A rest day after two days at the gym so first thing in the morning I am off to the spa at Yverdon-Les-Bain for a swim and a sun bathe. After lunch in this quaint medieval town I drive up to the mountains to dull Sainte-Croix. Following the briefest of stops I drive to a great little town across the boarder in France - Pontarlier. I have coffee in the sunshine - buy a slab of delicious Comte cheese and have home baked almond biscuits. I return home via Romainmotier (Swiss) where I have a beer sitting in the bright sunshine in this delightful hamlet. What a brilliant day.   more »

After some messing, we all finally get to the Preston Guild Hall (yes, where they hold the snooker championships), collect the gown, pay for the photos and take seats to watch the graduation ceremony. The whole thing takes two hours, is infinitely repetitive but the highlight is clearly Jack striding across the stage to receive his degree – BA with honours reading Sports Management – Hooray!!!   more »

As I fly in to City from Geneva, Gordon Brown the new UK prime minister is announcing his first cabinet and I am looking forward to meeting up with my cousins David and Steve for two really enjoyable back to back evenings watching 20/20 cricket matches – England vs. West Indies.   more »

I meet up with my nephew Jamie at the Oval for a 20/20 cricket game, Surrey vs. Middlesex which Surrey easily win. This is Jamie’s first cricket match – he’s not a great fan but he enjoys the drinking, the chat and the whole experience – we have a very enjoyable evening!   more »

A 5 day trip to Manchester to see Carol where she is "dog sitting" for Chrissie and Mark whilst they are on honeymoon. Miracles, it is brilliant sunshine for all 5 days, can global warming have reached Lancashire? I watch three days of West Indies versus England at Old Trafford. Hugely entertaining but bizarre cricket - England look like winning in three days but the game goes to the last day so I miss out as I am back to Switzerland on the 4th day of play. Carol and I have a great time drinking in the many pubs, enjoying with the rest of Manchester the rarest of sights - sunshine at 8.00 p.m.   more »

A 3 day flying visit to Manchester via Zurich for Chrissie and Mark's wedding. It's Manchester so it's pzzing down - no change there! I stay in the Hilton which is pretty good and the first evening dinner with the wedding couple and Carol of course - champagne followed by Guinness and more champagne! The morning of the wedding I have breakfast "one" then meet up with Mark and Chris for breakfast "two" and the third and final breakfast is with Jack. Jack and I just get to the wedding for the k.o. however luckily Chrissie is half an hour late - traffic apparently!! The wedding is a great event and the evening is really good. Becca (Jack's girlfriend) joins us in the evening for the disco bit which is great craic. Next day after a hearty breakfast I say my goodbyes to one and all and Jack takes me to the airport.   more »

A memorable day with Jack, Mark, Bryan and Kieran - fantastic event at the new Wembley however a dull game, caused by the negativity of Chelsea who steal a winner in extra time - a great day ruined! However to be with Jack at the Cup Final watching United in time will be a great memory! The United fans were just brilliant - singing all the way!   more »

Weekend of great weather, fitness and good food but Jack loses his shirt, Man Utd only manage a draw but City win! CT in Manchester planning for Chrissies wedding.   more »

President Bush today has ordered some 20,000 extra troops to Iraq, as part of a new strategy for tackling the conflict and a study of Irish bank notes has found traces of cocaine on every single note examined.    more »

Apple has announced the launch of a new touch screen phone that combines the iPod with a mobile phone. Will not be available in Europe until the end of 2007. Looks pretty good! Carol wakes up at 7.30 am and is immediately receiving birthday greetings text messages and the like.    more »

Travel on the 9.20 am train to Paris. Although the journey time is just under 4 hours I really enjoy the trip. I spend most of the time on my Mac, updating my notes for my Blogg, so the time whizzes by. The USA have launched air strikes on the Somali capital, Mogadishu,    more »

Carol is very ill, says it’s the oysters – I agree, given my malady on 1st January – it just means that my body is more sensitive to alien and harmful substances than Carol’s – it takes her system 48 hours to spot a doggy crustacean.   more »

