Avenue Q

Yesterday Nicky and I went to see Avenue Q in London at the Noel Coward theatre. Nicky had spotted a special offer on Ticketmaster a while ago and had booked for the 5 o'clock show. We did what is becoming our regular thing of driving up to the O2 and getting on the Jubilee line there. Despite it being close to Christmas there were still spaces in the car park, and even better someone who was leaving gave us their parking ticket so we didn't have to pay the £3 parking charge! We arrived a little early and so found a Starbucks near to the theatre for a coffee and a cake before going in.

The show was great! Lots of fun, good puppets, good jokes and an excellent cast. We didn't buy the CD but may have to get it sometime. Mind you, definitely not one to listen to with either parents or children!

I'm sat by the side of the pool at the moment. No Rebecca again today, but Jake is happy with Adam. We've got John and Margaret coming for roast pork today. They were supposed to be going to Yorkshire today but John isn't very well so they've decided to postpone.

Inspirational reading

Back in July I wrote a post on the way home on the train, because I'd just read the obituary of Randy Pausch. I'd heard about the Last Lecture, but didn't really know very much about it. Then, I bought the book at the airport on the way to Orlando last month, and read a bit of it whilst on holiday.

I finished it off last night, as the box of tissues sat by the bed proves! Knowing how the story ended, so to speak, made it pretty hard going towards the end, as he turned to thoughts of family - his wife and his three young children. There was a lot in his experiences that I could relate to (not least being a big Disney fan!), and as always with these things, just so much to make you stop for a minute and think about your priorities in life. It would be great to think that I could maintain such a positive, life-affirming attitude in the face of such adversity, but I'm not sure that I'd manage it.

Now that I've read the book, I really must watch the lecture some time soon.


Listening to the news today on the way to work, there were two anniversaries of note. If it "all started with a mouse" then it all started 80 years ago today, when Steamboat Willie was released, so the Mouse has been celebrating today. Also on the radio this morning was a programme about Alistair Cooke, as he would have been 100 this week. Listening to his voice is another one of those Radio 4 sounds that takes me straight back to my childhood! I must dig out my copy of his book and read some more of his letters.

Swim blog

Sunday morning swim blog again, bashed out on the iPod touch screen to sync when we get home. No Rebecca today, so Jake is having his lesson with Adam. He didn't seem to be too bothered. If anything he might be doing a bit more swimming and a bit less chat!

Went shopping in Maidstone yesterday morning after dropping Jake off at Tyland Barn for his Cub event. Bought a couple of birthday presents for Nicky. Worryingly she's at home now and she knows my hiding place ...!! I've got a few more ideas of things to get, and Jake and I will have more shopping opportunities next weekend whilst Nicky is away with Mum.

Quiz evening was ok last night - just could have done with being a bit shorter! Still, it was a learning experience - Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior. When we got back Jake, Samuel and Joshua were all fast asleep in Jake's bed. I have a photo to prove it, but they probably wouldn't thank me for posting it here!

Sent from my iPod

Disney Links

Oh my goodness, I have found the Disney Links website, and if I'm not careful I could loose whole days in a clicking daze. Must stop and come back later. Must go to bed ... !!

Sunday swimming

I'm sat by the side of the pool at the Math watching Jake have his swimming lesson with Rebecca. She's trying to get him to swim with his head in the water and breathe to the side. Progress is being made, and this definitely qualifies as more advanced swimming than I can manage. I'm sure that Jake would be amused to hear stories of my attempts to swim in this pool when I was 11. I was in the bottom group and was hopeless - trying to hop across while no-one was looking!

Holiday history

Trying to remember where our holidays have been over the years. Here's a start, to be updated further ...

2008

October - 8 nights Orlando - Animal Kingdom Lodge - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret

August - 1 week Isle of Wight - Middleton Cottage - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret, Mum, Dad

May - 3 nights Disney Paris - Newport Bay Club - Miff, Nicky, Jake



2007

December - 1 week Orlando and 1 week cruise - Port Orleans and Carnival Glory - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret

November / December - 3 nights Singapore - Fullerton Hotel - Miff, Nicky

August - 4 nights Nice - Radisson Hotel - Miff, Nicky

July / August - 1 week Scarborough - Oscar - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret

April - 1 week Port Aventura - El Paso Hotel - Miff, Nicky, Jake



2006

December - 3 nights Manchester - Lowry Hotel - Miff, Nicky

July / August - 2 weeks Med cruise - Legend of the Seas - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret

June - 2 nights Disney Paris - Sequioia Lodge - Miff, Nicky, Jake



2005

December - 17 nights Orlando - Port Orleans - Miff, Nicky, Jake

October - 1 weeks Scarborough - Oscar - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret



2004

September - 1 week Mallorca - Cala Pi apartments - Miff, Nicky, Jake, Mum, Dad

July / August - 2 nights Oxford - Belfry Hotel - Miff, Nicky

June - 1 week Orlando - Comfort Inn Lake Buena Vista - Miff, Nicky, Jake



2003

December - 2 weeks Orlando - Sheraton Vistana - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret

August - 1 week Dorset - Inside Park camping - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret



2002

October - 1 week Lake District - Borrowdale Gates - Miff, Nicky, Jake, Mum, Dad

August - 1 week Devon - Farmhouse - Miff, Nicky, Jake, Mum, Dad, Bec, Mark, Harry, Oliver

March - 3 nights Boston - Radisson hotel - Miff, Nicky



2001

February - 2 nights New York - Sheraton Hotel & Towers - Miff, Nicky



2000

December - 2 weeks Orlando - Quality Inn International - Miff, Nicky, Jake, John, Margaret

April - 4 nights Cotswolds - Cotswolds Water Park self catering - Miff, Nicky, Kate, Phil



1999

December - 1 week Las Vegas - Imperial Palace - Miff, Nicky

August - 1 week Guernsey - camping - Miff, Nicky

April - 8 nights Orlando - Quality Inn International - Miff, Nicky, John, Margaret, Heather



1998

August - 1 week Dorset - Inside Park camping - Miff, Nicky



1997

October / November - 1 week Lake District - Borrowdale Gates - Miff, Nicky, Mum, Dad

August - Paris - Miff, Nicky



1996

December - 2 weeks Orlando Honeymoon - Holiday Inn International - Miff, Nicky