Christmas 2010

We had the usual mayhem on Christmas morning opening presents:

Followed by Wii mayhem later on - Dad trying to ski Wii-style:

Mum trying to dance like Michael Jackson:

And here are a few pics:

New Rug

We ordered this rug on line a week ago, after finding that it was around half the price of an identical one from our local rug shop! It came from a place in Pineville North Carolina and I tracked its progress on line to Indianapolis, Memphis, Paris, Leicester and then Leicestershire! It arrived yesterday and it's fab. It's absolutely enormous (18'9" x 12'2") and almost as heavy as me. Joe and Elaine did the "penguin" to get rid of the rucks and rolls.

Judo Competition

Joe and I left early this morning for a Judo competition at the University of Wolverhampton in Walsall. Joe had three fights. He lost the first one by a whisker (he had been one point up with 10 seconds to go when his opponent landed a throw!); he won the second and the third. The vidoe is the climax to his third fight.

He walked away with a well deserved silver medal.

Christmas Tree

Got our Christmas tree today and put up a few decorations. This is the best way of putting the angel on top! Realised that we need to buy some more decorations to fill our enormous mansion! But we do have a holly bush with some berries in the garden, so will take a few clippings from that tomorrow.

November Snow

We woke to a good covering of snow this morning. The chickens were very confused, as they've not seen it before. They have been making a lot more use of their perching points today, though, and soon got the hang of hopping onto the bale of straw that we picked up for them today.

This afternoon we took the sledge and went in search of likely looking slopes in Burton Lazars. Not really enough for a good run, but there is more on the way apparently.

There are a couple of videos in the album -so you will need to click through to see them.

Ragdale Hall

Elaine finally managed to drag me to Ragdale Hall today, kicking and squealing, for my birthday treat and I loved it! It was actually a freebie for me, which helped, as Elaine entered me for a competition in the Melton Times for Father's Day earlier in the year and I won it!

We pottered around the spa area to start with, relaxing in the various pools and rooms. The Volcano was my favourite. I did a bit of exercise in the gym and some swimming (Elaine did her regular half a mile in the pool). Lunch was pretty fab, although teetotal!

We had treatments in the afternoon called "Refresh and Revive". I started off with a back massage and then a facial (including my shoulders and head!). It was great - really relaxing. I ended up smelling very nice and looking about 25 (well alright, feeling about 25).

All in all a very nice day. Not sure I would want to pay full whack for it though!

Cousins

Just realised that I had this one on my phone. What a great picture - better late than never!

44th Birthday

Mum and Dad were here over the weekend for my birthday celebrations. We went to see the new Harry Potter on Saturday, which I thought was pretty good but left Mum and Dad (who hadn't seen the latest films) a bit confused! I cooked a Wagamama dish in my new wok (pressie from Mum and Dad) on Saturday night, which went down well.

My birthday was on Sunday and I had a very enjoyable present opening session in bed. Lots of lovely pressies and a wonderful album from Mum and Dad of photos of me over the years, from a baby right up to my repping days and beyond!

Sunday lunch was at the Black Horse at Grimston - lovely setting but the food has gone downhill a bit. Later on after Mum and Dad left we had a marathon session of catching up on the last two episodes of Pillars of the Earth - fab!

Bonfire Party

We had a great bonfire party last night with the Effingpots, the Litts and a couple of Luke's friends.

The homemade guy didn't last long thanks to a good application of petrol. The fireworks were spectacular. The bonfire less so until Tim, the engineer, got to work on it. The food and drink were pretty good too.

Working Hard

Here's Luke giving his all at Judo last night:

Joe's a Yellow Belt!

Joe was graded the other week and went up a level, which means that he has now swapped his red belt for a yellow one. He is doing really well and is taking part in a competition in a couple of weeks.

Rugby, Football and Compost

Luke played for the rugby team last week after school and it looks like that may become a regular thing. Elaine dashed to the shops on Sunday with him to buy him some new rugby boots as his current ones have become too tight!

I played in a football match on Sunday - 11 aside, proper job! Looks like that may become a regular occurence for me too. It is a team set up by one of the local churches, many of whose members come to the Monday night sports drop in that I attend - that's why I have been signed up.

It really was a strenuous weekend. Luke and I built this compost heap container on Saturday. Made from old pallets donated by Magnet and plastic sheeting. I hope it doesn't collapse! Luke did most of the hard work, shovelling all the compost that was just in a heap, into the new container.

