Category: Family

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Glastonbury Tor

Glastonbury Tor (722x717)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.

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Prom Queen!

Prom Queen (1024x1024)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.

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New shed

new shed 1 (1024x1024)The new shed arrived at about 2pm on Thursday 2nd June. Before the day was done it was built!

new shed 2 (1024x1024)new shednew shed 4 (1024x1024)

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Half term

summerhouse montage (722x720)Pick of the week 5/6/16

What a manly half term:

I built a new shed:

new shedI knocked down the summerhouse, fixed the car when it wouldn’t start, ran 6k twice, swam 2K twice, a mile once and totaled 288 lengths of the pool, chopped down the tops of two hefty trees in the hedge … and all of this in one week.

I’ve got 4 weeks back at school now, before the long eight week summer holiday – not sure how I’ll survive it, I’ll be a physical wreck come September!

The rain stayed away most of the time and sun shone on occasion, a great, fulfilling and productive week.

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He’s getting big!

Me and Sam (768x1024)Pic of the week 22/5/16

This pic was taken on Tuesday 17th May and shows Sam nearly as tall as me!

He’s getting big, … and strong.  I now have to use all my wiles and cunning to defeat him in a wrestling or pushing match, but defeat him I do!

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Birthday!

Me on my birthday (1024x1024)Pic of the week 3/4/16

Was my birthday on Monday – 47 years young! This is a pic of me opening my gifts.

Think I’m doing well for my years. I’m going to record my weight as 13st 2lb (compared to 15st 0 last year), swimming regularly: typically 1km at least 3 times a week, with (recently) the odd mile thrown in. Running still on hold due to the knee not quite fully heeling as I’d like. Hair is becoming increasingly “flecked with grey” and (much to Sam’s delight) now starting to noticeably recede at the front, but all told, I think I’m in pretty good nick (others will, I’m sure, disagree!)

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Bonjour!

French FlagOne of my goals, targets and aims was to swim the channel. Since writing those targets I’ve had some doubts as to how far I actually need to swim.  I surpassed the 960 lengths I originally calculated a week or so ago but I now don’t think it far enough.

Anyway, I am now claiming to have reached France, having swum 1064 lengths, which equates to 35.1 Km or 21.9 miles.  The official minimum swim distance is 21 miles, so I reckon I’ve done it.

Loving the swimming at the moment, typically swim 30 lengths in circa 23mins 30 ish secs.  It seems to ease my knee injury, I reckon I’ve swum more because I’ve run less, and our lack of plumbing over half term meant swimming every day which added to the distance.

Suppose I’d better turn round and swim back now! 5,000 lengths in the calendar year? Now that’s a (new) challenge.

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Mother’s Day

Becky Sophie and SamPick of the week 6/3/16

Mother’s day – my two children with their Mum.

(Looking a bit like a GAP advert against the sheer white of our new kitchen!)

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Relief!

Razor bladesDue to the extension build, we’ve had no plumbing for a week (well, limited plumbing: we’ve had a loo.) So I last shaved on Monday morning. Today is Saturday. I could bear it no longer.

The stubble was irritating, flecked with too much grey and made me look like a hobo. It had to go.

So today, after my morning swim and shower at Strode pool (I’ve rather enjoyed swimming at this time) I had a shave in the changing rooms. Bliss.

I’ve never had a beard or ‘tache in my life, and I now know that I shall never do so.