Luckily May 2nd was a lovely sunny day, great for taking out your new skateboard or your skipping rope!

Xander is getting lots of practise on his 'board'. Xander and I thought this picture of Imo was particularly funny!- talk about getting out of breath!!!

He'll soon be joining the 'cool boys' down at the skate park!

Simon's herb garden is starting to bloom.

If it doesn't get flattened by Imo before Chelsea!

Another weekend...another Cub event! Xander entered a local chess tournament against the local Cub packs. Again lots of fun was had...and lots of biscuits consumed I expect!! I think they did ok...they weren't last I don't think?

I think Xander has been taking 'posing ' lessons from his sister??

We went to look around Wimpole Hall which is literally around the corner from here.

The grounds are spectacular, incredibly well kept. Even Simon was impressed!!

Forget what I said about Xander's progress in 'posing'

The boys taking a stroll

The walled garden was also amazingly well maintained and really well protected from the Cambridgeshire wind! Incredibly we found that someone had made a model that looked exactly like Imo designed to scare away the crows!!!

It did a good job too judging by how well the crops were doing. We must put Imo outside more often!

There were spectacular tulips in the garden

Sweet Xander picked up this horse chestnut blossom and gave it to me - even though he is a big 10 year old skateboarding hoody!!

posted by Helen @ 6:40 PM

So it was the morning of Xander's 10th birthday...and who was up early opening the first present???





Xander bought Imo a friend to ride along with her in the over-sized basket on her new bike! Poor Imo has had slap cheek we think - a virus children get sometimes causing them to look like ET (I mean like someone has slapped them around the chops!!!) Another of it's symptoms is joint pain. I had been ignoring her moaning all week that her ankle was twisting....her elbow hurt...that she couldn't point her toes at ballet....etc. She is after all the girl who cries wolf!





Xander got to open his big present next. It was a BIG present. Simon has been promising him since he was about 3 that for his 10th birthday he could have his very own LAPTOP!! I can't show the picture of the unwrapped present immediately after opening as it would just make Simon cross - having a picture of his dishevelled hair first thing in the morning on the blog for all to see!!





The other thing that he really really wanted...

Was a skateboard. He got this great one from Gran'ma and Taid. Sian made him a fantastic Robin Hood outfit - great for archery!! He had time to try the hat and boots on for size before school!

And to try a few moves in the house.....

........

......and at the front of the house. The sun came out especially for his birthday!!!

Much later on....after school and his music lesson he got to blow his candles out. He blew them in one go for the first time ever!!

And later on laptopping with Imo.

So now you can understand why after getting nearly six months behind with the blog I suddenly have time to spend a whole two days catching up!!! I'll be tackling my e mail inbox next!! Guess what?? Imo is now nagging me to have a turn on the computer! She isn't 10 for two more years (and will have to get an awful lot less clumsy before she is trusted with a lap top anyway!!!)

posted by Helen @ 5:40 PM

Our weekends continue to be busy with dancing practises, parties and Cub and Brownie activities and events. Imo has been rehearsing since January as she has a part in a character ballet dance - 'Rumpelstiltskin' entered into the Newmarket Dance Festival by her ballet school this year. It has been lots of fun. She has also been practising the 'Flash Bang Wallop' dance that she was in last year too to be entered for a second year.




Dressed and made up for 'Rumpelstiltskin'!





Back in her 'Flash Bang' costume!




A quick practise before they were called to go on

Imo has been really lucky to be chosen to join in with these sessions as she mixes with lots of girls from different schools and of different ages. She is learning a lot and making friends and having fun.

Xander is really lucky too. The Cub pack he belongs to has particularly talented and dedicated leaders. There is a massive waiting list and he has quite a few friends who haven't managed to get a place at all. He like Imo is learning an awful lot and having fun too. We went to the St George's Day Parade in Willingham on 26th of April. Xander and his friends had enormous fun in the tea and biscuits session afterwards. I think they probably managed to squirrel away more than their fair share of cakes and biscuits. Xander is still the 'sugar king'!!

No wonder he couldn't finish his tea later on!!

posted by Helen @ 5:13 PM

The rest of the Easter holiday went very quickly with good weather mostly which allowed the children to play outside a lot. We had lots of children to play here. Xander is getting better at taking a mobile phone with him and actually answering it even sometimes when I am trying to find out where he is and what he is up to!



Imo and her friend made a nature book collecting leaves etc and identifying them using books and the internet.



A full house for lunch!




The children went to the cinema with their friends in Cambridge and slept over with them. I picked them all up in the morning to come back here for a days play and another sleep over. I think I got a good deal as they were all really good for me. They were tired from the night before and went to bed early and sensibly after a day mostly spent in the park where they all met up with lots of their school friends as well.




Fun on the swings

She may be tired but Imo still retains the energy for over the top exuberance!

Xander and his friends made this fantastic wigwam out of bullrushes next to the ditch behind our house. It stayed up for nearly two weeks before sadly someone pulled it apart.

Sadly too, the last day of the holiday arrived which we spent in Cambridge shopping for new school shoes etc!

Unfortunately the recession has impacted Simon's job. He is therefore now looking for a new opportunity!!

posted by Helen @ 4:38 PM

Mum and Dad spent the Easter Bank Holiday with us. As usual Imo took the opportunity of having a captive audience to make everyone laugh!



Including her Dad!



Imo showed Gran'ma and Taid how she can now ride her bike without having to go to casualty to be glued together again! The demo was not conclusive!!



Imo roped poor Gran'ma and Taid into endless games of 'identity' 'upwords' 'yes/no' and 'Uno' Taid looks as though he is being stretched here?



Imo and Gran'ma doing the First News crossword.