Campfire

We've had a fun weekend. Lots of gardening and introducing the chickens to the wide world outside their run.

We had Joe's friend, Alex, round yesterday. We had dinner on a camp fire (kebabs and sausages) with marshmallows on sticks for pud.

Joe and Alex spent the night in the tree house and they actually lasted the night. They said they slept well, athough they were chatting until well past midnight.

This morning we took Lisa and Penny (the guinea pigs) to a pet service at our local church. It was very sweet. There were dogs, more guinea pigs and a tortoise. Those without pets brought teddy bears! Bonkers!

Cat comes face to face with chicken:

Snakes and Fetes

Look what we found waiting for us in our hall when we came back from a walk yesterday! A grass snake I think - not an adder I'm sure!

Today we went to Old Dalby Day - lots of stalls of tat and old cars, morris dancers, etc. The kids had the most fun playing on the swings and roundabout!

Borough Hill

Tramping round Borough Hill in the wind and the odd spot of rain this afternoon with Noel, Alex, Oliver and Amelia.

Foxton Locks

Freddie and Katie are staying with us for a few days. Mike is joining us on Sunday for the Bank Holiday. Yesterday we went off to Foxton Locks and we all had fund helping the boaters work the locks as they made their way up the staircase.

We are off to Borough Hill this afternoon with the Blakes. Hopefully I can add a few more photos later,.

Kids visit to Bristol

Last week Luke, Joe, Freddie and Katie enjoyed their annual visit to Grannykim and Grandad without parents. Lots of fund was had by all, particular at Noah's Ark by the look of it! Next year surfing in Cornwall might be on the cards, apparently - the parents may decide they really need to come too though!

Chickens

We bought 6 happy looking girls last night. Two White Wyandottes and four Black Rocks. They took a bit of tempting out of their house today, probably because it hasn't stopped raining, but they finally emerged and seemed quite content checking out their run.

Joe's are the white ones and he has named them Daisy and Maggie; Luke has two of the Black Rocks called Cherry and (get this) Chicken! Elaine has the all black Black Rock called Mabel and mine is a bit on the podgy side and she's called Big Bertha, or Gertie or Rosie - I haven't decided yet!

The Garden's Gone Mad!

This is just one of 9 or 10 giant courgettes waiting for us when we got back. I have made numerous batches of ratatouille and have just finished off making a huge pot of courgette soup.

We also had carrots, peas and spuds from the garden with our Sunday lunch, finished off with apple and blackcurrant crumble - also from the garden!

Where's Esther Ransen when you need her?:

Skiathos

We had a wonderful two weeks in Skiathos - the first week it was just us, and the Effingpots joined us for the second week. We had our own villas - dead posh!

While we were there we took a trip on a yacht across to Skopelos (on Luke's birthday) including an excursion to the beach on the rock from the film, Mamma Mia (Agios Ioannis) and we stopped off for swimming at a deserted island on the way back. All good fun.

Lots of leisurely days lazing in the sun, eating too much and drinking too much Mythos and Retsina! Roll on next year.

Housewarming Party

After having moved in on 23 April, we finally got round to holding our housewarming party. Great fun it was too. The keg of beer went, as did most of the sausages. Trouble is we have ended up with more bottles of wine and beer (and cheese!) than we know what to do with. I feel another party coming on!

Strawberries

Nothing quite like home grown strawberries. After losing a few to the slugs (we think) we laid some straw and now we are starting to enjoy the fruits of our labour.

We think the blackbirds were having a go as well, in spite of the net, so Elaine made good use of some unwanted CDs (better not be my Muse ones!).

Fun Fathers' Day

What a great Fathers' Day. Not only did I get a chocolate gorilla and a groovy iPhone cover from Joe and Luke, but I also won a Fathers' Day competition in the Melton Times that Elaine entered me into, for a pampering day at Ragdale Hall! Elaine has been trying to get me to go with her for years and I have always said it wasn't worth it for me, as I would fret too much about how much it cost - no such trouble now!

We had Ken and Dorothy over for lunch (fabulous pork from our local farm shop) and then Luke and I were in the Burton Lazars cricket team for the annual fun match with Great Dalby - and we won! It was a lot of fun - not too serious and very social. There was a bar and a barbecue too.

