Saturday, March 30, 2013

Friday, March 29, 2013

National Trust, Cliveden

A day Egg Hunting at Cliveden with Lisa and Mike, and their kids Beth, Holly, Lilley, Morgan and Anna.

Weather was cold, I forgot my coat, but the sun shone and good times were had by all.  Maybe apart from Alfie who's coming down with a cold and spent most of the day on my shoulders moaning that his welly boots were slipping off!

I even managed to catch Essie shouting 'wakey wakey' in the car, something Alfie had taught her in Gib when waking up Ammie and also used just this morning by him on Essie herself!

Thursday, March 28, 2013

So, I'm Making Some Changes

With our departure to NZ becoming ever closer I have decided to start making some of the changes to my life now that I want in place when we're out there.

These include being self sufficient and living as healthy as we can do.  And so when the sugar ran out yesterday (and I mean ALL of it) I decided to stop taking sugar with my tea.  Now I'm a man who takes 6 sugars with a drink at the services (there's no way a teaspoon of sugar in those sachets which thats truly boils my piss but thats another post!) so I wasn't expecting it to be easy but 24 hours later I'm converted.  It's a small step, but bigger ones are coming!

Also today, I collected Alfie's new bike!  Our friend Steve (THANKS STEVE!!) built it recently and offered it to us and Larry collected it from him for me at the Volksworld show on the weekend (THANKS LARRY!!).  Cannot wait to see Alfie on it.... that's if he can get on it!

Today was day at home with Essie day so here's a photo of her too!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

What's Left Wednesday

Friends will most likely know our veg gets delivered from Abel & Cole each Thursday (I sing their praises all the time), and with Tash being paid weekly it means we deal with food on a weekly basis too.

If things have gone to plan we're usually getting a bit light for grub come Wednesday, and it tends to be a day to use leftovers or the few bits of veg that might still be kicking around in the fridge - hence 'what's left Wednesday'.

Today a couple of courgettes, a punnet of cherry tomatoes, two onions and three small potatoes became roasted Moroccan veg on a bed of couscous.  A meal my loving wife said was one of the tastiest things I've ever cooked her!

New Zealand Update

Thoughts are really starting to move towards emigrating now - largely because we've worked out we'll have nothing to hold us in the UK after September, and so disappearing to NZ is a realistic possibility at any convenient point from them.  Olive will be with us, Tash will be on maternity leave, RRG13 will have taken place .... so thats 2013 done for us in the UK.  Plus if we can move in September we'll get two Summers on the bounce, and that has huge appeal especially when there is still snow on the ground outside.

And then Tash found this place yesterday.  The equivalent of about £175k.  I'd be there tomorrow if I could!!





Sunday, March 24, 2013

"Lets Go Fishing" We Said ...

But then, at the start of Spring, it blew a gale, temps plummeted, and it snowed.

So we (me, Tash, Alfie, Esme, Bill, Linz, Mum & Ray) spent the midday at Tropical Wings and then Bill and I the evening fabricating engine mounts to get the K Series in his midget.

The wood burner we made and fitted in his workshop was an absolute godsend!!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Rum!

Its coming to the end of March yet this weekend we have freezing temps forecast and the chance of snow!

So that fishing trip me and Bill were planning then, not looking too hot right now.

Thankfully Abel and Cole brought me a spiced treat today so there might be a cheer to our weekend after all.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Take Out Tuesday

Esme and I often seem to 'eat dirty' on Tuesday, and yesterday we visited the chippy local to Tashas work.  We dropped her off after a midwife appointment, and after doing 10 minutes work she came and joined us!

Twas very nice too, I can see why they win awards!

Monday, March 18, 2013

The Fat (?) Controller

A massive victory at home against QPR leaves Villa with 8 games to go and now 3 points outside the relegation zone.  Maybe there's a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.  I've been convinced we needed Southampton to get dragged into it but they've had some food results recently.  Sunderland are in freefall, now just a point ahead of us and they have a horrible run in.  Paddy Power still gave me 4/1 for them to go down though!

Alfie had great fun with his trains yesterday,  and after playing on his own for an age we both offered to play with him whilst Esme slept.  He was overjoyed, even if he was adamant "all my trains, you do trees"!

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Cheltenham 2013

Last year was the first time I properly watched Cheltenham, this year I was all over it!  Thankfully the idea of watching horses racing seems to appeal to the kids too.

Its such a fabulous celebration of the sport, and to hear the roar as Sprinter Sacre flew towards the finish was pretty magical.  And I beat the bookies too, hardly anything to write home about but as long as you're winning right?

I'm busy making plans so we're in a position to disappear to NZ anytime after Tash gives birth but if we happen to still be in the UK next March I shall be making sure tickets to Cheltenham get bought!

Thursday, March 14, 2013

I Like Big Knobs

New door knobs for the fridge and freezer.  After a bit of juggling it now means we have a full set on the cupboards again too!

Monday, March 11, 2013

Mothers Day Then Monarch Day

Yesterday was Mothers Day and we had a big mums day meal with no less than FOUR MUMS -Tashas Grandma, Tashas Mum, Tash and Auntie's Mum -  to celebrate!

Afterwards we took a meander homewards with a stop off at the Alameda.  I have decided I must build an adult friendly adventure playground when we move to NZ, they are just SO much fun!

And then today we boarded our Monarch flight home. Yet another downpour arriving as we looked out over the airfield.  We have may have come back to temperatures of -2 but its definitely nice to be home.  And Harry and Esme were overjoyed to see each other again!

It does remind me why I need to emigrate though!

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Quick catchup ...

Thursday - rained, tried to dodge the rain, Alfie watched some tv with his Auntie Michi.

Friday - Tash arrived. Sun came out in celebration.  Wandered round Main St.

Today - Morning was wet, arvo was dry. Showed Aldie the market in the am, then a big lunch with everyone together, and chilled at Uncle's afterwards.

In other news Esme seems to like shouting 'Garry' at passing motorcyclists.  We are yet to work out exactly what she means or who it is really aimed at ... but it is so funny!

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

Bubbles and Buckets

This morning Essie and I took a look walk down Main Street to grab some groceries whilst Alfie was taken down to the lighthouse to see the big waves.  Which by all accounts turned out to be a long trip to an indoor play centre where Alfie went wild.  The big winds down at Europa were a bit too much for my delicate little growing boy!

In the afternoon we popped over to see Uncle and Auntie.  Any fears I may have had about two tearaways in a small apartment were quickly thrown out when bubbles appeared, and then to top it off they found water vessels on the balcony.  The driest afternoon we've had, and they get the wettest they've been all week!