Stan is 4

More words to follow, but this picture says it all really!

Old friends and mad weekends

Have had a totally fab, if somewhat full weekend, the highlight of which may arguably have been Stan's birthday festivities on Sunday, but was in fact Saturday when Miles, great old friend/ex flat mate from Uni days came over with Kara, his wife and Sidney, their babe.

The boys did group reiki (don't know what prompted it!!)
Much chat about the old days, who was now doing what, who went where, who had kids/didn't have was(n't) married etc etc.

The kids loved having them here too and were mostly on cute and charming mode all day. Ed also popped in for tea, which turned into glass of wine, on his way to Canterbury which was lovely too.

On Friday night we had friends round for Sri Lankan curry, Mum had brought back a hopper pan (Sri Lankan thing) from their recent trip and we had promised Annie and Dan first attempt at hoppers. I am rather proud of my results, which Annie said took her back to Colombo. Now just have to repeat the success as Georgia would like to try Egg hoppers, Sri Lankan breakfast.

Sunday was Stan's 'official' birthday and we went to Chatham with many small children to watch 'Harry and his bucketful of Dinosaurs' - the grown ups didn't think much of the show (and neither did G) but the small ones thought it was great. Afterwards they all came back for tea - hot dogs and choc cake and a frolic in the garden.

Blossom

Yesterday in the garden, the Amelanchier (Snowy Mespilus) and Pear both really came out in the sunshine.

Today it's snowing!

Bean Update

It's almost at the top of the skylight - may need re-potting if we are ever going to have a harvest!

Raff's fabulous beanstalk!

Spring has sprung in Nagden - most notably in the kitchen!

We recently went on a bit of a seed spending spree and the kids have chosen things that they would like to grow in their own veg beds when the concrete pond finally gets smashed up (hopefully in April) and turned into a much enlarged/improved veg plot!

So whilst waiting for said landscaping works they have all sown a few things indoors. Raff has been incredibly successful with his runner beans - we think they may truly be the ones from the story as they seem to gain inches every day! I am looking forward to the goose that lays golden eggs.

Speaking of eggs, I felt that we needed a boost in our production line, since we now only have two reliable layers, so last Friday Stan and I went and chose two new ladies. they are settling in slowly, being very henpecked which is a bit heartbreaking, but hopefully will not last long. Pictures to follow as they are rather beautiful.

A Year in the life of Faversham

Just wanted to post about a great project which I have just found out about, started by a local photographer, Nathalie Banaigs who wants to capture a year in photos of Faversham and the surrounding area. I have submitted a couple of pics which I hope might make the final cut.
http://ayearinthelifeoffaversham.blogspot.com/

Alun and Biba et famille

A beautiful crisp sunny day and a lovely walk out to see the Konik ponies and their new foal. The horses were much more timid than usual (because of the foal) but we sat up on the sea wall and left them alone and they soon became brave - one even decided to eat Stan's welly!

On the way back all 6 kids had an absolute ball climbing on the straw bales which are slowly disintegrating, which makes it much easier to climb up for the smallest.Such fun, but it was pretty cold by the time we headed home - and some of us had to trudge!

Devon's own Spiderman - or is it Raff

At half term we had a few lovely days in Devon with Penny, and a particularly great day was had in Budleigh Salterton. As we wandered along the amazing pebble beach - evey pebble was a beauty and cried out to be collected - Raff set his heart on climbing a cliff at the end of the beach, but when we got there it was the far side of a fast flowing stream and couldn't be got at. He was a little disappointed but after a lovely picnic lunch watching crazy canoeists, we headed back to the car.When we were nearly there, walking along the undercroft, we passed a wonderful red sandstone cliff covered in a succulent climber. Before we knew it, Raff had hurled himself at it and was making his way up at speed in the style of spiderman. The higher he got the greater his elation, and despite being overtaken by a 10 year old (showing off and not realising the importance to Raff of conquering the 'mountain'), he got to the top and declared himself "the winner!!" It doesn't look so remarkable in the pictures but it was almost completely vertical. For Penny and I watching, slightly anxiously, from the bottom, it was quite emotional. This is the boy who used to fall over flat ground and about who we sometimes worry about climbing the stairs!

