Happy Birthmas? Happy Christday?

6th April, as you know, is Victoria's birthday.  Last year was a beautiful spring day, we even barbecued!

This year it started doing this by 8:30am.

As Callum and I put the finishing touches to the birthday cake he asked "Does this mean it is Christmas?"

By the time we had finished I begun to wonder myself!  This is the back of our house.

Armed with a carrot, a few lumps of coal and some knitwear, we did the only thing you can do when it snows in the springtime.

After all the fun in the snow we came back into the warm to warm up and cut the cake.  A wonderful, and slightly unusual, day.

Home Alone

Victoria and the children are still in Scotland (back on Friday) so I am fending for myself!  On Sunday I took myself off for a walk on the Downs.  It was lovely, despite the driving snow at times and biting wind.

The weather put pay the the beautiful views.

I happened upon Charleston Farm, which was home to some of the Bloomsbury set.

And I also passed Firle Place - which was nice!

Pumpkin Update

Looking good!

Lally

Just wanted to say that I walked Lally home on Friday night after a great party.  

Let me say that again.......  

I WALKED Lally home on Friday NIGHT after a great PARTY.

90 my a@*e!!!!!

More Easter Fun

Granny Sue sent the children some things to make easter egg 'animals', so yesterday Vic, Callum and Charlotte set about making them.

Spot the chocolate around Callum's mouth.  Mmmmm chocolate!

Here are the little fellas.  Names please......

Easter Egg Hunt

We are in Scotland staying with Grandma and Poppa.  Karen and Andres are also here with their three.

Yesterday we had an Easter Egg hunt.  A little earlier than normal due to crazy weather (we have had wind, rain, sleet and snow in just 24 hours!).

Callum and Leah get stuck in.

More hunting!

Each of the children had their own special bag.

Once all the eggs had been found we had a bit of a party in the kitchen with lots of dancing!

Great Pictures from the Weekend

Callum, sporting not only a new haircut, but also a rather fetching utility belt for catching bugs.   Thank you Uncle Richard and Meg!

Heading down to the beach with Granny and Grandpa

Just a little bit cute....

Helping Uncle Adam blow out his birthday candles.

And my personal favourite - the children of the revolution enjoying a beautiful day

Trains, Bikes and Pasta

Last week Grandma and Poppa came to visit.  Callum and Charlotte were keen to show Poppa the fish at the Sea Life Centre.

Callum doing his best Uncle Richard impression.

Charlotte enjoying lunch .

Callum's train set is getting bigger and bigger with more track and now a bridge - very cool.

Pumpkins

We've gone all horticultural  in the last week or so.  Little green fingers everywhere.

Once the seeds were potted they needed a little water to help them settle in.

The first signs of life!  

Keep checking back to watch these beauties grow.  Could be championship stuff!!

The Crazy Bunch!

Trail Interupted

How cool was that?! Of course, it meant that we could not get round the trail due to the clear and present danger to our lives!!!!!

If you go down to the woods......

Updated: Just realised that I have posted these the wrong way round - nevermind!

Last weekend we spent in Herefordshire, where we enjoyed the most fantastic weather (for this time of year anyway!).

On Saturday we drove down to the Forest of Dean to explore a Sculpture Trail.


Callum managed to resurect his base jumping career....

....and Uncle Adam thought he would try it. Judging by Callum's expression - not that impressed!


We love the self timer.

Adam, Hanah and Callum looking cool by one of the sculptures.

We did not get to see all the art becuase....................................

Pancake Day!!

We love pancakes.......

Callum helps with the prep - squeezing the lemon juice.


I go first in the tossing contest........

Then Vic storms to victory - look at the hight on that!

But of course, the real pleasure is in the eating!

It must be spring

Well, maybe not..............however, it was a beautiful day

Bright, but cold.......

Last Saturday was beautiful, with clear blue skies and lovely sunshine. However, it was still bitterly cold!

In the morning we investigated the beach - still plenty of timber about.


Callum had a birthday party to go to in Ditchling that afternoon, so we met with Frank and Shona and their boy Finlay at Ditchling Beacon for a brisk walk on top of the downs.

It were blimin' cold!

In the evening we had friends for dinner (Ben and Dinnah and Bee and Simon) Great fun, and lots of wine!

Down on the Beech!

Finally I can load these pictures taken yesterday - although for some reason I cannot add them to yesterday's post!

Here Charlotte surveys the timber that has been washed ashore - not as much as in Worthing, but still....

Callum and I quickly set about building our own house!

And here is the proud new owner!

We left the house on the beach and as we walked home, took some pleasure in other people photographing our handy work!

Perfect Sunday

Today was a very old fashioned kind of Sunday.  It involved clearing the garden and going to the dump in the morning, followed by a stunning Sunday lunch and an afternoon on the beach.

For some reason the pictures will not load - so I will have to try again tomorrow. 

When we got to the beach we were quite surprised - it even made the news.