Ollie gets ready for Christmas

England vs France at Wembley

17th November George, Ollie and I went to Wembley to see England vs France in a football friendly. I had just flown in from Germany, and met them in West Hampstead early evening. We set off to Wembley. All the pictures are taken with my (new) trusty blackberry.

We arrived very early and found our seats. The stadium is huge - really impressive. We were sitting up high. I had a brief bout of vertigo we were perched so high up!

Here is the stadium, and the lit arch from outside.

And here is the view from our seats, about 40 minutes before kick off.

The flags of the two nations were paraded around the pitch.

And the crowd at one end of the ground made the George Cross.

George and Ollie were having a great time.

Then the football started. What a let down. England lost 2-0 and it was very boring. Almost as boring as the hour (at least) wait to get on a tube to begin the journey home. 

In short, amazing stadium, terrible team. 

Grandpa and Grandsons

Found this pic of Dad with boys on the steps of Douglas Rd, Chappaqua. It is a good pic.

Ollie's Manor Adventure

Ollie was away last week, at his school's Manor Adventure. He had a great time. I am now waiting for him to write a post about his week, as he has said he would. But I fear he won't. So in the meantime, here is a card that he sent us.

Ollie Jumps

On the bounce-alene (as Ollie used to call it), earlier in the summer when the sky was blue!

ps I like the X-large photo size. Up until now, I had been using medium.

Ollie Bowling (cricket!)

He is a few seconds of Ollie bowling at the Leverstock Junior 'Ashes' a few weeks ago. I am rather pleased Ollie is into cricket, and what's more is that his bowling action has some potential.

Ollie's Contrasting Weekend

On Saturday morning Ollie had his first football practice of the session which meant he could wear his new Nike boots, see here. And on Saturday afternoon he went and bought an iPOD Touch, 32g, with his own saved up money. Very exciting. He also needs a new tennis racquet - his coach says his current one is too small for him - so we bought him a new tennis racquet as well. Also very exciting. We also went to Tesco's and Ollie, for a little treat, chose some chocolate custard. Again very exciting. What a top day for Ollie.

It is funny how things turn, because today, Sunday, has been a little different for Ollie.

I took all boys for a sail today. They haven't done it this year, apart from with Rupert in The Solent which is not quite the same as dingy sailing, and I think it is important for them to keep their hand in. George was fine and enjoyed himself. The Wooz thoroughly enjoyed his crewing and didn't want to get out after a couple of minutes, but Ollie, a little nervous to be back in a dingy, managed to capsize! He wasn't happy. He got a soaking and didn't want to continue sailing solo so joined The Wooz and I, shivering and unhappy.

To make the contrast between Ollie's Saturday and Sunday even more dramatic, we returned home to have have salmon wrapped in prosciutto with herby lentils and spinach in yoghurt. Ollie was VERY unhappy at that.

At least he got to listen to the community shield on Sunday afternoon, play some tennis, watch Sherlock Holmes and eat pasta for the rest of the day.

Ollie's New Boots

They are Nike T90 Laser IIIs. Needn't say any more. 

Boys get prizes

It was George's year's annual prizegiving last night. He won a prize for science, for his form and played in the band at the start of the evening. Unfortunately, I missed it as I was getting ready for a big pitch. One effect of missing the event was that I wasn't able to take a picture of George getting his prize on stage. So instead I have loaded a picture of George in York with at least three, if not four, beanie hats on. The number continued to rise in the thirty minutes after this photography was taken.

I did, however have my camera for Ollie's annaul St. Albans City football club awards a few weeks earlier. Here he is, with his team, receiving their awards. For easier identification purposes, Ollie is the one in the middle wearing a black tie and holding a yellow pendant.

Boyz Birthdays

It's that time of year. Birthdays for boyz. They fall within 2 months of each other, and Christmas. 

First was Ollie. He was ten on 20th December. He is blowing candles out using some kind of swing-wing technique borrowed from dart shaped planes.

Then George, a teenager on 21st January. He is using the deep breath technique with bent arm to create a stout and straight back for better blowing efficiency.

And on 12th February, The Wooz was seven. And he is gazing adoringly at the segment of cheesecake that has no jam on and is earmarked for him!

