Wednesday 28 April 2010

Canadian Update



A quick update from this side of the volcanic cloud, which has cast yet another wrench into the global travel industry of course...Pip starts work at an Asset Management company on the Toronto equivalent of Wall Street on Monday after completing his third and penultimate year of Business School. He's pictured above in our office practising his gravitas...
Tim has just completed a successful hockey season and has moved on to playing Ultimate Frisbee - a so-called sport that is actually fast moving and very entertaining to watch. He's in the top pic playing for the Greenwood Grizzlies. Dara is busy keeping everything and everyone afloat. I raced in the Waterloo Marathon last weekend and am now having to go up stairs sideways in the recuperation stage...Love to all, Chip, Dara, Pip & Tim

Tuesday 27 April 2010

The Gang


Hanging out down at the farm:-) what a gorgeous looking bunch!!! Great to catch up with everyone back in the UK even if it is never for long enough. Thanks for the hospitality, miss you all H and gang xx

Monday 26 April 2010

Summer´s Arrival and Albert


At last the summer is here ! Beaches empty but the vinho verde bottle full !!!
Benagil cove for Sunday lunch with the "outlaws"....octopus rice, garlic prawns ...mmmmmm

Miss you all......

Love Jamie Clare and Max.

P.S We have just had to use a car jack to prise our very skinny "Jack" out between the metal bars that front our house !! as he was trying to "hoover" up some doggy biscuits that we just the other side !!!! I always was expecting this maybe from Max at the zoo, but not the dog..
Was funny though as it reminded me of Nan´s favorite "horses head handle" story....Alberts below if you care...........

There's a famous seaside place called Blackpool,That's noted for fresh-air and fun, And Mr and Mrs Ramsbottom Went there with young Albert, their son. A grand little lad was their Albert All dressed in his best; quite a swell 'E'd a stick with an 'orse's 'ead 'andle The finest that Woolworth's could sell.They didn't think much to the oceanThe waves, they was fiddlin' and small There was no wrecks... nobody drownded'Fact, nothing to laugh at, at all. So, seeking for further amusement They paid and went into the zoo Where they'd lions and tigers and cam-els And old ale and sandwiches too. There were one great big lion called Wallace His nose were all covered with scarsHe lay in a som-no-lent postureWith the side of his face to the bars.Now Albert had heard about lions How they were ferocious and wildAnd to see Wallace lying so peaceful Well... it didn't seem right to the child. So straight 'way the brave little feller Not showing a morsel of fearTook 'is stick with the'orse's 'ead 'andle And pushed it in Wallace's ear! You could see that the lion didn't like itFor giving a kind of a rollHe pulled Albert inside the cage with 'im And swallowed the little lad... whole! Then Pa, who had seen the occurrence And didn't know what to do nextSaid, "Mother! Yon lions 'et Albert"And Mother said "Eeh, I am vexed!"So Mr and Mrs RamsbottomQuite rightly, when all's said and doneComplained to the Animal Keeper That the lion had eaten their son. The keeper was quite nice about it He said, "What a nasty mishap Are you sure that it's your lad he's eaten?" Pa said, "Am I sure? There's his cap!"So the manager had to be sent for He came and he said, "What's to do?" Pa said, "Yon lion's 'eaten our Albert And 'im in his Sunday clothes, too."Then Mother said, "Right's right, young feller I think it's a shame and a sin For a lion to go and eat Albert And after we've paid to come in!" The manager wanted no trouble He took out his purse right away And said, "How much to settle the matter?" And Pa said "What do you usually pay?" But Mother had turned a bit awkward When she thought where her Albert had goneShe said, "No! someone's got to be summonsed"So that were decided upon. Round they went to the Police Station In front of a Magistrate chapThey told 'im what happened to Albert And proved it by showing his cap.The Magistrate gave his o-pinionThat no-one was really to blame He said that he hoped the Ramsbottoms Would have further sons to their name.At that Mother got proper blazing "And thank you, sir, kindly," said she"What waste all our lives raising childrenTo feed ruddy lions? Not me!"

Monday 12 April 2010

Living the dream ....!

World Superbikes, Portimao, 2010.

Front line seats = two happy chappies !!!!
Quote of the day " Daddy, those ladies bottoms are falling out of their shorts!"
Welcome my Son to the world of hotpants.........
Love to all J, C and Max

Sunday 11 April 2010

Back from Singapore


We motored up to Kuala Lumpur for a few days and then came back to Melaka for two days. Liked Malaysia a lot - still very cheap, though probably not for much longer.

Isabel asked Kirsty to take the photo "so I shall always remember you when you're dead." Dear child - does she know something I don't!