It's been a quiet couple of weeks, if you don't want to hear us talk about work...

We're back from Harlow, the builders have left our bathroom and fixed the sink they broke, Tim's now training for 1/3 of a triathlon (a "monothon"?) and Jo is on the final stretch towards the audit.

Watch this space for some fascinating photos of our DIY transformation of 13 Godstone Road. I for one cannot wait to plug in the TV again after a month without virgin media!

Jo is off on Rach's hen weekend tonight. Tim is joining Paula at filming of QI (thanks, Paula!) and cycling in the vague direction of Oxford tomorrow, before returning in time for Emirates 7s at Twickenham on Sunday.

Legally Ballroom II on youtube

Check out the video bar on the right of the blog page for youtube videos of Legally Ballroom II as and when they arrive...

Legally Ballroom II: First set of photos...

Here are the first few photos (at least of Valene and I) from LBII (clicking on the photos should take you to one of two full facebook albums):

Doing the tango...

And jive...




Professional photos (and DVD!!) will hopefully follow soon...

Strictly Lovells II: The result

Last night was a fantastic success.

The room was packed, the guests were dressed up to the 9s, and the dancers had a surprising amount of lycra and sequins on show. The evening started with a champagne reception followed by an hilarious "behind the scenes" video and a presentation to the two charities, Orbis and Paralympics UK.

In the heats, the tango was a blur but we apparently knocked 'em dead. By the time we started our jive, all the pressure was off, my red vest was out, and we were able to smile and laugh throughout. We had loads of kind compliments from other dancers and guests (including our instructor, Damien), and his wife Clara (the professional judge for the evening) gave us a perfect 10 for the tango and jive. Together with a few votes from the viewing masses and a number of "pre-paid" votes (all in the name of charity), we made it to the final 4.

By the time the final came round, we were far more relaxed - not least because we knew we weren't going to win! The scoring in the final was 100% down to the viewing public and their voting buttons, so our technical proficiency as a couple was going to be no match for the cartwheels and elaborate moves that some girls (if not their partners) were showing off.

But (thankfully) the spoils went to our favourite couple, Errol and Jenny, who eschewed sequins and imported outfits but still looked like a fantastic couple on the dancefloor. Their cha cha cha was by far the best of the night.

A hell of a lot of money was raised for charity (thanks Mums, Dads, Lucy and Paula in particular), including the amount Jo and Emily spent on their voting buttons. I'll send an update soon once I have seen photos, videos and a fundraising total.

Not sure what to do with my spare time now, other than catch up on work and train for the triathlon relay next month... and I have a pair of dancing shoes and trousers to use somehow...

Big news from BCFC and from Tim...

Former Aberdeen hero of the 1980s, Alex "Big Eck" McLeish has managed Birmingham City FC (Tim's local side as a youngster) to promotion back into the Premiership, on the bounce.

And - with fitting symmetry - Tim has just been awarded promotion too. Woop!

Changes...

Well, half the readership of this blog (if I can call them that.. maybe they're the "deletership"?) will be halfway to Perth, Australia by the time this is published. Baby Lilia appeared just in time for Kate, Barry, Verity, Mick and the boys to arrive in the Southern Hemisphere... Congratulations guys!

We're heading to Harlow tonight for a fortnight of dog-sitting. That should give us the chance to gatecrash the party of the year: Poppy's 2nd! Mum and Dad will be back from France.

Otherwise, its busy busy busy! No DIY this weekend, as we're not at home, but Tim is practicing his tango on Sunday, ahead of Wednesday's main event, and Jo is busy with year end shenanigans.

Until next time...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POPPY!

DIY Hell

Haven't posted a new blog in a wee while...

The Bank Holiday weekend was taken up with sanding, dusting, furniture moving and (eventually) painting in the lounge and kitchen - but we only got as far as the first coat so we're going back for more this weekend! We've also taken the plunge and are "getting a man in" to quote for the more complicated stuff like window ledges, bathroom etc...

Jo's work is still heading on an upward curve towards various Spring deadlines, and Tim's spending a few hours every week practicing his new dance moves ahead of May's big competition. Tim is also planning Toby's stag weekend, which will be fun once he has the first clue about how many people are going to come, and where we're going to take them.

As I write this, there's still no sign of Tim and Nina's baby #3....

Strictly Lovells: 6 May 2009

I forgot to mention that tickets go on sale on 1 April for Strictly Lovells. 2 tickets are being reserved for each competitor until that time.

The event takes place in Central London on the evening of 6 May 2009.

I think that (sadly) means that Kate, Barry and the Howards will be in Australia!

Tickets are £60 each, including a meal, with at least £20 from each ticket going to the Lovells charities.

I figured Jo will want to come see me humiliate myself... let me know if you're interested too...

Mothers Day week ...

Hello... blogging again..

If you haven't worked it out yet, when you get a copy of this by email you can click on the words "posted by Jo and Tim to Jo and Tim" at the bottom, to view the full blog in context.

Not much is going on, other than work, work, work, and the odd dancing/driving lesson...

Mother's Day was great. Tim's mum and dad toured the country to visit all 3 offspring in the space of 3 days. The Concannons loved the chocolate tray bakes (well deserved after their Sunday run), and both mums loved their photo presents.

We found a nice buzzing Belgian restaurant in Richmond on Saturday after the rugby (and after Dad had wiped Old Chris's pint off his Scotland jersey). Mum loved the burger but I'll go back for another mountain of moule-frites.

Thought these photos from Nina, Tim and the girls are brilliant, so am sticking them on the blog for the Reids and Callingtons to see...

Not long now, guys!

Tim's not been keeping up with the flickr.com photo challenge, but is going to take the camera to Lucy and Tim's place on Saturday to take pictures of their new arrival... so he might be able to post some more of his own photos soon.

[p.s. the man from the Sunday Times published his article but thankfully didn't quote his conversation with Tim. ]

Read all about it!

Tim is just off the phone to a man at The Sunday Times. Keep an eye out for his broadsheet debut!


The column was prompted by the administration of wedding-gift company Wrapit, with whom we (coincidentally) had a close shave this time last year!

We have a horrible feeling Tim might be misquoted, lambasted and quite possibly fired as a result. Watch this space...