A Normal Bloke

London Zoo

2010-08-30T20:37:00.002+01:00

We had a fun day out with my brother and his girlfriend. Our eldest and youngest both loved their fun uncle and his groovy hat.

Evening Walk

2010-08-07T21:24:00.002+01:00

We couldn't wait to start exploring so after tea we went out for an afternoon walk up the hill behind the house called Pen-y-pigyn. It's a lovely walk through trees and rocks but also very easy. The views of Corwen and the surrounding area are fantastic.

You could even just see Llys Maldwyn the holiday cottage peeking out from behind a tree with the river Dee and the Corwen Pavilion in the background:

We are here!

2010-08-07T15:54:00.001+01:00

We have driven up on Saturday morning and despite some traffic at Llangollen the journey was trouble free. The cottage is lovely and the children have unpacked the stuff in their bedroom and have started playing board games and planning what to do over the next two weeks. There is a big box of leaflets that has many of the attractions nearby and they are compiling an itinerary - I expect that it will need trimming a bit.

We have brought our bikes and plan to do a bit of cycling - fortunately there is a lovely little yard behind the cottage where we can keep them safely. I expect we'll aslo be able to sit out there in the sun for an aperitif!

Here you can't see our bikes as we have hidden them under a tarpaulin.

North Wales Holiday

2010-08-07T07:47:00.000+01:00

We are off on holiday to North Wales to stay in a holiday cottage in Corwen. The cottage is called Llys Maldwyn and we are going to spend two weeks relaxing as well as exploring the surrounding area.

Here Be Dragons

2010-07-03T20:31:00.001+01:00

Our youngest dressed up as a dragon for his schools summer fun day.

He found a friend dressed a a princess.

Birthday Trip to the Zoo

2010-06-27T20:27:00.001+01:00

We took our neighbour to the zoo for a birthday picnic.

Before

2010-06-26T20:24:00.000+01:00

Our eldest is off to get her ears pierced. Here is one before it is done.

Brighton Baby!

2010-06-25T20:20:00.002+01:00

I went on another school trip - this time to Brighton with my youngest. They had great fun paddling in a play park and eating ice cream.

Cornerstone

2010-06-04T18:15:00.003+01:00

We stayed at Cornerstone again - this time with bikes:

Our youngest finally learnt to ride

Without stabilisers.

We visited bridges.

And had coffee in courtyards.

On the way home I went under this bridge and left the bikes behind us. :(.

North Wales

2010-05-25T13:39:00.001+01:00

I had to go the north of Wales for work. It's very nice.

Happy Birthday Lunch

2010-05-23T13:36:00.001+01:00

We had a nice roast dinner for my wife's mother's birthday. Yum.

Den

2010-05-23T13:34:00.000+01:00

Our youngest made a den in the garden.

Something Fishy

2010-05-02T12:11:00.002+01:00

We were taken to the aquarium - it's amazing..

Big flat fish.

Shark in a boat.

Stroking rays.

Duh, duh. Duh, duh. etc.

Trip to not quite Wales

2010-05-01T09:34:00.004+01:00

One of my brothers and his wife live in a lovely part of the country near Wales. One of our favourite things to do is to visit them.

Living in the countryside they have lots of wild life in the garden...

lots of dvd's we haven't seen - one in 3d...

and daisys.

Premier Inn

2010-04-29T09:11:00.002+01:00

A premier inn I stayed in for work. Can't remember which one...

Umbrella Fail.

2010-04-18T09:08:00.000+01:00

Day trip to Lincoln

2010-04-17T09:03:00.001+01:00

We went for a day trip to Lincoln to see my wife's father. It was a lovely day and we had a walk around the old part of the town on top of the hill near the cathedral.

Two vandals can just be seen in this phone box.
A ladybird meets our youngest.
Looking for fish in the walled garden.

Prodigal Hamster

2010-04-12T08:57:00.000+01:00

After the sad death of Emily we have the return of one of her children - Obi. His new owners now have a cat and felt that he might be safer with us. Also that he might make up in some way for his mother's recent death.

Happy Birthday to Meeee...

2010-04-11T08:50:00.001+01:00

One year to go until life begins.

I got lots of nice presents including these magnetic balls. (Not the tooth brush).

