Rite of Passage

I performed another rite of passage today, I laid my own concrete foundations for our new porch. Dug the ditch last week, using a big 14lb hammer to break up the concrete, and switching to a hired pneumatic drill. Today I mixed (by hand), poured, and leveled the concrete.

It's not a completely new experience I've helped my dad and my father in law before, but today is the first time I've flown solo. 6 hours of hard labour. I've feeling ridiculously proud of myself.

My birthday surprise

Hannah took me to the ballet, last night. We saw the Moscow Ballet perform Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker.

It's definitely not the sort of present I was expecting or would ever did of my own volition. So I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The dancers were amazingly good.

Would I go again? Yes. And that surprises me too.

Thank You, Hannah.

North Korea

Just watching NK's anti-imperialism celebrations. Maybe we should get them to manage the 2012 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies. Way more impressive than anything we'll manage.

The first Parent's evening

Tonight is our first parent's evening at Beth's school.

It's nearly half-term, and tonight we'll get the first outsider's view on Beth and learn how she is coping in the big wide world.

It's a scary thought. As a parent I hope that I have given her the love and confidence to cope.

Vanity

I am not a vain person; no really.
But as another year passes, and the Big 40 is edging ever nearer, you find yourself seeing changes in the mirror...and today's horror...the beginnings of the dreaded Dennis Healy eyebrows.

They aren't exactly bushy, but there are a few creepers edging out.

William Wallace plaque

William Wallace plaque
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

This plaque commemorating the execution of William Wallace is at Bart's Hospital opposite Smithfields meat market.

At the airport

At the airport
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

My brother Sandy's Son Ross

St. Paul's

St. Paul's
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

Just for Roy

Triumph Rocket III

Triumph Rocket III
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

I've had enough of sports bikes. They are a pain, mostly in the back and the

wrists. This is what I want next.... maybe next year... or the year after.

Camping

We spent the weekend camping at the Rendlehsam forest Centre with our neighbours.

And apart from Hannah being the source of food for every mosquito in a 10 mile radius, everybody loved it.

Beth's Joke

Beth has a joke:

Knock Knock
Who's There?
Doctor
Doctor Who???

much laughter.... It's an old one but still funny.

Ross and the T-Rex

Ross and the T-Rex
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

Ross got a little close and personal with a model of a T-Rex head.

Natural History Museum

Dad and the kids
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

The day before Sandy and Ross had to fly home, we took all the kids to the NHM. I was slightly worried that they might find it a bit dry and boring, but they loved it, really really loved it, and didn't want to leave.

Ross Goes Rafting

Click to Play

All aboard

All aboard
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

My nephew Ross went along to a raft building course, and after much work, he and his crewmates finally take to the open water.

Ross's Volcano

Click to Play

Lovely come on it... brr

Lovely come on it... brr
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

And in last place...

And in last place...
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

look there was something wrong with the engine, that's why it was so slow... nothing to do with the weight of the driver, no definately not.

Stirling who?

Stirling who?
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

The Young Girl and the Sea

The Young Girl and the Sea
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

We took a day trip to Southend. Not quite swimming weather.

CatGirl on a wall

CatGirl on a wall
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

Tarzan boy

Tarzan boy
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

I am glad to see that the spirit of adventure lives on in small boys and hasn't been totally stamped out by Nintendo and the Sony PSP.

My nephew Ross

My nephew Ross
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

My brother Sandy and his son Ross are visiting for a week. Here's a picture of Ross I took at Stanstead when I picked them up on Monday night.

New York cab comes to Brentwood

New York cab comes to Brentwood
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

Beth, Heather and Ross on Shenfield common with a genuine American cab.

Sandy

Sandy
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

My little brother.

Old MacDonald's Farm

I took Beth and Heather to Old MacDonald's Farm yesterday. They really enjoyed it, especially feeding the animals, They have some deers there, a stag the spitting image of Bambi (with horns), and the girls fed by hand.

Fresh produce

Fresh produce
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

After a disappointing strawberry crop, we've had our first crop of broadbeans. This year we're growing strawberries, leeks, tomatoes, brussel sprouts. Next year we're planning on growing even more vegetables.

We're also on the waiting list for an allotment.

Bread Making

I do enjoy cooking, and on Monday I got the girls to help me make some bread, they loved the mixing of the dough, and kneading it. I let them make little mini loaves for themselves. They were amazed when we left it to raise, and how big it got.

We ended up with their two little loaves and three focciata loaves, and very nice they are too.

Speech Therapy

Because Beth had really bad ear infections, she had gromits fitted in June, and had her tonsils and adenoids removed. Since then we've been going to a speech therapist to help her improve her speech. She's doing well, and has been working hard on her 'snake sounds' s..moke etc. I can really hear the improvment.

Weekend

We had a good weekend, took the girls swimming on Friday night and Sunday, they are both really coming on, and are really enjoying it.

I've been working with Beth on her reading, and she's now finished the first of the Ladybird 'Peter and Jane' books, and is starting on the next one. I'm very proud of her.

More swinging fun

IMAGE_00042
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

Beth's getting to grips with a homemade swing at our local park, and Heather's giving her a little push. I took this on my phone.

At the park

While we were at the park, we discovered that someone had tried to burn down the kid's fort. This is a big wooden western style fort, complete with jail cell.

I think that its pretty safe to assume that it was the teenagers, who regularly shelter there of an evening to get up to whatever teenagers get up to.

The fact that they would deliberately destroy the fort, which they were probably playing on themselves only a couple of years ago, leaves me mystified.

I just can't understand their mentality, what makes them want to do it.

Having a swinging time

Having a swinging time
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

We took the kids to the park last week. Heather loved the swing and the zip

line.

Donating Platelets

Yesterday I donated platelets for the first time. I have to say that while a slightly uncomfortable experience, the staff were excellent, friendly and professional.

I've been donating blood for a while, and a month or so ago they asked me to go in for a test to see whether I could donate platelets.

I can, and yesterday I did it for the first time. It took around an hour and a half, and was only mildy uncomfortable. A machine takes the blood,spins it round a centrifuge to extract the platelets and returns the remaining blood to the body. Because you are not donating whole blood you can donate more frequently.

Platelets go mostly to people being treated for cancer or leukaemia, people with sever infections or who are recovering from major operations.

I think everybody should give blood, and if you can donate platelets then you really should. It really does save lives. It's easy to be selfish and not have the time, but what about when it's you or your family, your children, your parents. You would be shocked if a doctor turned round and said sorry, there's no blood.

It may be an inconvienience and it may be uncomfortable, but it is worth it.

Driving Miss Daisy

Legoland Windsor 012
Originally uploaded by BigBadJock.

Beth burns some rubber at Legoland

Wow

I'd almost forgotten I'd set this up, and looking back at it, I'm sorry I didn't keep it going, it's a brilliant record. Therefore as of today, I'm going to make a concerted effort to post as often as possible.