Free to roam?

This morning, we left the kids at home and went out for a tramp over the fields. We have a big field next to us that was sold a few years ago and we normally cross this before getting to the others which lay behind our estate. Whoever bought the field (and I wish it were me!) has decided he doesn't want local people walking on his land, despite 99.9% of us respecting the land and following the countryside code. It was a bit of a worry at the time as we didn't know who'd bought it and we wondered what would happen to it. You hear so many scare stories of travellers taking over fields and it really is a piece of rural heaven.

 

Despite the unfriendly notice, we walked over it anyway. The owner can't be that vigilant as at the end of the well-worn path, there was a flattened gate that made access easy. Some time ago a nasty farmer also put up some rude signs about access on his land that adjoins the local Nature reserve but we all ignore them... I don't know anyone who is careless in the countryside and we all make sure gates are closed after us, pick up litter and don't let dogs off the lead near sheep. 

Anyway...we had a lovely walk and went to have a look at the budding daffodills that grow in a little spinney. They are just poking their green heads through the earth and later on in the month they make a beautiful show along the banks of a stream. I'll take some pictures when they are fully out. We saw one rabbit and several other people walking dogs, but it was very peaceful. 

One thing was a bit spooky though...in the hedgerow near to where I took the picture of the No Access sign, was a dead rabbit hanging from a tree. It was obviously put there deliberately but we don't know why. Sometimes the country can be a cruel and wild place.

Keith in mugging outfit.

Going undercover.

For ages now I've wanted to visit another play centre in Coventry. The woman who runs it had written about it on NetMums when she was setting it up and had asked for suggestions from the members about what they wanted from an Activity centre. For a start I thought that was a silly idea as no matter how hard you try you are never going to please all the people all the time.What one person likes, another person will hate.

Anyway, I suggested it to Mum and Dad and after a initial bad reaction from Mikey, "I'm not going to a little kid's place!" he yelled, we all made the 40 minute journey to Coventry. Jam Jam Boomerang is very similar to us, but on a much smaller scale and without the bouncy castles. There was no parking and we had to squeeze into a gap further down the road, yet there were businesses all around with huge fenced off car parks that Jam Jam could have used (rented?) at the weekends...a case of not very friendly neighbours?

We queued to get in for ten minutes and the place was heaving. First stop was grub and I paid out £20 for coffees, cake and lunch for the children. We had a good look around, and despite Dad introducing himself when we went in and asking to meet the Manager to say hello, nobody came over to speak to us, which was a shame. We rarely meet other operators and it's always good to swap stories and experiences. We are not competition to them, but there you go. In fairness to them, they were very busy and we saw a couple of things that we liked, but I think Mikey's days of enjoying these sort of places is over as he spent most of his time playing football with a load of other boys.

No photography was allowed but I did manage to sneak a couple of photos of the framework on my mobile. They didn't seem to have as much to do as our place but we did like the small tots area which was completely separate.

So, all in all, a good afternoon and a useful exercise that we need to repeat...quickly! Mikey is now 10 and his days are limited. He is really too old to play at Berzerk now which is a frightening thought!

http://www.jamjamboomerang.co.uk/

True or not?

Today has gone so fast! It didn't help that I forgot my camera this morning and had to drive back home as I had to photograph our Gladiator Duel for the company who sold us the latest bouncy castle. Luckily it was out from last night but then we had to put the monster away and it would not deflate!! As is usual when we're running a bit late we had customers banging on the door at 9.20! Grr!

So, the rest of the day went by very quickly with the usual Friday chores and then we went out this evening to see a Medium called Vince Price (who was actually rather large) in Brixworth Village Hall. Well...I imagined about 10 of us turning up but the place was packed to the rafters! Most of the audience were women except a man who was obviously a sceptic...

The first half was good and I was impressed with how he talked to a couple of people, but the second half made me question him as he was so vague and a lot of the things he said were wrong. I also noticed that the person in the audience was supplying him with a lot of information...

