Westward Ho!

Ok, we're here. Its taken a few years of procrastination and recession, but we made it. We now own a beautiful grade 2 listed building in the conservation area that is South Road, Taunton.

We got here in early December and soon realised that the house could do with a lot of work. Nothing tragic, but some damp issues, poor insulation, poorly fitting windows and doors, cracked panes. All stuff you don't pay too much attention to when you view a property in July. Things are a little different during the coldest winter we have had in Britain for 30 years. I remember that one well too.

We loaded up in Norfolk on Friday, unloaded in Somerset on Saturday and started work at a couple of local clinics on Monday. After a frantic 2 days, furniture was in place. 3 days later, family started coming to stay. This was all a build up to Christmas proper, more of which in the next few posts.

We have had a brilliant few years in East Anglia, but family and new Chiropractic challenges have drawn us back this way. Christa has gone back to work now and we are closer to her contacts over here in the South West. We are still 2 hours from Cornwall and 3 hours from Pembrokeshire, but that's a vast improvement on the 8 and 7 hours respectively that it took from Norfolk.

Halloween

Bungay always has a good Halloween celebration. They close the centre of town, carve loads of pumpkins up and start pouring beer. Ive never seen pumpkins this size and some of the carvings were brilliant. Not to be outdone, Christa did a great Dora the explorer one for Morwennas birthday.

Good to meet some familiar faces amongst all the ghosts and ghouls...

Better Late Than Never

Well, these are some of the photos from our Cornish trip this Summer. Many thanks to Rowly and George for putting us up and Anna and Dan for putting up with us. Plus Jason for the firewood. Lucy, Alex and Cathy were all stars in camping with us through some really crap weather. However, the photos do show some occasional sun, so it cant have all been bad.

The usual frolics gave all the kicks. If it aint broke don't fix it I say. Lots of decent surf, with a good dawn patrol at Gwithian. We got the best of it that day Dan. Lots of paddling with the kids too. Finn got on really well and was properly going for it on his own straight away this time.

Gone Fishin'

What else would you expect me to do with some good weather, a kayak and a trip to Pembrokeshire. Mike and I went round Caldey on a lovely calm day and caught a few. That continued all week til Yens and I went out from Abercastle in heavy seas and didn't catch a thing. Thats the problem in a kayak; there are too many things to think about as well as catching fish. Like staying alive...

I have also added this picture of domestic bliss to let everyone know that i do occassionally cook. Ok, not often (nor would you if you were married to Christa). So when I do, its probably worth collecting the evidence.

Welsh Holidays

It's difficult to put words to how beautiful Pembrokeshire is on a sunny day. You could think you're in the Bahamas. Don't take my word for it, have a look at these video clips of us playing around at Barfundle. It makes up for all the crap weather we had last Summer on our camping trip. I'm not one to complain generally, but that was grim.

It was great to get mum and Morwenna out on the kayaks. I have always scorned these sit-on-tops, but for family days our and exploring the shores, they really come into their own. Not to mention the trips we have done around Ramsey and Caldey we have done in them.

Had a good catch up with all and sundry in Pembs both North and South. Lots of camping and fishing. More of that later.

100 years old

...and still going strong. No daily medication required to keep Granny Molly going. I don't imagine the same will be said of anyone reading this blog when their time comes around (myself included). Perhaps the secret to longeivity is not allowing us blokes with the white coats any where near you.

We had a lovely time with family from near and far when we were back in Wales this August. Nan was on great form and it was wonderful to have a room full of well wishers from near and far, from both sides of the family. Dad orated and gave nans life story (thus far!) so that all and sundry knew their connection with everyone else around the table.

Its extraordinary to think of the changes that you have seen in the last 100 years nan. Keep it up and we will celebrate all the rest of your years with as much vigour as we did this one!

Pub Crawl

OK, so there was only 1 pub and we didn't crawl, but it was fun. We took the kids by bike to the Hoxne swan and had a lovely time today. The roads were quiet and we cycled along the river that Dom and I paddled yesterday. Had to pop in for a swim with Morwenna at Syleham wier too. What a great weekend! Mum, I know you will like this photo of Bryn .

Waveney Otters

Kayaks are always the best vehicle for wildlife watching. Kingfishers, perch, otters and of course cows were all spotted on the Waveney today. The image above is really just a homage to Jane German's work, a local artist who sums up the rural idyll nicely. She's also Dom's mum and does a wicked Sunday roast.

Water Sports

Morwenna is getting good in the pool now. I seem to remember learning to swim in a converted cow feeder, so things have improved in the last generation. Tell that to the yoof of today and they wont believe you.

The other quick video is of the road directly outside our house. The neighbours would be knee deep but for some clever sand bagging. luckily our front door is to the side. If you look closely at the corner you can just make out the man-cover which has been blown off by the water pressure in the drains. And the council still pretend they haven't allowed too much building on the outskirts of town. Hhhhmmmnnn.

Dom has also conquered his fear of flumes by the look of this.