I feel less well than I did last year!!! It is not just because Romania and Bulgaria have joined the EU today. I stay in bed until noon, gently recovering from the New Year celebrations. We have the most delicious roast dinner, beef, with just perfect roast potatoes, suitably browned on the outside and powdery white on the inside washed down with some good red wine. My 2007 healthier life has started already, good food, good wine!   more »

A slow day at home in Dulwich contemplating the start of a New Year. Yesterday in Iraq, Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging. Gruesome pictures of him actually swinging from the rope are all over the news; surely a certain way to make him a martyr in his own country. The whole Iraq invasion, the current civil war and now the expose of Hussein’s hanging is a huge mistake, from start to now, it certainly is no where near over. Iraq will be the sad and painful legacy of both Blair and Bush and I fear a legacy that ordinary people in the West and the middle East will suffer from through terrorist attacks and retribution. Happy New Year! On to important issues, I watch Ronaldo score another two goals to extend United’s lead at the top of the table with a 3 – 2 win over Reading. Chelsea are held at home by Fulham to a 2 -2 draw. Sheffield United beat Arsenal 1 – 0. The footballing Gods are looking favourably upon United as the year comes to a close; let us hope that it continues in the new year. Arrive by taxi at the Chardon restaurant at 7.00 p.m. We are, as is our custom on this occasion early, the waitresses are just finishing their supper when we walk through the doors. We receive what is now a customary greeting from Beatrice the main woman in the place. She is lovely, we receive and give great hugs and kisses. We have a Kir Royal whilst we chose from the splendid menu. Carol starts with Oysters which I help out with, I then have the Fois gras, fish and a few mouthfuls of the sorbet. We manage on just one bottle of very fine Sancerre. The taxi picks us up from the restaurant and we are sat in the pub (now with Kooky) supping vintage Verve Clique with a second bottle on ice awaiting the arrival of the New Year. After the initial bottle of champagne we revert to type, Carol is on Cider, I am on Guinness with only Kooky sticking to the water. We see the New Year in, the first as a married couple and wish the bar staff a Happy New Year (we also buy them all a drink!). We text and call the usual suspects and wish them all the best. The second bottle of champagne remains unopened so we take it home with us when we retire at close to 1.00 am. I am feeling decidedly jet lagged, so much so that I am violently, projectile sick and quite ill for much of the early hours of 2007! I am slightly puzzled as I haven’t had that much to drink and what I have had has been consumed over a six hour period with lots of water to boot. Perhaps I just can’t hold my drink any longer or it is a sign to have a healthier life in 2007!   more »

Gerald Ford, who took over the US presidency after Richard Nixon “resigned” in 1974, has died aged 93. He’s the only US President never to be elected. Allegedly 320,000 people attend Boxing Day fox hunting meets. Retailers have one of the busiest days of 2006 with sales drawing millions of shoppers including Chrissie and Mark who have headed for Regent Street, London, in search for bargains; perhaps they will find plenty of fox fur coats on offer! Carol goes for a run with Nicky from next door – how disciplined and I watch the TV so as to recoup my strength in an attempt to live as long as Gerald Ford!   more »

Shane Warne takes his 700th Test wicket as England are bowled out for 159 in Melbourne in the first innings of the fourth test. Warne will retire from International cricket after this Ashes series. So last Year, Jack and I not only got to see England win the Ashes we saw Warne’s last English test appearance at the Oval. Probably the best wicket taker of all time! After yesterday’s brilliant celebrations, I feel just slightly better than the English cricket team facing yet another defeat and probably a whitewash! Well I am very white (pale) and I have had a wash. Said goodbye to Jack who is having Christmas lunch with his grandparents. Walk to the Chardon, which is bracing and hopefully helping me recovery from the rigours of partying too much. The lunch is at noon, which seems to early but on reflection is a blessing as we didn’t have time to visit the pub for our normal Christmas day pick me up! The soup is a real winner and steadies the swell in my stomach. I munch through the traditional turkey and the roast spuds, by the time I have polished off the Christmas pudding and custard I am a new man. Although I have chosen the wine, I have not had a drop of alcohol with my meal, which has allowed Carol, Chrissie and Mark to have a good helping of the Sancerre which they all agree is excellent. We walk back home around 3.30 p.m. having lunch early was certainly a very good thing. We are now ready to fight the heavy eye lids and watch a Harry Potter film. The eye lids win all round.   more »

