Tussauds On Tour

This could be a bit of a mammoth post but it'll be worth it.

We have just returned from a week's holiday and we didn't even leave home soil. We have family annual passes for the Tussauds group so we thought we would spend a week touring round the places it lets us into free of charge!

Saturday 2nd August
We headed off in the morning destined for Chessington World of Adventures. We'd all been here before so there we no surprises and we knew we'd enjoy it.

The kids had a great time on the rides and they have a new Sealife Centre there which they really liked. We had decided to stay at the various locations on our tour at Holiday Inns (no expense spared eh!) and the one at Chessington is actually on the grounds which was brilliant. They even had characters from the park at the hotel during breakfast - very Disneyesque!

Sunday 3rd August
This was another day at Chessington and much fun was had by all. it turns out that Ben is a bit of a daredevil and would ride anything that height regulations permitted. Even the Runaway Mine Train for which he could barely see over the safety bar!!




Monday 4th August
We headed off for the next stop in our Tour - Legoland. The kids really enjoyed this one and so did we - but my goodness it's hilly and the queues were horrendous - still we had a very good time and Amy & Ben managed to both pass their driving tests!







Tuesday 5th August
We got wise today on our 2nd day at Legoland and discovered something called Q-Bot - it's Legolands version of Fastpass and it works very well. We managed to get a lot more rides done with our Q-Bot doing all the hard queuing for us.



Wednesday 6th August
We left our dwellings near Heathrow and headed to our next destination Warwick Castle. If I'm honest everyone was feeling a bit whacked by now and the long walk from the car park to the Castle (uphill) seemed to pretty much do everyone in so we left shortly after lunchtime and headed into nearby Stratford-upon-Avon.

This is one of my favourite places in the world and we took the kids to see Shakespeare's Birthplace (just from the outside) and had great fun in the gift shop.





Thursday 7th August
After a one night stop in Warwick we headed onto our last destination - Alton Towers. It had been a bit harder to find a Holiday Inn close by as Alton Towers is in a village location but we found a nice on in Stoke on Trent.

Friday 8th August
We all really loved Alton Towers and did much the same stuff on both days - although Steve did buy a fastpass for the big thrill rides on the 2nd day so he could do then without us having to wait around for him all the time.

We all did the rapids and a new ride called Battle Galleons where you get completely soaked (I mean that!) and Ben did another Runaway Mine Train - twice!

Saturday 9th August
Our final day so we packed up and headed back home. We had toyed with the idea of going back to Alton Towers for the day and travelling home in the evening but our luck with the weather ran out and it was pouring with rain when we woke up so we decided to come straight home.

Ben got a bit bored in the car on the way back and decided a bit of artwork would keep him amused!

We all had a really good time and are already planning another tour next year. I dread to think what rides Ben will go on when he gets a bit bigger though!

Click here for More Photos

Go Amy! Go Amy!

Last weekend was our first ever British Cheerleading Association Championship which was held up in Telford. Neither Steve nor I were sure of what to expect apart from the fact that both of us were fully prepared for Amy to get stage fright at the last moment.


We are very pleased to say that we were completely wrong. To say the girl has been bitten by the cheerleading bug is an understatement. She had an absolute blast.



The competition was over 2 days with the groups repeating their performance on both days and an aggregate score being calculated.


Amy's group came 3rd out of their age range and her squad, DC49, won lots of trophies over a range of age categories including a couple of 1st places!!




She now wants to attend the DC49 summer cheer camp at the end of August so we are just checking out availability and to go to the extra after school practice sessions on a Thursday night when they start up again in September.


Steve and I were immensely proud watching her and the whole of the DC 49 squad - it looked like very hard work.

Ben the Radio Star

For those of you who haven't heard it already I thought I should do a post about Ben's stint on Local Radio.

We managed to get an interview on BBC Essex to talk about The Moebius Research Trust and their major fundraiser - www.kiltsacrossamerica.co.uk

Ben was very much in awe of his surroundings but did start to come out of his shell towards the end and even managed a sweet little goodbye at the end.

Lets hope it works and we help raise some awareness & cash. We did a boot sale over the weekend with the proceeds going to the trust and managed a nice figure of £165 which is a good start and we should have enough stuff to do another one in a few weeks.

Here's an audio clip of the interview:

Go Lewis!!

Well this weekend was something special. Steve & Daniel had purchased themselves tickets to the British Grand Prix and I had once again managed to wrangle a corporate ticket to the event so we made a weekend of it.

