David Currie

Percy the Park Keeper Trail

A visit to Moors Valley Country Park was on our hit list for the summer. We decided to show some faith in the forecast and set off from home in the rain. It was still threatening when we arrived so we decided to leave the bikes for a bit and I took the children round the ‘Percy the Park Keeper’ trail whilst Christine went for a run. An hour and a half later we finished the trail which must have been all of a mile and a half long but had twenty stops on the way with questions to fill out. Duncan carefully filled out his answers as well (thing he needs some practice on his numbers!).

We had lunch in one of the playgrounds and were eventually available to drag them away with the promise of the play trail. The sun was out in full force by this point and it was a very pleasant stroll through the woods with the children enjoying each piece of the equipment immensely. Once we got back there was just time for an ice cream before returning home, the bikes not having left the car! Duncan later declared that he would have enjoyed the day had we been cycling!!

After having let our Hillier Gardens membership lapse for a few months we finally renewed it last weekend. We took a look at this year’s sculpture’s in the garden on a lovely sunny afternoon with an ice cream just to ensure that the children want to come back again soon! We went for the ‘Plus’ membership again which includes the Hants County Council ‘Culture-All’ pass so we can now once again resume our trips out to the various and varied locations it covers. This weekend the orienteering club’s summer series event was at Queen Elizabeth Country Park so free parking there is one we can tick off the list. Having arrived sufficiently late to miss the morning’s downpours, we were treated to yet another lovely sunny afternoon. The children enjoyed their yellow course, the various playgrounds, and yet another ice cream. It must be summer!

Emma’s birthday this year was a drawn out affair. Falling in half-term she had her party the weekend before. This was to have been a trip out to a cinema and restaurant with a few friends but, due to some confusion over cinema schedules (at one point it looked like Godzilla was going to be the only film on!), we actually ended up having those same few friends round to watch a film at our house which proved very easy for us. I donned black tie to serve lunch. Emma chose a selection of films from Google Play/Amazon Instant Video in advance and, after consulting her friends and tossing a coin for the tie-breaker, they ended up with the somewhat surprising choice of Charlotte’s Web, a film released before Emma was even born!

On the day itself, the weather forecast looked particularly poor. As a result, we deferred hunting for Fairy Doors at Furzey Gardens until later in the week and joined the crowds at Winchester Discovery Centre instead. I’m still not sure why Emma enjoys going there so much. The previous week she had declared that science was her favourite subject at school only to spoil things somewhat by adding that she particularly liked the bit where God made the world! Typically, of the presents she received, the small dressable dolls that Granny Sue had picked up in a charity shop appear to be the favourite, outlasting the novelty of the loom bands. She had to wait another week to move in to her main present from us: her own bedroom. In many ways it’s sad that we don’t get to listen to them chatting away to each other after we’ve said good night and, once Emma has a little more furniture, there will be the inevitable tears as they try to divide up the books and soft toys between them, but I think they will both appreciate having a little space that they can call their own.

As usual, the final countdown to Christmas began with Christine’s Dad’s birthday. This year was a bit different though as he’d reached a round 60 and a party was planned! Unfortunately the weather was a little unkind as the day was meant to begin with various outdoor activities. Ian and I joined a small party running the route of the Kymin Fell Race in the wind-blown rain. Gerry was injured so had planned a walk but strangely, no-one was keen to join him. Not to be deterred, he walked up the Kymin on his own! The children had perhaps the most sensible idea, getting wet in the swimming pool instead.

There was just time to wash off the mud before heading to their local where we were joined by friends, family, neighbours and fellow runners for food and drink. There was a skittles alley laid out down the middle of the room but this remained largely the domain of the children (even when there were other people standing on it!). Following the cutting of the cake (baked by Christine and decorated with the aid of myself and Sarah) Gerry was rendered speechless, although hard to say whether this was due to emotion or Sue stepping in very quickly! Anyway, here’s to the next 10!

Duncan graduated from cow to king this week at his playgroup nativity play. Once again, he looked rather like he was slightly bemused by the whole affair but joined in with all the singing and actions and did rather seem to like his outfit! Then there was Emma’s Christmas lunch, both children had Christmas parties at playgroup and school respectively, and then there was the school carol concert. We’ll all be looking forward to a break come the end of term!