Head in the Clouds

Windblown and standing on a rocky outcrop somewhere near Zennor, this one was on my desktop from a few weeks ago. I've just been looking for a website that Miranda wanted to show me, although we couldn't find. It can be very frustrating for kids when they have accessed something in school, but it remains elusive at home! We moved onto a new blog post instead!

Tonight we are listening to Ravi Shakar playing his sitar as she's doing the Indian subcontinent at school and wanted to listen to a sitar - Live at Monterey Pop Festival in 1967

Message

For Lewis it was Postman Pat, but Miranda much prefers running her own Post Office. She can spend all day writing notes sticking them in envelopes, posting them in her letterbox, and delivering them to people who live in the street, ... and every now and again I get one too!

The back story

The other side of yesterday's picture, as Miranda talked Caroline through what she'd written - palpable look of despair!

Breakfast time scratchings

Miranda's story that she wrote at brekkies, ad a little picture of the car she's been playing with all week

Had a jaunt down to Poole as there's always things to see to keep the kids happy. At the museum there was an Olympic sports featuring local people's achievements in the games over the years. This one showcasing double Olympic Gold medalist Rodney Pattison who's Cadet complete with spinnaker was on display. You couldn't dry sail the boat, but the boys had great fun playing with the rigging, and inspecting the construction of the boat.

We'd planned visiting the Lifeboat Museum too as a treat for Lewi, but sadly it was closed. It stopped raining for long enough to have a good look at the new Twin Sails bridge which is now open.

Fourteen

Lewi was a little frustrated that our racing did not go to plan. Caroline had made him a cake which we took to the sailing club, and the icing on the cake showed him crossing the line first, but unfortunately I think we came last in both races after suffering rigging problems. The final flaw in our plan was the lousy weather meant it was dark by the time we'd finished and Lewis' idea to have chippies on the beach fell by the wayside. We settled for an Indian feast at Aroma in Holbury, and for once we were unable to finish all that was served up...

It's behind you...

Lewis had already left for Calshot to see if he could sort out a few problems with the spinnaker, so we followed him down. Friday nights on the beach are great, time to chill and fool around whilst the sun goes down, and there's no one else there.

Greg is getting some practice hiking out, and Miranda doing what she does....

It was on a night like this about fourteen years ago that things started to change irrevocably, and Lewis joined us for the ride.

Recycle

There's a certain joy in seeing this picture - it's one that I can relate to. When a child rides without stabilisers you are always behind it! The frustrations of holding pushing releasing, and quickly grabbing a camera to record the moment for posterity.

Back in the day this bike was ridden by both my nieces, Christabel and Elsbeth (who has actually just passed her driving test), and by our three children, and some time ago it passed to Amelia Hawkins who was riding a trike.

The photo arrived in my inbox yesterday to update me...

Greg riding it for the first time

Camped out

Just got in from London, and given Miranda a cuddle before bedtime, so this seems like the right picture. I n truth it's a summer holiday picture taken in the garden in her Thomas the Tank Engine tent that she often plays in. Usually it's Greg or Lewi that's inside with her.

Because I'd been in London she brought her writing book to show me which contains lots of metropolitan highlights described and illustrated by her in class or at home. She's been telling me that she wants to go to London for her birthday, and she never misses an opportunity to bring the subject up. At bedtime she asked me had I been to visit the Queen, and I naturally went along with it. Short silence whilst she thinks about it. "You don't really go to see the Queen do you Daddy?"

Yesterday she lost another tooth which seemed to make her very happy. Time flies by, she'll be wearing braces next.

Note to self

Must get some new recordings of Greg playing his guitar so we have a reminder of the sort of music he's playing.

It's so easy to keep on moving, but the value of blogging comes when it captures a snapshot of time, which of course you can only see when the moment has passed...

Bend it like Miranda

Many years ago 'before children' we used to go to the cinema and watch art house movies... one of them was the Bend it like Beckham film which Caroline bought earlier this week from the local library which was selling off its back catalogue on DVD. After watching it Mipp has been wearing football boots and expressing her desire to be premier league, and Greg let's face it just likes anyone who's a good sport. So for the second evening in a row I've been down the park with them whilst they chase the pigs bladder around.