We travelled to Milton Keynes on the Saturday morning and Steve & Daniel went skiing in the snowdome whilst I hit The Centre (MK's Lakeside). We both had a great time in our differing locations and after a lovely dinner in Loch Fyne we settled down for the night in our room at the Holiday Inn.

On Sunday morning we met up with two of my work colleagues and all set off to Silverstone. It's a fairly impressive site as you walk towards it - with the drone of the helicopters getting louder all the while.

We split up at the gates as Steve & Daniel were seated in Woodcotes and myself, Vin & Erick were going into Club Silverstone (our location might have been more prestigious but I think Ste & Dan had a better view of the race).

The race itself was electric and that's from someone who doesn't even get motor-racing. I think all the rain made it much more exciting.

In case you missed the results - Lewis Hamilton won - his first ever British Grand Prix with over 60 seconds lead between him and the 2nd place car. That's some driving!

It was a brilliant day out all round - same time, same place next year boys??!

Ben's 3rd Birthday Party

Now the English language is a funny thing could that title means two things and in this case they're both correct. It was Ben's 3rd party to celebrate his 3rd birthday!!

On Sunday Nanna, Grandad, Ally, Bea & Ann came over to help Ben celebrate his birthday bringing with them lots of lovely presents.

It was lovely to see Mum up and about again - albeit very gingerly (she's been in hospital which I may have forgotten to mention with a gammy leg).


The kids had a lovely time playing in the garden and for some reason they asked to be shut in Billy's (the rabbit) run! You can see The Sun headline now "Children Locked in Cage!"

Crazy kids! Anyway, Happy Birthday little man.

P.S. Just another quick update on some Ben related things which I may have forgotten to post - Ben went to Moorfields Eye Hospital the other week and we are now awaiting the arrival of some lovely little glasses for him. They will have photo chromatic lenses so that should hopefully help him a little bit when the sun shines - assuming we can persuade him to wear them of course!

Also yesterday he had his first appointment with his new speech therapist (he'd been transferred by the other one). She seemed very nice and felt his speech to only be about 6 months behind the average which was encouraging. We have to do exercises where he sticks out his tongue - he really enjoys those!!

OK Try And Keep Up Now

It's been a bit of a busy few days for us so I'll try and bring you up to speed.


On Sunday 21st we had a little birthday party for Ben. We are doing Ben's parties in two halves - one with Steve's family and another with mine. Not cos they don't get on mind you, they get on like the proverbial house fire but my Mum has been in hospital and would not be released in time for the planned do.



So on the 21st we had Granny, Grandad, Kirstie, Phil, Ollie & Molly over and the kids had a lovely time playing in the garden. Ben had his first batch of presents and was very impressed with all of them. It turns out that Ben rather likes dinosaurs!!




On Wednesday 25th it was Ben's actual birthday and being a Wednesday we went to Wednesday Club at Kirstie's and had a party there too. There was a lovely pirate ship cake which one of the Wednesday Club mums had made and even more presents.












Keeping with the Birthday theme last night Steve, Alison and I went to see Bon Jovi in concert at Twickenham Stadium. This was our birthday present to Alison and we all stayed over in London as it was quite a late one. The concert was brilliant but the average age of the fan base has definitely increased as they have gotten older too.


Today we spent the afternoon with the kids at the school's Inflatable Fun Day. It was very good fun and Ben is completely and utterly fearless!!










Then this evening I went out with Paula to enjoy my birthday treat from the Tillings - a night at the theatre to see Potted Potter - All 7 books in 70 minutes. It was laugh out loud funny and very clever.

So tomorrow will be the 3rd and final birthday for Ben. That's one for each year. I hope he doesn't expect the same treatment each year!!!

Back from Cyprus

In case you'd missed us we've been away again. Yes that's right Again! This time we went to sunny Cyprus for a week during the Spring half term break.

We had booked a villa over the Internet (some completely random site as you do) and were a little unsure of how it would pan out but it was a lovely place. Very well appointed and with a lovely swimming area.

The only downside was that the tiles around the pool edge got very slippery when wet (cue 80's rock music!) and Ben didn't really understand the command "Don't Run!". All this lead Auntie Alison to have daily heart failure!

Ben spent most of the holiday bare-ass naked and took this as an opportune moment to toilet train - although he did seem to think that the grassed area was his own personal toilet facility!

Amy spent most of the time in the pool and mainly fully clothed. She managed to swim pretty much the entire length of the pool without any kind of floatation devices and only minimal drama!

I've posted more of the pictures here but below are some of the key moments.

Happy 6th Birthday Amy

This one is a little bit on the late side because it's May and, therefore, I must be ill again!! So here goes....

