Drawing inspiration

Chatting with Lewis at breakfast time, he was  excited that his teacher was going to read the 'horsey novel' he's been writing. It's been coming along as he fits it into his day at every available moment.

He's just finished reading a book about a small Pakistani boy abducted and smuggled away to ride camels in the desert for rich Arabs, and is going to write a review for the Library in Hythe...

Giving it some

Lewis naturally gets bashful when he knows he's being observed, so I have to get creative if I want to capture him in full flow! He's really into his music, and when he wants can produce some great tunes. It's interesting that almost every tune now he sings along, whereas six months ago he didn't really want to do it at all.

Must do some more sound recording even if it's just 'for the sake of the record', unfortunately it's just another intrusion serving mainly to put Lewi off his stride. I'm going to have to get a wireless mic and do it 'James Bond style'

Tunes of the moment are '50 ways to leave your lover', 'Lay down Sally', Dido's 'White Flag' and a Lady Gaga tune I can't think of the name of... I'm going to get him onto Paul Weller next I think!

Salty

Although we've had clear blue skies today it's been fairly cold out in the wind. We packed a picnic and walked along the old salt lagoons between Keyhaven and Lymington, and had an amazing view to accompany our sandwiches on the sandy beach spanning Calshot, Yarmouth, Keyhaven Castle and the Needles. Historically, Lymington was a center of the salt drying industry, where salt water was admitted to shallow lagoons and dried out. These abandoned lagoons (called saltings) have now become major sea bird reserves, and we had good sightings of Curlew, Dunlin, Shelduck, Little Egret, Plovers, Lapwing, Widgeon, Tufted Ducks, Teal, Merganser, Brent and Canada Geese.

Would you like a bike ride Daddy?

It was lovely and sunny at lunchtime so I took Miranda for a bike ride down into the village. We stopped on the promenade for a while, and played hide and seek. It was a bit nippy but it's so nice when the Spring starts to emerge and the prospect of wanting to do things like this returns...

Medium

Not big, not small, just medium.

I'm listening to Moondog's Lament no1 - Bird's Lament (the original, not the resampled and remixed Mr Scruff version)

Story Time

When I got in from London tonight Caroline was just heading out the door, and our neighbour Audrey was settling in to read the kids their bedtime story. She was led a merry dance by Miranda, but enjoying it, so I just chuckled to myself from a distance....

On top form

Lewis has made a fantastic effort with his homework over the last two nights. It's a written piece setting out a debate of whether homework is a good thing or a bad thing!

He even got up early this morning and by tonight he had a piece he was proud of. It was quite amusingly written and although it had hallmarks of parental influence peppered throughout we were not directly involved....

Very satisfying.

Assembly

Kids have an incredible resourcefulness when it suits them. Caroline found Miranda quietly playing in the study, and insisted I took a photo. She has assembled two toy box lids, a big car (mini) as a mouse, smaller cars as buttons, an ironing board as the table, her baby's high chair as a seat, and some photos to denote the screen.

Yes you guessed it's a laptop, and all by herself...

Ride 'em Cowboy

We have this rather nice watercolour on our kitchen table at the moment by Lewis. He's been trying to get more subtle shades going in his painting, and his one works quite well.

We've been into Southampton Art Gallery this afternoon, and it's amazing what they have in there on display, including a beautiful Rodin that I'd not seen before.

We also walked the walls of Southampton, which was fun. So much history to discover on your own doorstep. After discovering that a certain voyage to America originated in fact, from West Quay in Southampton - and that's why our theatre is called the Mayflower!

Give us this day our daily bread

Miranda having a bread making lesson this morning as Lewis and I were just leaving for a bike ride. The photo is a bit uninspired due to time constraits, but it's a nice record of her getting stuck in. Greg made ciabatta which we had for our starter this evening with salsa and balsamic vinegar/olive oil dips - what can I say that's not already been said....

A whole lotta bread

Caroline has been on a breadmaking spree of late, with several new styles under construction. This one has been particularly interesting and tasty. Fabulous texture and goes well with cheese - or should I say gone well...?

Today has been a fabulous sunny day, we went for a walk at lunchtime, Miranda pedaling alongside. A bit cols to sit down for long on Shore Road, but we watched a cruise liner coming in and then beat a hasty retreat for home!

Toofy

Gregory has lost his second front tooth, and it makes him look rather gormless poor chap, and his speech has been knocked for six. So tonight he's been wrapping it with Miranda's help so that they could put it under his pillow for the tooth fairy!

The boys wanted to play grown up Scrabble so in the interests of harmony I took Miranda to play something more suitable. Postman Pat snap and Fuzzy Felt was the order of the day, followed by 'The Giant Jam Sandwich' and 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears'

Lewis ran in the cross country tournament today, the rain was falling heavily and it was terribly muddy - but he finished well up in the field and came home radiant with his performance.

Warlord

That look of concentration as he studies how to make the bullets fly off the wingtips of his aeroplane. He's been scooting around the floor nonchalantly flicking his thumbs, as he annihilates his imaginary enemy.

Greg is getting quite good at model making disappearing for a few hours and emerging with a finished object in his hands....

Focussed

After complaining about headaches especially at school, we had Lewis' eyes tested and unfortunately he needs to wear glasses for reading and near to mid sighted activities. He's been wearing them for a few days and seems to have taken to it without any problems.

Tonight I got Lewis to read a Paddington story, and quite by chance it was 'Riding High' the one about the school gymkhana. It was hilarious, and such a joy to be able to sit and listen to him reading it, even though I enjoy doing the honours myself.

Carry on Camping

Miranda in her tent in the kitchen, ...she's becoming obsessed that she's going on a trip shortly! This evening at bedtime she told me I couldn't wrap her in her 'igglepiggle' blanket because it was all packed to go camping...

"Yes OK Miranda!"

Barton on Sea

Packed a picnic and went for a walk today along the coast from Barton. We had intended going to Mudeford, but the path was closed due to subsidence, so we though we'd go the other way towards Hordle. There was huge landfalls along the way, and the blustery conditions made for quite an exciting walk. Took quite a few new photos for my 'Marginal' project which is starting to get me going!

Hello Gran

Miranda jabbering away to Gran on the phone this afternoon, the phone you will notice drifts far from her mouth, but they still seem to have no difficulty communicating! She was telling Gran all about her camping expedition to the kitchen this afternoon, and how she was practicing for trip later in the year.

Weekend Rundown

The kids have been on half term and the sun was shining brightly so we thought we'd have a run on the beach before the light went. We walked from Ashlett down Calshot, and there was lots to see. It looked as though it might snow any moment with brooding black clouds and bright sunny spells, but bitterly cold.

This was Greg as he just managed to get the gate closed in front of me. He can be a real toad when he's in the mood...

Lunch

Just wanted to post this picture of my lunch - with Burger made by Miranda and Bread Bun made by Gregory.

Very tasty indeed!

It's stuck...

Found this image on my Flickr stream from about four and a half years ago! Such a terrific spontaneity, captured when I'd be able not just get flat on the floor, but have a camera to hand.

Note to self - get down ion the floor more!

Wenty Eight.

The tell tale tongue appears when he's concentrating. I must try and find the drawing, I think it would be more interesting than my photo, but that's the best I can do for now!