Holly's 10th Birthday

As if I wasn't already feeling old - well as of yesterday I now have three children in double digit ages as Holly was 10. She has been so excited leading up to this birthday and giving us and the family regular countdowns. She had he alarm set for 7am to play "It's Your Birthday" by Will.I.Am which has become the staple birthday song on our house.

Anyway she had a bit of a wait in the morning before tucking in to her presents as we made her have breakfast first and whilst she did that I had my morning dunk in the cold plunge. Once she was ready for school and we knew everything was done, then it was time to tuck in to her presents. 

Holly is at that funny age bridging the gap between a child/toddler and a teenage and on her birthday list was lots of toys. Over the last year we have noticed a drastic drop off in the amount of toys she plays in place of IPad's, TV's, phones etc. So whilst it might be a waste of money I kind of wanted to go ahead with the toys this year as I fear I am on borrowed time and her presents list is about to become very boring like the boys ones. I suspect next year Holly will just want clothes, money, make-up and electronic devices! So the end of the toy era is almost upon us.

We didn't have anything special planned for Holly's birthday as Tina was working latest, Brandon had football and Joshua had rugby. So as normal it was a usual manic Tuesday night in our house. However to make up for it she has a party in Flip Out in Lakeside this Sunday with a few of her school mates and some of the girls from her football team. After that we are going to head over to the Winter Wonderland for some rides and something to eat. So something for her to look forward too this weekend.

Presents all wrapped and balloons blown up the night before Holly's 10th birthday.

At first she was disappointed as she couldn't see any decorations put up for her special day.

But she was very pleased when she saw what we had done in the living room.

With breakfast out the way and everything ready for school it was time to tuck in to some presents.

She got an L.O.L doll set.

Which she was very happy with.

She got a couple of bits from the Schleich horse range toys including this car and horse trailer as well as a rather large house with stables.

I might live to regret this one, but yes we got her a new make-up set!

Nice to see her getting excited over toys, but is this the final year???

Holly with her birthday sash, tiara and badges on.

This little present was amazing and Holly loves it. Basically it is a special pen and drawing/painting software for her Nintendo Switch.

Of course she had to have something Stitch to go with her new Stitch bedroom. So we got her a mini figure set.

Holly wearing her new Stitch PJ's from Michael and Lea and getting ready for a slice of chocolate birthday cake.

Bonoween 2023

Better late than never. Two weeks ago we had our annual family Bonoween event and I have only just got around to sorting the pictures out and updating the blog. It was a nice surprise that Amy could attend as she was provisionally planning to go to Poland. So she turns up out of the blue and wins the costume award with a very impressive Penny Wise look.

Unfortunately I didn't seem to have much time to prepare this year and the date crept up on me so quick that I was probably the least prepared ever. So much so that for the first time ever, I didn't actually carve my own pumpkin. Despite buying three pumpkins only Holly and Brandon managed to get one carved this year.

Tina made some awesome cheesecakes and lemon cakes winning the recipe for the day. But as usual Nicky's hot dog mummies went down very well and Lisa made some delicious pumpkin cream scones.

Holly using her new dressing table getting ready for Bonoween.

Holly all dressed up as Wednesday again.

Spider head Lisa.

Amy clearly won the costume award as Penny Wise.

David trying to beat me at Tapper - good luck with that!

The master in action.

Matt and Amber.

Some of the great pumpkin carvings this year.

Holly's pumpkin to the left and Brandon's in the middle. My uncut one to the right.

No fireworks this year, but a great picture of Matt with his fireballs under the moon light.

No fireworks but we did have some sparklers.

Sparkler fun in the front garden.

Even Rory was brave enough to have a sparkler this year.

Matt with two sparklers making circles.

Matt and Amber on the sparklers.

David have some fun with the sparklers.

Lisa making circles with a sparkler.

One of Tina's delicious cheese cakes.

And this chocolate tart was a crowd pleaser.

Tina even made a cheese free lemon cheesecake which David took home for himself.

