Pic of the week 16/10/16
Becky & Sophie went to IKEA yesterday. Alas, I was working so could not go. Sam chose to stay home alone.
Nice picture of Sophie sat waiting for her IKEA lunch.
Back To School
Pic of the week 11/9/16
So (sadly!) this week we all returned to school – Sophie to start in the Sixth Form(!) and Sam into Y10, both at The Blue School (and me back to Millfield) – and time for the obligatory start of the year pic.
Sam has become a giant, towering over his big sister, must to his delight, and her chagrin. (He still hasn’t quite reached my height yet, much to my delight, and his chagrin.)
The pic below shows the transformation over the last four years. Frightening!
Summer Hols July & Aug 16
So, sadly, the summer hols draw to a close. Its been a great summer holiday, I’ve really enjoyed it despite not going away.
Some of my highlights, in roughly chronological order:
- Did my referees course, and ref’ed 4 games
- Saw Take That in Hyde Park with Becky
- Sam & I survived a week at home alone as Becky & Sophie traveled to Sorento.
- Fixed the boiler (dodgy microswitch not “making”. A simple cardboard insert between striker & switch fixed the problem)
- Watched “Game of Thrones” Season Six
- Swam 1480 lengths – 49.33 km – including one 3Km swim
- Graveled the back garden and side return
- Took out stone fireplace and re-clad with tongue & groove (ready for painting)
- Read 5 good books
- Swam in the sea (disappointingly cold, making it a very brief dip), swam in the Penzance Lido – a bit warmer and a lot more fun.
- Sophie got her GCSE results: 2 A*, 4 As & 4 Bs,
- Ran 150 Km, including to runs to and up the Tor (only ran, off and on, about a third of the way up the Tor)
- Re-watched Breaking Bad in its entirety
- Started attending Spinning Classes
- Lots of great family time
- The weather – whilst not often super sunny, was pretty dry for most of the time.
- End of hols weight circa 12 stone 12
Alas, tomorrow its back to school. ‘Til next year …
Sophie’s exam results
Pic of the week 28/8/16
So, after what seemed liked a long wait since June, Thursday morning arrived, along with Sophie’s GCSE results.
I never doubted her, and she got 2 x A*, 4 x A and 4 x B’s – an excellent and well deserved haul.
A*s in maths & textiles, A’s in Science, Add Science, Geography and IT (BTEC distinction), Bs in Eng Lit, Eng Lang, Drama & German.
Very proud of her!
Paint-balling
Pic of the week 21/8/16
Yesterday Sam & I joined Rog, Joe, Ned & Oli for a day’s paintballing for Joe & Ned’s birthday.
Sam & I set off at 8.30am to collect Oli before heading to Delta Paintballing, right by Bristol Airport where we met Rog & co. and a few of their friends. We got kitted up and headed into the wood to do battle for the first of six game scenarios (or “maps” as today’s youth, brought up on a diet of CoD, would say.)
Was good fun but physically quite demanding. Day was dry for the most part, but we had a heavy shower around lunchtime which led to one’s googles fogging up in the later games. This, perhaps, explains the “patricide” incident: in the Zombie Apocalypse game had gotten myself into a good position, sheltered by an Iso container, just shy of the enemy forces in front of me. I was taking stock of my position, pondering my next move when I was raked by fire from above and behind!! Hit several times, there was nothing left for me but to accept my demise, hold my hand up and troop back to the deadzone to re-spawn. As I did, I called up to the tower to my rear to see if the blues had taken it, or if it was still in red hands. It was the latter, I was the victim of friendly fire – at the hands of my son!
Ah, the fog of war.
Birthday Boy!
Pic of the week 7/8/16
Sam’s 14th Birthday and my how he has grown. The pic on the right shows him today, towering over his mother, the pic on left was from last summer. This year he has grown from boy to man. (Still not quite my height – but only a couple of cms shorter than me.)
For his birthday he was more than happy with a clutch of X-Box games and a wad of hard cash!
July ’16 in Pics
In the Hub, St Ives
Glastonbury Tor
Pic of the week 24/7/16
On Friday evening (22 July) at circa 7pm, Sam, Becky & I went up Glastonbury Tor. (Sophie didn’t come: wasn’t feeling too well/exercise/dogs – select excuse as you see fit!)
After a lovely sunny rain, their was the odd spit of rain as we set off but, following my leadership (insistence!) we persevered, albeit Becky with umbrella as we approached the foot of the Tor.
But the rain stopped as we began our ascent and we were rewarded with far reaching views, across as far as to Bridgwater Bay – I was surprised to be able to make out the two square blocks of Hinkley Point power station.
A pleasant way to spend an hour of a summer’s evening, to be reminded of what a beautiful part of the world we live. Couldn’t pick out our house, though, from the top of the Tor.
Prom Queen!
Pic of the week 3/7/16
Hard to believe it, but Sophie has finished Year 11 and Thursday was her leavers’ assembly and then Prom Night in the evening.
Where have all the years gone? I still remember my little girl toddling around Crewkerne, and here she is now all (nearly) grown up having finished her GCSEs.
One very proud Dad.
Father’s Day
Pick of the week 19/6/16
Father’s Day 2016 – a lovely pic of me with my two.
A great day.