Imo in her lovely outfit Gran'ma and Taid gave her for her birthday

We also spent a day with Mum and Dad at Duxford. I don't seem to have taken many pictures, probably because we have been so many times now since we bought a season ticket last year. It is interesting but we have decided to not renew and give ourselves a break from aeroplanes. Even Xander seems to have seen as many spitfires as he wants to for quite a while - so you can imagine how many months ago I passed that point!

The Blackbird is still my favourite exhibit!

Lots of keyboard playing went on during Mum and Dad's stay. Xander is learning to play Dad's favourite - 'Colonel Bogie' and Imo is learning 'You are my Sunshine' Xander has also been trying his hand at the guitar.

Simon as usual spent his time cooking delicious meals for us all to enjoy!

Mum and Dad did take him (and us) out to Wagamama's in Cambridge to give him a break. We also visited The Fitzwilliam Museum again and the children took part in a trail there to earn a Cadbury's Creme Egg! We also experienced Scotsdale Garden Centre on Bank Holiday Monday!!! PACKED!!! I didn't take photos as Imo borrowed my camera to take her own collection of photos which she might one day publish on the blog??

posted by Helen @ 4:00 PM

At the beginning of the Easter holiday we went to see Val in Wantage for a few days. We met her in Oxford and she took us out for lunch. The children enjoyed their 3 course meal enormously!

We spent the afternoon at the Oxford Natural History Museum. We had hoped to go to the Pitt Rivers Museum too but found that it was closed for refurbishment until 1st May. We last tried to go about 10 years ago and found it also closed for refurbishment that time too..never mind one day we will get there!

The Natural History Museum was great. There were lots of hands on exhibits

Dinosaur footprints, fossils, butterflies...

lots of dead animals for Imo to maul!

Here she is holding hands with a dinosaur

And when we got back to Val's house there were tadpoles for Imo to molest!!! You could definitely see them learning to swim faster as she approached the tank!!

We also went to Pendon museum an indoor model village and railway recreating the Vale of the White Horse in Oxfordshire as it was in 1930s.

The models are incredible with tiny details such as butterflies, birds and animals within the miniature gardens correct in every detail. You can get some idea of scale by looking at Xander's head and the house he is looking at!

The scenes are incredibly realistic. The project was started many years ago and is far from complete. It is a time consuming hobby for all the enthusiasts we could watch at work! We visited Pendon about 10 years ago and it hasn't hugely changed since then. We will have to go back in another 20 or so!!

posted by Helen @ 3:11 PM

As soon as we got Imo's party over with it was time to start planning Xander's 10th! He is having a joint archery party with a good friend of his. We took a few photos of them together for the invitation!









We took the children to several events which were part of the Cambridge Festival of Science this year. We heard Lucy Hawking give a talk about her new children's book written with her father Stephen Hawking. Xander had read and enjoyed their first book that Dick and Avis bought for him a few Christmases ago. Xander and Simon also went to see Prof Chris Bishop (who gave this year's Christmas lectures) talk about computers.

Simon was away in America for the chemistry lecture on water that I had booked for so I took one of Xander's friends who is really interested in science too and gave him Simon's ticket. This was lots of fun with spectacular experiments and explosions! The children loved it and learnt a lot.







Xander went to some other events held at the astronomy department with another friend and his family. Simon filled in a questionnaire about this year's festival and as a result has been involved in a forum to help plan for next years events.

posted by Helen @ 12:25 PM

Xander is really enjoying having keyboard lessons at the Yamaha school based at Comberton Village College - the secondary school that he will hopefully go to. He spends loads of time experimenting, practising, composing his own tunes and just having fun all without me having to nag him!




The children could dress in red for school to raise money on Red Nose Day

Xander even went to his keyboard lesson with red hair!

In March Imo went to Burwell House near Newmarket for a 3 day residential trip with school. She thoroughly enjoyed it. Unlike Xander's trip in December which was mainly outdoor pursuits and physical activities Imo's trip was a gentle introduction to being away from home. They did lots of games, art activities, science experiments and team workshops. She can't wait to go again next year if she has the chance!

We missed her and the house was remarkably quiet!!! but we didn't worry about her as we knew she would be having a great time. I wasn't able to pick her up as I was having patch allergy testing at Addenbrookes hospital. I now know that I am allergic to nickel and to Laurel Gallate which is in lots of cosmetics, creams and some foodstuffs!!!

Imo being a bat for some reason!

Imo likes sewing, she needs to watch her eyes though with cotton that length!

We are still struggling with the school pick and mix homework scheme that no one seems to like or really see the value of but is still being asked of us. It seems to require responsibility and initiative of parents not the children which seems the wrong way around to me (and everyone else I speak to!!)

Imo reading the Guardian with her Daddy!

It tires her out though!!

posted by Helen @ 12:24 PM

The day before Imo's birthday one of her friend's Mum asked her what she was wearing to her party. Imo came home and immediately put together this ensemble complete with a check list!

28th February eventually arrived and Imo got just what she wanted - a pink i pod engraved with her name!!!

She spent the rest of the day shouting at us whilst remaining 'plugged in' to her favourite music- eg George Formby, songs from Shrek, songs from Cabaret and of course all the songs from Abba Gold!!! Xander got a few presents too!

I 'doctored' a Tesco birthday cake with some angelica, icing, sugar balls and a cocktail umbrella to turn it into a teddy bear's picnic cake.

Imo thought that she had her birthday outfit sussed until she opened her present from Sian - this fantastic dress that Sian had made for her! Imo loved it and even more so when she found out that Anna has one exactly the same!

Imo had 15 friends around to make bears with her. They named them, made name tags, birth certificates and got them ready for a teddy bear's picnic on the dining room floor!

We also played a few games - pin the nose on the teddy, pass the parcel... that kind of thing!

