Christmas!

We had Christmas Day at home this year, with Elaine's mum and her dad and stepmum over for lunch. We forgot to take any pictures though! On Boxing Day we drove down to Hook to Mike's. Mum and Dad were already there, having spent a few days before Christmas at Ragdale Hall (we met them there for dinner one night, which was very nice but I am still not persuaded to spend a day there!)

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We had great fun sending these mini hot air balloons off into the night sky and then blowing off the fireworks left over from 5 November. Mike gave us a snazzy hand-held satnav for Christmas, so our collective New Years resolution is to do a lot more (and a lot more high tech) geocaching! We tried it out by doing a few geocaches around Basingstoke centre but it was so cold we had to retreat for coffee and a warm up.

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Sunday morning Heather came to visit us. We last say her around 7 years ago when we went and stayed with her in Cyprus when the kids were tiny. She hasn't changed a bit! We had a good old goss and catch up about various of our old Thomson buddies. Heather used to be our boss when we were working out in Cyprus.

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Stomping on Burrough Hill

Us boys went for a blow the cobwebs away stomp around Burrough Hill and bumped into the hunt on the way round. Luke and Joe kept referring to them as "The upper class" - probably because they all said "Hair-lair" as they rode by. This chap told me that they were actually after a real fox (which of course is slightly illegal now) as he tapped the side of his nose.

We picked up the turkey on the way home and made the giblet stock on our return. Joe and I polished off the liver pretty quick (yum). The stuffing is now all made as well, just need to pop to town tomorrow now to buy all the stuff we forgot to buy at the weekend and today!

Theringtone Family Christmas preparations

We've decided to go with the flow and acknowledge that Christmas is coming - well Elaine actually started preparing in June I think, but I did most of my Christmas shopping on line the day before the busiest on line shopping day of the year.

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This week we went to the last nativity play to which will be invited at St Francis. Joe was very nearly a pig but managed to wangle a role as a shepherd which was a very wise move.

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Today we had the traditional tramp out to Gates Nursery for the tree and then the traditional climb all over the window sills in the conservatory to put up lights, decorating the tree and singing along to Christmas tunes.

Elaine's Christmas Tree

This is Elaine's entry for this year's Christmas Trees in the church - the Holly-istic tree. Yes, that is Prince Charles as portrayed by a Christmas tree!

And now in action...

Our friend, Noel, took some pictures on his snazzy camera. So here they are.

The Judo Champ

Luke went for a grading last week whilst full of cold and managed to go up two grades. So he now has a yellow belt with two tags. Today he had another tournament (this time at his home dojo in Oakham). He won a bronze medal again after winning one out of the three bouts.

Well done Luke!

Even Better News

It's all been good today - lots of lovely pressies this morning, the Skoda taken away to be beautified, the new Volvo delivered and gorgeous, lunch with Elaine at the Italian cafe (with one of Anita's cupcakes to finish off), and off to the Thai restaurant with friends this evening. It's almost worth getting older for!

Good News and Bad News

I got a call from the Volvo dealer yesterday to tell me my car would be delivered on Friday (my birthday). So I called the insurance company and arranged to change it over and to cover the Skoda for a couple more weeks while I try to sell it. I then had to go and visit one my clients based in the sticks, so jumped in the car and headed off down the country lane that takes me there. Halfway there I was nearly hit by a tipper truck coming way too fast the other way round a bend, and some of his load landed with an almighty crash on top of my car! By the time I had finished taking evasive action he was a dot in my rearview mirror disappearing round another bend.

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My car, which was looking quite clean and lovely having been tarted up for its appearance on the Autotrader website is now covered in hundred of very noticeable scratches and the windscreen is cracked and chipped in 3 places (I got two chips repaired about 4 weeks ago). Have a look.

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Update - Around £1400 plus VAT to repair it (including slight damage to sunroof, headlamp, radiator grill and mouldings). Bang goes my no claims bonus!

Hook Bonfire Party

We had a very damp but enjoyable weekend in Hook for Halloween/Guy Fawkes. Mike had loads of guests around on Saturday night for a bonfire party but it rained pretty much all day and we were worried that the party would literally turn out to be a damp squib! But much to everyone's amazement the fire lit first time and the fireworks were fab.

