Category: Family

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Running Backwards

Pic of the week 14/7/19

Yesterday afternoon, sat in the back garden whilst taking a rest from hall decorating (see below) I heard a deep, rumbling roar and looked up to see a Lancaster flying by. It flew round the back of the Tor before doing another circuit and then heading off to (presumably) Yeovilton Air Show. A magnificent sight.

Today I ran my 10K backwards. Not literally, of course, that would have been foolish, but in the reverse direction. On the whole, I ran it faster – was an interesting experiment that I must repeat some day.

Having decorated the upstairs hall & stairwell, my attention turned to the downstairs hall.  Still to be finished, but looks a whole lot better than before.

On Friday, Sophie, Becky and I went to see Scouting for Girls at Frome Cheese and Grain.

It was chuffing hot, but it was, not surprisingly, brilliant.

We ended up about three back from the front, a jumping, thumping, pumping set of their favourites. A great night.

And Sam applied for his Provisional Driving Licence – not long now …

 

 

 

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Stripping

Pic of the week 7/7/19

Its been a busy week – no sitting with my feet up in the first week of the hols!

Fed up with the “Steptoe-esque” state of the top landing, I took it upon myself to strip and paint the top landing, stairs and ceiling. The initial stripping wasn’t too bad, but its all the fiddly bits that frustrate. Anyway, at time of writing, I have now applied 3 coats and its beginning to look like the finished article – another couple of coats tomorrow and I could be done (to then begin the downstairs hall and landing. And then there’s the tilly room to be done …)

The weather has been good, plenty of sunshine and blue skies to enjoy when I have ventured outside in between my stripping. The garden is looking good, first sweet pea flowers just blooming, daisies look magnificent, lawn holding up. I do like the swishy swashy grasses in the front, they help to break up the sea of brick that is the extension. Some pics:

Sam decided to update his computer – which was a little fraught when it didn’t go quite as planned, and wouldn’t boot up. But calmly revisiting the situation the next day, and some good troubleshooting and fault diagnosis on Sam’s part had it all working as planned the next day.

On Thursday I caught up with Marck Radford in Shepton, and then Becky, Sophie and I went to the cinema to see “Yesterday”, which was a good film.

And then on Friday we all went to Cardiff for the day, an open day to see if Sam was/is interested in going to Uni. He was inspired by the Chemistry labs and he definitely wants to continue with Chemistry post sixth form, its just where and how. Will be looking into Chemistry degree apprenticeships this holiday.

And in amongst all this busy-ness I’ve still run, spun and swum. No wonder I’ve had to multi-task whilst having my evening snooze …

 

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Father’s Day

Pic(s) of the week 16/6/19

Father’s Day!

Up early and off for a run, to be met by the boy on my return. Later in the day, Sophie returned home from her first year at Reading University. Where has that time gone?!

Lot’s of presents from the pair of them – many food/snack related, but also a “Brexshite” mug from Sam and a book : “Zonal Marking” from Sophie.

Becky also gave me a card, writing in it:

“A fab Dad but hopeless at getting your son doing school work!!!

Whilst Sam had independently written in his card:

“Thank you for being a great Dad and helping me with school work”

I wonder who’s right?!

An an unrelated note, mention must be made of the dreadful weather that persists – the last two weeks have been little more than rain, wind and grey skies. Here’s hoping it changes in two weeks time …

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EPQ and tooth

Pic of the week 9/6/19

In some respects a rather unremarkable week, but not one without note.

On Tuesday I went to see Sam’s EPQ presentation. After quite a bit of badgering from us, he’s (almost) completed the project and it was good to see him so confident and comfortable in his school environment, discussing his findings with range of adults.

On Wednesday Becky went to see Sophie Ellis Bextor, and thoroughly enjoyed it, although since then she has been somewhat poorly with labyrinthitis. She has slept more than Rip van Winkle over the last few days, but made it into work today, so seems to be on the mend.

On Friday I went to dentist, having thought I had cracked my tooth a couple of weeks ago. Turns out it was a filling that had come out (of the back tooth, LHS, next to the “abscess tooth” that was removed last year.) She replaced the filling – hurt a bit at the time – but hopefully all good now.

Weather has been a bit rubbish – and doesn’t look like its going to get much better soon: quite wet. Lets just hope all the rain is falling now leaving uninterrupted sunshine from three weeks from now.

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Take That

Pic of the week 2/6/19

So half term draws to a close -it’s whipped by far too quickly, but with only four weeks until the golden prize of the summer holidays, the end of hols sting is easily absorbed.

On Tuesday, Becky & I went to see Take That at Ashton Gate and, not surprisingly, they were excellent. More of a “classic” concert than their more theatrical “shows”, but they belted out all the hits with passion and panache and I really enjoyed it. Rick (Astley) wasn’t bad either – “Never Going to Give You Up” be belted out by thirty thousand was a sound to behold, too.

