A272 to avoid heavy motorway traffic and stopped off briefly to have a look at the church in Midhurst where Sara and I met and prayed together on our first day together on 10th March 1996.  It was a very nostalgic visit.  The church has had its dark wooden screen removed and replaced with a plate glass door and screen which considerably lightens the inside of the church.  I spoke briefly to some members of the choir who were just finishing choir practice.  I eventually arrived back home at around 9 p.m. and Sara greeted me with a supper of surf n’ turf – my  favourite – steak with grilled shrimp.  Ironically, it was just what I had eaten last night at TGI Friday’s!  Feeling quite exhausted tonight and looking forward to a bit of a lie-in tomorrow.

Croydon Day 2 - Thank God it's Thursday

Woke up to a beautiful sunny day - perhaps the summer has arrived at last!  Blue sky and no clouds - even quite warm.  No need to get a taxi into Croydon today as MCR and I were due to spend the day with clients in Leatherhead.  After a "continental" breakfast of cereal and soggy toast (with soggy coffee to match) we set off along the M25 for Leatherhead where we went through a substantial amount of paperwork ready for tomorrow's judicial hearing back in Croydon.  By mid-afternoon the English summer weather returned - heavy rain!  We cruised back to Croydon (cruising being a good word judging by the rain on the road) driving through South Croydon to see if we could spot a decent restaurant to eat tonight.  The only one looking half decent was Anna's Thai Restaurant where Sally G and I had eaten during an earlier tribunal case for Friends Provident. In fact on returning to our hotel on Purley Way we spotted the TGI Friday's place right opposite us on the main road.  With the heavy rain and the close proximity of this restaurant, we chose that for our evening's culinary delights.  First of all we had our usual pre-dinner drink at the Gypsy Moth (I had a fruit cider which tasted rather like alcoholic Vimto!) before crossing the dangerous A23 for nachos, steak, burger and shrimp washed down with red wine.  MCR had a tequila for starters and I had a "Godfather" - Famous Grouse whisky and amaretto. Interesting flavour.  The service was excellent served by a charming Australian girl so we were happy to leave a decent tip.  Early night tonight as we have a long and interesting day ahead tomorrow.  Some good news today - Portsmouth FC have been deducted 10 points at the beginning of their League 1 season.  How ironic - exactly the same position Saints were in three years ago when Portsmouth jeered us.  What goes around comes around!

A Day in Tribunal

Awoke early this morning - 5.30 a.m. and spent the time before breakfast inserting Chronologies and indexes into the bundles.  Michael R and I had a light breakfast at The Gypsy Moth before setting off in a taxi through the back streets of Croydon to arrive at the offices of the Employment Tribunals at 9 a.m.  A long frustrating day.  Without going into the boring details, the hearing has been postponed until March 2013 when it will be set down for ten days! However, we spent a whole day in and out of the Tribunal Room today on various interlocutory matters such as disclosure, timetables and so on.  We are to have the case set down for a Judicial Mediation on Friday which is likely to be another long drawn out day.  Although it was tempting to return home tonight, MCR and I have decided to stay on here in Croydon (after all, our hotel is paid up for the next three nights) and spend a day with our clients tomorrow in Leatherhead preparing for the mediation and dealing with some of the issues which arose in the tribunal today.  Tonight we were entertained with a massive thunderstorm and took a taxi to Tai Tung Chinese Restaurant which is part of the Wing Yip complex just down the Purley Way.  An excellent meal - I had crab with ginger and spring onion sauce - messy but delightful.  We walked back along the Purley Way to our hotel feeling very full and quite exhausted.  An enjoyable evening of witty story-telling.  It is good to be back working with MCR again.  Like old times when I ran Barratt & Company.

