See you soon Uncle Terry

Uncle Terry, Chairman of CMA East Mids left us today. I had so much more to learn from him, and we will all miss him. I really thought God was going to heal him, well, I guess he has. It was an honour to have known him, I just wish I could have known him for longer. 

I can't find a photo of him.. so this will represent him. He is probably riding round heaven on a nice old Bonneville right now..

You're in the Army now!!

Well, I survived. It was mainly Aspie Hell with lots of group discussions and individual presentations and meeting strangers and being asked questions on the spot, but I made it through the Familiarisation and Assessment weekend so that I can be a leader in the Army Cadet Force when we start a detachment at school.

There were some good bits.. mainly AFTER my presentation on the CMA and my interview with the Commandant. The admin in the field sessions were fun.. the ration packs are awesome.. about 4.5k calories! and some of the training officers are funny and friendly (and a couple are complete SW geeks!).

Was good for me to go through it. I'm hoping doing all this will make me more confident and also maybe get me qualified to be a climbing instructor, and give me a chance to get outdoors and play. There are some things I need to remember (and Paul will remind me of if he ever reads this) .. Kris is still baffled.. "I don't know what you said to the Colonel but he's well impressed with you!" Apparently I passed, with some of the best marks in the group. I must remember what the Col said to me.. that I am clearly a very capable woman, who has achieved a lot. He understood how hard the weekend was for me, and how hard I've had to work to achieve all that I have. Next time I'm tempted to wimp out and stay in watching tv I have to remind myself that it's all going to be worth it one day. He also said that his staff said that although I was quiet, and didn't say a lot in the group discussions, what I did say was really worth saying. I didn't ever speak just for the sake of saying anything, it was always important and relevant. So, good to know, that it's not about just seeming like you are super confident and have a lot to say, you just have to make sure you get it out when its important.

Was great to get to know Ant and Jon, and Kris over the weekend, and to find out that the Army guys do have a sense of humour. However I may still be the fastest ever to get thrown out for dissention... as we were leaving Major F invited the HP3 to the LNR Annual Dinner... black tie... I am NOT wearing a dress. The deal at the moment is that Kris has permission to use his big shiny stick for persuasion purposes. I have a better idea of NOT GO.

Good skills little man!

New tricks...

Scary Snowman

Friday: Left school just as it started snowing. Seems I timed it right! While at work with Jamie, Emsy sent me a picture from her day..

 I sent her back back a photo of mine..

Shelthorpe not quite of matching beauty and serenity! Ah well. Still, happy enough to make it out and home in one piece.

Saturday: long run and genius discovery.. kindle inside the iPad waterproof case perfect for bathtime...

 Sunday: Lovely day with the Saunders clan. Gave Paul his birthday present at church..

Arranged to go home, collect my own pathetic sledge and head straight over to Quorn for soup. Got distracted when I followed my nose.. the trains smell even more amazing in the snow..

James and his friend made the scariest snowman ever seen while we ate yummy soup..

So.. off to Woodhouse to test the new sledge. After the boys had mocked me and Sylvia for wearing ski gear. Not sure which is the best sledging technique.. but we definitely all want one of the body board sledges we saw.

What better way to finish the day than yummy food (spinach is actually nice) a roaring fire and a couple of games of Lego Battle of Hoth.
...ah, yeah... winning a couple of games of ...

Neat pattern Mr Golf...

 Snowman looked even more scary in the dark..

Certainly not as cute as the one near Clare's on Monday morning..

Or as cute as Les monday night...

Rock Master!!!!

Xbox says I have officially 'mastered' a song on Rocksmith... a Black Keys one. ... must be down to the amazing guitar.. which needs a name... suggestions on a postcard please!

I'm Brian May Me!!!

Made it home for the delivery by the skin of my teeth. He arrived at the very start of the 3:47-4:47 time slot. I am so glad the pupil in catch up was away, and that I ran home after parking the car!

 Unpacked the accessories first.. bargain of the year was the cable and gig bag for £0.02...yep, 2 whole pence!!! Very glad I got them now rather than waiting and saving.. need a strap to play it comfortably, and feel so much more assured leaving it on a proper stand rather than propped somewhere.

