Parkes and Beth. Parkes is trying out her new Zoolander face.

Beth trying the get the knack of crawling. She manages to get her bum in the air but doesn't quite manage to coordinate the legs.

Knights Templar

Today I applied to join the order of the Knights Templar of England and Wales. I have always fancied wearing armour, my physique is of "knightish" form and would look good in a helmet. I filled in an application form online and await a response from the Knights. I feel both my title and my work for charity (Yomp 2007) will stand me in good stead to be accepted into the order.

Once I become a Knight I look forward to completing the IoT Yomp 2008 in September on a horse with big teeth. I will keep you up to date with any news of my application.

Beer + Milk = Bilk. In Japan you can buy beer that is 2/3 beer, 1/3 milk. I'm not sure what it would taste like. Apparently it is used as a way of reducing the Japanese milk surplus. Maybe the Gaddster could investigate brewing Cowbolter with fresh Thanet milk.

¡Póngame un pollo grande!

It's lovely to see Spurs in a cup final again. The last time we beat Arsenal I was at the Lane to witness our 2-1 victory. Great days!! Actually they weren't although we did win the Worthington Cup that year (1999). Spurs have bought some decent defenders in January so hopefully they'll leap up the league table.

The weekend before last my father and Liz popped down to Rammers to say hello and see Beth. We enjoyed a lovely walk and some good chat. This piccie was taken in the back garden. What fabulous socks!

Beth posing with my Dad and Liz.

Burns Night

I was a big fan of Dead or Alive when I was at school. Tomorrow night Parkes' mum has offered to Beth-sit whilst we pop to the pub for a couple of hours to drink to Pete's good health. The Monts here we come (or possibly The Artillery if KK is coming too).

The Thanet Easter Beer Festival is coming!!! It's always my ale-drinking highlight of the year. The festival is a smashing day/night out with lots of fantastic grog, good music and really friendly people. The Winter Gardens in Margate provides a fantastic venue too.

Last year King Keith and myself made a film trying to capture a little of the festival atmosphere (hmmm). We are currently discussing whether to make a film this year and how to make it better than last years film. Any suggestions will be gratefully received and carefully digested.

Valencia: Café con leche and tortilla - the perfect way to start the day!

Valencia: A little cafe on the Plaza de la Virgen where my mother would have a crepe every afternoon. Smashing they were too!

Beth posing with her dad's shoulder in the background. She is now teething but seems to be dealing with it really well. She is now partly on purees and well as milk. Bless her little cotton socks.

Valencia: In the stratosphere at the Mestalla stadium. Parkes and I watched the Valencia v Levante derby game which ended up as a turgid goaless draw. The home side has never won a Spanish league match that Parkes and I have attended (Bilbao, Malaga, Valencia).

However it was worth buying the tickets just to see the sunset over the city from our perch high above the other stands.

Valencia: Looking down on the pitch from our seats. In the corner of the ground you may be able to see a brass band who were "entertaining" the crowds at half-time. It didn't do much for me but then I'm not very brassy.

Chickens

I accidently caught some of Jamie Oliver's new show on Friday night. What I saw really brought home to me the crappy lives battery chickens live. I cannot believe all male chicks in the egg industry are killed. Also, the cages the chickens are kept in resemble mini chicken bedsits (without a bed and with too many occupants). I really like eating chook and I want the chickens (and eggs) I eat to have lived happy lives. As a result I shall not be eating any eggs (unless it is unavoidable) and only properly free-range chicken.

Meanwhile the bush in our office appears to have perked up and the flies have all died. Apparently the flies only had a 48 hour lifespan so I hope they enjoyed themselves.

Valencia: My ladies. Parkes' arms aren't actually that big. I think it is a trick of the camera and/or light.

Valencia: A man in a cap asks an old guy where he can buy some pigeon seed. The old guy says he doesn't know and kicks him right in the nuts.

Valencia: Night on the streets. It was fairly quiet whilst we were out but this was probably because we were only out until 9pm. After midnight is when it happens in Valencia.

Valencia

Parkes, Beth and I returned from a thoroughly pleasant 5 days in Valencia with my mother. The weather was warmish and generally very sunny. The food and drink were decent and the people bouncy. It was a very nice way to the early days of January. I need to download my piccies from phone and camera and I will pop 'em on the Blog.

I returned to work today to find the office full of little flies after a maintenance bod shook the office bush whilst grooming it. There is a lesson there for everyone.

Woohaa! 2008 is here!

New Years Eve was a quiet affair at the Casa del Stringles. Parkes, Beth and myself went for a late afternoon Iranian meal in Ramsgate (which was very tasty) and then we ventured home. We had couple of drinks at home then went to bed at 10:40pm. We were awoken by the fireworks after midnight (it serves us right for going to bed so early) but fell asleep again shortly afterwards.

Parkes is now taking antibiotics to try to clear her snotty bug which she has had on and off for three months - hopefully she will okay for our iminent trip to Valencia with my mother.