On Saturday both Una and I felt we were coming down with a cold or something, so had a very slow day at home. Then on Sunday we had promised the kids to go pumpkin picking so headed off to Poynings Pumpkin Patch to select a few pumpkins for this year's Halloween. It's obviously always a bit challenging to narrow down the selection they have to just the best five, but we managed to by the process of elimination and returned back home with our chosen five.

Then this evening we got around to carving them out, ready for Halloween 2026 :)

The weekend before last was just a home weekend, with the weather turning very autumnal and chilly quite suddenly. Didn't really have any plans other than just around the house and staying indoors.

Then this past Saturday, after dropping Ellen at PQA, since it was a fairly clear day, I decided to head out on the bike for a lengthy cycle to Ovingdean Beach along the Undercliff Walk and back, which took about an hour and a half. It's a pretty easy flat cycle, but nice to get out while the weather was fairly decent. The rest of the day was just at home with a steak braai for dinner that evening.

Yesterday the storm arrived, so it was just a lazy indoor day at home avoiding the wind and rain outside :)

On Saturday it was the Argentina vs South Africa Rugby Championship game at Twickenham. I left home mid morning and got to Twickenham around 11:30 and met up with Marty, Dan, Duncs, Mark and Lorenzo, as well as Greg and Jonty who also had tickets for the game. We took a walk down towards the river and had a beer at The Barmy Arms. But with the queues as long as they were, we decided not to stay there but instead head up towards the stadium instead. The game itself was really good with a great atmosphere, with South Africa winning 29-27 and clinching back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time! After the game we headed back towards Twickenham and stopped in at The Eel Pie and then at Riccardo's Cellar before we all called it a night and headed home.

Yesterday we had the morning at home and with the weather being rather mild and sunny, we decided to head over to Marrocco's for lunch, followed by a walk along Hove beachfront which was nice to get out in the fresh sea breeze. Last night we were treated to some entertainment at home by Ellen who put on a Super Celebration show for us all :)

On Saturday morning, Una left first thing in the morning to head up to Gatwick for her flight over to Cork for a few days there, and back again on Wednesday. So that morning, after the kids were up and ready, they hopped on their bikes and we dropped Ellen at PQA followed by a ride over to the Leisure Centre for Ian's tennis lesson which he thoroughly enjoyed, even with it being the one up class from last week. After the rest of the morning at home, we cycled over to pick up Ellen, went on a mini bike ride around the area and then back home for the afternoon.

On Sunday we headed out to Brooklands Park, this time with both the kids' bikes in the car, so got to enjoy both the playground as well the cycle paths around. I wasn't able to take my bike along, so I was just on foot following them running after them as they zoomed around - certainly got my step count up that day :)

With Una in Ireland until Wednesday, I had booked yesterday afternoon and this afternoon off work, so had a bit of time in the playground after school on both days, then this evening we had swimming up at Wadurs, followed by McDs as a treat at Holmbush.

Last Thursday evening the Galeón Andalucía ship left Shoreham Port after having been docked there for just over 3 weeks. It landed up extending its original 5 days stay due to popularity and poor weather conditions on her onward journey. So that evening we took the Cargo Bike down to the port to watch it make its way through the locks and head out to sea.

On Friday I had the afternoon off, so after school pickup and the afternoon at home, we headed out to Black Rock which is between Brighton and The Marina for a walk around there before making our way into Brighton to Pizza Pilgrims for dinner, as requested by the kids :)

On Saturday morning Ian started tennis at the Southwick Leisure Centre at a similar time to Ellen's PQA, so while Una took him there, I dropped Ellen at PQA for her morning classes. After lunch at home, we headed over to Laura and Dennis' place for the afternoon and then home for the evening.

Yesterday was nice and sunny, and forecasted to be one of the last mild days before the temperatures dropped, so we headed out to Shoreham Fort in the morning which we had spoken about doing for ages. It wasn't open, but nice to walk around and sit by the beach while the kids played.

Once back home, myself, Ellen and Ian popped out for a bike ride around the Rec and the back roads which was fun to all be out on the bikes. Then the rest of the afternoon we were just at home and in the garden.

Last week Wednesday it was Ian's first day of school in his full uniform. The previous few days were just in casual wear, so it was cute seeing him all kitted in the school attire. We all headed off that morning for the drop-off to see him off to his class :)

This weekend was rather wet and rainy, so most of it was spent indoors. On Saturday afternoon there was a brief break in the rain, so I managed to get out with the kids and the bikes to the rec which they enjoyed and Ellen getting more and more confident on her bike too!

Yesterday afternoon was Seth and Arthur's birthday down at Bodhi’s Coffee Shop for ice-cream treats all round, which was convenient considering the showery weather outside.

Last week Thursday brought an end to the summer holidays with Ellen starting back at school into Year 3, and Ian starting with his first day of Reception on Friday. Both super excited to be going into school which was great, with Ian only in for a couple of hours, so after Una picked him up at midday, they headed down to the Port Kitchen and met them down there briefly.

