My poor big toe is quite tender after playing a full game of hockey today. I used to think I had pretty good feet but now I fear I'll be forever deformed. 

Another day, another farewell drink! Chloe's off to The Big Smoke to work.

Sarah's (front) last day working with us! She's off to pastures new as an assistant Ed Psych on the Wirral.  Good luck Sarah!

Just playing with the effects on my phone camera.

I can't post my photo today because I think I should get permission from one of my students who is in the picture. Alice was in Uni today to judge the posters that students on my module had produced. The photo shows Alice presenting a certificate to the 'winning' student. 

Watch this space!

Birthday

Today is my birthday. I was awake early so that I could open my presents (and I was very lucky to have lots to open!!) before Alice had to go to work...I stayed in bed until 9.00...a real treat. Less of a treat was the Board of Study meeting I had to go into work for.  Sadly Alice came home from work with a headache and had to go to bed. You can't eat birthday cake on your own can you?!!  So it's waiting until tomorrow. 

These are our new 'not' nest of tables that arrived today for us to 'assemble' (put the legs on!).

The National Indoor Hockey finals were great, especially as Bowden/Hightown won the women's final. Peter has bought us really good seats and who should rock up with 30 kids to fill the two rows in front of us....

Met up with Peter and Carie in Birmingham for the hockey tomorrow. Had a lovely time mooching round the Mailbox in the afternoon, Sushi for dinner and then went to the Yardbird (at last!! I've been waiting at least 6 months!!) - loved it and got to go again some time. 

It was a straight from work trip to FACT this evening to see Milk. A very interesting and quite powerful film. 

The ground is wet, but here are the first shoots of snowdrops and croci. Working at home today meant that I had an opportunity to see the garden in daylight. I wouldn't go so far as to say spring is in the air but it's certainly in the soil. 

A new wire! Yes you guessed...to connect the laptop to the TV. We started our mission to catch up with ER this evening. I think we're currently 3 episodes behind. Very sad first episode!

Quickly snapped as I rushed for my train this morning. I love our purple wheelie bins...so Liverpool! Not the best way to mark Obama's big day but it was what caught my eye. Oh yeah and my sister 'bagged' Barack before me. 

Drove out to Wales to meet my mum and dad for lunch in Hanmer. 

There are two firsts involved with this post: This is the first blog photo taken with my new phone and it is the first birthday cake I've made (I think!). It's for Lucy Day who is having a Murder Mystery dinner party this evening.  

Yep, we had a trip to the Trafford Centre. This is Barton Square, which is where the homeware shops are. Quite unbelievable...singing bears....I ask you!!

Today was the day we got our new TV wired up for maximum performance! We watched our first programme in HD. 

A dippy moment today meant that when I really wanted to take my shot I didn't think I had my phone with me so I missed my chance. This is Alice in her favourite place - duveted up on the sofa, tonight she is watching Save the Last Dance so it's going to be a late one ;-) 

Being a short arse means that nearly all the trousers I buy are too long. This is the man who turns them up for me and I can recommend him. You can find him above Sayers on Lord Street.  Today I collected these new black trousers that I got from the Boden sale. 

My Monday was saved from being like every other working Monday by a lunch date with Dr. Docker.  

A particularly crap photo today, sorry. The most interesting thing I did today made it's way on to Alice's blog! I also went for a walk whilst indulging in my other challenge - listening to my iPod tracks in alphabetical order. You can see here where I'm up to.

On the walk down to the Pier Head for the Transition fireworks we 'found' this in Exchange Flags.

Mmmmm!! Rocky Road! Made by Alice for Frankie's birthday tomorrow. Of course, we did have a couple of pieces this evening.

It was an early start for a trip up to York University today. I sent the first photo to Peter to see if he could recognise his Uni sports centre and hockey pitch (next to the Psychology dept.). He didn't reply so I assume not ;-).  

When I got home Vikki had come round to work on her PGCE application.  

This is my big (if slightly untidy) office. I had a moment of appreciation of my large single occupancy office this morning because later this year we will be moving to a new building and some of us (as yet unknown) we be sharing offices smaller than this...but others will have no window :-0

This was my home office today...as close to the fire as possible!

Seeing the Xmas lights on St. George's hall coming down made me realise that we will have to undress our lovely tree tonight. Perhaps that will make going to work tomorrow easier? No I doubt it too.

Today has been a day for appreciating the lovely Christmas tree in its final glory day. 

Char's birthday meal

We had a lovely meal at a new Asian fusion restaurant on Hope Street called Ho-st. The peanut butter creme brulee with honeycomb was absolutely gorgeous - we'll definitely be returning!

2nd Jan 2009

We went to Sara Layt's for a cuppa (after Margaritas and canapes at Angela's) and she gave us these!!...sweet cigarettes ;-)

New Year's Day

Not a great quality photo to launch my photoblog but this does reflect my day. It is the view from my sofa! It was a pyjama day with Jack Bauer -Day 2!