Hen and Stag day

As Kerry and Craigs wedding is coming, this weekend was the Hen and Stag do. They decided to have it on the same day and same place and had an activity day with girls vs boys. So I didn't get any photos of the boys activities. It was all very top secret and competitive. 

The girls first activity was segway. I also didn't get any photos of the segway as there was no way I was taking my camera on those. They were fun though we had to follow the instructor around a track whereas the guys apparently got let loose, which I think is unfair. Mom wasn't much of a fan and had some issues turning so frequently went off on her own.

We then switched with the boys to do clay pigeon shooting.

Looking nervous when seeing us all.

There were 2 stations and 3 different birds. We all hit at least one though for one station we needed help holding the gun. It was really heavy! Though they had no kickback which helped and was an improvement over the last shot-gun I fired.

The Hen started

It was interesting seeing my mom with a gun. She was pretty good too!

My mom. With a shot gun

 Though she did need some help in closing only one eye. So a makeshift eye-patch was used. (Others just used glasses with one lens blacked out but she didn't know this was an option at that point.)

With her makeshift eye-patch

Taking a go

My cousin Marie enjoying guns WAY too much

I preferred the second one I tried as the gun was lighter and I felt I actually hit them myself instead of the instructor helping me. A lot. I ended up getting 6 on one station and 3 on the other. Which, considering I didn't expect to hit any, I think is great.

Let loose

After lunch (which was thankfully indoors so we could warm up a bit), the girls started with sniper shooting. This was my favorite activity. I could have done this all day.

Kerry, sniper shooting

Happy with her time

You had to shoot 4 targets, at different heights, as quickly as possible, with the time starting when you hit and knocked down the first target.

bit scary with a sniper rifle.

Our target range.

Mom with the sniper rifle.

Every one focused on beating the boys.

The last activity was archery. And I think most of us were dreading having to go back outside. The sniper hut wasn't exactly warm, but the wind kicked up and out on the archery range it was freezing!

Cold but ready.

First wave of archers

 I enjoyed it and was reasonably good at it. However we all were so cold at this point, we were quite glad to be finished.
Kerry and Craig had brought some bucks fizz to have at the end and I made some cupcakes. So we all warmer up a bit inside while they sorted out the results of the competition.

Bucks Fizz!

Kerry and Craig.

Unfortunately the girls didn't win anything. Though we think we were swindled as there were only 9 of us and 11 guys. We think there was some fixing going on. But dad was happy as he got a third place and got a medal. And Craig got a silver. Kerry ... not so impressed.

Dad, pleased with his medal.

On the evening, after everyone had a chance to go home and warm up, we had a few tables at an Indian for dinner. The food was ok, but it took ages to get food! Some of them (including my dad) went out after but I was exhausted and already a fair bit tipsy, so went home with mom. 

The day was fun. I loved the sniper shooting and archery. But my arms really ache today! :)

The whole group.

Visiting Joseph

Last week I spent a few days in Preston, catching up with Katherine, Philip and Joseph. Joseph has grown so much in the last 3 months! As soon as I got there I got a cuddle which made me very happy. He is also smiling and giggling now which is one of the cutest things I have seen. He was a little unsure of me at first, but we are fast friends now! 

Katherine and I made our social plans for the next day before I went over to my hotel.  However the next morning, everyone changed/cancelled our plans! So we just played with Joseph instead and gave him a bath - not as messy and wet as I expected but give him time. (I was trying to teach him to splash!)

Trying to eat the sofa

Encouragement from mom to do push-ups

Nearly

Given up

We tried to get him to push himself up. He thought about it. Then tried to eat the sofa.

Teased with the hair.

Big boy

We had lunch in town and did some shopping before heading back to Katherine's for more cuddles. :)

Loving the bouncer.

I also managed to catch up with Danielle and Daniel and meet their little Jonathan, who is also a cutie, even when he was being sick on me.
I am already planning my next trip up and keep buying baby things. My little nephews are both going to be very spoilt by their honorary aunty.
It did snow a little here last week but not enough to even warrant a photo.
The only other news is I managed to get onto the Science 2 Data Science course for March. As it is the second best in the world (the best requires you to live in the USA so no thanks), I am super happy and very excited. So it's official. I am leaving astronomy. :) 

Visiting nephew #2

Benjamin Matthew Fellows

On Christmas Eve, my oldest friend finally had her little baby boy. Mom and baby are doing well and dad is smitten already. I have proclaimed myself honoary Aunt again!

He arrived late, meaning I lost the baby pool but I'll forgive him. Though mom and dad missed Christmas. I have decided to give him a 0.5 birthday so he gets something to look forward to mid-year. And I get to buy more cool kids stuff!  

I popped over to visit this week and got some cuddles in before he decided to fill the nappy and then exercise his lungs. Unsurprisingly (given his singing mom) he has a really good set!

Not liking having the nappy changed.

It's a tough world.

 I am already claiming him a genius as, at 2 weeks old, he is lifting up his head and rolling over. Which he should not be doing just yet. So I am planning the chemistry and physics sets early.

Sleepy.

 He also has the largest feet I have seen on a baby. It is seriously adorable!

Big foot.

I love him to bits already! He is smart, cute, sweet, and probably a bit mischievous. I can already see him being an amazing little boy and fabulous man.

And I get to visit my other genius cutie-pie nephew as well next week and see how he has grown and catch up with some good friends. I am getting excited already! Despite the weather, there are some thing I really love about being back home. :)

Christmas and New Year

We had a really quiet Christmas this year. I don't really have a big family any more so for most of the time it was just me, mom and dad, with my sister and her fiancé popping in occasionally. 

Still it was nice and relaxed. Especially as the new sofa did finally arrive so we didn't have to sit on the floor any longer. 

Christmas

In fact the whole Christmas/New Year was quiet. I "helped" mom and dad out in the garden, replacing the fencing which had all fallen down. 

Me helping.

One of the main things I did (other than lots of work) was shop! I now had a full office set up in the spare room. Me and mom getting the desk from Ikea was interesting - neither of us could shop giggling when the GPS got confused and got us lost. Though as I was by crushed by the desk at the time, looking back I am not sure what was so funny!

And I also brought a car yesterday! My first car. It is so cute and the perfect color. It's only little but in great condition and perfect for me. So I am now mobile! 

My new car!