Emmie is 8!

My, how you've grown.

It feels like almost yesterday that Emmeline arrived in 2011.  But in that time frame, the adorable Emmie has grown up - and is now 8!

Over the years, Emmie has enjoyed many holidays.

                                                     September, 2013

                                                          February, 2014

                                                                 August, 2016

                                                                      July, 2017

        July, 2018

   September, 2018                                                                    

Over the years, Emmie has got better and better at ski-ing, enjoying time with her Mummy and Daddy.

                                                         

And Christmases with the family.

Watching Emmie grow has been some serious fun.  She is our little dancer, gymnast, an avid reader, especially of Harry Potter, a very willing Mummy's helper and a kind and thoughtful little granddaughter.  And I have been loving Emmie for eight whole years now.

The little wizards in Emmie's class on a magical Harry Potter sleepover party.

Then it was party time.  The wizards arrived at the science zone and headed underground to explore the sensory rooms, UV lights and fossils in the sand before donning their white science coats and heading off with the Professor for a lesson on explosions and how to make slime.  They looked like real scientists and loved it.

Then it was cake time.  And what a fabulous cake Gemma has made.

HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY EMMIE

Visit to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

If you're a fan of Naval history....you're going to enjoy this.

We purchased the 11 Attraction Ticket via a discount website and the ticket is good for a year, so you don't have to do everything in one day.  Well worth the entry fee.  It far exceeded our expectations.  Didn't realise the site was so vast.  I don't think you can do it all in one day and we will have to arrange a trip back to see the rest.  The Mary Rose is not part of the historic dockyard and a separate ticket must be purchased.

The Dockyard itself forms part of Her Majesty's Naval Base, Portsmouth and is home to two thirds of the current Royal Navy fleet.  The Historic Dockyard is the name given to the portion of the base which is open to the public and plays host to a number of historic artefacts.  So what did we see on our day out.

HMS Victory is brilliant.  A must see.  This is arguably one of the most famous warships in the world.  Best known for her role at the Battle of Trafalgar, the Victory is also the oldest commissioned warship in the world, having a dual role as the Flagship for the UK's First Sea Lord and as a living museum.  It was on the Victory, during the Battle of Trafalgar, that Admiral Nelson died and is considered to be an iconic moment in world history.  The ship will take you on a journey to understand technical maritime advancements of the day, together with her role during Trafalgar, the death of Nelson and what life would have been like on board the ship.  Do take the audio guide which is free and really brings it to life.

Then we did the adjoining National Museum of the Royal Navy which has some interesting facts about HMS Victory and various figureheads.

HMS 33

One of the newer attractions in the Dockyard, M33 is one of just three British warships to survive from World War I.  She is a floating gun platform designed to bombard coastal positions.  She supported campaigns such as the Battle of Gallipoli, very interesting film to watch, and around the Mediterranean until the end of the War.  She then went on to serve as part of the North Russian Expeditionary Force before becoming a mine laying training ship at Portsmouth.

Then after a bite to eat in the Boathouse it was off to The Explosion Museum of Navy Firepower based in Gosport.  The ferry is every 2 hours.  The site is converted from an eighteenth-century explosives factory - you can imagine why it is not in Portsmouth dockyard.  Its not that hard to imagine how workers had to work with dangerous chemicals with Georgian-Victorian safety standards.  If you can't, additional sculptures are there to help.  You will find yourself surrounded by the most-advanced dangers of the time, with cannons, torpedoes and mines and the production processes.  The massive brick hall is impressive. And it certainly does have lots of stuff for boys - however it provides a fascinating history of the local Priddy's Hard, and how the munitions where stored for the ships in the harbour, and what the local men and women did.  Learnt plenty, some of it very scary and thought provoking.  To stand by a shell bigger than us and think of the destruction just one could cause was a sobering thought. Also has a nice little café.

Arriving back at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the stunning sleek, black lines of Britain's first iron-hulled, armoured warship took our breath away.  HMS Warrior was launched in 1860, the pride of Queen Victoria's fleet.  Powered by steam and sail, she was the largest, fastest and most powerful ship of her day and had a profound effect on naval architecture.  Warrior was,in her time, the ultimate deterrent.  Yet within a few years she was obsolete.  100% recommend you visit this boat.  Regardless if you like ships or the Navy it is so interesting.  The history is brought to life by being able to walk around the ship and there are always knowledgeable staff on hand, in Victorian costumes, to answer your questions or to give you more insight to the ship's history.  Think of the opening scenes of Master and Commander! That's inside Warrior!  Luxury compared to Victory.

Our day was almost over - the Dockyard closes at 5.30 and we had arrived at 10 a.m.  Just time to visit Action Stations.  Because the place was about to close we were the only ones visiting.  Had great fun in the helicopter simulator and  shooting boats and planes. Predominately child orientated attractions though.  Says a lot about us!!!

We then decided it was time for a drink in the Old Customs House.  A quirky building with seating in small areas but some really comfortable chairs after spending all day on our feet.

We then crossed over to Loch Fyne at Gun Wharf Quays to meet Doug and Sofia for dinner.  An excellent meal, with excellent company.  A great end to the day.