We have also all been sailing for most of the day at Calshot. It's been very cold in the water - the first day when we've thought "Ooh it's getting nippy now." Maybe summer's over.... Greg was sailing a Pico single handed, and came third in their race. Well done Greg!

A few days sailing with Fordy across to the Isle of Wight before the autumn disappears. The trip out was pretty exciting with 30 knots wind over tide creating a massive swell. In our dreams we were crossing the Southern Oceans, but by nightfall we were in Newtown safely tucked up in the New Inn in Shallfleet eating and drinking...

Saturday was very still first thing, the wind just starting up by about 8.30 to take us back home. An excellent sail downwind mainly

Beware

Years ago we only really went to the north coast of Cornwall, we did venture to the other side occasionally, it's just that we preferred the rugged and more isolated northern path and small towns and villages spread along it. Since we've had kids the southern shores have attracted us with warmer, less windy coves and sandy but busy beaches.

This time we spent more time on the north coast again, this beach is Portheras Cove near Boscastle, and a cleaner, sandier spot it is hard to find (well OK Hayle is certainly sandier at 3 miles long). It's a blissful beach, and the kids loved dodging and running to the waves, but the power of the sea here is phenomenal. This came a few days after Lewis had underestimated the power of the sea at Jangye Ryn, and so we were taking no chances... But even so one wave came in and dropped a huge amount of water throwing Gregory about 25 feet onto the rocks. Once you're over the water just carries you along until you stop. Fortunately I was there to grab him but he was very shocked and had cuts all over his legs and blood running down them. I also had to watch a dog ( a big black lab) being sucked back into the sea by the same wave. It managed to survive but was a potent reminder.

I was looking at his knees yesterday and said "Greg your legs are a mess, what have you been doing to them..." to which he replied "It was Cornwall Dad remember...!"

Ah yes I remember now....

It'll be all light on the night

Just received this picture of me from Monday night by Steve Street and lit by Alan Bowman. We often lark around with cameras and torches before having a few beers and "chewing the fat"

Clearly I am a frustrated rock star, suspect that whatever I should have practiced more when I was younger...

Dennis the Menace

Lewis drying the spinnaker as we prepare to put the boat away at the end of the weekend. We managed to get some small tears in the sail, and have a some repairs to do already - not good!

We have a new boat in the pound, a Laser 3000. He's already telling me that it's the next logical boat for us to have... (in his dreams)

Played swingball with Greg this evening, who wads full of Andy Murray references as we played - thinks he's got a chance of being the next big thing. "Did you notice that I haven't missed a shot yet Dad?" he asks after his fifteenth slam and my non-return...

I'm listening to Fuglsang Blues by Lars Møller on Phobia - rocking....

Shades of Autumn

A particularly fine bike ride through the forest on Saturday morning, the heather loosing it's intense pink colour and the leaves on the trees starting to die. Very warm, but highly enjoyable with not quite so many post Olympic cyclists now - almost back to normal!

Caroline and I were OOD at the sailing club in the afternoon, and Lewis raced with Gregory as crew - that's a first! They finished, with both smiling...

Sailing on Sunday night was a different story - very stormy and although it was Caroline crewing for Lewis in the race, they capsized several times but also finished (five boats didn't) in the gusty conditions.

Cornish memories

When you return from a summer break, you think that the sunkissed windblown feeling will last for months; that you'll be recounting all the fun and relaxation for ages...

So I'd better start with a few random recollections.

On the campsite we had been observing the swallows and swifts flying around, they seemed so content as they went about their existence - so whilst Mum was getting the dinner ready I had the pleasure of helping Miranda build a nest for them. It was all her idea, and frankly I thought she was bonkers (I thought I was bonkers too if truth be told - drink beer or make mud pies???) although now I look at the picture it's one of those things about her that I really like. Slightly batty determination...

