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Alton Towers
Just back from a day at Alton Towers.
Carl and Nicky joined Trees, Lauren, Katie-Anne and myself for the day. Managed Air and Nemisis before the usual sickness took over. I just cannot do all the twisting, flipping and turning without the contents of my stomach making an appearance.
Recovered enough after a few hours to try "Rita queen of speed". Clenched my teeth the whole way round.
I think everyone had a great day but all look tired now.
Been a busy week work wise again. All I feel I have done in the New Year is work, work, work.
Managed to fit in a trip to Frankie and Benny's with the girls and we alsow ent to see Harry Potter while the girls went to see Hairspray.
Not spoke to my mum for a while. Anyone know what she is up to?
Sunday
After the excitement of Alton Towers it was time for a more relaxing Sunday.
We managed to get the girls up a small mountain, some would call it a hill. Stopped and viewed to Welsh countryside along the way.
Followed this with a visit to the Ice Cream farm to back all the calories we just used.
To finish off the day we called at Stretton Watermill for a half hour tour. Lovely man did the presenting and it was very fascinating.
The girls got the fresh air bug so we ahd a BBQ outside followed by tennis in the street. The burgers were Kangeroo, Ostrich and Venison. Some were more popular than others!
Katie-Anne is going home
Boo Hoo, Katie is going home tonight.
Been great to see Lauren and Katie doing everything together. Hair cuts, rides, shopping, clothes, makeup, MSN, Habbo, cycling, tennis, TV, Cinema, Restaurant, DVD....
Lauren is staying over at Pat's tonight with Charlie and Katie. Oh, by the way, Charlie was with us last night. I think the three of them got to bed at 4am this morning!
Gary and Pat are over with us all tonight. Braved the summer and had our meal outside tonight. Had to come back in doors to manage the ice cream.
Going to miss having them around.
Lauren leaving
Oh no, Lauren is leaving us tomorrow morning. The three weeks have flown by.
Thought we might have her until Sunday but her mum wants her back Friday and Trees needs to be free on Friday for secret mission stuff.
Sooooooooooooooooo going to miss Lauren. Really sad.
Debbie, Roger and the clan are stuck in a Cyprus airport. They have been delayed as there was a power cut at Manchester airport yesterday.
Daniel is just back from Spain and is now off to Germany.
Mike and Sandra are just back from holiday. Carol is off on the 18th to Yarmouth.
Stephen is in Spain.
I am stuck at home minus one daughter!
Back on the bike
Glad to report I am back on the bike. The knees are holding out.
Had a light ride yesterday evening on my own around the local farm tracks.
Tonight I got Carl out the door for a harder session. Decided off road across the farm fields would be different. It was. Not hills but hard going through the crops and undergrowth.
The Claude Butler is feeling good.
I think Carl enjoyed it. Not sure he enjoys the physical side of it as much as I do. I like the adventure of going places I have never been before.
Keeping fit is an upward spiral. I kind of get more tired the less I execise. I get the opposite effect when I become active again.
Off to the lakes in a eek or so with daniel for his 40th. Hopefully a few days out in the mountains. Fantastic.
Waddle on.
I know
I know I have not been updating the blog.
Been working very hard and Teresa has been doing some secret missions which have kept us a little busy.
Not a lot to note really.
Brandy is getting married in Canada. Good excuse for a family get together. Always good fun.
Off to the lake district this weekend to celebrate Daniel's 40th with three days of hiking. Hope to take in Englands highest mountain. That will the be all three national peaks this year including Ben Nevis and Snowdon.
Feels like I am getting a cold. Just as I am about to do the hardest adventure of the year!
Daniel has bought yet another bike. Tut!
Work has been busy. Migrated from Global Change to some deployment projects.
Paul is trotting along with his secret missions.
Young Dan has left school now. Can you believe it. Feeling old.
Not done enough exercise for the last 4 weeks. Excuses are a cold, an injury, secret missions and down right laziness!
Nats and Michael stayed over for a wedding in sunny Wales. I assume they got back ok.
Not seen Lauren for a while as it is mums turn. Might see Sophie next time if Trees is well enough.
Spoke to Tony Gill and Kwai briefly.
Just trotting along enjoying life.
Dan's Great Adventure 40 (1 of 5)
All I can say is "Fantastic - One to remember" This weekend was Dan Lee's 40th weekend adventure. There had been talk of visits to foreign lands, alpine adventures, coastal walks, mountain bike challenges. In the end we plumped for what we thought was going to be a summer walk through lake district mountains with stunning views and light banter around the camp fire. A great way to relax and de-stress. How different it turned out to be. Oh how we laughed! We arrived in Langdale tea time Friday. We stopped off at Ambleside to get the usual last minute kit and spend too much money along with a Chinese takeaway to top up the energy levels. We parked in a National Trust car park, got the kit packed and set off up the valley to do a little walking before pitching the tents for the first night. We found a great sheepfold (small walled enclosure full of sheep droppings) and snuggled in for the night. Just got bedded down before the rain started. Little did we know that this would be last time we would be dry before we got in our beds at home. To say it rained is an understatement. It threw it down. There were times when the rain came driving in at 90 degrees hitting us like needles that you could feel through layers of clothes. More than once we sent off balance with the force of the rain and the wind. This meant climbing over wet rocks using hands to steady us. This in turn gave us unbelievably cold hands, It is strange that your hands get so cold you cannot feel them and then just forget about them because they are so numb. I guess that is how frost bite sets in. So morning one we open the tent flaps. The rain has started and never stops again. Immediately the water drops in to the tent on to our heads, clothes and sleeping bags. Good start. Big Dan has tried a single skin one man tent for the first time. He is wet already because he cannot help but touch the sides whilst sleeping and the water has passed trough the membrane on to his clothes. Yuk. Oh, and by the way, that was the most uncomfortable nights sleep I can ever remember in a tent. Must have slept at some point but I just don't remember it, A quick discussion and we decide there is no way we cook the breakfast we have brought. Sat in the rain cooking on wet grass. Don't think so. Made do with a few energy bars. Wet tents and gear were packed away, semi wet and warm clothes were done up and we were off. The great adventure.