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Happy Birthday to Benjy!

2008-05-13T13:11:00.002+01:00

Ben turned 6 yesterday. He was ever so chuffed with his new (blue) bicycle - pics to follow...
We had decided not to have a party this year (after last year's manic "Topsy-Turvy" party left us slightly jaded) but instead took an impromptu trip to the National Herb Centre with 6 of his bestest friends and their parents. The weather has been phenomenal so lunch out in the sunshine and a walk along the centre's nature trail made it a perfect day (and a chance for parents to pick up some basil, coriander and pak choi on the side).

Founders' Ball

2008-05-04T20:48:00.005+01:00

All dressed up for the Bloxham School Founders' Ball: Mel, Robin, Gill, Rebecca, Dave, Catriona, Frans, Michelle, Philip and Robin having pre-dinner drinks at our place.

The Lads sampling the watermelon daiquiris - thanks, Gill!

Dave, Mel and Catriona.

Frans and the Hectors, Benj and Amy, who made a welcome return to Bloxham this week for the cricket season.

Robin T, Rebecca, Robin H and Dave.

Frans enjoying his lobster: "You don't ask, you don't get!"

Wagamamas and Wagadadas

2008-04-28T12:35:00.004+01:00

Thanks, Fields, for joining us for lunch at Wagamama in Kingston yesterday after our London rusk delivery. We are slowly working our way through the menu and the chilli and tamarind pavlova proved to be a huge hit!

Birthday Gals

2008-04-28T12:27:00.002+01:00

Thanks to everyone for the birthday calls, cards and gifts for Anna (26th) and me (27th). Despite Anna developing chicken pox on the eve of her big day (!), all went swimmingly and we both had fun celebrating.

Camping in Bath

2008-04-16T13:10:00.006+01:00

Who says it's too cool to camp in April? Not if you dress up all warm and snug!

Throwing stones into the stream running through Newton Mill campsite (best bathrooms ever and apparently proud recipient of the "prestigious 5-star Loo of the Year award"!!)

Philip testing out his new bucket braai (and no need to mention it's pink, lads).

Pulteney Bridge crossing the River Avon.

Royal Crescent in elegant Bath.

Eating in Bath

2008-04-16T13:03:00.003+01:00

From the culinary sublime to the ridiculous: Ben slurping down his noodles at Wagamama (missed you, Adlards :) and finally caving in and letting him experience "Old McDonalds" and a dreaded "Happy Meal". Mom had a not-so-happy meal, but lived to blog again...

Snow

2008-04-16T12:47:00.003+01:00

Just in case you hadn't seen enough photos of the UK's most recent snowfall (Sunday 6 April), we thought we'd throw a few more into the mix. We spent a great morning sledging on Hobb Hill above Bloxham, but Spring, hurry up already...

Ben trekking up Stonehill.

On our way up Hobb Hill, with a very white Bloxham village in the background.

A herd of bemused locals looks on.

Snowball fight!!

Chavs vs Sloanes

2008-04-05T20:16:00.005+01:00

Philip's colleague, Robin, turned 30 yesterday and we bad a blast at his hysterical "Chavs versus Sloanes" fancy dress party. The pics say it all, really!

cmon then...innit you startin...safe...spect...sort us a fag, bruv!

With Robin's missus, Michelle.

Mel's dying to give these hoops another outing soon...you've been warned.

The new Steve Jobs?

2008-04-05T20:08:00.004+01:00

Dad's not the only one interested in IT: Ben's purpose-built laptop (or the lid of a Pampers wipes' box to those observant parents out there).

"The Headmasters"

2008-04-05T19:56:00.003+01:00

This is Benanna's top place to play in the village: what has affectionately become known to us as "The Headmasters" (the driveway leading up to the Headmaster's house and the adjacent rugby field).

Benanna on their bikes and Philip skateboarding ahead in the distance.

Throwing a boomerang like an Aussie...

Anna having a go.

Anna when things don't go her way!

Amber, thank you for my Fifi Bicycle!

