Red Foxy

Popsie often does me some writing in the morning whilst I get her breakfast ready. This morning I could see she was switching to drawing from writing so I wandered over to check up on her efforts.

I started to read the words out load, and she corrected me... "No let me read it Daddy.."

And in a gentle voice she read this beautiful poem...so I think you should read it too; ....slowly, ....... carefully and with expression.

I just love the "... I only got a small glance and gone. Oh the brownish reddy fox all gone, but still in my heart"

Lazy Sunday Afternoon - blog post by Miranda

Today Dad, Lewis and me (Miranda) went to the beach (Calshot). I slipped down the white wall and nearly fell in the HUGE puddle next to the it. Dad +Lewis looked at the catermarans, it's a type of boat. Next we tootled to the castle, it's moat not that deep, a few inches deep that's all...

The wind was blowing rather briskly as we trudged on, our heads down.

Eventually we reached the  activities centre.

Finally we sat down exhausted from the walk , we watched the cycling men listening to the instructions .

After we played falling planks where you push someone off the obstacle.  We walked back to the car (yipeeee)??????. 

The trail ahead...

I must post more photos of my bike out on the trail, they make me smile... lets hope it's sunny in the morning I could do with a good ride! Below is a slightly rendered impression of my final blast down Hart Hill before I am back home, what a powerful image this is for me!!

Teddy and Topsy

Last night I had an email from Gran and Grandan, and it came as quite a surprise. We have been trying to encourage them to join the silver surfers, but it has not been the easiest of transformations. Indeed the main reason I started blogging back in 2005 was so that my Mum could be spared the tedium of trying to open photos of the kids via email.

It seemed logical to me that a page with a few words, and a choice picture would give her/them a daily insight into our lives; and indeed they do look at the blog from time to time.

Little did I realise that it would have many other uses, one being a personal reminder of what's important to me... like the one above.

Interesting website of the day - look at a photobook online

Maps make the prospect of travel exciting...

Talking with Popsie this morming about sailing in the Caribbean was fun. She loves getting lost on voyages of discovery and has loads of enthusiasm.

Toon Time

Gregory doing his morning guitar practice which at the moment is a mixture of slurs, 12 bar blues and also an improvised version of Rihanna and Eminem's Monster, which he plays for Miranda and my benefit.  I am working on getting him playing at the same time as her singing it; but hey there's always tomorrow to fill.

Nice sunshine in the Forest today, clear blue skies all round. At least there was until we were about 5 miles out, then the heavens opened for one final (surely it must be) deluge.

We hid under an old oak tree and dodged the worst of it, but the ground is so wet and saturated that any rain seems to leave the land 'orribly waterlogged.

Naked ambition

It's nearly the weekend we need to do some sailing. You can't beat the adrenaline rush of a blast down the Solent with salt air and sunshine. Bike riding it has to be said is much simpler to achieve, and is enormously satisfying, but it's different experience. Bring it/them on!

For England

Topsy (or Chopsy more like) doing what she does best - talking for her home country. We were on the beach at Pwllheli when the phone rang, it was our neighbour Audrey, in need of a little of Miranda's infectious company.

Monday Night

Then it must be time for a lark in the park after dark...

The call of the Sea

Lewi on the beach at Porthdinllaen, it was a fairly cold and drab day and I like the street tuff vibe in this picture. Must go back here it was lovely and quiet, with great light over the sea all around. Weather still very blustery down here, still having big downpours on a two or three times a day basis. Black clouds one minute, blue skies the next.

Bike ridin tomorrow, hey it's the weekend!

"Hey Dad can we make a start on the restoration of the boat ...." " Errrr...."

Just fer kicks

I have a camera on my iPhone that is great fun to play with - called 'Disposable'

You choose 12, 24 or 36 frames and then have to shoot all the frames before you can see your results processed, just like the olden days. It's a load of good fun, and even has an old 'battery operated' flash that makes the wind up noise. The pictures arrive complete with light flares and other crap

and like Greg, you can't help but love it/him/them

I am listening to Isfahan by Craig YaremkoTrio with Matt King and Jonathan Perez

Pusscat looks happy Mipp!

Not one to argue with being cuddled Marco has the practiced look of appearing ungrateful, whilst enjoying every minute.

Miranda's face on the contrary tells a different story!

Not a moment to waste

It's great to record these little moments when Miranda gets busy writing something that's captured her imagination.

I can't quite read the words but it's something about birds, and no doubt as soon as I show her this she will tell me the full story...

Link here for Lewis. I just pressed a button my mistake and it threw up a fascinating website. (It was the "Next Blog" button on the top of the page which randomly selects another Blogspot blog.

Lewis and Greg will find it very interesting, others may do too

Skinboat Journal

The Boat Restorer

We have had pretty heavy rain since getting back from our travels and we needed to check on how water tight the cover on the boat was. So today we have been examining the boat to start getting a list of jobs together for Lewis' project. His new (old) boat is going to need some love and carefully handywork but seems like a good investment.

We have been lucky enough to convince a neighbour to let Lewis work on the boat in their garage too, in exchange for some favours..., so things are starting to happen.

Kyre and New Year

A fairly rare picture of us all together as we departed for home after a few days with Joanna and Tony in Kyre. Memorable highlight of the stay was the walk around Kyre Pools which we had last done before either of us had had kids, muddy is something of an understatement, and Father Brown would have credited us with 3plus moral fibre stamps...