Back in Croydon

A hectic day today preparing for this weeks 3-day trial in Croydon.  Worked solidly in the morning with telephone conferences and emails constantly going to and fro.  More appalling weather today - torrential rain and warm sun making the grass and weeds spring up everywhere.  This afternoon I eventually left home at 3.30pm. and arrived at our clients offices at 5.30 p.m. for an hour and a half's consultation on the bundles.  Thunder and lightning in Surrey! I arrived at the hotel which is our base for the next three days at 7.30 p.m. with our counsel, Michael, joining me at 8.30 p.m.  We went over to the nearby "pub" ("The Gypsy Moth" - see picture) for what can only be described as a mediocre dinner (pan fried chicken breast and sausage and mash) but an acceptable bottle of Rioja.  A good conversation - it was good to chat together tonight about sport and the state of the world as well as about tomorrow's case.  Both feeling tired so off to bed quite early.  a long and interesting day tomorrow in West Croydon.

Still no women bishops

Yet another wet and miserable day today.  An exciting one though for Tom and Mary.  It was Tom's first day of Work Experience and he is working with professional photographer, Mandy, at Wilton for two weeks helping her design some new flyers initially.  for Mary, she spent today at her new secondary education school, St. Edmunds for Girls in Salisbury.  Both quite new experiences for them.  I drove into Salisbury early for a dental appointment - I need another couple of small fillings - and then on to Sarum College to pick up a library book and the Cathedral where I joined the Rural Dean and others for half an hour of a prayer vigil for the General Synod meeting today.  The result of the deliberations on whether there should be Women Bishops ended in an adjournment on the issue until the Synod meets again in November.  No women bishops for the time being.  Before returning home I called in at the gym for half an hour.  Back home I spent the afternoon working on the tribunal case.  tonight, Sara and I watched the highly acclaimed film "The Help" which is concerned with the plight of black maids in Mississippi in the early 1960s and the whole Civil Rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jnr. Very tired tonight - especially after the visit to the gym.

Next year Andy? You did us proud.

Another strange day of strange weather.  For the first time in quite a while, Sara and I went to church together - both as congregants without any duties.  We attended All Saints Winterslow where Cynthia led and preached on the gospel reading of Jesus going back to his native village to teach and preach and not being well regarded.  Some very interesting thoughts entered my head as I heard those words.  As she also spoke about her time in Venezuela, little did I realise that listening to her intently would lead me to being able to answer a pub quiz question correctly later tonight - not that that should be the reason for  listening to sermons!  This afternoon Tom and I visited the Ageas Bowl to watch the T20 game against Essex - one point to secure Hampshire's quarter-finals place.  As we entered the Members' Pavilion, the heavens opened and we had half an hour of torrential rain! This was enough to result in the game being eventually, after several pitch inspections, abandoned.  Hampshire got themselves into the Quarter-Finals thanks to the weather!  Tom and I watched Andy Murray put up a brave fight against Roger Federer in the Wimbledon Mens' Singles Final.  He had a great start but, at the end of the game, was clearly no match for the stamina and expertise of such a fine tennis player as Federer. The one good thing about the poor weather was that Tom and I were able to sit in the comfort of the Members' Pavilion enjoying our drinks (and in my case an enormous Ploughman's Lunch too) and watch the tennis on a high definition flat screen TV.  I was very disappointed to find that in trying to get my £5 back for Tom's ticket. I would have to pay £3 admin fee.  Eventually, therefore, I will get a cheque in the post for £2 from Hampshire CC!  Lesson learnt - always pay by debit card!  Never cash.  Tonight I joined Richard, David and James for the pub quiz.  A large number of entrants tonight - 14 teams I recall.  Where did we ("Last of the Summer Wine") end up? - why top of course.  Back to our winning ways after a three-months break - bringing hope the bottles of wine!  The charity tonight was The Link Scheme - volunteer drivers to take the less-abled into Salisbury or collect their shopping etc.  A wonderful resource in the village.  Hampshire will play Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge in the T20QF but on a Tuesday evening when I can't make it.  Pity.  Now a really busy week ahead.