The tooth fairy arrives tonight

After what seems like an eternity, but is only in fact a week, Olivia lost her first tooth this morning. It's been wobbly for quite a while, but last weekend we noticed that it was hanging by a thread... and it continued to hang on all week despite much twisting, wobbling and complaining that she wanted my dad to get it out rather than me.

Anyway, in the usual morning chaos she proudly wandered into the the kitchen with the tooth in her hand looking very pleased with herself. She's cool is our little girl.

When our cats die, can we have a dog?

Apologies for the long post. Must, must find time to post less, more often.

Olivia seems to have been the focus of our weekend. She will always be our special little girl, but she can be enormously trying as she begins to grow up. I often wonder how she got to be so big. I can so clearly remember her as a baby that it sometimes seems like the beautiful five-year-old who lives with us can't be the same person.

Anyway, we don't seem to have stopped since about 5.30pm on Friday when we headed out to her school fete. It seemed like there was a three-line whip with the reception teachers who were all face painting (£1). This is Olivia with her teacher.

Anyway, from the fete we had go to straight to Luke's end of term party, the less said about that the better really, needless to say, it was some genius organisation to have it one the same day as the school fete.

The following day we headed to the church fete which was rather lovely. A proper old skool event with white elephant, coconut shy, Punch & Judy and so on. They had stocks and sponges too in which Caryn was subjected to a sustained, and I thought, quite vicious, attack from the little people.

It was held in the grounds of The Vicarage. Nice gaff. It's funny living somewhere like this - you can slowly but surely feel the church closing in on you. One day, we'll just find ourselves sat in church on Sunday and not really know why or how. That said, they were obviously responsible for the fantastic weather.

Today? Today I failed to fit a cat flap, but did get the grass cut and managed 10 minutes in the hammock. Didn't bother buying a paper.

Bin flyin'

So, anyway. It's either I've got too little to do, or too much to do. You can tell when it's too much by the lack of activity on here. There's certainly no shortage of activity in real life...

Just to catch up, last Wednesday night we were invited to a do at a nearby airfield (this one). The plan was to take a short flight in a Cessna if the weather held. Didn't look good for most of the day, but as we'd booked the babysitter we thought what the heck and headed out there anyway.

At about 8pm we took to the air - me in the co-pilot's chair, the wife and my mum in the back. What a hoot. We skirted Norwich on our right and headed for our house... like you do.

I don't know, but there's something about flying over your own house (we stuck a big white arrow on the roof so we could find it) that seems like a really good thing to do - like it's one of the items that should be on your life checklist. Flown over my own house. Check. It was a strange feeling as we circled round knowing that our babies were fast asleep 1,000 feet below.

Apparently, and of course I asked, for a private pilot's license you need a minimum of 45 hours flying time with lessons at around £80 an hour. Once you've passed you need a plane most of which are co-owned with a secondhand Cessna going for around £40k... then there's the fuel and the maintenance... and well, you need to quite rich to fly.

Maybe one day.

In the meantime here's some music

Sorry, really badly dropped out. Been stupidly, stupidly busy since the wedding the other week. Working in London two days a week and I am three working days from launch of our new football site.

While I try sort myself out, have a listen to this from Kanye West's new album. A. Maze. Ing.

STOP PRESS: Universal Music clearly don't want anyone listening to the amazing music their artists are making. The previously posted link from YouTube has been removed 'due to a copyright claim by Universal Music Group'.

Oh, look what I've found... Kanye West 'Stronger'. It really is amazing.

Married then

My little brother is now a married man. I wonder how many pictures get taken at weddings. I emptied out our digital camera tonight and on our own we'd taken 160 pictures!

So here's a picture no one else will have - this is Chris, parked up outside the church enjoying an ice cold beer before the madness decends. Just us two, sat in his car, taking a moment. Perfect.

The rest of the day wasn't bad either.

Our 100th post... and we've been tagged

We've been terribly slack this week due to a family wedding at weekend. My little brother is getting hitched and I'm best man which means I've been having sleepless nights about the speech. Finally nailed it tonight... I think - I might share next week depending on how it goes down.

My biggest fear is not just standing up in front of 130 people, most of who I won't know from Adam, but that no one laughs at my jokes. Nothing new there really, but to have so many people not laughing at the same time is scary stuff. Reception kicks off at six, speeches aren't until 7.30pm, so I might stand a fighting chance.