We left before it ended at just after 10pm and I remain unconvinced by him. The woman I saw a few years back was very good as she wouldn't look at me and asked me to just answer her with yes or no.

Anyway...Friday is here and another week has gone by. Did I do any pampering? No...hair still needs cutting and the unibrow is coming along nicely...

Damp and depressing.

I've never really been a fan of February. My birthday is over, it's not really Spring and there's a half term stuck right in the middle of it...

This morning it was horrible. I drove to work at 7.45am and it was supposed to be sunrise, but we haven't seen the sun all day. No wonder people in Scandanavia go mad in the winter. It was foggy, damp and depressing but I take comfort from looking at the sunset times and seeing the days lengthen just a little bit every day. I suppose I should see the good in days like today but atmospheric is the only word I can come up with!

It was a busy day at work and again, I managed to get a lot of things done. The only time we ventured out was to go to the bank, so we didn't get a lot of fresh air today. Soon, I hope to go for a walk when I get home to get some exercise and feel the sun on my face. I look forward to it.

Midweek musings...

Today started off very well, so maybe the curse of Wednesdays has been lifted! Keith came into work with me as usual and we managed to get a lot done today, which was good.

After work, mum and dad came around for a drink. They haven't been here for ages so it was great to have a chat and Dad told us about his first job working in a butcher's shop. He cut the top of one of his fingers off but had to work the rest of the day and it wasn't until he got home that his dad took him to hospital on the back of his motorbike. Of course, nowadays, he'd have a month off and get compensation but he had just the one day off before he was back on his push bike delivering meat to the customers with his bad hand strapped to his chest!

We sampled the Talisker and like Liam and I, Dad liked the 18 year old best. For me the Distiller's Edition tasted very smoky while the 18 year old was smooth and sweetish. We talked about buying a bottle a month on an alternate basis which sounds good to me! It's about time I built up my whisky collection!

A slog at the blog...

Sometimes I find this blog hard to write, other days it's as easy as anything. Today is one of the difficult days, because, apart from going to Ikea, nothing has really happened!

Most days my life follows a usual routine. Get up at 7am, get showered and dressed and leave for work. This morning I picked up mum and we went into work together. Before we knew it, the morning had passed but we decided to drive to Ikea in Milton Keynes to get some bits for work, namely highchair trays, potties, rugs and some plates and cups. I really had an exciting time by buying myself three toilet brushes and some smelly candles...I know how to spend it!

I picked up Sophie from school which was a major stress. She should normally get the bus home, but the poor thing has to wait nearly half an hour for her bus to leave and in the cold weather, it's not very pleasant. Picking her up from school is hell on earth as all the buses line up and duel with the cars so lately I've been pulling into a layby next to an alley that leads to the school. This was fine until yesterday and today when the lollipop lady took up residence in my spot!

Back in the office, Soph took over my computer to do her homework but by 4pm I was yearning for home, a glass of wine and a chance to relax.

The challenge is progressing. Unlike writing the blog, I found today's photo easy...

That Monday feeling...

So, a new month is here and if it goes by as quickly as January, before I know it, it'll be 2011!

I have this theory that when you're young and enjoying life, time races past at the speed of light. It's all saved up in a time bank and when you get old and doddery and unable to do a lot of the things you want to (I hope this never happens to me!) the time you spent when you were young comes back to haunt you. I know that when I go and see my Nan in Kent, she says how slowly times passes for her and I can understand that. Maybe there's some sort of scientific theory to all this but I know for a fact that when you're enjoying yourself times races and when you have to do something boring it crawls along with all the speed of a drunken snail.

Anyway...it's another Monday, the start of another week and before I know it, Friday will be here again. Maybe I should set myself some objectives to do before each week is out. I need a haircut desperately and my eyebrows also need shaping, as soon I will have what Sophie calls a "unibrow".

So, maybe my objective this week is to have a pamper. I'll let you know how I get on.

February's theme is below - post a picture of a number everyday. I look forward to the challenge!