The boy chilling in the living room after a long day skiing. This was a very comfy sofa for resting weary limbs on after a hard day on the slopes.
Friday, January 23, 2009
View from the kitchen
This is the view I had when doing dishes, I could just make out one of the ski runs in the distance, what an incentive to finish the dishes!
View from the bedroom balcony
This is the view from from the bedroom balcony, wouldn't it be wonderful to wake up to this everyday.
The dining area
Here is the dining area-very typically german-we had something similar when we were stationed in germany. Sam had great fun sliding around from end to end.
The amazing tub
This is the tub in our on-suite bathroom. The bathroom was amazing and the tub big enough to fit all of us! The boys had a nice soak every evening after skiing.
For Anna
A beautiful snow sculpture at oberamergau of an angel playing the cello for sam's friend anna.
The boys at Linderhoff
On our last day we visited Linderhoff, the lovely little palace built by Ludwig II. This photo reminds me of a similar visit made by my mom and dad and I when I was about sam's age. We went to the better known palace of Neuschwanstein, also built by Ludwig. As I recall we went in the dead of winter, with snow all around, but dad took us up the summer path! It was a steep winding path covered in snow and took us twice as long as the winter path would have done. It must have been fun though or I wouldn't have kept the memory all these years.
Atlas
The amazing statues at Linderhoff again as taken by matt. Linderhoff is a lovely little palace built by Ludwig II of Bavaria as his personal retreat.
Frozen stream at Linderfhoff
A beautiful shot from Linderhoff taken by matt. Linderhoff was even more beautiful than I remembered.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Look what I got dad!
We did manage to save some pressies until later in the day and here are the boys opening the last few.
Rogue guarding the presents
I think santa asked rogue to guard the presents and he did a very good job!
Can't wait to get riding
As soon as he opened this he was determined to get us outside so he could ride it. As it was cold, dark and 6am we made him wait until later in the day.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Happy New Year!!!
Okay, I know it is several days late but better late than never! I must apologise for my lack of blogging over this festive season, my only excuse is that we have spent the better part of the holidays on the boat and the mobile broadband connection is slower than molasses. We have a lovely xmas and new year, despite matt working most of it. Having the boat made a huge difference, matt didn't have to spend xmas in hospital accommodation, instead we were all able to celebrate together on a warm and toasty boat. I am pleased to report that santa was able to find the boat and left the boy lots of nice goodies.
We are all enjoying life afloat, it is so peaceful and quiet at the marina and the dogs enjoy long walks along the tow path. Matt's parents came up yesterday and we took boudicca out for a spin. We sailed her down to lincoln and back, it was the first time we have taken her out since she was put back in the water. Matt really had fun and it was interesting seeing lincoln from a different perspective.
Sam spends his time on the boat doing lego, ds-ing, drawing and reading. We have had long xmas break from formal work so we have to get back on track, at least until we go skiing. We are all very excited about skiing and matt checks the weather in garmisch at least 10 times a day!
I hope you all have a wonderful 2009, full of great happiness. We had a mixed year last year and hope that this year is a little less eventful!
We are all enjoying life afloat, it is so peaceful and quiet at the marina and the dogs enjoy long walks along the tow path. Matt's parents came up yesterday and we took boudicca out for a spin. We sailed her down to lincoln and back, it was the first time we have taken her out since she was put back in the water. Matt really had fun and it was interesting seeing lincoln from a different perspective.
Sam spends his time on the boat doing lego, ds-ing, drawing and reading. We have had long xmas break from formal work so we have to get back on track, at least until we go skiing. We are all very excited about skiing and matt checks the weather in garmisch at least 10 times a day!
I hope you all have a wonderful 2009, full of great happiness. We had a mixed year last year and hope that this year is a little less eventful!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Talented young men
Sam and Charlie discovered how to balance balloons on their tongues-with this much ingenuity they are both no doubt bound for MIT!
Xmas with the boys
Our xmas celebrations started with a bowling party on the 23rd with the boys, except Al and Conall who were missing due to illness. Lots of fun was had by all and it was wonderful to catch up with everyone one.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Oh what a month!
Things have been pretty busy in our house lately to say the least. The two major life changing events were matt and getting a permanent post in lincoln (yippee!!! and thank you to everyone who kept their fingers crossed!) and buying boudicca. We are all over the moon that matt now has a permanent post as lincoln's newest itu consultant, it means the past 6 months of worry and uncertainity are over. He has been in lincoln since july but initally on a locum basis but as of nov 28th he is there permanently. He likes the job and thinks there is lots of scope for growth and is looking forward to settling in there properly. Lincoln is a great city and we are all looking forward to getting to know it better and in time move there and make it our home.