And the lovely Landcroft House have tagged us which means we're it and have to reveal eight facts about ourselves before tagging five other blogs... do I even know five other blogs? Nope. If you're reading this and have a blog of your own please say hi and we'll tag you! Virtual cocktail party game here we come.

Won't be doing it now, need another sleepless night fretting over the speech.

Golf anyone?

I'm quite keen on playing golf. When we first moved here we lived on the same street as an 18-hole pitch and putt course. The perfect opportunity then, my brother even bought me a left-handed pitcher and putter. Of course, when we actually lived next door to a flipping golf course I made it as far as the bar on a couple of occasions, but I never made the first tee and the golf clubs have sat unused in the shed for almost three years.

On Saturday my brother turned up having been turfed out of his house so his wife as from next weekend could have her hen do. And off we went to Silfield Pitch & Putt. It was most enjoyable especially on the occasions I hit a nice shot (about twice I think), we only lost three balls, but we found one too which was handy, and I went round in under 100 which I consider no mean feat.

I'll hopefully make it more than once every three years now I've broken my duck. Quack.

Two Fat boys and make 'em snappy

At the risk of becoming a camping bore, this week we (when I say we, I just mean me) have been obsessing about the sleep deprivation problem encountered last weekend on our inaugural trip.

I asked around and it seems self-inflating mattresses (you open a valve and the mats suck the air in, like voodoo) are the way to go. There was also the suggestion that perhaps not enough wine was being drunk before bed, which is a fair point.

So, when me and Lukey were in Big Town this week we popped into Millets to try out said mats. And flipping heck, they were amazing, except for the price tag - around £70 for a decent one. A quick rummage round google and I found the amazing alpkit.com who served up a pair of their Fats direct to our door in 24 hours for £65. Great service and a lovely site. Some very tempting bits and bobs on there.

So, sleep here we come. Shame it's chucking it down or I'd have had the tent up in the garden to try them out.

England 5...

We've been missing the footie - so we were pleased that last night Carrow Road played host to the England U21 side warming up for the U21 European Championships which kick-off this weekend. It's been some time since some proper football has been played on the hallowed turd, sorry, turf.

Rather pleasingly, they stuffed a tricky-looking Slovakia side who were out to frustrate. And it's not often you see a number 5 following the word England. Even the full England team could only put three past lowly Estonia tonight - a side who've played seven, lost seven and scored none.

What was really amazing was the 20,000 crowd that turned up. 20,000. But then I guess when you live somewhere like Norwich and like your football you've got to take your chances when they come your way.

Camping, in real life, two nights and everything...

After a week of anxious weather-watching, we headed North Norfolk way and to Kelling Heath for our first-ever, proper, not in our back garden, camping trip on Friday and made it home this morning, bleary-eyed, smelling not to bad at all and feeling rather pleased with ourselves.

The weather was fantastic, if not a bit weird, but that's weather in Norfolk for you. The glorious sunshine on Friday gave way as sea mist rolled in. The next morning it still hung over the campsite so we decided to head out in search of the sun via the pool at nearby Sheringham which comes fully fitted with wave machine and 150 foot water chute.

Luke was surprisingly keen to go down the slide, but it was no double rides so naturally I had to try it out first and, like most dads who spotted the timer at the end, spent the rest of the morning honing my technique chasing a sub eight second run. We were there for almost three hours, I don't think I've ever spent so long in a pool in my life.

Foodwise, we did well. We're pretty good on the cooking outside front thanks to the braii masterclasses over the years, and I'm beginning to perfect cooking on disposable BBQs, but the real triumph was breakfast on Saturday - bacon and egg rolls. Even if it was a little gas stove, there's something very pleasing about the sound and smell of bacon frying in the outdoors at that time of the morning. Next step is to cook it on an open fire!

All in all, it was a roaring success, but we do have to review the sleeping arrangements. A double airbed with two people on it does not a good night's sleep make. Needless to say, we're looking at other solutions...

Breakfast is served

The day we've always talked about has finally arrived. Today was the day when, all on her own, Olivia got up at a reasonable time (6.45am), headed downstairs, got her and Luke breakfast, turned the TV on and, well, just got on with it really.