On Saturday 3rd May it was Amy's 6th Birthday. She had a party with lots of her school friends at Virgin Gym which they all enjoyed immensely.












The next day it was an at-home party for the family (it was at this point which I started to take ill so my recollection of the day is somewhat limited!). There was bouncy castle fun, trampoline fun, BBQ fun & hot-tub fun.









Monday was bank holiday and a day at Chessington World of Adventures with Paula, Gav, Evie & Morgan and Auntie Alison was planned.

I was too poorly to go and spent the day in bed but the other had a lovely time. The weather was glorious and everyone got very hot and tired queuing for the rides but everyone had lots of fun.








Then this Friday was my 34th birthday. I had already had my main present (Wii Fit) but I also go some perfume, clothes & money which will be well spent in the coming days!

I was still feeling quite unwell but we had a large dinner out planned as a joint party with Paula so I shook off the cobwebs and ventured out. Sadly the restaurant had gotten greedy and had over-booked. They were completely unable to handle the number of diners and it was gone 10.30pm before we received our main dishes. Needless to say a return trip for Steve & Gav's birthdays is not planned.

So that brings us back up to today... I am feeling a little more human today and I hope it lasts. I hate it when I have to post lots of big stuff together because you never do each topic justice really!

Happy 6th Birthday Ollie

Well it's been a bit busy since we returned from holiday and not just with all the washing.

Amy started Gymnastics on a Tuesday after school - it was meant to be a stop-gap whilst we were on the waiting list of Cheer leading on a Saturday but a place has become free earlier than expected so we do that as well!

She seems to love both of the classes and after only one lesson of each is able to do a forward roll - something which complete escaped her before.

Ben has finally figured out what the potty is for and was extremely pleased with himself for doing his first wee on it. He ran about the room high-fiving everyone and shouting - "I did a wee"!!

I guess we'll have to see where he goes from here but at least it's a start.

On Sunday we went to Ollie's 6th Birthday party. This year it was family only and he had a joint one with his cousin Elise (he'd had the rowdy friends party at Go Wild the day before).

Everyone had a great time and the kids especially enjoyed the wheel barrow rides - I'm not sure who is crazier - them or Phil!!

Happy Birthday Ollie. Hope you enjoy your presents.

We Are Sailing

Hi Guys. We're back from our holiday and there is much to tell.....

The holiday was split into two parts; 6 days on Land at the Disney parks in Florida and 4 days at Sea on the Disney Cruise Line.

So here goes.....


Monday 31st March
We arrived at our hotel/apartment after a very uneventful flight and after a short while were joined by Brenda & John (they had been unable to get a flight to Orlando and had flown to Miami and driven from there).

Tuesday 1st April
We started out in Magic Kingdom and were very lucky to receive Dream Fastpass tickets for the whole day which allowed you to get on some of the most popular rides with very little waiting. We were very pleasantly surprised and were stopped several times during the day by people asking were we'd got the special passes from!

Wednesday 2nd April
On Wednesday we went to Animal Kingdom and Ben actually got to see the Kilimanjaro Safari as he stayed awake for it!

It was a bit too hot today so we left a bit earlier and went back to the pool for a swim. Well Amy did but Ben by this time was covered in chicken pox so we kept him away from the water.

Thursday 3rd April
Disney Studios today and Amy watched the High School Musical street show about 5 times. They both really enjoyed the Playhouse Disney Live show and Ben seems to have discovered a deep and meaningful love for Ariel. We went to the Little Mermaid Show and when Ariel appeared (real person) he shouted out very loudly and during a quiet bit "Awiel, my see Awiel!!" - it was very sweet.

Friday 4th April
It was back to Magic Kingdom again today as it's the kids (and my) favourite. Sadly no dream fastpass tickets today but still had a very good time.

Saturday 5th April
On Saturday we did Seaworld and we all got thoroughly soaked by Shamu the killer whale. Amy had asked to sit in the splash zone but if I'm honest I hadn't realised how wet you got. Ben completely freaked out but Amy loved it!

After Seaworld we went back to our apartment to pack up ready for the cruise. Amy didn't want to leave the hotel pool behind but that's about par for the course.

Sunday 6th April
The first day of the cruise. We weren't too sure what to expect really but it was magical from start to finish. We kept Ben well hidden in case anyone noticed his (now fairly scabby) spots but no-one seemed interested. After all the official stuff with check-in it was onto the ship itself. As soon as we got on the boat we bumped into Abby from Ben's nursery who was starting her first day working on the Youth Team which was nice.

We got into our cabin and there were some lovely little gifts waiting which Steve had organised. There was a memory box for keep-sakes & photos, some bubbly & a beautiful bouquet of flowers with roses shaped like mickey mouse!