Tomatoes, Football Awards And WWII Day

Jill's tomato plant bore its first fruit:

Ollie, forth from right, was with his team, St. Albans City Youth FC (East) to collect their end of season awards at the St. Alban arena:

And Ollie had World War II dress up day at school:

I didn't include his gas mask box. The kids all had to line up as they would have done in WWII, in separate sex queues with the gas masks. Like my Dad had to. 

Last Weekend

Was a good one. Everybody got to so something for them. On Saturday, Ollie's football team was in a 6-a-six competition. Here he is with Guiseppe: 

His team made the semi-finals and Ollie played very well throughout. He passes very well. He also scored a couple of goals. One was from a free-kick. This is him, just after he struck the ball, 'majestically' he tells me. 

It was very hot. Hot enough to have a REAL barbeque in the evening. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture. 

Sunday morning was time for Charlie to practice his cycling. We have a vested interesting in him being able to cycle properly; namely so that we can go for a family cycle ride. We went to to Clarence Park to practice. Charlie was fantastic. Best ever. He was almost cycling around the park after a couple of goes. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of that either. 

In the afternoon, we went sailing at Stanborough Lakes.  It was warm and gusty.  George took the tiller. This time I did have my camera but we capsized before I took again pictures. Luckily, I managed to cling onto the boat whilst George got wet. I was able to hand over all valuable items - camera, expensive sunglasses - to the instructors in the power boat before I also got wet. I did take a picture of the lake after we have got onto dry land: 

And for the evening, it was 10cc (for Jill and I anyway). Excellent 1970s art rock/pop band. Only Graham Gouldman remains of the famous four, though there are a couple of musicians who were with the band from the start so it isn't a bogus set up. And the gig certainly wasn't. First an acoustic set of well know songs Gouldman had written prior to 10cc then a full on, really tight and rocking set of all of 10cc's hits. It was very good. And in St. Albans as well. Andy came with us, though Fiona didn't due to their long long drive back from Swanage. 

BBQ English Style

As George has been away in New York and Florida, Jill decided that the remaining boys needed some excitement of their own. Wednesday was BBQ English Style and a chance to sleep out in the chalet at the end of the garden. Ollie played chef.

And Charlie was his assistant:

Ollie's Birthday Sleepover

This weekend was Ollie's birthday sleepover. Yes, it was a little late in the day, but that is one of the drawbacks of having a birthday five days before Christmas Day, sorry Ollie! His guests were Adam, Daniel, Doran, and Eddie. They were quite a little gang. I haven't got any decent pix of the crowd but they did a replay of what Ollie did on his real birthday, namely to go bowling, eat and have cake, like this. They also played some fusball, made slushpuppies using the snow and fruit juice and watched a Simpson's film. They also woke Jill up at 3 am. She went into Ollie's room and found them playing game boy on the top bunk. Hmmmm. 

Kir and Ian and Poaching

We had a lovely lunch with Kir and Ian on Saturday. A super little Georgian fish restaurant in Highgate. When Ollie saw 'Poached Salmon' on the menu however, he was a little worried. "Isn't poaching illegal?" he asked.

Ollie's Birthday

We went bowling for Ollie's birthday.

We came home and had Ollie's choice of dinner: roast chicken and roast potatoes followed by ice cream sundae. Then Ollie blew out the candles on his cake but we didn't eat any because we were too full.

Fleetville Fireworks

Last night was fireworks at Ollie's school. The fireworks were good and the crowds big.

Halloween

Without much exaggeration I can say that Halloween in the UK is pathetic compared to the last five years in the States. I have such wonderful memories of big groups of parents and children walking around Oak Hill, or Spring or Begg for a couple of hours, welcoming anyone who wanted to join and all the children in some fancy dress. Everyone made an effort, always, and especially Jill, who never resorted to buying a costume for the boys. She may have borrowed a lion outfit once, but other than that she generally cobbled together stuff and made the most wonderful outfits; my favourite is still The Cat in the Hat. Anyway, in honor of five great US Halloweens, here are some snaps from 2003 to 2007:

Evening Reading

Soccer

George played his first game for London Road. He came on as sub and played in the midfield. His team won.

Ollie's team also won, 5-3, to beat the team that is purportedly top of the league.