Hills, wind, sun, ice-cream, sheep racing, pub, dog dancing, smashing china...

is life in Firle, East Sussex on Bank Holiday Monday!

We were woken with a telephone call this morning from Nanny Maureen inviting us down for breakfast at the Metropole Hotel, so the Parkers were like superheros getting in their clothes ready for our pre-walk feast.

Daisy and Samuel loved the delights on offer, eggs, bacon, sausages and chocolate muffins all on the same plate, they were in food heaven. After our feast we nipped home to prepare our picnic for our walking adventure with Aunty Jo and Uncle Murphy.

Daddy had picked a South Downs Walk starting in the beautiful village of Firle. We met in the car park and Murphy and I had taken the advantage of good weather and worn our flipflops (not the best shoes we later learnt for encountering very steep hills with lots of rabbit pooh). We headed off through the village where lots of homemade delights were on offer (Jam, garden grown veg, etc) with honest boxes. As we made our way up the first steep incline we came across some plum bushes and decided to help ourselves as our snack. Lots of cars passed us on the way up and now we know why as it was a very steep incline to the top of the hill and the start of the South Downs Way. We were all relived to make it to the top, had a breather and then started our walk along the top with beautiful views of the channel on one side and the downs and Sussex villages on the other side. It was now gone 12.30pm so it was time for lunch, we saw what looked like an old pill box (but wasnt) and decided this would be a good place for lunch (as if any dogs walked past they wouldnt scare the little people or eat our lunch) but as soon as we had unpacked our picnic someone had turned the wind up and I am not joking, even my cup of tea blew over, so we all took shelter to one side.

After lunch it was time for the great decent, see pics below and all I can say it was very very steep but we got down and back to the village of Firle. After a refreshing drink in the village pub we went to the Firle Country Fair where Sam and Daisy tried their hand at china smashing! and Aunty Jo won the first sheep race.

Our little lady and little fella

The little people are growing up so fast at the moment -

Daisy has cut her own hair again, although this time I think she has just a good as job as a hairdresser would have done. I was looking at her yesterday thinking her hair looked nice and suddenly realised the fringe had been feathered cut, when I asked her I got the following reply in a teenage tone: "Yes mummmm, I did it last week" that told me.

We have had a few issues where Daisy keeps saying that all we care about is Sam and never give her any attention which we do not think is true but we have taken on board what she has said and we are making an effort to have more quality time with her starting with Daisy and I are going to have a girly day on Friday to get her new school shoes and coat and have lunch together.
She has been going to swimming every morning this week for 30min lesson and she is doing great, she can now swim back stroke, front crawl and breast stroke - her coach Steve is brillant and has taught her so much in the past few months.

Daisy is really into her drawing just like her Grandad David and I keep finding pictures everywhere, she did the most amazing card for Tim's birthday.

She loves to get up early just like her Daddy.


Samuel - well our energetic boy is still loving trains, he has calmed down alot and is listening alot more which is making life easier, also he is not getting so angry these days.

We had a dinner party for Daddy's birthday tonight and he was such a gentlemen, showing guests where to put their shoes, filling up the snacks when empty (this amazed me as I didnt ask him to do this) and trying to refill drinks (which was helpful if not a little messy).

He really is a lot of fun and loves cuddles and snuggles (as he calls it), he also loves to get up late in the mornings - so like his mum.

He is quite lazy and still likes me to dress him but we are working on it and he is starting to dress himself. He is 4 in five weeks and is so excited about his party, he really does love having people around him and celebrating.


They are both lovely children and we are very lucky to have them. Over the holidays there have been days when they have driven me up the wall but overall I have really enjoyed spending time with them and will actually miss their company when they go back to school/playgroup in just under two weeks.

Happy Birthday Daddy / Timmy boy

Today is Daddy's birthday and also his twin sister Susie. We had all the Parker family over for a celebratory dinner.

(Unfortunately my camera battery was still flat (now charging) so I had to steal a few pics from Grandad Frank).

Zippo comes to town

Samuel has gone past the Zippo Circus tent everyday and has been desperate to go. So tonight we went (Daisy was not allowed to come due to not very good behavior recently). We arrived and the audience was quite empty, the lights went down and Sam was memorised by it from start to finish - it was a little eighties but Sam loved the whole thing although the whole time he kept making comments like - "mum, they shouldnt put rope round their neck that is dangrous", "mum, look they are standing on tables, that's naughty" - "Look mum he is climbing a rope and nobody is holding on to him"

Sam also tried candy floss for the first time and I am ot sure whether he liked it or not, as first I think yes but then found it too sticky. Mind you the stick of it was nearly as big as him.

They finished the circus off with the song "We will we will rock you" well Sam nearly fell of his chair in excitement and now keeps walking around singing the song.

Unfortunately didnt get any pics as the battery had run out on the camera.

Sunday - day of rest...

Not in the Parker household! Daddy left early to go to Milton Keynes to do his snowboarding course (part of his bday present). As the weather was wet wet wet the little people and I headed over to Monkey Business so they could run off some energy. Daisy had a go on the climbing wall and loved it.

We then headed over to the aftermith of the Indian party at Jo and Murphy's and joined them for a lunch of Uncle Sam's, after hanging out there and leaving them with their hangovers getting worse we headed home to prepare a roast dinner for when Daddy came home.

An indian affair

Uncle Murphy and Aunty Jo threw an Indian party to celebrate Murphy's 50th birthday and also a good luck to Jay as he was off to Afgan again with the army and wont be back until next March.

They had decorated their function room beautifully and a local Indian restaurant delivered the main course which was delicious.

The Parker's went in full Indian dress (Daddy went as a doctor)!


































The ceiling!













Pre curry entertainment


































Jay and Kelly


































Sam giving Uncle Murphy directions on how to set the rockets up















Rather blurred pic of Cala and I

Carl and Jo

Rocket time

Daisy leading the dancing

National Trust members...ohhh look at us!

Despite the gloomy weather today, we headed off to Nymans Gardens in West Sussex today with the Price family. Thankfully we managed to dodge the rain as we had our picic under a rather large tree but we did not manage to dodge the bees who took rather a fancy to our cream teas.

Now I must be showing my age as I was very impressed with the gardens they were stunning and so well kept, it made me want to go home and get on with some gardening (shame it was raining). Now that the Parker's are National Trust memebers I am sure we will be going again soon to show Daddy.

The little people loved running around the place, unfortunately Daisy had been up since 4am (???) and unusally her behaviour was terrible so kinda spoilt the day a bit!

Chilled afternoon on the beach

This afteroon we headed down to the beach to meet our friends John and Sarah with their little people Maisy and Evie. Although the sun wasnt out it was lovely and warm and the sea was calm as a mill pond. We had a bbq and took the canoe out for a quick paddle.