Christmas 2012

Had a nice time catching up with family over the Christmas period....

Dad and me

Zoe's new ukelele!

Dad's old ukelele!

Washing up!

Fifteen!

Zoe had some friends round to celebrate her birthday.  It stayed dry enough to light the firepit for smores.....

Pressies!

Cake!

Sparklers!

Harry Potter spell!

Hot Chocolate

And then they were twelve!

It is such a cliche of being a parent, but the years seem to be passing at an accelerating rate. It is hard to believe that it is twelve years since Hannah and Daniel were born.
They seem to have settled in well at school. No doubt it helps having an older sister to show them the ropes.
Hannah had some friends round last Saturday for her party. They chatted a bit, and watched "The Hunger Games" on DVD. Neither of us had seen it, so we relied on Zoe's advice that it wasn't too scary or inappropriate for Hannah's friends.  They all seemed to enjoy it and we haven't received any complaints from the other parents about nightmare!

 Daniel is going "do-nutting" with some friends this afternoon. Should be fun..
They were both pretty miffed that they had to go to school on their birthdays. Especially for Hannah as she says that Tuesdays at school are "boring".
They both survived though, and we had a fun evening watching some video of their first birthdays.

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New school!

Three weeks after the operation Daniel started secondary school!  Obviously with Hannah and Zoe for company....

Where did those years go?!



...and hospital

On Sunday evening Daniel complained of having stomoach ache and was ill before going to bed. Lynda stayed with him all night, and on Monday Daniel pretty much stayed in bed all day, and didn't eat anything at all.
Zoe and Hannah had been treated to a pony trekking trip on Monday. After they had returned , we decided to pitch camp and head home. By then Daniel's stomach was causing him a lot of discomfort, and he was saying that he wanted to see a doctor.  So we knew that he definitely wasn't right.
I took him to A&E, and after various doctors and surgeons prodding him to see where it hurt the most. I signed the consent form for him to have an operation to have his appendix removed!
Daniel came home the next day, and was still in quite a bit of discomfort, but after a few days started to make really good progress. After a couple of weeks he was running, cycling and even pogo-sticking around the place.

Camping, pony trekking.....

We headed down to Lytton Lawn near Milford-on-Sea just outside the New Forest a few weeks ago. All was going well. The weather was ok, and we went for a walk out on the spit of land to Hurst Castle which had good views of the Isle of Wight and also some opportunities to fly kites. We then took the small ferry back to where we had parked the car. Then heded to Lymington for some crabbing on the harbour wall. That was on the Sunday daytime.

Inspire a Generation!

Dismbarking the ferry

Waiting for a .....

...catch!

Hannah and light up Poys

"Let's trek"

Hannah on pony

Zoe on pony

Kite Buggying

I was given a voucher for a kite buggying lesson for my 50th last year. I booked a lesson down at Camber Sands near Rye in Sussex. I got up early and headed down. The people were freindly and helpful, but unfortunately there was very little wind. So in the end I had a couple of hours practice flying some big kites, but will be going back for the actual buggying part another time.

Globe Theatre and Olympics London (Part 2)

I mention the Olympics as London seemed full of the volunteer helpers giving directions and travel advice. We also found that they were giving away "free stuff". At Waterloo station, we were given ice creams and maps, a,nd whilst walking along the South Bank, Zoe got a pair of sunglasses and I got a small electronic fan which lit up when it span.
There were also some large versions of the Olympics mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville.

Would you like a map sir?

Nelson with new hat!

A phonebox (didn't work)

Mascots at St Paul's

Free music!

Near "Wobbly Bridge"

Outside Tate Modern



Rings and Fountains



Globe Theatre and Olympics London

Zoe and I went to see Mark Rylance playing Richard III at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Obvioulsy it was my idea, but Zoe seemed to enjoy it. She had read a book outlining the story, so had some idea of the characters and what they were up to. It helped that Roger Lloyd-Pack (Owen from Vicar of Dibley) was playing one of the characters. (I think that he also appeard in one of the Harry Potter films).

Let me in!




Let the show begin!

 

Summer 2012:

Have missed entering any updates since we got back from Disneyland.  So here is a selection of what we have been up to this summer....

Disneyland Paris

Monday - an excellent day in Disneyland Park. we rode many of the rides - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril; Space Mountain; Buzz Lightyear; phantom Mansion. Sadly despite several false alarms, Thunder Mountain was closed.

