Scout of the Year!

Joe had a nice surprise at the last Scout's session of the year (which was a bit of a Christmas party), as he was awarded Scout of the Year. We're very proud of him; he really deserves the award because he has put so much effort into his scouting over the last few years. It was nice to see that it was obviously such a popular decision with his fellow scouts.

Donna Nook

For the benefit of non Facebook users - here are my photos from the weekend. Took a car-full of scouts to the Lincolnshire coast to see loads of grey seals - mums, dads and babies. Fantastic! Stopped off at the Newark Air Museum on the way back. Great day.

Before and After

Yesterday, some 40 years on, Richard, Roger and I managed to recreate the "3 boys standing in the garden looking pleased with themselves" image. This time in colour and taken on my phone - how times have changed!

I don't think we have worn too badly. We'll see how we do in another 40 years.

Corfu 2011

We've just got back to a grey and cold England after two very hot and sunny weeks in Corfu. Here are some of the highlights.

Chatsworth House

It was our 17th wedding anniversary this weekend. While the boys were surfing in Cornwall with Grannykim and Grandad, we escaped to the Peak District to visit Chatsworth House and to stay in the wonderful Cavendish Hotel. Very luxurious.

Luke's London Birthday

Luke turned 15 today and we celebrated with a day trip down to London. First stop, Madame Toussards, which was quite a giggle - although Luke was a bit coy and wouldn't let us take his picture with his own wax work (see if you can figure out which one I mean!). Next, Covent Garden, then the South Bank, Westminster, Downing Street, Picadilly Circus and finishing off with a well deserved flagon of ale at St Pancras.

Belvoir Castle

We had a lovely afternoon at Belvoir Castle on Sunday with Margaret. Beautiful place marred only by a very boring guide! (and we weren't allowed to take pics inside!)

The American Etheringtons' Visit

Matt, Cleo and George were over for a visit last week. Here are a few pics from their stay. George was definitely a big hit with his cousins (and with his uncle and aunt!)

Fathers' Day

I have had a wonderful Fathers' Day today. It started this morning with cards and presents in bed. Luke's present was slightly unusual to say the least. I don't think I have ever seen Elaine laugh so much before, after I tried it on - I thought she was going to pass out!


I am not quite sure what Luke was thinking, but he certainly can't be accused of being boring...


Certainly not one for Facebook! Ialso got some chilli chocolate and a potato ricer - lovely.

This afternoon, Luke and I took part again in the annual Burton Lazars versus Great Dalby cricket match. It was great fun, and the weather held, but unfortunately we lost this time - the series stands at 4:3 to Great Dalby, so we really need to do better next year.

Mike's Birthday Weekend

I've finally got around to sorting my videos and photos from the weekend - here are the best of the bunch. Oh, and I sneaked a little video from Joe's birthday in there too!

Easter Hols

It seems incredible that the cousins were having hosepipe fights in Bristol less than a week ago - we're back in jumpers now!



Yesterday we went in search of some of the new geocaches that have popped up nearby and found this pillbox - not a river of a main road in sight. Very strange!




Joe escaped to the skate park this morning with his friend, Jordan, while we were all cheering on Will and Kate. They did lots of boys stuff this afternoon as well - exploring the woods, dodging paint ballers, trampolining and pitching a tent! They are sleeping in it tonight, so I guess it will be an early morning...

A Wonderful Weekend

On Saturday Luke and Joe were both taking part in a judo competition in Leicester. There were a lot of boys in Joe's weight category, so even though he won one of his 3 fights he missed out on medal. Luke had a smaller group and only lost one fight so he was awarded the silver medal (which looks very like a trophy!). This is a clip of his best throw, unfortunately partially hidden by the ref. Luke's usual - wait for the other guy to try to throw you, then use their momentum to bury them!

When we got back we finally managed to put together Elaine's swinging settee (bought with all those Christmas and birthday vouchers). It suits her...

We had a campfire dinner on Saturday night, complete with sausages on sticks, potatoes in the embers and toasted marshmallows. Lovely. On Sunday, we had a day gardening (I really need a gardener!) and then had an impromptu BBQ/campfire with the Blakes in the evening. All in all, a wonderful weekend.

Scout of the Month

a Joe was awarded Scout of the Month last night because he had achieved the most points over the month. It's all to do with the work he has put in as a Patrol Leader in organising activities, badge work and other good stuff. Joe gets to wear the Scout of the Month woggle for the month! The plaque now has pride of place on our mantlepiece. a Joe also received two more badges last night and is just two badges away from his Gold Chief Scout Award. What a star!

Lake District

We had a lovely time in Milnthorpe at the weekend, visiting Andy, Hazel, Lottie and Oliver. It was the first time we had met Oliver and he was a lot of fun:

Lottie had grown up a lot since we had last seen her and obviously loves having a little brother to play with:

On Sunday afternoon we all went to a fantastic climbing centre in Kendal and Andy put Luke and Joe through their paces. Lottie and Oliver had a good go on the lower bouldering sections too.

Venice

Elaine and I have just returned from a four-day trip to Venice for Elaine's birthday. It was absolutely fantastic and we had a wonderful time. We pretty much covered the whole of Venice while we were there, as well as some of the nearby islands (Murano, Burano and the cemetery at Isola Di San Michele).

On the big day we took the secret itinerary around the Doges Palace, which included a visit to Casanova's cells (he was moved from him first after making a hole through the floor with a spike!). We also took a trip to the top of the Campanile in St Mark's Square and had a nosy around inside the Basilica. We took a gondola trip with our gondelier, Dante (yes, really) in the afternoon and finished off the day with some local fish.

We poked out nose in our local church, San Zaccharia, and discovered it full of wonderful paintings including one by Bellini!

Joe's New Look!

Joe had a permanent brace fitted yesterday. He had a choice of colours and has gone for blue. He can change the colour everytime he goes back to have it tightened.

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He was feeling quite sore this morning but hopefully it will bed in quite soon.

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By the way, he was at a Burn's Night party at scouts last night - hence the tartan shirt!

Glee?

More music from the boys - this time Don't Stop Believing by Journey (but popular again thanks to Glee!)

Stars of the Future?

Luke and Joe learning "Hey, Soul Sister". Nice!

Yew Tree Avenue

Yesterday we decided that we needed to get out and start walking off some of the Christmas excess. So we went to the Yew Tree Avenue at Clipsham. There is a bit of a geocache quizzy thing there, where we had to find clues in some of the letters and words clipped into the trees in order to find the co-ordinates for the cache. Good fun but very cold and extremely muddy!