Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Swordid

Greg can turn any situation to his advantage. This is one of his 'Thank You' cards that he's been making today, managing to get a knight drawing in without any difficulty.

He's been scything around the house most of the holiday, with wild hacking and thudding noises as he decapitates his victims. I was just about ready to explode yesterday as it gets on my nerves after a while, but I put my head around the door and what I saw stopped me in my tracks. Greg swording violently (obviously), Lewis laying on the settee with Miranda (dressed in Nursey outfit) applying bandages to various parts of his body....

Turns out they were involved in unrelated activities, but the picture was magic....

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Stuck in

Gran gave Greg a box of Michael Morpurgo books for Christmas, and he's been stuck into a few already, in between the Percy Jackson and other assorted books he's currently reading. I was surprised yesterday in the British Museum to discover so many things he knew about Greek Mythology, and characters such as Poseidon, Zeus and Hades just from reading the Jackson books.

Lewis has been reading many of the Morpurgo books himself, and is already a big fan. He currently has his latest book out from the Library. I have to be honest that because he runs around brandishing a sword all the time I'd assumed they were just a load of warrior nonsense...

I myself have been reading Morgurgo's 'Escape from Shangri-La' which Greg finished earlier in the day, and it's a great book. I'm trying to keep up!

Monday, December 27, 2010

British Museum

We had a reallyearly start this morning as we wanted to pack in a full day at the British Museum. The doors were just opening and we had the Egyptian gallery to ourselves, but it soon filled up with people. Greg had prepared a list of interesting list of objects from our History of the World in 100 Objects book, and we grazed our way around, looking for some and stumbling across others. You could go here every week and still be learning interesting stuff when you were in your wheelchair.... Greeks Romans, Assyrians, Persians, Mayans, Saxons, Vikings .... and more. The look on Greg's face when he realised he'd found the Sutton Hoo Warrior Helmet was a picture (that I did not capture unfortunately)

We had lunch in the main cafe, and what excellent and reasonably priced nosh it was too, even jugs of iced water to boot.

After kicking out time we trawled around Covent Garden and back along Regent Street to see the lights. Carnaby Street again was best for christmas decorations, and we had supper in the Masala Zone which everyone enjoyed, even Miranda. Food fairly good and excellent service...

Sunday, December 26, 2010

New Forest Snowball

"How can you tell when a snowball comes from the New Forest?"

"When it's peppered with pony poo!"

Lewis was most disappointed to discover that the Point to Point was canceled due to the weather. Everything is frozen solid, and although we've had sunshine and the temperatures are not that low, it's certainly not doing any melting.

The forest looks fantastic, but the animals are not too impressed. I watched a poor pony trying to get a drink, but sliding back and fore on the ice. It gave up in the end!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Hurling...

Christmas Day spent in the traditional manner, on the beach for a bit of fresh air, then a slow and over-indulgent lunch! Games, book reading and lazing in front of the fire.

After putting the little ones to bed Lewis joined us for Cheese, his grown up remarks about food quality nearly brought a tear to my eyes!

It's almost five years to the day when I took my all time favourite picture of Mippy...

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve

Miranda managed to stay up for a few games before dinner, and long enough to get her stocking ready. We have been playing pontoon and singing Christmas Carols with the boys in front of the fire. Father Christmas' mince pie has been put in front of the fire and the glass of red wine prepared hic

Don't get up too early now boys will you...

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Merry Christmas!

It's that time of year to wish y'all a Merry Christmas! We're planning on sitting tight and chilling out, so where ever you are hope you have a great time time...

And lets hope that 2011 is a good one for us all.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

What's your flavour?

Caroline's been out today toiling, and I've had the day at home with the kids. Miranda wanted to play Ice Cream Shop, one of her activities that she's done with Mummy during the summer. Sadly the sign had come off the 'service hatch' causing her to get quite upset. I thought nothing of it until some time later, having set the thing up and lost sight of her, I was wondering if I'd wasted my time.

She reappeared with a piece of paper "It's OK Dad I've made a new one..."

Raspberry
Blackberry
Bilberry
Orange
Strawberry
Lemon

Ice Cream Parlour

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Greg watching the birds

We've had a few lazy starts this week, finding it difficult to get out of bed before 10.30 most mornings. I think it has something to do with Miranda being under the weather...!

Anyhow today we visited the Museum in Poole for a change, and we had the place to ourselves. There's such an interesting range of things to see there. Greg was transfixed by the bird videos i the "bird hide", although the section about the Speedway track he also thought was fab.

We had supper at the Thai restaurant in Boscombe (Thai's Smiles) on the way home, and the food was fantastic again. I asked Lewis for marks out of ten - "Ten"

Monday, December 20, 2010

Page turner

The weather forecast was hideous, and with the prospect of either heavy snow or very heavy snow (with nearly bare cupboards), we thought maybe we should get a few provisions in, just in case!

So whilst Mum was in Waitrose we went to the Library to change some books. Miranda came out with 23, nine of which we have read so far today. She's still not feeling up to much so a few books were just what she needed!

The weather forecast turned out to be wrong, as we've had heavy rain which melted all the snow, but hey ho - such is life.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Where have those pesky mices gone now?

Miranda is quite under the weather, moping around unenthusiastically. These two mice are her current faves, made I think by Mummy. They are always hiding somewhere, and especially so when you are looking for them...

I thought we'd better have this photo on the blog to cheer her up tomorrow, although I sense she's on the mend any how.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Wipe out.

We were mid lay-in when Gregory bounded in to tell us that it had been snowing. So we are back in a winter wonderland, and as it's the first day of the Christmas break, we had a nice breakfast and a walk from home out onto the forest.