More pics.

Our first Geocache

Mike, Katie, Freddie, Grannykim and Grandad all came for the weekend and came to see the Ragged Child (which they all seemed to enjoy). The Effingpots brought their latest gadget - a hand-held satnav into which you can enter the grid reference you are looking for. So we had out first try at geocaching.

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It was a surprisingly easy first try. We headed up to Burrough Hill and the satnav took us right to the spot where the cache was hidden. It was a small tupperware box containing a log book (in which we wrote our entry) and lots of little gifts that people had left behind - a yo-yo, a little toy doll, a bag of beads, etc.

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It was just enough of a walk to work up an appetite, then it was off to the village of Grimston for a pub lunch - delicious!

What a Ragged Child!

Tonight is the opening night of The Ragged Child, starring both Luke and me. As you can see, Luke is one of the ragged children, and has been instructed by the director to get absolutely filthy and not to smile! He has really got into the role and has amazed us all with his memory of lines, dancing ability (don't know where he gets that from!), and overall stage presence.

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I play the ragged school teacher, Giles. I'm "a crippled cobbler", which means I have a leather apron and a hump on my back! You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to find a way of making a convincing hump that doesn't wander all over my back during the show. Much to the rest of the cast's amusement, I have resolved this problem by using a bra worn upside down and back to front with just one padded cup!

Silver Chief Scout Award for Joe

Last night Joe was honoured in front of his fellow cubs when he was presented with the Silver Chief Scout Award. He has been working towards the Award for months and the final part he needed was to have passed his Grade 1 piano. As you will see from the video below, that also earned him his stage 2 musicians' badge! There is officially no room left on his arm now.

As Joe is coming up to 10 1/2 he will be moving up to Scouts in November. So he will have a nice clean, new arm to get started on!

Lisa's First Birthday

Lisa was one on Sunday and to mark the occasion, Joe made her a cake fit for a guinea pig! The bottom layer was dried food, then a layer of lettuce, then dandelion with a top layer of kiwi fruit skins. The "candle" was the end of a cucumber!

It lasted about 5 minutes!

Bronze Medal for Luke

On Saturday Luke and I travelled to Kidderminster (to the south-west of Birmingham) so that Luke could take part in a judo competition. Neither of us had very high hopes, as Luke is still quite new and just on his second mon (red belt with one tag).

We were supposed to arrive for 11am but got there about half an hour early. When we got there the girls were still competing and their competition finally ended around 1pm. Then it was the turn of the boys - but Luke's name wasn't called! Although he was below 40 kg, he was put in the higher group because they had too many smaller kids. Whilst we were waiting some of the bigger boys arrived and I noticed Luke go slightly paler than normal!

Finally at around 2.15pm Luke was on. In his first bout he was taken by surprise and very quickly got knocked out. He looked quite put out and dejected at that point, but I noticed a steely glint in his eye when he stepped up for his second bout! He was amazing - he grabbed his opponent by the labels and started spinning him round the floor before tripping him onto his back and pinning him to the floor. He managed to hold him down for the count (25 seconds) to win the bout. See the video below for a rather distorted idea (phone cam!) Luke is in the white belt.

Luke's third bout was a real marathon. He managed to get his opponent down at one point but he managed to wriggle free. After another wrestling match, Luke got him down again and went to pin him. Unfortunately, though, his opponent spun as he fell and managed to end up with Luke underneath him. Luke counted get free and was counted out. It was a close one!

The end result - Luke got a well-earned bronze medal and, I think it is fair to say, a real boost to his confidence. He can't wait for the next competition! Before then, however, he is going for regrading on 24th September and may well get his third mon.

Glam rock and flares

Last weekend Elaine and I went to a 70s night with our friends Kevin and Debbie, and Kevin and Shirley. Debbie (who organised the tickets) assured us that fancy dress was mandatory. Iwas going to risk it and not bother dressing up (seeing as my formative years were during the 80s and I didn’t, therefore, have any 70s gear!) but Debbie shamed me so much and told me that I would be the only one not dressed up that I called upon Elaine’s stepbrother, Dean, to come to the rescue. Dean’s formative years were during the 90s but he seems to have spent most of that time going to 70s parties!

