Ice Bucket Challenge!

To all who post links on Facebook explaining in great detail

why they won't take the challlenge..

 

It's fun

 

Some really good charities raised a lot of money - especially the MND Association.

Have you ever known anyone with Motor Neurone Disease?

 Such a dreadful illness, and the charity does so much good

 supporting people and their families.

 

Wasting water? Yes - along with flushing toilets, power showers and everything else.

So just look at your usage and cut down else where - and why not donate to water aid too.

 

Just donate rather than take the challenge I'm told.

 Ok - and all those sponsered London marathan runners can stop running;

Children in Need and Comic Relief might as well stop their huge events etc.

 

Yeah - The Ice Bucket Challenge - daft idea -

 but this summer it's done a HUGE amount of good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Last Week of the Holidays....

.... we've been in Wales, enjoying the last of summer 

{though the weather hasn't exactly been summery.}

We've has been on a couple of final summer walks -

been to the beach for more stone throwing -

Al's had lots of time at  the RSPB -

Jude stayed over for a few nights

and of course there have been several trips to the cafe at Waterstones.

Oh - and we met up with Philip

{lovely photographer}

for a shoot at the Vardre.

Slight miscommunication meant two climbs to the top
{in dresses and boots}

it was overcast
{great for photos I'm told}

and windy
{of course it was windy - it's always windy up there -
 but windblown photo shoots appear to be our thing}

 - I've very happy with the results!

Lots more pictures to follow when I've unpacked and sorted the washing out

{ Need to get sorted  - back to school on Monday!}

Baby Groot

 

Megan has her very own Baby Groot - made for her by my lovely and very talented friend

 

 And if you've not seen Guardians of the Galaxy

{why not?}

 

 here's Baby Groot Dancing!

 

A Star Pupil

Megs took her first set of  7 GCSEs last summer

 

This year she retook maths and geography, and added another 6.

 

 

 

Her final results

 

A*s in English Literature and Textiles

 

As in English Language, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, French,

Geography, ICT, Art and PE

 

And a B in Music

 

A very happy girl and VERY proud parents.

 

 

This afternoon she went to to sign up at college for her A Levels

{Eng Lit, History, Maths and Theatre Studies}

 

A new era begins

 

This week....

.... as the holiday begins to draw to a close.....

{one week left!}

 

Megs and I went shopping in Manchester

 

 

 

Al and I had a lovely evening stroll along the Sankey Valley Canal

 

 

 

and Ben was rather cheesed off at being dragged to Tatton Park

for an afternoon meet up with Al!

 

 

One Day {and an Evening} in Wales

 

Evening on West Shore

Al had a great few hours on the RSPB reserve

Conwy for the River Festival {and chips on the quayside}

 

 

 

 

 

And then they came back...

... after a week at Chamboree.

 

Yes - Ben managed a whole week!

I got a text from him on the Friday afternoon saying "I love you" -

which is Ben code for "I've had enough."

But he stayed until the Saturday morning when we picked up both of the kids.

 

OK - so Ben came home with a log

{now living in Grandma's garden}

But I count it all a great sucess -

And Megs hasn't stopped talking since the moment we collected her!

 

 

And if you want to know the sort of things they were up to all week -

the video explains all.

 

 

We are SO LUCKY that our young ones can have these amazing opportunites with Cheshire Scouts. The leaders at FMC, Aqullia and at County level are all amazing - giving up so much time for Chamboree - on top of their weekly commitments.

 

Roll on 2018

{when Megs will be 20 and Ben 17!!!}

 

Glimpses of Chamboree

There's a website with a gallery of pictures.

 

There's a daily newspaper on camp full of the previous days activities and photographs.

 

But my two seem to be evading the cameras -

 so here are a few elusive glimpses of what they've been doing all week.

 

 

Ben with the FMC Scouts on Rock Night

 

 

 

Supermen!

 

Before and after Tattonbury 24 for Megs and the Aquilla Explorers

 

 

Aquilla all dress up for Neon Night

 

 

Twenty Years Ago Today....

 

.... I married my best friend.

 

I was 23 - the wedding was at our family Church - FMC.

 

Before I went to the church we had photographs in my mum's garden,

and then when there was only me and my dad left,

we watched some of the test match until the car came for us.

{Al spent the morning watching episodes of Star Trek DS9 on video}

 

I wasn't scared or worried - I was going to church -

like every Sunday.

 

I was going to marry the only man I've ever loved.

 

The church was full of friends and family-

we sang hymns and made our vows before God.

 

 

Twenty years later - with two teenage children off at camp

We spent the night at the rather deluxe Mere Hotel near Knutsford.

 

 

 We met in the lobby for an afternoon snack

{Al had come straight from work}

The room was beautiful, the view over the mere stunning.

Our evening meal in the restaurant was fabulous -

and when our plan of a post meal walk was rained off we watched

Captain America:Winter Soldier on the free video service.

 

It was all rather blissful until Al had to head into work the next morning.

 

Twenty years of marriage -

Still best friends.

Still in love.

 

 

 

Visiting Jonathan?

Megs and Ben still at Chamboree -

I took advantage of this child free state to fit in a quick day trip to visit Jonathan.

 

Yes Jonathan - though the photos {of course} are of me and Katharine -

she does give the better cuddles after all.

 

Jonathan is in the middle of his 6 week radiotherapy and chemotherapy block.

It's really hard on him - last week he was in hospital for 4 days -

he can barely eat - and his taking most nutrition through his peg tube.

 

But I caught him on a good day and we had a lovely afternoon chatting.

 

{Katharine takes a selfie!}

 

 

While the kids are at Chamboree....

we spent a quiet afternoon walking in Lymm,

followed by tea at the Golden Fleece.

 

 

Two Teens off to Chamboree 2014

Chamboree is the huge camp run by Cheshire Scouts every 4 years -

in 2010 a very little12 year old Megan went and had a fantastic week.

 

This time - both Megs and Ben are going.

 

Megs is now a chilled Explorer - and a very old hand at camps.

 

Ben has been away lots of times with Beavers/Cubs/Scouts -

{in fact I've just sewed his 25 nights away badge onto his shirt}

but he's never been away for a whole week before

{hope he makes it - but I'm very proud that he's even trying}