 And next up is one of Miranda's photos. The clan (all except Lewis who has stormed ahead up the coast path) as we climbed up from St Agnes towards Perran Porth. We had started near Wheal Coates near Chapel Cove. It's a spectacular walk taking in sights of dozens of old engine houses and stamps, enormous vistas over the sea towards Wales, endless breakers hammering onto the shore. The thought of those poor buggers who toiled under the sea to extract a thin strip of rock, in horrid hot conditions, with little more than a cornish pasty to sustain them for 14 hours at a time, doesn't bear thinking about....

 

Our walk took us to a very nice ice cream parlour in Perran Porth, where the grown ups had cream teas and the others a little of what they like best....

 

I could quite easily plot our holiday using photographs of us eating, and it might be a good way of remembering the trip, but I think it would probably give you indigestion... It's amazing that even after a cooked breakfast every morning, a packed lunch or a healthy cream tea we were ready for a dinner on the campsite by six.

This year we met up with my old college chum Nick Sinclair and his wife Helen who stayed on the campsite and together we chartered a Cornish Shrimper for a sail around the Falmouth area. We managed to cruise around to St Mawes and St Just, and also watched the 29ers National Championship out on the water. Lewis unfortunately missed out on this as he was still at Fowey racing with the Terry and Kyle. But we had a great time with Greg taking the helm for much of the time, and me learning how to raise and lower the gaff rigged sails.

Cornwall

 

Greg's birthday supper in the pizzeria in Truro was big hit... cake, candles and party poppers! And the biggest Calzone he'd ever seen.

 

The above smiles were due to the food at Johnnie's Cafe in Hayle. Miranda's pancakes in particular were of the highest order, and she kindly shared some with us all.

 

We visited St Ives just as the Classic Boat festival hit town so we saw lots of gaff rigged boats arriving, sadly we didn't stop too long in town as it was too busy. The charm of olden days has gone and it has been ruined a la Padstow. Still lots of other places to go which of course we did...

Fowey Regatta 2012

Just back from our summer hols in Cornwall, the above picture of Lewis who spent a week sailing with Kyle and their racing coach Terry Lankford. Lewis again made some new friends there and even managed to win a few races. This year he was sailing a Laser and they enjoyed all kinds of weather from sunny and windless right through to black and stormy with high seas. Sometimes all in the same day!

We joined Lewis for one day's racing, but full credit goes to Terry for all the the kind support he's given Lewis.

Pigbush

Had a great bike ride and picnic in the forest today. The ferns had grown up around our favourite climbing tree, and the smell was reminiscent of the woods near Grampy's house in Caxoxton. We could get used to not having Lewis around, two is very harmonious compared to three!

Our ride took in Dibden Inclosure, Beaulieu Heath, Tantany Wood, Pigbush, Rowbarrow, Frame Wood, Moonhill,  Ranswood, Hatchet Pond and East Boldre where we stopped at the Turfcutters Arms for a beer in the sunshine. The home run via Beufre and Beaulieu was all a bit of a blur what with the blistering sunshine (and the beer) and all the exertion...

We had a call from Terry who's looking after Lewis and Kyle down in Fowey at the moment, and were deleighted to hear that they were having a great time. Didn't get to speak with him, but Lewi apparently won the Saturday race so I bet he's feeling good.

Diamond Geezer

Spent the day at Blackwater in the forest with my old pal Kevin who has just turned 50... We talked cameras and cakes and played games in the sunshine. The surprise party was organised by Duncan and Julia who also dates back to my Farnham Art College days. Didn't get home til dark and the midges had started to bite, but a very enjoyable day it was.

How now

I found this alternate take, processed very differently from the one I processed back in April when I took it.

The expression seems to convey a lot of Miranda's stubborn pride that can be very annoying on occasion. Don't get me wrong, she can be an absolutely delightful child on occasion too...

