Stayed at the Coventry City FC Ricoh Stadium..very cool! You can even have a pitch view! Each mini suite includes a washer/dryer, combination microwave, integrated fridge, in-room bath..which is very novel and shower room.

Christmas day was nice with ickle man and my friends had lunch at The Limes in Sandbach. The food was lovely!
Yesterday stayed in Stony Stratford near Milton KeynesStony Stratford has an exceptionally long and distinguished history. The town has always had strategic importance as the crossing point over the River Ouse, for a prehistoric trackway, the Roman Watling Street, the major London to Holyhead coaching road and latterly the A5.
Stony Stratford - 'The Town on The Road' - was where the Saxon king Edward the Elder fought the Danes. Here King John - and several successive monarchs - frequently held court. Here the funeral cortege of Eleanor, wife of Edward I, rested on its trip from Nottingham to Westminster.
From Stony Stratford Edward IV courted his wife, and it was from a house still standing in the High Street that Richard III secured the young uncrowned Edward V to seal his fate in The Tower of London. Beneath the tree in the Market Square the Methodist John Wesley preached.
The High Street still contains a wealth of coaching inns that thrived in this period, including The Cock Hotel which is where stayed...if you get a nice room the acommodation is nice and the food and service is excellent! Need to also mention the great cafe in the town..sat there for ages drinking tea and eating full english breakfast!!

Last weekend had a nice walk round Brereton Pool with Mum, Dad and ickle man...it was rather chilly!!

Midweek I went to a very nice Caudwell Charity Ball at Crewe Hall the food was yummy!! Met Huggy Bear for all you Starsky and Hutch Fans!!

Other than that I have been to the Trafford Centre shopping took my two sons to get their presents we had a meal in Est Est Est...didnt leave until 10.45 at night!! Now that is serious shopping!! lol Also been for a meal with Mum & Dad and ickle man to Franky and Bennys seemed to get a huge plate of chips with my fish cakes!
Had to slot in the picture of the Maxus van cos when we were promoting the vans at Buildbase last week the demonstrator ended up looking like a proper builders van lol.

Mmmm lovely I tried these last night with some ham and salad...really lovely..you should try them...am I making you hungry???

Looked in the fridge..hmm cheese. bacon, gnocchi, creme fraiche,haddock, scallops, tomatoes,avocado, black olives, pasta, large flat mushrooms
Sometimes i look in my fridge and think what am i gunna do with that lot haha
SOOO...stuffed mushrooms with breadcrumbs, tomato, garlic and cheese me thinks...followed by scallops, avocado, cheese, haddock baked in creme fraiche and cheese
Just need to scoop out the middle of the mushrooms, grate the fresh bread and fry with a little oil, garlic and tomatoes put on the mushroom sprinkle with cheese and push in the oven...mmmmm perfecto!!

I think I'm addicted to Google News... every day I have to check on the Mccann case and the Meredith case...I always scan the most popular and do random other searches it's sooo interesting..sooo informative!!!
Other than that my son PJ's been round we've cooked pasta and garlic bread...just in the middle of watching the LFC v Porto match so just a quick update. Monday night went to Cannock to a charity shopping night for BDF Newlife...bought some Christmas presents and a pair of shoes!!! lol

Well How many of you knew there are caves in Nottingham Shopping Centre??? Infact there are 400 caves in Nottingham....many people in Nottingham dont even know they are there how random is that???? Had a lovely weekend, lovely buildings in Nottingham. Stayed in a very nice hotel although the evening meal I had before I went out cost me £74 for ONE!!!!! Now that's expensive..but you know what it was absolutely the loveliest meal I've had in a long time

Bless you! That's what a lot of us will say when someone sneezes. But there's a good reason to get into the habit of "blessing" things and people as you go about your day. It draws the negative charge from an annoyance or frustrating incident or person and instead puts a positive spin on things. Saying "bless it" or "bless him/her" when something upsetting happens or someone bothers you helps you put things into perspective and return to a state of balance and calm.
I like to remember the words from the early 20th century metaphysician, Emmet Fox. People still read his books today. He said, "Bless a thing and it will bless you. Curse it and it will curse you. If you bless a situation, it has no power to hurt you, and even if it is troublesome for a time, it will gradually fade out, if you sincerely bless it."
Goodness knows, it's easy enough to start to obsess over the many little things that can go wrong in a day. Like a dripping tap, being caught in traffic, breaking a strap on your shoe, or being subject to someone else's bad mood. And that's not to mention those larger problems or issues that we may have in our lives. Instead of trying to deny the problem or worrying over it, try "blessing" it. It will give you the space to react less emotionally and start to deal with it more constructively.
And don't forget, many of those things we at first view as problems turn out to be blessings in disguise! Tally Hooooo have a great week

