Back to the Future

Rose, getting all confused with a Super 8 movie projector. We managed to find one that is bran new, in its box for more than 20 years at least. Tomorrow night we will have an old fashioned cine evening with Julie, Ed, and Ashleigh. Then I really must get these old films transferred to something digital!

Photofunia is fun with photos

Let's have a PICNIK

Our new banner graphic for the blog was done using a combo of PAINT and PICNIK, the latter being a really cool online photo editor that is easy to use and definitely great fun to use. I mentioned it to youngest progeny, Ashleigh, this evening, and she sent me her first picture, after just a few minutes of using PICNIK. I think it is cool. Well done to the Pinik team in lovely Seattle.

Christmas Day 2007

Ashleigh and Rose smile for the camera before tucking in to yet another one of Rose's fabulous Christmas meals - it was just the three of us this year, so it felt a little bit 'small' without having extra family around - but we had a great day.

How others see me

I was tidying up in my study and saw this birthday card received earlier in the year from Julie and Ashleigh. Cheeky rotters. But at least they gave me a little more on top than the reality. Having said that, it is quite strange that since living in the UK, my balding head has not got any shinier, and some days looks decidedly like it has more hair than before. Why is that? Great UK environment? Less stress? Happier at work? No kids at home any more? The jury is out.

Two Gals and a Choc 99

Rose and Ashleigh let ice-cream come between them on Highdown, Easter 2007

Celebration Continues

Mark with his favourite dessert - Rose's Pavlova

To wrap up a week a week of fun things to celebrate my birthday, Julie & Ed, and Ashleigh, came down from Oxford to spend the weekend with us in Worthing. Rose put together a magnificent meal around a Salmon Mousse starter, roast leg of New Zealand lamb, and Pavlova for dessert. Add lots of laughter, some excellent Shiraz compliments of my Uncle and Aunt (Dale & Yvonne) in Johannesburg, and it was a family memory to treasure. What was missing of course was the presence of Michelle, Jason, Rhys and Matt ... which would have made it 100% perfect. It has been a fabulous week, and I have been made to feel very special by all my family.

Ash, Rose, Ed, Julie

First snowball fight

Ashleigh hits a bullseye!

On the same day that we experienced our first English snow, Ashleigh had her first ever sight of the white stuff. The picture is breakfast-time before work, in Oxford, and she has just thrown a snowball at Julie, who looks really happy about the bonding experience. The location is their garden. Photo by Ed

Christmas Day, part 2

Ashleigh, caught in the very act of pinching a taste of the turkey as it is carved.

Ever since she was old enough to reach the food, Ponk has wandered into the kitchen, or past the carving table, or just happened to be near the braai, when the food was 'just cooked' and ready to be taste-tested. She get the tradition going this Christmas meal!

Christmas Day, part one

It has been really fabulous having Jools & Ed, and Ashleigh with us this Christmas. We were woken by our youngest, around (civilised I guess) 8am, with her attempt at reviving the old family tradition of the kids singing carols outside our bedroom, to wake us up for gift unwrapping. She had already made the coffee ... translation: I want my presents! Jools and Ed were finally coaxed up - not morning people at the best of times, and we had a great time exchanging many wonderful and thoughtful gifts. Then a mad rush as five of us had to share the one and only bathroom, and off to a family service at Grace Community Church. The photo above is walking back home after the service.

Then, all hands to work in getting ready for Christmas lunch, which was a huge feast, completely over the top because we all had contributed just so many goodies for the day. We had fun. Lunch came onto the table just as Her Majesty was talking to the nation, and we finally had our Christmas pudding around 6pm. Completely filled to the gills with rich and exotic foods.

Girls will be girls

Julie (the blonde) and Ashleigh (the purple)
in their wigs for a fancy dress birthday party in Oxford
this past weekend. I think they were going as
Marilyn Monroe and Cher, but not in those
clothes... I imagine.