Forty-six year old Christian happily negotiating the world with a wife and three daughters
Rebekah and I made the most of a sunny, if cold, afternoon to complete the first of our monthly walks to Cookham Dean and back.
We were glad to defrost with a hot drink when we got back to Mum’s house afterwards. Hopefully, this will have been the coldest walk of the year.
We made the most of a reasonably mild and dry afternoon to go for a walk in the woods.
Despite signs of spring elsewhere, including daffodils coming into bloom in our own garden, the woods remain resolutely locked down for winter.
With both Rebekah and Holly somewhat under-the-weather currently, we abandoned possible plans to go down to Bournemouth for the day and instead enjoyed a walk at Hambledon.
The girls didn’t recall ever having been there and it’s certainly been a while since I had been there too.
After a lazy morning, we arrived at the car-park in Hambledon at around 12pm and managed to shoehorn the car into the only space available.
We walked down the road to the weir and across it to Hambledon Lock before retracing our steps after walking along beside the river towards Henley for a short way.
We all enjoyed getting out and enjoying the fresh air and sunshine.
Hopefully we’ll get down to Bournemouth in the next few weeks.
At the beginning of last year, I summarised 2010 in tweets.
Below is my summary of 2011 marked by a few of my favourite tweets. What an amazing year it’s been!
Happy New Year one and all. Enjoy those fireworks!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) January 1, 2011
Holly's birthday meal will be cut shirt, she doesn't know it yet…. Come on England!!!!!
— Mikey Davies (@tucksontour) January 6, 2011
Really? RT @Lord_Sugar: send yourself a letter with a £1 stamp – if letter is post marked 11.1.11 it might be worth a few quid
— Robert Peston (@Peston) January 11, 2011
Couldn't sleep. Counted sheep. Filled my imaginary sheep pen. Built a bigger one. Eventually fell asleep. #tired
— Jonathan Howe (@heresjonniehowe) January 18, 2011
RIP Dad. The bravest man I ever knew. I'm so proud to be your son and I'll miss you so much. So glad you're finally at rest. x
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) January 20, 2011
@PhilBray sorry to hear that, take comfort that he is in a place where there WILL be NO more pain,suffering or tears. Praying for you all
— Phil Wells (@nutterfreddie) January 20, 2011
@PhilBray dear Phil. So sorry. You'll miss dad I know. Rachel n andrew loved him too. He took a real interest. A shining example to us all
— Philip Stanfield (@philipstanfield) January 20, 2011
Lots of love Phil, Sarah+ fam. RIP Mr Bray a gentle-man of God with a smile that lit up the rm & genuine concern & love 4 whoev'r he spoke 2
— Biz Angell (@Angell123) January 20, 2011
Very nice funeral service for Grandma. So many happy memories. She would have loved everything apart from the biting East wind!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) January 27, 2011
RT @PhilBray http://twitpic.com/3uh24h – ELEVENSIES courtesy of @MarksandSpencer! >> Now there's a man who knows how to do it!
— M&S (@marksandspencer) January 29, 2011
Greeted by a hirsute @Ben_Duffy, sporting a VISAGE reminiscent of @Dataman2000's chest! #professional
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) February 14, 2011
Lovely service which really captured the essence of Dad's life and personality.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) February 21, 2011
RT @philipstanfield: Just been 2 Hedley Brays thanksgiving servc. wonderful 2 b there with Phil, Sarah & all. Hedleys at home with his Lord.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) February 21, 2011
RT @hugh_evans: Really enjoyed the tributes at the funeral
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) February 21, 2011
Discovery launch, as recorded by an iPhone from a plane: http://tiny.cc/pypo2 #nasa #discovery
— Jonathan Worth (@jonathanworth) February 28, 2011
@philbray Twitter proving invaluable on this trip. @nickyAACampbell was right darn it!
— Shelagh Fogarty (@ShelaghFogarty) March 13, 2011
Sunshine, soup, chocolate cup cakes and a stroll with @Dataman2000. Can life get any better?
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) March 14, 2011
Sorry your massive 'moon' is doing what?! RT @PhilBray: Massive moon just rising!
— Tiffany Leigh Rudd (@Rudders_TL) March 19, 2011
Holly: 'Did you know you can smell hot taps?' Me: 'Really? What do they smell of?' Holly: 'Hot water obviously!'
