Portsmouth / southsea weekend

fab fab fab bank holiday weekend, little fuss ( chuff loads of traffic however) and as always the perfect host in David Neale. the weather behaved, so did the dogs, kate and Mary (most of the time).... twas only me that was naughty.
great breakfasts, great dinners and that kicked back relaxed feel that you only get with very few friends... both the wife and i feel totally relaxed now.... and about a stone heavier!

also managed to put the kite into the skies for the first time... and with barely a breathe of wind the kite flew well and definately gave us a hint of what is to come with some serious wind! I just know that there is a big accident just round the corner waiting to happen with that thing!

stopped off at steve and debs house on route home.... daniels birthday... so sunshine, beer and good food followed. just helped make the long weekend feel like a complete week off, fortunately... i have got a whole week off on top of that too.

leon x

Well, me mary, jim, laura, shona and paul and claire had an absolute blast all weekend laughing and drinking, walking over wonderful countryside!



love leon

(ps none of that is true ... by the way... but stop having fun without us please!)

our first BBQ of the summer

the weather behaved and so did the friends who came along..... just lovely to spend some time outside with food and beer and the dudes of the 2000 raleigh gang. definitely won't be the last... especially after those lamb steaks were so gorglussous.... mary reminds me we have not finished the washing up yet from the day..... and it is tuesday..... but she does not regret a thing , and neither do i.... more hot weather please.

don't the garden look good.... not a dog shit in sight ( i threw them all over to the church)
lots of love
leon

All the pictures of Kate from this lovely day on the moor with the sun shining look like she is giggling to herself about some really rude gag. Maybe she was. This was also the momentous day that she decided that she does like ice cream after all. Then we all went home and had a curry. Lovely.
Mary x

Padstow to Fowey

So 30 miles, 1 day, 5 grown men and some very sore feet. Cornwall is a lovely place, even better when the weather behaves and the banter is amusing and plentyful.

much discussion about footware, snack times and how many more miles to go..... i think it was almost always " 3 more miles"... even when we reached Fowey!

The worst bit was being interviewed at the very end for ten minutes whilst a bench and a pub were both in sight.......

a classic day, and now i am walking like an old man round school...

big thanks to chris for organising.... my turn next year!

leon x

thelma - our new addition

she's gorgeous, and she knows it. And boy she can put it away! she was udderly wasted on her first night here!

kate loves her by the way.

leon x

satsumas and work

Hello all,
Kate's latest exloit at the end of most meals these days goes like this:
me - do you want any banana?
kate - na
me - would you like any apple?
kate - na
me - how about some raisins?
kate - na
me - cheese?
kate - na
me - breadstick?
kate - na
me - are you finished? Full up?
kate - na
me - satsuma?
she points at it and goes to take it
me - ok dude, I'll just peel it for you then
so I peel the orange, pass her a segment
kate takes the satsuma, looks at it, then throws it across the room and says na
this has happened pretty much every day this week
What does she think - that satsumas grow on trees?

Also, work is going really well. Kate is totally happy with the childminder and so I am too, but Leon says he doesn't like being told how many soiled nappies kate has produced when he goes to pick her up. As some sort of response to Mama Musings, I know exactly what you mean and when you do get back out there it really will get much, much better. I think our generation has been raised to work, which makes it so much harder and more admirable to commit your whole time to caring for your children. xx
Mary x