Ooooh I'm so excited!!!

Wow!

Blimey, I actually own a Les Paul. Faint!

 My new guitar is awesome and I love it. It is just beautiful and gorgeous. My playing is not yet beautiful, but hopefully hard work will get me to the point where I deserve a guitar this lovely.

So glad I got the gig bag and stand etc too... but I'm now laughably over-run with cables!! Oh, and hopefully the old amp will continue working... especially with the xbox with no lag.

Thank you God for me somehow finding enough money after I had fallen in love with this guitar, and for getting me home just in time.

Thank you Dad (and Nan) for Christmas and Birthday money, and thank you Bex for all the work ironing and babysitting.

Right... enough blogging... more playing!!!

Caching with Company

Went to Dibley church.. amazed I didn't get chucked out for giggling! Nearly cheered during the sermon, which was about baptism as a life event. He mentioned marriage... and civil partnership!!! He then went on to forget the blessing at the end of the service, forcing him to stop the organist mid hymn, having made her start it even though she knew he hadn't done the blessing. Bless the Church of England!

Anyway.. went straight off to Castle Hill Park near Anstey with Becky and Sarah and their friend Sue and a small annoying yapper type dog. Was way more fun than caching alone. And easier. If only I had either brought my lovely Nikon, or had charged the Lumix that I did take. It didn't even last one photo, so all these are off the iPhone.

There was a robin that followed us. I had got a much better picture earlier during our picnic lunch when I borrowed Becky's camera. It is in the tree somewhere. Honest.

The last cache in the series of 8. We couldn't get the bonus as we hadn't managed to find 2 of the caches. Disappointing. Left the cool geocoin I found in Norfolk in this one.

Whilst the Linnet Birds got in the hot tub when they got home, I had to force myself to put all the Christmas decorations away (in preparation for tomorrow's guitar arrival, and after a short nap!). Did reward myself when it was all done...

The wisdom of Pooh

Describes me so well it's going on my gravestone...

Productive Saturday... fast 10k, read the Pooh book in the bath, cleaned the flat, cleaned the balcony, popped to town for useful things, put netting over the balcony to stop the bloomin pigeons coming back, babysitting and ironing at Bex, which earned enough for all my accessories I got with the guitar. Top banana!

Brass Monkey Run

Up early and packed early and off back to Loughborough. Bless Pops for also getting up early and cleaning and checking the car. Had to get back and unpacked in time to join Colin and Tony to get over to the Victoria Bikers Pub in Coalville. Failed. Their church service finished early, so they left without me. Not a problem now that I have a power supply for the GPS. Quite glad I missed them in the end.. meant I had time for a cereal dinner and to get kitted up without a mad rush.

Gladis being checked out!

The layby on the A6 just before Hathern. Lucky I made it this far. I ended up leading a group after we got stopped by a policeman directing traffic past an ambulance in Woodhouse. By the time I got to the traffic lights in Quorn there was not a bike to be seen so I had to ask the bloke stood on the corner 'which way did all the bikes go?!'

Cool helmet!!!

According to the Echo there was a bloke dressed as spidey and one as Batman. But I missed them. I didn't miss the soup though. And I didn't miss my 'ride photo'. I just refused to pay 12 quid for it!

Hello little bubby

Saturday.. popped over to Jon's even though he was out watching Norwich beat Peterborough in the League Cup (and getting very drunk we found out later). Playing with Jay Jay is just brilliant. I did teach him the word sneaky though.. he got me to make his mini scalectrix even though his Daddy had told him he couldn't play it yet. I didn't know they didn't have the right batteries!! He has his train set up in his room. Needs more track!

Jenson is so well behaved, I didn't even get a cuddle though.. must have been too busy playing with J. He does look funny though..

LOL!!!

Saturday night was Chalkie's birthday party at Fatso's. He fought back when everyone had a go at him for having had an iPad for a week and a half, and it still being in the box! Hopefully now he has his birthday present (iPad guide with lots of pictures) that will change. I have to let it go!

Not quite completing the set.. but Darth Tater was one of the few he didn't have. 

 Today's caption competition....