It seems I may have lost my marbles

I've spent the last few months trying to come up with an affordable project to keep me occupied this year. Initial thoughts to build a Finland style Koti-Grilli barbecue hut turned out to be way to expensive. The natural swimming lake was all systems go until I found out that the rubber liner for the pond was going to cost 16K. The hot tub, spurred on by Lady Lucys promise to get her bikini out, was a front runner for quite some time. The infinity swimming pool also remains way up in my thoughts but way out of my budget.

As a bloke who doesn't sleep much I spend many an hour trawling the internet seeking knowledge and inspiration and, although not fully backed by her indoors yet, I think I have found it. My plan is to build an iron age roundhouse the majority of materials for which are already growing on site.

As a child, with my brother, we were always building bases with felled trees and greenery that we found in and around the compost heap and bonfire. My plan now is to take this to a whole new level. Details of the project will appear on my new blog, www.frenchroundhouse.blogspot.com and the hope is that many volunteers will come and help turn my dream into a reality.

The holiday season begins

Only 5 weeks since the end of the christmas holiday and, low and behold, it's half term already. As is so common during half term, the troops descended upon Chateau Larcombe and the party season kicked off once again.

Disaster struck over the weekend as the pipes froze behind the house leaving us having to wash up in the bath. Luckily the change in weather has now resolved the problem and all is back to normal now.

First to arrive Monday morning were Steve and Laura plus two monsters. I have been desperately trying to get Elly to say bollocks but so far we've had to settle for cock.

Monday afternoon and mum arrived with Harry and Hollie. No Adam this time however because his passport had expired. We will be writing a serious complaint to the logistics department regarding this matter.

The good thing about having Steve around is that I can get busy and be productive for a few days. The focus this week has been on the removal of some tree stumps in the corner of the field and the felling and logging of a few trees. Some of the tree stumps, left over from an ancient orchard, have been rather substantial and even with the mini digger getting them out of the ground has been tough going. Fingers crossed we have got them all now so all that's left is filling in the holes and levelling off the ground.

Harry, Josh and Peter have worked hard loading and emptying the trailer without complaint. If only they were that enthusiastic all the time. The girls on the other hand do not even deserve a mention. Sorry girls.

What a Week!!!

My 10th Birthday, by Kirsty

My 10th birthday to day yopi.I love all the presents every body sent me. I got a Bop it game, a drawing game,a sticker maker for windows, a new bedroom and other stuff. So I want to thank every body that sent a card or present for me and my parents that gave me a new room and thank all my family for all the cards and for growing me up. And certainly my parents for growing me up. Just forgot to mention, I'm having a party on the 13th and hope some of the family can come over and I'm doing a another birthday on the 5th where there will be all my friends from school. Hope every one is well lots of love to all.Love Kirsty.

Another month begins

Having done the barest minimum throughout January I am totally gob-smacked at how fast it's whizzed by. I did manage to get the first coat of paint done in Kirstys bedroom after getting the manky wall paper stripped off. Unfortunately now though the temperature is so cold in there that it may be a week or so before it's warm enough to contemplate getting the lilac top coat on.

As the cold spell has hit, the horse has taken to drinking 6 buckets of water a day which is a complete bugger when you can't just run the hose to fill up the trough. She's also now eating 3 bails of hay a day as well so it's not really surprising she has to wash it down with something.

It's Kirstys birthday tomorrow, double figures, I can only wish that it will see the end of her constant tantrums and strops that we have endured for the last few years. The plan had been to get her room finished by then but it's not going to happen.

Our party schedule for this year is being severely hampered by the events going on in the UK. With the Queens jubilee and the Olympics, the guest list is looking decidedly thin on the ground for both the May party, in June, and the August softball weekend. Could be eating a lot of leftover pig the way things are looking at the moment. Maybe Janes 40th birthday party will be the biggy for 2012.