Lakeside Karting

We haven't been out and about too much this summer holidays because we are saving our money for the forthcoming Florida holiday in 1 weeks time. But we have been trying to go out somewhere as a family each Tuesday. This Tuesday the kids all wanted to go go-karting and as the weather was so nice we decided to book the outdoor track at Lakeside.

Holly is just old enough for the family fun session in the 200cc karts, but I just didn't fancy the risk on Tuesday with it being so close to our holiday. So she went on the smaller kids karts and the two boys both had 30 mins on the 200cc karts.

Brandon absolutely killed it completing 33 laps (2 more than anyone else on the track) and his fasted lap was over 2.5 seconds quicker than anyone else. It is a bit of a shame that karting is so expensive as Brandon has a real talent for driving and this could be something he really excels at.

Josh and Brandon all ready to go racing. Must be hot under them helmets in 3 degree heat.

All the karts lined up in the pits.

Taking the high speed, downhill chicane.

Foot flat to the floor coming down the start/finish straight.

Brandon was absolutely killing it and lapped everyone at least twice (and one of the lads competes in the Brentwood League and is in second place this season!).

More racing action hitting the apex.

Joshua heading down the main straight.

Holly just had the little track for today as I didn't want to risk her on the big karts just yet.

Despite being a little big for these, she still had fun and enjoyed herself.

Holly's Gadgeteers Reading Challenge

Over the summer holidays Tina has been taking Holly to the local library to complete a challenge of reading 6 books and then being able to describe what she had read. Last week Holly successfully completed the challenge and was awarded a medal for her learning. Really pleased and proud of our little princess for keeping up a level of learning during the holidays (which is more than I can say for the boys)!

Holly and Tina at the library studying some books.

Our little Princess completed the challenge and received her medal and certificate.

Holly's latest medal for completing the reading challenge.

That's 2 Beds Done - 1 To Go

I am slowly getting around to replacing everyone's beds. We did Joshua's earlier this year whilst he was in America and then last week it was the turn of Brandon. He desperately needed a new bed as his bed frame was falling to bits and his mattress was so uncomfortable he actually had two mattresses on top of each other.

Brandon's room wasn't quiet big enough for a double bed like Joshua, so Brandon opted for the single bed version of the same bed with built in LED lights and speakers. It is certainly a nice looking bed but I am regretting the speakers as he plays it so bloody loudly!!

Next on the list after holiday is to get Holly's bed replaced and then I am hopefully done for a few years.

Brandon's new LED speaker faux leather bed.

Summer Walks

With one of the driest summers on record we have been making the most of the summer evenings by getting out for frequent walks. Sometimes just around the neighborhood or our local park, sometime a little further afar.

Last week we took a really nice walk along the river Crouch over by Hullbridge and covered about 2 miles whilst also finding a new park for Holly to play in. It has been donkeys years since we last walked down Hullbridge and I don't remember ever seeing some of the amazing river side mansions which now adorn the skyline. 

We also took a nice walk along Southend Seafront last week which ended up turning out to be quite an expensive walk after paying for ice-creams and donuts, a round of crazy gold and then some arcades. But hey, its the summer holidays.

Managed to drag all 3 of them out for a walk along the seafront and a round of crazy golf.

Holly and a dinosaur (or is that Josh?).

Me and my girls taking a lovely evening walk along the river Crouch (scanning out new places to go paddle boarding).

Sassy little Holly.

Green Paddle Boarding

Last Saturday Joshua was off on a 48 hour fishing trip at Chigborough and Tina was sleeping through the day as she was on nights. So Holly and Brandon nagged me to take them out paddle boarding and we had an absolutely lovely day. Initially I wasn't too keen on going as I had a lot to get done and the paddle boarding can be quiet hard work with just me and the kids. But Brandon and Holly were so well behaved and so helpful all day that it was an absolute pleasure and thoroughly enjoyable out on the river.

The Chelmer was actually surprisingly quiet despite the glorious weather, but what was more surprising was the amount of algae on the surface of the water. I have never seen anything like it. At times it was so thick it looked like the river had been filled in with astro turf and your could run across it. It actually made it very picturesque and made some interesting snail trails patterns as you paddle boarded through it.

Of course we stopped off at our usual Paper Mill Lock for a cake and a drink and unfortunately with no Tina there, I had no one to share the cream scone with and had to eat both halves all on my own. Brandon enjoyed a nice bit of chocolate cake and Holly had some double chocolate ice-cream to cool her down.

The algae started to build up on the river surface making some beautiful pictures.

Solar panel Brandon goes shirtless all day with no sun cream and didn't catch a bit of sun burn!!

As we went for a long paddle, Holly rode with me rather than take her own board.

Cutting through the algae as it starts to get thicker.

And in places looked like a green carpet or a field of astro turf.

As Brandon paddles through the algae he leaves an artistic trail behind him.

For most of the paddle board we had the whole river to ourselves.

Never seen the Chelmer looking like this before.

Gutted that I had to eat both halves of the cream scone. Such a hard life.

Mission accomplished, knackered Holly out so much she fell asleep at the table.