Another notch on the belt

It's my Mum's Birthday, a significant one too! She told me that alike the thirty transition, she wasn't looking forward to this one. She added that once she thought about it, she realised how lucky she was to have such a lovely family. It's us of course who are the lucky ones to have had such a faithful, loyal and loving guide through life. This is one of those magic moments from my childhood that proves the camera never lies, we really had it all!

So Happy Birthday Mum, you're the best....

Souper Soup Maker

I discovered at 8.30 this morning that Miranda had yet another inset day. So we got stuck into some fun activities to make the most of things. To be fair I'd already done our 'Times Tables' before she even went to school, so that left me with an art lesson, followed by Daddy Soup Kitchen.

Mip turned out to be an epic peeler, chopper and slosher, and I have the photos to prove it. Eating the soup was even more fun that making it and Mip spent the afternoon playing Moshi Monsters inaudibly - one wonders what she's up to?

Standing Tall

I was looking at Greg this morning as we crossed in the bathroom, just a few inches shorter than me.

Not a new photo but a newly processed picture, as I am trying to tidy up my archive a bit, getting rid of lots of junk, asking myself whether it deserves to be seen or not.

Messing around in boats

Last one off the beach!

The Welsh Job

Tearing around the countryside on two wheels, leaving a trail of devastation... gold bars tipping off the rear into oblivion.

All she needs is a boat

...but she's happy enough skipping along the shore!

Waiting for the off

British boats, New Zealand Boats, Dutch Boats, Spanish Boats and more...

Nature Watch

I don't recall why her fingers were stained orange, but they were! Mucky Miranda and the dendochronology of the New Forest.

Boat Building

It's amazing what gets built in our street, this is just the latest project to emerge from the boat sheds known as Green Marine. It's Alex Thompson's IMOCA60 which will compete in next year's Vendee Globe... World Class!

Portsmouth Naval Base

Had a great day at the Naval Museum at Portsmouth to see in Greg's birthday. We revisited the Sailing Navy Gallery which we built as a work project about twenty years ago, and is still going strong. This one was taken in a newer section, which was all about radio signalling and morse code.

We visited loads of naval boats, and could easily have stayed longer, but we were out of time!

Bramble Bank Cricket

Miranda will probably best be able to tell you all about the LAT (Lowest Astrological Tide) but this is CSC staking our claim on the landmass otherwise known as Bramble Bank in the middle of the Solent yesterday! Greg was the first man to find solid ground underfoot although our daggerboard touched down slightly earlier...!

This was the scene of the cricket match which happens most years between the Island SC and Hamble SC, for about half an hour whilst the sandbank is exposed. We joined in the fun by sailing over as Calshot SC and were photographed by fellow sailor Paul Rapson.