Despite not going to bed until 4 ish people are up and about and we all pour over to the pub for Sunday lunch - a full roast with all the trimmings. Surprisingly the food goes down well, as does a few cleansing ales. Jim and Jamie pitch up to collect Ben and Sophie and we have another beer. Everyone recalls having a good time (save Kim who is conspicous by her absence...). Fond farewells, hugs and kisses and retire home for a bit of a rest!   more »

11.40 pm We move from the pub back to house and Ben is in charge of the music and the crates of Champagne – Verve Clicque – are opened and consumed at an alarming rate!!! People are singing and making merry; it is a real hoot and the party closes around 4.00 a.m. I think mainly because I am now in charge of the music! Jack, Ben and Sophie stay, as does Linda, Katy, Becky, Chrissie and Mark. The house if full, everyone surely has had a great time.   more »

9.30 pm We have moved on to the Greyhound pub in Dulwich village – we have a little spot reserved for us – we move on to the beers and Guinness and we are joined by our faithful hounds Kooky and Jake, they are just brilliant and no trouble whatsoever! We give all our guests a present of an individually chosen football shirt. United 1968; Celtic 1967; Cup final City shirts; West Ham; Brazil for Kim; a Brighton and Hove Albion shirt for Sophie – she loves it – and an Ireland shirt for Cat! Ben puts his on and others do the same – the team are really doing well!   more »

6.30 pm Arrive at Beauberry House for Wedding dinner. It is dark – the House is all lit up and looks fantastic. United are playing Middlesborough which is on the TV – so we have a few more cleansing ales, United win 2-1. We have a photograph session with Ben doing a great job and then get ready for the meal. The meal is “Asian fusion” cooked by a French chef and everyone gets to choose from la carte menu. Food is very good indeed. Jack does his speech, which is fun ny and loving and very touching and he obviously cares very much for Carol which is so special. Carol performs her speech which brilliant, she is very fluent and relaxed and loving and sends lovely message to everyone especially Jack and to me. My turn and Carol’s mobile goes off as she is trying to reorganise the taxi (again) because the meal is over running and the first taxis have gone away. She speaks the whole way through my attempts to speak so I just give up – I am not best pleased!!! Throughout the meal Kim, who is sitting next to me has not been terribly communicative; I speak to Carol, Ben and Sophie and others – I am not totally relaxed however everyone is tucking in and having a good time. Most get in taxis and go to Dulwich Village , Jim, Linda and I walk.   more »

4.10 pm We stroll down to the Bluebird for post ceremony champagne and canapés. Walking down the King’s Road, lots of people (strangers, Christmas shoppers) waive and congratulate us; it feels very good! A man comes up and shakes my hand and wishes us well – how good is that – weddings and happiness are infectious. The Bluebird from my point starts off not great as there is no one to welcome us, there is an old woman sitting in our reserved area – I am probably the only person who minds! After a bit the champagne is served, Jack proposes a toast and everyone settles down and relaxes. Jamie and Cat look like they are very relaxed! Everyone appears to be enjoying themselves although Kimmy is a bit withdrawn. We leave at 5.30 pm in the cars and head for Dulwich.   more »

We leave the registry office with fantastic inner glows– I am sure that the commitment we have just made will make a positive difference. There is confetti flying around and Ben (the official photographer) takes more photos.   more »

Carol enters the room looking absolutely radiant – the dress is great but most of all it’s her sparkling eyes and beaming smile – she is so obviously happy. The ceremony goes well although I did initially pick up the wrong ring! At the end part of the ceremony I perform the reading of Anam Cara. We are man and wife - brilliant!   more »

3.00 pm In the registry office – I am a bit tense and am giving poor Jack a bit of a hard time as he is asking me questions, like where to put reading, that I don’t know the answer to! Have the interview with the Registrar and move into the Rossetti room. There is a natural tension in the air! Awaiting arrival of the bride and her group!   more »

12.30 pm We meet up with the McGachys in PJ’s restaurant for brunch. Really good, everyone is happy and on form and we drink champagne and have Egg’s Benedict and pancakes. Ben takes photos and people chat... The weather is bright and we stroll down the road and in to a small pub for a cleansing ale to ensure that we do not bump into Carol’s entourage. We then move on to Chelsea registry office for the ceremony.   more »

