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Tent-warming Party

2009-06-28T21:34:00.002+01:00

We dearly loved our little Coleman Ridgeline, but it took a lot of strain in the North York Moors' winds at the end of last summer. And frankly, it just wasn't going to cut it in the Outer Hebrides for our propsed wild camping trip in August.

So we blew my invigilation money (one step around the Great Hall = 1 cm2 of tent) on an Outwell Colorado 5. We put it up in the back garden this morning (erected with great ease: we are already won over by it's slick Danish design and smashing Mocha Chocalata ya ya colour-scheme). We had friends around this afternoon for a tent-warming shindig and the elderflower and cava cocktails went down particularly well in the glorious heat. Hopefully the first of many happy little times...

Twelfth Night

2009-06-25T19:54:00.001+01:00

The much-loved head of English at P's school is retiring after 21 years of service and in his honour, the staff staged a (much-abridged) production of Shakespeare's dark comedy, "Twelfth Night" this week.

Philip was cast as Antonio, the sailor. He spent weeks learning complicated chunks of text and Ben proved to be a worthy practice partner (dare I say, often reciting the lines with more applomb than his dad). I think that maybe Shakespeare may have gotten under the young lad's skin (something to do with him shouting, "The gentleness of the gods go with thee!" when I left for Sainsbury's the other evening). That's my boy.

P was initially directed to play the role with a very broad South African accent. This predictively evolved into a very camp South African accent.
We went along to watch the second performance on Tuesday night. Nico drove all the way from Cambridge and will bear credible witness to the fact that his brother did actually act and did actually act very well. He received some of the heartiest rounds of applause and as our friend, Robin, summed it up, was "worryingly convincing" as a gay, love-lorn sailor.

You've got to admit. He's come a long way since I plucked him off the beach, made him put on some shoes and get a haircut.

Just loving the look, dahling: especially those tattoos.

Happy birthday Gill!

2009-06-22T16:32:00.007+01:00

We (and the Fields) spent the weekend with Gill and Dave to celebrate G's birthday. Clever Lou, being very crafty (in both senses of the word) organised key-ring and monster-making for the kids while the three big kids went to the pub to watch the first Lions/SA match.

Followed by a trip to the park...

And a braai later on. P was (uncharacteristically) the first to head to bed: momentous indeed. I'm sure it was nothing we said. Just a busy week camping it up in the staff's production of "Twelfth Night" (story to follow in another post but well-worth popping back for!)

And then out for breakfast on Sunday morning.

Family Weekend

2009-06-16T12:48:00.004+01:00

We spent a relaxing, sunny weekend (mainly in the garden and mainly eating lots of meat and drinking lots of everything) with Nico and Fi and cousin Duncan and Fi. B spent the weekend seeking out volunteers to play his new Cosmic Catch talking ball game, N and D compared "wiry grey hairs" and everyone did a lot of yapping. A certain Irishwoman was even spotted eating a bit of biltong (ok, so it was mixed with loads of butternut). Anna loved her cheerleader pom-poms (or "dancing things", as she calls them) from Duncan and Fi, whose very wise pink purchase has seen them automatically fast-tracked to "favourite cousin" status. Sorry, Chris. Women are just so fickle.

And then there were four...

2009-06-16T09:24:00.011+01:00

So we've been chatting to a few local chicken experts.
(And there do seem to be a lot of them in this village. Coincidentally, they all bake their own sourdough bread, drive a Volvo and get their groceries delivered by Ocado). They concur that two is definitely not a good number. Apparently the cockerel dominates the female and this leads to a less generous egg yield.

So rather than fowl-up the delicate balance in this green and pleasant little corner of Englandshire, we raced off to Cotswold Chickens on the South Newington Road on Friday and bought two new "redhead" hens: Florrie (after the flame-haired eponymous drama queen from "Florence and the Machine") and Tintin (after the auburn/ginger/strawberry blond (?) adventurer).

Initially the new-comers didn't receive the warmest welcome from territorial Mayonnaise and Pie, and some serious scuffles ensued. But they seem to have settled down now (there's nothing like a sunny weekend and a few glasses of wine round the ol' chicken water dispenser to ease tensions).

Dare I concede that I was wrong and that maybe the chicken-thing was a good idea afterall? Benanna love running outside to let out the chickens each morning. They check for eggs and sprinkle some feed and love around. And hey, if the kids are happy, then who am I to get into a flap?

