Simone's 40th Birthday

We had a really nice weekend with a trip down to Southampton for my cousin Simone's 40th birthday.

We met up with Simone and her husband Pete and all went for coffee before picking up some balloons and going to decorate the function room where the party was being held.

I had made Simone's birthday cake or cakes.  Originally I was intending to make a large hexagonal cake but I had ordered the cake tin online and when it arrived it was not quite as large as I had hoped it would be.  At the time Simone told me she had invited 80 - 120 people to the party so I was worried one cake would be insufficient for that number so decided to do an extra cutting cake.

Actually my mum baked both the cakes so I only had to decorate them.  I did one with sugar flowers that I had made and the other was a running scene as Simone loves to run and has taken part in a number of races.

I was a bit disappointed with the running cake as I am not used to modelling and the mexican paste I was using was drying and cracking too quickly as I was trying to work with it.  Anyhow we somehow managed to get both cakes to the venue without mishap and Simone was really pleased with them so that is all that matters.

We rushed back to the premier Inn where we were staying and met up with some other family members including my cousin Dawne's daughter Tori and her dad Terry and my Uncle Rob and Aunty Brenda.  It was really nice to catch up with everyone and to get up to speed on all the family news as it has been a little while since we have all seen each other.

Aunty Brenda, Uncle Rob and Terry

Sebastian really enjoyed hanging out with Tori and Nat had a good time running around and playing with the balloons.

Tori and Seb

Nathaniel and his beloved daddy David

 

 

Simone had a really good night and we enjoyed a few dances.  We didn't leave until gone midnight so it was a late night for both boys.

My cousin Simone and I celebrating!

The next morning we had a lovely family breakfast which was really yummy - cooked breakfast from the self service buffet including bacon, sausages, fried eggs, hash browns, baked beans and plum tomatoes plus anything else we liked from cereal, yoghurt, croissants and fruit.  Nicest breakfast I have had for a long time.  Our room was really comfortable and clean too.  I do like Premier Inns as they are always warm and very clean and comfy.

On the way home we stopped at a National Trust place called Hinton Ampner and we had a look around the lovely Georgian house and grounds before driving home.

A very enjoyable weekend.  Just a shame it was back to work this week!!

Baking Cakes and Brighton Pier

A busy morning baking.

First i made a Victoria sponge and a coffee and walnut cake both of which I had offered to bake for my colleague Keith who is retiring this week. 

Then a lemon drizzle cake for my colleague Jules as it is her birthday this week.

An extra lemon drizzle cake for us otherwise David would be disappointed!

Potato and onion soup and an onion tart for lunch with my cousin Chris and her daughter Grace who are visiting Brighton from the North.

Then this afternoon we went into Brighton to go on the Palace Pier.

The kids enjoyed going on the rides.

I couldn't believe it when Seb and Grace went on this hideous looking ride.  Grace didn't seem too sure at first and Nat was very worried when his brother was stuck high in the sky but both kids came off the ride begging for another go - oh to be young and fearless!!

 

They certainly have strong stomachs as between them they managed to polish off chicken noodles, candy floss, sugar ring doughnuts and an ice cream.

It was another beautifully sunny day but when the sun went in just before we came home it suddenly felt quite cold again.

 

Back home I put the fire on to warm us all up and cooked lasagne and garlic bread for our tea.

An Awesome Kite flying experience

Yesterday was the first day of half term.

Despite my intended lay-in being foiled by the man who had come to read the gas meter at 8am  it was a good start to the day as I could see that the weather was good and that the sun was shining.

We had a fairly relaxed morning and decided it would be a good day to go and fly the new Kite that Seb's godmother Polly bought him for his birthday.

Seb set to assembling the kite while I popped to the post office to post some parcels to our sponsored children.

When I got back home Seb had gotten himself into quite a mess with a huge pile of knotted kite string.  It took the both of us over two hours to untangle it all.  I was rather worried it might be dark by the time we finished!

However, we did work through lunch so decided to have something to eat before we all jumped into the car to drive up to Devil's Dyke.

It was a perfect day for Kite flying.  A really sunny crisp day with a nice breeze.  It took us a little while to work out how to get the kite in the air and at one point I got myself into a bit of a pickle when I managed to get the strings wrapped around my neck and caught on my coat buttons.  I probably looked a right idiot trying desperate to untangle myself.  I eventually had to take my coat off to unravel myself.  However, once we actually managed to get the kit in the air it was an impressive sight.

Seb took the handles first and the kite swooped and soared really well.

Sebastian was delighted with his gift and informed me that it was totally awesome!!






After a while we swopped ends and I had a go at flying the kite too.  I have never particularly liked kites as I just couldn't seem to get the hang of them but this one was another matter.  It was a pleasure to fly and control and I actually even looked like I knew what I was doing!

It was such a beautiful day even though it is still the middle of February so I allowed Nathaniel to have an ice cream.

While Nat was licking his cone Seb was messing around with our new camera (mine and David's Christmas present to each other).  It is not a particularly expensive one and I have not yet had chance to learn how to use it.  However it doesn't seem to take a teenager long to work everything out.  They seem to be so much more technologically aware and confident than my generation!

Before long Seb was taking photos of the three of us and merging them into one shot.

It was quite amusing.  Have actually had a really nice today just hanging out with my eldest boy and enjoying his company and sense of humour.

Couldn't persuade the boys to join me for a walk though.  They both wanted to come home although Seb did ask if we can go kite flying again tomorrow!!

Back home I could admire my new pots which David has recently planted for me.

Sheffield Park and Bluebell Railway

Yesterday morning Nathaniel and I went to visit my friend Anna and her little boy Oliver.

We had a lovely morning catching up on each others' news as we had not seen each other for several months.

Anna had prepared a delicious lunch for us and it was really nice to see our two boys playing together.

Today David was playing in a band ensemble and quartet contest so I decided to take the two boys out for the day.

As we have National Trust membership we went to Sheffield Park out near East Grinstead.

 

 

We had a lovely walk around the park and gardens.

The boys enjoyed climbing in the unusual trees.

 











We all liked the lovely lakes and we stopped for a picnic too.

 

Nat learned all about swans, woodpeckers and robins.

 

 

After that we went to the Bluebell railway where we enjoyed an 18 mile train ride to Kingscote and back.  It took about an hour and a half.

 

Back home feeling very weary!!