We parked for the day at the underground car park that gives direct access to the outlet centre and is only a short walk from the Dockyard.  Exit the M27 at junction 12, then join the M275 motorway which brings you directly in to Portsmouth, and then follow the brown signs for the Historic Waterfront leading you straight to Gunwharf Quays.  Use postcode PO1 3TZ for Sat Nav.  Oh and remember to take your credit card!!!!!

Happy 40th Birthday Son

40 years
14,600 days
350,400 hours
21,024,000 minutes.

Where did all those years go?
Memories flood back.

What happened to the boxes of Legos, the Tonka dump truck, the paddling pool, the BMX bike.

Who could solve the mystery of all the food that suddenly disappeared out of the fridge (Dan - the banoffee pie!), my car with the radio tuned to an unfamiliar radio station?

What would I wish for my son who is now at least halfway through his life, with hopefully even more than 40 years still to come?

I wish him good health most of all.
I wish him a continued satisfying and rewarding career.
I wish him much joy as he watches Emmeline grow up into a beautiful young lady.

Blow up the party balloons, it's time to celebrate.

Everyone really enjoyed a superb birthday party at The Brewhouse and Kitchen in Bournemouth with its unique character garden of beach huts and fire pit.  An interesting building complete with brewery, which added to the whole ambience, especially as they had brewed a great artisan beer on site in their brew-tiful microbrewery especially for Alun's birthday.  Phil enjoyed it sooo much he probably ended up drinking too many pints of the special brew!!!!  And bubbles, of course, for the ladies.

Gemma, as usual, made a fabulous cake and there was also another Gemma, the musician, who entertained us with some wonderful music.  The staff were also very friendly and attentive and the food delicious.

Happy 40th birthday to the most wonderful son a Mother could hope for!

Eggcelent Easter Fun

During the Easter school holidays we took Jamie and Chloe (Emmie was on holiday with her Mummy and Daddy) to Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre where they each made a lovely Easter bunny out of rice and socks!!

The following day it was raining so we popped into Christchurch Library and enjoyed the Easter craft activities.

It's a family tradition to visit Kingston Lacy where we all (Emmie included) enjoyed an Easter adventure in the woodland following a special spring story.  Having completed the activities along the way the grandchildren were able to claim a delicious chocolate treat at the end.  It was hungry work.

During the 1.5 mile route around the woodland, searching for clues, they also enjoyed playing hide and seek and climbing trees.  A great way to get outdoors and active with an Easter egg at the end.  It was bitterly cold though.

However, we saw soaring temperatures and cloudless skies over the long Easter weekend.  We were even able to have breakfast outside and a sundowner on the beach!!!

A few brave souls even enjoyed a dip in the sea to cool off as the mercury soared to 25 degrees.

Tens of  thousands of people flocked to Bournemouth to bask in the glorious sunshine (the warmest Easter weekend for 70 years).

Needless to say we didn't join them!!  And on Easter Monday the family came to us.  The girls in their new Easter clothes.

And what could be more fun than eating Easter Eggs?  Finding them, of course!

We filled hollow plastic egg containers with 20p coins and the Easter Bunny hid them around the garden.

Then after lunch there was an indoor hunt with a series of cryptic clues to help seek out the end prize of a large Egg.

Jamie's clues:-

To begin your search here's your first clue:  Walk, don't run and check the toy box.

Has the postman been? Better look and see.  No letters there, except from me.

Have you heard the news?  the next clue is where you will find your shoes.

Now where do you sit to watch TV?  Hurry up and go and see.

.

Rub-a-dub-dub go and check in the bath tub.

A pillow is where you rest your head, go and look in a bed.

I have four legs to keep me stable, go and look under the t....

The next clue to you will be told, go and look where food stays cold.

Hurry now, off you must go, look in a coat pocket and don't be slow.

Don't turn it on but look in the oven.

Chloe's clues:-

To begin your search here's your first clue:  You use me to cook with.  

The next clue will be found with ease, if you get a sudden urge to sneeze.

I rain on you when you need a scrub, I'm very much like my friend the tub.

Wanting more?  Why not check by the back d...

This clue is tricky.  I'm looking out of a window.

In a drawer where pants and socks fit.

It's snuggly here in this b..

I hope these feet aren't too smelly.

Near where you sit to watch TV?  Oh please hurry and find me.

I'm the place where you wash your dishes.

Emmie's clues:-

To begin your search here's your first clue:-  Look under where you wipe your shoes.

I am where you watch your favourite shows, and at night I like to glow.

I am always running but have no legs, I am cold and white and always have a light.

I keep stinky socks in me, and any dirty clothing that comes to be.

I am under the place where your head rests, after a long day of taking tests.

I hold the books you like to read.

Turn me on and you can see, turn me off to let the night be.

I have hands but no arms, just a face and my hands move at a steady pace.

I have a sound that goes beep, and my main function is to heat.

I wash your clothes and go around and around.

The children did really well and were rewarded with their chocolate eggs.   We all really enjoyed the day except poor Mike and Caroline who spent the day in A and E because a stray dog ran out into the road and knocked Mike off his bike.

                                                                         OUCH!!