We were introduced to our waiting staff & the quality of food we would be enjoying for the next 4 days and explored the ship. That evening we bumped into Captain Jack but sadly I couldn't not locate Will Turner!

Monday 7th April
When we awoke we were arriving in Nassau where we would be parked for the day. Sadly the weather was quite miserable but we enjoyed our city tour excursion which we had booked.

That afternoon we returned to the ship and Amy explored the Mickey pool which was in the shape of Mickey's head. Ben had a little go in the splash area reserved for those not potty-trained and they both had a lovely time. The weather had cleared by then and it was blue skies ahead.

That evening we watched the Toy Story show after that it was a dash down to High School Musical Dance Party where Amy & Ben bopped away before a quick change into our glad rags for posh night and another scrumptious feast for dinner.

Tuesday 8th April
Today it was a day at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island. The weather was glorious and Steve and Amy did a fine job of getting sun burnt!

Amy got her hair braided and we all went on a treasure hunt, following clues to lost gold. We had a great time in the sea mucking about together.

Amy lost her first tooth somewhere on the sandy beach but as luck would have it she received a letter delivered to the room on our return from Jack Sparrow. Apparently he had found her tooth on the beach and had given her 2 silver doubloons in return. To say she was gobsmacked would be an understatement.

The show tonight was The Golden Mickeys and you all had to walk down a red carpet whilst camera's flashed. Then it was onto the Pirates IN the Caribbean deck party. Unfortunately, Amy crashed out during the show and Ben wasn't far behind so the kids spent the night asleep in the buggy.

The deck party was really good and was completed by a firework show. Apparently Disney is the only cruise line which has permission to set of fireworks at sea and it was fairly spectacular.

Wednesday 9th April
The last full day was a day at sea. There were lots of activities to do and plenty of time to be spent splashing about. Amy & Ben particularly enjoyed watching High School Musical on the big TV screen by the pool.

The final show was Disney Dreams which was very well done with loads of characters from different Disney films popping up on stage.

Thursday 10th April
Our final morning on the ship and then we departed. It was a completely seamless disembarkation so we spent the rest of the day before our flight back at Magic Kingdom.

It was very sad to say goodbye to Granny & Grandad who are staying in Animal Kingdom Lodge for another week but all good things must come to an end.

We've got loads of photos and I've not put them on here as this post is long enough already. They can all be found here - More Photos

We now seem to have a house stuffed full of Disney merchandise but Steve and I are unanimous in our opinion that it was our best holiday ever!

Easter 2008

Goodness me but I've fallen behind again so prepare yourselves for a mammoth post....

My last post was on Mothering Sunday so what have been been up to since then...


The kids got a new double swing which Nanna & I put together on the 9th (with a tiny little bit of a helping hand from the boys). The kids love it and I got it for an absolute bargain price so everyone is happy!





Then on the 18th Amy had one of her school friends, Beth, over to play after school and the kids had a great time mucking about and dressing up. Ben insisted on joining in so I just had to take this photo to use for leverage when he is 18!!








On the 21st it was Amy's school assembly and Steve went. They were doing Pinocchio and Amy was a fish - a talking fish mind. Apparently she delivered her line perfectly!



So onto this Easter - what have we been upto this long weekend...





Good Friday
We travelled to see Granny & Grandad in their caravan which was parked near Ipswich this year.


The weather was very cold and windy so we decided to go the Ipswich Transport Museum. The kids really enjoyed it and they both seemed very eager to climb into the back of a police car there which was slightly disconcerting!



Saturday 22nd
A fairly normal Saturday really nothing too out of the ordinary here.


Easter Sunday
My Parents & the Nans came over for the day (Ally was already here as she is staying for a bit) and we had a lovely roast Lamb lunch which Amy cooked.







Earlier in the day the kids had great fun out in the back garden playing in the snow!










Easter Monday
Our original plans for the day were changed and the weather was atrocious so what do you do - you go shopping in Ikea that's what! Amy seemed reluctant at first but seemed to enjoyed the kids department at least!

So that's us back up to speed. We're off on a mega holiday at the end of the month so will have lots and lots to post when we get back.

Mothers Day 2008

So what did we all get up to this Mothering Sunday...


I for one had a great day. It started out beautifully with a lovely lie-in and then a nice cooked breakfast. I opened my cards and presents and then we played about in the house until it was time to go to lunch.

We all went to the Alma and we weren't too sure what it would be like anymore because it had changed ownership and the head chef had departed too but it was a lovely meal - as always.


