Joshua Passes His Driving Theory

Second time lucky and Joshua passes his Driving Theory Exam, this time with 45 out of 50 on the multiple choice and 49 out of 75 on the hazard perception. No it is the 20 week wait to try and get the actual driving test date given that the government has made no progress in clearing the backlog since Covid which is likely to take until summer 2026 now! Amazing that with some revision he can actually pass - if only he had done this first time around. Hopefully a lesson learnt for his forthcoming English re-sit!

Easter Weekend 2025

And just like that Easter weekend is virtually over and we are all preparing to go back to school/work/college. For us the weekend has been a lot of Easter baking and trying to get out and about as much as we can as cheaply as possible.

For the baking side of things Holly made some delicious cornflake chocolate cakes with Cadbury mini eggs on top. Then she helped me to make our annual half Easter egg cheese cakes deserts with strawberry and mango yoke (just amazing and worth every calorie). For our Sunday roast Tina made a traditional roast but with a rather nice joint of pork and crackling and some absolutely blinding seasoned roast tatties.

To get out and about we have been to Southend seafront for a walk along the coast and then a few arcades and of course chips. We have also been out for a few walks, me and H went swimming yesterday through the day and then today we went over to Hadleigh Olympic Park for a cycle around (and in Holly's case - yes more chips!).

Anyway here are a few pics from our Easter weekend.

She may have been having fun, but her driving needed a lot to be improved.

Joshua was helping her with the boost as she could only just reach the pedals and steering wheel.

Gone are the days of killing time on 2p machines. They all wanted to play arcades this time which gets very expensive, very quickly.

Even Brandon came out with us, but with his "current" girlfriends Maia.

Holly's chocolate cornflake Easter cakes which she made all on her own.

Then she helped me with the Easter egg cheesecake deserts. Not easy to split modern day Easter eggs without cracking them! Starting off with the biscuit base.

Holly whipped up the double cream whilst I mixed the icing sugar, vanilla extract and cream cheese.

Next job to fill the eggs.

Then finally in goes the strawberry and mango yoke.

It may look a bit messy, but my god this was worth every single calorie Just delicious.

Of course Easter wouldn't be Easter without an egg hunt. We had twenty little chocolate eggs plus some larger bunnies and ended up doing one hunt in the garden and then a second in the house as the kids said the garden was too easy!

To get out today we headed to Hadleigh Olympic Park for some cycling (trying our best to avoid the rain showers!).

Despite being much more confident cycling, Holly seems to have lost her nerve and primarily stuck to the one track.

But she had fun and got some exercise. Shame we couldn't talk the boys in to going, therefore I was cycling around with her.

End of Joshua's Rugby Season Concussion

Our weekends are now completely ours to do as we want. Not only is there no more football for Brandon or Holly, but Joshua had he last rugby game of the 2024/25 season against Harlow today. The game wasn't great as Billericay ended up losing 3 tri's to 1 and in the process Joshua got dumped on his head in the first half failing the concussion test and ending up sitting out the rest of the game!!! 

End of 2024/25 season team photo.

Easter Paddle Boarding

Friday was absolutely stunning weather with temperatures hitting 22-23 degrees and thus I decided to take a day off of work to make a long weekend for my birthday and to take the kids to Papermill Lock for our first SUP of 2025. Unfortunately we couldn't talk Joshua in to coming so it was just me, Tina, Holly and B. Tina walked along the bank as usual and me, Holly and B all took to the water.

For the first time Holly went all the way from Boreham to Papermill Lock and back without any help and on an adult size paddle board. She did manage to fall in the water 3 times but that is all part of the fun. Obviously we stopped off at the Tea Room for a strawberry cream scone and a coffee.

But what a glorious day out on the river and hardly any other paddle boarders or boats out as you can see from the pictures.

Off we go, me, Holly and B all on adult size paddle boards.

Holly went steaming off in to the distance on the way out.

Nice 22-23 degree weather meant shirt off time.

Brandon very chilled and relaxed on the water, just soaking in the tranquility.

Absolutely effortless on the SUB with pretty much zero wind and zero current.

Beautiful blue skies.

The 3 Amigos.

Off we go after stopping off for cream scones to fill our bellies.

Holly soaking up some rays and getting her Vitamin D in.

I love days out like this.

As you can see not many people out on the river at all.

Love this picture.

Brandon was commenting how beautiful the British landscape is and enjoying the yellow farm fields etc.

Joshua should have come with us, I am sure he would have enjoyed getting out for a bit.

We haven't done much this Easter holiday so I was really pleased we got the chance to get out on the SUP's.

Mothers Day 2025

Better late than never. Really struggling as of late to keep on top of the blog. Anyway not many pictures from Mothers Day a few weeks ago, however we did go out for a nice family roast at the Toby Carvery to save Tina having to cook. Me, Josh and Tina made the mistake of going large and came out of there completely bloated, but no regrets as it was such a good roast. Unfortunately Brandon was a little off and not his usual self due to girlie problems again....... when will that boy learn!

Mothers Day Sunday roast at the Toby Carvery. Joshua hiding from the camera and Brandon not smiling due to having girlie issues causing him personal problems!

Holly's School Cushion Project

Holly has recently designed and sewn her own "H" cushion at school as part of her Year 6 DT project. She is extremely proud of the new sewing skills she has learnt and conveniently keeps getting little holes in it so that she can bring it home and repair it!!!! Her class are also rumoured to be planning a end of year pillow fight to celebrate finishing Juniors (I sense this might also finish off a few cushions!). I don't think Holly wants to ruin her pillow so I might have to buy her a cheap one for the pillow fight.

Holly is extremely proud of her DT project pillow.