A Few Ramblings…
Forty-six year old Christian happily negotiating the world with a wife and three daughters
Maidenhead lightning strike – 28th June 2011
This morning, after having fed Emily at about 6am, we were beginning to doze off again. Suddenly, we were rudely jerked back into wakefulness by a bright flash of lightning followed almost immediately by an enormous clap of thunder which reverberated around for about 30 seconds.
Looking out of the window, there was nothing obvious to see afterwards and very little in the way of rain or subsequent thunder. Shortly afterwards we heard the distant sound of a siren.
It turned out that a number of Maidenhead homes had been hit. Fortunately, there were no casualties and damage seemed to be largely superficial although it had knocked out a number of the internet connections of local properties.
It was certainly an unusual way to start the day and can be nicely summarised by this Wordle constructed from comments made by people on the Maidenhead Advertiser website.
June walk to Cookham Dean – 26 June 2011
With the temperature nudging 26C this afternoon, Rebekah and I set out on the latest of our monthly walks between Cookham Rise and Cookham Dean.
Given the heat, the walk took somewhat longer than usual. Below are a few of my favourite shots from the afternoon:
Cricket at Cookham Dean Cricket Club
Rebekah heading into the heat
Looking across the wheat field (taken on Nokia N85)
Ripening wheat
Red kite circling over Cookham
Crowds enjoying ‘pick-your-own’ in Cookham
Rebekah
Summer rose in Cookham Dean churchyard
Long grass on the old Cookham Dean cricket pitch
Heading back down the hill
In the evening we met up with friends and took the girls to Ray Mill Island for an evening stroll and ice cream.
Reflections on a mallard
Canada goose on the Thames
Rebekah on Ray Mill Island
Sarah and me on Ray Mill Island
Father’s Day – 19th June 2011
I’ve been very conscious of Father’s Day this year. Every shop I go into seems to have been peddling all kinds of gifts and trinkets suitable for Dads. Since losing Dad, back in January, I think I’m just far more aware than previously of events like Father’s Day.
My own Father’s Day began at around 7am when the girls bounced in bearing homemade cards and presents. They had bought (or had bought for them!) a book on growing vegetables and one called Simple Pleasures.
They then, with Sarah’s help, proffered me Frosties, followed by scrambled egg and bacon in bed, all of which was very welcome.
After church we went off to Pizza Express for lunch where we ended up sitting at the same table as last time.
Dough balls!
Me on Father's Day
Elderflower presse
I also went along with the same doughballs and lasagne as well as sampling some elderflower presse. The only difference being that for pudding I opted for the Chocolate Glory, rather than the chocolate fudge cake which I enjoyed last time.
Rebekah
Emily
Holly after enjoying her pudding
Later in the afternoon we went to Sarah’s parents house and met her brother and wife there also. We enjoyed a walk around Ray Mill Island in the summer sunshine before stopping for the ubiquitous ice cream.
An old Routemaster bus stopped at Boulters Lock
Canada goose on the look out for food on Ray Mill Island
Earlier in the day, I had taken the time to take a potted gerbera (bought the previous day in Bourne End) to place on Dad’s grave for Father’s Day. It was all that I could do for him and I like to think that he would have appreciated it.
Happy Father's Day, Dad
It was a strange day, a mixture of the present and the past. One of the many ‘firsts’ that have to be got through, I guess and one of the days to be particularly thankful to have a loving wife and children around me.
Vegetable Plot update – 18 June 2011
This morning we popped round to Mum’s for coffee. While we were there, we had a look at the vegetable plot and noted, in the rain, a plethora of weeds.
Rebekah and I returned this afternoon and spent some time working on weed clearance – in between dodging the showers! We also managed to sow a row of lettuces.
Quick shot of the vegetable plot as the next shower started
The worst of the weeds were around the carrots and this area is now looking much clearer.
Freshly weeded carrots
The rain is certainly helping the plants, with the runner beans already halfway up their poles. The tomatoes are also looking good and the rhubarb seems to be trying to take over the entire plot! There is also plenty of new growth on the gooseberry bush.
New growth on the gooseberry bush
One casualty seems to be the sunflowers, the majority of which seem to been eaten soon after they emerged from the ground.
Hopefully, in spite of the inclement conditions, we’ll be able to obtain some vegetables from the plot later in the year. It’s certainly an improvement from when we first started!
Another view, showing the outsize rhubarb taking over the top right corner
A Few Ramblings... 