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) March 27, 2011
Every time Clive makes a point, I expect him to then ask the rest of the panel to start a hoedown. #BBCQT
— Q A Pesto (@Quaristice) March 31, 2011
http://twitpic.com/4fnol4 – End of the line for #Alworths, Maidenhead. Sad times.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) April 1, 2011
First wasp of the year is splattered against the window pane by a vengeful @Ben_Duffy! Summer has arrived!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) April 1, 2011
http://twitpic.com/4hoh4m – Back for another digging session in the impending gloaming. #vegplot
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) April 6, 2011
Momentous circuit with @stuhezza marked with a new JESSOPS, a phoenix-esque re-emergence from HAWKIN'S BAZAAR, soup and yum yums!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) April 12, 2011
Green watch firefighters seen down by #Maidenhead bridge earlier were putting out a pile of leaves on fire
— MaidenheadAdvertiser (@MaidenheadAds) April 13, 2011
Time to get BREAKFASTED, put up the BUNTING and unfurl the FLAGS. Enjoy #rw2011, I intend to.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) April 29, 2011
What an atmosphere! Tremendous cheering accompanying the bell-ringers. Fantastic! #rw2011
— Andrew Burdett (@AndrewBurdett1) April 29, 2011
@PhilNBay choo Choo!
— Stuart Herrington (@Stuhezza) April 30, 2011
How many bottles of red to celebrate the Canaries before going to bed? A crate I think!!! Good stuff too!!!
— Henry Blofeld (@blowersh) May 2, 2011
"Mind the Saxo Lord Sugar" #howtheotherhalflive http://twitpic.com/4yf62c
— Dan Walker (@mrdanwalker) May 16, 2011
@Ben_Duffy overreacting to a bee flying around Reach Towers #biggirl #terrified http://ow.ly/i/bIKn
— Sam Underhill (@s_underscore) May 18, 2011
Philip .. It is fact
— Jennifer M Michael (@Jennimstew) May 20, 2011
Wow wow wow wow!!!! What a buzz and what a crowd. I just had a 147 in the @Snookerlegends exhbition! Lifted to roof! What a day!
— Jimmy White MBE (@jimmywhite147) May 28, 2011
You know Summer is here.., Our dear old thing! http://yfrog.com/5pjrvj
— AlisonMitchell (@AlisonMitchell) June 3, 2011
http://twitpic.com/5697hm – Belatedly arrived in BOURNEMOUTH, to a near empty car-park and wall-to-wall sunshine!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) June 3, 2011
While eating the jolly old eggs and bacon, the rain was stair rods time and the day was what dear old BJ would have described as "setters".
— Henry Blofeld (@blowersh) June 6, 2011
Father's Day arrives with homemade cards, gifts and breakfast in bed, but for me it will always be a little different now. I miss you Dad x
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) June 19, 2011
I reluctantly predict that @andy_murray will never win #Wimbledon. #bornatthewrongtime #thenewTimHenman
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) June 20, 2011
#idiot RT @Ben_Duffy: Turns out @glasto is somebody's actual account. Oh dear.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) June 23, 2011
One of my first sights at work this morning was @DataMan2000 padding around in bare feet! #disturbing #scarredforlife
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) June 24, 2011
@JohnsonBeever @PhilBray its moustache and funky shirt night – what do you think?? http://ow.ly/i/dqNp
— Sam Underhill (@s_underscore) June 24, 2011
http://twitter.com/#!/benleighkelly/status/85496503413653504
So nearly lur'd unto the Rocks by the Siren-like rhythmick Exhortations of the WE BUY ANY CAR Bandit-Troupe
— Samuel Johnson (@DrSamuelJohnson) June 29, 2011
Sunday school outing to Wicksteed Park today. Just like 30 years ago…!!