Anyway, in the end we all got dressed up only to find that fancy dress was actually optional and that (at first) we were the only ones dressed up! Thankfully quite a few people turned up later wearing a wide range of 70s gear.

The Platforms provided the music – and they definitely looked the part (all spangly tight trousers and make-up). It was great fun and we are looking forward to seeing the Platforms again at the Melton beer festival in a few weeks’ time.

A few more photos

Arillas 2008

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We have just returned from another wonderful two weeks in Arillas on the North-west coast of Corfu. Lots of beach, pool, sightseeing and chilling out. It has been fantastic. The highlight had to be a close encounter with dolphins on our last day when we took a little boat out for a trip along the coast.

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Here is a selection of our photos.

Donkey!

Guess who I met today! Keith is back from his hard life in Barbados for a few weeks as he has had to have an operation on one of the vertebrae in his neck (an old skiing injury, don't you know!) and I popped down to Reading to see him and to take him out for lunch. We had a wonderful catch up - we decided that it was probably 5 or 6 years since we had last seen each other.

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And for those of you who don't know - Keith's nickname is (was?) donkey. Not for the reason he would have you believe but because of his skiing prowess. A little tongue in cheek I'm sure, as I seem to remember him being a lot more elegant than me.

Summer - briefly

Sunday almost felt like summer. While Luke was off getting sun-stroke on his St John's duty at the motorbike scrambles, Joe, Elaine and I went for a country walk. We started by the church at Kirby Bellars and followed a public footpath across to Asfordby. On the way we crossed a lake by a very narrow causeway and followed the River Wreake for a while. It was wonderful. Joe and I had our tops off, trying to get a bit of sun on our skin before we reach Corfu (next week).

We walked through Asfordby then headed across country back to Kirby Bellars. On the way we found a little wooden jetty on the river and had a break there to dangle our feet in the water.

Luke, meanwhile, was helping (by directing the ambulance) with a guy who broke his back and he also encountered a dislocated finger. All day in the sun took its toll however, and he ended up feeling a bit queasy and headachey when he got home (although he rallied magificently later on!)

Photos

Woodland Avenue Street Party

On Sunday (29th June) the entire street was closed off for a street party. This was the brainchild of a recent arrival to Woodland Avenue, Heather, who thought it would be a good way for residents to properly meet each other and have a bit of fun.

After a beautifully sunny morning, the party was due to kick off at 2pm just as the clouds started approaching. Nevertheless the bunting went up, the tables were laid out, the "Road closed" sign and cones went up, and the band started to play.

Just as all the food was laid out and people started to tuck in, the heavens opened! We had food in our garage and in our hall, and pretty much everyone squeezed into our conservatory. Dan, our local musician, brought his guitar and - joined by another guitar and violin - entertained us with Irish folk music as the rain poured down.

Fortunately the sun came out later and the party resumed in earnest. Here are a few photos.

Visit to Hook Mansion

It was a couple of weeks ago now, but we finally got to visit Mike, Freddie and Katie in their wonderful (and enormous) new house. The weather wasn't great while we there but there were enough gaps in the showers to allow time for trampolining, eating ice-creams at the Old Basing fair and going for a lovely walk along the canal to Odiham Castle.

It was paradise for the kids - a whole meadow to explore, a den in the bushes and a mower to drive!

Photos

Mum's Birthday

We managed to make it to Bristol for the big occasion this year. Saturday morning commenced with the traditional present opening in bed ceremony and then we headed off to Malmesbury and the home of the Naked Gardeners - the Abbey House Gardens. What a wonderful place. The boys spent most of them time stroking tame koi carp and catfish (we think) in the ornamental fish pond but there was still plenty of time to explore the gardens and the river walk. We even spotted the Naked Gardeners themselves but disappointingly (for Dad) they were clothed - albeit Mr Gardener was just wearing a thong.

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Lunch was very good in the Whole Hog and the only dampener was my car playing up on the way home resulting in us having to drive at around 45 mph along the M4 on the way back! Turns out the air conditioning compresser needs replacing.