Well last week cant pass without 8-0 Liverpool goal rush getting a mention!!
My friend Never A Bad Night Out Andy got engaged!! Looking forward to meeting her! Congrats to him
Friday went to Rach's housewarming rrr her house is so lovely!
Tuesday went to Britannia Stadium to a business event infact I won a bottle of wine...so I gave it to Rach as a lil additional housewarming pressie.
My bro and his family came for the weekend and oh I soooo love my family! We had a lovely time at Tatton Park, Knutsford.
Today I've had a meeting with Dee106 the Chester radio station. Mtgs tomorrow with contractors and tonight got architects drawings...never a dull mo

Had a lovely box of chocolates from the lads when th came back from their little jolly. PJ my eldest son gets back from Gran Canaria with Nikki tonight so looking forward to seeing him...bless Yesterday did some flyers zzz. Taking ickle man to see his fav High School Musical which is touring at the mo..booked for February in Stoke On Trent. Caudwell Charity are holding a Winter Wonderland Charity Christmas Ball on the 19th of December at Crewe Hall so got tickets for that. Also busy planning the Potters Club Customer Dinner on the 13th December. My friend Never A Bad Night Out Andy has got engaged! So congrats to him I've seen him a few times but not met his new lady yet don't even know her name. Designing Christmas cards is on the Agenda ooo and diaries, hampers and wine for customers..Possibly Groove Armada concert Friday in Manchester...oh and nearly forgot taking a load of customers to Leyland on the 21st November to see the trucks in production

People rather admire the cheek of Guy Fawkes, trying to blow up Parliament, and that's why we in the UK we celebrate Bonfire night, rather than celebrating the fact that his plot failed and he was caught!
It's hard to imagine that other countries around the world don't have Bonfire Night...but this is one of the few things that makes the UK great fun!!!
Fireworks that are sent up on Bonfire night have really evocative names like, Roman Candles, Mount Vesuvius and Golden Shower.erm cough There are also Catherine Wheels that spin and Sparklers that children and meeeeee write their names in the air with. weee
Children make life-sized effigies of Guy Fawkes which are called Guys, to put onto the bonfires. The English have been burning effigies to mark Guy Fawkes' treason for almost 400 years. The tradition started in 1606, the year after the Gunpowder plot failed. In these first bonfires, called 'bone fires' at the time, it wasn't an effigy of Guy Fawkes that was burned, but one of the Pope. It was not until 1806, two centuries later, that the people started burning effigies of Guy Fawkes instead....FF4 today!
Children make a Guy by stuffing some old clothes with newspapers, make a head out of material...tights and a wig, and either draw a face on it or buy a special cardboard Guy Fawkes mask. For a few days beforehand children are pushing guys around in prams, push chairs and go-carts, saying 'A penny for the guy'. Adults then give them money or tell them to scoot lol - how much depends on how good the guy is. The money is then spent on sparklers, or at least it would be, if children were still allowed to buy fireworks in the UK, so it is probably spent on sweets instead...hehe
We went to the Bonfire at Crewe Park was very good they had a fair too and we went on some very fast ride, we also came home with lots of toys for ickle man. oo and troughed on doughnuts and cheese burger mmm yummy Sunday lunch was at the Hand and Trumpet...the food was very nice...far too much I feel fat as butter...tally ho

I was having a good cleaning out of my clothes the other day. That's one of those chores you really have to be in the mood for, I think. But once you're done, it's such a satisfying feeling to be rid of old, unwanted, or forgotten "stuff" and to have more space. It's very liberating.

And that got me thinking. It's not only physical possessions that can "clutter" our lives, but also the emotional baggage we may carry around with us and just can't seem to let go of or get rid of. Maybe it's old regrets about a former relationship, or a loss or disappointment of some kind, feelings of insecurity, or fear of failure. This type of emotional "clutter" can weigh us down and prevent us from growing.
So, I put together a little exercise for "decluttering" those old emotions and feelings we all experience and maybe are just holding onto for too long. First, just sit down and put into words the emotional clutter you want to be free of. Write it down on a piece of paper. Then, choose a symbol or image that represents your old feeling and draw it on the paper, or paste a picture from a magazine or catalog that illustrates it. Then, take the piece of paper and make a ceremony of disposing of it. You could bury it in the ground, put it in a shredder, or burn it in a safe place.
After the paper is gone, simply say, "Good-bye.
And it's a good idea to help things along by having something to replace the old feelings – your new goals or hopes. Write them down on a piece of paper and add a picture or symbol of them. Put this piece of paper where you will see it every day. So, in time, you'll have that liberating feeling of emotional freedom.

Well I've had a fab weekend! Went to see the Rat Pack Live from Las Vegas at the Birmingham Hippodrome, we had a box so the view was excellent. The music was superb with all the favourites like Fly Me to the Moon. The show is really entertaining with Sammy giving the humour to the show and all the excitement. It certainly had everything laughs, glamour and silky voices! At the interval we met a lovely family and we laughed a lot they were soo nice.When we left bagpipes were playing which was nice. Nxt we went to a fabulous Jamaican Restaurant called XE I had steak with cranberry sauce and rice with red beans was really tasty.

