School Awards + Covid Update + Grealish Hair

Joshua has finally out of isolation having been diagnosed with Covid-19 and thus he finally went back to school last Thursday. The school have recently issued some awards during the morning assembly and it was good to see both Josh and B picking up a certificate. Brandon won a subject award in Chemistry and Joshua was awarded a certificate for his Year 8 discuss.

Anyway no sooner was Joshua back at school and now Tina has been diagnosed with Covid-19 so we are all still isolating and pretty limited on where we can go and who we can see. So not much to update on the blog lately.

Brandon has still been going to football and seems to have really found his passion for it again now. He has stamped his mark on the right back position on our team and is playing really well cementing his position in the starting line-up and playing nearly all the games without being subbed. Perhaps it was the world cup and Jack Grealish which has inspired him as he now wears a headband at football to hold his hair back (just like Jack!).

Brandon's Year 7 award in Chemistry.

Joshua's Year 8 award for his discuss at the Nationals.

Brandon's new Grealish look for football training and matches.

Action shot of Brandon in today's league match - he has really found his passion for football again and is really enjoying playing and training.

Joshua Test's Positive for Covid-19

After swabbing his tonsil's and nostril's, Joshua had a positive lateral flow test for Covid-19 on Monday.

Well Joshua was back in school for all of one week and is now isolating at home for 10 days. The kid he sits next to at school tested positive for Covid-19 last Friday and kindly decided to pass it on to Josh. He has done two lateral flow tests which were both positive and had this verified via a PCR test yesterday. As a consequence of his positive test the rest of us were pinged yesterday to say that we also had to go and get a PCR test. So this was done at 7pm last night and we are all anxiously waiting the results hoping they come back negative.

We haven't done badly really when you consider Covid all started around February 2020 and our household has managed to avoid catching it until September 2021. Fingers crossed Joshua will now keep it to himself and not decided to share it around the household!!!!

First Day Back at School

It is sods law isn't it that the week the kids we have a heat wave with a 30 degree heat wave. Holly went back to school in her Lilac class last Thursday. Joshua and Brandon both started this Monday. So far they all seem to have settled back in to the routine ok, but we are only just over half way through the week and the signs of tiredness are starting to show. Early mornings, long days and walks to and from school in this heat have certainly taken a toll on all three of them.

The school uniform bill wasn't too bad this summer as the boys both had growth spurts last year and had new shirts, trousers etc. So for the boys we got away with 1 PE kit, 2 new pairs of shoes and a blazer. Holly needed some cardigans and a few other bits and bobs, so all in all not too bad this year. Josh has now decided he wants to go back to the pre-school rugby club though so I will have another £50 coming for some new rugby boots to fit his size 11-12 feet!!!!!

I have never known anyone be so excited to go back to school as Holly was last Thursday.

Then on Monday all 3 went back to school (Yes Joshua is smiling in that picture). Holly had to wear her PE kit to school on Monday hence the blue top.

West Ham Vs Crystal Palace

Well in my lifetime I cannot recall a time when West Ham were top of the Premiership, but after 3 games in 2021/22 season, guess what?, yes West Ham are top. Joshua and Brandon both really follow the football now and were nagging me all holiday to try and get tickets to the home game against Crystal Palace.

So as it is the school holidays and we have never been to watch West Ham at the Olympic Stadium, I decided, what the hell, lets do it. Although our tickets were quite high up in the stadium, we actually had an amazing view and really enjoyed the game. At times Brandon found watching the conflicts between the West Ham fans and the visiting Palace fans more entertaining than the game! There were 2 little incidents which resulted in 2 Palace fans being escorted from the stadium.

The game was really good and West Ham should have won having dominated the play. However it ended a 2-2 draw meaning that West Ham lose their top spot in the Premier League. The draw means they are still undefeated though and still sitting very high in the league table at the moment. It was a really good boys day out and we enjoyed a nice Krispy Creme donut, a burger during the match and treated ourselves to some West Ham merch in the shop.

It was also nice to see a full stadium back after fans being banished from games for so long due to Covid. Shame it is so bloody expensive to take the boys as I would love to do this more often.

Well that is something I can not recall ever seeing - West Ham at the top of the Prem.

They were excited to go and see their first game at the Olympic Park (even if their faces don't show it).

Loads of chanting as we approach the stadium.

Our seats were quite high up but we actually had a really good view of the whole pitch.

Still can't get a smile out of them even though I bought them West Ham shirts and scarves!

The build up to the game that ended 2-2.

Holly's Bigger Bike

Over a year ago Chris and Steve brought down Leyla's old bike for Holly as she has really outgrown her little 14" wheel pink bike. I tried to get Holly to ride it last year but she just wouldn't have any of it and wanted to stay on her little bike.

It was blatantly obvious this year that she was so ready for this bike as her knees were up at her ears on the smaller bike. So after a little persuasion I finally convinced her to try it again and hey presto, she likes it. She is so much quicker on this bike and also it is her first bike with gears so now she will be able to manage the hills that much better as well.

It has only taken a year but Holly is finally riding her larger bike from Leyla.

There is no getting her off it now and she has me taking her out for a ride every day.

Next is to take her over to Hadleigh and see how she gets on at the mountain bike track.