Rootwo found a set of joke teeth from somewhere.
December 2021
39 posts.
Friday 3 December 2021
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Rootwo posing for the camera
Saturday 4 December 2021
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This morning, we visited Santa at Amberley. We had a fantastic time exploring all the Christmas activities, too. Together with Ian and his kids, we rode the train, took a trip on the bus, sent a telegram to Santa, and made clay Christmas decorations.
I was delighted that Ian and I could geek out on all the engineering bits and bobs. Roo and Rootwo loved having their friends to play with.
“Giz a kiss, Rudolf.” Roo comes face-to-face with one of Santa’s reindeer 
Suits you sir; Ian gently cups a pair of Christmas pears 
The kids with Santa 
My boy, on the train 
The kids decorating clay baubles 
The whole gang on the bus -
It’s probably the earliest we’ve ever done it, but we put up the Christmas tree. Roo loved it and was actually quite helpful. Rootwo insisted on taking everything off that we’d just put on.
Rootwo dressed as a snowman 
Roo, in a elf hat, by the Christmas tree 
The kids get stuck in to decorating the tree 
The kids pose by the tree
Friday 10 December 2021
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After dropping Roo at school this morning I walked home via the beach. I took a photo I rather liked.
My elongated shadow cast on a beach -
I haven’t been to a in person board on Friday for almost two years. It was great to see everyone again and play a few games.
Meeples in a game of Carcassonne
Saturday 11 December 2021
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For some reason we’d booked two Santa trips this year. Not that the kids seemed to mind too much. This morning we boarded the boat and glided gently towards Arundel Wetland’s Lapwing Hide where Santa had temporally set up shop. Apparently Roo and Rootwo were on the nice list, but only just. They’d better be very well behaved over the next couple of weeks then!
Rootwo on the boat at the Wetlands 
Roo on the boat 
The kids and Santa 
Roo smiles as Santa asks her what she wants from Christmas 
Rootwo in the grotto 
All of us with Santa 
Santa's robin 
Santa's robin puffs-out his chest against the cold 
Roo, Rootwo and Katie in a giant nest
Sunday 12 December 2021
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Roo and I went to see the Kings Chamber Orchestra. They were amazing.
The Kings Chamber Orchestra perform
Wednesday 15 December 2021
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The fates conspired to cancel our spa day. Oh well, we had a lovely day with Rootwo at Amberley museum and scooting along the seafront.
Rootwo on the bus at Amberley museum 
Rootwo on Littlehampton beach
Saturday 18 December 2021
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Stuff Rootwo says: When we saw Santa and asked him “who’s that?” — “It’s the Christmas tree man”.
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We’d had a bit of a nothing day, avoiding planned activities to try and keep Covid at bay. There’s a lovely playground up at Burpham with gorgeous views over the downs. We took the football for a kick about on the field. Then the kids let of some steam in the playground; with a chocolate treat after.
We’re so incredibly lucky to live near these places. England is so pretty this time of year.
Rootwo playing with a football on Burpham field 
Katie pushing Roo and Rootwo as they sit back-to-back in a baby swing 
The moon rises over Burpham
Monday 20 December 2021
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When asking about something he doesn’t understand: “what’s that is?”
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We went for a walk with some of our wonderful pod friends.
The kids on the bench
Tuesday 21 December 2021
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Yeah! I’m officially on holiday. Katie has one more day of work so I took the kids to the Aldingbourne Country Centre.
It feels like we’re on the brink of another lockdown, thank you, Omicron variant. No one really knows what’s going to happen. Naturally, everyone disagrees.
Hopefully we’ll be off to my parents tomorrow, but we’ll see what the LFTs (and the government) says in the morning.
A mighty Oak tree 
Rootwo follows Roo down the slide
Wednesday 22 December 2021
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Made it to M&Ds early and surprised them. Very grateful for a Christmas together this year.
Thursday 23 December 2021
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We went to Cadbury World. It was somewhat hectic and stressful but Roo loved it. She loved the chocolate tasting, the weird ride, the packed Santa show. It was unclear if Rootwo enjoyed himself; he cried and screamed a lot, as any self respecting two year old is wont to do. We did eat an ungodly amount of chocolate, so that (somewhat) made up for the lack of social distancing and people not wearing masks.
Roo and Fredo the frog 
Roo poses with a waxwork Cadbury 
The weird coco bean characters on the “Cadabra” ride 
The gorilla from the “In the air tonight” ad 
Roo and Katie smile as they pose with Fredo the frog; Rootwo looks less sure -
Got Roo playing proper Monopoly. I love this old set my parents brought in the 70s.
Roo and my mom playing Monopoly 
The green set of cards from monopoly -
Update: I’m big into the development game.
loads of houses on the Monopoly green set -
Guess who won?
Roo holds her Monopoly money in victory
Friday 24 December 2021
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Playing another classic from my youth: Lost valley of the dinosaurs game.
Roo holds the Pteranodon figure -
How cute is this kid?
Roo putting a cookie out for Santa 
Roo's note: "Happy Christmas Santa and Reindeer"
Saturday 25 December 2021
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Merry Christmas one and all.
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What a difference a year makes. Last year we spent Christmas in lockdown. This year, mainly thanks to the vaccines, we were able to get together my my Mom and Dad.
The kids opened their gifts from Santa at 6 am in our bed. It was very sweet. Later, we were able to relax and open our gifts thanks to a ready-prepped Cook Christmas dinner.
In the evening we visited Katie’s sister and the kids enjoyed some much needed cousin time.
Roo express her excitement for Christmas 
My Dad is delighted with Roo’s school photo 
Rootwo enjoying his Christmas dinner while Katie resizes his cracker hat. -
Went for a Christmas Day walk with my old man.
A panoramic shot of my Dad near Brownhills canal 
The canal at Brownhills -
Christmas number two.
My family open their presents
Sunday 26 December 2021
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Finally publishing updates to my own website and syndicating to Twitter thanks to @indiekit
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Lovely to meet up with the fam.
My family -
This boy can jump
Rootwo and his moon boots -
Playing Monopoly again.
Dad buys Euston Road -
Cooking on gas now.
Hotels on Old Kent Road and Whitechapel Road -
Ok. She wins.
Katie does a thumbs up over hotels on Mayfair and Park Lane
Monday 27 December 2021
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We teach ‘em young in this house.
Rootwo doing the washing up as Grandad looks on -
Holy heck we actually made it for a night away.
Katie next to our gigantic four-poster bed -
Lovely meal out with my lovely wife.
Katie at Miller and Carter in Sutton Park -
This is what Katie described as “sex in a glass”.
Katie drinking a passion fruit Martini
Tuesday 28 December 2021
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Cousins!
Roo and Rootwo with their cousins.
Wednesday 29 December 2021
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Roo’s cousins made a treasure hunt. She loved finding all the clues.
Roo sitting on our landing with her prize
Thursday 30 December 2021
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There’s a pleasure in chucking stones into the sea. The bigger, the better. Roo and I cycled down to the beach while Katie and Rootwo were out at a party. She has no idea how much I love spending this one-on-one time with her. She said we should “make a sandcastle, but on the ground”, so we drew one with battlements, turrets, and a portcullis.
Roo on Littlehampton beach 
Roo stands inside a gigantic drawing of a castle we made in the sand -
Just off to fly my Hawker Moth.
Rootwo wears swimming goggles in the bath
Friday 31 December 2021
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Wild New Year’s Eve with @paulrobertlloyd
Paul in our lounge