Is it me or is the Christmas Tree smaller this year?

That is what Zoe said a couple of weeks ago when we went through the ritual of assembling our "artificial" christmas tree. Artificial that is as opposed to a "real" tree that has been cut off at its trunk and will shortly die. Hannah and Daniel both agreed with Zoe. I just sighed and said that they must all be growing up so fast.

Think Bike!

An exciting thing happened whilst I was cycling to the station to go to work a couple of weeks ago. A car cut straight across the road and knocked me over!

I lay there in the road for a while just to check that nothing hurt too much (it didn't). Then got up to find the girl who was driving the car was in a right state. She was hyperventilating and in quite a state of shock.
Fortunately as we were outside of an estate agent there were a few people on hand with nothing else to do. So they kindly provided a seat and a cup of coffee.

In the end just a few colourful bruises was the damage to me. My bike's front wheel was wrecked though.

On a more Important note, Daniel has started Cub Scouts!
He has only been to three meetings so far, but appears to really enjoy it. He has done air rifle shooting which he wouldn't have done otherwise, and has started to learn map reading and a few other activities.

Heading Home

Hi all,
I am just having lunch at Amsterdam airport. I had a spare hour this morning so took a long tram ride through Amsterdam before catching my train to the airport.

I took a couple of photos. Cycling is a very big thing in Amsterdam. There are bikes everywhere. This is one of a mum taking her children somewhere. The girl looking up up seemed very happy. She was singing all the time as she went past!

This is just a photo of lots of cycles locked up by the pavement. As I said, there are lots and lots of bikes in Amsterdam!

I get on my plane in a short while. I'll see you all this evening.

Love Daddy

xxx

HSM is over here as well!

I thought that you might like to see this photo....

Love Daddy xxx

Trains and windmills

Hi everybody,

It was really good to read your entry about the riding party Zoe. I am really glad that you had a good time.

I went to the show on the Metro (underground train) today as the trams get really crowded. It went a long way round to get to the show though, so I was starting to wonder if I had got on the wrong train. It was ok in the end though.

The metro trains are blue and white

here and the normal trains are

yellow.....

On the flight to Amsterdam

I could see a load of windmills

out at sea. They are not too far from

the shore,but certainly

look unusual.

Here is a photo of my hotel as well....

The link below should take you to a photo of me with some of the other people working on the project.

They spelt my name wrong though!

http://www.ibc.org/cgi-bin/ibc_dailynews_cms.cgi?story_no=25456&issue=4

Love you lots see you soon.

Daddy xxx

Heathrow Departure

Hi everybody,

Just a very quick entry before I board my plane. See photo....

I hope that the riding party was fabulous Zoe. Hannah and Daniel are you doing your invites on the computer?

Be good for mummy.

Must dash. I don't want to miss my flight :-)

Love Daddy

xxx

Amsterdam

Zoe, Daniel, Hannah and Lynda,

The flight was good, and my bag arrived in Amsterdam at the same time as I did. I didn't fancy the bacon roll on the plane though.

The Japanese people were rehearsing the show today, which was quite interesting. Maggie Philbin who is on television quite a lot, is hosting the preview to the journalists tomorrow, so she was trying to understand how everything worked.

My hotel is ok, if a little small. I do have four beds in my room which is a little surprising. See photo......

I haven't decided which one to sleep in yet.

The sun was shining when I arrived, and I got very hot on the tram going to my hotel. I was worried that I had brought the wrong clothes, but it's ok. It started raining later!

Zoe, how was the guitar lesson. I hope it went ok.

Hannah and Daniel, did you have choir today, or is that next week?

See you tomorrow (you will probably be asleep when I get back).

Love daddy xxx

It's windy up here!

We headed off to the Lake District in August. Three days of sun then a couple of days of rain. Not bad really.

We went a walk up Kirkby Moor where you can walk right up to the windmills. They create a very strange atmosphere.

We also managed to do some body-boarding, not an activuity that I would normally associate with the Lakes. Was very good, although the first time that my hands have gone numb and got pins and needles whilst surfing!

Dordogne in July

Yup, I know. I don't seem to have got the hang of this blogging lark very well. This isn't exactly real time blogging. Anyway....

We had a great week in the Dordogne at the end of July. We stayed near Sarlat-la-Caneda, a very pretty town.

The children liked meandering through the streets and shopping for an hour or so. After that it was "too hot" or they were "too tired". So we spent a lot of time enjoying the pool.

A great break though. The Dordogne is a lovely area, with a great climate and the landscape does give a sense of the earth's history. How long must it have taken for the rivers to erode the land to produce such spectacular scenery?

Cycling together at last!

After much cajoling and bribery. Actually, just us sticking at encouraging him. In two weeks, Daniel has gone from falling off his bike every few metres and giving up, to cycling unaided for 5 miles in one go. He is now unstoppable, and him Hannah (and Zoe) are always asking about getting out on their bikes. Daniel has already progressed to the bigger bike.

This is great for us, as now we can all get out. I ran (jogged) alongside Daniel for 4 miles on Tuesday and struggled to keep up. So this will either kill me or help me get fitter.

General Update

I've decided to use this blog as a place to record events that are, well, worth recording.

In May we went camping near Beddgelert in Snowdonia. Zoe made it to the top of Snowdon!

Waiting for the plane (again)

Hi all,
I am sitting in the departure lounge of Las Vegas airport. The plane hasn't yet arrived from London bringing people out here. It is refuelled and then turns round and goes back to London.

Hopefully I won't be too late home. I want to have lunch with you all.

