Seems like a long time since my last post, and... it is. Time has flown, life is extremely busy what with family, work, studies, and church, there is a lot on.
We have finally decided on a solution to help the lack of storage space in our old old house. Sheds.
Yes we bought a shed to store shed type things in, and... M likes it so much she wants another to put some more stuff in.
Building the shed was interesting. Not really a one man job, so M helped hold the sides up and put screws in, then J helped by handing nails and tacks on demand. Actually the shed was really good value for money (I thought) at only £119. It is quite small but we agree that it is better for us to have 2 6x4 sheds than one 6x8 shed. Focus delivered for a fee, but it was MUCH cheaper than renting a van and our current car has no towbar so a trailer was impossible anyway.
What larks.
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Sunday, 23 March 2008
Monday, 3 March 2008
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Mother's Day
We have decided in our house to hold our own un-official Mother's Day next Saturday. That way we can make sure M has a lie-in, breakfast in bed, etc... all the things that are hard to do on your average Sunday morning.
Yesterday M and Dad were able to go on their first "date" in a long time (thanks to Mum & Dad who baby sat Lije and had Joe). We like Frankie and Benny's so we ate out and then went to the flicks to see National Treasure - The Book of Secrets. The film was great - but the story was fantastically unbelievable (of course) - very entertaining however and worth watching.
Aaah, an afternoon without children - how nice.
Nice to have them back at the end too.
Yesterday M and Dad were able to go on their first "date" in a long time (thanks to Mum & Dad who baby sat Lije and had Joe). We like Frankie and Benny's so we ate out and then went to the flicks to see National Treasure - The Book of Secrets. The film was great - but the story was fantastically unbelievable (of course) - very entertaining however and worth watching.
Aaah, an afternoon without children - how nice.
Nice to have them back at the end too.
Friday, 29 February 2008
More Digital Art Fiddlings
Dad's experiments with his tablet and natural media software. Therapy, pure therapy.
And if you are in the mood for more art, why not check out what my students have been up to - view our online gallery here >
Earthquake Echoes
If you live in the UK you can't fail to have heard about the earthquake the other night (if not, check out the BBC). Apparently the epicentre was Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, but was felt across much of the UK including where we live.
The event happened about 1am, and I slept right through it. However M told me the following day that she woke to the sound of the wardrobe doors shaking on their own. Thinking in her half sleep that it was an axe murderer hiding there (even though our wardrobe is so packed you couldn't fit an action figure inside), she tried to wake me. I recall none of this but apparently I responded rather grumpily that "there's nothing to see" and promptly went back to sleep. Not a supportive husband in that particular moment of concern I am afraid but in my defence I don't remember any of this.
The event happened about 1am, and I slept right through it. However M told me the following day that she woke to the sound of the wardrobe doors shaking on their own. Thinking in her half sleep that it was an axe murderer hiding there (even though our wardrobe is so packed you couldn't fit an action figure inside), she tried to wake me. I recall none of this but apparently I responded rather grumpily that "there's nothing to see" and promptly went back to sleep. Not a supportive husband in that particular moment of concern I am afraid but in my defence I don't remember any of this.
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
The King is Dead... Long Live the King
It is with a certain amount of sadness that we report the passing of 4 of our roosters. Not by freak accident or passing predator - Dad stretched their necks.
While Dad is able to perform the execution, it is with sadness rather than glee. The thing is, we had 3 of our 8 surviving hatchlings turn out to be male, plus we were given one, resulting in 5 roosters in 1 coop. This is a bad situation for any chicken population. We waited until they were big enough to eat (by which time they had all started crowing together first thing - and I mean 5am - in the morning). Culling was therefore necessary.
Dad had not bothered to name or build a relationship with the new hatchlings knowing their fate would be the dinner table, however, regretably the decision was taken that the King rooster for the last 3 years should go, to make way for new genes in the gene pool. Dad felt genuinely sad about this one - but he had a good innings, and sired a fair few hens and competing young roosters. He is now crowing in the chicken afterlife.
You certainly have more respect for the meat you eat when you have to kill it yourself.
The carcasses were taken to a YM activity where Steve P showed us how to skin (because it is tidier than plucking) and gut them. Dad let someone else prepare the "King" and someone else will be eating it. We did however keep 2 of the un-named birds ourselves and will report back on the comparison between home grown and shop bought in a later post.
While Dad is able to perform the execution, it is with sadness rather than glee. The thing is, we had 3 of our 8 surviving hatchlings turn out to be male, plus we were given one, resulting in 5 roosters in 1 coop. This is a bad situation for any chicken population. We waited until they were big enough to eat (by which time they had all started crowing together first thing - and I mean 5am - in the morning). Culling was therefore necessary.
Dad had not bothered to name or build a relationship with the new hatchlings knowing their fate would be the dinner table, however, regretably the decision was taken that the King rooster for the last 3 years should go, to make way for new genes in the gene pool. Dad felt genuinely sad about this one - but he had a good innings, and sired a fair few hens and competing young roosters. He is now crowing in the chicken afterlife.
You certainly have more respect for the meat you eat when you have to kill it yourself.
The carcasses were taken to a YM activity where Steve P showed us how to skin (because it is tidier than plucking) and gut them. Dad let someone else prepare the "King" and someone else will be eating it. We did however keep 2 of the un-named birds ourselves and will report back on the comparison between home grown and shop bought in a later post.
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