To celebrate we went out to a restaurant.

Mmmmm. Pizza.

Mmmmm. Pasta.

And a nice cake and cup of coffee to round it all off.

Coffee

2010-04-10T08:45:00.002+01:00

More costa coffee. Our last before before my birthday.

Flower

2010-04-05T08:42:00.001+01:00

We went for a walk in the park and our youngest found a daisy. Not sure why his eyes were closed...

Easter

2010-04-04T08:38:00.001+01:00

Easter day - strange how we celebrate the death and resurrection of God with shaped chocolate.

Cycle in the countryside

2010-04-03T12:00:00.000+01:00

We went for our first bike ride this year near my wife's sister's house. Although they live in a large town it has been designed so there is a lot of countryside in it. Halfway to getting back home we stopped at a lovely little pub for a drink.

Sun

2010-03-28T08:24:00.001+01:00

To the zoo again - this time it was even sunny - witness the lemur spreading it's arms in order to get the maximum number of rays.

Mmmm. Baked beans on toast for lunch on our return.

Up the Downs

2010-03-21T18:19:00.001Z

As we had forgotten our annual passes to the zoo we decided to go for a walk rather than drive back to get them.

We had a great time looking at the views, hoping the children wouldn't fall down the steep hills and avoiding being hit by the maniacs whizzing around in the air.

Mothering Sunday

2010-03-14T22:32:00.002Z

Today is Mothers' Day. Many thanks go to my wife for being a wonderful mother. She had breakfast in bed, a lie in, a nice tray and some daffodils.

Also our eldest made her second treacle sponge.

And here she is having a nice roast dinner - she only had to cook half of it. (Well it is Mothers' day)

Sunday In

2010-03-07T22:26:00.000Z

After the zoo we went home and had a roast dinner. our eldest made her first treacle sponge. Yum.

Sunday out

2010-03-07T22:21:00.000Z

As it was sunny we went to the zoo.

Our eldest took photos.

My wife went flying.

Heelys

2010-02-27T21:58:00.002Z

Our eldest has been given some heelys by a friend. She has not broken any bones yet but she has had a good go at it.

London Baby

2010-02-26T21:51:00.003Z

I went on a school trip with our youngest today. To the Tower of London to see the crown jewels and also learn about castles and stuff. There was a good presentation by a knight who told us a bit about Kings and their bedrooms. It was freezing and quite windy and, as lunch had to be eaten outside, there was a need for a lot of jumping around to get warm afterwards. It's amazing what parents think is an easy lunch to eat on a school trip - it's also amazing that many included spoons even though we had expected to be able to throw any lunch packaging away after consumption.

The Death of Emily

2010-02-23T21:29:00.003Z

Emily, the hamster of our eldest died today. We are not sure what caused it as she was very thin but had become so very quickly. We took her to the vet and sadly she advised that Emily should be put down.

A very sad day in the normal household.

Tea at Grandmas

2010-02-21T21:46:00.001Z

We went for Sunday tea at Grandmas. Lots of lovely sandwiches and cakes. Yummy.

Snow on Snow

2010-02-21T21:43:00.002Z

Yet even more snow. Will it ever be spring.

KFC

2010-02-06T20:53:00.003Z

Our eldest made a bargain that if she got the award for the 'most merits of the week' we would take her to KFC for chicken and chips. Coincidentally, a week or so later she came home with the requisite certificate. Strange what it takes to motivate her.

A Normal Wife's Birthday

2010-01-23T20:43:00.003Z

It's my wife's birthday.

She had friends for lunch.

Went to a posh hotel for morning coffee.

Our daughter went too.

Our youngest and I went for a burger instead.

Visiting

2010-01-15T20:32:00.004Z

We visited my wife's sisters. Our daughter especially likes pampering pepper their cat.

Books at bedtime

2010-01-12T20:26:00.003Z

Our youngest likes a book before bedtime. In fact he likes it so much that he shared the experience with many of his toys.

Sledging

2010-01-09T21:19:00.001Z

At last its the weekend and the perfect day for sledging, dry and cold.

Snow Snow Snow

2010-01-08T21:16:00.000Z

Snow on the school run. (I love the icicles on the car.)

