Category: Pic of the week

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Early November

Pics of the week 6/11/16

Last week the clocks went back and the second half of term began, always a significant milepost in any year, marking the shift into the dark, dreary days of late autumn and winter.

But its been a busy week, hence a gallery of the week rather than just one pic. Sophie’s 17th birthday, so the L Plates are out and she’s learning to drive.

My refereeing certificate and badge from the FA arrived through the post, confirming my appointment as a fully qualified level 7 ref. I am rather proud of this achievement. (Ref-ed today: Somerton Utd U13s v Stoke Wolves.  The wolves ran out as 5-2 victors)

The tree in the back garden has turned the most vibrant shade of flame red – really rather striking. To be fair, the weather has been pretty good (read: dry) although in the last few days it has turned cold – and not just a little chilly, proper, sub 10 degrees, with wind to go with it, cold.

And so as the weather turns and the nights lengthen, it’ll mean more time spent indoors, so its a good job the sitting room is finished, to await the arrival of the sofas on Friday.

And it was this week last year that it all began – the builders arrived and knocked the garage down. It was exciting, and I’m pleased we did it, but I’m glad its finished!

 

 

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Fireplace before and after

Fireplace before and afterPic of the week 30/10/16

So the sitting room is finished – floor laid & painted, fireplace hearth tiled & grouted (by me!). Have to say it looks good, I’m proud of what we have achieved. (Sophie helped out by sewing the curtains – Sam contributed by keeping out of the way(!)). Couple of weeks to wait until the sofas arrive, but the before and above photo of the fireplace tells a story of a thousand words (many of them expletives when things didn’t go quite according to plan.)

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Floor Part II

floor paintingPic of the week 23/10/16

So half term has arrived and I spent the first couple of days finishing laying the floor in the sitting room – more pics in the gallery below – and now Becky has started painting it.

Am pleased with my handy work, it went down well, no real hints or tips to mention, just measure, cut, lay, measure, cut, lay, measure, cut, lay … you get the idea, until the whole floor space was filled.

Looked good as “bare” wood, but looks even better now its painted white – the room looks fab, and that’s without any furniture added.

I think I will enjoy sitting in it, with one eye on the TV, but one eye glancing down at the floor (and fireplace) and thinking “I made that”.

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Sophie at IKEA

SophiePic 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.

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Floor

Floor (1024x1024)Pic of the week 9/10/16

Have been laying a new floor in the sitting room. Ordered the wood from eBay which arrived on the INSET friday before I started back at school. Last week I cut and laid the first few planks, this weekend I did the fiddly bits either side of the fireplace.

Now it all needs to come up and be glued along the tongue  (the floor itself will be free- floating) and then I’ll do all the rest, gluing as I go. Aim is to get it finished in the first few days of half term so it can then be painted.

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Legends League

Vets leaguePic of the week 25/9/16

So today our entry in the Somerset FA Legends League kicked off. Its been some time since I played a “proper” game of 11 -a-side football and when I started receiving tweets in the summer promoting veterans football in Somerset I decided to set up a team, based on Millfield, although open to the wider school community and I’m pleased to note that we kicked off with three husbands/partners, and a groundsman, so not just teaching staff.

On a warm September day we traveled to Yeovil to play Pen Mill Veterans (by a quirk of fate, I refereed their U16s the week before, v Somerton), most of us having not played for some time and position selection was based largely on stereotypical physical traits. Originally due to play right back, I shuffled across to fill a hole as a centre back couldn’t get child-care (true veterans football.)

A good game, we found ourselves 1-0 down after about 15 mins, the opposition were probably a little better than us, certainly more organised and tactically astute.  The 2nd half saw me move in a defence midfield role and I enjoyed the opportunity to break forward.

From a goal kick (Stu Whittle in goals), Adi Whatling won the aerial battle just inside the opposition half and the ball squirted across to me. Adi made a good run down the left channel and was calling for the ball. However, I had spotted another opportunity: bringing the ball under control, I pinged a 30 yard pass, just clearing the last defender, landing at the feet of the charging Ben McEwan inside the box – he had little more to do than control the ball and slot it past the keeper, which he did. One all.

But almost from the restart, the opposition regained the lead, and had a 10 minute purple patch during which time they extended their lead to 4-1.

Nonetheless, great fun, a great game, bring on Castle Cary Veterans next week!

The legends that were (re)born that day:

vets team sheet

 

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Yellow Card!

Conduct reportPic of the week 18/9/16

Issued my first “report-able” yellow card today. Stone wall yellow, with approx 10 mins to go, stripes throw in near stripes goal. Not contentious, no one disagrees.  Ball on the deck – stationary – waiting for stripes to come over and take the throw. Red kicks the ball away, beyond the goal line. Silly & unnecessary, call the lad over, ask him what he thinks is going to happen next – says he’s not sure, tell him he’s going to get a yellow, which I then administer.  No big drama – a good one to break my duck. No need to ponder it.  Think he might have been a little surprised, probably never happened to him before; hope he’s learned his lesson and doesn’t do it again.

On the whole, was not a bad match to ref.  Standard of football was quite poor – both sides had yet to register a point, but seemed to be more about 22 lads enjoying a game on a Sunday afternoon, and you can’t fault that.

Fell my ref-ing continues to improve with experience, feel I had a good game today (definitely my refereeing was better than the football being played) and I’m really starting to enjoy it. Still much to learn, but all good. (Except haven’t been paid – yet – for this game. Home team coach was surprised when I asked for match fee.  Says it gets paid by club (Somerton FC) he will investigate for me (and I shan’t let i lie either!)

Match Stats

Somerton U16 0 Pen Mill U16 1

Under 16, Yeovil & District League Youth League, U16

1 Yellows (C4) 0 Reds

Match fee: tbc

 

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Back To School

Back to school (1024x1024)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!

back to school 2 (722x721)

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Sophie’s exam results

Sophie exam results (1024x1024)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!

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Paint-balling

Sam and Oli paintballingPic 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.