We Got Some PIGS!!!

So I think this is the longest I've gone without posting on the blog in the 14 years it's been running! Life has just been so busy. We sat down and worked out that last night was the first night in 3 weeks where we all sat and ate as a family, without someone being somewhere else, or all of us being somewhere else! 

Hopefully the summer holidays will be a chance for us to reset a little bit and enjoy being at home.

Of course that doesn't mean we're planning on taking things easy - to make things a little harder for ourselves we got some pigs! These are the first four legged animals (other than the cat) since the sheep. So a few years ago now. 

They were bred at one of the local private schools, I'm friends with the head there. They were born about 8 - 9 weeks ago and are already friendly. 

 The breed is Oxford Sandy and Black, they are pure bred, but aren't breed standard in their colouring, so won't ever be good for breeding. Instead they will come here for a few months before their final destination. 

I'm already in love with them and find myself wondering over to the pig pen to see what they're doing - which is generally sleeping to be honest! 

Should be a fun little adventure. 

All Wales Scout Camp 2026

 So last weekend was a busy one! I took my scouts to the all Wales scout camp. I must admit that this was mostly planned by the cub leader Andrew, who is superb at this sort of thing. But we took most of our scouts, along with a few leaders and helpers, plus a few cubs as well. All five of us went so that was really nice, I plan on taking my wife on more scout camps in the future! 

We were quite a small group, but all my scouts are so well behaved that managing them become quite easy. The harder bit was that leaders have to man "bases" for the activites for the scouts all weekend, if you get on a bad one you are stuck there! And I picked a bad one I think - badge making. I'm not exaggerating when I say I think we made a thousand badges that weekend, my hand was bruised afterwards!

The scouts had a great time, the weekend was split into 6 areas like world, skills, adventure, STEM, etc, and then they'd move between them all weekend. They got to do things like driving a real car, air rifles, cook different foods, rock climbing, caving. We kept them fed and fuelled up the whole time, no scout goes hungry on one of our camps - there's always seconds!

I also let them go to the disco on their own (it's a safe site), leaving the older ones in charge, and giving them a curfew, they were back on time and full of smiles and laughter when they returned, great to give them that bit of independance. 

I think I've spent the whole week just trying to catch up on sleep now though! Quite a noisy site with 2000 scouts! 

Not the usual type of camp, our next one should be a bit calmer! 

Gained A Beekeeper

The other night the girls were at dance practice and I needed to do a few jobs with the bees. I mentioned to my son I'd be going out. Previously he's always been dead against the bees, said he wanted nothing more than the honey! But that night he seemed keen, asked if he could borrow a suit and came straight out with me. 

 Like the girls he took to it straight away, didn't seem scared at all and was really keen. 

He got straight into doing jobs and asking lots of questions - not all of them I could answer!

A week later I had all three of them helping me. Was a great moment to be managing the apiary together - I just need to convince my wife to come out with us now! 

A Long Beautiful Weekend

The may bank holiday we went away with some friends to Newquay Wales. 

I always think they have to be good friends to go away with, and these guys fit the bill. They have four children and along with our three they make quite the wolf pack. Wendy (their mum) and I have spent a lot of time together over the years - we joke it's a good job we don't have jealous partners, I've no doubt we caused many a rumour in the village. We ran the village playgroup together for 5 years when the children were younger, but would also swap children constantly, helping each other with childcare when it was needed. We also did the beekeeping course together a few years ago and swim together quite a bit, and just meet up loads. 

So the children have grown up really close. It's nice as they all get on so well, the ages clash a little as the older boys of theirs's are the same age as our older girls and their young girls are similar age to our boy, but it's never bothered them at all. They do split boys and girls a bit (normally for D&D), but they're never long before they are all together playing board games or something crazy they've invented. I joke they're a bit like cousins. 

Painted Scythe Miniatures

 We are a family of board game players. I think I've mentioned this before. But we all love it. That extends to my brother and sister as well and their families. 

A couple of years ago I got my brother-in-law the game scythe. It's quite complicated, but each time he's down we try to get together to play it. It's fun, and never seems to play the same twice. We all love it. for his birthday this year I thought I'd get him the expansion so more people could play. 

I also thought it would be fun to paint up the miniatures the set uses as well.