Holly Learns to Paddle Board

Almost June and finally we get some lovely sunny weather for the a bank holiday and can get out paddle boarding for the first time in 2021. It's almost June and this was out first time as the weather has been so bad!!! Even worse is the fact that we bought a new bigger paddle board 3 or 4 weeks ago so that me and Holly could join the boys instead of taking the kayak.

We set up at our usual place in Boreham and then headed in Chelmsford direction down to the next lock. Despite having to setup 3 paddle boards, I got to use one of my Xmas presents which was an electric SUP pump which made the setup soooo easy and got us in the water in no time at all.

On the way up to the lock Holly sat on the paddle board whilst I oared. Once at the lock we had a nice picnic and just messed around in the water for a couple of hours enjoying the sunshine. Towards the end Holly said to me that she wanted to try paddle boarding on her own!!!!! WHAT? 

So I gently eased her on to a board and showed her how to stand and balance, then got her to just stand there holding the ore to get used to balancing with that. This all seemed to easy for H so I showed her the basic strokes, how to turn and how to stop and amazingly she was off. Only 7 years old and she managed stand up paddle boarding on her own with absolutely no problems.

All of us fell in at some point during the trip (even me) but that's part of the fun.

All geared up and ready for our first SUP of 2021.

Initially Holly sat on our new larger paddle board whilst I did the rowing.

The two boys were off, but Josh has outgrown his paddle board and struggles to stand up due to the stabilisty.

Nice to see this one away from the TV and having fun.

That's the smile that makes it all worthwhile.

Once at the lock it didn't take long before the kids were doing suicide jumps in the water.

She's fearless.

Nice picnic time at river side.

She's such a character.

Brandon playing around in some white water.

Then a bit of relaxing in the sun.

Joshua wanted to try my larger board and found it much more stable and could stand up fine, even with Holly on board.

Nice to see Joshua taking his little sister out on the water.

Then after a few lessons from me, Holly wanted to try SUP on her own.

Holly grasped the concept really quickly and was soon off up the river with Josh.

Amazing, only 7 years old and going solo at SUP.

So now Holly has taken Joshua's old red paddle board, Joshua has nicked my new adult one, so once again I am left without!

We always made sure someone was out on the water with Holly in case she got in trouble or needed help.

But she was find and disappeared off up the river.

She was so proud of herself afterwards and didn't stop talking about it on the way home.

Managing to turn and stop absolutely fine.

For the first time - all three of them paddle boarding on their own. In this picture you can see how much bigger the adult paddle board is. So much more stable. Really pleased with this buy out of LIDL.

Joshua's Year 8 School Options

School has certainly changed since I was Joshua's age as we never got to make options in Year8. However Year 8 students nowadays get the opportunity to make choices from elements of the curriculum they will study in Year 9.  Maths, English, Science, French/Spanish, History, Geography, ERP, Citizenship and Competitive Sport remain compulsory and students are required to choose their other subjects as outlined below, but then they get to pick three subjects from a list of taster options which they study in Year 9. We sat down with Josh to go through all the choices with him and I have to say I am very pleased with his selection:

Computing and ICT

Students will be introduced to a variety of aspects of Computing and ICT including developing creativity, digital media, developing and applying analytic and computational thinking skills, understanding how technology affects safety, privacy and identity.  The year will be a combination of Computer Science and ICT to allow for informed option choices to be made for Year 10.  

Design & Technology

Students will get an introduction to product design through exploring a number of iterative design projects and industry manufacturing processes including sketching ideas, technical drawing, model making (prototyping), 2D & 3D digital design, 3D printing, and laser cutting. We will be working with, and learning about the properties of, a variety of materials including paper and boards, wood, plastics, metals, and smart materials. Some fundamental skills we will focus on throughout the course are creativity, problem solving and working to deadlines.

Business & Enterprise

Business and Enterprise Students will be introduced to the ‘world of business’ this will include an introduction to Marketing, Finance and Production. Students will develop a range of skills, useful for studying GCSE Business and the Enterprise Tech Award in Year 10 and 11. These skills will include: leadership, presentation and creativity. Students will have the opportunity develop their own business idea, and create a business plan, which they will pitch to an audience, ‘Dragons Den’ style.      

Nicky's 50th Birthday

Hard to believe it but on Sunday Nicky turned 50 (half a century) which makes me feel really old indeed - how the hell did we all get so old????. Fortunately with lockdown restrictions easing we at least managed to spend some time with Nicky in her garden to help celebrate this very special day. Her garden party was Hawaiian / flamingo themed and Shay had finished Nicky's garden Tikki bar off just in time, and I have t say it looks amazing.

The weather held off and the kids had a good 4 or 5 hours away from their PC's and PlayStations. Whilst we had to stagger our visits due to the Covid restrictions of 2 families and 6 people from 2 households, it was lovely to see everyone and at times almost felt like a family gathering of old. Really pleased that Nicky seemed to enjoy her special day as much as possible under the current restrictions.