Time for the picnic. Xander invited his friend too. She is quite a tomboy and even more horrified to have to sit with lots of imo's 8 year old friends than Xander I think. They found a quiet(ish) corner to 'hide' in and stuff themselves with biscuits to relieve the stress!!

Lots of fun was had by all!

Later that evening......

posted by Helen @ 12:23 PM

The rest of the half term holiday went very quickly with time to play at home - Imo made some newspaper animals.





We met up with friends from school for lunch and a play.




We also planned and designed the invitations for Imo's 8th birthday party. We decided to have a 'make a bear' party. Nikki gave us the idea as India had one for her 9th birthday. Xander crept into the photo!

posted by Helen @ 12:22 PM

I took the children to Malvern at half term. Unfortunately Mum had hurt her back really badly and so couldn't join in with most of the fun that we all had. She has had physiotherapy and is much better now. Her recovery was not hastened by Imo's decision to come dressed in a rather small nurses outfit ready to nurse her Gran'ma back to full health. Hopefully it didn't delay the process too badly!!




Xander and Taid talked physics!



We went to see Nikki, Steve and India for a fun afternoon of creative activity in India's room- (Imo made herself at home as you can see) and a good (but too short) catch up for me and Nikki!






The children made a fabulous dolls house complete with furniture in the time it took me and Nikki to do only about one percent of the confiding and gossiping we'd been looking forward to!!

Imo tried to frighten Mum into getting better!

There is nothing the children nor I like better than to go for a walk on the hills when we are in Malvern. Gran'ma wasn't up to it so Taid and I took the children up to the top of British Camp.

The views were spectacular

The children loved the challenge of climbing up steep slopes.

...and reaching the summit!!

It was fun running down too




The children messed around and roly-polyed down to the bottom causing Xander to feel so giddy that Dad had to stop the car for him to be sick behind a lamp post on the way home!!!

Imo played the 'bongos' at the bottom.

Xander and Imo are allowed to do pretty much anything they like at their generous Gran'ma and Taid's house including tobogganing down the stairs which they have developed to a fine art using a pillow as a sledge! Dad just gets his camcorder out to film them. They would get a different reaction from their Dad if they tried it at home!!!!

A newly painted Victorian pillar box in Malvern.

posted by Helen @ 12:21 PM

We went for a day trip to London. We were up early and amongst the first visitors of the to the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood. This was lots of fun. Simon and I saw lots of familiar toys from our childhood. I didn't have one of these though!







Imo and Xander liked putting iron filing facial hair on these funny faces. Xander made one that looked just like Prof Robert Winston!






The children enjoyed having a go with some old fashioned toys.





The children spent their pocket money on some Victorian cup and ball toys. Xander worked hard to master the skill and by the time we got to Oxford Circus he had got his ball into
his cup 67,000,000 times (or some number like that, so he told me!) Imo and I are still perfecting our technique!!



We went to the Imperial War Museum in the afternoon which was absolutely packed!! Obviously everyone with a year 3 child learning about WW2 at school had decided to turn up on a rare sunny afternoon in February! We didn't stay long, as you really couldn't move!! We will have to go back.

I took this picture because I could not believe that the museum was being renovated. The photos that they take now to cover hoardings are so fantastic it is really hard to distinguish them from the real thing!


Imo made lunch for us one Saturday. We knew that she was opening packets and laying the table but we didn't realise that she had decided to get out the bread knife and do a bit of slicing/massacring. Luckily (and amazingly) no visit to casualty was required - this time!!)

Toasting marshmallows with one of Xander's best friends - with adult supervision!!

The children had to wear their Cub and Brownie uniforms to school to celebrate Thinking Day.

Xander has been doing a few good turns as he has been working on his 'promise' badge for cubs. He hasn't got it ..yet??

Xander and another of his best friends- and their school mascot!

More early morning (before school) antics ready for Thinking Day!!

See what I have to deal with??!!!!

posted by Helen @ 12:20 PM

The school was closed for a few days but decided to reopen on a Friday morning. By 8am another snowstorm had started which lasted all morning. After fighting our way through a blizzard to get to school Simon had to come home from work at lunchtime to avoid being stranded and he hiked down to school to collect the children. I stayed at home awaiting a Tesco grocery delivery which amazingly got here despite worries that they may not get home again!





Imo was a bit cold when she arrived!! She didn't take too long to warm up and go out in it again!







We didn't have the energy to build any more snowmen so Xander played with his remote controlled cars






and we went for walks around sunny, snowy Cambourne

Imo being a figurehead!

Imo posing for the camera and Xander....not!!

The biggest snowman we saw in Cambourne

The frozen marshland of East Anglia?

And a bit more posing!!!

posted by Helen @ 12:19 PM

When we moved here from Bristol we realised that we would have more of a chance of snow in the east than we did in the warmer, wetter, estuarine west. Over the last few years we have experienced more snow here and each year we have had enough to build a snowman or two and even miss a few days of school. This year we have had loads of proper long lasting, thick, beautiful school closing snow!

Xander and Imo were delighted when the school was closed and they got to build snowmen instead!!

The little house started to compete with Sian and Mark's chalet in Lauterbrunnen!!

But I think they beat us by having central heating in theirs'!

The children didn't mind missing literacy and having snowball fights instead!

We built a 'snowimo' complete with 'nobbles'!!

Simon always welcomes a chance to sport his genuine army surplus snow camouflage jacket! Xander was feeling a bit cold here!!

The ungritted Grove was treacherous for weeks, but very pretty! I hardly used the car avoiding all the pranging and knocking down of road signs that went on!

