Party Animal

And so to bed

Popsie and Lettuce embrace just before I turn out the bedroom light. You never knows what you are going to find when you next meet her, sometimes a happy bunny, sometimes a damn grumpy one. Sometimes you will find her asleep wearing glasses, and tonight when I returned to take her to the loo at 10pm she had about a dozen hair clips and various pony tails installed...

Knits

When we were much younger my Mum used to make us chunky jumpers, they were not the most fashionable garments, it has to be said - so when she told me that she was knitting me a jumper for my birthday I started to have sleepless nights! Well, on the weekend at the gathering to party for Nich's birthday I was duly presented with the garment. Much fun was had at both mine and Betty's expense, but as you can see here at 10pm in the evening in the mirror at Pizza Express I was still wearing her blessed jumper!!!

It is in fact very warm and comfortable, and follows a traditional red indian pattern. And on a cold winter's day like today has been most appreciated. Not sure I'll be wearing it to the disco on the weekend, but that's another story. Do they still have discos...? They probably do in Carmarthen....

Grace Darling

Yesterday morning as I was setting off for London I could hear Lewis being unusually helpful with Miranda; not that he doesn't normally help her lots, but there was a degree of going way beyond the normal. She had drawn a picture and now he was helping her write some facts for school - it all looked very good but I wasn't paying too much attention in my efforts to get out the door. "What are you up to then guys...?" Turns out that Miranda has been studying Grace Darling in school who's bravery in rescuing stranded sailors from a sinking ship led to the establishment of the RNLI.... He has abundant talent, when it comes to subjects of interest!

Arriving home in the evening at about 8pm Lewis was sitting at the dinner table eating supper. He'd just got in from an all Hampshire rugby tournament in Fordingbridge. Tells me that he was not only captain, but that he was awarded "Man of the Tournament" trumping his man of the match from earlier in the week... Eyebrows raised, forehead furrowed... eckie thump!

Muddy Knees

Lewi had rugby after school tonight, it's a game he really enjoys playing despite my best efforts to persuade him it's organised thuggery! He had a rather rugged look, still wearing his kit with a thick layer of mud to keep him warm....

It didn't take him long to tell me that he was made Man of the Match, so he must be doing something to get noticed, which is more than I was ever able to achieve. Go for it Tiger...

T Reks

Never afraid to write things down, her spelling is often quite imaginative! And increasingly she's getting it right - this morning she had "thought" ticked off on her list, but we'll see if it's still there at the end of the week.

We've been walking at Studland today, nice and sunny with a few bursts of hailstones to remind us it's still winter. Fantastic views from the top of Ballard Down all the way down to Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight, across Poole harbour and back towards Swanage and Peverill Point. We didn't see any dinosaurs, but we did have some nice chips in Swanage at the end of the day...

For Lewis and Greg, and Miranda too...

Deep sea diver

Processed this one whilst sitting by the fire this evening, although the picture was taken about six weeks ago. Seems a nice candid moment too good to waste when I have nothing else to say...

Just been reading about the great continental migration routes for various animals that we humans have exploited and threatened for ages. Pause for thought.

Lewis working on a piece for his Geography teacher about the Cumbrian floods of a year or two ago. He was able to weave in his fascination with Lifeboats with yet another piece of school work once again! As ever a half finished scratch built model on the table next to him, pots of glue and paint, bits of string all vying for his attention...

They have been over to the Museum in Winchester today as it's Half Term. It's been nice and warm compared to the last week, but nothing tropical!

Lewis and Greg have been doing band practice all week, starting to sound quite musical together. Mipp volunteered to go and get her recorder to join in tonight, but I thought it a bridge too far. We sat and listened to them both for ten minutes and then I took her upstairs to bed!

Fixer upper

Being half term the floors are covered with piles of Lego and drawing equipment, dolls clothing and cushions. Although they have all enjoyed playing with these things, Miranda is probably more of a natural at entertaining herself with things like Lego.

On the weekend I found her playing with the large wooden camper van and truck that lives in her bedroom. She was nursing the truck along with its three wheels, so I suggested that she could have asked me or Lewis to try and mend it. "Oh could you Dad, Yes please!"

So we fixed it and she was quite simply delighted,and then found me something else to fix as well....