On Friday I went for my annual* shearing – back and chest wax. The back is over in minutes whilst suffering, at worst, mild discomfort. The chest, however is a whole different ball game (and I ain’t even going to contemplate going there …) It was soooo painful – I did actually feel a little weak and nauseous walking home afterwards. But the pain ebbs and now I’m left with smooth skin and only a smattering of measle like red rashes!  *I think the answer may be to make it more regular than annual – it was the sheer forest of hair that needed removing that made it so painful; perhaps if I have it removed more regularly it’ll be less painful.

Running – yesterday I ran my 200th Km and, after today’s 10K, I’ve done 217 Km so far this year, not bad. And my running season is now upon me – with no football to referee on Sunday’s its a 10K each Sabbath, and with the summer hols a mere four weeks away, I should be pounding the streets with a regularity that’ll soon see the next 100K notched up.

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Polling Day

Pic of the week 26/5/19

It says something about the state of the nation when the Euro elections dominate the news, and make onto my pic of the week (although, in part, this because Sophie came home so she could take part in her first election.)

We won’t find out until later today/tomorrow morning what the result is, but it is looking likely that it will be cataclysmic for the Conservatives, and not good for Labour, either. Theresa May announced on Friday that she is standing down as PM.

Other news – half term began today, with typical caravan weather: a mix of grey skies with the odd the burst of sunshine, a stiff breeze and intermittent drizzle. A disappointing start after some nice weather of late, and not even enough rain to do the garden any good.

Anyway, good to have a week off – shall watch the final, final episode of Game of Thrones tonight, see Take That on Tuesday, hope to potter in the garden, snooze, exercise, read & listen to music (and watch plenty of Newsnight and listen to plenty of radio as the car crash that is British politics continues to unfold. When I first started watching Game of Thrones all those years ago I thought it was fantastic fantasy, now reality seems far more unbelievable and tragic than George R R Martin’s epic.)

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Easter hols

Pic of the week 14/9/19

And so the Easter hols roll on. The weather could be better, but it could be worse.

On the whole it has been dry and we’ve seen some sun, but sometimes, like today, it has been cold. Still, in weather forecaster parlance, there has been some usable weather that has seen me potter in the garden for a bit, sit in the garden for a bit, snooze in the garden a bit …

On Friday, Sam and I went for a walk along the Poldens, but this time we went West instead of East, parking at the YHA car park and then walking along the ridge to the windmill and back. A walk of about an hour or so, with some good views back across Street and to the Tor (above) or looking South across the levels.

On Thursday I tackled the hedge giving it a good trim and getting it back into shape.

It was all going so well until I cut through the cable of the strimmer. No drama, no disaster, no loud bang – it just stopped working. Am a bit annoyed with myself as I am normally quite H&S conscious. Not this time.

Anyway, 30 minutes of repairs later and I was back in action.

Becky & Sophie have been to Cornwall for the weekend for Auntie Avril’s 80th birthday – photo montage below. Looks cold & blowy, but the sea a perfect greeney blue, it would have been nice to see the sea.

Meanwhile, I’ve been busy refereeing this week – line on Monday (Floodlight U18 ), middles Thursday (Y&DL), Saturday (JPL U15) and Sunday (Bridgwater League) including a red on Thursday (dissent x 2) – my first non-school cherry.

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Doc Martens

Pic of the week 7/4/19

I love ’em.

On Thursday we went to Bath to buy my birthday D.M.s.

B, S & S all preferred the standard D.M. shoe, but I’ve had my heart set on a pair of loafers for some time.

I tried the shoe, liked them, but not as much as the loafer, so the only question was which colour, and yellow stitching or not.

I settled for black, with the traditional yellow D.M. stitching. It was the right choice, they are a  thing of beauty, I think they will come to define me.

I shall say it again, I love them.

(And, as a bonus pic, here is a picture of the lady I love who bought them for me.)

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50!

Pic of the week 31/3/19

Thursday was a big day, on Thursday I turned 50!

When one looks back, that’s a mighty long time, but I tend to look forward, not back …!

I was very lucky to receive lots of lovely gifts: A pair of DM shoes (still to be selected and bought), a coastering session with Sam, books, socks, chocolate, a print of “The Specials” (who we go and see in three weeks), a cool T shirt …

And a lovely surprise to find Sophie home from uni a day early.

I had great day.

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Half Term

Pic(s) of the week 17/2/19

Its half term – at last.

Its been a long six week stint since the Christmas holidays, always a difficult time of the school year, and a week longer this year than normal (although the corollary of that is that now I have nothing longer than five weeks in a row before a break.)

Sophie cam home from uni on Friday evening, lovely to see her again and have the whole family back under one roof for a week.

For some reason, only fathomable to 16 year old boys, Sam is going to have a boxing match v one of his pals in the Easter holidays. Not a good idea, but at least it is giving him some motivation to get a bit fitter. Yesterday he & I “sparred”  on the deck: he has bought some boxing gloves, I get to hold the pads we he then hits. Madness (& surprisingly hard work.)

The weather has definitely perked up, last Thursday & Friday were beautiful. Typically, its not been so good since half term began, but its dry, bright at times and still light at 5.30 which is remarkably uplifting.

I’m sure I’ll blink and it will be over, but right now its wonderful to think that the next week is mine!