Who, What, Where, When, & How

Rorys team played a friendly against local rivals Nantwich yesterday. Rory was run out on 19 but his batting partner who wasn’t looking or listening. The team went on to lose the match by 5 runs! Rory also bowled two maiden overs.

Great day yesterday. On the beach at Ringstead Bay then we all walked along the shore to Osmington. Had lunch at the historic Smugglers Inn. BBQ in the evening at my sisters house with all the family. Going out in my brothers Canadian canoe down the Wareham River. Beautiful weather all day, up in the 80’s.

The sketch that my friend Glyn did of mum from a photograph has pride of place above my sisters fireplace. We gave it to her as a 50th birthday present.

Calum won the award for football player of the year at his school Sportsman Dinner this evening.

Rory took some friends for a day paintballing near Oswestry for his birthday. Rory second from right, Calum second from left.

End of season rugby awards at Crewe & Nantwich Rugby Club today. Rory won the award for ‘Clubman of the Year’. Here he is with head coach Chris.

Went for a walk around our village with some friends (Glyn, Helen, James & Katie) geocaching. Found five and it took us to some beautiful countryside around the village that we’d not found before. Here everyone is having found our first canister. (Photo taken with iPhone 4)

Calum did some catwalk modelling at the school this evening. He had volunteered to take part as a model in a charity fashion show at the school. Here he is posing with his friend Will. He even made the front page of the local paper, posing with one of the girls!

Calum playing on the wing for Crewe & Nantwich against Ellesmere Port in semi-final of the U15 Cheshire Cup. Half time score is 27-0 and Calum has scored the latest try.

Result 49-0.

Calum scored two tries.

All very proud here as Calum was elected Deputy Head Boy for his school today. Voted by the teachers.

Rory training today. Calum playing at home against New Brighton.

Playing well, scored a try! Latest score 29-0.

Woke up this morning to a few more inches of snow. Great for the boys who had their first school holiday day today.

Sunday morning at 7:30am and it’s -10 outside. No more snow overnight but very cold - and today Rory has just left to go to his friend Alex’s birthday party - paintballing!! He’s got 4 layers on but he’ll freeze. Very excited because this is the first time he’s been old enough to go paintballing.

Rory supposed to be playing in a cup match away to Wilmslow today. Christine got half way there before Wilmslow called it off. Not much frost today and only -3 so not sure why.

I’m at Whitchurch with Calum. Clear blue sky and no wind. Ground quite hard but not frozen.

Both Calum and Rory are playing rugby for the school today. It’s a bright, sunny and cold day as the boys prepare to take on Bishop Hever School who are from Malpas. Rory for year 7 (under 12s) and Calum for year 10 (under 15s).

Check back here for updates.

Christine’s dad is seriously I’ll on hospital. Christine and her brothers and sister are have been at his bedside since Friday afternoon. He is stable and comfortable.

Both boys played football for school today. Calum in goal as his team won 9-2, Rory midfield as his team won 10-0!

Rugby cancelled today due to waterlogged pitches

Calum asked to stand in as goal keeper again this week for the school football team. They beat Malbank 6-4 and Calum was voted man of the match.

Both of the boys oplayed football for the school today. Rory’s year beat Shavington 8-6 (!) and Rory scored. Calum was in goal for his year as they beat Shavington 4-0 - he kept a clean sheet!

Friday - Rory trying on air cadet kit at Bournemouth Air Show

Wednesday - Rory looking for Seahorses…found one too!

Tuesday - Peter, Rory, Calum & Chris on the beach at Studland

Monday - First day of holiday in Dorset. Calum out in Kimmeridge bay in a canoe

In the Green Room at Camp Bestival with the band after the gig. Brother Bob is on the right, nephew Christopher the drummer standing at the back.

For more photos and to find out more about the band, see the website I run for them at www.sanctuaryband.co.uk

Darren Gough, the ex-England fast bowler and Strictly Come Dancing contestant is now an ambassador for Collier Cheese. The largest cheese festival is held in Nantwich and Aston Cricket Club juniors were asked if they wanted to meet Darren at the cheese festival and challenge him at a cricket game on Xbox 360. The boys had a fantastic time and Darren was great, chatting and joking with the boys. All of the boyss were given a mini cricket bat which Darren signed for them and a large slab of cheese! Rory was the boys captain.