The next day when Michael had joined us we went for a fabulous walk on Dartmoor. It seems unthinkable that we have never been before, and if my wish to move West ever wanes, I will only have to remember that day to remind me what it's all about. We started just outside a village called xxxxx (Penny please help?) next to a clear, rocky stream. Clambering up the hillside we came out on open moor, with sheep and wild ponies - the white one was christened a Unicorn. There was an abdundance of gorse in flower and the kids had such fun hiding in it, springing out and 'scaring' us. We came across frogspawn in shallow boggy puddles and the dog had more exercise than in her whole life thus far, chasing the smell of rabbits and hare. Then we descended ito the valley again to a beautiful spot by the stream for lunch - you can 'wild' camp here apparently and I think we may have to go back for that - I wanted to ford the stream but discovered a hole in my welly half way across - not good!

and i used my tripod!!

Our final day was spent helping to wake Penny's allotment up, much digging and weeding - we even got help from the kids!

The days are getting longer...

Looking back over the past two years this has always been a tricky time of the year for me - if I compare it to the same time last year I am astonished at how low I had got as now it barely seems possible. So, I had a lovely birthday. It started with a pile of presents with my tea in bed, then a walk on the beach with my friend Lesley and our dogs followed by posh breakfast in Whitstable. Then lunch at a friend's with a botttle of bubbly - almost late collecting Raff from schools! Later the kids, with Michael (or should that be the other way around) made a lovely chocolate cake - which we are still eating. M then cooked me rib eye steak and fat chips with a Bearnaise sauce (no, not from a packet!) and then on Friday night we went to a new Japanese restaurant in Canterbury for sushi. I no longer have to get my fix at Victoria station! No one could ever doubt the importance food plays in my life...!

This weekend I have had an absolutely uplifting weekend in the garden, bright sunshine for 2 days straight so lots of winter tidying and sorting, alot of pruning, with my very cool birthday present loppers! Buddleia to no-buddleia in 5 minutes, shredding and the compost heap turned too! So much is starting to emerge; all the usual bulbs, irises etc and the buds are swelling. It's amazing what a huge difference it makes to my soul to see the garden coming alive again, and the kids have spent most of the weekend outside - last night they were there after sundown, biking and scootering around.

Last weekend we had Katy and the sprogs down and the pictures that follow are from then. Stan spent all week telling me how his best friend in the whole world is Polly "because she follows me around everywhere!"

Lizzie

The 'big' cousins

Raff being mad!

Finny enjoying the Seasalter mud

Katy

Polly

Georgia

Raff's fish - he didn't catch it, but he wanted to 'keep it forever' until I explained about the smell!

Winter Nagden

It's for shots like this that we live here really!

Half term treat

We had a fab trip at half term - to Calais for the day with Polly, Frank and Noah. There was a special offer on P&O and Michael - or 'keeper of the purse' - decided that we could easily recover the cost of the ticket on cheap wine - not sure his sums included lunch and the exorbitant coffee on the ferry, but there you go!

It was a pretty grey day, but not choppy so a good crossing. We had a great time - explored a Napoleonic Fort, looked at the wonders of Calais (not many!) and had a good lunch, then off to Auchan to fill up with goodies followed by a trip to the beach at Sangatte - miles of beautiful sand.

The kids had great fun and so did we - may become a regular thing?

Pretty scarey!!

Here are my usually delightful and significantly more attractive children looking frightful!

Oh my goodness she's 9!

A few days late - but life has been hectic.

Georgia is 9 - where did that year go- and whilst we're wondering, where did the other 8 go too?


What a beautiful girl - well I would say that..

We had a very grown up celebration this year - no party games for this crowd. Lunch at Wagamama for G and three friends followed by shopping for sparkly glittery things in Claire's Accessories.


There was lots of skipping and trying on stuff and I think they had a ball.

The boys made a cake while we were out, but we had to have it the next day as it all got a bit late -

I think it's safe to say Raff adores his big sister and it was made with love!