Chief Trougher. We then went to Living Room Bar
followed by Mechu where we danced the night away...found a new drink Alize you must try it!!!
Red Passion was a very very nice drink! Stayed at the Jury's Inn. In the morning had a huge breakkie at All Bar One which was really lovely, walked through Brindley place, took in Birmingham Art Gallery and Anthony Gormleys Statue. Shopped hitting Selfridges and a trip to the fish market. Had tea in Strada a lovely Italian Restaurant the Garlic bread came with pesto and tomato and it look awesome and tasted even better. I had Salad with avocado, bacon, spinach leaves and parmesan...soo nice..All in all never ever a dull moment!

The County Air ambulace launched its 1m appeal yesterday. I still can't believe the community funds these surely its something vital and should be funded by the NHS? The aircraft will fly for 10 hrs a day. The M6 Toll were there with a big cheque for £30,000 which was cool.

Well Staffordshire are getting their very own County Air Ambulance to serve the county. Next week they are having an unveiling of the new Staffordshire aircraft at Somerford Hall. The County Air Ambulance receives no government or lottery funding and relies soley on public donations and corporate sponsorship to financially support the life saving helicopter service. The charity are therefore launching a 'Staffordshire Air Ambulance Appeal' to raise £1 million over the next twelve months to ensure communities across Staffordshire receive the very best helicopter medical emergency service.I'm also going to see the Rat Pack next week so with Halloween looks like should be an exciting week ahead. This weekend went out for a nice buffet Chineese meal then went to Fluid in Newcastle. I was driving then last night went to see SAW IV ugh shudders who writes this stuff????

We had a wonderful day out yesterday at Hawkstone Park Follies. The Follies are a fantasyland of cliffs, crags, caves, deep woods and a series of extraordinary monuments built more than 200 years ago. You must visit! Anyway I went with Yvonne, Nikki, Katie and ickle man oh and Lucy the mad dog!! Had to mention Lucy as the dog is completely nuts....all added to the entertainment for the day ;o)We had a fabulous picnic including a bottle of champagne!!Hawkstone Park is a magical place. There are stories of King Arthur and his Knights at Hawkstone and a legend of two giants, Tarquin and Tarquinas, inhabiting the old castle. Hawkstone has its very own version of the Da Vinci Code. Mystery surrounds the discovery of an ancient cup claimed by author Graham Phillips to be the mystical Holy Grail (in his book The Search for the Holy Grail).

Took ickle man and his friend to the Trafford Centre for tea in Est Est Est, they made their own pizza's and I had Farfalle Salmon mmmmm...did a bit of shopping. They stayed up really late watching DVD's and eating sweets. On the Sunday we went with Mum & Dad to Manchester for another Italian meal this time I had Canelloni with Spinach...equally yummy then we went to The Bridgewater Hall to see the Halle orchestra...That was ace!! This is one architecturally-stunning building! It sits on the foundation on earthquake-proof isolation bearings (consisting of steel springs) which insulate it from noise and vibration from the adjacent road and Metrolink line

Well I promised I'd give anyone good a bit of promo! One of the UK's most successful acts. International Singer/Entertainer Stephen Bayliss. Available for bookings in UK and worldwide events. Transform your event with a polished and professional performance with some of the original Motown hits or some of Stephen's original material. Stephen will travel to the four corners of the globe!! Stephen is currently starring in his own stage musical UNFORGETTABLE The Nat King Cole Story Performed by Stephen Bayliss with the Cliff Longhurst Band

So if you need some corporate entertainment for a black tie dinner, party, ball, fashion show,Major Event, Wedding, Birthday Celebrations or awards Stephen Bayliss is your man!!
For availability and booking enquiries contact email: worldwideevents@btinternet.com

My parents are taking me to The Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on Sunday to see the Halle orchestra so excited about that. Today I've been in Deeside working, followed by Stoke... tomorrow in Wrexham never a dull mo!!

Any way on night a few weeks ago we took Kavanaagh for a ride in a DAF XF 105 to the fire station in Sandbach where all the cadets and firebrigade greeted him. The Sandbach Transport Committee gave Kavannagh a day to remember last year and the Donna Louise Trust who organise days out for terminally ill children put in touch to fix up the day. During the evening we presented Kavanagh's Mum with an album of his day spent with us..such a cutie

What's your emotional IQ? Bet I made you think a bit there. Most of us are used to thinking of intelligence as relating to being "smart" or intellectual, good at solving problems or having a good memory. But now psychologists and sociologists are seeing intelligence as being much broader than that.

Emotional intelligence is being aware of and recognizing your feelings, which in turn helps