The kids, though full of beans, behaved themselves very well and then we all went back to Nana's for coffee afterwards.

So Thanks to Steve and the kids for making it such an enjoyable day

Celebrities R Us

We've had a great day today....

For Valentine's Day I brought Steve a Wembley Stadium Tour and it was booked for today so we all headed off to London.

I said I would entertain the kids whilst he went to Wembley so we decided to go to Madame Tussaud's. I wasn't sure whether the kids were a bit too young for it but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves - as did I.

We saw loads of famous "people" and the kids had a great time having their photo's taken with them. The kids even found a new Daddy!! (only joking).

Full photos can be found here: More Photos

Steve was full of news about his Wembley Tour and had a good time too.

Ballet & Broomfield

It's been a bit of a busy weekend, but don't I always say that...

It was watching week at Ballet again and myself, Steve & Ben went along. We were wondering if Ben would manage the whole 45 minutes but he behaved himself very well.

Then it was off to Roger & Yoita's for a lunch with friends and family. Mary's in-laws to be were there so it was nice to meet them.

Amy played cheerleading with Druisa who is a few months younger than she is and they were firm friends within about 60 seconds of meeting!

Then today we had the customary burnt bacon breakfast with Granny & Grandad except this time we waved goodbye leaving them in our house! We had to take Ben to the emergency doctors as he has has another flare up of his impetigo and a chest & ear infection to boot!

Also, Amy had a birthday party at 11am today so Steve took her to the party whilst I waited at the doctors with Ben.

Then this afternoon we cleared out the garage - again, it's never-ending whilst the kids played in the garden with Billy.

So it's been pretty busy. Too busy for picture taking in fact!

Clash of the Titans

You may recall back in January that the family made a pilgrimage to Blackpool to watch Ipswich v Blackpool FC. Well the return leg at the Ipswich home ground was this weekend and nothing was going to stop them all going - not even Dad's knee operation!! Even the kids were going this time.

Naturally I declined so spent the afternoon discovering the delights of Ipswich's shopping district where I experienced the joys of Primark! I think I shall have to start a Facebook group campaigning to bring Primark to Chelmsford.

By all accounts the match was a good one but it was a very cold day (colder even than Blackpool had been in January!) and those footie boys can really make some noise so Ben bowed out just after half time.

Amy gave up with about 15 minutes to go but to be fair the game was all over by then anyway with the final result 2-1 to Ipswich.

Strangely it seems we didn't take any pictures the entire weekend. However, we do have a nice little video of Amy singing & dancing on the trampoline from Sunday afternoon. The song she is singing is All for One from High School Musical and if you manage to watch to the end there's a great recovery from a "You've Been Framed" moment!

Tap, Tap, Bang, Bang!

It's been a bit of a busy weekend....

On Saturday we were having the carpet in the lounge replaced with wooden flooring as the carpet was just not up the job of dealing with the multiple spillages that seem to go hand in hand with our two. So one of John's mates came round and fitted it all for us and very good job he made of it too.



We also had to put together a new house for Billy - his previous abode having been damaged in the "great wind" on Thursday.


Then today Granny & Grandad came back from their holidays and round ours for burnt bacon breakfast.

The kids had a lovely time in the morning playing on the new lounge floor. I am sure the novelty will wear off soon enough but we made good use of their enthusiasm and set them to work with brooms & brushes! Amy especially likes it because she can tap dance on it and Ben likes the fact this his tools make even more noise when bashed now!


Then this afternoon Amy had a party to go to for one of her old nursery friends. So it's been all go. Steve and I were glad to sit down this evening.

Something pour le weekend??

This weekend Steve and I did something unheard of. We travelled to Paris without seeing Mickey Mouse!

The kids went to stay with Nanna, Grandad & Ally and Steve and I set off on the Eurostar. We had a lovely trip on the train for the first time in recent memory we didn't have anyone other than ourselves to entertain.

We were staying near to the Eiffel Tower in the Hilton - it was a nice hotel although the selection in the mini bar was a little, well, French! - See if you can make out the condoms in the bottom left-hand corner. Only in France!!

On Saturday we visited the Notre-Dame cathedral and then took a stroll along the banks of the River. In the evening we had a dinner cruise which was very nice - lovely food & fine wine.

On Sunday we went up the Eiffel Tower and Steve took some lovely photos whilst I hung about trying not to look down!









Then we went to Le Louvre. It is just such an immense building we never got close to seeing even a third of it but we saw the pieces we wanted to. Like old Mona - although we failed to find any Monet.












Then it was a nice French lunch before our return journey home. The kids were very pleased to see us and I think the adults were glad to have us home too.