— James Jury (@jimjury) July 2, 2011
http://twitpic.com/5lzk7f – Tough times for @JohnsonBeever as he stumbles through assembling a box in 3m 12s!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) July 6, 2011
"Sir, do you want something else to carry?" #Apprentice #pointsfortrying #mademelaugh
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) July 6, 2011
Painful circuit with @DataMan2000's legs clearly still regretting his decision to walk 12 miles to work the other morning!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) July 12, 2011
Wonderful day with family & Mum re-visiting old Bournemouth holiday haunts. Day awash with childhood nostalgia. Lovely day & lovely memories
— Jonathan Worth (@jonathanworth) July 19, 2011
Final touchdown! Atlantis landed, ending Shuttle era. Thanks for all the good memories! シャトル長い間ありがとう! http://twitpic.com/5ti5ni
— Soichi Noguchi 野口 聡- (@Astro_Soichi) July 21, 2011
WONDROUS tidings emerging from #SixBay – the #BlueBeauty has flown through the #MOT! #lifeintheoldgirlyet #justonenewbulbneeded
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) July 26, 2011
http://twitpic.com/5wkzrc – Great to welcome @Lawa86 back to the fold and to be reunited with #OldBluey after two years!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) July 27, 2011
Delicious #LittleChef lunch at #Hagley. Early Starter followed by Classic Pancake. Fast, friendly service. 10/10
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) July 30, 2011
What a day! What a hat-trick by Stuart Broad, the first I've ever commentated on in forty years with TMS. It was unbelievably exciting!
— Henry Blofeld (@blowersh) July 30, 2011
At the age of 37, I have just peeled and chopped #carrots for the first time! #Masterchef #EverybodysGotToLearnSometime
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) August 1, 2011
Heading to the airport. Back in London tomorrow lunchtime. This mindless violence must cease.
— Boris Johnson (@MayorofLondon) August 8, 2011
#Croydon now ablaze in #LondonRiots. Wonder when David Cameron will decide to come back from Tuscany? #priorities
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) August 8, 2011
What a crazy evening! For some reason I can't sleep and glued to news channels…
— Mikey Davies (@tucksontour) August 9, 2011
http://twitpic.com/64vgal – An excited @DataMan2000 poised outside the soon-to-be-open #Tiger store.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) August 12, 2011
No1 in the world – brilliant, England. Just brilliant. #edgbaston
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 13, 2011
Eventful day: News of @DataMan2000's departure, spelt Llanfair PG for @tucksontour, #Tiger almost open and told 'Shoe Shop' story twice!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) August 16, 2011
Your chest hair, bare feet and vacuous grin will be mourned in GU21! RT @DataMan2000: #leavingreach #boohoo #endofanera
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) August 16, 2011
Tonight's sunset – as spotted by @bexfitnessfreak! http://t.co/p4JsHDp
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) August 17, 2011
Immense circuit with @DataMan2000. New #Tiger store is open and overwhelmingly good. Then an automated Stop/Go board! #Wow
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) August 18, 2011
Amazing scenes of jubilation in Green Square in #Tripoli. Fantastic work from @alexcrawfordsky.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) August 21, 2011
@PhilBray I thought I saw you three trying to decide btw KFC and Greggs, then taking photo's!
— Helen Milligan (@helen_milligan) August 24, 2011
My 1000th tweet is dedicated to @PhilBray the man who told me to join twitter. A true gentleman, kind, funny & genuine #loveyoudude #missyou
— Jonathan Howe (@heresjonniehowe) August 30, 2011
http://t.co/uZkhjTd – Best to build the bbq before lighting. Nothing like putting @nutterfreddie to work!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) September 2, 2011
Wine has definitely gone to @philbray head tonight, giggling like a girl at his own jokes
— Phil Wells (@nutterfreddie) September 2, 2011
Rebekah disappears for the next stage of her education. It doesn't seem two years since she started. Holly's turn next week!
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) September 6, 2011
@PhilBray Words the sweetshop of life
— Nick Crane (@nicholascrane) September 13, 2011
http://t.co/UnA5bRq – Shared a book-laden booth for a post-work final tipple with @DataMan2000. #endofanera
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) September 13, 2011
Beset with issues at the lock-up. Road closed due to resurfacing. Now struggling to find the rear exit. Farcical.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) September 21, 2011
Serious stuff but Mancini saying:"He's finished with me, with me he's finished" in @chrisbevan_bbc piece made me think of Bruce Forsyth.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) September 28, 2011
The sun-kissed hedgerows alongside the M40 are becoming bedecked with hues of gold, russet and crimson.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) September 29, 2011
Standing on most westerly point of any inhabited island in England. Crashing Atlantic and countless reefs under setting sun.