The market is so bad at the moment that we decided not to sell the house yet but to buy somewhere for matt to stay while he is on call and when he has back to back surgery days and that somewhere is boudicca!! We had initally thought of a flat but all of the nice ones were out of our budget and came with too many restrictions about parkting pets etc. That is when we started exploring other options and came up with a narrowboat. Our good friends christine and tony who live on board there boat were fully of helpful tips and even came out boat hunting with us. Boudicca was one of the first boats we saw and despite seeing lots of others we always came back to her. She is so light and airy and seemed just what we were looking for. Everything fell into place and she is now ours and moored at a fantastic marina up in lincoln, about 10 min from the hospital. She has made such a difference to matt's on calls and going forward is going to mean that he does a lot less commutting. Sam and I are spending lots of time on her as well, whenever matt is on call we go up to keep him company. We have had a few teething problems with the heating but fingers crossed that is now sorted. We are looking forward to lots of family outings on her when the warmer weather arrives ( how long till summer!?) and to exploring the rivers and canals around the country.
Formal education has taken a bit of a backseat these last few weeks but sam has learned a tremendous amount about boats, going through locks, heating, engineering, geography and history not to mention water safety!
We have been so busy with sorting out the boat that xmas has jumped up on me. I am very behind with everything but hopefully it will all come together. All of sam's presents have been bought so at least the little guy is taken care of.
The market is so bad at the moment that we decided not to sell the house yet but to buy somewhere for matt to stay while he is on call and when he has back to back surgery days and that somewhere is boudicca!! We had initally thought of a flat but all of the nice ones were out of our budget and came with too many restrictions about parkting pets etc. That is when we started exploring other options and came up with a narrowboat. Our good friends christine and tony who live on board there boat were fully of helpful tips and even came out boat hunting with us. Boudicca was one of the first boats we saw and despite seeing lots of others we always came back to her. She is so light and airy and seemed just what we were looking for. Everything fell into place and she is now ours and moored at a fantastic marina up in lincoln, about 10 min from the hospital. She has made such a difference to matt's on calls and going forward is going to mean that he does a lot less commutting. Sam and I are spending lots of time on her as well, whenever matt is on call we go up to keep him company. We have had a few teething problems with the heating but fingers crossed that is now sorted. We are looking forward to lots of family outings on her when the warmer weather arrives ( how long till summer!?) and to exploring the rivers and canals around the country.
Formal education has taken a bit of a backseat these last few weeks but sam has learned a tremendous amount about boats, going through locks, heating, engineering, geography and history not to mention water safety!
We have been so busy with sorting out the boat that xmas has jumped up on me. I am very behind with everything but hopefully it will all come together. All of sam's presents have been bought so at least the little guy is taken care of.
Monday, December 01, 2008
The captain concentrating
Matt took to boating like a duck to water. He did a fantastic job keeping us on the straight and narrow-despite a crew who did things like drop a spike in the river, get the ropes wet and flood the loo!
Reviews of the river bank
This is the sort of view we had all weekend. It was so quiet and peaceful, that we hated to come back to dry land.
Getting to grips with the kitchen
The kitchen is small but has everything you need. The range is amazing and keeps the boat toasty warm.
Just chillin'
The dogs have adapted to boat life, though miko is not very keen on the getting on and off bit! Matt is going to build her a ramp because she is way too heavy to lift on an off each time.
Keeping an eye out for wildlife
This is rogue's fav place on the boat, he sat here all day watching out for birds and other wildlife.
Watching the world go by
Sam really enjoyed the weekend on the boat and spent most of his time at the tiler helping M. When it got too cold and rainy he came inside and played lego and and on his ds.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
So much to be thankful for..
this thanksgiving. I have a wonderful son and husband, fantastic family and friends and overall a pretty good life. We have had our ups and downs this year but if all goes according to plan it will end on a good note.
We have had a busy time since my last post, school work, and a variety of other things. I can't reveal all yet but watch this space. (not it isn't another baby or another puppy!).
We have had a quiet thanksgiving, though we did manage to make two pumpkin pies, a batch of chocolate chip cookies and guduruni. The best part is having either the pumpkin pie or the guduruni for bfast in the morning as they are both great cold the day after.
Hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving!!
We have had a busy time since my last post, school work, and a variety of other things. I can't reveal all yet but watch this space. (not it isn't another baby or another puppy!).
