Brr, it's getting nippy!

We attempted today to get started on digging out the area for our allotment as the sun came out briefly. However, we have a small problem in the shape of an enormous root from a removed bush. If anyone has any brilliant ideas for removing said root, please feel free to share them with us, or even better, come and remove it. Caiden 'helped' a little with the gardening, mainly by grinding the nearly deceased wheelbarrow up and down the patio. Anyway, hopefully once this root has gone, we cane make a start of getting the ground ready to plant a few bits.
I made a loaf on Friday with my new loaf tin so it did look like bread. It was yummy, which is the main thing. The whole loaf was polished of in one sitting with breakfast on Saturday when Kieran and Matthew were here.
I'm doing a roast chicken this evening and Anna and Derrick are coming to join us. It's smelling good already, if I do say so myself.
I've put two pictures on from today of Caiden and Myfanwy on the patio and one of my most recent loaf.

Bonfire night and Caiden speaks!

We went to a bonfire show near the church down the road last night, which was ace. Really good fireworks and a huge bonfire. Caiden seemed to enjoy it too and was not as scared as we thought he'd be, even by the huge rockets.

Caiden has started saying his first words and in line with the recent credit crisis he's being pessimistic. He just constantly says 'oh dear' and I do mean constantly. If anything breaks or falls on the floor and as he realises that we like him saying it, he now enjoys breaking or throwing things on purpose just to be able to say 'oh dear'.
I've put a picture of the bonfire on today as well as one of Caiden with one of my recent loaves. They're getting better every time. That will curse them! The picture of the loaf by itself is the most recent and the best by far!

Biberty Boberty Boo!

Well I hope everyone had a good Halloween. We had a great night with a curry, fine wine and good company.
Caiden is now turning into a little tyke what with hitting people in the face and general naughtiness. I have now made my third home made loaf of bread, the most recent being very impressive. Today has been a very culinary day what with the loaf and home made pumpkin soup made from our huge lantern. The house certainly smells nice. Caiden loves the fresh bread and seems rather keen on soup too.
Pictures today are the lanterns lit on Halloween, my loaf, Caiden being naughty, pulling all my books off the shelf and caiden with the huge pumpkin from the farm shop.

Ma is 60!

Hello blogfans. I've not got a huge amount of news this week. Caiden is fine and over his temperature session, but now Rob has 'man flu' so I'll probably have a cold by the end of the week. In Rob's defense, he's not too bad with colds and doesn't pretend to be dying, lying on the sofa sipping soup. We went up to Wales on Friday night for a meal for my Ma's 60th. We went with family friends Catrin and Wes. Caiden spent the night with Anna and Derrick and slept through for them, which is always good. The meal was lovely, I had venison on a slab of haggis, very yummy. Three had turbot and the Rob and my pa had lamb. I've put pictures on of our meals, the lamb is the one with Rob's fork infront. I've also put a picture on of Caiden that I took to put on the front of Ma's birthday card. Have a good week everyone, especially those on half term.

The Good, the Bad and the Sickly

Mixed news this week. As some of you know, I managed after just over five years of being qualified to get a teaching post off my own back! According to the head, I did 'brilliantly' which did temporarily make my head to big to fit though the door! Anyway, it's great news, I start in January at a school in Tunstall.
The bad news, is Caiden has been poorly this weekend. His best effort was a temperature of 103.5 last night. Very impressive! He seems a bit better this evening and is currently snoozing in his cot, not on a sheet next to me like last night. No idea what's brought the fever on, he's been a bit snotty but nothing major.
On a lighter note, I did quite a bit of gardening today and pruned our apple trees for the first time in probably about 10 years. One of them always has an outrageous amount of fruit, so prior to their extreme shave, I collected a bucket of good apples. I've put a picture on of half the wind fall/rotten fruit, and I do mean half of it! The other pictures today are Caiden having lunch with cousin Liam on Friday and one of him dressing up by the washing basket with my pants around his neck! Silly Caiden!

A few bits and bobs

I've had a week of no teaching, which has it's bonuses, dog walking, slow cooked dinner etc. I did however, get a phone call on Thursday asking me to an interview at a school in Tunstall next Friday. I spent Saturday evening on the phone t Kate writing out our battle plan for my observed lesson. If I do say so myself, we've done a goodie, so fingers crossed.
Caiden has had his first proper bed. Well he's not sleeping in it yet, but Rob won it on Ebay for a bargain so we've bought one now. At the moment it's Suzy's new bed, as you can see in the picture. Just to get you all in a good mood, not, a friend of mine said he saw a house with all it's naff Crimbo lights on already last week! Unbelievable! Hope everyone's well and enjoying the rain and credit crisis! Picture of Suzy on her/Caiden's new bed and one of Caiden doing his best 'I'm a lumberjack'. Love to all.

Kieran's birthday weekend

I've had a busy week teaching in Newcastle under Lyme, unfortunately I didn't get the full time job, it went to a guy who over ran his lesson by 25 minutes! The headteacher did say some very nice things though and has promised to ring me if he needs any supply. Thankfully overall I did seem to impress them but they wanted an ICT specialist, which I am not.
Anyway, it's Kieran's 12th birthday today so the boys have been here. he bought himself a new mobile with his birthday money this morning. I've just been to the woods with Anna, Derrick, Gin and Liam and all the dogs. It was Rhianna's first trip of many to the woods in their papoose. Put of picture on of that, one of me holding Rhianna today and one of Kieran blowing out his unstoppable candles that relight themselves.