Sunday, 26 June 2011

Fun at the Glitter Ball

Last night we got dolled up in our finery and hit the town (well, Winnersh Triangle anyway) for the Reading Hockey Club Glitter Ball (organised by our friend Clare). It was ace. Lovely to see everyone, delicious food, and a great chance for a good old boogie.

Sarah and the girls

Di, Clare, Sarah, Karen and Anna (for those who don't know who is who).

Mike & Di enjoying themselves

Everyone had a great time - it was a really fun evening.

Saturday, 25 June 2011

Daddy the Strong Man!

On a recent trip to Palmer Park, I foolishly volunteered to give Kezia & Lily a shoulder ride at the same time. It was hard work! The girls enjoyed it though.


Thursday, 23 June 2011

Kezia's first sports day

Today was Kezia's first sports day at pre-school. It was ace. There are 51 children split into 5 groups. Kezia is in Purple Group. The teams competed in a series of relay races. There was a running race, a water race, a shopping race and a bat & beanbag race, and of course the mummies and daddies got to have a go at the end as well. We took a few videos, but the blog doesn't seem to want to upload them. They must be too big. Never mind, the photos will have to do.

Purple Group get ready for the challenge!

Kezia zooms ahead and sprints home in the running relay


Katie cuts a dash in the sprint and the shopping race


Mrs. Blakely marshals the Purple Group troops. Kezia is in a world of her own.

The water race

Each child had to run the course with a big beaker full of water and empty it into a big bucket. Kezzie hardly spilled a drop!


The Mummy's race!

Auntie Di was a dab hand with the egg and spoon, but they ran out of eggs and spoons, so Sarah couldn't take part!

The Daddy's Race - great fun!

Daddy was decent at the bunny hopping bit, but less good at the 'keeping hold of a beanbag between your knees' bit!! He finished well down the field!

Daddy's ace 40th birthday plate

We have been meaning to put this photo on for ages. Kezia made Daddy a 40th birthday plate at the garden centre. It is brilliant!!

Monday, 13 June 2011

The annual foreign football jaunt

Steve and I have just got back from our annual foreign football jaunt. This year we went to Dublin and watched Bohemians v Sligo Rovers. The 0-0 draw wasn't the best football we have ever seen, but it was decent enough; 2 red cards, some hopeless refereeing, a broken nose for the home keeper, a biblical deluge of rain in the first half, and a really friendly atmosphere. It was great. 11 different countries in 11 years now - on target to have covered UEFA by 2053 !

It's easy to find Dalymount Park - just follow the crowds....

Bohemians fan for a day!

A general view of the ground, with the Stasi-style police station behind the far end

The main stand where we sat and the away end, where the few hardy Sligo fans braved the elements


The crumbling old home terrace; just flags there these days, not fans

Sligo argue over tactics for the free-kick; Bohs get ready to defend

The downpour of rain stops, the floodlights come on, and the Sligo left-back gets his marching orders (far right, heading for the tunnel!)

It wasn't the best game of football, ending 0-0, but the atmosphere was great and it was a really friendly place.

Some of the tourist spots of central Dublin - O'Connell Street and the Millennium Spire, and Trinity College


A couple of the locals......

The Likely Lads out at the Irish seaside at Howth


Views of Howth harbour & castle


We had a good look round Howth before heading back to Dublin and to the airport. This year's trip was great fun!

Treasure!

As part of all the sorting out for Grandma & Grandad's impending house move, we have given a home to plenty of things that had been stored in their loft. Kezia was delighted with this hand-held mirror and ring, which belonged to Sarah's Nan. We will save them for Kezia until she is older.

Tristan's BRILLIANT 40th birthday trip to Paris - this was our pied-a-terre, the Hotel Soft!

By the Canal Saint Martin, round the corner from our hotel


On a footbridge over the canal; note the huge queue in the background for a sale at the 'Agnes B' fashion house!

Street scenes in the Menilmontant district - an old motorbike and a shop called Maureen!


We had lunch in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont - it was brilliant. The view.....

....the menu (whoever came up with wine in a juice carton with a straw is a genius!)....


...the happy picnic-ers....


...and the romantic stroll in the rain afterwards.


Up at Sacre Couer, and the view from the top


Near the Place de la Bastille

Things going with a swing in the Place des Vosges; a lovely spot