We have had a quiet thanksgiving, though we did manage to make two pumpkin pies, a batch of chocolate chip cookies and guduruni. The best part is having either the pumpkin pie or the guduruni for bfast in the morning as they are both great cold the day after.
Hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving!!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Time flies when you are busy learning and playing..
The last 10 days have passed in a blur of home ed, mystery jobs, play dates, ski lessons and parades. Schoolwise things are ticking over and we are both enjoying the work. Math is starting to come easier to sam and he has really been enjoying education city. He has now moved up to year 4 math and english, which isn't bad considering that if he were in school he would be in year 3. He has been fascinated by the election and we have had long discussions about the role of the president and the difference between that way of governing and the parlimentary system here. He is still of the opinion that the obama girls need a pack of dogs, not just one and thinks it should be a mix of akitas, bull mastifs and st. bernards-I hate to think about the mess that a pack like that would create!! He has also decided that he quite likes it when I listen to newstalk radio in the car and is often heard shouting his opinion from the back seat-half the time he is right.
The ski lessons are going well, he has had three now and is discovering that while skiing is fun it is not quite as easy as he thought. He is itching to get out on the big slope but won't be let loose there until he passes this level. He is going again on sat in an effort to get him there before we go skiing for real. Our weekends in december are looking quite busy so he may not get too many more opportunities before xmas.
He marched in his first parade the other weekend. His beaver pack took part in the annual veterans day parade that the town has. He looked so cute, especially as he skipped most of the route! Will post a pick of him in all his glory, there is even a short video if I can figure out how to upload it to flickr.
The ski lessons are going well, he has had three now and is discovering that while skiing is fun it is not quite as easy as he thought. He is itching to get out on the big slope but won't be let loose there until he passes this level. He is going again on sat in an effort to get him there before we go skiing for real. Our weekends in december are looking quite busy so he may not get too many more opportunities before xmas.
He marched in his first parade the other weekend. His beaver pack took part in the annual veterans day parade that the town has. He looked so cute, especially as he skipped most of the route! Will post a pick of him in all his glory, there is even a short video if I can figure out how to upload it to flickr.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Remember, remember the 5th of November..
for more reasons than just the gunpowder plot!! Yesterday as everyone knows we elected a democrat to the white house for the first time in 8 years! The next four years are going to be very interesting for the nation and the world. Talk about inheriting a job with a few problems. Sam is very excited about the prospect of a first pet and wants to email the obama girls and suggest that they get an akita. Somehow I think they are after something a bit smaller that doesn't blow its coat twice a year. He is very intrigued about what life will be like for the girls and has suggested that they be home educated as there will be lots to learn by living in the white house. That is quite a sensible idea but I somehow think that the first couple are going to be a little busy to have the time to do that.
Guy Fawkes day was a bit of a damp squib weather-wise so we didn't even have sparklers. The bad weather meant that there were fewer fireworks going off which pleased rogue. Hopefully now things will be quiet until new year's eve.
Guy Fawkes day was a bit of a damp squib weather-wise so we didn't even have sparklers. The bad weather meant that there were fewer fireworks going off which pleased rogue. Hopefully now things will be quiet until new year's eve.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Halloween Boy
For the first time in 7 years sam agreed to dress up for Halloween. He went to his friend Joe's party as a commando-complete with the face paint. He had lots of fun at the party and has said that if dressing up is always this much fun he may do it again next halloween.
We had a busy week catching up with peterborough friends who were on half term. On tuesday we met up with the boys and they had great fun Wii-ing and playing in the backyard. On the way home sam was delighted to find white fluffy flakes falling from the sky. Sadly for him it did not stick but it was a bit of a shock to have snow in october. On wed we were back in peterborough again, this time to Sacrewell farm to meet up with sarah and the girls. Sam and Christina rough and tumbled their way around the farm and georgie kept everyone in line!! We went on a spooky tractor ride complete with a walk through a haunted barn. We were all a bit unnerved by the giant spider webs and equally giant spiders!!
This week is equally as busy-today we had home ed group. In honor of guy fawkes day our theme was tudors & stuarts and the children all had fun brass rubbing, making rockets, pomanders and fireworks in a jar. Sam spent ages making a hama picture of miko and for once did not spend the session running headlong around the hall.
In addition to normal school work we also have a free screening of Wall-ee to go to and three mini jobs to finis. Matt has downloaded Then Adventures of Tom Sawyer for us to listen to in the car-it will be interesting to see if sam likes it, it is a great story but there are no gadgets and gizmos.
