I'm back - just testing!

Wow ! It's been over a year but I'm determined to get back to blogging!  Just checking I remember how to do this!

A fav photo from Boxing Day 2013.

Day out with 'my boys' !

While rambling last week at Crawfordsburn I heard there was an exhibition of vintage military vehicles taking place at Grey Point Fort nearby.

I thought it would be an event my nephews would enjoy.

Big gun

View from one of the big guns.

My troops!

Love this one !

 Next photos were taken at Crawfordsburn Country Park later that afternoon.

Dean and Mason 'just shooting the breeze'

All 'my boys'

A really fun, chatty and interesting day out.

End of Term Service - Kelsie

This is Kelsie's last year in Primary School and I attended her End of Term School Service.

She was singing a duet with a class mate and I couldn't miss that!

and she received two sports awards -

I spotted these photos on different walls in the school and took a snap of them

Love these photos - Kelsie was awarded two trophies for sports and I quickly took this photos with her two big brothers.  I'm so proud.

Greenmount Agricultural Show - Sunday 17 June 2012

The Greenmount Agricultural Show used to be a yearly event but due to funding problems it hasn't taken place for 6 years. I was so pleased when I spotted a leaflet promoting it this year, it was always a lovely family day out and this year was excellent, even the occasional torrential rain shower didn't spoil the day.

Dean, Kyle, Kelsie and my friend Norma came with me and we met up with my rambler friends Elizabeth and Pamela.
On arrival we went first to the food marquee - good idea - so many free samples and the kids thoroughly enjoyed them all - several times !

There were so many activites to take part in or watch - including a climbing wall - Kelsie loved it -

We all had a go at archery - much harder than it looks -

Kids loved the gladiator game and the bucking sheep !

Dean

Kelsie

Kyle

There were so many other activities - horse shoe tossing, welly boot throwing -

Laugh out loud fun!

We watched sheep shearing, cows being milked, horses getting new shoes, pony club races, agility dogs and obedience dogs -

Kelsie 'borrowed' this gorgeous one and was instructed on how to take him around the course.

There was a fab motorbike stunt show, Birds of Prey and a marquee with little animals from the Ark farm.

I took many photos of Kelsie on this jumping, elastic, bungy jump apparatus, she was doing forward rolls and back flips but I didn't manage to snap any of her fancy moves !

Another favourite spot was the pen with beagle dogs, the kids could go in and pet the dogs for as long as they wanted.  Beautiful.

Then it was off to Dunsilly Hotel http://www.dunsillyhotel.com/ for a delicious meal.  Rambler friends Ann and Richard met us there.

3 beautiful, well behaved and well mannered children, I'm always very proud of them but especially proud that day.

Good memories.

Sunny Holiday 2012 - Crete

Just home from a lovely, lovely holiday in Hersonissos, Crete, with my sister and her fabulous family.

I haven't been abroad for about 5 years and always loved a sunshine holiday and this was a great one.  I really hope I'll be asked to go again !

We stayed at the Royal Belvedere, Hersonissos

- perfect location, on a slight hill with the mountains behind and the sea in front. 

The view from the patio.  Beautiful.

The town of Hersonnissos was easily within walking distance with a great selection of shops, bars and restaurants.  We were 'All Inclusive' so didn't need to visit the town but we did take a stroll a couple of times and thoroughly enjoyed having a 'nosey'!

John and the kids one of the nights we walked into town.

The Belvedere complex was brill, about 5 pools, lots of sunbeds, bars, snack bars

This was our favourite pool, with 'proper' steps into it so I could get in and out with ease.

That's me in the boat !

and in the pool.

Our favourite pool from a different angle.

There was also an Olympic sized pool - Kyle was the only one brave enough to try it !

Massive pool!

Food was very good - plenty of choice, 3 meals a day and snacks (chips, pizza slices, toasties and ice cream ) available at the swimming pools. 

                                  Kyle and his several empty plates!

Delish choc cake and choc mousse.

There were a couple of theme nights - Italian and Crete - this is the Italian flag cake - a lovely centrepiece - initially no one wanted to cut it but that didn't last long !

Kelsie sitting on the patio at our room with the restaurant just behind her.  I loved sitting here in the evening watching everyone arrive for dinner.

Sitting under a palm tree on the patio - brought my Slimming World magazine to try to keep me on track - it didn't work !!

At our dining table in the restaurant.

There was entertainment every evening -

Kyle and Kelsie watching 'Grease'

                                             Mel, me and John.

                               All that having fun is just exhausting !

Rehearsing for the evening entertainment - huge bar area.

The girlies hitching a lift...

                                     and the boys sneaking in too !

                                                 Playing pool,
there were a lot of card games in this holiday too and from now on 'shuffling' the cards will be known as 'muddling' !

Another one of the swimming pools

We had so much fun with that boat !

A little bit of nature.

We all had a fab time!

(just click on any of the photos to make them bigger)