More snow gave us the chance to build new snowmen and renovate the old ones!!

posted by Helen @ 12:18 PM

The Spring term seemed to be particularly busy this year. Imo's year have been learning about World War 2 and dressed up as evacuees. They invited parents to see an evening production at school with 1940's style entertainment and a meal cooked by the children. As usual Imo threw herself in with enthusiasm, looking as always for every opportunity to give us a laugh!!




I don't think they had Wiis to play with in 1940 though!

Xander and his friend decided to make jellybeans from their very own recipe

Xander, Imo and I took part in the Great British Birdwatch for the RSPB. It was raining so we did it through the bedroom window. We didn't see so many birds that particular day although we did see two green woodpeckers at one time! Recently we have seen a Great Spotted Woodpecker again in the hedgerow behind our house. A few days ago we saw a muntjac deer from the bedroom window for the second time...we think he was lost!

The children have continued to keep in touch with their very good friends who moved into Cambridge and to a different school over a year ago . They all get on really well and have great fun sleeping over at our house and theirs!

We got together at another friends house to say goodbye to more good friends from school who were about to move to the Falkland Islands. They have been there for a while now and are settling in really well and keeping in touch with us via e mail. They left just at the end of our hard winter and are just entering another winter in the southern hemisphere!! Hopefully they will time their return so that they get two summers consecutively to make up for it!

posted by Helen @ 12:17 PM

Guess what? I have got dreadfully behind...again!!! I will try, once again to do a big catch up over the next few weeks....I've only got nearly half a year to get through!! Life is busy!!

Early in January Paul and Jane came across country to see us from Bristol. We had a lovely time catching up. Simon did lots of cooking. We all did lots of eating!! Paul spent lots of time programming with Xander while Jane and Imo had fun making crafty things together.

I think Paul may be sampling some of the absolutely delicious very hot chilli pickle that they brought for us in this photo!



We spent an afternoon in the grounds of Anglesey Abbey at the perfect time to see the winter garden at it's very best.



Xander even fitted in a bit of homework photography!

The depths of winter!

Jane and Paul treated us to drinks and cakes in the cafe

posted by Helen @ 11:44 AM

The children were still really enjoying Wii Mario Kart into the New Year! I am not sure that Imo was getting much of a look in though?





Imo finally gets a go!




The day before school restarted for the Spring term it snowed.




There was not very much snow but it looked beautiful in the sunshine and there was enough to have a snowball fight!

Or two!!

Imo got what she deserved from the boys in the end!!!

Then it was back to school and time for some work!

posted by Helen @ 9:21 AM

We drove to Wantage on Christmas Eve and had a nice few days with Val.

Simon opening a present from Xander

Xander was delighted to get this present he was not expecting - an electronic guinea pig called Gupi!! He was planning to spend any Christmas money he might receive on one of these having scrutinised reviews and articles about them on the internet!

Opening presents with Val

Imo over excited about everything as usual!!!

You can tell it is Christmas - goodwill between siblings!

Jonathan and Sarah came over in the evening with Sarah's Mum and Dad - Ron and Anne

We went to see Dick and Avis on Boxing day who also live in Wantage. Sam my cousin Sarah's baby is now a year old and enjoying Christmas..and some attention from Imo?

Mum and Dad came when we got back to Cambridge bringing these great masks (and lots and lots of delicious things and presents!)

Nikki, Steve and India gave Imo this great outfit. It went down well from Christmas well into the New Year!

Mum is getting Wii Fit - hula hooping here!

Dad teaching geography!

Xander opening Christmas presents with Taid

Xander modelling my Christmas cake!

Simon with exciting Christmas books - and his new glasses - now he looks even cleverer than ever and he can even see the print well enough to actually read the books!

Mum learning to use her new camera

Mum and Dad stayed a few days during which they went to see the excellent Cambridge Arts Theatre pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk (this year) with the children. Later I took them to Luton Airport for them to go and spent time in Lauterbrunnen and Zurich with Sian, Mark, Adam and Anna.

Imo and I belatedly made some mince pies

Christmas spirit lasting well

Imo has obviously found being good over Christmas too much of a strain- she felt she had to have a change from her Santa Baby outfit

Sian and Mark bought Imo a CD of Cabaret. Here she is performing 'If you could see her through my eyes' in double sided dress just like Wayne Sleep did (only even louder!)

We dressed up to go to a New Year's Eve party at some very good friends house in Cambourne

posted by Helen @ 8:20 PM

As a special Christmas treat Simon bought us tickets to go ice skating at the Tower of London. Simon meant to book for 11am but accidentally clicked on and bought tickets for 10am. It was hard to get up in the dark on the first Sunday of the holiday and head into London. All the trains were on time and we were there by 9am!

In the end we were really glad to be there so early as the rink was nice and quiet for our session. As we left the 11am people were queueing to get in and there were masses of them, they could hardly move when they got on to the ice - We will be getting up early again next year to be first on the rink!




Imo geared up!





Xander got the hang of it very quickly. He had never been ice skating before but is an excellent rollerblader so did not take long to start lapping everyone else



Imo took a bit longer to 'find her feet' I am soaking here as she managed to pull me over once!!! She was whizzing around by herself by the end of the session. Simon didn't get too many photos of our later more expert skating as he was freezing by then and in the cafe queuing for coffee!!

Watching the 11am lie in people fighting for skating space!

We went to the 'Thai (all you can eat) Buffet' (as Imo calls it!!) that we had found on a previous trip off Tottenham Court Road for a treat lunch afterwards. The children certainly managed 'all they could eat'- especially Imo!!

We had a walk in the West End to look at lights and fantastic shop window displays especially in Liberty and Selfridges

Back in Cambridge I took Xander and Imo to see Beauty and the Beast at the Cambridge Corn Exchange with the Brownies - Xander didn't have to wear a uniform!! I didn't inflict the Brownies on Simon this year!