Ok, that's the last of the pathetic chicken puns. I promise.

Florrie strutting her stuff...

Chicken Pie and Chicken Mayonnaise

2009-06-03T21:19:00.002+01:00

Meet our two new family additions: Mayonnaise and Pie...
which is what they may end up as if their laying or behaviour is not up to um...scratch.

They arrived on Monday night (from next door - long story, but personally I think that if the neighbours don't want them anymore then perhaps we have every reason to be circumspect). They seemingly adjusted to their new home (coop built by John from Bloxham School maintenance, of course) and the chicken run heroically constructed by Philip and his poultry-partner-in-crime, Frans (with much support from the makers of XXXX).

Bit of a cluck-up yesterday morning though as they kept flying over the chicken wire and escaping into the secret garden (the chickens, not Philip & Frans). Fortunately Philip and Frans seem to have asserted their "Baas-ship" and they are safely back in their run.

To quote Mr "Chicken Run" Tweedy: "These chickens are definitely organised". I think fun times may lie ahead (for the chickens, not necessarily for Philip & Frans). Let's hope that Philip's little malapropism on Twitter, "Anyone know how to build a chicken coup?" is not prophetic.

Mayonnaise (in white) and Pie (wearing classic black).

Anna proudly showing off the first egg.

Somerset: Camping, Cricket, Cider and Cheddar

2009-05-28T11:43:00.007+01:00

We spent the first weekend of half-term camping with the Philip family in the market town, Castle Cary, in South Somerset.

The Bloxham School staff team played three fixtures against local Somerset clubs: Philip in (bowling) action. His tour highlight: scoring 41 runs against Queen Camel.

Playing hide and seek in Cheddar Gorge.

We beat the rush and got to Cheddar Gorge early enough to escape the hoards of tourists. Ben, the aspirant climber, was delighted to witness some proper cool climber dudes in action.

We visited the home of Cheddar cheese: Ben was obsessed with cheese tasting and particulary loved the cheddar flavoured with cider/port/whisky.

And then a round of crazy golf to work off all that aforementioned cheddar.

Benjy is 7!

2009-05-13T16:13:00.006+01:00

Ben turned 7 yesterday. Thanks to all who contributed towards his new netbook which has gone down a storm. We had his party at Pizza Express on Sunday and had the noise of nine small boys resounding in our heads for hours afterwards. Wow, but the grannies are right - they do grow up so fast...seems like just yesterday that I got through those 2 1/2 cylinders of Entonox.

Bank holiday weekend

2009-05-05T09:35:00.005+01:00

Thanks to the Fields, Pinnocks, N. Schonkies, Thompos, Jordans and Paddy O' Gerbers for joining us for the school's Founderstide weekend and ball. My goodness, but what would our lives be without weekends with our beautiful friends?

Annie's 4th Birthday Princess Tea Party

2009-04-27T09:25:00.001+01:00

Four local princesses (and Prince Luis) joined Princess Anna for her tea party on Friday. The bejewelled lovelies (and Luis) spent their afternoon sipping tea from delicate china cups, eating heart-shaped marshmallows and pink fairy cakes and hanging upside down on the climbing frame.
On Sunday the two birthday girls were treated to sushi in Oxford (strictly no jewels allowed, by order of the King).

Cape Town - Easter Weekend

2009-04-25T17:04:00.006+01:00

Cape Town Waterfront.

And what would a South African holiday be without a trip around a shopping mall in a Game trolley?

Fairview Wine Farm with the Adlards.

Sister-in-law, Sal's, 30th birthday lunch in Fishoek.

Auntie Sal looking very comfortable with a baby (albeit it someone else's).

Easter Egg Hunt.

Braai with Beth and Roy.

Dave and Gill's wedding: the party

2009-04-25T16:37:00.001+01:00

And then there comes that time in the life of every party when things rapidly start to spiral out of control and some people just don't know when to go home :)

Dave and Gill's wedding cont.

2009-04-25T16:10:00.001+01:00

Nice tiara, gorgeous! "Something borrowed" and worn by someone else one decade ago this coming September :)

Dave and Gill's wedding - 4 April Cintsa East

2009-04-25T12:15:00.009+01:00

Amber and Annie: the cutest flower girls ever.

