Trick or Treat 2024

As with last year it was just me and Holly for trick or treating this year. Joshua chose to go rugby training and Brandon manned the door to our house and readied himself to hand out about 200 bags of Haribo's to the hoards!!! I had to split Holly's trick or treat session in to two in order to drive Josh over to Billericay for training as Tina was working. But it was all worth it in the end, me and Holly had a lovely walk around the neighborhood and she certainly got a great haul of goodies. 

We also managed to get our pumpkins and recipes prepared ready for Halloween/Bonoween. Holly did an amazing pumpkin of her favourite character "Stitch". I swear to god that all I did was mark the pumpkin for her and she did all the carving including cutting cardboard ears and sticking them on. The end result is actually incredible. Brandon also joined in with a "INK" to represent Ice Nine Kills who are currently one of his favourite bands. As for me, well my pumpkin had to be a shark of course.

For my Bonoween recipe I made a pumpkin spice loaf which just smelt and tasted incredible. For something I knocked up whilst working from home I think it came out really well and is definitely one of my better recipes with pumpkin as an ingredient.

Wick Palace all decorated for Halloween and ready for the hoards of trick or treaters.

Holly's amazing Stitch pumpkin which she made all on her own.

She was very proud of this one for sure.

Brandon's Ice Nine Kills pumpkin.

And finally my shark effort for 2024. Joshua didn't want to participate this year.

Holly all dressed up and ou trick or treating.

Holly's Trick or Treat haul for 2024.

And finally my pumpkin spice loaf rising nicely and smelling amazing.

Rugby Send-off for Brad

No rugby match for Joshua this Sunday just gone but instead he went around to his coaches house for a few hours for pizza and to watch a Veo recording of last weekends game. The little get together was also to celebrate one of his team mates (Brad) who passed his basic training for the Navy and is off to serve his country this week. So it was really nice of all the lads to get together and give him a little send-off, a card and a signed rugby ball from them all. They made there own pizza's and used a pizza oven to cook them and then sat back to watch their 12-12 draw from last weekends game. Nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Some of the rugby team making their own pizzas.

Time to dig in before watching the Veo recording of last weeks game.

Nice little set-up in a games room with a projector to watch the match.

And a 3-2-1-Brad to send him off with a signed rugby ball from them all.

1st Halloween Party of 2024

Fortunately Holly started to perk up a bit on Saturday and despite missing football training in the morning she did manage to go to her friends Halloween party Saturday evening. As usual it was a last minute panic with her and Tina rushing around to get her make-up done and some false nails etc. (the nails lasted all of about 15 mins once we arrived at the party). Anyway Holly had a great time at the party with about half a dozen of her football team there as well. Loads of good food, loads of drink and loads of really great Halloween decorations as you can see from the pictures.

Holly all made up for her 1st Halloween party of 2024.

Loads of fantastic inflatable Halloween decorations at the party.

Holly was there with a few of her mates from her football team.

More inflatable decorations.

Looks like they have been waiting for dinner for sometime!

I dressed up to accompany Holly to the party.

Me and H starting the 2024 Halloween festivities.

As the sun set the inflatables looked even better.

Loved the ghost on the motorcycle.

And just look at the size of that witch against Holly!!!!

Lionesses at Wembley Statdium

Tina managed to get hold of some tickets to watch the friendly between the England Lionesses and Germany at Wembley Stadium yesterday. So after school me and Holly jumped on the train to Liverpool St for her to have her 1st ever visit to Wembley and her 1st live match with the England Lionesses.

Unfortunately there has been a bit of a cold going around her school this week and Holly was feeling really under the weather. However she had been so looking forward to watching the match that she wasn't going to let anything stop her going. Things didn't bode well when she crashed out on the train heading up to Liverpool St and then was complaining about walking between Liverpool St and the tubes.

But we got to the match and after an extortionate £7 portion of mini chips we headed in to the stadium and found our seats. We had a really good view from side on and thoroughly enjoyed the light show with fireworks and flames at the start of the match. The match itself was very entertaining with lots of action at both ends. At half time I think it was 3-2 to Germany and the final score I believe was 4-3 to Germany. I felt a bit like Billy-no-mates at the game as Holly became friends with a girl sitting next to us and was having a full on conversation with her throughout the first half and completely ignoring me!

Anyway despite enjoying the first half Holly really started to feel worse and wanted to head home at half time. I kind of didn't argue with her as it at least meant we would miss the stampede and being crammed in to the tube like sardines (which really wouldn't have been good given how sick she felt!). So in the end she only saw half the match but still enjoyed the experience and had some quality father-daughter time to start the half term off.

