Seminal Moment II

I have completely fulfilled one of my roles as a Dad today. Samwise rode his bike successfully for the first time, with no stabilisers! Requiring some support on starting off at first, and a little wobbly, but after a bit of practice he was starting off by himself and pedalling up and down the street. Lamp-posts, walls and hedges acted as boy/bike magnets, but luckily he can use the brakes OK. I'm not allowed to take any photos until he's "really good at it".
This is the second time that I've taught a son to ride a bike. At last my work is done....What - you mean there's more things they need to know? :)

Ouch!

Samwise has a Kick-Boxing course completion certificate after a week of lessons. Tonight, using Dad as a punch-bag/fall guy he demonstrated punches, knock-out punches, elbowing, arm-locks and how to get out of a head lock - which involved rolling up my trouser leg and pinching the skin underneath. Ouch!

Certified

Passed my OCP exam last week. No, not Omni Corps Products :)

Canoeing

Canoeing, a set on Flickr.

Frodo was invited to a Canoeing party on Saturday morning. Gave him a chance to use his wetsuit. The boys had loads of fun - paddling in circles, racing, standing up, paddle overboard! and 'ramming speed!'. Nobody fell in, however the boys lined up like lemmings to jump into the dock a few times afterwards.

School Sports Day 2011

School Sports Day 2011, a set on Flickr.

It was School Sports Day For Frodo and Samwise last week.

Mike Fryer. Memorial Tree Planting.

Mike Fryer. Memorial Tree Planting., a set on Flickr.

Mike Fryer. Memorial Tree Planting. A great way to remember a friend, who I'm sure would have approved. A Sweet Chestnut Tree Planted at Keele University. 17 July 2011. We also planted daffodils around the base of the tree, the children particularly enjoyed doing this. Words were said about the tree and the area it's planted in, about Mike, his life, his family and his friends and his Mum told us some tales of when he was a boy. The rain did not stop, but I thought that kind of fitted the occasion, and the tree has been well watered in. It would be good to come back this way again when the daffodils are growing.