— Nick Crane (@nicholascrane) September 29, 2011
Excellent day in Banbury with a great team of people. A BBQ lunch in the sunshine and a £150 #RedLetterDays voucher! #unexpected
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) September 29, 2011
A surreal picnic lunch in shorts, in a sunlit woodland glade, beside a scarlet-berried holly! #October
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) October 1, 2011
An exciting circuit with @PhilBray including a new picture gallery, topless men, a lotus esprit and a fat cyclist!
— Sam Underhill (@s_underscore) October 3, 2011
RIP Steve Jobs – Brilliant pioneer, visionary inventor and former CEO of Apple. His passing will be mourned. Just 56.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) October 5, 2011
Steve Jobs: 1955-2011 – 6 October 2011 http://t.co/OxfldUfF
— Andrew Burdett (@AndrewBurdett1) October 6, 2011
Bumped into the long lost fifth member of The Beatles today in Woking! #stuckinthe60s @Stuhezza @PhilBray @Rudders_TL http://t.co/0lpS5L2p
— Sam Underhill (@s_underscore) October 6, 2011
@PhilBray you are SUCH a sexy beast! Can't wait to stroke your head on Monday…. Ay ay! @EmmaLouVeljovic is excited too..
— Laura Peters (@Lawa86) October 14, 2011
Stunning footage on #FrozenPlanet with Sir David Attenborough at his inimitable best. Worth the licence fee on its own.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) October 26, 2011
Taking a break from the pool to have a late lunch by the Saigon river #idyllic pic.twitter.com/NN2SJ4Ci
— Mikey Davies (@tucksontour) November 2, 2011
Waiting for @s_underscore in the rain in west byfleet. #somesayhesnotverypunctual
— phil hodgetts (@h1ght0w3r83) November 3, 2011
@PhilBray Hello, Copenhagen biscuits are now back in store thank you @tiger_store
— Tiger – London & SE (@tiger_store) November 7, 2011
off out dressed as an Arab!!! pic.twitter.com/kIy5nbd6
— Rob Farrell (@robnfarrell) November 8, 2011
This is my 1000th tweet!! Woo hoo! As promised, I dedicate it to @PhilBray … Just because I do! #thatsdedication #tweettweet
— Laura Peters (@Lawa86) November 8, 2011
A very exciting circuit today, overrun with public sector workers striking! @PhilBray picked a bad day to work at home pic.twitter.com/SL87dHO0
— Sam Underhill (@s_underscore) November 30, 2011
Extraordinary sights of @PhilBray in the pub for after work drinks with @DataMan2000 #professional pic.twitter.com/9CYqiPIy
— Sam Underhill (@s_underscore) December 2, 2011
Friends are like rainbows. They brighten your life when you've been through a storm.
— Bex Cox (@bex__cox) December 4, 2011
Heading home after a tough day with a great bunch of mates. Much to think about over the coming couple of months.
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) December 8, 2011
BBC Nature – Attenborough's wonderful world http://t.co/PuuF5Rat
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) December 9, 2011
@Stuhezza trying out his ventriloquist act with @PhilBray #sitonhislap #smallmanchild pic.twitter.com/UJNvA6mY
— Tiffany Leigh Rudd (@Rudders_TL) December 12, 2011
What's going on? RT @EmmaLouVeljovic: When will people learn to mind their own business?
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) December 12, 2011
As requested…! #britianshottestcouple pic.twitter.com/Ea1aGIyw
— Ed Nicdao (@EdNicdao) December 15, 2011
http://t.co/Ox31cQo8 – Treated myself to a #stylophone with some birthday money. #musiccareerbeckons #SilentNight
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) December 19, 2011
That 'We love you Phil Bray' moment from last night. #touching #greatmates http://t.co/9s4CizdV
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) December 21, 2011
Great evening with all the family. First time we've all been together since Dad's funeral. #notsuchahappyoccasion
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) December 27, 2011
Early days yet… RT @sarahlbray: @PhilBray its now 2012 so you need to shave!! You said it was going on new years day and its 12.05am 😉
— Phil Bray (@PhilBray) January 1, 2012