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In the evening we went to Valentinos for a real Italian nosh up. When they found out it was Mum's birthday they brought her something with a flame on top - a flaming Zambucca!

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We had a leisurely Sunday morning browsing Dad's ancient photos of various great great relations, which was very entertaining - the boys now appreciate that Grandad's "Whee" hair is nothing new! A barbecue lunch under the new gazebo rounded off a perfect weekend.

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Here are some photos.

Sutton-on-Sea

I decided a couple of days ago that I really wanted to see the sea (no doubt something to do with growing up on the coast and then going to live in the part of the country which is furthest from the sea!) Surprisingly I managed to persuade the rest of the family that this would be a good idea, so we set off to Sutton-on-Sea early this morning in the mist, as we had been assured sunny spells later on by BBC Weather. We got there at coffee time and then set off for a long walk along the beach to Mablethorpe. It was a tad blowy but great fun, particularly as we had taken a football with us and were practising passing (having to aim about 20 degrees off to take account of the wind!)

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By the time we arrived on the outskirts of Mablethorpe we needed more coffee. We then headed off into the centre (which was very reminiscent of the bit of Weston-S-Mare around Mr B's - loads of amusement arcades, sweet shops and takeaways). We spent a very enjoyable half hour or so in one of the arcades, finding coins in the trays of penny cascades which we promptly fed back into the machines (winning a bit on the way, but ultimately losing the lot!)

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We had fish and chips for lunch in a little cafe with plactic tablecloths and mugs of tea - fantastic! Set us up nicely for a spot of paddling when we got back to Sutton (and the sun was just peeping through a little)

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All in all it was a pretty fab day - even with frostbitten toes. Forgot the camera again but the phone photos aren't too bad.

Alien coming

I think this should have a 15 certificate! Would you believe that this is Joe's mouth - look at all those teeth! You know what they say about sharks having several rows of teeth which move replace those that get worn out...
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Joe needs a brace as they are starting to go a bit wonky, but the NHS funding has run out until next April! Apparently he will be alright to wait until then, so we won't have to fork out £500 for private treatment (phew!)

Views from the church tower

We went down to Melton Day on Monday for the first time in a few years. It was very quiet, as it was quite cold and windy, and seemed to have all the same stuff as we had seen the last few times we had been! But this time we did manage to do something new - we had a trip up to the top of the church tower and it was great. It was extremely windy at the top but the views definitely made up for it. Unfortunately we didn't take the camera so I had to use my phone for the photos.

Judo King!

Luke has been going to judo every Saturday morning in Oakham for the last 6 months or so, and he is getting pretty good at it. So good in fact that last week he was awarded the cup for being the hardest trier that week. As you can see, he was over the moon.

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I hadn't seen him in action for a while, as I tend to do the Tesco/collecting rent run, but I went along this weekend and was amazed at what he had learnt. I said "ohmygoshy!" (I'm afraid that's about as good as judo "in" jokes get!)

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Click here for some of him (and his mate, Tom) in action.

And finally - the birthday itself!

This has to be the most anticipated 10th birthday ever! Today finally dawned with the traditional present opening ceremony in bed. Joe was delighted with all his fantastic gifts. After school he brought home three friends - Adam, Emilien and Alex - and they had lots of fun playing with his presents and then heading outside for football.

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Joe had chosen hot dogs and burgers for his birthday tea so another excuse for a BBQ. Elaine pulled out all the stops to make a wonderful birthday cake in keeping with the footie theme.

Birthday Treat - 2

We all woke bleary-eyed this morning after our tiring day out at Alton Towers, to find that Lisa had given birth to 4 tiny, but perfectly formed, baby guinea pigs! As Joe put it, they look like heads and bums on legs!

We weren't sure when they were due, as Lisa had spent quite a few weeks with Benny from next door, but she had been rather large lately so we suspected they would come around Joe's birthday. As you will see from the photos they are a mixture of colours and patterns. We can't handle them for the first day or so, so we are not sure how many boys and girls we have. We hope to have at least one girl so that we can keep her (and so that she can provide Lisa with some company). We will then need to find good homes for the other three in around 8 weeks' time.

