Merry Christmas!!!

This year we had our first ever Christmas at home, on Parbold. The thought of it was exciting and strange. Would it be up to the children's expectations? Would it still feel like Christmas if we didn't go away, didn't see grandparents, didn't follow the old traditions at my Mum's? Could I cook an acceptable Christmas dinner seeing as I've never even come close to trying before?

As it happens it's been the best Christmas ever! Quiet, yet fun. Relaxing, yet with the excitement and joy of presents and tinsel and (of course) lots of good food.

We had a great tree - even though we had to trim it a little to fit it in the space by the sofa. Why do trees always look so much smaller in the garden centre than they do when you get them home??? We made new baskets for Father Christmas to fill with smarties when he came to drop off the pressies, an old family tradition that came from my Mum's childhood - the children's usual baskets are still packed somewhere with all her things I expect.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Photo Finish

Katheryn helping Toni with the new garden.
Wasn't she just the cutest....

Medieval Banquet

Following the total failure to get to the banquet at Center Parcs for Iain's birthday (Center Parcs decided in their ultimate wisdom to cancel them during the summer but didn't tell us that until we'd booked) Bob and Meg arranged for the whole of the Henderson tribe to get together at Wytchwood Stud in Mursley, Bucks. It was a rather unusual place to arrive at, especially in the dark, as it is obviously a working farm: dogs to welcome us, horses in the stables whinnying for a little attention as we passed them to get to the hall. It all added to a great atmosphere that set the mood of the evening before we'd even taken off our coats. Meg made colourful, medieval costumes for us - 20 of us in total - and we had a fantastic time!

The evening was hosted by Peterkin the Fool, a total nutter with a wonderful ability to play pranks without seeing to upset anyone. He introduced us with a fanfare when we arrived, although i don't think the children were too pleased to be referred to as Iain's 'multitude of servants'. We had a little time to mingle and try out the apple and blackberry wines at the bar before we were shown to our tables. The tables were set out around a large sandy arena where the entertainment for the evening was staged. We were treated to a variety of horse stunts, a trapeze show, fools with donkeys, all interpersed with Peterkin's antics with members of the andience. Both Seth and David got dragged off to help him with his acrobatics and fire breathing. I wondered if Dave would suprise him by actually eating the fire when he was told to but he didn't. Maybe a good thing as his beard might not be the best accessory for that type of activity - I've not seen Dave firebreathe for a long time and I'm pretty sure he was clean shaven then.

The evening was topped off by the knights jousting and fighting - the Black Knight lost to the Wite Knight, of course! The horses were beautiful and very well trained, the entertainment was plentiful and fun, even the food was good (unlike banquets I've been to previously). All I can say is 'Go try the place out - it's well worth it' and 'THANKS BOB & MEG' for a great evening!

hover your mouse over the pictures if you're
not sure who everyone is

We'll miss you, Stu

Today was a very sad day for everyone at Packet Boat Marina. Stewart Carrie's funeral was held today following his death on November 2nd.

Stu was an amazing and well loved person, as was shown by the startling number of people who came to say their goodbyes to him today. Breakspear Crematorium was overflowing with his friends and family.

There is nothing I can say to express how much his constant and reassuring presence around this place will be missed.

My birthday

Had a great day! Well, I went to work all but I got out early because it was a really quiet day. Charlie took all four kids (and all my washing) to her place as an extra birthday suprise so we had the boat to ourselves all evening. Thanks, Charlie :)

We went for a great meal out at Chez Gerard in Pinner. Not necessarily a place I would have chosen for a birthday meal but they had chateaubriand on the menu - Iain and I both fancied that as it's been years since we last found somewhere serving it. The whole meal was lovely and the service was friendly and unobtrusive. And I had one of the best Creme Brulee's ever!

Almost my birthday

My Mum and Philip came over for lunch today. They've been staying down in Mum's old place in Kent for a few days to get some more sorting out done. They changed their estate agents too so hopefully it will be sold and gone soon. Their journey here must've been terrible - they got stuck in traffic on the M25 and were over 90 minutes late but they got here eventually and in much better spirits that I ever am after such a hold up!

We took them over to Sazio's in Pinner for lunch. I really like the atmosphere and the food there, although it was very quiet this time. I had a great time. It's great to see how happy and bouncy Mum is now - can hardly get a word in edgeways as she's so excited about all the things happening in her life.



She gave me a very unexpected present: a digital camera (Nikon D40) that she bought back at the beginning of the year for her trip to Egypt (amongst other things). She said that she didn't think she'd use it now that her life has changed so much and she knows that I like taking photos. Not that I have done much recently but that's mostly cos I'm just too busy all the time. I'm sort of sad that she won't be using it as I know how excited she was when she bought it, but I suppose that when there are so many other new and fascinating things to concentrate on in your life then other things seem less important. And at least now I'll be able to take some decent pictures to put on here (once I get a data cable to transfer them over with).

Fireworks

Best night of the year!

We've tried lots of different displays over the years but I get so frustrated by the massive crowds at most of the displays that it takes all the enjoyment out of the evening for me. This year I booked tickets for the Scouts and Guides display in Stone Meadow next to Chalfont St. Giles village. It took place on Saturday night and was set to music with a 'Heros and Villains' theme. The Chalfont St Giles display is known throughout the area as the best display in Buckinghamshire and it really was great. The firemorks were a little late starting - we did wonder if there had been a slight technical hitch - but once they started they were spectacular. It was more of a case of fireworks with accompanying music, rather than fireworks exploding to the music that we have experienced at Leeds Castle and Thorpe Park in previous years, but the great family atmosphere and the low crowd level made the whole evening wonderful. Even the food was great: hot dogs made with proper home-made sausages from the local butcher and mulled wine (not that we tried the wine).

