Yes, it’s
been over 2 months since the last update and I know you’re all anxiously
checking on a regular basis for updates so now you can rest easy
because here it is!
Ok, so why the long break, well so
much has happened of course, we wouldn’t leave family & friends
hanging for no good reason. We’re all a year older... except Jessica,
but then we know math isn’t her strongest asset. (Yeah, she’s a year
older but apparently it doesn’t count....)
My family made a trek over to see us
specifically for my birthday - they decided Ryan & Jessica didn’t
matter and buggered off before their special days. They even dragged
Alison or Maggot as Ryan swiftly learned to call her, out of her slum
before Scotland becomes properly isolated from England.
Jessica was cunning and decided to
throw me a special party, this meant I had to be out of the house for
the day... like all flawed plans though the start time of 6 was delayed
as we didn’t get back till 7.30 and by then everyone was comatose from
waiting. Still it was a good night and plenty of people were able to
discuss the rivalry between two billing departments.
I’ve also finally become an official
BAH employee, wasn’t quite as trouble-free as you may expect but all in
all now I’m fully kitted out and have the sort of access & software
that will enable me to complete my workload in my usual high standard.
As expected the insurance coverage is first class with the minor niggle
that speech therapy isn’t covered - sadly that means Jessica will still
have to “think” she can speak in an English accent. Ryan will drop to 1
session a week but his progress speech wise is going really well - he
can still say “No”, and “What?” at inopportune times though!
Other skills are lagging a little, but
with some solid work he can close that gap as well and almost appear
normal, his party was a success though Walmart somehow managed to come
up with a cake saying Happy Birthday 4th Stan.....they really are as
much use as a chocolate fireguard. Hasty scraping and re-icing followed
so we at least had his name on it.
World Cup is coming and Jessica is
naturally excited about the USA’s chances.... maybe this year she’ll
watch the games instead of taking to the bath because she can’t handle
the stress. This time though I won’t be able to barge in & yell
“Donavan, last minute - you win the group!” and she won’t be able to
tell me I’m full of BS..... not sure on the decision to leave him out,
but I honestly don’t think it will matter, its a tough group and it’s
more likely they get 0 points, than the 4 that will be needed at a
minimum to get out. Frankly a repeat of the 2002 win over Portugal will
make my day and I suspect Woof, Sac & Monkey’s. England could easily
be in the same boat, you’d expect them to get at least a win vs Costa
Rica so it comes down to Italy & Uruguay, even if they scrape
through a probable QF vs Spain awaits and that will almost certainly be
the end of the road.
So my upset radar says Chile are
highly rated and playing in their own continent so maybe they could
upset Holland, predicted to go further is Belgium as they do have a
young emerging team, but this is probably a World Cup too soon for
them. As for a winner, somewhat regrettably I’m picking Argentina.
Very soft draw should it play out, Brazil will most likely face all
European teams in the KO rounds - something like Holland, Italy, Germany
and the tension in the final should they get there will be too much.
Biggest work has gone into the front
yard where after some assistance from foreign labor - didn’t even need
to go to Home Depot for it (thanks Mum & Dad!). We now have the
path lined by fancy brickwork, with a nice little flower bed running
down one side, up by the front window a few nice plants are now in place
with better soil and sealed off by another row of bricks. Principle
idea is to stop the flow of mud & crap down our garden across our
path where it pools until it drains leaving loads of mud and clay and an
unpleasant mess. So far, it’s not done badly. Finally I finished the
basics today, now we wait for the seeding to take in the grass and then
it will look at least respectable. By the way, the hard part was about
an inch below the surface was solid clay.... it’s been a long time since
I shed that much weight through sweat alone, and now I remember why.
It’s going to be worth it in the end but seriously, I am too old for
this....
Till next time.
J, J & R.
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