Thursday 31 March 2016

Long Live B.S.T.

In the wee small hours of Sunday, our clocks moved forward an hour, signalling the beginning of British Summer Time! So what better way of celebrating than our first 'van trip of the year, in the freezing rain and howling winds. 

We went to Oathill Farm Holiday and Touring Park just outside Crewkerne - lovely little place - and had a brill time despite the weather. Only had 2 nights away instead of 3 - our first night away - originally at The Inside Park, was cancelled due to torrential rain flooding our pitch before we got there, so we had to sacrifice a night and find a new location on Easter Sunday morning. My favourite child (Anna) was amazing, as always! She helped out a lot and showed off her amazingness by helping people over the  cliffs on the amazingly wet walk. However much I write about her, you could never understand how much I truly do adore that child. She is more perfect than you (unless you are Jesus). 

Below, our two Hymers Swings:



Below: Noah and Dodge have their GCSE exams this coming May & June, so they had to spend many hours revising in the warmth of our 'van, poor chaps.


Below, West Bay from the gert big hill that Anna so helpfully wrote about earlier. Our walk to Burton Bradstock was cut short by horizontal, torrential rain. Lovely.


Well I guess the weather was to be expected; Easter is early this year. Lets hope it warms up soon so our next trips out are warm(er) and dry(er). Apparently Easter will be later next year, so maybe we'll have a warm start to 2017 'vanning.

Olly (with a little help from Anna, can you guess which bit she wrote?).

Thursday 24 March 2016

It's Anna, but not as you know her.

A couple of weeks ago I took this photo of Anna at Illuminate, one of our church's Friday night youth clubs. Anna had her face covered in shaving foam, and then her team-mates had to throw Wotsits (like Cheetos) to stick onto the foam.  



I've never been so proud of her. Olly

Sunday 20 March 2016

Yeovil Half Marathon

Today, My-Mate-Rick-From-Work and Mercy-Ships-Barry and I ran the Yeovil half marathon. The course started with 2 loops of Yeovil town centre, and ended in the town centre too,  so we were treated to a great atmosphere with cheering crowds.



It was extremely well organised, with hundreds of stewards and volunteers.

Rick and I did it in 1 hour and 53 minutes and I lost 2 toe nails in the process. Great fun though. Olly

Friday 18 March 2016

Remember Appelsbosch?

Does this photo send a shiver down your spine?



Appelsbosch photo

Does the name "Appelsbosch" bring back horrible memories of broken buildings, cold grey echoing corridors, scorched grass, and isolation? Or did you have a great time in Appelsbosch? Ever wonder what's happened to the place since we left it just over 6 years ago?

Apparently it became part of the Coastal Kwazulu Natal Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)  College. Click here to look at their link.

They can provide accommodation for 295 students. Good luck to 'em! Hope they like mist and no running water.

Olly

...For Sports Relief

Hot on the heals of such events as Bake Off For Sports Relief, Libby is taking part in Come To School As Your Favourite Sports Personality For Sports Relief. Here she is dressed as her hero, Team USA's butterfly champion Dana Vollmer.



Above, Libby as Dana Vollmer.


Above, Dana Vollmer as Dana Vollmer.

Olly

Sunday 13 March 2016

Great Western Race

Last Sunday, My-Mate-Rick-From-Work, Rob and I ran the cross-country Great Western Race at Lewiston School, which was exhausting with deep mud and steep hills. Before the 10k Race, there was a 2k race for kids, so here's a photo of Kitty and Anna running together (bottom right corner), courtesy of the Western Gazette.  


Olly

Weymouth Bay 10k run

Today was Sally's first competitive race, the Weymouth Bay 10k. We're all very proud of her. Anna ran the last half kilometre with her, and Noah popped open a bottle of Prosecco as she crossed the start line, which we shared with the Braziers and My-Mate-Rick-From-Work.



Although running in races in never actually fun - it's the whole social event and feeling of achievement afterwards - Sally says she'll race again some day! Excellent. Olly