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.

Birthday Boy

Had a great day out at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, having a look at  HMS Victory and the remains of HMS Mary Rose and all the associated collection of salvaged history.

Lots of other things to see including a Galipoli warship that was built in 7 weeks - exactly 100, years old and a fascinating reminder of changes in shipbuilding within the time.

There's a good write up of the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on the Guardian just a few days ago it turns out.

Topping Out Ceremony

Greg joins the legion of other teenagers in the morning, so here he is on a pedestal for the last time. Destined now to be grumpy, unhelpful and spending his mornings in bed, like the rest! Not....

This was taken near our campsite on hols and has the rosy glow of a relaxed time after too long on the beach.

Top Rider

This was taken at Porth Colmon on Llyn, we'd ridden for quite a while and lunch was beckoning. I had found a cafe at the top of the hill but didn't want to have lunch first, so the slightly jaded look is saying why are we looking at another beach Dad?

She soon got stuck in, looking for conch shells in particular, having spoken to one family who come here every summer and do likewise.

I am listening to Mayombé by Dennis Gonzalez, suits my mood perfectly. Think it has two of his progeny, Stefan and Aaron on this recording too plus Tim Green and Famoudou Don Moye.

Miranda's shirt reminds me of the lovely heather I have cycled through today in the Forest, it's beautiful at the moment...

Space Hopping

One of the lovely things about camping is the drop in friendships you inevitably make, and this year our trip to Bolmynydd was no exception. These are a few pictures grabbed at the end of a good run of fun between Miranda, Greg and Ava and Theo. They played bouncy Space Hoppers and Cricket and god knows what else whilst I was cooking dinner and doing chores most evenings. The family come from the Bath region and both parents are photographers, hopefully if Miranda keeps up her promise to write we'll meet again.

Snowdonia Mountain Range

Bolmynydd Camp Site

This was home for a few weeks during the Nationals and Worlds, a small campsite on the hill overlooking Abersoch. The view of the mountain range from the moorland just beside was pretty awesome, ranging from Nefyn and Yr Eifl on the LHS right the way down to Cadair Idris on the RHS. We could walk from here down to the beach at Llanbedrog, bucket and spade in hand.

The Pictures don't get much better than this

 All the above images were taken by the official photographer, and they really capture the beauty and drama of the racing. Outstanding and a great way to remember the event...

There's a write up on Yachts and Yachting Website too, with some photos too.

National Parade

At the opening of the Championship there was a parade through town of competitors from the 44 different countries represented in the World Championship.  Somewhere near thr front and Lewis' chums John and Simon from Australia who eventually came 6th in the World, and Argentina who came 2nd...