Daniel achieves his 1st Dan blackbelt

After a 7 years of training with Astral Sport Karate Daniel is awarded his 1st Dan black belt at Weston-Super-Mare this weekend.

John getting ready for his first motorbike ride

I think he is almost ready for his first bike ride!

Jonathan In A Spin With His New Bike

Most of the family get to ride on Jonathan's new BMW 1200GS bike

Megan's half birthday

Megan is now 6 months old and sporting her first tooth

Beeston & Chilwell Garden Trail fund-raiser for the Nottingham Credit Union

We opened the garden again for the Garden Trail last weekend. About 300 people passed through, and cream teas and jams were sold to raise funds for the Chilwell Branch of the Nottingham Credit Union. All hands were on deck for the occasion and Moose Mulloy, the next-door neighbour's band, entertained the crowds. A total of about £300 was raised.

David runs the Principia 10k event in glorious sunshine at Rushcliffe Country Park

You win one; you lose one

One motor-cycle was swapped for another today in Devonshire Avenue. Spot the difference. Which one will get to Gaucin by road?

Money Pit or Investment?

Will you make it or break it on this des res rural property? It is remarkably similar to how Tyn-y-Waen used to look. It has planning permission for improvement and renovation. Half a mile down a track to a dead end, where the woods open out to a clearing. From there are a couple of tracks and bridle paths. There is only a quarter of an acre, but there may be opportunity to buy more. It is local to Oswestry, next to Nantmwr quarry. See my Flickr site for more pictures of this and another property that I viewed the other day. The Old Bakery in Ellesmere has planning for conversion into two three-storey houses and one four-storey house.

At what price would you think either would be a viable financial investment in this current market?

Open Garden Afternoon at Llangedwyn Hall

We had a lovely stroll around the gardens at Llangedwyn Hall this afternoon. I explained to Megan that this was the result of inherited wealth and the feudal class system. She seemed to agree. The weather was on our side as I got lots of ideas for our patch. We took tea and cake and greeted our friends and neighbours.

Happy Fathers Day dad

John is three!

Wish you were here in Gaucin and Ronda

Another lovely holiday in the making. Sabenillas market on Sunday and Ronda today. We are looking after Pixie and giving her a good time!

David prepares to fly with the birds

A Credit Union opens on the Inham Nook estate, Chilwell

Today, the new Inham Nook branch of the Nottingham Credit Union opened its doors to the public at the Methodist Church on the estate. It was raining and nobody came! This represents a new charitable activity of the PIC: David runs the marketing, John is the secretary and Janet is the general organiser!

John Colin on "horse"-back

John Colin and his friend Ocea went pony-riding in Salisbury over the bank holiday.

Dalai Lama in Nottingham

We went to hear the Dalai Lama speak in the Nottingham Arena this afternoon. He answered questions from Jonathan Dimbleby and from selected local children, and pupils from Shepherd School took part in a presentation.

He delivered an environmentalist message, and said that this was a more important issue even than the Tibetan political situation.

Megan Is Now Five Months Old

She is enjoying spending more time outside now the better weather is here. She went 'swimming' for the first time this week. We are having our NCT Group here for lunch on Saturday.

Family Day in Beeston

A few pics of the family in Beeston and Chris in Cairo.

Cairo Weekend

Chris and I had a great weekend in Cairo earlier in the month. Just a few pics from the few days we had there.

Visiting the Stott family

A caravan's looks can be deceptive as it's more like a five star hotel suite when inside.

Young Thomas is beginning to follow in his brother's footsteps

At almost a year old, Thomas Joseph is a confident, adventurous and happy infant.

The family gathers for financial talks

The nuclear family (less Charo, Helen, Daniel jnr and Louisa) meet in Beeston to relaunch the Patrick Investment Club. We have in mind the possibility that these children may in years to come benefit from our efforts today.

Wainwright Family Weekend in Nantwich, Cheshire

(a) The back garden of The Beeches, Wistaston, has changed considerably since we used to visit Grandad Wainwright 50 years ago. (b) This unusual balcony is a distinctive feature of The Hollies, built by my great-grandfather in 1879. (c) I preached the sermon at Hospital Street Methodist Church, Nantwich, where Mum was married on April 20 1939. (d) Descendants of Joseph Wainwright II gather for lunch at The Hollies, Wybunbury, the house he built in 1879.

Marking the centenary of the birth of Marjorie Patrick (nee Wainwright) on April 20 1908

The family gathered in Nantwich last weekend to celebrate Mum's birth 100 years ago. We took part in the service at Hospital Street Methodist Church, Nantwich, where Mum was married on her 31st birthday, April 20 1939.

Click on the link for her biography.

The house that Frank built

Here are some of the descendants of Francis Joseph Wainwright (my grandfather) who built Warren House in Willaston, Nantwich, on a plot that was first owned by the Wainwright family before 1841. The plaque on the front elevation says "FJW 1900".

Dorothy Wainwright, the mother of Mary and Elisabeth Lambert in the party here, was born in this house in 1902.

The visit was part of this weekend's celebrations to mark the centenary of my mother, Marjorie Murdoch Patrick (nee Wainwright).

Mum preached at Breaston Methodist this morning (spot the mistake on the poster)

A week's progress on the drive at No. 16

At the end of a showery week, (a) the tarmac undercoat is down and (b) the turning bay delineated. The only problem was (c) trimming the roots of the beech-tree to allow the widening of the drive, but a day's chipping away with a jack-hammer did the trick and that edge (d) is now straight. Little John (e) provided good help, as always, but (f) parts of the lawn and front bed, including this forsythia bush, have been lost.

Jonathan's Call of Duty

Congrats on the new posting to Baghdad, Jonathan. Daniel suggests you play this Call of Duty demo as part of your orientation...

Driveway alterations at No 16

Work started today on our new-look drive. With mechanical tools and plenty of skilled help, good progress was made. The silver birch tree turned out to have a rotton core, but will still take some shifting.