Birthday Treat

Sunday morning Joe was a bit tired and grumpy to be woken up until he heard that his birthday treat was about to start (not the following weekend as he had thought)! We picked up Adam bright and early and drove to Alton Towers just in time for it to open.

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First we all went on the Corkscrew which was slightly terrifying, then the Charlie and Chocolate Factory ride, which involved sailing down the melted chocolate river and riding in the Great Glass Elevator. We then headed over to the Flume and rode in a bath-tub around a meandering waterway before plunging down a slide and getting soaked. Unfortunately it was pretty cloudy and chilly by then but it was just in time for us to have an early lunch and a warm-up.

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In the afternoon it was more white-knuckle rides - Nemesis, the Runaway Mine Train, Spinball Whizzer and (the most terrifying of them all) Oblivion. We also went on the best ghost train ever - Duel - where we all had blasters and could shoot at the ghosts as we went round, earning points. We had another soaking on the Congo River Rapids and the boys went on The Blade, Submission and Enterprise (well Joe, sensibly, gave some of them a miss as The Blade made him feel a bit queazy - made me feel ick just watching!).

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We didn't leave for home until 5.30pm so we were all thoroughly exhausted when we got back. We had just enough energy to call Freddie to see if he had enjoyed his own birthday treat (he had!).

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We have a few photos but I think you will have to wait to see the video to see quite what a scary day we had!

Two sunny weekends

Last weekend we went to the Leicestershire Show and had a great time looking at the livestock and enjoying the entertainment. The motorbike stunt show was definitely the highlight. The weather was fantastic too, after the forecasters had predicted lots of rain.

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This weekend was baking. I was at the University all day on Saturday, for my last residential, so was unable to enjoy the sunshine (until the BBQ in the evening that is). It was the last get together for me and the rest of my cohort before we graduate (hopefully) next June! I now have until December to write a 15,000 word dissertation in order to get three little letters after my name (LL.M.)

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Sunday was the hottest day of the weekend and we had our new friends Isabelle and Jim round for a BBQ with their children Emilion, Joseph and Eloise. Emilion is one of Joe's friends - they are both football fanatics. Inevitably the afternoon descended into a water fight!

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Photos

April catch-up

Time seems to be flying at the moment - I can't believe my last post was a month ago. Joe has been getting really into football recently. This is him after playing for the school (they got thrashed unfortunately!) but he has also been playing in a few friendlies with a local team (Mowbray Rangers) and is hoping to play some proper matches with them next season.

Joe has also been doing a lot of cub activities. He has cooked a meal for his cookery badge and he took part in his first St George's Day Parade a couple of weeks ago.

Luke has been doing well in his judo. He went for a few days away with the school last week to Crich in Derbyshire and had a great time (but not much sleep). He clearly hasn't done anything photogenic though if our photos are anything to go by!

Elaine got back today from a couple of days in the Cotswolds with Debbie. They had a good time but now realise just how unfit they really are. Elaine can hardly walk! As I type she is lying in the bath recovering. It must be pretty tiring keeping those enormous heads upright when on horseback (look at the photos and you will see what I mean)!

The boys and I went on a historical journey through Leicester today which was a lot of fun. We visited the Guildhall, the Jewry Wall and the Castle Gardens, and even somehow took in Dominos toy shop!

The Nottingham Eye

Whilst I was struggling away on my latest assignment the boys and Elaine went out for the day with the Blakes and Alex and Patsy Litt. They had a ride on the Nottingham Eye (not quite as impressive as the London version, but I think they still enjoyed it) and managed to avoid the showers long enough to have a picnic at Rushcliffe Country Park which, for a pretty standard park, has got an extremely up beat and long(!) video: View Video

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Here are a few more photos

Easter in Bristol

I know it's a bit late - but I've been busy!

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This is what happens when there are too many cooks mixed with red wine. Nobody got stabbed in the end and we had quite a few lovely meals (with red wine!) The Easter Bunny came and even managed to deliver non chocolate-related goodies to those odd Effingpot children (who don't like chocolate). Luke and Joe kept repeating - "I can't believe they don't like chocolate!"

