Easter Frolicks

I know this post is a little late, but life is a little hectic at the moment. Had a lovely time with a house full of friends from Norfolk, Cornwall and Wales. Well done to Zara and Rowan, Dan and Anna, plus Dom and Heather for making the trip.

We got to show off the work that Rowan, Pete and I have done on the old playroom, turning it into the dining room you see here. Not to mention the new bathroom...

Ceilings have been lifted, walls have been knocked out and others rebuilt, radiators re plumbed, showers erected, floors poured and levelled, not to mention the Welsh slate and the real oak floor you can see. Then there is the manhole covers that we have internalised and worked around, the hundreds of kilos of metal beams we have slid into place to hold everything up, the electrics installed, the insulation scratchily put in place... Then there's the painting, the wood finish, the alcatrave, the skirting etc. There will be a blog for it at some stage in the future.

The kids looked like they had a good time and were (a little) more exhausted than their parents when bedtime came around. You know when they're cream crackered when they can all sleep in the same room and not wake each other up.

The weather was a bit rough, but no-one seemed to mind. The Easter egg hunt went down well and children seemed to be maxed out on chocolate, but there's always room for another. There wasn't a pair of shoes in sight, but they all seemed happy with muddy toes. Good old fashioned country kids.

Taunton Chiropractors Centre

Well, this is it everyone. The clinic opened its doors in March. I still work 4 days a week at Ilminster and Barnstaple, so it not easy to be there as much as I need, but thats the way it will have to be for the first year or so. However, now that Erica has started working with us at the clinic, the doors are open a little more than before!

http://www.tauntonchiropractors.co.uk/

http://www.jones-chiropractic.co.uk/

7 Kingston road,

Taunton,

Somerset.
TA2 7SA

It's near Taunton railway station. The location is eye catching and patients are booking up weeks in advance already!

New Year's

A great one here in Taunton was simply a spill over from Christmas. There were so many good photos to be posted that I simply don't know where to start. Here's a selection for all and sundry. I managed to put the camera down by the time we were mixing brandy and champagne (yum) with tequila (not so yum and a bit more ouch).

Dan got a bit attached to his moustache.

Face painting or fancy dress were required by all. Both was even better.

Winter Solstice

Having been in Taunton for a few weeks, it seemed time to get our bearings. What better way than seeking high ground. Considering the time of year and that granny Vicky was up to stay, what better way than a trip up this ol' hill.

Even though snow laden clouds kept us from seeing across the water to Wales, the view across the Quantocks, Blackdowns, Brent knoll and the Somerset levels was fantastic. The short walk up the Tor was strange sense of familiarity, but it was difficult to think about why, since the contemplative silence was rudely shattered by screaming children. Ours. Sorry to anyone who was after a different experience on that particular morning, but it was just a little too cold for them.

From my personal perspective, winter solstice gets far too little coverage in comparison to his equinoctial sister. Its great to wake up early (but not too early), get outside and think that for the next 6 months, its only going to get warmer and sunnier. Here's to hoping...

Mistletoe and Wine

"He's Been!" cried Tallulah at 5.30 AM in Christmas morning. Roughly 4 hours beforehand, Christa, Anna, Dan and I were plotting how to convince the children that the main man had arrived. A half eaten carrot, nibbled mince pies and sooty footprints placed carefully around the room were convincing enough for the kids.

The reason it was special was that we had all the family over. Dan and Anna brought the kids over , plus Rowan, Zara and Kian came too. Grandparents all put in a show too which was great, and Pete celebrated his birthday on the way down to Cornwall. It was lovely to have a house full and was the house warming that we needed.

I cant escape the feeling kids become overwhelmed by Christmas these days. I know its a bit BAH HUMBUG, but the more presents the kids opened, the worse behaved they were. Morwenna said this was her best Christmas ever at the point when she had only opened her stocking. I think the Quakers have it right; keep it simple and focus on the family. The more stuff you have, the less each thing seems to matter. God, where is my soapbox? I'm sure I left it round here somewhere. Don't get me started.

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...