Happy New Year 2010 from the South

Happy New Year 2010 from the South
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We headed down south for a lovely couple of days to see friends Rachel & Jon at their place in Eastbourne for this New Year. The children and dogs loved it as much as we did. Couple of great relaxed jogging outings on the downs and meandering outings to the seaside – even the traffic was agreeable. Fancy dress party for a few friends (the theme was “a colour” some dodgy pics below). All boxes ticked. Happy New Year all.

Photos and Videos below…
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Dips & Jane & Libby & Flo popped in

Dips & Jane & Libby & Flo popped in
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Good old friends are always the best – and it was so ace to see Dips & Jane and their girls today on their way back home to Oxford after a Christmas stay in Dentdale. We had about five hours together all in all, but it was just enough time to cram in another few great times and forge some more goods for the memory bank.

Amazingly the dying Christmas snow had its Swan Song and provided us with yet another chance to sledge (… this after I’d already taken Lily for her first bum-boarding lesson in the morning). A few bruised bums on the cold ice, and a very cold muddy foot for Libby after an all too predictable welly incident, but all somehow made it just better and more memorable.

Back to work tomorrow for me, but this flying visit helped it become a very memorable and valuable Christmas break.

Some photos here or slideshow below, and a short video below that…

Christmas Day & Boxing Day 2009- photos and videos

Christmas Day & Boxing Day 2009- photos and videos
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Christmas Day

A day at home with Bill, Jean, Sally, Simon, Olly and Hugh
Pics here or slideshow below

Video:

Boxing Day

Pics here or slideshow below

Video:

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland
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So here we are – Christmas eve, and here’s a few photos from snowy Helmshore. Amazingly enough, this is my first ‘proper’ White Christmas – at the ripe old age of 29. Oops. okay… 39.

Nativity 2009 – double the Christmassiness

Nativity 2009 – double the Christmassiness
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We got a double whammy this year for the first time – Lily’s nativity plays have been a source of parental pride for the last few years but this year was also Elsie’s first public performance – in her nursery nativity this year.

The snow has certainly made things miles more festive this year,everything obviously looks and feels more Christmassy – so double the nativity plays means double the Christmassiness.

Lily’s school play was called ‘Santa and the TV set – and Lily had a bit of a starring role, playing Santa’s nagging wife, taking inspiration from goodness-only-knows where:

Elsie’s nursery had a more traditional Christmas nativity, and rather than go for an obvious role like Mary or the Angel Gabriel, Elsie wisely took the all important support role of a Christmas pudding.  Despite the wisdom of her 19 months, stage nerves eventually got to Elsie, who crumbled to tears soon after seeing parents and sister in the audience.  Halcyon days. Pics here

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National Trophy, Peel Park Bradford – cross purposes

National Trophy, Peel Park Bradford – cross purposes
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My favourite venue for the mid season ‘cross races and another fantastic course by Phil Thackery, at Peel Park.

The day took its usual organised pattern and we managed a great outing for Team Wheelbase, but some part of me thinks that all that effort and what felt like a good ride, was worth better than 40th place of the 61 riders. I’m getting old, readers… and the spark’s going!

Still – it’s all fun or we wouldn’t do it!

Jenny: 18 = me: old

Jenny: 18 = me: old
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The little baby that my sister in law Fiona and her husband Graeme had in 1991 – not very much further back than yesterday, it feels, is 18. Like millions of others before me, the coming of age of a close relative has really brought home to me how quickly time flies and how there is bugger all we can do about it. I think the traditional solution is to ‘party’ – if that’s acceptable as a verb [I did use an inverted comma]. Read More »

Wheelbase Cyclocross – organisational skills to the test

Wheelbase Cyclocross – organisational skills to the test
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It seems to be ground hog day. The torment is the same each year. I plan the course, I rope in everyone that’s needed. I liaise endlessly with the council, I pack the car late at night, I get up early… then – somehow – a bike race ‘happens’. I am not a natural organiser. It’s not me.

But I have to do it. Get those violins on – I can feel a lump in my throat. I honestly feel – at the end of a day organising a bike race – that I’ve done something for someone. I’ve given a bit back. People turn up, warm up, cut up (the park) then grab their money (if they’re lucky and can wait for the crap organiser) and they’re off. I did it for them. Toby (Dalton – director of wheelbase) did it for them. As did Louise, Len, Donna, Katie, Carolyn, Mick, Jack, Alan, Simon, Sue, John, Damian and a few others. They got their bit of bike racing, we got knackered. But boy does it give you a buzz. Read More »

Cooling the blood

Cooling the blood
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Having complained about thinkgs not being muddy enough for my cyclocross preferences all the first part of the season, the muddy conditions have finally come. It’s been a mixed blessing though. I certainly haven’t had things all my own way. Read More »

Little Haygarths cyclocross racing @ Brockhole

Little Haygarths cyclocross racing @ Brockhole
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Lily and her cousin Angus had a muddy but brilliant time racing their bikes at the Lakes RC cyclocross at Brockhole (the Lake District National Park visitor centre on the shores of Lake Windermere).

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