Allotment Update

The onions all bolted, the garlic all got rust and the spuds have got a magnesium deficiency. The spring onions were great mind. Its a bloody hard life as an allotmenteer. Lots of learning this year. The crops have all been salvageable, but will be easy to improve upon. I think that's why growing is so addictive.

Morwenna's Contribution.

Morwenna has started to take pics now. With these compact cameras, it really is child's play. This 1st one she has the camera the wrong way round, but she would never let me get this close up.

She got a great one of Jesiica which I'm sure no adult would have been able to take. You can see Jesicca is fully alert and checking out the other little girl.

This last 1 I have snuck in simply because its a lovely pic of Morwenna catching sight of Jesiica and coming over for a closer inspection. Magic moments.

Family Forster

Once there were 3, now there are 4. Baby Jesiica was born less than 2 weeks ago but didn't seem to mind our intrusion last weekend. As is traditional in our family, any excuse must be made for drinking, so we wet Jesiicas head over a few hours in the sweltering July heat on Saturday.

It was a true picture of domestic bliss. Kids everywhere underfoot and enough good quality hamburger to feed a rugby team. As you know Ben, I'm always happy to help out when there is simply too much food to eat.

The birth went well, though it seems these days that you don't get much chance for recovery ofter the birth. A measly 2 hours in hospital is all that you get nowadays. Still, alls well that ends well. Now the fun can really begin. Morwenna screaming downstairs reminds me that a parents work is never done...

For Sale- Broughton House

I have to say this is our first real family home, and I'm not sure we will ever find a better one, but its going on the market next week. Having had the feelers out for work down in the West Country, we have been inundated with offers and will be starting a clinic of our own. So, before Morwenna gets into Primary school, we are on the move. Taunton Ho!

If anyone is interested in a 400 year old house in prime location in the centre of a small but thriving market town bordering Suffolk, its on the market for £192,500. Going, Going...

More Beach Moments

Well, these beach moments are back in Norfolk, but now the sea is a little warmer. Coming up for the Summer Solstice too. We will be camping on the beach next weekend to remind ourselves of the joys of waking at 4.30 with Bryn wanting to start the day.

Big moves are afoot too. It appears we are on the move. Norfolk may not be for us for much longer. The West Country has sunk its teeth in again. What with job offers and other opportunities, we may be Somerset bound before long. Watch this space...

Beach Daze

When the surf is too small (or too big in my case!) every self respecting Cornish family wants to be sand dune surfing. Where better than Holywell on the North coast. Even the bride found the breakneck speeds impossible to resist.

The May-Day

We all got teary eyed. We all got drunk and ate fab food. We spent some quality family time together. Weddings are a great excuse for all the above. No two weddings are alike but they share the same recipe of love and well-wishing. When parties go this well, it makes you wonder why we don't all do it more often...



The day started with Anna and Christa on dawn patrol for flowers up in the woods where we were staying. Here you can see the result as modelled on the groom. Im afraid you ladies have missed your chance now he's married, but Dan is also available for children's parties and Bar mitzvahs.

The men then had to leave the house and let the ladies get beautiful. I think we all fell in love with Anna that day.

The service was lovely and the Tallulah and Morwenna were brilliant as bridesmaids. Finn was very grown up and Bryn was very asleep on Uncle Rowans shoulder. Then all piled into the 3 Mackerel for a right royal feed. Matt got some lovely photos of the couple on the beach which will come onto the site soon.

The party really got going back at Ponsanooth, where the Champagne and Anna's chocolate cake did the trick. Then the happy couple escaped to the North coast on their own. The next few days were lovely weather, so beach days were the order of the day. Why cant life always be this good?

Family Broadley

We had a great time down in Cornwall last week. Weddings are always a good excuse for a holiday! Dan added Anna to the family Broadley when they got hitched in a family-only affair at Falmouth registry Needless to say it all went swimmingly.

I will be putting as many photos up as this blog will allow, but for anyone interested, they are all going to be sent out on CD. Dans brother Matt will be organising all the photos, so I will link this to his site when they're all ready. I think we have some new friends in Stockholm now too. All the more reason to get over there and find out more about family Karlsson.

Have pension, will travel.

Happy birthday pops!

I know you have timed your trip to be away from the U.K over your birthday due to the overwhelming number of presents and congratulations you normally receive from us all.

Well, you cant escape us that easily! Hope youre having a good time. Speak to you when you get back.

Winter is over

I hadn't realised that its been such a while since our last blog. There have obviously been some distractions.

The allotment has taken lots of getting into shape, but nowhere near as much as last year! I have started working at another clinic in Norwich, which adds up to not much spare time. Plus its the start of the bike races again (Beccles 50 miles in 5 weeks) and my current fitness levels are leaving a lot to be desired.

Not to mention these little tykes. Morwenna has some budding photography and cookery skills. These are her cakes and pics!

Bryn on the other hand has started a new craze- Hoover surfing! He finds the air that gets shot out of the the vacuum cleaner great fun and tries to stand on it during use.