Have breakfast in the room – porridge! Get ready and meet up with Jack, who surprisingly has been up and out getting hair gel and stuff. I give him his present for being Best man – a gold coin with Yes on one side and No on the other – it may just come in helpful!   more »

Leave Dulwich mid morning and arrive at hotel in Chelsea to drop my things; I am informed that we are no longer booked into hotel and have been booked into the Four Seasons at Park Lane – compliments of the hotel. I am incandescent. The hotel has been booked for months, they could of phoned in advance, they just think money is the answer to everything – I am furious! Get taxi to Four Seasons and check in. Jack and I have individual suites. Get taxi to King’s Road to get my haircut. Abandon idea of having dinner in Chelsea (restaurant booked in advance) and meet Jack and Jamie in pub at the Borough, Bermondsey. Jack has flown down from Manchester and met by Jamie at City airport. Move on after a few pints of Guinness to Turkish restaurant, very good. Return to Jamie’s apartment. The McGachy team from Hastings arrive; Kim, Jim, Ben and Sophie. Good to see them all, after a few drinks we move on to the hotel where Kim and Jim are staying. Cat arrives at the hotel and after a few drinks Jack and I get a taxi to Four Seasons. We have a 1.00 am room service snack and watch some cricket (The Ashes). I retire to bed.   more »

Carol gives me lots of presents, I open my cards and then go and have my first ever facial massage just around the corner in the village. Lunch at the La Caprice in London – great atmosphere, we sit at the bar and eat and sup champagne, terrific! Whilst waiting to collect CT’s wedding shoes from Jimmy Choe at Bond street we have a Guinness in Mulligan’s bar (an old haunt of Smithwick's) – an excellent pint! Return home early evening. Really great day.   more »

Arrive from Geneva into London City on time. Whizz to Dulwich and dump my bags and head off to the dentist! I have my teeth whitened (for the big day) whilst watching the latest Attenburgh animal film – magnificent pictures of a Sperm Whale catching a seal – amazing shots, pity about the Seal! Teeth very sensitive after treatment; massive train disruption (unsure why), trains cancelled and delayed from Wimbledon, eventually get home. Meet Carol and Kooky in the pub, have a couple of drinks and then home for a curry; a good test for the teeth!   more »

After coffee go to Nicholas and order booze – 12 bottles of Verve Cliquot, 2 bottles of Cristal, 2 bottles of Bombay gin and a bottle of Absolute Vodka – 715 euros – Apparently we have saved a wee bit. CT will take the whole lot back to Dulwich for the Wedding and Christmas. Arrive at Gare de Lyon and have a quick lunch and then on the train back to Lausanne!   more »

Bleak, grey, windy, rainy day. Go shopping, order CT’s Christmas and Birthday stuff from Lancome – in the shop nearly an hour! Happened to be passing so popped into Bugsy’s – I have spent more time in the bar this trip than the staff! Return home to find the lift finally working – hooray!   more »

Visit the café first thing and leisurely read the Sunday Times – interesting article regarding new ruling on non UK residents, calculating days in the country on a new basis which has come about as a result of a high court ruling! Have lunch and then head off to Bugsy’s to meet up with Brendan (Aussie with dual passport – the other Irish). Ireland are just brilliant in the first half, playing against a howling wind they go in ahead and are eventual winners 21 – 6. The scrum is not too convincing but the boys just play great stuff – Brendan, who supports Aus is gracious in defeat, a rare commodity. CT and I go for a Chinese supper and then home.   more »

Coffee in the local café followed by a stroll to Brady’s Irish bar for just a brilliant Irish brunch. Return to the apartment for a bit and then off to Bugsy’s for England vs South Africa. England face a record breaking 8th loss! The Marais’ have already arrived as has Sarah who are finishing brunch. The game is poor but exciting because England look like loosing until the last 10 minutes of the game when South Africa stop playing, Goodge comes on as sub scrum half and kicks well giving territory to England who score a try, convert and win 23 – 21 – lucky boys! Andy Grieve appears, he and Mike are going to the France vs. NZ game which kicks off at 9.00 pm – totally daft. Carol, Sue and I go off for an Indian and watch the last 20 minutes of an uninspiring game that the AB’s easily win 23 – 11. We return to Bugsy’s at 11.30 pm – all a bit flat and late – head home.   more »