Even More Show

2010-01-06T21:07:00.000Z

I tried to take some photos of the snow in the nearby park at night but it was too cold and so didn't really stay long enough to perfect the art. Here is the least worst one.

Walk In The Country

2010-01-01T20:54:00.002Z

We went for a family walk in the countryside. Only our youngest fell in a deep, icy and muddy puddle and so I had to go home and change him. The other half of the family continued without us and so us boys wandered around together. (With our youngest suitably attired in waterproof clothes.)

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T20:48:00.003Z

Here is our youngest just before 2009 finished.

Here is out eldest, who stayed up, back from kissing our youngest happy new year.

Even More Visiting

2009-12-30T20:46:00.002Z

Another visit. This time to a strange blurred black and white world. Well they do live in a village.

More Visiting

2009-12-28T20:41:00.001Z

We then made a Christmas trip to my wife's sister's family armed with a big tin of chocolates.

We tried to put them out of reach of vulnerable individuals but sadly temptation proved too great.

Boxing Day

2009-12-26T20:33:00.001Z

We made a boxing day visit to my parents to exchange presents and catch up. Here we are sheltering from the sleet and the park.

Christmas

2009-12-25T21:01:00.001Z

Christmas breakfast.

Christmas lunch. Mmmmmmm.

Slinky fun.

More Snow

2009-12-23T20:55:00.000Z

Snow

2009-12-18T20:49:00.001Z

It snowed. Brrr. At least Emily looks warm in her cosy house. Will it be a white Christmas?

Games

2009-12-12T20:44:00.001Z

We don't often play games so it was a nice treat to visit friends and play pictionary and twister. (Not at the same time.) Can you tell what it is yet?

Nativity

2009-12-08T22:29:00.001Z

Our eldest and youngest were for the first and last time in the same nativity play. Our eldest in the choir and our youngest as a rooster. Be amazed at the rubber glove chicken feet.

Christmas Tree

2009-12-06T22:34:00.001Z

Due to logistical reasons we got our tree quite early this year. Here it is before adornment.

Zoo

2009-12-06T22:25:00.000Z

We like to pop to the zoo. It's often cold in the winter but still great.

Yawn

2009-12-06T22:22:00.000Z

Not quite Narnia

2009-12-04T20:59:00.002Z

We have a cupboard under the stairs. Here is a picture of our eldest amongst the coats. She is actually going on club penguin and not to Narnia.

Caged

2009-11-29T20:56:00.001Z

Chocolate Fountain

2009-11-08T20:54:00.000Z

A great tradition of the bonfire party is the chocolate fountain.

Lots of lovely chocolate. Though there was quite a bit left this year - in part to there being less children.

But our two finished it off for breakfast. Hmmm. Not as healthy as coco pops.

Bonfire Night

2009-11-07T20:49:00.000Z

We visited our friends' for their annual birthday bonfire party. I also took my new camera and took some pictures in the dark...

Our eldest looking at the fireworks.

Our eldest sparkling.

Our youngest sparkling also.

Zip Wire

2009-11-07T20:46:00.000Z

I was experimenting with my new camera and here is my eldest whizzing down a zip wire at the park. Not quite in focus but a nice picture.

Xbox boy

2009-11-06T20:41:00.000Z

Our youngest enjoys playing computer games. We have a xbox - its very good. Though it is a bit out of date now. At least the games are very cheap.

Macro

2009-10-31T22:44:00.002Z

Trying out my new camera (expect many more boring photos). This time trying to get close to a slow moving mollusc.

Zoo

2009-10-30T22:50:00.000Z

I met up with the rest of my family for lunch at the zoo. We didn't get much time to see the animals but here is the leaves on the toilet wall.

New Camera - Hamster Again

2009-10-28T22:53:00.003Z

Another hamster photo with my new camera.

New Camera - Hamster

2009-10-27T22:56:00.002Z

Hamster photo with my new camera.

New Camera - A Church

2009-10-26T22:58:00.002Z

Here's a picture of a church near my work.

And here's a bit of the picture zoomed in. Marvel at the amazing detail afforded by my new camera.

New Camera - Playmobil

2009-10-25T23:01:00.001Z

Some toys taken by my new camera (did I mention I had a new camera?)