Because we were going to spend Christmas in Wantage with Simon's Mum we let the children open their main present just before Christmas! It was a Wii Fit - we realised that they wouldn't be able to use it in Wantage as Grandma doesn't have a Wii! We also realised that if the children were occupied on the Wii Simon and I would be able to get on with last minute jobs like cake icing, present wrapping and even last minute present making in my case - I had promised Mum a peg bag but hadn't actually managed to make it until the last minute!

The children love the Wii Fit - It kept them happy, occupied and exercised!!! Xander woke up very stiff the following day having spent over 3 hours jogging, skiing, tight rope walking... Wii Fit only records up to 3 hours activity per person per day they do not want to be liable for people over doing it!!

posted by Helen @ 1:05 PM

Imo in her choir costume for Melody Bear's Christmas

On stage

Most clubs and after school activities had finished for Christmas by the last week of term so the children had the chance to have even more friends to tea!

Imo and her friend playing with hair bobbles high up in Imo's bed!

Our Christmas really begins every year when we get together with Nikki, Steve and India. This year they came over the day the children broke up from school and Simon finished work

As you can see great fun was had by all. Nikki usually manages to reduce us all - even Simon to tears with her stories of everyday life in Worcestershire!!!

She even reduced herself to tears this year!!!

Sadly breakfast time came too quickly and they had to leave

Never mind they had got us all (even Simon) in the mood for Christmas!

posted by Helen @ 12:58 PM

While Xander was in Norfolk Imo made her Brownie promise and so is now a fully fledged Brownie - She is supposed to be doing a few more good turns than she is managing I suspect!




A wrapped up very warm Xander returned with lots of stories to tell.

Here he is relating tales of archery and climbing walls to Gran'ma and Taid!




The washing machine was on over-drive for days!!



The children are still having fun with friends sleeping over




Imo was getting rather excited about the prospect of Christmas by early December!!

Xander went tobogganing with the cubs on an extremely cold (-4 ) night in December. It was very atmospheric we really felt like we were in the Alps - not at an army base in Cambridgeshire!!

Hot tomato soup and rolls afterwards went down extremely well!

It has been so cold this winter. Too cold and icy to ride bikes for quite a while! We have walked to school on days when the roads are so icy that it feels safer to avoid them altogether!

Our route to school and Xander warming his cheeks on a hand warmer

We went for a very quick trip to Malvern as Mum and Dad bought us all tickets for Wayne Sleep's Cabaret which came to Malvern on tour after they had seen in earlier in the year in Birmingham. Mum and Dad were in Stratford seeing a play on Friday night and only got home at midnight. We had to leave on Saturday night as Imo was in the ballet school choir for the smaller children's Christmas production. We therefore only had a very short time with them - just time to go and see Taid playing the trombone with the band outside Waitrose in Malvern, to see Cabaret and eat a delicious meal cooked by Gran'ma!

Cabaret was absolutely excellent - we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Imo is working on the songs and choreographing her routines!!

While Imo sang in the choir the following day Simon put up the Christmas lights and made this great Chilli wreath!!

posted by Helen @ 12:40 PM

Imo has also been busy practising for her ballet exam. As you can see she has been enjoying herself. These photos are from the day of the exam in the special RAD uniform.









Sometimes little sisters are keen to join in - no sign of Imo's big brother at the ballet lessons though!

Later on we worked on numeracy homework in Morrisons!

More science experimenting has been going on...

...and making of sweets (and sticky mess!!!!)

Xander went to Hilltop from 1st to the 4th December for a school residential trip. It is an outdoor adventure centre in Norfolk. It was absolutely freezing for the entire trip. All the mothers (not just me!!) were really worried about their children freezing to death as all the activities were outdoor. They did some climbing, orienteering, zip wire riding, nature walks, night rambles...lots and lots of exciting things. Xander had a great time sharing a bedroom with 3 of his really good friends. They had to take an awful lot of kit - I had an enormous pile of clothes to sew name labels on to! He could just about get to school with it all!

I really really missed him and so did Imo - she cried when she came home from school on the day that he left as it was so strange at home without him! The school kept us up to date on progress with a nightly blog entries which kept us going until Thursday night when they returned! I am sure Simon missed him greatly too he just wasn't quite so vocal about it!!

posted by Helen @ 11:59 AM

I couldn't believe it when it was already time to design our Christmas cards again! We decided to marble a winter sky to show up silhouette skylines. We were inspired by the children's Usborne Christmas piano book that Mum gave them which has lovely Christmas silhouettes in it.



Xander directing operations!

Still working on them!

We also had to fit in a bit of homework- you can see how pleased Imo was to do hers!

It was more fun making the Christmas cake!

She is also much happier when she has friends to play!

Our weekends have been very busy ferrying Imo to ballet and Modern dance practises in Cambridge, ready for exams. One weekend she had an hour between sessions so she and her friends watched Shrek together!

Trying out the Modern dance exam uniform for the mock!

Messing around and practising on the day of the exam!

A few people have expressed concern about Imo doing exams aged 7, asking whether she really needs that sort of pressure. As you can see although they work hard and it is all very professionally done and taken seriously the girls have an awful lot of fun together!

posted by Helen @ 6:07 PM

Xander and his friends enjoy experimenting - They usually choose to do so in the middle of the kitchen when I am when I am up to my eyes in cooking!!!

Imo likes to join in if she is possibly permitted!

Imo 'holding her own' (as usual) at the dinner table!

We have been having fun joining in with 'Gordon Ramsey's Cook Along Live.' We record the programme in order to pause it to give us time to cook and actually eat the food. Also to make sure the children learn how to cook from Gordon and not add to their repertoire of vocabulary!!!

Xander is very adept with a knife

Imo doesn't possess her brothers appreciation of the care needed or any idea of subtlety!