We had a busy week catching up with peterborough friends who were on half term. On tuesday we met up with the boys and they had great fun Wii-ing and playing in the backyard. On the way home sam was delighted to find white fluffy flakes falling from the sky. Sadly for him it did not stick but it was a bit of a shock to have snow in october. On wed we were back in peterborough again, this time to Sacrewell farm to meet up with sarah and the girls. Sam and Christina rough and tumbled their way around the farm and georgie kept everyone in line!! We went on a spooky tractor ride complete with a walk through a haunted barn. We were all a bit unnerved by the giant spider webs and equally giant spiders!!
This week is equally as busy-today we had home ed group. In honor of guy fawkes day our theme was tudors & stuarts and the children all had fun brass rubbing, making rockets, pomanders and fireworks in a jar. Sam spent ages making a hama picture of miko and for once did not spend the session running headlong around the hall.
In addition to normal school work we also have a free screening of Wall-ee to go to and three mini jobs to finis. Matt has downloaded Then Adventures of Tom Sawyer for us to listen to in the car-it will be interesting to see if sam likes it, it is a great story but there are no gadgets and gizmos.
Monday, October 27, 2008
en garde!
Today we went on a field trip to Donnington Le Heath, a small manor house now owned by leicestershire county council that once belonged to one of the men involved in the gunpowder plot. Today's session was all about the gunpowder plot and life in stuart england. There were costumed characters to talk about different aspects of life and needless to say sam most enjoyed the talk by the two soldiers. This is him brandishing a sword-don't worry it isn't real!
do I really have to eat that?
This is the woman who was talking about domestic life in stuart england. The children were happy to find that the pork pies and ham were on the menu but not so happy to learn that chamber pots were dumped out of upstairs windows!
whose bed is it anyway??
Came up this morning to make the bed only to discover these two making themselves comfy!! They do sleep with us at night but not usually like this!
getting comfy
Miko settling down for a mid morning nap. She doesn't usually nap under the covers but it was chilly this morning and sam thought that she might be cold.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ready to hit the slopes
Yesterday we took the monster to Tamworth Snowdome to get his first taste of skiing in preparation for our trip. Managed to outfit him very reasonably from H&M and TJ Maxx. The snowdome provided the skis and boots. His first lesson was a fun taster session and he and his classmate spent the hour getting used to being on skis and going down a very gentle slope. Sam had a ball and he can't wait for his next lesson. He spent a lot of the lesson on his bottom but he was very good natured about it all and he didn't want the lesson to end. We are going back in a fortnight.
Down we go
Here he is heading down the slope, it was just high enough to be fun but not so high that it was daunting.
Down we go-literally!
Sam spent quite a bit of the session in this position. He perfected the art of falling from a standing still position! At one point he toppled over and took out his row of classmates!
Learning to snow-plough
By the end of the session sam was looking quite confident on skis and even managed a snow plough.
Sledding Fun
At the end of the session the children were let loose with small inner tubes and they all had great fun sliding down we go the small slope. Sam had an absolute ball skiing and wanted to carry on. He had to be placated with another lesson in two weeks time. Money and time allowing we are going to try and take him a couple of times a month until we go skiing. We took out a membership of the snowdome for him so at least the lessons are cheaper than they would have been otherwise.
2008_0911NapaBalloon0047
thank you mk for letting me share these amazing pics of your bday balloon ride in napa valley.
Monday, October 13, 2008
More happy news...at least we think so
After many years of talking about it we are finally going on a family ski trip. We are going to Garmisch in Germany for a week in Jan and to say that sam is excited is an understatement. He is willing to skip xmas and go straight to Jan-an unheard of thing for a boy who loves presents as much as he does. We are going to go to either tamworth or milton keynes so that that he can have a few lessons before we hit the slopes because despite what he thinks he cannot ski. Having played enless hours of family ski on the wii he is convinced that he can really ski-should be interesting to see if that holds true! We have already kitted him out very reasonably thanks to H & M and TJ Maxx. We chose Germany because it should be less crowded than france and it is where I learned to ski, and it is somewhere that matt has always wanted ski. We are going to be there for his 40th so may need to sneak a bottle of champagne out on the slope.
As we are going to germany sam has decided that he needs to learn german so we have added it to our wed morning language lessons. He seems to be enjoying them and has started to drop french words into everyday conversation as well as making words sound french by putting a le or la in front of them. It is very cute.