New Camera

2009-10-24T20:46:00.000+01:00

Here is my first photo from my new camera - a Canon EOS 500D. It's not a great photo but I couldn't wait to have a go and it took until we got on to the M25 to put it together.

Lincoln

2009-10-17T20:41:00.000+01:00

We went to Lincoln to see my Wife's dad. Our youngest liked the cannon. I went to the camera shop to look at the canon cameras to see if I wanted one. I think I do. Not sure which one though...

These Lincoln fish are a bit bigger than ours - perhaps with more feeding ours will grow.

2009-10-03T18:48:00.001+01:00

The shed is finished. I have shortened it and also panelled the inside with the bits left over. The gap between the outside and the inner panelling has been filled with fluffy insulation. Hopefully the tumble dryer will like it's new home.

Crash

2009-09-30T18:41:00.001+01:00

On the way to school, a lady crashed her car into the back of ours. My back is a bit achy and the car is a bit broken. I suppose the insurance will cover it but it's a right faff.

New Shed

2009-09-24T18:46:00.001+01:00

We have bought a new shed. Getting it on and it the car was fun but it did go in and on. It is going on the patio to be a home for our tumble dryer and miscellaneous stuff. The shed is a build it yourself 6' by 4' shed but I am going to customize it so it is smaller and warmer.

Fish in a barrel

2009-09-06T20:17:00.001+01:00

Our youngest, on hearing that we had said to our eldest that if she gets grade 8 on the piano she can have a dog, asked whether he could have a goldfish if he gets grade six on the saxophone. As he does not have a saxophone or saxophone lessons we thought this an unlikely outcome.

We decided that we would get some goldfish that could live in the garden. We tried to get them at the pet shop, but our environment did not meet their criteria. Fortunately our eldest's godfather has an abundance of goldfish in his pond and gave us two.

Bugs

2009-08-23T22:06:00.000+01:00

My youngest likes bugs - just like his sister. Though unaccountably they are scared of daddy long legs.

Fifth Birthday Party

2009-08-23T20:24:00.001+01:00

Our youngest is nearly five and so we had a party for him in the garden. We decorated it with bunting and balloons and had cake and sandwiches - lovely!

Holiday!!!!

2009-08-15T22:30:00.000+01:00

Birthday Trip To London

2009-07-26T20:56:00.001+01:00

Birthday breakfast, pain au chocolate and J2Os

Fish at London zoo.

Our youngest trying to be an exhibit at the zoo.

French fancies for lunch.

Building a bear.

Bob (the Build a Bear) and Snowy.

Driving home after a lovely birthday in London.

Baby

2009-07-23T20:51:00.000+01:00

The local zoo had a new baby elephant. Here is a photo of it just after it was born.

First View

2009-07-20T20:48:00.000+01:00

The house that my wife was born in came up for sale and she went to have a look. Here is the view from the room where she was born.

Eldest's Birthday Party

2009-07-18T20:23:00.000+01:00

It's the end of the school year and also time for my eldest's birthday party. She has a few friends and family over for a barbecue and silly games. Fortunately the weather is lovely and we have a lot of food and fun.

Opening presents and dressed to impress.

The ever popular "pop the balloon blindfolded with a stick and get wet or do the forfeit game"

A quick change of outfit completes the day.

School Awards

2009-07-16T20:45:00.002+01:00

It's the end of another school year - the first for our youngest. It's been a long year but they have both done very well. I think they enjoy school but are also looking forward to the holidays!

Boy in a box

2009-07-15T20:43:00.001+01:00

My children love cardboard boxes. Here is my youngest sleeping in one. Not sure why.

Work BBQ

2009-07-14T20:41:00.002+01:00

My work has a summer barbeque. Here is a picture of some of my colleagues having a great time.

The piano teacher

2009-07-13T20:36:00.003+01:00

We have a lovely friend who is teaching our daughter the piano - here she is in action:

Athletics

2009-07-13T20:31:00.000+01:00

Another school sports day - this time athletics at the local sports track. I got out of work for a bit to see my eldest compete.

Here she is not quite coming last in the yellow top.

With her 2 best friends.

This one was taken by my wife - I got back to work before the rain started!

Sleepover

2009-07-12T17:25:00.000+01:00

I helped on the Sunday school sleep over. It was good fun.