Love Daddy
xxx

Everything is bigger over here!

Zoe, Daniel and Hannah,

I thought that this photo of truck might be interesting. It reminded me of the one in "Cars". I think that was called "Mack".

It made a lot of noise as it went past.

I went back to the show for a few hours today. The monorail broke down just as I got to the station though. So I had to walk to another hotel Ceasers Palace, and get a taxi. That was where I was when I spoke to you this morning. Or yesterday evening for you.

I have to pack my bag tomorrow. I have worn all of my shirts that I was given, except for the orange one. That looks a bit too bright on me.

I probably won't get a chance to make another entry before I leave. I'll speak to you tomorrow (actually later today for you) and see you on Saturday.

Daddy xxx

P.S. It has been really nice reading the comments that you have left Zoe. I have set it so that they are also sent to my mobile phone. So please leave some more.

How is your ankle now? Is it still a little swollen?

xxx

Two photos

The last entry seemed very dull, so I thought that I would post some photos. This is one of the pirate ships that is used in the show at the hotel. It runs three times each evening and has lots of spectacular explosions. This ship actually sinks at the end!














This photo is taken from inside the Venetian hotel. The Gondaliers sing whilst turning around and headinng back out again. The sky is painted onto the ceiling.
This is "Mark's Square".
Do you remember Venice?

I head home in two days. I shouldn't have come out for so long this time, I would rather be leaving tomorrow.

No photos today

Just a quick entry. Spent the whole day at the show yesterday and met with the people from Japan that I had previously met in Amsterdam.

We went to a Chinese restaurant last night at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Very tasty

A day at work

As I found the pancakes a bit too much to eat yesterday, today I had French Toast (aka "eggy bread"). I managed to eat more of this, but still couldn't finish my plate.

The exhibition started today so I spent some time there, and managed to collect few freebies. Including a flashing heart.

I saw a stand with an interesting name.......

We had dinner this evening at Smith & Wollensky's. Their speciality is steak.

Very tasty, but I feel like I have eaten half a cow!

View from the top...

To add to the last post here are a couple of photos of the "Big Shot" ride on top of the Stratosphere Tower.

The Stratosphere Tower.......

(The Big Shot is the big sticky up thing on the top).

The Big Shot from the platform just below

the ride. The little dark things sticking out

are people's legs. Yeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Busy Sunday?

I woke to a sunny day. It was forecast to reach 85F today. It was certainly pretty hot outside.

The Wynn and Encore hotels opposite my room look good in the morning. The sun shines on their golden surface and each has an impressive reflection of either each other, or another building in Las Vegas on them. At first I didn't think that it was real, but when I saw cars moving in the reflection, I knew that it was....

I had strawberry pancakes for breakfast. I did try a healthier option, but they didn't have Weetabix!

We then set off for a walk down "The Strip" and looked around some of the many shops that are here. The shops in the mall at Ceasers Palace probably isn't at the budget end of the market either. Everything is quite expensive there.

We did go up the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Hotel. It is half the height of the real one according to the lady who operates the lift. There are certainly some good views from the top.

After going via the Egyptian Luxor, and the Oriental Mandalay Bay Hotels, we headed to the Stratosphere Tower. This involved riding the whole length of the monorail.

We went on the Big Shot ride at the top. Very exciting! (and very high).

Checked In

It is now only 10:00 in the evening here, but in England it is 6:00. So I am feeling quite tired.

I haven't had a sleep yet, the plane wasn't that comfortable!!

Here is my hotel room. I have two large beds, and a view of The Wynn Hotel out of the window.

Love Daddy xxx

P.S. Don't forget to feed the fish!

What time is it?

Zoe, I am glad that you sound a if you enjoyed the walk. Were the Ruffles too slow for you?

I had a good trip once the delay was over. There was an empty seat next to me, so I had a bit more room than expected. Which was nice.

The picture shows what I could see out of the window for much of the journey.

I watched three films on the way as well. "I am Legend" with Will Smith. "No Country for Old Men" with Tommy Lee jones, and "Michal Clayton" with George Clooney. All were good although the first one was a bit far fetched.

Flight delays.....

Well, the taxi ride was ok. The driver was a David Beckham fan, so we talked football much of the way.
Just as I got out of the taxi, nick texted to say that the flight was delayed until 12:00. Could be worse.
Queue for check-in (or "Bag Drop") was enormous. After about 50 minutes I was through security and in a crowded airport departure lounge.

I bought myself a book to read. "Blood & Sand" by Frank Gardner. The BBC journalist who is now in a wheelchair. It looks fairly easy to get into. I couldn't face the Anne Tyler family drama that I was originally looking at.

All of you have a nice day. I hope that you enjoy your walk Zoe. Hannah do some nice Doodles and Daniel find Wally! Lynda don't forget to put your feet up!

Love you lots. I'll text or call you when I land.

Daddy xxx

Nearly ready to go!

Two days to go and I haven't started sorting out my washing yet. I had better get started today.

The children are all of school for a couple of weeks, and had a great day yesterday at Koosa Kids, a day club.

I am waiting with trepidation for a call from the garage about my car. Hopefully finding out why it locks me out and won't let me back in won't cost too much. It is behaving a little like Herbie!

Starter for Ten

Well, I tried creating my own, but why not use the tools that are available?

Hopefully, the children will be able to add comments to this blog. One way blogging isn't really the spirit of the medium if you ask me.

I am off to Vegas for NAB. I am guessing that Fatburger is tastier than it sounds. I may actually try it for lunch this year!