Luke especially is super-hungry in the mornings what with the ritual shunning of tea the night before (unless it's chips) and the usual for him is to appear in our bed anytime from 5.50am onwards. He wriggles a bit, pretends to sleep for a bit and then starts the relentless 'I'm hungry' mantra until one of us - usually Caryn, as I pretend to have died in my sleep - gets up and feeds him.

Needless to say, this morning was quite a morning. Now, if we could teach her to feed the cats too...

Twice in three days

Typically, from the moment half-term started at 3pm on Friday it seems to have been raining. It's always a tricky one entertaining when it's raining, but on Saturday morning we visited Planet Zoom for the first time.

Why we've not been there before is a mystery. We've got something along the same lines where we live, so I guess driving 10 miles seems a bit odd. Glad we did though because our two loved it. We paid for an hour and a half and the time just flashed by. In fact, they loved it so much they snubbed a swimming trip on Monday for a return visit.

Twice in three days was probably a bit much as the excitement wained after about an hour which isn't bad. Luke was super brave trying all sorts of things he wouldn't normally do, including going down the enormous swirly slide (pictured) on his own.

It's also weatherwatch week at Ebenezer Terrace. We've our first 'proper' camping trip this weekend. When we bought the tent the idea was we could just clear off when the weather was nice.

Seems it doesn't quite work like that - the good places get booked up early doors, so we've booked up a few places over the summer and will be at the mercy of the English weather. Should put us off camping sharpish... or we'll take up camping in the back garden.

A good party

Firstly, an apology - especially to Louise, whose own blog we're eagerly awaiting - for not posting anything since Monday. It's tricky fitting all this children, school, nursery, wife at college, earning a living, sleeping, eating thing into a week.

Every second seems to have been filled with something or other and I've even been going to bed late to fit it all in. yes, I know.


So anyway, a couple of emails popped in last night from James whose kitchen we really like. His daughter had quite the best birthday party last weekend - it was kind of an Edwardian fairground extravaganza, with games like splat the rat and lucky dip and popping balloons.

The children all had a bag each and ran around winning prizes and filling their bags with sweets. It was really different. I think children have come to expect certain things from parties - entertainer, bouncy castle etc, so this was a real curve ball and you could see the confusion on some faces to begin with. It was excellent though.

They also had one of these put your face through the holes things. And that's what the email was... pics of our children popping their heads through the holes. Thanks James.

Earth, Wind and... crack, crunch, snap

So, to cut a long story quite short, the wife decided we should throw caution to the wind on Friday and go on our inaugural camping trip. Turns out the wind wasn't very cautious by the time we arrived at a very pleasant North Norfolk campsite, so un-cautious in fact it broke our new tent as we tried to pitch it while Olivia and Luke hid in the car wisely sheltering from the weather and from some very choice language.

Saturday morning then and off I went in search a full refund. Halfords put up very little fight, which I have to admit was a little disappointing. They did offer an exchange at first which I politely turned down on the grounds we actually wanted a tent we could use for camping. Seemed to do the trick.

And so to a proper camping shop, refund in hand, to buy the above very lovely tent which we duly popped up in the garden and spent almost the entire day lounging around in today. We are now looking forward to our our first proper, proper camping trip in two weeks time and in an odd way are quite pleased our first proper trip was such an utter, total, absolute disaster...

buymeabeer.com

In the line of research, I found buymeabeer.com today. Shame it's for over-priced, posh people's Corney & Barrow bars and shame they're only in London, but a good idea all the same. I do like the idea that if you're meeting someone and they're running late they can still get their round in. Not sure that buying someone a drink, even if they do it remotely, is a revolutionary idea though.

Welcome to the world little one

Quite early on Sunday morning, my little sis had a baby girl, Molly Amelia. And here she is.

Went round to see her after school today for the first time and crikey, she's a little tiny lovely - all wrinkly skin that doesn't quite fit her yet, she didn't stir while we were there, just slumbered though the visit from her new auntie, uncle and cousins. Not been an uncle before, wonder if it's like being a dad but without the grumpy bits.

Olive was very taken with Molly which was lovely to see. In some ways it doesn't seem that long ago that she was a tiny little baby.

Luke, well, he knows where the box of soldiers is at Auntie Vicky's now so he wasn't much fussed.

The bit I really like how there's a new person around now - a brand-new member of the family.

So, just wanted to say welcome to the world little one, it's okay here you know. And, although it doesn't seem like it now, your parents will get the hang of it all eventually. Well, some of it at least. And some is better than none.

