Who, What, Where, When, & How

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…

As part of the Leicester experience the boys paraded around the Leicester pitch at half time. Chris, the coach, posed the boys under the posts.

We spotted Bryan Redpath, ex-Scotland player on the pitch at Leicester and I called him over to us. We had a good chat with him and he kindly posed for this photo with Rory.

Calum on rugby tour this weekend with the crewe and nantwich under 14s. Aftr getting to bath they watch bath v sale -lots of tries but bath won. They then went to their hotel to watch the six nations then out for a quick game of ten pin bowling. After dinner there was a quiz then a rugby court.
The following day they play two matches against strong local teams and won both - Calum playing at Outside Centre & Wing.

Following the maxim ‘What goes on tour, stays on tour’ - there are no photos!

In liverpool and found myself driving past Penny Lane. Had to stop and take a photo.

Snow overnight here so no rugby for the boys today. All watching Andy Murray…not going well so far. Going for a walk later - will post some photos.

Busy day today in heath cottage. Calum went to the school disco last night and stayed at a friends. This morning he got an invite by another friend to go to Old Trafford to watch Man Utd v Hull. So quickly back home to change and collect some more cash from dad!

Rory has his first training session as one of the ‘excellence standard’ junior cricketers in cheshire.

First match of the new year and Rory’s Under 11s team were away to Whitchurch. There was one match of 3 twenty minute periods during which Rory started as blind side winger, moved to Inside Centre and then finished at Full Back. Rory played really well, making masses of strong tackles, some try making breaks and showing total commitment throughout. He was recognised for this by the coaches by being awarded Man of the Match. This hastily taken picture shows him receiving the award.

Rory is back into Harry Potter in a big way. Reading the books now and watching the movies in order.

View from the end of the garden across the South Cheshire fields towards the Shropshire Union Canal looking north west. Note the bird box made by Calum (a few years ago) on left.

A Happy New Year to all our family, friends and readers! We wish you all a peaceful 2010. See you Next Year.
Peter, Christine, Calum & Rory xxx

-7 degrees in dollar! Boys sledging on the hills. This is a quick photo taken with the iPhone of calum walking back up to the top for another go!

Left to right: Ranald, Euan, Calum, Carolyn. Rory in front.