Turn on the dark

December previous« »next year

Another Christmas looms into view. One or two hard frosts but no snow. The dark evenings are not welcome and I turn to four wheeled transport. This year we enjoy the goodwill evening in town featuring an ice rink, parade and a meal in the Penny Farthing Cafe.

Christmas itself arrives too soon and despite talking about making serious plans we pretty much stumbled into it; or perhaps that was just me because work is manic. Still we enjoyed it. Excellent Christmas fayre - thank you wifey. My favourite present was either my Wombles CD or my stylophone.

I also managed a trip to Anfield - they drew!

November previous« »next month

Lovely autumn colours and again a struggle to capture the natural beauty of the trees as they prepare for the cold months. We enjoyed a stroll around our local park and I took a few photographs of the many trees.

This month we visited Nottingham on a lovely autumn Saturday. The castle was a disappointment but David enjoyed some time in the Warhammer shop. I visited the City Ground for a great match. Then we called in to see great granddad and get some of Stapenhill's sublime fish and chips. We were happy to engulf the car in its aromas for many days!

October previous« »next month

We start off with a trip to the Great Western Lego Show in Swindon at their Steam Museum. Fantastic exhibits and a fun day.

Weird weather, talk of erratic! and it gets dark too :-( Struggling to shake off an annoying cough and then I crack a tooth! At least by bonfire night its a bit warmer but then it rains. The wind on the other hand seems to persist.

I visited a couple of south coast football clubs while the light remains in the early evening and then joined my brother-in-law to visit the blues in Macclesfield. David is still enjoying his BattleSports and now swimming again on Saturdays.

September previous« »next month

School is back! End the month with another stunning birthday bash. I get a horrible infection in my throat glands and besides a local non league match I don't manage any footy this month.

August July« »Sept.

Wow the football starts so early this year and so we have day of football and Sky Diving. I take a train from Milton Keynes to see Northampton Town start their season at Sixfields. David and E enjoy the entertainment MK has to offer after we all grab some food and I depart northward. En route home we revisit a lovely Little Chef outside Oxford - mmm, the pancakes.

Unfortunately David then breaks a bone (spring branch style) playing in the park. So days in a soft plaster and then weeks in a hard one. :-(

July June« »Aug.

And the sun arrives, well it does but so does the wind and the rain. Anyway we enjoy a rare evening without the little man as he sleeps over with friends. We try another local Indian and then enjoy the DVD of the 1992 film, Sneakers with Robert Redford and Mary McDonnell - great fun.

For a third week in a row we have a different Sensei but still each one was a good training session so you can't complain.

June previous« »next month

This month should be sunny and I am not normally a summer person, I prefer autumn, but the weather this month is not what we expect. The wind has been strong and the rain persists, regularly. Yesterday it started off with high hopes and glorious sunshine - togged up in my biking gear I was very warm. By mid afternoon I was glad of my protective clothing and newly purchased neck guard (or snood to others).

Anyway to family matters, David joined the ranks of our local Cub Scouts and is now in a 'six'. Wifey and me enjoyed the investiture then wandered off to enjoy a local hostelry and some sausage and mash, just the job on a rainy evening. The little man was enjoying rushing around on a treasure hunt in the woods and drizzle (will it ever stop?).

The garden is very green and in a bit of a rush I just managed to mow the lawn between showers. E's efforts on patching the front lawn have paid dividends as it looks 'lush' (a very local phrase that one - used for all sorts of praiseworthy things). My blackcurrant bush is showing fruit and E's spring onions have sprung!

The lawn in the back garden almost looks complete but some patching will be required. Also there is no hiding the fact we used different seed on one half of the lawn. Next time we doing turf, or maybe not because some areas are glorious lovely grass.

May previous« »next month

Last month should have had the rain but getting more this month, though still not much. Worse is the wind. Not enjoying biking through the gusts to be honest, still I have found new route to avoid the motorway. Otherwise the lawn is still not complete but the flower beds are vibrant and E's vegetable patch is producing.

The month starts with a trip to Southend to see the Brewers assure themselves of League Two safety. Not a bad trip, still road works on the M25 but then isn't that always true?

The little man joins the cubs and is off out into the wilderness - real boys' stuff.

The month ends with another birthday and I get dragged around the shops by my daughter while my wallet gets lighter. Also we visit my brother and maybe for the last time the pet rats in the house. And we bump into my twin nieces at Dad's before they jetted off back to Staffs.

April previous« »next month

Sunshine and we think summer is here! We visit the After Dark special at Legoland. A very long day that tired out the little man but was fun. We meet Darth Maul and see some laser magic.

We later journey to Milton Keynes, separating, me to the Dons and the others to an amusement park. We had a good day and saw some more of our country and another Little Chef, thanks Heston - we liked it. The service at both places was friendly and helpful; the food tasty enough and good value.

We do it again stopping at the Worcester one on the way back from the Telford area. I saw a goalless drawn in Shrewsbury while the other two enjoyed better fayre at the Blists Hill. The journey showed us more of our lovely countryside as we travelled through Stourbridge and then on into the green but empty Shropshire, both are nice enough.

As we have a special visitor we make a visit to the nearby Art in Nature museum one Sunday. Pleasantly peaceful and I buy a lovely print from the artist in residence of some sparrows.

March previous« »next month

The sun laughingly shows its face but never for long enough to believe spring is actually here. The builders start on their landscaping of the front of the old cricket field. I prepare for sowing the grass seed to complete our lawn at the back, Elizabeth starts buying plants (flowers) and David brings home a trumpet - ominous

We visit my Granddad twice second time journeying down 'The Fosse Way' after some excellent 'Fish and Chips'. The initial visit saw us take in the National Space Centre in Leicester; well worth a visit if not two!

February previous« »next month

The winter continues. People go down with rhino virus. We start on painting the bathrooms. We see some more of Birmingham and its locales.

Cardiff has some lovely spots and via Dr Who exhibition we visit some. This day out included crossing both Severn Bridges and The Red Dragon Centre!

January previous« »next month

Hey! the snow has gone. It comes back briefly as folk return to work and school. And then the wind and rain return to replace the beauty of the white landscape, shame. Thoughts must now turn to finishing the garden but too soon for sowing more lawn seed so the patio must be complete first.

We all joined my Dad in celebration of a milestone in a lovely pub in the Lune Valley. The joy of family - nice. As usual the motorways of Britain proved packed and slow, officially due to 'sheer volume of traffic'. Getting on your bike to find work has its down side when it takes you further from your family.

I visit Reading, The Hawthorns and Swansea this month. The family joined me in Brum to visit a Pantomime. We'll be back. Oh no you won't! Anyway the Bull Ring isn't bad and Birmingham centre is quite nice as city centres go.