Now that Pope Benedict has stepped down from his Divine position in the Catholic order, bookies have tipped him 2/1 as the next Chelsea manager

Well, it is almost the end of half term.  It has been one that has been interesting for the kids. Unfortunately, it was too cold or wet for them to play out a lot, or so I was told.  Being at work, I did not get to spend as much time with them as I would like.  But it is now Sunday, they are watching A Monster in Paris and we are relaxing.  My mother came up on Friday to look after the kids while my wife and I went out on Saturday.  I was hoping to go out on Saturday night as well, but unfortunately was too knackered to be able to spend the evening with her. Managed to get rest though which was just as well as we have just driven my mother back.  They have enjoyed themselves playing games, making things and of course making a mess!  Anyway, time to go as the kids are about to start fighting again...

Mimosa Colchester

Yesterday another meal out.  This time it was after interviews and I have to say, it was hard to be an interviewer.  When everyone you are interviewing is a great candidate, it is hard to decide, but I would rather be in that situation rather than the last time that I was involved in interviewing when there were only two people who were suitable for one post.

Afterwards it was a meal out.  My wife and I have eaten at Mimosa before with the kids and I have today, we liked it and had no problems there.  The service has always been good and the food enjoyable.  To be fair, this time the food was great, the service though was at times wanting.  The owner was great, but one of the waiters was not on top form, not knowing which beef fillet was rare, which was medium etc and was only really attentive when it came to getting the bill.  Not that I think that he was motivated by trying to get a tip!  If this was the only time that I had been there, I probably would not go back there, but I have been there before and I know from previous experience that this was a bad day.  Hopefully a day that others will not have to experience!

The Angel at Stoke by Nayland

Well, it has been a nice week.  On Wednesday, I had my appraisal, which was quite good but could have gone better.  (I must be nicer...) and afterwards we went out for a meal with some friends.

It has been a while since we have been to the Angel.  We used to go there a bit more often, back in the days before children, and to be fair, we have been once with kids (though we only had the one when we last went).  But it has been a few years since we were there last.  And I had a great night.  It is located near some other good places to eat and once had a truly brilliant reputation, but on the meal we had on Wednesday, it appears to be as good as it once was.  True, being a week day, it was a quiet night, and ten years ago when we used to go there more, it would have been far more busy.  But the service was great and the food was amazing.