A great time was had by all.

"No Dancing" in a Small World!

Tuesday - We tried the Disney Studios Park today. A different atmosphere to the Disneyland Park and some different rides and shows.

We went on the Tram Ride around the special effects which started slowly but was very spectacular. Lots of rain, flames and floods of water.

Daniel and Lynda went on the Parachute Drop whilst me, Zoe and Hannah went on the "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror". Aptly named as it turned out. Was all very exciting though.

We paid the "Moteurs Stunt Show" a go which was excellent. Lots of flames, wheelying bikes and fast impressive driving.

For a last hurrah we all went on a Finding Nemo themed "Crush's Coaster" which promised steep drops, fast spins and high speed action. This turned out to be all true. I thought that I was going to succumb to motion sickness, and was quite concerned as to how Daniel got on. It's fair to say that I don't think that Lynda or Daniel will be queuing to go on it again any time soon. Still, we all got round and have a story to tell.

Wednesday - We had a different day today in Paris. It was hot and sunny again, so the Metro was pretty stuffy, but we got to the Eiffel Tower which always looks impressive, especially considering how long it has been there. We didn't go up as the queues were enormous due in part to some of the lifts being faulty.

Le picnic near le Tower Eiffel

Mc and Arc de Triumph in the same shot!

Waiting for the Metro

We made our way to the Arc de Triumph and then wandered down part of the Champs-Elysées, passing the rather out of place looking McDonalds. We didn't go in. Not out of some cultural protest, but because the queues were far too long. A milkshake would have gone down very nicely at the time.

En route to Disneyland Paris

Translates as "delayed for an hour!"

Sunday - a long Day. We got up at 5:00 AM to head for the Tunnel. We had an hour or so delay, but wasn't too bad.

A shady spot at Vimy Ridge

We reached the memorial at Vimy Ridge at about 13:00 and had a look around. Although the memorial is for the Canadian fallen, the recreated trenches set the scene a little more helpfully for Hannah and Daniel. Zoe has studied the First World War at school and is also a veteran of a very long day trip to Ypres and some trenches visits with school.

We drove through Arras and "le Petit Place" before reaching Great, Great Great Grandad's grave. This was a little odd for Hannah and Daniel especially, but hopefully it will mean more to them looking back in a few years from now.

A corner of a foreign field

They're back!

Well, both Daniel and Hannah seemed to have a good time away last week.  The house felt very strange without them around.  It sounds like they tried lots of new activities.  Some were rather muddy!....

Geneva

Monday 25th June
In Geneva Switzerland for the EBU Networks Seminar. Before I set out, I found the hotel on Google Streetview, saw that the number 5 bus stops right outside, and found the bus timetable on the web as well as where to catch the bus at the airport.
Can't help feeling that some of the adventure has gone out of travel these days?

No Hannah or Daniel for a week!

Monday 25th June
As Zoe did three years ago. Hannah and Daniel set off this morning for a week away at an adventure centre. They seemed ok with the idea, and coped very well with waving goodbye in the school playground. I am sure that they will have a great time. They are home again on Friday.
I am away in Geneva for an EBU Conference. Not very good timing, but Zoe said that she would look after Lynda.

Fathers Day

I was given a very appropriate gift on Fathers Day yesterday.  An axe! Only need it for chopping kindling for the fire pit, nothing too ambitious.  Daniel was interested though.  What could possibly go wrong?!!!.....

Fingers!!!

Friday 15 June

A rather strange week. Zoe is away with school at an Activity Holiday Centre in the New Forest area. So the house seems unusually quiet without her around. It is nice to spend some more time with Daniel and Hannah though. Zoe has sent the occasional text message through and seems to be having a fun time.
Hope that she has enjoyed it. Hannah and Daniel are away in a couple of week's time.



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Saturday 9th June

Well that was pretty tough, but a great day out. Cycled 70+ miles, through some lovely (rather too hilly) countryside. Despite what the map said, there is no way that we went downhill more than we had to pedal uphill.
Anyway, my butt hurts, my knees hurt, and my face caught the sun. No cycling for me tomorrow!
Respect to Alan and Matt for doing this on a daily basis.


