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.

Brits abroad

If you cant beat 'em, join 'em. We joined the maddening crowds in the Canaries and introduced the cosmopolitan Italian and German families to the bucket and spade brigade, Britstyle. They were far too busy smoking cigarettes and making sure they were being noticed to enjoy themselves. Fingers were pointed at our poor children who were...covered in sand! Oh no. Call the social services. The Euro zone really has become intolerant of outsiders. Turkey beware.

Had a great time. Surf was overhead and then some most days. The weather was ideal and the Cabaret didn't stop playing Rod Stewart until 3 most mornings. Well, what did you expect, this is Tenerife!

Happy xmas everyone

So, I know its late, but December got a little hectic. Some holiday snaps to follow. Another first t show you though; Morwenna's first Nativity play. Morwenna was the inn keeper, who' sole job it appears was to look after the blue cat. Certain liberties were taken with the Bibles version of the birth of Christ, but you can only forgive the little darlings.

"Mary had a baby in her tum tum tum

God said soon you'll be a mum mum mum"

Bryn's 1st birthday

Yes, a truly fine moment. Another great moment is interrupting his footy watching to take a photo of this lounge lizard in his favourite environment- being waited on hand and foot whilst he contemplates his navel. Can't imagine where he learnt that kind of behaviour. Note to folks; this is the same nursing chair that I developed my bad posture with as a child.

Halloween Cornish style

I know these are a little late in making it onto the blog, but better late than never. Christa went down with the kids (muggins was working) and had a good week.

Morwenna and Christa both had their birthdays down there. Why they're called the terrible twos is any ones guess. Now that Morwenna is three the tantrums are really going up a gear. Of course, when Daddy's around its like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth...

Bryn is coming up for 1 and considering how into biting everyone he is, I think the Dracula outfit was an inspired choice.

Seasons Greetings!

Yup, sure did snow last weekend... all weekend. Bryn got his first taste of the white stuff and didn't think much of it. Too cold to enjoy it after 15 minutes. Morwenna got the hang of snowballs on her own, and got one down the back of my neck. I swear I didn't provoke her...

Had to get some photos, because you cant really count on it snowing most winters now. Saying that, it forecast to snow tomorrow. Another great forecast for the half marathon. It hailed on us last year too. Wish me luck. Time to beat this year; 1hr 40.

Family Bowling goes multi-sensory!

This is it everyone. The grand unveiling of a plan that's been years in the making. I have been beavering away for the last few months learning how to record, edit and mix music. Oh, and learn to play the bass. And the flute... At least its a good reason why the blog has been so quiet of late.

Right click the link below to open in a new tab & make sure your speakers are on!

www.myspace.com/alexbowling1

I've written all the songs apart from the occasional anonymous folk tunes which work their way into the songs, in which case only the arrangement is my own. Currently Christa is the only other musician involved (I cant play the fiddle yet). Others have declared an interest, but as yet not brought their instruments around. Watch out for Ben/Doms' contributions in the acknowledgements.

The first tune starts with Turloch O'Carolan, a 15th Century lute piece that I've transposed onto guitar (a DADADE open tuning so the strings will ring like a lute) Its the normal blarney about a legendary battle between 2 groups of faeries. You've got to love the Irish. It then becomes another slow Irish traditional piece. I don't know its name, but I heard Frankie Kennedy play it years ago in Glasgow and it blew me away. The 2nd song is one I wrote years ago when Christa moved to Edinburgh 2 months after I met her. Still, its not all bad news...she came back in the end!

There is still plenty to learn about the whole recording process, so don't expect miracles from the 1st few tunes and you wont be dissapointed. Hope you enjoy.

1 Small Step for Man...

A very small man. Bryn took his 1st steps tonight and looked right pleased with himself. At 9 months old I'm sure he is ahead of the game, but is still a little smaller than the average farmers boy here in Norfolk. Maybe that's what makes him light on his feet.

Welcome addition to Family Bowling

Hello Alfie! Cousin Mark just sent these lovely photos of Morwenna and Bryn's cousin. I think Alfie is about Bryn age (8 months?) but i don't know when the pics were taken.

Its good to know that whilst my father is beginning to trace the family line backwards, the Bowling line is still making forward progress too. Oh and Mark, if you're reading this, just check the weather we have been having. With the Great British Summer as it is, we would all be better off in S.E. Asia. Keep sending the photos and we'll keep blogging.

And Finally...

After a hard day playing together on the beach, what better than to fall asleep together in a proper, non camping bed?

The long way home

Happy 99th birthday nan! Hope your good health augers well for the 3 generations that have come after you.

The drive back to East Anglia is always split up well by a stop over in Bristol to see Pete and Jenny. The grueling filming schedule has Jenny tied up in knots until November, so we always appreciate you 2 making us feel welcome. Anytime your passing Norfolk, be sure to give us a call ;-)

And finally, Bryn has decided to start walking around/ standing on his own. At 8 months old, he's earlier off the mark than Morwenna. Those thunder thighs don't come from my side of the family!

Pembrokeshire in Summer

A week in the land of my fathers was in order. The new twist on a familiar week away- Dan, Anna and the kids (plus uncle Rowan, Nik, Jenny et al) came with us to camp near St. Davids. August in Wales, what could possibly go wrong.

Good company, crappy weather. Rain every day led to many nearby campsites flooding out. Not ours. With an unobstructed view West over Ramsey Island and the bitches, our main problem was the 50mph winds. Needless to say we packed up before the weather really came in...

Nevertheless, we reckoned the holiday a success. We caught up with a lot of friends and family, got some kayaking, fishing, sailing, coasteering and beachlife in. Thanks to Mike and Yens for lending us a the boats and John/Reesy for the g&t on a stormy night. Thanks also to Toby and Brita for helping us dry our clothes and feed us.

Toby and Brita

As always, Toby has landed on his feet. Toby and the irrepressible Brita have moved all their worldly belongings to be near the small world theatre in Cardigan. Oft described as their 'resident genius' small world theatre must be happy to have him closer to the fold.

We had a great night with Richard, Tina, Luna, Will and all the kids. As soon as Morwenna and Jacob found the horn on Toby's pride and joy, they were up at 6.30am blasting away and trying to get the sun roof down. Thanks for a great night all of you.

Origins of the family Bowling

Found some classic photos at the family manse. I have been trying to get my dad to start the family history for years now. All to no avail. Well, this blog may be looked at for countless generations of Bowlings and if it is, they will at least be able to see this far back... the era when black and white photos were based on necessity, not mood.

Not to be outdone, the Karlsson side of the family have this fine specimen of a lady. Correct me if I'm wrong mum, but I think this is Morwennas great, great, great grandmother. The headscarf was a permanent fixture in an effort to prevent forehead from meeting cow flank when milking.

Times are changed now and the Bowling family line includes a definite Scandinavian blond streak. Joe and I grew up on the beach and spent all of our time rock pooling and fishing.

Finally, to bring us up to date, the view from the family house remains unchanged. With all the rabbits on the burrows its still a doggy paradise. This is Poppet giving Morwenna lessons in dog handling.