Toasting marshmallows on the bonfire.

Eating lots of sugary snacks.

Seeing deer in the site we were at's grounds.

The children got to bed quite late and I went to sleep soon after. I woke refreshed in the morning to find that my co-leaders had been up a few times in the night but that I had been oblivious to them. We let the guy who stayed up the most have an extra our in bed. I'm not sure it helped.

Sports Day

2009-07-10T17:12:00.000+01:00

Dropping the children off early at school means they often have the play ground for themselves. Here they are playing with the Police car that our youngest brought for show and tell.

Here are both our children waiting for school.

Today was sports day. I managed to go for an hour and see them both participate. Our youngest came first in the potato and spoon race - but only because he held on the the spoon. Unforntunately he was disqualified for this but I don't think he realised!

Pepper the one eyed cat.

2009-07-05T07:08:00.000+01:00

We stayed at my wife's sister's family's house to feed Pepper the one eyed cat - a car hit him when they lived in their old house.

Independence day of Fun

2009-07-04T23:58:00.000+01:00

Our children's school has an annual fun day. This year it was on the 4th July. And good fun it was too...

Looking at the model train set.

Eating pop corn and candy floss.

Shooting water bombs at our eldest's teacher.

Eating MacDonalds on the way home. (We were house sitting for my brother and sister in law.)

Didn't we have a lovely time...

2009-07-01T22:42:00.000+01:00

I volunteer to help on my eldest's school visit to Brighton to see the sea and the Aquarium. A great time was had by all.

Passing the time on the train.

Poking unsuspecting sea anemones.

A turtle (not crossed with a hamster)

Ice cream. The highlight of an otherwise educational trip.

New house

2009-06-28T22:21:00.004+01:00

Following on from the removal of the purpose built climbing frame house that was rarely used our children have decided to create a temporary one. Here it is decked out with provisions to survive an impending storm.

What was wrong with the proper one!

Birthday Treat

2009-06-27T22:36:00.002+01:00

As part of the celebrations for the birthday or our neighbour we went to the zoo and had a picnic, saw the sea lions, watched the elephants and wandered about.

As good as a shop cake.

2009-06-24T22:26:00.004+01:00

We celebrated our neighbour's birthday with a cake my wife had made. A friend was heard to remark that the cake was as nice as a shop one - high praise indeed!

Hmmm.

2009-06-19T22:16:00.002+01:00

We have had a climbing frame in the garden for ages. We bought a little tent for it that made the top into a den. The children liked it but didn't climb in it much. (The climbing was the reason we bought the climbing frame). We removed the house and left it bare an our youngest has started climbing with a new found vigour - I suppose he just didn't like spiders...

Competition Winner

2009-06-14T22:09:00.000+01:00

Our eldest won a pet invention competition at our local waterstones book shop. She came up with the idea of a Hamstle - half hamster, half turtle. (I thought it should be called a Hurtle but she preferred Hamstle)

Here she is collecting her prize. An original painting of a comic strip featuring her character.

Co-incidentally you can just see her god father's book on the shelf behind her.

In a pickle

2009-06-13T22:06:00.003+01:00

Emily the hamster gets in a jam.

Hard come, easy go

2009-06-06T21:56:00.001+01:00

Well the money we earned at the car boot sale has already been spent on a lovely meal at the Boxwood Cafe celebrating an old friends 40th birthday with a surprise lunch.

Car boot sale

2009-05-31T21:46:00.000+01:00

In order to make a bit of pocket money we decided to go to a car boot sale. I think getting a minimum wage job and just taking everything to the tip would have been easier.

Trip to the Beach

2009-05-24T21:31:00.002+01:00

We went for a trip to my parents and to the beach.

My youngest in the back with big ted.

The day started of a bit gloomy.

But after a walk and a coffee the sun arrived!

Swans

2009-05-23T21:12:00.005+01:00

We visited my wife's sister and popped out to see the swans and ride bikes.

Mr Bump Does Coffee

2009-05-16T21:15:00.000+01:00

Teddies

2009-05-13T21:12:00.001+01:00

My youngest with the teddy I've had since I was a baby - perhaps it should have stayed in the loft.

More teddies enjoying breakfast.