Steve's Birthday 2007

It was Steve's birthday this weekend so on Saturday night we went out with our long-lost friends to an old favourite haunt - The Empire.

It's Gav's birthday a few days before Steve's so it was a joint celebration. We had a lovely meal and they treated us really well with an impromptu birthday cake and free port! - what more could you ask for!

Steve's actual birthday was on Sunday and because it has rained on the 22nd July for the last 32 years we planned ahead and instead of trying to bar-be-que in the rain we decided to go out for lunch.


So naturally the day was bright and fair and it didn't rain all day. Still we had a lovely lunch and it was nice not to have to do a big shop or do all that washing up too!

The kids had a wonderful time playing in the gardens of the restaurant - it's amazing how much fun you can have with a lamppost when you're young eh!

And after lunch we came home and played in the garden for the rest of the day.

A Great Weekend Had By All

Everyone had a lovely time this weekend. The kids were having a sleepover at Granny & Grandads and Steve and I were having a lie-in!!

The kids went off to Granny's at about 9am and by all accounts they had a lovely day at the Splash Park in Maldon.

That night they all slept in Granny's caravan - on their driveway! - They had discussed taking it somewhere for the weekend but in the end we decided they would have as much fun even it they didn't tow it anywhere!

Steve and I stayed in bed most of the morning and in the afternoon Steve went golfing with my Dad whilst Mum and I went Heaven V for a spa treatment. In the evening we went out with my Mum & Dad, the Nans and Ally to a restaurant in South Woodham. We had a great time and it was lovely to have a lie-in the next morning - although we did miss the kids.

Then today we met up with the kids round my Mum & Dad's for his birthday bar-be-que - the weather was a bit overcast but my goodness it's sultry today.

Roger & Yoita were there and Amy and Roger became the best of friends playing "Toss the Nellie" .
















Whilst Ben had lots of fun doing "dad" dancing!

Cars and Castle

Another day another corporate do! They're like buses - you don't get one for ages and then two come together.

Today I went to Silverstone to watch the British Grand Prix - to say that Steve was jealous would be a mild understatement - I do believe he contemplated breaking my leg so he could go in my place! This grand prix was probably the most eagerly anticipated in many a year as everyone was hopeful that Lewis Hamilton would win it in front of the home crowd on his debut (he didn't!)

The weather was lovely and the champagne was quite nice too. I could have done without all the noisy cars driving round and round in circles though - that was just a bit tedious.

Honestly (and I know some people would cheerfully kill me for saying this) I just don't get the appeal of watching cars bomb around in circles for a couple of hours!

This is Lewis Hamilton - promise!

Steve spent today playing super-daddy with the kids & PJ and Gav at Mountfitchet Castle and I was overjoyed to see that Ben is now the proud owner of a toy sword - I will get the Tilling woman for that one!

They had a great time visiting the castle and nearby toy museum and Steve was quite impressed at the Smurf and ZX Spectrum (geek) collection but this seemed to be lost on the kids!

Deloitte Family Fun Day

Today was Family Fun day courtesy of my work and they paid for a day out at Chessington World of Adventures. If I'm totally honest I'm not overly sure I was looking forward to it. Hours in the car followed by a full day with lots of children - not really my cup of tea but it was a really good day.

There was a special marquee where we had food and drink available all day and it was complete bliss to be able to dump all our belongings somewhere central and just pop back as and when needed.

We also got several "queue buster" tickets which allowed us to go straight onto rides this was a god-send with small people who have not yet learnt the fine art which is queuing in Britain!

There was a lovely bar-be-que lunch and there was face painting and circus entertainers to keep the little people amused.

It was a very tiring but enjoyable day - I'll definitely go to the next one!

International Week

It's International Week at school and on Monday they had to go dressed in the colours of an International flag. Amy wanted to wear red, white and blue and in light of Auntie Terry's impending visit from Australia we chose that flag.

So on Monday she went to school dressed from head to toe in red, white & blue - even down to her nail varnish (special treat only!) with the Australian flag pinned to her back. We now know all about how the Australian flag came to be - its been around since 1901 did you know!!

Then today, Amy finally had a wish from true.... All year she has been begging me to come into school and help out (like Katie's Mum, or Connor's Mum or whoever's mum - the list is endless).

Well this time they had a request for foreign language speakers to visit and pass on some of their knowledge to the children and for the first time ever it was on a Tuesday.

So I spent this morning playing French bingo with Amy's class (Ben had a lovely morning with Nanna Diane). They should now all know how to count to 5, the colours Red - Blue - Yellow & Green & the words Fish - Boat & Apple. Some of them were really good but if they remember it all when they get home I will be very surprised!

I had a really good time and Amy was so happy I was there, it was very sweet. Amy's teacher said she wanted me to come back and do something about Sign Language if possible and if they can arrange it for that illusive Tuesday then I will definitely be there.