Lewis has been getting ready to sail with Terry and Kyle in Fowey. They have been loading the boats, checking the kit, packing bags and studying the tidal maps. No room for error this year! Last year they sailed together in the RSFeva, and this year they are competing against each other, both in Lasers...

Cheerie-ho!

Miranda is fairly self contained, and you will often find her tucked up in a corner drawing or writing busily.

This is Cherio, the Teddy that Christabel and Elsbeth gave Gregory when he was small (and who often finds his way into bed with Mipp)

Tonight at dinner time, a tasty curry with homemade unleavened bread, Miranda asked if anyone wanted to give her some of their bread to mop her plate with. Greg duly obliged with his last piece, and Miranda promised him her big fluffy dog to sleep with....

Lewis has been playing with his model Wayfarer, and Caroline's been decanting some homebrew wine.

Calshot

Miranda on the foreshore at Calshot, the sailing club in the background. On a summer's day it doesn't get much better than this. Had a good sail last night, two races with the spinnaker for the first time. Lewis was not too pleased with our performance as we made a few fluffs. All I would say was we were    F    L   Y    I      N     G along. The tide was racing and there was a strong on shore wind, so I have never had to hike out quite as far as yesterday.

Had a nice bike ride today, so many people out on bikes in the forest in their crisp lycra - wonder why? Back to normal next week I expect...

In tune

A Greg picture for a change...!

Didn't get in from the beach until past eleven tonight. The Friday club session at the sailing club for the kids went well with us all out on the water in four different boats. At one point Greg, Miranda, Caroline and I all helming our own boats, with Lewis laying back crewing for me. The weather has been superb with not a single cloud in the sky... so we went down to the Spinnaker Bar to have a few beers with the weekend campers at the club. Now it's bedtime.

The light of day

Who can remember the days when a roll of film came out the camera, only to reveal a few gems taken "last Christmas" - it was one of the joys and frustrations of the analogue days. Any how I downloaded some photos from one of my cameras and found some nice pictures from Chris Otto and Lola's visit last week and thought some should go up on the blog...

Lewis had promised to go sailing with Jake from the club a few weeks ago, and today was the day they had a chance. Also down was Ricky and Liz, Jake's parents who also have a Feva.

By the time the boys had got the spinnaker out I was with Ricky for a blast in their Feva.

I don't often get a chance to use my telephoto lens as I am normally in and out the water and can't just leave my camera on the shore. The wind was OK  but nothing too exciting.

So chances are we have another Feva to compete against now!

First and Last

A much anticipated moment occurred today, when Miranda came home from her swimming session to tell me that her wobbly tooth had fallen out. Looking much like a white rice krispy with one hollow end, here is parcel that she has taken to bed in the hope that the tooth fairy will pay her a visit.

Picture below was taken as I wrestled her under the duvet, and she showed me one of her new smiles...

Miranda Pendleton

Miranda wanted to go for a long bike ride this morning so we set off for a five miler in the forest. As we headed back home Lewis rang and said he was itching to leave for Calshot to go sailing, and when I told Miranda she said "Can we cycle down there Dad?"

So after a few moments of head scratching I agreed.

We cycled down - another 5 miles or so, and then had an afternoon of sailing.

As we set off to come home she was all for cycling home as well..... "Er, are you really sure Miranda?"

She was and we did!


Lewis riding this bike nearly six years ago

Where to watch the Olympic sailing from...

If you are one of the many visiting Weymouth for the Olympic Games Sailing, you'll be thinking where is the best place to watch from. You can watch on the big screens from the beach, you can pay good money to watch from the Nothe Park "stadium" or you can do as we (and a few other bright sparks) did and find your own viewpoint!!

Weymouth 2012

Taken on the waterfront at Weymouth after watching the 49ers, the 470s and the RS-Xs racing from Sandsfoot Castle. We had an excellent view of the inshore courses, and could even see the Fins right out to sea (but only just with binoculars.

Afterwards we walked along the Rodwell Trail down to Portland and mixed with some of the athletes as they came out of the compound. Everyone enjoyed themselves and it was a job staying awake by the end of the day!