Rory stepped up an age group tonight when he played for the Under 13s against Wistaston. They scored a famous victory winning by 6 runs with Rory Man of the Match. Rory bowled superbly taking two wickets including a caught and bowled and also took another catch.

Jill, Martin and Andrew stopped off on their way home after their holiday in Scotland.

Rory’s last day at Primary School today! Can’t believe it - 7 years have passed so quickly. Here he is with his school polo shirt signed by all his friends.

Calum had his school sports day today and won the 400m, beating a county runner in the progress. Apparently he was a tenth of a second outside the school record!

Update - Just heard from Christine that after reaching checkpoint 5 and having completed two peaks, the third peak has been closed du to high winds. Apparently they are all soaking and it’s blowing a gale!

Sunday:
Christine is walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge today with our friend Helen and Helen’s sister. The alarm went off at 3:45 am and they finally started walking at 7:30. It’s a 26 mile round trip organised by Marie Curie Heart Care. The picture above was talken by Christine with her iPhone at the start. Forecast for the day has deteriorated overnight - now heavy rain and storm force winds expected!

Update: 10:30 Helen’s husband Glyn has had a text to say they have completed the first peak.

Rory played for Wrenbury School today in the Cheshire Schools Cricket Tournament. They won 4 out of 4 matches and now progress to the next round next Tuesday against other winning heat teams from across Cheshire.

Pouring with rain here today - was that summer?

I woke up yesterday with terrible toothache. Managed to struggle through an important day at work (board meeting with the Chief Exec as guest).

Went to the dentist today and have an abscess- antibiotics to clear it up. Pain was very bad during the day but easing off now.

Rory played for the Under 13 team against Nantwich (local rivals) tonight. He was top scorer on 26 not out, scoring a six and two fours. Aston lost but Rory played very well.

Alton Towers was celebrating it’s 30th birthday so there was an open air concert in the park in the afternoon. Chris and I sat in the sunshine and watched Curiosity Killed The Cat, The Christians, Rick Astley and Midge Ure. Chris managed to get a photo of herself with her fellow scot Midge Ure.

Calum played his first cricket match of the season today now that his thumb is better. He played for the school team and top scored with 46. Unfortunately the team lost. He plays for Aston U15s tomorrow evening away to Nantwich.

Well, thew cricket season is here now.. here’s a photo of the U13 team with Rory included. Rory is officially in the Under 11’s but often steps up to play for the U13’s.

Rory’s rugby team entered the Cheshire Cup today and were runners up in the plate competition.

Calum was called up to be goal keeper for his school football team tonight - in the cheshire schools cup final! He hasn’t played in goal for ages since taking up rugby instead of football. And they won! 5-1. Hopefully there’ll be a photo to follow.

Discovered a small nest with four chicks in it in the holly hedge in the garden. Here are four more mouths waiting to be fed.

No rugby today for Calum or Rory as we had temperatures of -7 last night. This has left the pitches frozen and dangerous to play on so it’s training for both.

Rory played football for his school team today in the schools cup semi-final. It was a very close game with the teams 1-1 at full time. Rory scored in extra time to make the score 2-1 but the opposition equalised late in the game. It was finally decided on penalties with rory’s team winning and going through to the final!

Who would believe it! After a great day and evening on Saturday with a fabulous coaching session from Leicester Tigers, we awoke on Sunday ready for two matches against local teams - only to open the curtains and see 3″ of snow. Matches cancelled so ten pin bowling hastily arranged…we had taken two coaches and were just getting our bags together when…one coach wouldn’t start, flat battery, then…second coach drove onto a grass area covered with snow thinking it was concrete! Coach sunk 2′ into the mud and couldn’t be moved.

Two hours later and after a visit from a massive tow truck we were on our way…too late for bowling but time enough for hospitality from Leicester Lions.

Boys very disappointed that they didn’t get to play a game but a good, and memorable, time had by all.

Rory and I wearing our tour shirts ready for dinner on Saturday night. After dinner there was a rugby court which was great fun and a first for the boys! Rory was very disappointed not to have been accused of anything…