Mourning Mikey

The last several visits to Barry's have involved us peering into the black hole that is the Pigs Ark, and enquiring if Mikey was coming out to play. We thought nothing sinister of it, maybe that he was a little off colour. I took this photo of the hens and roosters, but it now seems a little prescient, as poor Mikey is no more.

So Popsie was very upset this evening to hear the news, she rather loved those two piggies. My concern had always been they may depart by other foul means, but today a different outcome...

Follow the link for an older photo 

Mudeford weekend windown

Lewis did his first Duke of Edinburgh expedition this weekend, and according to the weather here it may seem to believe the weather was pretty foul for them. So he came back from wet and windy weather and heavy rucksacks full of wet tents ready to have a lie down. But we had other ideas, namely a blow on the beach and maybe chips?

Well I bet you can't remember the last time I took a photo of them all on the beach throwing stones, must have been a few years ago.

The chips never transpired but we did go to a great Thai restaurant in Highcliffe called Sumilan for supper. Fresh, strongly aromatic and humdingly spicy in places we enjoyed it a lot right down to the last banana fritter.

Tour de Greg

Parousia

Lewis applying some elbow work to his boat, when will it ever be finished - soon, let's hope.

#happiness

One of those pictures that didn't make it to the blog because it was too similar to the one I chose, but in truth it's a keeper not a HDFer

Smile

The kid with a camera always ready to snap, now looks even more the part...

Bird's Eye View

Below is a bird's Eye View of the dinghy racing action at LTSC

LTSC Winter Dinghy Series 2014 from LPB Aerial Imagery on Vimeo.

One L of a Driver

They always refer to boys and their toys, but it seems that the girls are just as interested in playing tractors. First of all it was Barry's granddaughter and then of course Popsie wanted her turn.

Out of time we turned to leave and Greg asked me sheepishly if I thought Barry had forgotten about him...!

Early Bird

One of the joys of an early start is when you catch the sun rising on your journey.

A few weeks ago as we headed off to Emsworth we were greeted by this sight as we left home.

Emsworth Sailing Club making the headlines today for slightly different reasons....

milk Shake

Q - How do you teach a lamb to run a Marathon?

A - Ask Miranda

Roydon Woods

We had a sunny romp in the woods around Roydon Manor today, peaceful with only the sound of birds for company. Well we did have Greg and Miranda making a bit of a racket, but I am almost deaf to that particular range of frequencies by now.

Lewis has been sailing with the Royal Lymington SC tonight in a Wayfarer with Mike Kinna, they finished fourth in the Medium fleet, whilst I took some photos on the beach at Barton on Sea.

Back to normal tomorrow, as it's a school day... Yipee!

Shepherd and flock

 

I quite liked this photo of Popsie with Dotty and Rose, which suggests that the lamb is watching the sheepdog. When you see all three of them running around together you do wonder who is in charge...?

Popsie and Dotty

Miranda is conducting a survey of the two latest additions at Barry and Janis' animal sanctuary. She has this idea that she,s measuring them although I have never seen a tape measure being used. We have to go down two or three times a day, and I don,t mind when it involves seeing her run around like a loony as she leads them a dance...

first cuckoo ofthe year

checking back through recent years its much the same as usual. Thats good to lnow!

Boat Park

Lewis has begun the varnishing of his Scorpion, and he's very excited about the progress so far. We have had a few problems and challenges to resolve along the way, including having to strip back a joint earlier in the day to re-glue it. We managed to get one coat on yesterday and another today, as the sunshine made conditions near perfect. Good breeze and warm sun, although lots of pollen floating through the air, hopefully we can get a few more coats on by the end of the Easter hols.

Emsworth Open Meeting

Miranda's bleating again....

The kids were supposed to be putting the animals to bed, but all was quiet and no sign of activuty as I approached. This is what I found as I turned the corner to the stable... Greg cuddling Dottie!

Early start tomorrow, we are racing at Emsworth in the RS Feva Open event. Four races back to back, should be fun...

Breakfast with Gregory

Glowing

Postcard home from school...

Brownie points for Browny

Mad dogs

I was going to replace the earlier version with this one, now that I have downloaded and edited a few pictures. However I like both versions; this one is better, but the earlier photo dripping atmosphere (for me anyhow)

And below is the course, 2hrs 30mins persuit in 20-35 knots!

Crow Talk

We are reading one of Dylan's old books about a crow called Scum and a blue budgerigar... Miranda is enjoying it and I am doing a double exposure....!

The boys getting the boat ready on the weekend, Lewis has the course marks on his whiteboard ready to strap on the boom. Below is our boat next to another Scorpion, which is the boat we are currently rebuilding; almost exactly the same age but slightly nervous about hoping to get it in this sort of condition - what do you think Lew!

Starcross Steamer

Lewi and Greg raced at the Starcross Steamer on the Exe estuary today in very exciting conditions. Two and a half hours racing, five hours driving and a few more getting ready , but you should have seen those faces... I am posting these grab shots off the preview screen on the back of my camera, I may post the real shot later!

Good Egg

Miranda came back from visiting the lambs today with an Egg that she has decorated for Easter... Happy Easter!±

Welsh Lamb

One of Barry's helpers is studying agriculture at Sparsholt College and she's been getting lambing experience on a Welsh farm. Look what she brought back with her, two orphans that are proving very popular! Popsie has been bottle feeding them (and cuddling them)

The Lego Kid

Lego Moshi Monsters I believe, and this evening it was making a pushchair for Dollu from Lego that came between me and the bedtime story.

We read the last chapter of our book, and another day gone!

Lighter and longer

Now the clocks have gone forward the kids have started playing in the garden at teatime in barefeet..!

8 is a magic number

 Interesting to discover earlier in the day that vegetables are good for you... been banging that drum for almost thirty years now. Dinner tonight was rather tasty, and I figure we may have taken our eight in one sitting.