Joe at Minstead

Joe went for a residential visit to Minstead Study Centre in the New Forest.  Eating Pizza on the first night with Mr Wilson and the other kids....

Handing out the Latin name badges.  Joe's was Lizard....Lacerta!

On the way out for an activity : Mackenzie, Ollie, Amelia, Summer, Alfie, Olivia, Ellie-May, Evie, Joe, Max and Felix....

Pudding: Joe, Haydon and William...

Joe feeding a sheep....

Walking through the stream...

Bonfire songs: Freddie, William, Joe, Seth, Max.

Hot Chocolate :-)

Great Trip....thanks to everyone :-)

Ride Shipwrights Way

Me and Geoff had a ride along the Shipwrights Way today....

We did the section from Liphook to Emsworth....

It was a tad on the chilly side....

We swapped bikes so that I could try out Geoff's new big tyre bike.  Not sure he's too keen on mine....

My trusty steed.....

We stopped for lunch in the fantastic Harrow Inn....Cheers

Top ride!

Will, Rachel, Mary NYD

Will, Rachel, Nell, Reggie, Mary, Lola, Grandma and Papa came round todday for New Year visit...

Nell entertaining us with Sharades....

Joe and Reggie getting down to important FIFA business on the XBox....

Happy New Year....

Yule Yomp IX

It's the 2016 Yule Yomp!!!  Our annual boozy walk around Emsworth....

First stop Simon and Tory's house...

This year each house presented a special challenge to the yompers.  In Simon and Tory's house it was Christmas sledge racing....

The glamorous ladies walking round the beach to the next house....

At Rayner and Nat's house we had roasted frog :-)

The challenge at Rayner and Nat's house was the 'killer tongued murderer'.  Simon is the baffled detective....

Chalkie and Emma's challenge and yummy food happened on the beach.  Stone throwing into a bucket....

Next Paul and Deb's house....

The challenge here was specially adapted beer pong.....go Finn...

It's in!!!!

At the Fellows residence we took the After Eight Challenge....

With a fire to keep the Yompers warm :-)

The last house was Rolamd and Lyzz's.  Simon busting some moves....and that wasn't even the challenge!

The first casualty of the night....Joe got a bus stuck in his head....

Celebrating the start of 2017 with fireworks and sparklers....

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE :-)

Kingley Vale walk

We had a lovely Boxing Day walk up Kingley Vale today:

Joe on the way up through the woods...

And he found a yeti foot!

Mucking about on the top...

Back down into the sunset...

Happy Boxing Day :-)

Christmas Day

Grandma and Papa came round for Christmas Day...

Present Opening.  Click on the link below for a video of Joe opening his Xbox 360...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7S1aoeKqAs&feature=youtu.be

 Papa, Lisa and Grandma....

Joe playing on the XBOX 360!!!!

Merry Christmas :-)

Cartagena Spain

We flew out to Spain today for a few pre-Christmas days in the sun :-)

In the Plaza next to our apartment we found one of the amazing, elaborate, extensive and intricate nativity displays...

Lisa getting stuck into some tapas. Pork in tomato sauce and garlic potatos...

Karen had a rather weird looking but very yummy black paella....

The next morning we went to our local ice-cream shop in the Plaza San Francisco for a....

Churros y Chocolate....

We had a wander down to the port.  Joe met one of the sailors.  Cartagena is an old Naval Port...

The kids fell in love with the Palm Trees....

Joe with the statue....

Next to the Roman amphitheatre.  The kids put on a show...

Joe in the very impressive museum....

Back to the apartment for a rest....

That evening there was a local band on in the Plaza....

And then more tapas.  Serrano ham, swordfish, fried eggs with bacon, garlic potatos, chicken in a tomato sauce.....yum.....

We took a stroll through the streets of Cartagena after dinner.  The Christmas lights were very impressive....

Next day we went to the beach.  This is the town beach...Cala Cortina.  In the summer it is jammed packed, but there was plenty of space for us today :-)

The kids messing about in the water...

Lunchtime...Joe looking too cool (shame the waiter was a Real Madrid fan!)

And in the afternoon a swim!!!!

We stayed til the sun went down....

Joe out on the town on the last night....

What a great little trip....

Hasta Luego Cartagena :-)