A Few Ramblings…
Forty-six year old Christian happily negotiating the world with a wife and three daughters
The Opening Ceremony at Sochi 2014 – 7 February 2014
After all the build-up, the Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics in Sochi finally took place.
Here’s how it developed on Twitter:
A Review of 2013 – 1 January 2014
Last year, I wrote a summary of 2012 and already another year has flown by.
January began with a visit to see the floods in Henley on New Year’s Day, followed by tea in the evening at mum’s.
High water at Henley
Later in the month, we had some snow on the same day that I’d booked the car in for its first MOT. Fortunately I managed to nurse it home later. The girls also enjoyed making a snowman – with a little help!
Three girls and a tall, thin snowman
As January turned to February the snow disappeared and we enjoyed another good night at our Annual Church Meal.
Good attendance for the 2013 meal
I was also able to start making inroads on a new season in the veg plot, with some preliminary digging and we found time to visit Cliveden with some of the wider family for a late winter walk.
February digging in the veg plot
Group photo in the sunshine at Cliveden
As February ended, I finally got around to having my birthday meal, held over from December, at our favourite Chinese restaurant. The occasion coincided with Alan’s birthday and, as usual, he was on good form!
Alan being Alan
In March Rebekah celebrated Red Nose Day by going to school as a penguin!
Rebekah the Red Nose Day penguin!
We also managed a visit to see Auntie Myrtle – and I even remembered to take my camera!
Auntie Myrtle with the girls
The slow and chilly start to spring continued, with a flurry of snow arriving on 23 March!
Snow in mum’s garden
As March turned to April, the cold showed no signs of abating. We duly donned our winter coats for a chilly visit to Greys Court with mum and Heather’s family.
Mum at Greys Court in April
April was also the month when Sarah’s sister, Nicky, tied the knot with Mark.
Wedding guests outside Maidenhead Registry Office
A few days later, the weather eventually began to warm up and we enjoyed a walk in the woods close to Cliveden. Once the sun came out, we were even able to take off our winter coats!
The girls in a ‘den’ in the woods
The death of Baroness Thatcher was announced in the afternoon of 8 April. I captured some tweets from the day.
Later in the month, we surprised the girls with an overnight stay in Bournemouth. Although it stayed dry during our visit, there was still a chill in the air.
A chilly day at Bournemouth
Having just been down to Bournemouth, we decided not to venture too far for Sarah’s birthday and ended up spending the afternoon at Cliveden.
Sarah and Emily in the Water Garden
At the end of the month, we took Sarah’s parents up to see the Lambing Weekend at Berkshire College of Agriculture.
One of the new lambs
Eventually, April turned to May and we paid a visit to Ray Mill Island to enjoy the warmer temperatures and the first ice cream of the year.
Spring arrives on Ray Mill Island
With a rare sunny Bank Holiday Monday in May, we took mum up to Cliveden again, to enjoy the spring flowers. It turned out to be a record breaking day for them, with almost 7,500 visitors!
Visiting the tulips in the Long Garden at Cliveden
The next day, with warm sunshine still lingering, we took Emily for a walk at Braywick Nature Park.
Emily and a giant dragonfly!
Later in the month, we also visited Carters Steam Fair and did more planting in the veg plot.
All the fun of the fair
New planting including runner beans and carrots
After standing empty since my grandmother’s death in December 2010, her old house in Cookham Road, Maidenhead, was finally torn down to make way for flats. The destruction triggered a few memories of the old place and its much loved owners.
Grandma in her kitchen
At the end of May, we had enjoyed the sunshine during an afternoon at The Vyne.
Trying out the new slide at The Vyne
Summer finally arrived and brought with it the sad and sudden passing of Sarah’s nan. Her funeral took place on 17 June.
Sarah’s nan, who passed away on 3 June
A few days after the funeral, we celebrated mum’s birthday with a meal at the Bird in Hand.
Mum with her three children at the Bird in Hand
We also managed to fit in more work in the vegetable plot as well as going to Holly’s Sports Day.
Sarah and Rebekah at work
One of the events at the Sports Day
We had a busy final Saturday in June and managed to shoehorn in a visit to the school fair, an open day at Sarah’s old school, a party for Holly and an unexpected bbq in the evening.
Crowded garden for the evening bbq
In July we had an excellent visit to Lacock Abbey. This culminated in tea in the garden at my brother’s house.
Enjoying the warm July sunshine in Calne
A few days later, Andy Murray became the first British men’s winner of Wimbledon since Fred Perry’s victory in 1936. I captured the reaction on Twitter.
