TOB's Blog
Saturday February 18, 2012 CROESO I GYMRU Spent half-term week visiting family in a very chilly north Wales, which surprisingly hasn't seen any snow this year. Sunday February 5, 2012 IT'S SNOWTIME!!! With at least three inches of snow, our family mission to reach the post-box failed as we came across other families on a nearby street and all the children put H&S to one side to enjoy good-old fashioned sledging and snow-ball fights until lunch-time; perhaps we will reach the post-box tomorrow!!! Sunday January 15, 2012 SPLASH! Too cold and frosty to continue digging at the allotment today so went swimming instead. Then went for a family walk after lunch looking for fallen branches to use as 'contemporary' edging around the individual veggie patches. Tuesday January 10, 2012 MOVING TO A NEW ALLOTMENT Having outgrown the old plot at East Bridgford, we collected the gate key for our new rabbit-proofed veggie patch. We like the fact that the allotment society has ambitious plans to add pigs and beehives to their co-operative orchard to complement the resident chickens and geese. Plus, being only a mile away from RAF Syerston I can't think of a more perfect spot for our family allotment... Sunday January 8, 2012 SHERLOCK Enjoyed watching the second episode of Sherlock tonight in the second series (or should I say season?) of this contemporary, stylish BBC production. Apart from it looking great from a design perspective, I love David Arnold's theme - shame he is not involved with 007's forthcoming Skyfall, but curious to see what he will compose for the Olympics. Sunday January 1, 2012 STEAMING INTO THE NEW YEAR Started the new year by visiting Papplewick Pumping Station near Nottingham as it was one of their 'steaming days' for the giant Victorian beam engine. The ornate splendour reminded me of the sweet factory in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The kids loved the ride on the mini steam railway, while Julie enjoyed filming us with the new family 'flip' video camera. New Years Eve 2011 "OH YES HE DID..." We took the kids to the fantastic pantomime Aladdin at Newark Palace Theatre this afternoon - they loved it, especially veteran comedian Bernie Clifton who played wishee-washee and yes, his yellow ostrich was there too. Christmas 2011 FOLLOW THE BEAR! Looking forward to a relaxing Christmas at home after our recent travels to see the "outlaws" in Devon and north Wales; although the weather looks bleak with the wind and sleet so hope we don't go too 'cabin-crazy' being stuck inside! Saw the latest Snugbury straw sculpture on our way to Wales - this year it was a Polar Bear, wonder what they will do in 2012? Sunday October 16, 2011 A46 'HIGHWAY HOBBLE' RAISED £716 My wife Julie and I, plus our two young children took part in a sponsored walk today along a new section of the A46 to raise funds for the RAF Newton Memorial Fund. Julie managed to raise £716 in sponsorship and we took part for support. I also helped the project by contributing an artist's impression sketch for the Fund to use within promotional material. Read more at: http://rafnewtonmemorialfund.yolasite.com/ Sunday August 21, 2011 MOTHS GALORE AT BELVOIR CASTLE Enjoyed a relaxed family afternoon out today at the Tiger Club's Moth rally at Belvoir Castle, Leics - it was like stepping back in time to witness the airshows of yesteryear. The children enjoyed watching the flour bombing and limbo competitions. 18-24 July 2011 GAvA ANNUAL EXHIBITION Exhibited three of my oil paintings at the Guild of Aviation Artists annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries. The trilogy had an RAF Cottesmore theme and depicted the last days of JFH and the station - result: one sold! Saturday June 4, 2011 BELTON HOUSE SPITFIRE PROM Along with some friends, we attended the excellent Spitfire Prom at Belton House, near Grantham last night which has returned to the local music scene after a temporary hiatus. Great to see the RAF Regiment Band and the BBMF Spits while Julie enjoyed the firework display. March, 2011 OUR FIRST FAMILY TRIP TO DISNEYLAND Our two children had their first taste of flying when we flew from East Midlands Airport into the very stylish Charles de Gaulle Airport before spending an enjoyable short break at the New England style hotel, Disneyland Paris. Highlights included the Cars live action show, Buffalo Bill's Wild West show and our little girl collecting hugs from Minnie, Mickey, Sully, Aladdin, Princess Jasmine... Then back home to reality - work, school and nursery... |  ABOVE: An artist's impression of how the RAF Newton Memorial could look with a relief Polish Eagle cast in a silver resin to overcome the potential theft by metal thieves. BELOW: Julie cutting the turf at our new allotment on a frosty Saturday January 14, 2012 having pegged out our plot on what was known as the village "Poor Field". .jpg.opt453x255o0,0s453x255.jpg) BELOW: The 2010 Snugbury Meerkat straw scuplture on the A51 Chester Road, Nantwich which stood a whopping 36 feet high - "SIMPLES!" In the past they have also created Big Ben, a space rocket, Jodrell Bank amongst others. .jpg.opt161x218o0,0s161x218.jpg) .jpg.opt451x338o0,0s451x338.jpg) ABOVE: The firework finale and patriotic flag-waving at the 2011 Spitfire Prom at Belton House, Grantham, Lincolnshire. BELOW: Fellow artist, the President of the Guild of Aviation Artists, Michael Turner and his Chipmunk (WP800) also attended the Moth rally at Belvoir Castle. .jpg.opt450x338o0,0s450x338.jpg) BELOW: Our children had their second taste of flying in the balloon at Disneyland Paris. I admired the contemporary architecture at Charles de Gaulle (see bottom photo).   |