2008-03-27T20:53:00.002Z

Anna was the lucky recipient of Amber Field's old Fifi bicycle. She did not want to get off the thing this evening, riding up and down the headmaster's driveway and then in our garden. Thanks to the Fields, a little girl is sound a sleep tonight, exhausted!

When I grow up I want to braai like Dad.

2008-03-27T20:45:00.003Z

Anna loved this little pink bucket braai. We will have to use it as our camping braai as we head out for the summer months.

A family that bounces together, stays together!

2008-02-22T17:14:00.001Z

Richmond Park

2008-02-11T16:11:00.000Z

We spent a great weekend with the Dean, Lou, Amber and Tristan Field in Raynes Park. Highlights included a trip to the Wandsworth Spur (burgers, chips and onion rings just like those in SA!) and a perfect picnic in Richmond Park on Sunday. The last few days have been glorious - long may this unprecedented February sunshine continue so that Amber can keep wearing her shades!

Two Firsts

2008-02-06T15:17:00.000Z

Some major miletones have been reached in the Schonken household in the last few weeks: Ben is now riding his bike without the training wheels and Anna is making solid progress in the toilet-training department!

Anna's first day at school

2008-01-15T10:53:00.000Z

Anna started nursery school at the local primary school's foundation unit today. She will do Tuesday and Friday from 9-11:30am and was very excited this morning as she gets to wear her black plimsolls ("Just like Ben's"!) Mommy now has a bit more time on her hands (hence some time to update the blog - apologies to our fierce critics for our tardiness!)

Christmas 07

2008-01-15T10:18:00.001Z

Christmas lunch with the Fields

A moment in time: family fun and chaos!

Anna, Amber and Ben treating us to a live perfomance (testing out Christmas pressies).

Christmas lights in the garden of a house in Bloxham.

Lake District - Dec 2007

2008-01-05T17:45:00.000Z

We travelled up to Scotland to visit Jean in Edinburgh on 27 December for two nights. Had a great time and highlights included a trip to Loch Ore in Fife (north of Edinburgh) with cousin Chris and a visit from Michael the next morning. (Sadly no photos!) On our drive back to Oxfordshire, we drove through falling snow in the Scottish Borders - so almost a "white Christmas" then! We then spent a night with the Barnes family at their lovely hotel in Ulverston in the unbearably gorgeous Lake District. We had lunch in Ambledside and drove through some very sloshy roads along Lake Windermere and Ullswater. A camping trip up there is definitely on the cards for the summer...

Anna, Kyle, Ben and Luke at the hotel's entrance.

Going for a walk around Ulverston.

Leanne and Mel on the banks of Coniston Water, the third largest lake.

Pretty lake but Brrrrrrrrr!

Merry Christmas 2007

2007-12-16T18:11:00.000Z

to all our family & friends,
we wish you a blessed Christmas
and a very happy 2008!

Disneyland Paris (part 2) - Oct 2007

2007-11-02T16:04:00.000Z

Disneyland Paris (part 3) - Oct 2007

2007-11-02T16:01:00.000Z

Disneyland Paris (part 4) - Oct 2007

2007-11-02T15:59:00.000Z

Disneyland Paris - Oct 2007

2007-11-02T15:53:00.000Z

We're back!

2007-09-02T21:56:00.000+01:00

We're back in the UK after our two-month marathon South African adventure! Great to see so many old friends and family and soak up some warm winter sun. Pics of our lovely holiday below (strictly not chronological - most recent photos are posted first).

Joburg

2007-09-02T21:43:00.001+01:00

Pretoria Zoo (note Benanna's cool wheels!)

Way up high in the zoo's Bird Aviary with Jon and Sal (Ben is clearly petrified of heights!)

With "new best friends", Amy and Gemma Lindstrom at Montecasino.

Nathan, Kim, Josh and Daniel Carr happened to be on the same flight as us back to Dubai (where they will be settling for a while). Here Benanna can be seen kissing Daniel goodbye (and no doubt giving him some tips on how to survive life in a foreign country).

Anna and Josh kindly taking time out to help the Oliver Tambo airport cleaners polish the floor.