We gave her a go with a knife - "Look 10 fingers!" (surprisingly!)

Simon takes his 'Gordon' role seriously!

posted by Helen @ 2:21 PM

We had a day in Cambridge doing jobs like getting feet measured and shoes checked but also had a treat lunch out at the Cornish Pasty Shop!

Simon's Mum came to visit for a few days. We took her to see the Wysing Arts Centre's latest exhibition - a walking house fully equipped with wood burning stove, water supplies and a bed. It also walks around the countryside - unfortunately it's computer had broken down and it wasn't walking anywhere the day we went!!

It was still fun though!

The children joined a workshop afterwards

We had another visit to Duxford Aircraft Museum and a chilly picnic in a little bit of sunshine we found on a cold wintery day!

We carved a pumpkin for Halloween - or rather I did- impressed?

Dressing up for Halloween!

Imo and Grandma

Imo went to a girly make up and nail varnish type party and came back looking very glam!

And another party!

Back to school - and back to the usual mayhem of getting up early and making sure everyone has all they need and no one is injured in the process!

posted by Helen @ 9:08 AM

After our long weekend in Malvern we had a few quiet half-term days at home. This pheasant?(I've never seen one this colour before!) decided to walk along the rail of the little bridge we look down on from our bedroom window! We have been enjoying even more wildlife from here lately, apart from the rabbits and common garden birds that we see all the time we have also had a deer walking around! The Fieldfares, Redwings and Mistlethrushes also returned this winter and we regularly see Green Woodpeckers, wrens and even a Great Spotted Woodpecker on a few occasions!

We went with school friends to Ickworth house (a National Trust property) in Suffolk. We joined a great kite making workshop which the children loved and had even more fun testing them out on the lawns!

Imo exuberant (as ever!)

Xander in full flight!

Working on the second type of kite

Getting ready for take off!

The children went home very happy and tired, so an excellent day all in all!

posted by Helen @ 1:44 PM

Xander and his friend love science. They decided to work towards their Cub scientist badge one day after school. The hob has not been the same since after their experiments with various sticky kitchen materials!

Xander went to an all day Cub activity day near to St Ives. He did all sorts of exciting activities, orienteering, climbing, backwoods cooking and here he is canoeing!

Imo is still keen on telly!

We went to see Mum and Dad in Malvern for the weekend. The children had fun in Worcester City Museum dressing up in army gear!

Imo having even more fun!

It was another beautiful weekend. Here is a view of the Severn from the Cathedral

And one of the cathedral!

Imo standing in for a missing tree!!

Relaxing back in Malvern!

Engrossed in books in Malvern Library

A familiar view of Taid!

Sunday lunch!

Naturally Imo is enjoying hers enormously!!

This was the first weekend of half term. Sadly Simon had to go back to work on the Monday but the rest of us were on holiday!

posted by Helen @ 12:32 PM

Finally, as promised a few photos from September. Xander and Imo had fish and chips for tea before we drove him to Ipswich for his first Cub camp.









He spent two nights there in cold but sunny weather and had a really good time. He was really really tired when he came back on Sunday evening!

We went to Pizza Hut in Ipswich on the way home much to Imo's delight!!

We had a very quiet weekend with only Imo at home. We spent it doing things like making octopuses from the Guardian's weekend comic!! We really missed Xander it seemed very strange without him!

I didn't seem to manage to take a photo of him on his return. He went straight into the bath and then bed (and straight to sleep)!!!

Fun with friends after school!

We went to London at the end of September to visit the Royal Observatory and Maritime Museum in Greenwich. It was a beautifully sunny day so very nice for our picnic in the park!

Imo having yet more fun with her friends!

Coming soon (ish!) October, a weekend in Malvern and Halloween!

posted by Helen @ 11:33 AM

Apologies to anyone receiving a Christmas card, referring to the URL on it and expecting to find some recent news on our blog - I am afraid I am very behind schedule!!

Now I have all the cards safely posted (nearly!) and only the local ones to write and send I should find a bit of time in the next few days to put up a few more recent photos! Another reason for lack of blogging has been that our computer recently went wrong and eventually totally expired! It had to be replaced and I haven't quite got to grips with the new software and how to upload photos using it!

I am always talking about books with friends - especially Nikki and Mum so I thought it might be interesting to list the novels that I have been reading this year. I get to read for half an hour in the car as I wait for the children to come out of school (on the days that we don't manage to cycle.) You still have to go half an hour early to get a parking place and make sure to avoid the road rage that develops down there everyday! For the same reason we need to go early if we go by car in the mornings - so far we are up to and half way through 'Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix' hoping to finish soon and then get through the next (No 6!!!) in time for it's film release!

Here are the books I have read in 2008

Headlong - Michael Frayn

Great Expectations -Charles Dickens

On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

A Wedding In December - Anita Shreve

Notes from an Exhibition - Patrick Gale

The Gathering - Anne Enright

The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd

The Welsh Girl - Peter Ho Davies

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Husseini

Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones

Sepulchre - Kate Mosse

The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Attwood

The Idea of Perfection - Kate Grenville

The Woodlanders - Thomas Hardy

Labyrinth - Kate Mosse

The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards

I have now finished card posting, cake decorating, very last minute Christmas present making (Mum!!).... but sadly haven't found time to blog so will have to catch up between Christmas and New Year!

Have been really enjoying all the letters and photos I have received with Christmas cards, Thanks so much.

Merry Christmas!!!!

posted by Helen @ 9:23 AM

Phew!!! This is the last little group of photos I have got to put on the blog (for a short while.) I will try not to get so behind again and will also try to get up to date finally with my e mails, apologies to everyone who has been waiting for a very long time.

Xander has been getting ready for a two night Cub camp in Ipswich.