When Miranda and I were out on our bikes today we passed a woman walking her dog, a very well clipped Highland Terrier. Some time later at the marina Miranda was playing some game or other, involving running around with a stick and waving it in the air.  The dog had been sitting obediently with it's owner on a bench, but unexpextedly he launched into the air and bounded towards Mipp.

She was mortified... and standing about 25 feet from where I was sitting.

The dog owner sensing Mipp was not happy, ran over to intervene although there was no danger of her being mauled. Licked to death maybe, but Miranda could not see the humour in the situation. I found it particularly amusing to watch the indignation on the dog's face, having been excluded from Miranda's game! Topical this, because Miranda has been complaining about being excluded herself in the school playground....

All I can remember about this picture is the little characters on her dress were gingerbread men...

Upside down

Possibly the finest bike ride in the forest in the last twelve months, there was a nice covering of snow and ice, the sun was warm and no wind again. Managed about 45 beautiful miles, although I was feeling a bit frost bitten by the time I got back. Quite a lot of animals and birds getting busy out there...

This afternoon Mipp and I went down to the Marina, she played happily with me for ages before we visited the park on the way back.

Follow me!

Rather impressionistic image as she tows him back into the stable to take his saddle off and clean his hooves. Domino can sometimes be a really lazy slowcoach, but last few times I've taken him out he has skipped along, with Miranda giving him the occasional prompt. I was struggling to get my phone started quickly and thought I'd missed the moment, but fortunately I it reminds me nicely of the experience.

Take note

On the one hand we have to deal with Gregory having 'forgotten' that he had a new piece of music to learn from almost a week ago, on the other hand he has sat with it very diligently over the last twenty four hours and can play the Tracy Beaker Theme tune quite beautifully just in time for his next lesson tomorrow.

I recorded him and might get around to posting a piece on the blog later in the week for all you groupies.

Lewis came home from Sea Scouts to tell us that it's snowing. I wonder if we wake to find it's white outdoors...

Points means prizes

This morning at breakfast Gregory was able to show me his certificate he got for representing the school at the TAG rugby competition in Gang Warily last week, but also his Head Teachers Award for excellent school work...!

And he's managed to get a Gold certificate for his Guitar playing, so all in all he's earned his place opn the blog tonight.

Miranda not to be outdone announced she is now practising the recorder in the mornings, and she's doing after Gregory has done his guitar. You have to admire her jockeying when there's a few gongs being considered.

Giddy Up!

Now here is an almost perfect match. I'm not sure who is the most stubborn, but Domino would certainly give Miranda a run for her money. Both likeable rogues to be with on a good day, not ideal company when they are moody...

My plan was to get a photo of them both on Shore Road, but juicy grass and looking at the camera doesn't come easy to Dom. He's supposed to be on a diet!

Miranda by contrast is beaming, so I guess that's all we need to say.

Today we've all been for a nice walk through the salt lagoons from the Chequers in Lymington down to Keyhaven and back. They were teeming with bird life; lots of Eider, Widgeon, Shovelor, Scaup, Pochard, Merganser, Heron, Egret, Shelduck, Coot etc

When the going gets tough...

Almost certainly colder than last weekend, but fortunately without the cruel wind, today was a cracking day to be out in the forest. I'm suffering a bit of a cold so took the precaution of a head scarf, which I'm sure was the right thing to do! By about 10AM the sun was starting to take the frost off the heather, but the frozen ground and surface water stayed all day. With no real wind the sound of the forest was spectacular, birds singing and the ponies reduced to eating gorse.

This afternoon I took Miranda out with Domino for a walk, which she enjoyed very much, a photo I'm sure will follow...

What's your story...

Laying on the settee in front of the fire, I thought I'd try to find an image on my phone that maybe I'd missed - and I found this one! Somehow on the given day a different image jumped out and this is one of many that would pass into a folder probably never to be seen again. Back in the day when film was expensive we used to treasure every frame, and it was rare that a decent image did not get printed up

Maybe they're sunbathing?

I can only guess that this is Miranda and Mummy, waving madly as an aeroplane passes over the house?

Have been sat in front of a roaring fire all night, enjoying a few CD's and reading a book as it's been quite parky here today. Will have to venture outdoors tomorrow as the wood pile in the garage has run dry...