This is me getting one of my four runs (you'll have to take my word for it that that's me):



Here's Luke in his finery (he also got 4):

New (Old) Furniture

We went mad at an antique shop in Oakham over the weekend and bought a lovely old French wardrobe and chest of drawers for the spare room, a coffer for the first floor landing, a nest of oak tables for the living room and a dining room table. What do you think? The table hasn't arrived yet as it needed a bit of attention first. We should be getting it tomorrow. Just need to get some chairs now!

Tenby 2010

Tenby 2010

Got back yesterday from a wonderful few days in Tenby courtesy of Mum and Dad. Mike, Freddie and Katie came along as well. The weather was fabulous so we spent a lot of time on the beach and in boats. We also spent a lot of time eating wonderful meals!

It was Mike's birthday on Friday and the whole holiday was a celebration of Mum's 70th, which is tomorrow (but we celebrated early).

Another sunny day

The Sun is still shining! Another afternoon of playing with water. This time I joined in!

Joe's 12th Birthday Sleepover

Yesterday three of Joe's friends came to stay for a birthday sleepover. It was so warm that most of the afternoon was spent playing with water and we finished off with bangers and burgers on the BBQ. Elaine made this wicked chocolate cake - yummy!

We built a shed!

I started building our new shed 11.15am on Saturday, Luke joined me when he got back from judo, and Elaine joined us after a shopping trip to Leicester with Joe. We packed up finally at around 8pm! 5 hours for two people to put it together it said! I don't think they had taken into account that everything needed treating with wood preserver before it could be put together.

This afternoon I finished it off! Unfortunately they left out the roof felt, so we have to hope it doesn't rain too much until that arrives.

Well, that was the weekend!

Finally succumbed!

We have spent so much money recently on new things for the house, and for electricians, chimney sweeps, etc. This is the first time I've spent money and felt pretty good about it: 12 ft trampoline; £49 on Ebay. Bargain!

Shame about the weather, mind you. We have a house full of Etheringtons this weekend - good job the house is big enough!

The Good Life?

Lots of gardening this weekend. The boys and I have been clearing the raised beds and have now planted two varieties of potatoes, carrots, peas and red onions. We've been sleeping well!

This is before:

and after:

First Sunday Roast on the Aga

It has been a real Aga day today. The boys started off with no fat fried eggs for breakfast (on the hot plate with the lid down - part fried, part steamed!); lunch was roast pork and all the trimmings. Lovely crispy crackling but the meat was slightly underdone and had to be rescued in the microwave! Learning all the time. I even managed to do cheese on toast for the boys in the top oven - it got the thumbs up.

Joe was catching up with his sewing in front of the Aga later this afternoon. Domestic bliss! (Yes, those are homemade bread rolls proving on top of the Aga in the background)

Luke's artistic side

Joe has just returned from 3 days away at Crich with the school. Luke has just got back from School with some of his artwork - very Andy Warhol! I think he said they were both self-portraits but I might have got that slightly wrong.

Blake Cakes!

Anita, Noel, Alex, Oliver and Amelia walked up the hill to visit us the other evening bringing a whole box of Anita's fabulous cakes (including some with toffee injected into the middle - absolute Heaven!) They also brought a bottle of bubbly which was still pretty cold, so it got drunk (we didn't though!)

Anita is an Aga expert and was able to give us some much needed advice on using it. We do have an electric hob but we have been advised not to touch it for now by an electrician as it isn't properly earthed!

Burton House

We're here! It has been a hectic few days. We were homeless for around 3 hours on Friday, as we had moved out of Woodland Avenue and received our buyers money, but we our money had not been received by our sellers' solicitor (it was moving slowly through some bank somewhere). Finally picked up the key at 3.30pm and then had to peg it back from Loughborough with it to let the removal men in.

We have spent most of the weekend unpacking and getting shipshape. They had left the house in a right mess, it was absolutely filthy. But it is fantastic, so we just don't care! Last night we ate outside on one of the patios! Lovely.

Joe had a brief interlude today, joining in with the St George's Day parade. Fortunately the rain held off.

Bradgate Park

What a fabulous day today. Joe is on a Scout camp this weekend and being very lucky with the weather. Luke, Elaine and I went to explore some parts of Bradgate Park that we have not seen before - following a geocache treasure hunt (one where you have to find clues in order to find the digits for the location of the cache). Great fun!

Easter Monday

After a lazy Easter Sunday we took a trip out to Gates' Garden Centre this morning and had some fun with Luke's phone in the coffee shop. Want to see what was so funny? How about these:


What a handsome family!