Canynge Road basement flat - 7 June 2011

Thanks for all our friends around world who want to see more of the kitchen basement flat as the kitchen is being fitted. Will update the blog with more footage as it takes shape. And it is, of course, Emma's flat!!

Liz's 70th - Abergavenny - 4 June 2011

The Kilpatricks used to schlep up to Wales for family holidays, many years ago when the kids were small - how apt then that Avergavenny was chosen by Nic, Jon and Mo to celebrate Liz's 70th, which was early in 2011.

 Manolo like Mum's "big hair"!!

The Walnut Tree was fantastic, in every way. They dealt with an often lively, disperate group of 18, even if we had only booked 15! Ages ranged from the wee Manolo to the ancient Ian. All diets and tastes were catered for expertly. The cottages were very cosy, and the spiral staircases ensured that the residents didnt have too much grog before negotiating the perilous climb to bed. The hearty few went out for a walk, some took the chilled option.

It was the first time in a long while the Kay and Liz's extended families were together in the same room, with all three grandkids - Ewan, Brandon and Manolo. Those present were:-

Liz and Ian

Us, Nicky and Stuey

Jon, Verity and Ewan

Mo and Steve

Kay and Howard

Jenny and Dave

Charlotte, David, Brandon and Manolo

Many family traits are demonstrated on this blog entry:-

Jenny's love of cameras and videos

Kay's cholesterol

Howard's diet

Dave's grey hair

Ewans good looks, which clearly come from his mother

Steve's bravery and good nature - he was thrown into the lions den this weekend, to be sure

KT's 5th birthday party - 15 May 2011

 

Stuart's last day in Melbourne was Sunday 15th May - there could surely be not better way to spend it than to go to Katie's tinker bell and dinosaur party!! Stuey was seriously considering coming along as a fairy, but could find enough net curtain.

There was fun for the little one and the grown ups. That crazy game where you beat the hell out of some cardboard and crepe paper creation to get at the choccies is always good for a larf. First the kids wear themselves out (often a good idea), then the adults look really stupid as they take over....and fail!!

Musical cushions wasnt without its tears. Some took the lack of cushion and elimination a little like those on Australias Got Talent!

The cake was a barbie doll, sans legs, with a delicious dress.

And Chandelle, the face painter, was very popular with kids and adults alike!

Melbourne - April and May 2011

We were both in Melbourne in early 2011. Nic had a trip to the Kids to continue her cleft project data collection and Stuey did the Opera Australia Autumn (note for Northern Hemisphere readers, April is NOT Spring) season, with Orchestra Victoria. Nic went first, we overlapped by a week or so, the Stuey stayed for almost two months.

Matthew and Thomas will no doubt be on a blog entry in September as we are going to THE wedding of the year in Switzerland. Matty reckons this photo looks like one of the cut out pictures you get by the seaside, where you stick your head thro the hole...

We met the latest huge de Korte male to enter the world, our godson Nick. He might look small right now, but he is on target to be at least as big as Harry and Jack, who a big lads. Its going to cost Ro and Caro a lot in potatos over the years




















Stuey had a wonderful time with the OV dudes. Two months may seem like a long time, but its hard to get round everyone - he did his best. Linus clearly knows what to do with an iPhone! And as the remaining shots will attest, Stuey had a good time with OV!!

It was a wonderful trip - Nicky was worried about whether Stuart would actually get on the plane back to the UK. She had every right to be worried!

New Zealand, Easter 2011

Stuart went to NZ for Easter, to see the guys and to meet nephew Joe. What a cutie - Easter was just before Joe's first birthday. Saturday had fine weather, so we were able to play out on on the dick (er deck as the kiwis pronouce it!!).

 

The deck racing was event filled, with the bike winning some of the time, skillfully riden by William (watch those legs going for it), and Joe wisely opting for the easier route of getting Dad or Uncle Stuke to push him up and down the "dick".

Will is still a little bit interested in Thomas the Tank Engine. And thats an understatement!

And the last video clip has all sorts, including grey hair from the younger brother!!! A big boys lunch was great fun or Uncle Stuke. And Uncle Stuke is particularly keen to note that William has a good musical ear - listen to him singing along to the Thomas tune, and gets the high note at the end band in time with the video, which he has probably watched a million times before.



3/1/2011 - Cat Lurve.....or maybe not

Cat lovers will know that what looks like a scene of domestic bliss can turn into World War 3 in a very short space of time. The video clip aboves shows Albury (ginger) and Wodonga (charcoal) sharing the Ottoman at the end of our bed. They are chuffed to have "thier" furniture back. Once upon a time they could both fit onto it with space aplently. Nowadays, being the fat cats that they are, there is less room, er, not enough to swing a cat in fact. So Albury has a cunning way of getting Woodie to shift over....by annoying him. Note the (not so) subtle change from licking to throat biting!!

Xmas Day 2010

Followers of this blog will be used to seeing us baking in Australia sunshine over Xmas. 2010 was our first Xmas back in the Old Country, our first winter Xmas for 16 years. In some ways that was nice - minced pies, mulled wine, heavy winter foods like turkey all seem more apt in the cold. But our poor bodies struggled to deal with the extreme winter the UK dished up.

As the video will show, the temperatures plummeted to -11 degrees. As we drove past Worcester it was -13. Luckily Buxton was not so bad, a miracle really consider it is High Peak country and is often snowed in at this time of year.

We dropped in on Gra, Stuart's father first in Manchester, then had tea with Joan and Graham Lee. Then onto Chadderton for Xmas lunch with Nor, (Stuarts mum), cousin Julie and Steve. It was a slap up Xmas lunch with all the trimmings, plus plus. Before it got too late and the snow froze, we headed to Buxton where we stayed a few days with the Kilpatricks. And a good time was had by all - lots of games, music and good natured banter.