News

I found a lot of butterflies. We went on a walk with Jack and counted all the butterflies we could see. I saw 63 butterflies. You can join in too. Download a handy guide here.

I took my handy guide with me to help identify all the butterflies.

So I have turned my hand to ice cream! Gooseberry and Elderflower. Very good it is too.

New Forest Small School for Witchcraft and Wizardry!

As well at the allottment we are growing things in the garden. Our courgettes are doing well and we had another this evening with our dinner (From field to plate in less than 20 minutes) now that's fresh!! We are also growing tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, butternut squash, pumpkin, and aubergine. The elderflower is almost over so we have made a batch of elderflower champagne, which is now bottled and hopefully doing well. We also made 6 jars of elderflower and strawberry jam yesterday, so hopefully that will last a while. However I have developed a taste for jam sandwiches, so it may not last that long! Our raspberries on the allottment will not produce much in their first year but I did manage to pick 3 today after school, they were very tasty.

The first of our courgettes was ready to pick. Now what shall I have with it?

We have a little weather station in our garden.

No rain fall yet, but it's been quite hot!

Living here I know just what Melvin means....

We see lots of these White Plume Moths when we walk Jack in the evenings.

We have loads of these in our front garden. Email me with your guesses on what they are.

Over the past few weeks I have been having 'secret lessons' with Father Kevin. We have been talking all about what it means to be a Catholic and all about God and Jesus. On Friday morning I went to Mass and had a special completion of Baptism and was received into the Catholic Church. Then today I took first Holy Communion.

After Mass we had a few friends back to our house for a celebration party. I had a great day and Mum and Dad said I did really well and spoke very clearly, they were proud of me.

It's already that time of year again, so with wristbands on and clothes for all weathers packed we make our way to the Isle of Wight. This year we went in on Thursday night for the first time. It's usually only open for those camping, but we were allowed in as we are Festival First Members. It was great, we went to the Big Top to see Squeeze, they were 'Cool for Cats'!

In between seeing some bands; Calvin Harris, Biffy Clyro, Blondie, Spandau Ballet, Editors, Paul McCartney, Sheakspears Sister, Marina and the Diamonds, Ocean Colour Scene, Midge Ure and James Walsh to name but a few I went on loads of fair ground rides. I am now tall enough to go on the fast, twisting, upside down rides. Dad didn't look so keen!!

I have to have one of these crepes with chocolate and banana. It has become a tradition.

You also need the Festival sunflower.

This is how close we got to Midge Ure. He did a great acoustic set

Sunset behind the big wheel. It only rained on our way back to the car after Paul McCartney. Not bad considering the forecast!

I had a great day out with my good friend James, from school. We went round the zoo, the best bit was the sea life centre.

Here we are on the log ride. We made sure Dad got very wet!!

Good news! We have loads of potatoes growing. The allotment is coming on well and I have now helped plant runner beans.

Every day I get to walk in all this countryside. I am so lucky to have moved into the country. We see lots of wildlife, deer, birds of prey, I keep looking for adders.

Could I be a Catholic he askes. Yes of course comes the reply. But the English Church got me first. So you were Baptised into the Church of England, not a problem, come and see me with your Mum and we'll sort it all out, then you can take communion and everything else. Can't wait to find out what everything else is.

I went to stay with my Grandma and Grandpa for a couple of days. While I was there I went to meet my new cousin, Fred. I spent most of the time playing in the garden with Max but my Dad did manage to get this photo of me with Fred!

We spent an hour this morning digging some more of the allotment and planting the first of our potatoes..

And then what every good allotment needs, a scarecrow!

We have all this up to the water butts and daffodils in the distance! A lot of digging is needed. Visitors are welcome to come and see us as long as they bring a spade!! It's not difficult as Jake demonstrates.

Oh I almost forgot I also had my 8th Birthday

We need a little sit down now!

Unfortunately he only has one plot available so has decided to split into two. Therefore we only have 1361 sq ft to dig over and plant up!!! It looks about the size of a tennis court! And for this we have been charged a massive annual rent of £3.00.

Will see if we get any time tomorrow to take a photo for you all.

Any suggestions on what we can grow will be gratefully received.

We have secured an allotment. At 6pm tonight we meet the man in charge to find out where we can start growing our own veg on a larger scale than our garden in last years news.

More to follow...

No, this storm was one I've been waiting for since I saw it on Top Gear when it raced a Jaguar XK120 and Vincent Black Shadow motorbike from London to Edinburgh. Yes it's the Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado Steam Train. It came to the Watercress Line so we went to visit her and have a ride. We caught the train at Alresford and went to Alton. We went backwards and forwards a few times on different trains including Bitterne who is leaving the Watercress line in a few months time as she is returning to mainline duties from her new home in Southall.

Now for a bit of trivia...
On 21st December 2009, Tornado was probably the only train to run due to the snow in most of the south east of the UK! She rescued about 100 commuters in the evening and took them home to Kent stations.

Today we spent most of the day in the garden. We tidied up, we mended the rabbit hutch so they could come outside again and Jake made furniture out of off cuts of wood fit for a King! We then sat back and relaxed on the decking in the sunshine.

Well all you need is an inquisitive mind. Today Jake asked how people used to cook before houses had gas and electricity. So we lit the fire and cooked pancakes. Who knew teaching could be so tasty!

They now have two boys, Nathan and Ryan. I played a lot with Nathan while Ryan played with the cats!

I decided to have a hair cut. Before I knew it I was in the car and on my way to the hairdresser. I have also started Beavers. It is great fun and I am making lots of new friends in the village. So here I am modelling my new hair cut and Beavers sweatshirt.

So I guess there will be no going to school today then. Nevermind let's go back to Red Hill. But hang on who's this knocking on my front door. It's a delivery man with a flying saucer sledge. He has left his delivery van on the main road and walked all the way to my house because he knew what it was and thought I would have fun on it today.

And I did, this is great fun and really fast.

Whilst out walking we met a man who told us about Red Hill which is out the other side of the Village. We managed to find it without following the directions we were given which went along the lines of "Go past Martin's shop (It's not called Martin's at all) then a little way past Frank's house (Who's Frank?) then you can go into either field.

And then of course there's always sledging. If you don't have a sledge... a cat litter tray makes an excellent alternative (clean of course)!

Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed our walk.

Well we have run out of gas and the delivery may not come because of all the snow. At least Jake and the cats are happy!