There are fireworks going off all around the boat at this time of the year. Normally they increase up to Bonfire Night and then tail off, but this year they are only just starting and we expect them to increase over the next week as Diwali is late this year - not until November 9th. We get a freat view of firworks in all directions from the back deck because there is so much open space between us and the nearest buildings (with the exception of the ones directly across the canal from us, of course).

ATC awards evening

This evening was the Annual Presentation Evening for 1083 (Uxbridge) Squadron of the Air Training Corps - Jessica's ATC unit. She loves going there so much and the Presentation Evening last year was really inspiring for both Iain and myself. Its great to see how much the kids actually get to do and achieve. 1083 seems to be a great sqadron - they are well represented at Wing and National level in drill and sports and many of the cadets go on to do some amazing things.

This year was extra special because Jess won the award for Best instrumentalist in the squadron band. We were so proud of her and the look of suprise on her face, mixed with a little embarrassment and pride, was wonderful to see. We even got to hear the band play for the first time. The 1083 band has only recently got off the ground really. they have been without an adult Band Leader for a long time but the success of a grant application (providing much needed money for new instruments) has revitalised them and they are coming on in leaps and bounds!

Photo Finish

Caroline (age 7) by Parbold's mooring ropes with a dead fish.
No - I've no idea why they pulled it out of the water...

Fixing the fire

It's got to that time of year again - time that we need to put the fire in again.
Every year I promise myself that I'll make sure it's all sorted and ready to light before the summer and every year I get to October and think 'Oh rats! Still haven't overhauled the stove yet'

This year it needed completely re-sealing at the chimney end - the rain was finding it's way through the roof collar and leaking down the flue inside. It was only when we took the collar off the roof to re-seal it that we found out it was because the flue had completely rusted through where it joins the chimney collar. Back to the Uxbridge Boat Centre, where it was originally made for us, to see if they could fix the rusty section. Of course they could; they are nothing short of amazing when it comes to fixing boat things!

The mended flue is now happily back in place, with a new set of grate bars, all the stove joints re-sealed with string and cement, and a couple of coats of stove black to finish it all off. Even the chimney and collar got a new coat of black engine enamel. I did buy a new chimney for the outside too but when I came to put it on I realised that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the old one.

Anyway - it's now gently glowing in the corner giving off it's lovely waves of heat and flickery light. There's nothing like a newly lit stove to make you feel all smug and satisfied with your world.

For those of you that are into details our stove is a Much Wenlock with a top chimney and back boiler, made by Coalbrookdale Stoves, forged at the historic Aga foundry in Shropshire. According to the manufacturers 'These beautiful cast iron stoves are assembled by hand, giving each one a personal touch and a unique quality. When you invest in a Coalbrookdale Stove you are acquiring a piece of history'

Cricketing girl

Kitten won her first cricketing trophy this week. She's the only girl on the school cricket team and apparently she's a great spin bowler. The award was for 'Most Improved Player'

Photo Finish

OK, so here's the deal. I have a lifetime of old photos, actually four lifetimes of old photos seeing as we have four kids, so on the last day of every month I'll stick one of my favourites up here and anyone bored enough to be reading this blog can have a moment of thinking 'ahhhh, how sweet they were' :)

Taken on August 14th 2005 - Emily's 6th birthday
in the Japanese garden at Cliveden House

Where have all the conkers gone?

The leaves on the horse chestnut trees are already turning brown - they look very strange against the green of the other trees. There are a few conkers on the ground and a few still on the trees, looking like lime green alien growths amongst the brown leaves, but nothing compared to the amount that here ususally is in September. OK, so it's still a little early for conkers, but its way too early for all the brown leaves too. They should be yellowing a little, not the horrible brown dried up things that we have at the moment. Is it the sudden lack of rain we've had over the last two weeks? Seems unlikely considering the massive amount of rain we've had over the rest of the summer.

What a beautiful day!

Dropped the kids off for their first day back at school today and went for a coffee in my favourite coffee shop - raspberry and white chocolate muffins worth exercising for - and started the rib for my second ever pair of hand-knitted socks. As i was sitting there in the glorious sunshine I realised how incredibly happy i was to be at a whold new beginning. The new school year, the new socks and, more importantly, the new start I made with my promise to myself to Get Things Done!

Yeah, I know, I've made the same promise before but this time I've actually stuck to it so far AND enjoyed the amazing sense of achievement (even from the little differences so far). OK - so I'm not always getting the days list of jobs done, but it's been because I'm doing other stuff instead. Real stuff that needs doing not just the wasting time and procrastinating stuff that I usually manage to do when I'm avoiding life.

Ooo - forget to tell you all - I finished my first ever pair of hand-knitted socks at the weekend. They have been finished all but the grafting on the second sock for about 6 months until now. They were knitted from the Snowflake Lace Sock pattern on the MagKnits website and knitted up in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock "Bittersweet".



They were probably a bit complicated for a first pair of socks, but I'd much rather make something that takes a bit of brain power than something that makes me bored. There's a few mistakes in them but I can't find them now they're finished so I don't think anyone is going to point them out when i wear my gorgeous new socks :)

Let there be light...

Today I finally got the first two of my roof hatches in! It's only taken about five years, mostly because it took us forever to find someone that would actually make the frames for us. My woodwork is so not up to anything that complicated - especially seeing as I really didn't want them to leak every time it rained. Then I had to strip down our poor old rusty roof and paint it. I wish I could say I'd done the whole roof but with the weather we've had this summer there just hasn't been time. As it is it's taken a solid week, £60 of primer and £45 of topcoat to do just over a third of the roof, but it does look good now.

Even better - we finally have lots of light inside the boat. We can look up and see the sky, or the stars (or the cat looking down at us)

And only a few kitty paw prints in the fresh paint to annoy me.