Also in July, Sarah and I went along to our former school’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Crowds on the school field as Furze Platt Senior School reaches 50
Later in the month, Rebekah celebrated her 9th birthday.
Rebekah with her hedgehog birthday cake
The following day, it was Emily’s turn. She turned 3 and was excited by her Peppa Pig birthday cake. In the afternoon of the same day, we also saw the Swan Uppers as they passed through Maidenhead for their annual count of the swans on the Thames.
Emily with her birthday cake
The Swan Uppers in Boulter’s Lock
Also in July, the Duchess of Cornwall gave birth to her son. Prince George arrived on 22 July at 4:24pm. I recorded events on Twitter during the day. The next day they left the hospital with Prince George.
As summer passed, July turned to August and it was time to harvest the potatoes from the veg plot.
A successful harvest of potatoes
The following day we went over to Windsor to see the Jubilee Fountain which had opened last year. Given the heat of the day, the girls ended up a little damp!
Three damp girls at the Jubilee Fountain in Windsor
We also enjoyed an afternoon on Ray Mill Island as well as spending time up at Cliveden, seeing the new slide in place to help ‘save the south terrace’.
The girls on Ray Mill Island
On the slide at Cliveden
At the end of August we enjoyed a brilliant week away in south Wales, staying at Burry Port.
Sunday lunch at our house in Wales
Our new favourite beach – Barafundle Bay
Emily saying goodbye to ‘Nina’
In early September, before the schools went back, we took the girls over to the Savill Gardens to enjoy a cycle ride.
Queuing for ice creams in September at the Savill Gardens
Just a few days later, it was time for the girls to go back to school. Rebekah started Year 5, while Holly began Year 2. A couple of days later, it was time for Emily to begin her time at Nursery.
Back to school!
Emily ready for her first day at nursery
Later in the month, it was the turn of my nephew, Hugh, to head off to university for the first time. We met up for afternoon tea at Dorney Court to bid him farewell.
Enjoying an al fresco tea at Dorney Court
At the end of September, we went over to Holyport for the return visit of Carters Steam Fair.
Sarah and Holly
October brought one of the highlights of the year, as Uncle Den celebrated his 90th birthday.
Uncle Den with his daughter, Gillian
Later in the month, a deep depression swept across southern England, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. I recorded how the storm developed on Twitter.
We enjoyed a trip down to Littlehampton during the autumn half term and the following day we took mum over to Bourton-on-the-Water.
Littlehampton beach huts in the evening sunshine
The excellent Chestnut Tree in Bourton-on-the-Water
As October became November, the girls made the most of the fallen leaves on Ray Mill Island.
Rebekah on Ray Mill Island
On the day before Holly’s birthday, we went to Windsor and Rebekah and Holly enjoyed ‘bungy’ jumping.
Holly
The following day, Holly celebrated her 7th birthday.
Holly with her presents
With another Ashes cricket encounter underway, Twitter reacted to the start.
The death of Nelson Mandela was announced on 5 December. I recorded Twitter’s response.
Later in the month, we took the girls to Hughenden Manor to see the house transformed for Christmas.
The girls in the grounds of Hughenden Manor
Holly later starred as a Wise Man in her school Christmas performance.
Holly with her attendants
After the usual weeks of build up, Christmas finally arrived. We celebrated with lunch at home and tea at my sister’s.
The girls with their stockings
On Boxing Day, we enjoyed tea at mum’s house.
Finger puppets in the crackers
The year ended as it had begun, with more high water at Henley.
Not a good day for sitting out in Henley
The traditional Bray family gathering took place in the days after Christmas, with seventeen enjoying tea at Heather’s house.
Emily talking to Uncle Den
So, 2013 drew to a close. Once again, it had been a busy year, which also included our monthly walks to Cookham Dean.
As we go into 2014, we have much to be thankful for and much to look forward to.
All the family
2013: My year in tweets (July to December) – 1 January 2014
Continued from here…
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/355647021023100929
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/361763385743908864
https://twitter.com/AbandonedPics/status/370641713368694784
https://twitter.com/AbandonedPics/status/371029076695588864
2013: My year in Tweets (January to June) – 1 January 2014
At the beginning of each year, I create a summary of the previous year as highlighted in some of my favourite tweets.
Here’s how the first half of 2013 unfurled:
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/287546236616183808
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/287831819389394944
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/303763168470130688
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/307855813580566528
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/312099450422165504
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/322095795237175296
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/329874253052780544
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/330187166523195392
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/334950303650697216
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/339131249576775680
https://twitter.com/TheMontyDon/status/351091671477403648
Read the tweets from July to December here.
A Few Ramblings... 