In this photo he is on his way to Cubs for a pre-camp kit inspection. He can just about walk to the car with it all!!!

It is quite tiring being back at school all day!

Coming soon. Photos of Xander arriving in Ipswich for two nights of fun, midnight feasts and very little sleep!

posted by Helen @ 11:34 AM

A few days back at school and the summer holiday seems a really long time ago!

Xander and Imo 'growing' beards in the bath.

The children don't seem too miserable to be back to the grind though! Still smiling at bath-time!

More fooling!

Bacon and Egg for a treat Sunday breakfast.

In case you are wondering Imo has not been extra good.... She just likes dressing up as an angel at weekends.

..and playing with her Barbies.

Xander has been waiting months for a new computer game to be released called 'Spore'. He and his friends love it. It is supposed to be very educational (so the Guardian says!) as it is all about evolution. Perhaps he'll be a geneticist like his aunt and uncle?? (Or maybe a computer software expert like his Dad?)

Back to after school friends to tea.

Checking the ballet uniform fits!

It didn't, she needed a new character skirt to wear for her ballet exam coming up in November. She never wears this cardigan I took hours making for her either!

I don't think this routine would go down very well in the exam! Maybe she could get a part in a French and Saunders sketch?

posted by Helen @ 11:08 AM

All too soon it was September 2nd!

First Day exuberance?

It is still difficult to get them through the door looking neat and tidy with my sanity intact!!

posted by Helen @ 10:46 AM

There was time for one more sleep-over before school started again.

Watching 'Monsters Inc' with pop corn.





Breakfast time! (Xander's still finishing his pop corn!)




Our friends who moved up to the Peak District called back to Cambourne to meet up with lots of their friends from school in the park. It was great for all the children to be together again.

It was a bit sad saying goodbye though. We are hoping to see them again soon!

posted by Helen @ 10:40 AM

Our holiday was over much too quickly so we tried to extend it by going for a picnic at Anglesey Abbey before Simon went back to work.




It was a bit chilly..we needed our jumpers!



A sculpture in the grounds.




On 27th August it was Simon's birthday. We decided to cook a meal for him. The only problem was that he had a late meeting in London that evening. We decided to still go ahead but Simon's meeting ran on and he was even later than expected.

We didn't start our 3 course 'gourmet' meal until nearly 10pm. The children didn't mind waiting though, in fact they found the whole thing really exciting. They planned the menu, helped with the cooking, laying the table and even making place markers. We had prawn cocktail as a starter, coconut chicken for the main course and birthday cake for dessert. We had to save the special ice cream for another day as everyone was full and Simon hadn't opened any presents yet!!!





Xander and Imo having a birthday meal in pyjamas!





Finally, at 11pm Simon finally gets to open his presents!





As usual Imo is more excited than the birthday boy!




Xander made Simon an amazingly intricate origami type card!





I think Simon liked it!





Prawn cocktail for lunch the following day, Xander's favourite!




We went to Cardiff for the final weekend of the holiday to meet up with Simon's Mum, her brothers and sister and all their children and grandchildren. We met up for a meal in a restaurant in Cardiff Bay. We stayed over-night in a hotel and walked into the bay area for an Indian buffet meal when we arrived on the Friday night.

Xander has definitely inherited our taste for spicy food!

We walked around the bay.

Enjoying the sculptures, and creating our own?

Imo decided to have a shower in this one!

There were loads of things to climb on, climb up and jump off which made Xander and Imo extremely happy!

Posing outside 'Eddie's' Diner!

A Welsh Dragon in the Millennium Arts Centre.

I liked the architectural details.

Outside the Millennium Centre.

Simon took this before he had a beer!

The children all sat together and made friends quickly even though Xander and Imo had not met any of them previously.

Val and her sister Sue.

Jonathan with the children.

Val's brother Richard took all the children for a ride on the carousel in the harbour.

Heading back to the restaurant.

The boys drawing together.

Imo posing with Grandma's glasses!

posted by Helen @ 9:53 AM

We were really sad when our holiday came to an end. A week was too short, but 2 weeks was too expensive!!!

We went back to Lafranc for a snack on the sea front and a last dip in the Med!

Simon looking adoringly at his children!







Our last day was a very cloudy one that culminated with a massive thunderstorm later in the evening.





The sea was warm though! Xander loves swimming in the sea and amazed us with his confidence swimming out of his depth in the sea when he is really not keen on going too deep in swimming pools.






Water babies!





A last view of our villa.






A last swim in the pool!

Xander took a photo of me on our last evening!

Water melon for dessert.

Waiting for the plane in Barcelona.

'Cheers!' Xander on the plane home.

posted by Helen @ 9:42 AM

We went to Figueras to take the children to the Dali Museum. I had visited it a few times before and knew it would appeal to the children. I was right - it really did!!Dali created the museum in an old theatre in the centre of Figueras and filled it with all sorts of weird objects, sculptures as well as some of his paintings. He is even buried there!




We queued for ages to get in...

....So long the children had time for an ice cream

Inside the courtyard of the museum.

Dali's famous Mae West living room - from the side....

...and throught the special viewing window you have to climb stairs to reach!

Lunch in Figueras

The streets of Figueras

Back home for another swim!

Xander is a really good swimmer now. He has a certificate for 100 metres from school!

We visited a lovely botanic garden on the coast at Cap Roig

There were beautiful views of the Mediterranean from the gardens.

We got plenty of inspiration for developing our own garden. All we need is a bit more sun and a lot less wind!

posted by Helen @ 9:18 AM

It didn't take us long to settle into our villa. We quickly found our bearings, made sure the washing machine worked, found the locations of the local supermarkets (and which were the good ones) and found the ant powder and used it!! Disappointingly we still have not found anywhere apart from a market in Calpe last year that sells olives that are even as nice as the ones we get in Tescos!!!