Not looking good as Holly falls asleep on the train to Liverpool St.

We arrive at Wembley Park as the sun starts setting and see in the infamous Wembley arch.

£7 for a tiny little portion of chips - criminal!

Daddy-daughter time. Yes I am wearing an England boonie.

Great seats with a good side-on view of the pitch.

England players out for their warm up.

The opening show with music, fire, lights and fireworks was amazing.

But half time and Holly was feeling worse, so it was time to head home.

Holly in front of the famous Wembley arch lit up in England colours.

Holly Get's "Star of the Week"

Holly finished off the first half term of her Year 6 very strong. Having just returned from her PGL she was awarded "Star of the Week" for her achievements during PGL along with another certificate for being independent and kind at PGL.

She is also now starting to get in to the swing of Halloween and has crafted a cleaver little pumpkin hand puppet.

Holly loves a little art project, here is her pumpkin hand puppet.

"Star of the Week" certificate for her achievements at PGL.

And a certificate for independence and being kind at PGL.

More Pictures from Holly's PGL Week

Here are a few more pictures from the school of Holly on her recent PGL school residential trip. Clearly she was in the "Jammy Dodgers" group for the trip.

The Eve of Being Sweet 17 for Joshua

On the eve of our eldest turning 17 tomorrow he is a bit too grown up for balloons and banners etc, however I did find this rather amusing birthday say on Temu which I thought was appropriate for Josh! I think he is more excited about the prospect of being able to start to learn to drive as opposed to is actual birthday. I have booked tomorrow off of work and we are planning to head over to Upminster to let him drive Tina's car on that airfield facility they have over there. Should be fun, although I am not sure Tina is thrilled with him driving her Fiesta!

Holly's Year 6 PGL Trip

It has been a bit of a weird week this week as Holly has been away with her school on their Year 6 PGL trip in Suffolk. This must be the longest she has ever been away from us and the house is very quiet without her (in a bad way). 

We have received a few pictures from the school and it looks like she is having a fab time. Really looking forward to seeing our little baby arrive home tomorrow though as we have definitely missed her. Let's hope she is not too tired to celebrate her big brothers 17th birthday when she gets home!

Day 1 and it looks like Holly had settled in to her room.

Who ever thought giving her a gun was a good idea!!!!

This is more Holly. After all our paddle boarding she must have been a pro on the water.

Rugby Update - Injured Already

Joshua has had one league game and one friendly game since the new season started and he is already injured. Sunday was a friendly training game with three 20 minute games. During the 1st 20 mins Joshua had his left ankle stamped on and limped off after about 5 mins on the pitch. 

He then managed to get back on the pitch for the second 20 min game and with his first touch of the ball he ended up at the bottom of a ruck and took a kick/knee to the back which left him writhing around in pain and eventually coming off injured again.

So the 3rd 20 min game I got to watch all the other lads whilst Josh sat on the sidelines nursing himself with icepacks! Great start to the season. 

Joshua got to do a few line outs before coming off injured.

This was his move in the second 20 min game which ultimately led to the back injury.

One minute he is running with the ball...........

Next he is at the bottom of a pile and getting kicked in the back. Game over.

Brandon's 1st Paid Job - Football Refereeing

This Sunday Brandon started his first paid job as a Sunday League football referee. His first game to referee was an U8's game at Academy Soccer and he did a pretty good job. He let the football flow and only had one injury to deal with. Being a bit of an introvert he needs to be a little more assertive on the pitch, but that will come with time and experience. After refereeing for 20 mins each way he was paid £15 cash in hand, so better than minimum wage (I wish there was gigs like this available when I was his age instead of paper/milk rounds!). 

Really proud of Brandon for doing this as it is something we have being nagging Josh to do for ages. Ref two games on a Sunday and you get £30-50 in your pocket. Plus it looks really good on their CV as they can put this down as experience which pulls in some many skills such as communication, conflict management, leadership, assertiveness, decision making etc.etc.

It ended up being a very exhausting day for Brandon as it was an early start to do his refereeing gig and then back home for a quick bite to eat before heading over to Rayleigh for his own football match.

Brandon's first job refereeing mini soccer.

Then it was over to Rayleigh for his own football match.

Shielding a ball to win a throw in for the team.

Brandon on the ball and looking for a pass that is on.

Another action shot of Brandon.