A Weekend at the Olds

We left at 10 o'clock and a nice 4 1/2 hour drive later, through the drama of whinging kids, we arrived to the smell of a fantastic curry. I always look forward to my mothers cooking and this was no exception. We unpacked the car and hung the keys up for the night.

My brothers time keeping was not up to scratch, so as a consequence we all sat there staving waiting for him to ring. He eventually did, so Dad went to get him and I cracked open the first beer. It was an evening of good catch up, cold beer and tasty food.

It was the first time I've met my brothers girlfriend. A very nice 16 year old young lady. I managed to put aside how young she was, but couldn't quite get around the fact that she didn't know that a baby sheep was a lamb. (What is the world coming to?) I suppose they belong together, because Luke was having trouble with it as well.

On Saturday we got wrapped up and went out to find conkers in the woods. (Little did we know all the conkers had gone) We had an hour or so in the park, during which time both Lauren and Jake managed to do the monkey bars on their own. They were highly delighted with themselves.

We had a trek through the woods and found a saw lying on the floor. This was hidden up a tree out of the way of kids by the old man. We had a little chuckle at his expense when one of the branches gave way. On the way back to the house we found a rope swing which swung out over the river; all the kids had a go as the river was dried up and then ended up walking up the river bed looking to see if there were any trolls under the bridges.

On the evening we had a nice meal in a restaurant called Ask. Grandad and Jake had a pizza and the rest of us had pasta. (Apart from little Miss Fussy of course. She had Garlic bread on its own.) After this we went to the guild hall to watch the wrestling. It took Jake a little while to get in to the swing of things, but he was soon cheering with the rest of them. The American contingent spent the entire night cheating, but predictably the English won through and the Smackdown Warrior was crowned champion. He was a six foot six giant of a man, who was a look alike to King Leonidas out of the film 300. (I'm sure I saw Sarah eyeing him

We had a lazy day on Sunday. Normally we have to travel home, but as I was not back to work until Tuesday, it was a welcomed change to eat a big roast dinner and not drive home. I shared a bottle of port with the my Dad and Sarah and my Mum drank a lot of wine. (I think Sarah did the majority of it though)

All in all a fantastic weekend. I don't think we will have many more of them in England so we need to make the most of them now.

Thanks a lot Mum and Dad!

Hull Fair 2008

If we still had a house we would have remortgaged today, such is the impact of the fair these days. However, really good fun! This picture was taken with three children dying to get going.

The first ride was the tea cups. Emma looked very nervous to begin with, but she soon got with it. Then the girls went on the mini wheel and Jake got ready to go on the fast one, but chickened out when he saw the speed of it. When the girls got off, it was around to the merry-go-round. Jake sat on Bianca, Emma was on Jay and Lauren got Conrad. Emma look nervous again, but once it got going she was all smiles.

If you look at the bug rollercoaster above, I thought it looked a bit tame for Jake. Once he saw the basher ball swinging above his head, the ride took a whole new meaning as it got whacked from one way to the other. The woman who was sat behind became the best look alike boxer, ducking and diving as she tried to dodge it. (She was hit a few times. Score!)

Sarah and Syl took off to the donkey derby. Every single fair its the same! (in fact any ammusment place we go to) Now I thought I would be very good at this. I was rubbish! I came last. TWICE. Syl won though, so it was the first and last fluffy toy of the night.

The kids went in the fun house and the hamster wheel took them all by suprise. Each one straight on their arse. (Check the movie below).

The food tonight was out of this world. It was calorie after calorie. I started with a Bavarian Smoked Hot Dog, followed by Bob Carvers chips and mushy peas. Later I had a Waffle with a chocolate sauce, (only as a second choice because there were not any pancakes). I walked away full and content.

OH whats that! Pancakes! I can see pancakes! Stop! Stop! Sarah one of those please. Now this was really nice. Unfortuatley I had to share it. Lauren was looking at me drooling. You would have thought that she had not had anything. I don't think I could have finnished though. I felt sick and still do now.

All in all a fantastic evening. All the kids came home with a prize and the house is now full of junk. Syl will want it shifting soon, but hey whats new.

Tattoo's

St Lawrence College Badge of Arms.

Here is a picture of Sarah's second tattoo. (Referred to as the tramp stamp). Only joking! I have always wanted to have a tattoo but have never really decided on exactly what I want to have. One of the lads that I work with, has suggested going to the tattooist with ideas of what I would like included in the design and they will do the rest.

Now I was under the impression that you walked in the parlour and picked a picture off the wall. This was always my problem, (apart from the fact that its going to hurt) because it was not personal to you. The fact that the artist will design for you, has renewed my interest and I have started putting some ideas together.

There are some intricate details out of my schools badge of arms that I am interested in including in it. I have always liked the Irish clover. I would like to hide my children's names in there somewhere as well. The tiger emblem from Leicester rugby club and the English rose. Quite how this would work? I don't know! (I am thinking also of the maple leaf as well, but not too sure on this idea.) That's the problem for the designer though.

Ipod Blues

Sarah did not look this happy when I told her that I had lost her ipod. I can't believe that it has gone! One minute I am listening to it on the treadmill and the next minute it has disappeared. I searched the floor for an hour. The treadmill has been taken apart and searched and still nothing has been found. I have come to the conclusion that someone has swiped it.
The worst part is I have now got to replace it. ( And wouldn't you know it, its the ipod touch. Bloody expensive!)
Now I am thinking the best place to buy the replacement is at the duty free shop at the "Le Shuttle". But due to the recent fire this will involve a lot of sitting around and waiting, because the train is only running through one tunnel. Dilemmas for a Monday!


The wait for my Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is now starting to play on my mind. I don't think it should. They did say it would take about six months, but considering I have not had any contact with the firm since we were in Canada and everybody is asking if I have heard anything, I think I can be forgiven.

Today I have to go and meet Jono and go back to work. Four days seems like a lifetime now. How easily you forget the fact, that it used to be weeks away. The plan as it stands is to go to Worcester and do two deliveries in the morning. From there I am guessing down to Paris, but that will be clarified in the morning. I hope its straight out and no collections!

Birthday number 32

I have decided to start this blog on my birthday, which seemed as good a day as any. The idea of this blog is so that when we finally make the move to Canada, friends and family can follow what we get up to.

I started looking into this move a few years ago and decided that it was something that I wanted to do. The wife was not convinced at the start, but I am glad to say that she is now on board. Now that we have sold our house, it is just a waiting game for the the work permit.

In July we went to stay with a friend of mine in Nobleford, Alberta. The results were a good job offer and finding a place we would like to bring up our children.