Train from Lausanne to Paris. Arrive in Paris as usual at midday and meet CT in local café for lunch. Seems like we have not seen each other for ages. The lift is out in the apartment. After a leisurely lunch I visit the French solicitor who witnesses the pre-nup – all is now finally done and dusted. We take a stroll to Bugsy’s Irish bar to toast the agreement. Behold we find two long standing friends having a late lunch (it is now 4.15 p.m.) – guilty as accused are Andy Grieve and Murray Mexted (ex AB nos 8). Big helloes and a couple of drinks later we are joined by more of Murray’s kiwi pals (ex 9 for Wellington – Pete). Update on all the mutual pals in NZ and at 7.30 pm they leave to meet up with Sean Fitzpatrick and other ex AB’s who are covering the European rugby tour of the AB’s, who play France tomorrow. CT and I return to the apartment for Chilli and an evening in.   more »

It’s a sunny day and so great was yesterday’s trip that I have decided to have yet another Billy day out. Sent a text to Jack wishing him a happy 21st birthday and spoke to him at 8.20 a.m. but he is not compos mentis as yet – he is in Preston. I am heading again to Aigle but today I am off to Champery. The train journey along the Lake from Lausanne to Montreux and beyond never fails to impress, it is truly stunning and always makes you feel just great and not a little fortunate. At 11.00 a.m. I speak to Jack again who is now awake, just! His mother has bought him a new car, his third new car and he is only 21! Becca is taking him on a weekend trip to Barcelona, his grandparents have given him a tankard, Jamie has given him £50 and Kim £100. Back in Dulwich from me, there is a framed England cricket “Ashes” shirt signed by captain Michael Vaughn and star player Freddie Flintoff. I am curiously feeling as if I am too mean with Jack, doubting my common sense approach to not over indulging a lad that doesn’t want for much! I text Gillian (my friend and solicitor) and my best pal Mike Marais and ask the question “Am I being mean”. Gillian says I am absolutely doing the right thing and Mike similarly says look after Jack when he really needs it; I feel assured and much better. I catch a small mountain train, different from yesterday, (AOMC – Aigle, Ollon, Monthey, Champery) from Aigle. The first sight out of Aigle is an Ostrich farm, bizarre; they run around like mad things as the train passes. The train first goes to Monthey, almost a small town, that has sprawling modern apartment blocks on the outskirts that are just awful and are completely out of character with the local surroundings. At Monthey the train reverses direction and heads towards Champery. The track is really steep and the climb spectacular. At Champery there is an immediate connection to a cable car – which is not yet running but will be in a month. I walk up the hill in the direction that the cable car would take and find a delightful restaurant (founded in 1913) and sit outside and have lunch. It is mid November and I am in shirt sleeves outside having lunch, looking at grand mountains coated in light dusts of snow, sipping local wine (Rose) – just fantastic! After lunch I walk through the village which is pretty empty with most places closed waiting for the ski season to start. There are many huge three and four storey chalets dotted on the mountain slopes surrounding the village awaiting holiday guests, the obligatory traditional church with bell tower and a row of pubs and bars, with one that has a sign ‘disco”! I catch the train back down to Monthey and then on to Aigle and finally to Lausanne and home. I speak to Jack again, he is preparing to go out in Preston and get slaughtered with his pals, he is a happy boy. Interestingly he really waxes lyrical about the special hand made card that I had made. The card has the Flaherty coat of arms, contains a specially selected poem, some words from me and as a background, lists lots of special occasions that we have enjoyed together throughout his life. Awesome is Jack’s comment. I hope he keeps the card and looks back upon it with fondness. All in all a very memorable day.   more »

