Today was the day that DDWT Junior tried a make a little bit of history for himself by taking part in the BBC’s Breathing Places Tree O’Clock event.
As part of National Tree Week, Breathing Places and its partners were encouraging people to plant trees in the Tree O’Clock hour – between 11am and 12 noon on Saturday 5 December 2009 – in an attempt to to create a Guinness World Record!
And here’s the evidence of him taking part…. before….
and after….
A big thank you must go to Mr. Scannel from Focus DIY in Swansea whom kindly supplied 60 trees to the school to enable the children to take part in the record breaking attempt.
So here’s hoping that enough trees have been planted to set a new Guinness World Record 
But no matter if there aren’t, the long lasting benefits to nature and the environment will be enough of an achievement.
It’s hard to imagine that a whole year has gone by since my Dad passed away as it really doesn’t feel as if its been that long.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been dreading this day for lots of reasons – how my Mam would be feeling a year on, would my sister still be taking it badly and would I finally succumb to the grieving which rears its head every so often.
Now that the day is here and we’ve been through the whole first anniversary of everything (birthday, wedding anniversary, etc, etc) everything seems to be that little bit easier.
My Mam has spent the day with us and we’ve treated it as any other day to be honest, which I think is (and always would be) the best thing to do. The strength and courage my Mam has shown over the past 12 months is admirable and I take so much positive energy from that – as after all she has suffered the biggest loss.
I’ve little doubt that as each day passes us by it will be another step forward to life getting back on track – as it must – and things will get easier.
We’ll never ever forget my Dad regardless of the amount of time that passes by, but life must go on and with a young family that is what I intend to do – as I know my Dad would have wanted.
All of the excitement I felt with Mrs DDWT and the kids impending arrival home – after their mini-break in Ceredigion with Nanny – was quickly dampened with a 07:30 am telephone call.
It was Mrs DDWT ringing to tell me the kids had the classic symptoms and signs of chicken pox!
I couldn’t believe it and just to compound matters I’ve booked a week’s leave next week to do lots of family things – so we had lots planned. A train trip to Cardiff, a day in Folly Farm or Dan-yr-Ogof and a couple of 5th birthday parties (which DDWT Junior had been invited too).
The thought of Baby DDWT (@ just 10 months old) having chicken pox fills me with trepidation as well. Bless her.
The missus and I had it when we were kids so we’ll be ok and I suppose in a weird kind of way it’s good that the kids have it whilst they are very young as well – as opposed to their teens or even adulthood.
Oh well time to head off to the pharmacy for some calamine lotion I think and some antihistamines for children!
Boy is it going to be a fun week off in the house of DDWT *raised eyebrows*
We all had a wicked time today at DDWT Junior’s pool party in celebration of his 5th birthday, which is on Tuesday.
Some 14 or so of his classmates turned up and they – and their parents – had a whale (pun intended) of a time at Pontardawe swimming pool, splashing, diving and swimming about the massed array of kids floatables!
The little fella was so excited bless him and at the end of the hour you could see that all of the kids were quite literally out on their feet having had so much fun. It was certainly £60 well spent to hire the pool for the hour.
It was the perfect way to celebrate his birthday with all of his friends, leaving the traditional family party to his actual birthday on Tuesday.
Somewhat reluctantly I decided to weigh myself this morning – fearing the worst – having munched my way through a KFC and a box of maltesers yesterday *blush*
Thankfully it was good news though as I was still 15st 12lbs. Although this was after having a re-weigh as I wasn’t starkers the first time around! Who’d have thought that a pair of PJ’s would weigh 2lb eh?
With the cold but sunny weather continuing during the opening few days of 2009 we decided to make the most of it with a visit to Coed Gwilym Park, Clydach in the Swansea valley.
With plenty of wide open spaces, two playgrounds, a small wood and the nearby canal there was plenty to keep DDWT Junior amused. The tennis courts also gave him ample opportunity to have a ‘dabble’ with his Christmas presents (from this and yesteryear!) – remote control cars!
Here’s a brief picture guide – but you won’t beat making a visit there yourself.
