There were six in the bed (and a few cuddly animals)...

This is how most mornings have started this week!

Nottingham Trip

This morning Elaine took Katie girlie shopping and got her some very nice (pink) clothes while the boys played on the computer and I did a bit of work.

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We then went to Nottingham and had lunch at Wagamamas which was a lot of fun. The kids' food was not as good as the grown-ups' but, with side orders, a bit of sharing and chocolate fudge cake for dessert, there were no complaints! After text talking with Mike, who was in Starbucks on 8th Avenue, NY, we went to the Robin Hood Experience which was quite fun. We were whisked in little cabins through the City of Nottingham (13th century style), through the city gates and out into Sherwood Forest, past the sights and smells of Robin Hood's tale.

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We made it back just as the phone was ringing - it was Mike who had a good catch up with Freddie and Katie.

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Here are today's photos.

Swimming and Swans

It was just me and the monkies today, as Elaine was working. We had a good time in the swimming baths this morning and managed to last over an hour before Freddie's lips turned blue (they really need to get the heating sorted out).

This afternoon we had a long walk around the lake in the country park and met some very curious swans that turned a bit hissy when they figured out that we really didn't have any bread. Joe thought they were even more scary than the geese that chased us at the Wymondham windmill a couple of years ago (I still have nightmares).

We finally made it to the playground for lots of fun before trudging back to the car thoroughly worn out. Here are the photos.

Little and Not So Little Visitors

GrannyKim and Grandad, Freddie and Katie all came to visit this weekend, in fact Freddie and Katie are staying with us for almost the whole of the half term week. On Saturday afternoon they call came to see the show and thoroughly enjoyed Thoroughly Modern Millie!

This morning we went to Gates' Nursery to look at the Christmas displays (bit early, I know!) and the kids had a lot of fun playing on the tractor. It was such a sunny day that everyone has been outside playing this afternoon - Katie has made friends with Martha from next door (she was taken to see her guinea pig, so has definitely found favour there!

Unfortunately I was busy cooking while GrannyKim was showing off her roller-blading prowess but you can see all in the Photos.

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Tomorrow is the opening night of Gasleak's latest production: Thoroughly Modern Millie. I've spent most of this weekend at the theatre for various rehearsals - band call, technical rehearsal and dress - and am now looking forward to doing it in front of an audience. You can read all about the show here.

As you can (hopefully) tell, I am playing the part of a chinaman (Ching Ho) and I, along with my (much older) brother, Bun Foo, provide plenty of comedy. Our lines are all in Cantonese and our songs in Mandarin, and we have taken a great deal of pride in getting our pronunciation as near-perfect as possible. The director's wife is Chinese, and she assures us we are doing pretty well!

Mrs Meers is in the picture with us. She is the baddie in the show - drugging vulnerable young women and shipping them off into white slavery in Hong Kong. Boo, hiss!

Joe's Night Hike

As a seconder in Cubs, Joe was allowed to take part in this year's night hike. Here he is with his friend, Adam. They set off at 6pm from the country park and walked to Scalford before heading across to the cubs camping ground at Holwell. They arrived at around 10pm when they had pizza and hot chocolate! (Joe and Adam also had a midnight feast of M&Ms later on in bed).

The cubs slept in a hut - the girls had camp beds and the boys had the floor (so much for equality!) Joe was looking surprisingly alert the next day, despite having only around 5 hours' sleep.

I won 10p in a bet with Luke (who had hated the night hike when he did it a few years ago). He bet that Joe wouldn't enjoy it and lost the bet because Joe told us he had a wonderful time. In fact, he said he wished he was doing it all over again on Sunday evening!

Dean and Louise get hitched

Dean and Louise tied the knot yesterday at Oakham Registry Office followed by a reception at the Grange Alpine Restaurant. They both looked fantastic, the weather was kind (the heavens opened after we arrived at the restaurant!) and we had a marvellous time. Luke and Joe were very lucky to receive a goody-box each from the bride and groom, which kept them entertained during the dull, grown-up bits.


For those of you who don't know them or haven't seen them for a while, look out for Ken and Dorothy (Elaine's dad and stepmum (Dean's mum)); Kevin and Ali (Elaine's brother and his wife); Amy (Kevin's daughter) and Lilly (Amy's daughter) when flicking through the photos.