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Grumpy Old Man

23rd May 2012
08:55 Sitting on a train from Reading to Evesham for a meeting with the BBC. My mood already darkened by the ticket queue at Fleet station being a dozen people deep as not all of the machines were working. Now faced with the slightly risky process of buying a ticket on the train, as it depends on the mood of the guard and the particular fare enforcement policy being dictated from South West Trains head Office, I parked and bought my car park ticket from the "cashless" ticket machine.
These have to be amongst the worst example of technology implementation on the planet. It used to take a few seconds to pay with cash, which i concede, had to be collected and was at risk of theft and vandalism. The replacement however, which now doubt sounded great in the Boardroom. Takes a full two minutes from inserting credit card to printing a ticket. That time is only possible when you are used to the incomprehensible instructions presented to you when you insert your card. If you happen to be behind somebody just making a rare train trip who has never seen the machines before. Then I am afraid that you will miss your train or come home to a clamped car.
Anyway, the train changes at Basingstoke and Reading were on schedule. So now I am sitting in a carriage heading to Evesham. I didn't make the quiet coach, and am sitting behind a young woman talking in a loud voice, I assumed, to somebody on the end of the line on her mobile. It turns out that no, she was talking to her neighbouring passenger. Who happened to be playing Angry Birds on her iPhone, so was distracted. I guess this in part explained the loud voice.
Fortunately, they had reserved seats. So by concentrating very hard and catching the sunlight at just the right moment I could read through the reservation card sticking out the top of their seats that they should be leaving the train at Oxford.
Maybe I will relax and enjoy the trip a little more from there.





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Pennine Way (Sunday)

Had another good day today. The rain stayed off and we walked another 13 miles. The route was good today, with some nice sections crossing some streams and alongside a reservoir. Quite a few hilly sections as well.

So summary is that having been walking in North Yorkshire and Durham for three days. Our total mileage turned out to be 34. My feet are way too sore to be good for them!
Lovely part of the country though. We should come back.

Love Daddy xxx




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Pennine Way (Saturday)

We woke up to glorious sunshine which was nice to see.
After finding the point in Keld where we had got to last year we set off up a steep hill past a waterfall.
Fortunately, 4 miles on at the top of the hill, there was the Tan Hill Inn. "The highest pub in England".
We then had a long 8 miles across some very boggy moor back to where we had parked the car at Bowes.
The late afternoon showers that were forecast never materialised in the end. So all in all a good day's walk.
Love Daddy xxx


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Pennine Way (Friday)

Alan and I found the hotel and met up with Matt and Jon ok.
After lunch in the Langdon Beck Inn, we drove back a mile or so and parked at Forest-in-Teesdale and walked 8 miles back to the hotel. We walk some of the sections "backwards" (i.e north to south) to make the car dropping off at either end easier.
The weather couldn't make up it's mind whether to pour down or brighten up. In the end, it turned out that the suncream that I'd put on my face wasn't necessary.
Rather worryingly my left heel already feels like it may have a blister starting. Not good after just a rather flat 8 miles!
Today we walk from Keld to Bowes.
Hope that you all have a good day at home.
Love Daddy xxx



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Marathon 2012

As I was rather pre-occupied with actually running last year. I thought that a view as a spectator would be interesting. So me, Hannah and Daniel went up to watch some of the race.
We saw the leaders go past in Docklands, and then some of the runners who were at about my pace going past Bermondsey tube station.
D and H managed to sit at the front of a DLR train as we went from Greenwich under the Thames which is nearly as exciting as sitting at the front on the top of a double decker bus!

Elevator

The chap in Orange won

Which way now?

"M&M World" (a little weird)

Hamley's Lego Royal Wedding

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The Lakes in Feb:

The Lakes in Feb:
We followed our now February tradition of staying with Cathy for a few days during half term. We were there for four nights, so the children each had a turn at laying and lighting the fire, which they enjoy getting involved in.

As I get older I can see why people wax lyrically about having a coal fire in the lounge. On it's own it doesn't keep the house very warm though!
We had a great time though.


We revisited the "Herdy" shop in Grasmere where much pocket money was spent. Also the Sticky Toffee Pudding shop in Cartmel which we hadn't visited before.

Herdy Shop

A walk around Tarn Howes was very pleasant in the snow and ice. Much of the Tarn was still frozen.
We also managed to locate a Geocache that was hidden near the tarnside path.

Tarn Howes

Geocache!

Cathy's Euphonium

Outside Cathy's cottage