Miranda unfortunately a bit under the weather, but she managed all right, although she had a nap when we got back.

The road along the shore was sheet ice about two inches thick, so we may be holed up for a little while yet.

Friday, December 17, 2010

The Antidote to Christmas

It's been a tradition for some time for the photo boys to go to the Isle of Wight on an expedition (to avoid the last Saturday before Christmas). This year we went on the Friday instead but had a great day shooting from dawn til dusk and beyond - then to the cosy sanctuary of the pub in Shalfleet. It was as cold as I've ever known it, so the glow is just that little bit rosier...

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Rarer than hen's teeth

When Gran was here I managed to snaffle a few photographs from her camera, and this one she took when we were in Wales on our recent visit. Remarkably all looking at the camera and almost smiling!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Silage time

Not sure exactly when I started making my own Christmas cards, but nevertheless all the kids do likewise! This is one of Lewis' little vignettes of the farming life that he aspires to.

The house is all quiet and back to normal tonight as Gran has gone back to Wales after a few days here, I think we're all having an early night.

Miranda performed in the school production this morning, she was the Angel Gabriel - if you can believe it!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Downhill rapidly

Just before breakfast this morning with Lewis serenading me, and Greg and Miranda singing. Gran was quick with her camera, but she hasn't mastered video on it just yet or we'd have the sound too!

We've had a nice weekend in London on our own, whilst Gran stayed at home with the kids. As we were staying at the Bloomsbury Hotel, we spent Sunday at the British Museum brushing up on our Egyptology as Greg is doing them next in History.

Lewis's card this morning featured a drawing of a Mountain Biker descending rather quickly, hence the title...

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Ice cold

Lewis has just got home from Sea Scouts, it's strange him coming home alone, long after dark...doesn't seem quite right.

Greg had his cello concert in school today. Twenty eight of them on violin and cello, must have made an interesting noise. I put some Erik Friedlander on earlier in the evening, and I asked him who it was

"Cello?"

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Star Award

This came home from school today, along with a very excited Miranda "Daddy I've been given the first STAR Award in School"

Apparently Mrs Cullen had given out the assignment and was going to write it on the board for them to write on the paper. But Miranda got there first!

So today it's Mippy blazing the trail...

Monday, December 06, 2010

Top Banana(s)

You can tell from a mile off when he's got good news, he exudes self confidence, and today I could tell by the excited voice I'd be having a visit into my workroom to share it! Lewis' had had his first report from Secondary School, and it confirms that he's doing very well across the board, and it was great to be able to share his obvious pride. There are times when parenting seems like very hard work with little reward, today was not one of those days...

In fact this actually happened twice in one day, as Greg brought his English homework in to me this morning before going to school, very chuffed with his story that he'd planned and written. And so was I too...

Miranda I think gets enough praise, but I might just put a picture up of her "written piece' from the weekend tomorrow. A Clue...?

......wspnotm...thewos a lttw red hen

Got it yet?

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Scream


Decided to go into Southampton today and were surprised to see so many people in their jamjars on their way to the Art Gallery. It was bumper to bumper all the way in.... wherever they were going it wasn't to the last day of the fantastic Bridget Riley exhibition. Southampton Gallery is always good, but the collection today was just fantastic. Not only a Riley show with old work, new work and loads of WIP sketches, but several other superbly curated collections of Modern Art.

We also paid a visit to the Maritime Museum, which is also fascinating. Main thing I discovered today was that the view of the River Itchen that I faced for a few years when I had an office at Kemp's Quay would have looked over the  Day, Summers & Company Boatyard which built huge boats despite the apparent shallowness and narrowness of the river at this point. Although it's fair to say that some amazing superyachts are being produced here now, it's also home to one of the biggest (and fairly interesting to watch) piles of scrap metal in the UK.

Miranda's Munch-like picture from this morning, the subject is Raggy her Rabbit!

Saturday, December 04, 2010

My Gregory

We had a drawing session after lunch today. The weather was foul, and to be honest I could have done with a snooze, so pencils at the ready, we did portraits instead. This one is Miranda's version of Gregory; she was really hootering as she drew his hair!!

Main reason for the exhaustion was our bike ride out over the forest this morning. The ice thick on the ground despite heavy rain overnight - in place hard crunchy ice that was difficult to penetrate, in other place you could fly over the hard stuff but ran the risk of falling off as it was so slippery. Lewis had several nasty falls, grinding his bits 'n bobs painfully. A few times I thought we'd have to abort our ride it was so bleak, mist, ice, wind and rain - not a person on the ground all morning.

Nevertheless we did make it back the promise of a hot lunch kept him going, after three hours in the saddle. When we got back we had one of the finest lunches in recent memory - mushroom and butterbean soup, sweetcorn muffins and cake. All homemade.

Friday, December 03, 2010

It'll be all white on the night

When Miranda was very small Christian gave her a Book of Letters - a sort of scribbling book with lots of letters and numbers inside. She has used the book a lot over the last few years for drawing and the like - but now she's also writing in it! I wonder when she'll be doing the blog herself...

The snow is still thick on the ground here, although we're forecast rain overnight. It's been very cold and even the road along the shore into Hythe has about two inches of ice across the whole surface - very treacherous indeed. Normally it's just the bit of road outside the house that stays icy, but this time I think they have given up! Also still a deep layer over all the fields. Walking back across the playing fields the scene was just like the famous Frank Hurley photograph of Shackleton's fateful mission to the South Pole. Didn't have my camera with me, so no photo of my own!

Really sad to hear of the passing of Gregory Isaacs, who for one reason or another reminds me of that first term at Farnham Art College, way back when... at just 59.

Night Nurse