Bonoween isn't Bonoween without Nicky's Mummy hot dog fingers.

10 out of 10 for presentation with Lisa's scones.

Brandon was looking forward to tucking in to some ciders and having a drink with Amy.

Lisa and David at Bonoween 2023.

Rory wearing Nicky's costume mask.

Shame Amy couldn't go on holiday, but nice to have her over for Bonoween.

Lack of prep, no pumpkin carved and resurrecting a mixture of old costumes.

Disney Villains Michael.

Annual family picture at Bonoween. Inside instead of outside for this year.

Brands Hatch Truck Racing & Fireworks

For Bonfire night 2023 we booked something a little different. The final race event of the year at Brands Hatch is the truck racing and as this always falls around Bonfire night they finish the day off with a firework display. From previous years pictures it has always looked like an amazing day and something I have had on my radar for a few years. We were dead lucky with the weather because despite it being cold, we had no rain which is a miracle given the torrential downpours and flood warnings which had been in place all week long.

Luckily Brandon and Holly had no football, but unfortunately Josh had to miss a rugby match as we left home around 10am to get to Brands Hatch for 11. There was a whole day of racing planned including Legends, junior saloons, pick-ups, trucks plus they had drift car displays and so on.

The racing was amazing and we got to see plenty of action and crashes (thankfully no one seriously hurt though). The pick-up trucks were pretty amazing, but the big trucks won for shear noise factor and the lovely smell of burnt fuel! The final truck race of the day was unfortunately abandoned 1 lap in as two trucks crashed on the hairpin and the damage to the barriers would have taken longer than what they had day light left. So the racing was over and it was on to the build up for the fireworks.

They started with a drift car demonstration and then as the sun went down, over 100 trucks with lights and musical horns adorned the whole circumference of the race track making the most amazing spectacle. The truckers looked like they were having a blast trying to out do each other with noise and musical horns etc.

At around 5:30 in the evening the firework display started at the back of the track with the trucks still decorating the track in festive fashion. The firework display was absolutely incredible and I would actually go as far as to say the best I have ever seen. The pictures just don't do any justice to the event which was a complete sell out.

One of the drift cars which would demo on the track towards the end of the day.

I love Brands Hatch and the freedom you have to walk around pretty much  the whole track to take in different perspectives.

The pick-up truck racing was amazing and probably the fastest cars on the track today.

At one point we ventured in to the middle of the track to watch them cornering around the hairpin.

The black and green one was the truck I bet on - didn't do well finishing about 8th.

The bigger trucks were impressive quick despite looking so imbalanced and unstable.

But the noise and smell from the trucks was heaven for a petrol head like me.

This monster 16 wheel recovery vehicle was called in to play a few times during the day.

Sod racing trucks around a hairpin bend.

One of the pick-ups being worked on in the pit area.

There was loads of vans and trucks on display including this award winning Mark I Transit.

And how impressive is this James Bond mural on one of the display trucks.

The other side was equally as impressive.

There was a fairground there to keep Holly from getting bored with just watching the racing.

Out of all the trucks there - this military looking beast was my personal favourite.

Another of the pick-ups in the pit area with substantial fiber glass damage to the front.

Not even Holly smiling for pictures anymore.

As the sun started to set probably one of the clearest rainbows I have ever seen graces the skyline.

Then the real spectacle started as the lit up trucks filled the track ahead of the firework display.

Records were broken as over 100 rigs filled the track lighting it up very festively.

The noise of their horns and the light show was mesmerizing at times.

As far as you can see down the home straight was completely filled with trucks.

And once all in place it was time for the fireworks to start.

Pictures really don't capture how amazing the firework display was.

The display must have gone on for a good 20+ minutes continuously and was well worth the money.

Some of the big rockets were like missiles and physically shook the ground under your feet with the sonic boom.

Just amazing watching the fireworks of the track lit up by 100's of trucks.

Kids not interested in pictures (for their blog) - so me and the Tina trying to keep warm during the display. Amazing day out and would highly recommend.