The Judo Master

Oh all right then - Judo red belt! Luke has been going to judo for the last 4 or 5 weeks and has decided it is definitely for him. It better be, because we have just bought him this very snazzy outfit. He was throwing people all over the place on Saturday, which was very impressive, but not quite as impressive as his performance on the "island" (made of three crash mats pulled together) where all the children in his group have to try to push each other off whilst retaining their own place. Luke managed to fight of all comers until there were just him and three girls left!!

Guinea Pig News

We had a very sad time the week before last because Maggie ( the scruffy-looking one) broke her leg leaping off Joe's knee and unfortuately did not come round after the vet operated on her. We were all very upset and Lisa was very lonely, so we asked Benny from next door if he would like to come and stay and he said yes! That is him with Lisa in the picture - he is Martha's pet (Katie's friend Martha, that is).

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Benny has been with us all week and Lisa is going to go back to his place tonight to stay the week with him. They seem to have been getting on very well (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) so we are hopeful that Lisa might have some baby guineas in a couple of months' time. If one of them is a little girl we will be able to keep her so that Lisa needn't be lonely any more.

Duelling moustaches

If it looks like I am wearing make-up that is because I am! I had just come off stage after yesterday's matinee - which Elaine, Luke and Joe enjoyed very much. They visited the cast backstage and Luke was presented with his moustache by one of them. He liked it so much he wore it for the rest of the show!

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My moustache has gone now and I seem to have an enormous expanse of cold skin below my nose!

Captain Bertorelli

Well Capitano Alberto Bertorelli visited today, one and half weeks before 'Allo 'Allo opens at Melton Theatre. I think his moustache is looking particularly luxuriant and goes well with the dead chicken on 'is 'ead! We had a photo shoot this afternoon at the theatre for the Melton Times and I have heard that Friday and Saturday night are both sold out!

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We also had an introductory meeting this afternoon for the next Gasleak production - The Ragged Child - which is on in October. Luke wants to audition for a part but Joe doesn't want to join in - too much singing! I'm in two minds - I would love to do something with Luke but I will be working on my dissertation at that time, which will be due in at Christmas. We'll see. Elaine said that she would come and sing in the chorus is both the boys took part but it looks like we have been spared that now!

Photos from the show

Bradgate Park Monkeys

We had some surprise visitors arrive yesterday - the Effingpots! After a phone call in the morning when Mike said they were all a bit bored, they jumped in the car to come and be bored with Theringtones. And guess what - no more boredom!

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Mike and Pete went to the boozer last night with a couple of friends and ended up seeing a live band in the Noels Arms (and Pete ended up with a headache this morning - ouch!). Today we went to buy matching walking boots in town (for Mike and Pete) and then we all went off to Bradgate Park to play hide and seek in the ancient oaks. Wonderful day.

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Here are some more pics. Some of them are from Saturday when we went to Borough Hill while the Effingpots were en route.

Happy Birthday Elaine

Tonight we went to The Flying Childers at Kirby Bellars to celebrate Elaine's birthday. Having recently enjoyed a day at Ragdale Hall, Elaine was very pleased to receive more than enough vouchers to enjoy another day there, plus lots of beauty products as recommended by Gok Wan.

Note the short hair for all the boys! A few more pics here.

Watermead Park

A rare sunny day so we headed somewhere new to stretch our legs today. This place is right next to the Grand Union Canal as it heads into Leicester. Loads of lakes and walks (and geese). Next time we will take the bikes as there are lots of cycle tracks and plenty of space to cycle (bit windy today for it). Nice to feel the breeze in my 'tache!

Do I look Italian in this?

In order to look as much like my character as possible by opening night, I have started to grow a moustache. This is it one week on (oh, alright then - 9 days). Click here to see what I am aiming for - Captain Alberto Bertorelli. I'll try to keep you posted over the coming weeks on progress - I think I need to drink tomato feed though!

Rutland Water

We decided to get some fresh air yesterday, as it looked like it was going to be the only dry day for a while. So we went for a potter round Rutland Water. We couldn't go far because Joe twisted his ankle at cubs playing dodgeball on Tuesday and it is still giving him problems. In fact it was so cold that we only lasted a few minutes before jumping back in the car and heading home for a cuppa!

Brother Reindeer

People often mistake me for Noel, or vice versa, or else assume we are brothers. Can't see it myself!