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On Our Holidays

Andrew Todd — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:23:37 +0000

We have been in the UK for the last couple of weeks. Sorry for not posting anything sooner but here are some snaps. Today we went on the rattler to London (from sunny Bracknell) and went on the London Eye. Here is the proof.

This was the first time Granny Perry had been on the train to the capital for the best part of 30 years, but the trip went smoothly. The weather was sunny and the skies clear so we could see most of London during our ‘flight’.

We’ve had quite a bit of luck with the weather whilst we have been here. Although it did rain a bit last week in Devon. In fact, the weather has been so good I had to go out and buy another pair of shorts.

Then we had lunch at Pizza Express and were joined by Mr Stott. Here he is with the angelic junior members of the team. They have both had birthdays in the last week and pictures of these occasions will be coming to the internet some time soon.

Two Growing Boys – May 2010

Andrew Todd — Sat, 22 May 2010 05:41:11 +0000

Here we have the great hopes for the household in their usual pose. Here in Sydney Autumn has finally arrived and sensible people have started dressing in warm(er) clothes. Some members of the household have taken to demanding hot water bottles and extra blankets at bed time. They are in for a rude shock when we visit the UK in July, I suspect that they will be demanding thermal underwear as soon as we touch down at Heathrow.

Two Growing Boys April 2010

Andrew Todd — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 11:40:20 +0000

Here we have the two little charmers in April, 2010. We have survived the Easter school holidays, including a trip to Albury and Wodonga.

Some say that it is the wild border country, we just couldn’t spot the joins. I did try and convince JFGP that he needed his passport every time we crossed from NSW to Victoria (and vice versa) but despite some initial gullibility he just wasn’t buying it. Back to the drawing board.

Two Growing Boys Month 7

Andrew Todd — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:18:52 +0000

Here we have the junior members of the team in March, 2010. Not a lot has happened since last month’s photo, although it is getting towards the end of the first school term of 2010 and everyone is getting a little tired and emotional. Not least the parents of these two little charmers.

A Quiet Weekend at the Beach

Andrew Todd — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:27:18 +0000

We’ve just had our annual weekend at the beach in Huskisson, and a great time was had by all. Most of us were expecting a couple of quiet days by the beach with the evenings spent in convivial conversation, good food and perhaps a glass of wine or two.

Little did we know that Team Reeve had been plotting and planning. With the aid of a range of suppliers (“it’s amazing what you can find on eBay”) we were all kitted out with full pirate gear and participated in themed events including a treasure hunt. To quote our t-shirts “To err is human, to arr is Pirate!”

JFGP says that the highlight of his weekend was “surfing on the waves on my boogie board” and can’t wait until next year when we go back again.

Two Growing Boys Month 6

Andrew Todd — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:08:27 +0000

Many apologies, December and January seem to have slipped by without much in the way of photography. But I am pleased to show you a picture of two smalls boy in February, 2010. In the last 3 months they have had a fine old time with 2 holidays, 3 trips to various soft play facilities, an outing to feed sharks and rays, a Christmas full of presents and delights, and a return to school for a new year.

Oh, and JFGP has lost several prominent teeth. Luckily a probing of his sore gums shows that there are plenty of replacements ready to appear.

I Believe I Can Change My World

Andrew Todd — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:25:37 +0000

In 1995 I bought the album “Tall Blonde Helicopter” by Francis Dunnery. Last night he played most of it in my living room.

Accompanied by stories about the events and people that inspired the songs he was singing Francis managed to engage and entrance an audience largely made up of people unfamiliar with his work. Well, to be honest, apart from Chris and Tom (who came with Francis) I was probably the only one in the room to have listened to more than one or two of his songs. But at one of Francis’ house concerts it doesn’t matter whether you know every chord (and word) of every song or if you’ve never heard a note of his before. With wit, warmth and an infectious enthusiasm he draws everyone into “the jacuzzi” and shares stories, insights, philosophy and a side order of therapy to entertain and inform. For the best part of two hours he had a room full of people firmly in the now and not worrying about their pasts or their futures. What a top bloke. What a top evening.

Then to top the night off rather than jumping in the car and driving off with the last notes of “Good Life” reverberating around my lounge he stayed and chatted, signed every CD of his that I own and was a total gentleman.

I’ve been telling the 70s Throwback that I was going to host a House Concert for the best part of two years, but didn’t really think it would happen until the last few days. And when it did the evening lived up to every expectation. Certainly the finest gig I’ve ever been to – even better the Midlands Arts Centre in June, 2002. To puff myself up a little I think a few of the people who came have seen the light and are joining the Francis Dunnery fan club.

If you ever have an opportunity to attend, or even better host, a house concert then don’t hesitate – just jump into the jacuzzi with both feet and be prepared for a fantastic night.

Thanks again to Kate, Erica, Chris, Tom and Francis (of course). Thanks also to everyone who came, it wouldn’t have been half as good without you.

Update We’ve made it onto the news page at FrancisDunnery.com. Apparently I make a killer chilli which is very nice to hear. Francis doesn’t tend to keep archives on his site so if you visit and can’t see the bit about us don’t panic.

Two Growing Boys Month 3

Andrew Todd — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 05:08:28 +0000

Welcome to November, and here is the monthly shot of JFGP and MIGO presented for your “haven’t they grown” pleasure. Note the particularly fine outfit that my youngest son is wearing, the only way to get it off him at the moment is to offer to mend the holes in it. Pretty soon the whole suit will have more repairs than original material. The competition now is for you, dear reader, to spot the differences between this month’s picture and the one from last month. Answers on a postcard, or in the comments below.

To aid browsing these photos I have put them together in a set at Flickr.

Two Growing Boys Month 2

Andrew Todd — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:07:43 +0000

I appear to have missed September, sorry about that. But here is the second in our series of pictures of two small boys growing up. You can see the first one here.

It’s a bit more than the calendar says, but we will call this month 2. I would try and give you a running commentary on changes, but apart from hair a bit longer (MIGO) and shorter (JFGP thanks to a haircut) I can’t really say that a lot of things have actually, you know, changed. See you next month.

Two Growing Boys Month 1

Andrew Todd — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:05:24 +0000

I have decided to start a project. With two small boys in the house and around all of the time its hard to see the changes that are going on in and around us. They must be growing because the food bills are staying high and only the other night JFGP told me that I would have to get a different pair of pyjamas out for him the following night because the ones that I had provided were too snug. Although he did graciously allow that he would wear them for one more night because it would have been too much bother to change them now that he had got them on.

So I got to thinking about keeping track of the ratbags as they grow up. I do have lots of pictures of the eldest boy and the other one, but I haven’t taken them nearly regularly enough. Until now. My not so cunning plan is to take a photo a month, in a similar pose, so that you can see how the apples of their mother’s eye are growing up. Here is the first picture, nattily entitled ‘Month 1 – August, 2009′.