Center Parcs Holland

What was going to be a nice family holiday for four soon became a group holiday for 19!!! It really made it that extra bit fun and we all had a ball. The kids especially loved the zip wire, white water rafting, abseiling and scuba diving!!! Such a good time was had with each family taking it in turn to cook a meal over the 4 nights. The Cooks went first with a curry for all, followed by the Colliers with a Beef Bourguignon, the Easts with a Chilli and finally the traditional (i take my bbq on every holiday) BBQ by the Kerrs. Many a beer was sunk and we all hired bicycles and just had a fab time! We would certainly recommend Dutch Centre Parcs as they were half the price and very much the same as the UK, plus only 4 hours from Calais (and that was the furthest)!! Full advantage was taken of the sauna in our cottage especially loved by the boys!!

Tesco Value Night

Following a night out and some friends all complaining of being flat broke for a month, Julie (my wife) decided to throw a Tesco Value Dinner Party. Everything (well almost) had to be Tesco Value and a prize was given for the closest guess to the cost of the meal for 8! The prize was more Tesco Value Products! After making everone a (tesco value)t-shirt to wear we were set for a night of 4p curry sauce, 2.1% value bitter and thick chocolate Tesco value after dinner mints and finishing off with a Tesco Value Whisky. Louise, Carol and Julie decided to dress up as Tesco Value Tarts (so didnt dress up at all then) and Louise was hammered before the main course and decided to stay by the bin just in case! Not that she disgraced herself as she was asleep for most of the evening, that 2.0% lager was just toooo much!!! A great night - total cost of the evening £51.72 (usually would have cost £114.65), amazingly Rob and Julie won with an incredible guess of £51.69 - they were so pleased with their prize!!

Adam is 10

Incredible. Adam is now in double figures and what a day we had for him. A day at Reading FC to watch The Royals give Crystal Palace a footballing lesson beating them 4-2 with Kevin Doyle getting a hat-trick. Then back home for a viewing of Hot Fuzz and an Angus friendly curry and rice! The boys had a great day - taking the USA flag and shouting at the Reading Goalie Marcus Hahnemann for most of the game. Adam even got his name in lights with a birthday greeting coming onto the big screen. Adams Reading shirt cake was made by our next door neighbour Jills daughter Melanie - who is an absolute star. Overnight in the tent with the boys falling asleep before 12.30pm (a new record). A great day had by all with Amber and Adam sporting their nerw RFC shirts in glorious sunshine!

Antigua August 08

A last minute decision to go away as the weather forcast was terrible for the week in Devon, so we thought why not go somewhere hot - Antigua here we come!!! Julie managed to get a super deal on a hotel and i managed the flights! What a relaxing holiday although extremely HOT!! Everyone tunring bright red after day 1 but Amber soon turned very brown. Adam was more concerned with going Kayaking from the very private beach and the pool was fantastic!!!! The Verandah Spa in Antigua is well worth a visit. A posh meal in Nicoles on one night which was superb and the seabreeze, Buccaneers and the beach bar were great places to eat every other day. Amber went for her usual hair braiding which looks great and was done by the hotel spa. A VERY relaxing holiday which was much needed giving us plenty of time to reflect on life!

Amber turns 8

Amazingly Amber has turned 8 (going on 18). How old do us parents feel now!!! She had a great day and a party which was a bit of a washout but Julie took them swimming and they came back to watch High School Musical 2. Ambers Spongebob cake went down well and all her friends had a sleepover.

Gt Yarmouth Footie tour 08

Well what a weekend. After the initial 24 hour traffic jam (mainly for the Coggins), the weekend went extremely well. A great turnout yet again by the whole of Wendover made this one of the best yet!! The football was excellent with the Under 10's scoring more goals in this tour than they had done on their previous 3. An excellent BBQ yet again provided by the Kerrs made for great evening entertainment. The caravan park at Haven Caister was the best I have been to in 4 years and the beach was outstanding (although not at night looking for my son!). Ray Clemence gave out the trophies and much fan was had by all!

Race for Life 2008

Yes - Julie has done it again - 4th year running now - well done!!! This time she had a great race - in extremely hot temperatures - 85th place out of over 3000 runners. The Windsor 8k should be a piece of cake now especially after all that training with Steve. Over £150 raised for breast cancer so thanks again for everyones support!!!

Prague March 08

A weekend in Prague to start the year off well. What a beautiful city! Dinner at Gordon Ramsays Maze restaurant was SUPERB!! (Although i still prefer London - just!). The Marriott was excellent and quite central for the main shopping areas and bars. On arrival we found a nice pub just off the main square (best to save money) and had very typical local cuisine and beer - very nice. The weather was great until day 2 when a huge hail storm and rain storm hit town briefly but effectively. The architecture is incredible and every corner you turn you see another outstanding feature of the city! Julie made yet another great comment hence why she is laughing below - she asked if the railway stopped at that point so we could take pictures - it was then i pointed out that we were at a station!!!!

Barbados 2007/8

What a way to end an old year and start a new one! This was a dream holiday and what a holiday too! Thanks Mum and Peter for making this holiday so special and thanks Steve for keeping the kids amuzed (goose). Swimming with turtles was one of many highlights with Adam jet skiing and snorkelling over a shipwreck, Amber having her hair braided, a beautiful sunset every night viewed from our balcony, excellent food, a great day out around the island. Santa on the beach, and fireworks at sea for New Year, Fruit punch, Pina Colada, Rum and Beer - as well as food to die for! Hot every day it was all too perfect!