Simon relaxing by the pool

Xander and Imo not relaxing in the pool!

and drying out afterwards!

Unlike at home this year we had a barbecue nearly every night in Spain!

Satellite spotting!

We drove over the border into France and up into the Pyrenees for a picnic one day. It wasn't a brilliant idea though. It seemed to be some sort of public holiday and we sat in an enormous traffic jam with hundreds of French cars for much of the day!

The picnic was fun though, if a little primitive - We used a newspaper as a tablecloth!

Back to the beach the next day....unfortunately I brought buckets, spades, goggles, floats... but left the swimming costumes on the line at home!!!

It was very sunny so they soon dried off!

..and I did remember the towel!

Imo enjoying lunch of Spanish bread, chorizo, jamon serrano, Manchego cheese and the long wiggly things coming out of her mouth are eels!!!

Jumping in and out of swimming pools makes you tired after a while!!!

She was soon awake again though and back to cuddling/tormenting her brother!

The table is set

Steak and chips

posted by Helen @ 2:19 PM

One of the first things we did on arrival was to make sure the barbecue was in working order and that we had charcoal in stock!

Imo having just enjoyed her first Spanish barbecue this year!

Making sandcastles with moats.

Simon texting on the beach

Simon bought the children this dolphin which they christened Enrico!

Unbelievable play value for 7 euros!

I can't tell you how many times Imo went in and out of the water...she has got incredible energy!

Simon rigged up a rope to give the children rides around the pool on Enrico.....at top speed!

We went for a wander around Girona and a drive around the school that I used to teach at. Girona old town seemed relatively unchanged. Still very picturesque and interesting. It was nice to be back and made me want to go back again and spend a bit longer there.

The steps up to the cathedral.

A long way down

pizza on las ramblas

Apartments hanging over the river, with the cathedral looming above.

Imo and her Daddy.

posted by Helen @ 10:27 AM

We were very pleased to leave the miserable English weather in the middle of August for a trip to Spain. This year we went to a villa in Calonge near Palamos on the Costa Brava in the province of Girona where I spent some time teaching in 1989.

We had to get up at 3am to get to Stansted for our flight to Barcelona. getting up early was more exciting this year as we had the chance to watch Michael Phelps and Rebecca Addlington win gold medals live in Bejing as we got ready!




on the shuttle bus




Breakfast at Starbucks!

Imo excited by arriving in Barcelona!

We couldn't believe the grey skies of Spain though. There was even a spot of rain as we waited to collect the keys to the villa on the beach at Lafranc. The children didn't seem to care though and went straight into the sea!

It is a beautiful beach and very untouristy. It was a shame our costumes were packed in the suitcases in the car!

Never mind Imo doesn't mind stripping down to her pants and jumping in!

Luckily the sun came out the following day as we settled into our villa!

The view from the garden of the (dry) River Calonge.

Our own very small and also rather cool pool. Xander and Imo did not seem to notice that it was cold!!!

posted by Helen @ 10:11 AM

Even though it was cold and pouring with rain Xander and his friend decided to go outside and have a water balloon fight! I wasn't brave enough to go out in the rain to photograph the actual battle, only the boys recovering afterwards with mugs of hot chocolate and towels!



Simon has been confiscating toys from Imo's bed for the last few months as 'punishment' for biting her nails. Another toy went every time he had an inspection and found evidence of naughtiness!!! This particular strategy has not really been working. Imo's nails continue to be nibbled and Simon can't get his kitchen equipment out without encountering hundreds of fluffy gonks (he was 'holding' them in a kitchen cupboard!) He decided to abandon his policy and Imo was reunited with her 'friends' I'm not sure what he is going to try next..pizza deprivation? telly bans (that might work on Mrs Square Eyes)

She was quite pleased to see them all again

Cuddles with daddy!

Imo had friends to play and sleep over! Xander is keeping his distance!

He might get his hair beaded or sprayed with perfume if he goes too near to them!

More sleep overs and some dolls house play.

Xander and his friends designing monsters

tea time

more 'computering'

The trouble is not much sleeping goes on during sleep overs..but quite a lot of catching up goes on during the following days!!

posted by Helen @ 9:54 AM

We went back to Wicksteed Park again with two other families from school. Despite it pouring with rain several times during the day a great time was had by all!

We picnicked in torrential rain under a tree with our macs on!

The children loved being together..

...throwing buckets of water at each other

..and going on dare-devil rides

Chatting at the car before leaving for home.

posted by Helen @ 9:43 AM

While the hot weather lasted we made sure to make use of the paddling pool in Papworth Everard with some of our friends from school.

We had a play in the park afterwards

The dolls house has provided good entertainment value this summer.

As had Xander's Etch a Sketch. He spends hours doing very detailed drawings.

The children spent a lot of time with school friends this summer..conducting science experiments together...

..playing Nintendo games...

...and juggling!

We haven't managed to see much of Mum and Dad lately but they did come down for a quick visit at the beginning of the holidays. They came to baby-sit while Simon and I went to London overnight to see 'Wicked' at the Apollo Theatre, Victoria.

We went to celebrate our 11th wedding anniversary. The weather had changed by then though and I didn't manage to take many photos in the rain! The show was really good though and it was great to have a bit of a break from routine.

The Battle of Britain Memorial on the Embankment.

The set of 'Wicked' as we waited for the curtain to go up!

Back at home with Gran'ma...

..and Taid

Imo decided to be a nurse for the day!

Nobbly knee competition? Xander modelling my real Dutch clogs which now fit him exactly. They were my souvenir from a trip to Holland when I was about his age!

Thank goodness no one showed any sign of illness!!

posted by Helen @ 9:24 AM