Getting old and needing a zimmer frame!

Holly trying out a pineapple glass with a bamboo straw.

Holly and Auntie Nicky.

Me and the birthday girl.

We are "out, out"!

Auntie Nicky with Amy in her newly finished Tikki bar.

Brandon trying to hoop the flamingo on Holly's head.

Holly thoroughly enjoyed the day with some of the family.

Trust Holly to be playing with the balloons.

Opening those all important 50th birthday presents.

Doesn't Brandon look cute?

Holly enjoying some garden games.

Happy birthday big Sis. May you have many more to come.

Joshua's "Cool" New Face After a Bike Accident

Much to my dissatisfaction Joshua refuses to wear a cycle helmet on his bike whenever he is not out cycling with me. I have told him time and time again how I feel about this and showed him some very horrific pictures of head injuries which could have been prevented had the rider of been wearing a helmet. But apparently it is not "cool" to wear a helmet and he has peer pressure from older kids in school that apparently take the mickey.

Well  yesterday Joshua slid off his bike whilst giving his mate a "backie" to school and ended up breaking his fall with his face. It may sound cruel, but I previously told him that if he has a bike accident and isn't wearing a helmet - don't call me to come and help him. If your wearing a helmet then I'll be the first one there to help out. So I stuck to my word and made him walk his bike all the way home with his injuries, and to make matters worse there was a couple of downpours of rain! Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. The numbskull still hasn't learnt his lesson though and still rode to school today without a helmet!!!!!

Joshua's new "cool" look after modifying his face with a bike accident.

Numbers Day & Remote Learning Award

A few little updates from school. Firstly last Friday Holly had a numbers day where they could dress down and wear something related to numeracy. So Tina used an iron on transfer and made her a nice pink top with a Holly calculate printed on it.

Secondly, Brandon received a certificate for excellent Remote Learning during lockdown in his Science class. He obviously wasn't very impressed as he left the certificate buried in his school bag until we decided to clean it out and subsequently find it!!

Holly all excited and looking good for numbers day at school.

The hidden certificate for Brandon's remote learning!

 

Joshua's Fishing Update + Nationals Athletics

So Joshua's recent grounding has ended an he couldn't wait to get back out fishing with his mates. This was hi first chance to try out his new rod and more importantly his first batch of homemade boilies. All in all, Josh and his mates were over the lake for about 10-11 hours and caught some good size fish in the end. He seems to be getting a bit of a dab hand at this fishing lark and is really enjoying it, so much so that he keeps coming down and asking if he can sell his Segway and his PlayStation to buy more fishing stuff!!!!!

Despite Joshua's recent grounding as a result of being on report at school - he has actually had some good news from school last week. He always does well in P.E and it turns out he is pretty handy at the throwing events which they have been practicing for the summer season. Last week his P.E teacher said they haven't seen anyone throw as far as him in year 7, 8 or 9 and want to push him on to compete in the Nationals!!!

This is one of Joshua's biggest fish so far which was apparently a 12lb'er.

That fish doesn't look too shabby either.

Getting use of his fishing tent that Auntie Nicky got him.

Love this picture and what an unusual snout on that fish.

Another lovely golden carp. I really need to get Josh a dedicated fishing coat though as he comes home with his main jacket absolutely stinking of fish!!

Bank Holiday Monday

Not huge amounts to report from the first May bank holiday of 2021 as we are still under Lockdown and the weather this year has been pretty cold and grey compared with last year. I managed to purchase a bargain adult size SUP from LIDL for me and Holly to be able to go out with the boys and was really hoping to try it out this weekend, but it was just too cold and wet.

Another new purchase is that we just upgraded Holly's bedroom TV to a pink Smart TV. She was the only one without a Smart TV and given that most of the stuff she watches is on YouTube or Netflix, we decided to treat her to a new one. She had watched all her DVD's on her old TV so many times that she knows them inside out and is bored of them. Just lately she is absolutely obsessed with watched Friends and Great British Menu!

We did manage to squeeze in our first BBQ of 2021 which again is pretty unbelievable given that it is May. By now we have usually had a good half a dozen BBQ's or more.

We did manage to get out today for a cycle over Hadleigh Olympic Park whilst Tina went off and did a few more miles for her 100 mile charity walk this month. The main Olympic track was closed due to essential maintenance which was a shame. Holly did very well as this was her first time at Hadleigh without either having stabilizers or the balance buddy on her bike.

The new SUP we purchased last week. Just need some good weather now to go and try it out.

Holly was really happy to have a new Smart TV in her bedroom.

First BBQ of 2021.

No stabilizers or balance buddy.

Holly was fine on the trickiest BMX stunt track.

Riding the banked corners no problem.