On Saturday we had a rather relaxing day at home, with a slow cooked Tomahawk steak on the braai for dinner in the evening, followed by a movie night with the projector for the kids while Una and I enjoyed a few refreshing Aperol Spritzes. Then Sunday, after the day at home again, we headed to the Rec for some bike riding and practice with the kids. After dinner we decided to pop out to try and see the Blood Moon (total lunar eclipse) but after driving down to the Basin Road and then to Hove, we didn't have much luck but did get to see it a bit higher up from Hove Beach.

This evening the kids started swimming lessons at Wadurs, and then as a treat we went for dinner at Longshore in Shoreham before heading home.

On Friday I managed to get down to Shoreham Port where the Galeón Andalucía ship had been docked over the past few days. It had arrived earlier in the week and Una and the kids had managed to get on and see it already, so I decided after work to pop down and have a look around which was impressive to see. From their website, the Galeón Andalucía is described as a historically accurate, full-scale replica of the Spanish galleons that sailed the Atlantic, connecting Spain with America and the Philippines between the 16th and 18th centuries. It's an impressive 55-meter-long, six-deck wooden vessel functions as a floating museum, touring global ports to showcase Andalusian maritime heritage and attract visitors for self-guided walks and interactive exhibits.

Saturday was a grey and rainy day here, so indoor bound for the morning and then we headed over into Worthing for a few hours at Splashpoint to tire them out which the kids always enjoy. With the weather still raining in the afternoon, we weren't able to get out and about in Worthing, so headed back home, in time for Ian to join Everleigh's party. That evening I made my way over to Portslade to Dennis' 40th birthday party at their place which was good.

The weather had improved yesterday with the sun coming out, so after a day at home and a bit in the garden, we then headed over in the evening to Brighton Marina for a walk around there before grabbing Five Guys for dinner and then making our way back home.

It's now the last week of school holidays for the kids, but looks like we're in for a wet and damp few days to end the summer break. We can't really complain about the past six weeks being warm and dry, but would've been good to finish it off with a last few hot days...

Since our previous camping trip was so good, we were all keen to go again, so that's where we've been the past few days, this time at Stoneywish Nature Reserve. It was the late August bank holiday weekend here, but with Una out at the Symphonic Ibiza Brighton concert on Friday night and the kids having birthday parties on the Saturday, we decided on only the 2 nights at Stoneywish. So on Saturday morning I headed off there on my own, while Ian had Luna's party and Ellen had Malia's party, which gave me time to set up camp and get things ready, so by the time I fetched them and returned that afternoon, we were all good to go.

The weather was good to us, which is always a bonus especially when camping. On the Sunday we took a walk over to the playground and watched a bit of cricket at the Ditchling Cricket Ground. And then a bit of chill out time around the camp with a well deserved campfire each night :)

Yesterday was our last day, so after getting everything down and in the car, we headed on back home but with the weather being really nice and warm, we wanted to make full use of the long weekend so drove over to Kingston Beach for some evening sun and paddleboarding with the kids.

The weather is meant to turn for the worst later this week, so glad we got to make full use of the weekend outdoors!

This past week was our summer holiday break, which I had booked off work and similar to last year, I timed it well with the heatwave coinciding with my time off :) After finishing up at lunch time last week Friday, we had a nice chilled afternoon at home and in the garden. Then on the Saturday it was the Southwick Community Centre Summer Fair and Open Day, so we took a walk over there for a bit of a wander. We landed up bumping into Ben and William, so after a bit more time at the Centre, we made our way over to The Cricketers for some lunch and the kids all convinced us for them to head back to William's place for a playdate. So with little objection, they headed off there and myself and Una decided on a couple of drinks down at The New Port Arms before heading back to pick them up and head on home. On Sunday morning we had a Skottel fry-up for breakfast, followed by a late afternoon visit down to the beach and then got the projector out that evening for a movie night with the kids.

On Monday we decided to take a drive over to Littlehampton for the day which was good to go somewhere new. We enjoyed a paddle boat (pedalo) ride on the water, lunch on the beach followed by a swim, then some time at the Harbour Park Amusements before grabbing fish and chips for dinner and heading back home.

Then from Tuesday to Friday we were away camping at Wowo Campsite which was really nice, never been there before and as much as we were super impressed with the place, more importantly, the kids had an absolute ball. Plenty of entertainment for them, plus it was near to the Bluebell Railway so we took a walk over there on the Thursday. But in between that we were just around the campsite which the kids got to explore and head out on their adventures, and then some cooking and campfires in the evening, so the best of both worlds :) We were back Friday afternoon, so after the task of unpacking the car and sorting things out, we drove over to Hove for dinner at Marrocco's.

Yesterday was just a chilled out home day and in the garden, then today we headed down to Southwick Beach in the morning for low tide then this evening to Worthing Pier for an ice-cream, some time in the amusement centre and the hopeful attempt to see sunset from the pier, but the sky wasn't on our side, so not the best sunset.

Like I said at the start of this post, the weather was really on our side for the week, so we timed it well and had a really nice relaxing week off, and even though the kids still have a few weeks left, I'm back to work and the real work again tomorrow...