X Factor

Hi

Had a busy last week of term and we are finally on our winter holidays! The pre school fund raiser was great fun last weekend. One of our neighbours won a bottle of Moet and kindly gave it to us when she found out it was our 12th Wedding Anniversary. Can't believe it was 12 years ago, I can still remember Allen doing his handstand in his kilt like it was yesterday! So we did enjoy our anniversary. Different to normal as we try to go away/ out for a romantic meal etc... Bit difficult down here especially when the snow comes in and everything is shut including all the roads. From that comment you can probably tell it has snowed a bit, well not just a bit a lot. At least 5 ft snow drifts. Our car couldn't cope with the cold so we got lifts from kind neighbours. It was too cold/too deep to walk anywhere even though we don't live that far from anything. No school closures though as everyone can get in the military did get a half day which I thought was a bit off. I've included a photo of the children near our house in the snow. They have had a great time in it all. The ice caused lots of heating to break, not ours thankfully and also the water tower to crack so we've had no water for 24 hours. I have just about used all the pans we filled up but I suppose there's lots of snow outside that I could use too! It should be fine later, we'll see. So no showers this morning.

Jacob and Abi took part in the X Factor at school. It was an end of term thing. Jacob played the recorder. I had no part in this. He was up on stage with 2 of his friends and did a great job. Abi did a ballet dance to Hi Ho with her best friend Emma. They loved it and looked very sweet. They also did a class song that was very funny - I won't survive. It was about staying in the same class with the same teacher due to being in a small school - Jacob and Abi stay with Miss Scott for the next school year. Abi's not bothered by this but Jacob's not so keen. We actually went in to discuss his report with his teacher as we felt it was extremely negative and made him out to be a difficult child. I know he's not an angel! She was very helpful and did apologise as she didn't mean it to be a negative report. She has suggested a behaviour chart idea that we are going to use in September when he returns to school. It was good to talk to her and stopped me worrying so much. School holidays now and it's lovely to just not rush in the morning. We have got to go to pre school and sort it as I won't have any time when we return from the UK. We fly out on Tuesday - flight dependent as the flight this week got turned around and didn't make it to the Falklands. We have gradually run out of fruit and veg. The plane landed last night so there should be food in the shops again!

Anyway hope to meet up with lots of you over the next few weeks,

Rachael.

Go-Karting and other bits!

Hi Everyone

Had great fun at the Go-Karting track last weekend. It was a wives trip out to the local race track on base. I've included a photo of me and Rebecca, she's the one in the green suit and I chose not to wear one. I however got covered in muddy water so next time I'll look as silly as she did! I couldn't stay for the whole time as Allen was home with the children and he wasn't well with his elbow infection. He's much better but it still hasn't cleared up after 10 days on antibiotics. He goes back to the Dr at the end of the week. So I didn't get a medal on the Karting as they counted your laps. I have to say I wasn't bad, I think I would have been second overall. Allen went karting the following weekend and he won a trophy. I've suggested a go of wives against husbands and it seems popular. I don't think I'll beat Allen but I think I'll beat most of the other husbands.

Also had 5 families around to say farewell to the Dr and his family. They are off to the sunny climbs of Texas. Abi wore her cowboy boots and cowboy hat for their farewell!

It also snowed quite a bit so we, of course, went sledging. The snow had drifted so it went up to my tummy in places.

Went to a dinner night in the Mess on Saturday, it was a British summer time theme. Good fun and much more relaxed than normal.

Jacob and Abi had a knights and princess day at school on Friday. They'd been doing a castle topic for 2 weeks and had a party at the end to celebrate. I've included photos of them dressed up. We have a busy rest of week. Took pre school on board HMS Gloucester today. I was most impressed. Unfortunately they have had swine flu on the ship and they only found out after our visit, oh well. I'm taking the pre schoolers to see the helicopters this week too. Off out in Stanley tomorrow night for dinner and then a pre school fund raising dinner on Saturday. I'll need a rest when we get back to the UK!

Hope all's well

Rachael.

Tornadoes, arts week and the beach.

Hi

I have had a cold and have also been very busy down here but have finally got a day to myself! Did a trip to see the Tornadoes with pre school. We all enjoyed it and I had fun sitting in the cockpit - see photo. Did you know female pilots wear big nappies on long flights, the children giggled at this! It was sad though that the day after we'd visited a Tornado crashed in Fife with the 2 air crew being killed. It was very sad down here as they were known to a lot of people, Allen included.

Jacob and Abi had a big arts week at school. Jacob performed in a play. It was set in Victorian London and had slang in it. Jacob did well to learn his lines as it was lots of 'ere, 'and, feelin' etc. I've included a photo of him and his friend Harry dressed as street children - Jacob sold violets. Abi was a mouse for her performance. She loved it and showed off particularly well! They then both got swimming certificates, Duckling 5, the highest one they could get for their class. They are both good little swimmers. Jacob also got his 3rd smiley certificate, beating his sister so he was well pleased.

Last weekend we celebrated July 4th and invited around 20 people. I did American food and drink. We started at 6pm and kicked the last people out at 11.30pm. I let Allen have a long lie in on the Sunday, it'll be my turn next weekend! Sunday afternoon we headed down to Burtha's beach as it was sunny if chilly. I've included photos from the beach. We all had a great time.

This week as been busy. Allen's been on exercise so stayed at work for 48 hours, they pretend they are at war. Chicken pox has hit pre school and we had 7 off with it so it was a quiet week there. I've started helping out at the local cafe as a volunteer so I can now work a coffee machine - hot milk and foam. The cakes are lovely there too. I did 2 afternoons but am probably only going to do one normally. Haven't been to the gym this week due to my cold. Still can't breath and my nose is a glowing red colour.

Was hoping to take the children sledging after school but the snow is melting, had a few snow falls this week, so it'll have to be the cafe instead!

Hope all is well

Rachael.