We were watching the tribute to Michael Jackson last night and Stevie Wonder came on and started playing the piano. Sam went and got his and decided to join him.

Below is a photo of Stevie and Samuel live at the Michael Jackson memorial concert!

Sports day at playgroup - Batman runs his first race

Today was Sam's first sports day at playgroup. The theme was super heros and it mainly involved running round the walled garden outside playgroup and good old fashioned egg and spoon race. Our little fella went as Batman and loved the running races. It finished off with a picnic lunch with all his mates from playgroup.

We then walked to pick Daisy up from school as I had some stuff to do for the school fair and we got caught in a thunder storm and got totally soaked.

Now relaxing at home on the sofa with hot chocolate watching Dora and waiting for Daddy to come home.


Batman waiting for his race


In the line up

Boy he goes fast (he had lost the cape at this stage)

The mum's race

Some parachute fun

Sammy getting his medal

The committee refugees Oscar, Alice and Sam

The lovely things the little people say...

Tim surprised Cala and I by coming to watch us do our run yesterday with the little people and Nanny Maureen, they managed to find us in a crowd of a good few thousand. Sammy boy said to me just before the race:

"Mummy you run, I give you cuddle, urrrrrh, now you run me on your shoulders"

Daisy was off school today because of her chicken pox and we were in the car going to a wholesalers to buy stuff for the school summer fair and she said:

"I am going to be an organiser when I am older so that I can spend everyday with my mummy and then I can still live with my mummy and daddy, daddy doesnt want me to get married and live in another house"

Race for Life

Today Cala and I were meant to do a 10k race but as it was Kelly's hen night last night we stuck to the 5k one instead!! Despite no training, it being midday and very hot, Cala having drunk wine and vodka frm 7.30pm last night till 4am this morning and me being up most of the night with Daisy as she has chicken pox we completed the race in a respectable 35 minutes.


Cala and I before the race


With my fan club


Approaching the finishing line

We did it... with our medals

Our holiday cannot be over already!

Our last day on the Island started very overcast so the idea of spending the morning on the beach was scrapped and we headed off to the steam railway instead. Samuel was extrememly happy going on the steam train but after a couple of hours the rest of us had had enough and we made our way to East Cowes for lunch in the old Lifeboat station. After a delicious and relaxing lunch (Sam had fallen asleep) we drove to Fishbourne to get the ferry home.

We had a lovely holiday on a great little island with great weather. Roll on our next visit.


Shanklin beach




Sam very excited upon arriving at the Steam railway

Nanny and Daisy on board

Lunch at the old Lifeboat station in East Cowes

The Parker family on the ferry home


Approaching Portsmouth

Thursday 2nd July

This morning we went to Godshill to check out the model village and have a look around the village. It is made up of lotsof lovely cottages with thatched roofs so very English. The little people enjoyed the model village and Sam could have spent out watching the train go round!

After Godshill we headed to the beach for a picnic, sand castle building and some body surfing before going to collect Nanny Maureen in Ryde.

We then had dinner at the White Mouse in Chale before our last night at the disco.

Daisy and Daddy

Sam loving watching the train go round

Sammy looking for crabs on the beach

Our little surfer girl

Mummy showing them how it is done

Little people watching their mummy surf the waves!!!

Nanny Maureen and Sam at the show

Daisy loving sleeping in a bunk bed!

Wednesday 1st July

Today we went to Alam Bay where I have many memories of going on the chair life, spending the day on the beach and filling glass tubes with sand. Unfortunately now you are not allowed to take the sand from the cliffs and it is very much a tourist resort now rather than a beach.

We went on the chair lift which was a little scary as there are no safety harnesses, we then went out on a boat to see the Needles. It was then back up on the chair lift and into the sand hun to fill our glass containers! It has to be done. We then had a few goes on the rides, a visit to see how glass vases are made, a quick trip to the ice cream parlour before heading to the Whilte Mouse for a lazy lunch. It was then off to the beach late afternoon for some sand castle making and swimming in the sea.

After such a busy day it was a feast of pizza before crashing out with our books.

Daddy loving the tea cups

The chair lift, Sam on Daddy's lap in the chair in front of us

Daisy holding on tight

Sam with Daddy's glasses on on the boat ride

The Needles

Daisy and I on the beach

Filling our glass statues up with the different coloured sands

Daisy showing off her creation

Enjoying dessert at the White Mouse

Tuesday 30th July
The little people didn't wake up until 8.30am which is a lay in for us as they are usually up at 6.30am. We started the day with a leisurely breakfast before heading off for fun at Blackgang Chine, I remember going here as a child and loved it but going back as an adult it was like going to a old school theme park, funny mirrors, wonky house, nursey rhyme land, cowboy country and bug walk. Daisy and Sam loved it and even kept their spirits up walking round the park in the pouring rain (what happened to that heat wave we were meant to be having).

After Blackgang we went in search of The Cottages, a row of cottages near the cliff that I used to stay in when I came here for our family holidays over twenty five years ago. It belonged to a family friend called Dick Downs and it is still exactly the same as when we last came here!!!

As the rain was staying we headed back to where we are staying and went for a swim. We then went into Shanklin Old Village for dinner at The Crab before going to the disco in the park next door.

Morning and cheers


Blackgang Chine


Loving the funny mirrors

Dinosar climbing

Snack time

Cowboy country

Water ride in the rain (Daisy and I are far left)

The house where we used to holiday when I was a small child

The day finishes at the disco

(Bob, do you recognise the dress)