Another piece of success-have managed to persuade sam to dress up for the halloween party we are going to. He has agreed to dress in miliary camaflage as it is not really like dressing up. He is even considering letting me put green/black greasepaint on his face like real soliders have. Matt can't decide between being a pirate and indiana jones but I have decided to go as a fairy godmother. Unbelieveably I still (sort of )fit my lovely pink worth advisor's dress (last worn 1986)and with the addition of some wings, a magic wand and a few seams let out it will be a perfect fairy godmother's outfit. It should be a fun party-will be sure and post a few pics.
As we are going to germany sam has decided that he needs to learn german so we have added it to our wed morning language lessons. He seems to be enjoying them and has started to drop french words into everyday conversation as well as making words sound french by putting a le or la in front of them. It is very cute.
Another piece of success-have managed to persuade sam to dress up for the halloween party we are going to. He has agreed to dress in miliary camaflage as it is not really like dressing up. He is even considering letting me put green/black greasepaint on his face like real soliders have. Matt can't decide between being a pirate and indiana jones but I have decided to go as a fairy godmother. Unbelieveably I still (sort of )fit my lovely pink worth advisor's dress (last worn 1986)and with the addition of some wings, a magic wand and a few seams let out it will be a perfect fairy godmother's outfit. It should be a fun party-will be sure and post a few pics.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Some good news amid the gloom..
In an effort to bring a little light to this dim and dark time I thought that I would impart a little good news. It is not anything major but just something to bring a smile rather than a frown . The first piece of good news is that after lots of false starts sam has finally mastered telling time!! We have done telling time on and off for a couple of years but in the last month it all just clicked. He now wears his watch everywhere (thank you auntie lynn!)and takes great delight at annoucing the time at various intervals.
The other piece of good news is that he can also now confidently tie his shoes! We taught him how to time them last year but it never really stuck but now he has it down pat. He got to show off his skills at the airport last week when they made him take off his shoes at security. I am all for being on the look out for potential threats but really-other than making toxic smells do most 7 year old boys pose a threat to national security... I think not.
We have been pottering along with school work and are now into the fraction zone. He seems to be enjoying fractions but all that could change next week when we cover adding adding and subtracting them. It is a good refresher course for me because fractions aren't something that I used on a daily basis, at least not in their written form.
The other piece of good news is that he can also now confidently tie his shoes! We taught him how to time them last year but it never really stuck but now he has it down pat. He got to show off his skills at the airport last week when they made him take off his shoes at security. I am all for being on the look out for potential threats but really-other than making toxic smells do most 7 year old boys pose a threat to national security... I think not.
We have been pottering along with school work and are now into the fraction zone. He seems to be enjoying fractions but all that could change next week when we cover adding adding and subtracting them. It is a good refresher course for me because fractions aren't something that I used on a daily basis, at least not in their written form.
Reunited
Last weekend I took sam on an international playdate. His very best buddy Alex and his family have moved to Ireland for a year and sam was missing him terribly, so when I saw that ryan air could fly us there for £20 roundtrip for both of us I booked the flights. Matt very graciously agreed to stay home and doggie sit and have a little daddy time. We went for just one night but managed to cram in lots of playtime and catching up. Sam was so excited to see Alex and Conall and was on a real high all day. Despite getting up at 3:30 he didn't crash until 9:30 that night. We spent our day in dublin at the zoo and a variety of playgrounds. They boys had a blast running around and playing and seeing the animals at the zoo. The weather obliged by only drizzling very slightly and being on the whole pretty okay. It was lovely to catch up with Miriam who and to see the boys and we can't wait until they come back at xmas.
Is this boy happy or what??!!
Sam was on a complete high from the moment miriam and the boys picked us up at the airport, despite having gotten up at 3:30 in the morning to make the trip. Here he is showing how happy he is to be reunited to two of his very best buddies.
Going for a ride
All the boys had great fun climbing on the wooden elephant in the playground, despite the many times they all slipped off due to the light drizzle.
Too cute!
Sam and I have seen elephants in zoos before but neither of us have ever seen a baby elephant. This one was so cute and was very playful. It was constantly trying to toss things up with its trunk. Miriam and I could have stayed and watched it all day.
Off for a stroll
The baby elephant was so cute-it really enjoyed throwing the sand up in the air to make a sand shower.
Mother and child
Conall was the first to spot this mother peahen and her chick. It started to drizzle while we were watching them and the chick quickly disappeared under its mother's wing.
Who are you looking at?
I wasn't sure who was watching who here. The meerkat enclosure is connected by a viewing window to the restaurant and they seemed as fascinated by watching us as we were by them. The boys were completely captivated and had to be dragged away after lunch!
Sunday, October 05, 2008
A public service message...
If only I could decide who to vote for-think I am going to write in Mr. Buffett with Hillary for vp!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