It’s a bit grey and overcast but decided to take a chance on a Billy adventure day – a chance well rewarded! Caught the 10.20 a.m. train from Lausanne to Aigle (Eagle!), journey time 30 minutes. Then caught the 11.00 a.m. train to Les Diablerets (Little Devils). The train journey is great, winding along mountain tracks on what is now a brilliant autumnal day, bright sunshine, stunning coloured trees, mist in the dips and valleys, and mountain peaks capped with snow. There are small remote alpine chalets dotted all around, some bearing the date they were built or the altitude that they lay on. At a station stop, Le Sepey, people join the train with several huge mountain dogs (St Bernard) further more the train now moves in the reverse direction back down towards the misty valley Les Planches. Suddenly the train branches off and climbes towards the peaks of Les Diablerets. Arrive at Les Diablerets just before noon. It is a sleepy small village, 3000 metres high, with ski lifts climbing higher in the direction of a glacier. The village is preparing for the ski season when it will throng with people but not now, peaceful and idyllic and very mild. A short walk from the station is the Auberge de le Poste which is a chalet style restaurant – really good – started with hot quiche then main course, bacon wrapped in chicory with rice accompanied by a delicious cheese sauce, can’t manage dessert but sup the local rose which is good and close with a café Renverse. The morning paper “Matin” arrives at the restaurant at 12.30 p.m. (obviously via my train). I take a stroll around the village and take photos of the local chalets that are decorated with all sorts of stuff, pumpkins and witches; the quintessential alpine church with steeple and bell and the general vista which is stunning. Around 3.00 p.m. I resist catching the local bus to Gstaad and head back to Aigle where I stop and have a look around the village. Other than a pretty impressive Castle on the outskirts, in the village itself there is not much to see. There is an “Association Vinicole” that has a grand selection of wines which you can buy by the case. I grab a coffee at the excellent little café at the station and then head home to Lausanne. I get the bus down to Ouchy where my bike has been parked. It is still a really bright afternoon, so I stroll around and take some photos of the lakeside – what a great day.   more »

I am off to PJW’s 60th birthday bash. Annette and I arrive at PJW’s lavish estate house in Epsom. Huge marquee dressed as a restaurant, come night club. Black tie event – some 150 people all looking very elegant. Peter greets us very warmly, he looks well and is very relaxed. There are so many ex Direct Line people in attendance – too many to note. All the ex DL regional managers are in attendance (Annette sacked them!). Lots of people come up like long lost friends, some in truth I recognise but can’t remember their names! Many I haven’t seen for literally decades! A few surprise people; Jane Arthur ex Company secretary who now lives in France; Don Lewis ex Board member; Joanne, the housekeeper in Boston, lovely to see her; Martin Long and expectant partner; some people a decade is too soon; Peter Horton for example who wants to discuss the current legal dispute he is in with RBS – please! Michael Winner, who gives quite a decent speech (mostly plugging his new book on slimming – please!). Peter gives a speech, I get mentioned in dispatches, a huge cake is wheeled out and a look alike Diana Ross sings a melody of (her) songs. The Cristal champagne flows all night and people hit the dance flow – not me. Annette and I say our farewells around 1.30 am. I am dropped of home at 2.30 am. On reflection a really good evening which I was initially somewhat apprehensive about but it was good to catch up with lots of people and it was in the moment (not a trip down memory lane!).   more »

Great Britian rugby league team have beaten the Aussies 23-12 in Australia, a tremendous if unexpected result. Brendan comes to Dulwich to watch Australia vs. Wales. After a lunch at the local Italian, where Brendan drinks a lot of water as he is recovering from being lost in action last night, we watch the match at home on the TV. Australia for the first half run Wales ragged and then suddenly the Welsh some how become a different team and really test the Aussies. The result is a good match and finally a draw 25 all. Brendan goes off to Waterloo to catch Eurostar back to Paris and I stay in and watch New Zealand murder England at Twickenham 41-20, England’s heaviest defeat at home. Annette is picking me up to go to PJW's birthday bash - have to get the Black Tie outfit on.   more »

Carol and Kooky have gone off to Manchester hoping to avoid the intensity of the Dulwich fireworks that scare poor Kooky something rotten. Kiwi pals are in London before heading off to Cardiff for their match on Saturday. Brendan is also in London attending an Ashes celebrity lunch at Lords before the England team head off to Australia. I am recuperating from the asthma attack and have a quiet evening in!   more »