The oldest person in the world, ever.

One of the throwbacks from my time as a newspaper sub is, for some odd reason, I like to know who the oldest person in the world is and who's next up. It's not a great title as the holder seems to die soon after receiving the honour. Still, if you're going to be recognised in your life for doing something, I can think of few things better.

Anyway, just read a great story about the oldest person in the world, ever.

In French France it is possible to buy property for a snip if you're prepared to wait for the owner to snuff it. It's called en viager and involves you making a one-off payment to some aging crock and then paying them a monthly rent until they finally shuffle off and, voila, the property is all yours. Simple. Or not.

There is of course a slight gamble...

In 1965, 47-year-old Francois Raffery, signed a viager for an apartment in the centre of Arles. The owner was a drinking, smoking 90-year-old woman. Anyway, 30 years later Raffery wasn't rubbing his hands in so much glee as he died leaving his wife to continue paying rent to the by now 120-year-old Jeanne Calment.

A herione to French oldies everywhere, Ms Calment managed another two and a bit years before dropping off which made her not the oldest person in the world, ever, but the smartest oldest person in the world, ever. Her record still stands today at 122 years, 164 days if anyone fancies a crack at it.

There's a lesson to be had in there somewhere is there not?

Out of interest for anyone still awake, the current oldest person in the world is Yone Minagawa of Fukuoka, Japan who is 114 and a bit. She's been the oldest person since the end of Janaury so we're due a change of crown pretty soon I'd say.

Our new favourite place

Went round our friend's place for Sunday lunch today. Nice roast beef, etc. They live in the burbs where I went to school, which was a little unnerving when they first moved in a few years ago, kind of used to it now, although driving down the road to their house, past my old school never fails to feel a bit odd.

Anyway, they've just had a new kitchen extension built and, I never thought I'd catch myself saying things like this, but it really is rather fantastic. I am truly getting old.

We've not had the pleasure of a sitting around in a kitchen since we moved out of the School House last year so it was lovely just to leave the kids to their own devices and chew the fat round a big table again.

Simple pleasures eh?

Pedal! Pedal! Pedal!

Olivia, bless, has taken her time to learn to ride a bike. We got her a proper bike for her fourth birthday, but it has only been since we moved house last August that she's really shown an interest in riding it properly.

We live on a cul-de-sac which is prime bike riding real estate. So, with her new-found interest we gave the old me pretending to hold the seat thing a go. The first time went amazingly well - she rode the bike on her own almost straight away... and that was that. Once she'd done it, we were off inside, like it's something you tick off a list never to repeat again.

A while later, we went out again and this time, she couldn't ride a bike. She was in a panic and begging me not to let go. I had little intention of letting go this time because she was would have just heaped herself in pile in seconds. We went out a few more times, but it was the same story and we both just sort of gave up.

And then the driest April on record arrived and we spent most of our time in the garden. For some reason Olive decided she'd try ride her bike on the grass. A few failed tries and she was bombing up and down over and over again.

Could she do it on the open road we wondered? Course. Now it's the stopping that's the problem.

I'm wondering where the week has gone...

Last post was Sunday after a busy weekend and here we are again at another weekend, and looking equally as busy. I honestly don't know where time goes. Friday already, O'Riley.

So bank holiday weekend and it's off to Auntie Vicky's tomorrow because it's her birthday (Happy Birthday sis!), back over here for a party, possibly a beer festival for me (yah), then the big smoke calls on Sunday for an overnight stay at the brother's place with the children.

It does seem that we just pass him by when he's up this way and when I'm down that way I get to see him, but Olive and Lukey don't. So we've booked up, weeks in advance, and we're off.

I also got paid for a job this week, so promptly banked the cheque and bought another new toy. It would have been better spent admittedly on bills, but where's the fun in that I ask you? It arrived this morning - double screen DVD fun for the car (this one, cheap as chips if anyone else is interested, or we could rent it out when not in use!).

Thing is, we're wondering whether to roll it out for the London trip...

It will come in seriously handy, but not sure the nips deserve it just yet. Olive in particular has been especially defiant of late. She has to learn and it does look like she wants to do that learning the hard way, which makes us very sad.

If only she knew we had this little box of in-car TV heaven hidden under the bed... it must be tough being five.