As Gill's "special girlies" we felt extremely proud and privileged to wear the teal ribbon in support of the UK's Ovarian Cancer Charity, Ovacome, and to honour Gill bravely overcoming the disease.

Dave (on the left) taking a few deep breaths before the service.

The Bride arrives...

Ben reading his poem to Godmother Gill and Dave in church.

Mr and Mrs Pinnock.

Pearl's 60th and Wedding Prep

2009-04-25T10:46:00.002+01:00

My mom's 60th birthday lunch at Michaela's of Cintsa.

"Bean" clowning around with the grandkids.

Work party for Gill and Dave's wedding: Rolz, Vix and Geno.

Work party for Gill and Dave's wedding on lunch break (at Michaela's). Life in Africa is just so darned tough...

Lou and I with our lovely toyboy, "Uncle Buck".

More Cintsa East...

2009-04-25T10:33:00.001+01:00

Cintsa East

2009-04-23T20:25:00.002+01:00

Out and about in East London

2009-04-21T13:46:00.003+01:00

With Matt, Tim and Ant at Lavender Blue.

A quick swim at the Carrs.

Philip enjoying (one of many) braais and beers with Pete and Gareth.

EL zoo locals...

Anyone remember the Smartie train and boats from the old Marina Glen?? These are they!

East London

2009-04-21T13:31:00.001+01:00

Ben trying to decide where to start - Nini's cakes are just too delicious.

The 5 cousins reunited for the first time in nearly 18 months.

Ben and "Honey Honey" cousin Kayla

Brad

Sarah and Anna

Dinner with Uncle Bevin in Gonubie.

J-Bay

2009-04-17T10:52:00.001+01:00

Supper with the "cuzzins": Carol, Janet and Rob.

Landing in CT and en route to J-Bay

2009-04-16T13:30:00.007+01:00

After landing in Cape Town, we headed to the Adlards in Pinelands for a night: Benanna and Josie getting re-acquainted in the pool.

Meeting the delightful Miss Emily Adlard for the first time.

Lekker braai with the Midgleys.

Stopping en-route to Jeffries for lunch and a quick play.

This was definitely the holiday of the Stop/Go. Many South African roads are being spruced up for 2010.

Admiring the view during one of the stops.

We're back

2009-04-15T20:54:00.003+01:00

'Twas another great SA holiday. Loads of lovely photos to post so keep popping back and make your day.

Oh, and the piano tuner came around today. It seems our aforementioned piano actually dates from the 1890's and would fetch a great deal more than we paid for it on the antiques' market.
How funny.

Today I bought a piano...

2009-03-19T16:20:00.013Z

I had a rather expensive haircut this morning.

Not because they charged me any more then normal, but because I happened past the window of "One Man Band" music store in Banbury and fell in love with a glorious walnut wood 1940's piano. We've been talking about getting one for a while as I'd love to start teaching Ben the basics, but we hadn't done any serious looking just yet. I discovered that we qualified for an Arts' Council grant, so five hours later (clearly the recession has hit piano movers as they were available to deliver today) it's safely ensconced in the alcove in the lounge (which could have been made for it). I think Granny James would be ever so chuffed...

I'd love to be playing it right now but Benanna won't even let me get close to it. How many more hours 'till their bedtime?

And a spot of lunch at the Red Lion with the girls and little kiddies yesterday.

Vegetarian kids are just so easy to please...Luis tucking into his chips and broccoli.

Amber and Tristan

2009-03-16T16:10:00.007Z

We had the Fields over on Saturday night and were delighted that Dean and Lou went off on Sunday to run the Silverstone Half and left Amber and Tristan all for us. Their much-anticipated visit coincided with some glorious early spring sunshine so much time was spent in the garden.

Deano ordered enough Chinese to feed the 5000 (no miracle necessary).

Ben's "I'm having Chinese tonight" face.

Oh, and Anna dressed in her Mermaid outfit for Josephine's "Under the Sea" party last Saturday.

Philips and Mays

2009-03-03T12:51:00.007Z

We are ever so chuffed that Dave, Cath, Meg and James Philip have moved back to the UK. This gave us all a great excuse to have a nice little reunion along with Rich, Leanne, Calvin and baby Blake May in Bloxham this past weekend.