Farnborough Air Show – 24th July 2010

A short walk to the nearby park gives us a free view of the air show – a bit too far for good (close-up) photos but the Red Arrows and the restored Vulcan XH558 came out OK.

Matthew – School Leaving Celebrations – July 2010

It was Matthew’s last year at Lakeside Primary school before joining Thomas at Tomlinscote secondary school in September.
Top celebrate their time at Lakeside the school put on an Oscars Night where the children were given awards – Matthew receiving an “Oscar” for being a “skillful mathematician”.


They also held a “leavers” assembly where they reviewed the children’s time at the school and Matthew played “Für Elise” (the sound quality is poor for the first few seconds I’m afraid).

Matthew – District Sports – 8th July 2010

Matthew had won the long jump competition the week before and the pictures below are from the track competitions.

Matthew ran in both the 70 metres individual and the boys relay races. Although he won his heat of the 70 metres he was just pipped to the post in the final and came in second. The relay team also came second in their final.

Matthew – Camberley Boys Maroons – Football Presentation – 20th June 2010

Here’s Matthew with the rest of the Maroons at their end of season presentation:

It had been a difficult season for the Maroons but they had won the tournament at California FC the week before which helped a little:

 
(picture by the club photographer; not me)

Matthew - Frimley Green Cougars Football Team Presentations - June 2010

A very successful year for Matthew and the Frimley Green Cougars as the team won their league and Matthew won the Manager’s Player of the Year award.

Here he is getting his award at the club’s presentation evening:

Here’s the picture done by the club photographer (not me):

There was also a  presentation ceremony run by the Surrey Primary League where the team received their trophies:

 

Holiday in South Africa – Cradle of Mankind – 22nd April 2010

The only advantage of being stranded in South Africa because of the disruption due to the volcanic eruption  in Iceland was that it gave us some more time for sightseeing.

We took a trip north from Johannesburg to the Cradle of Mankind; so known as it is the area where the oldest known remains of human ancestors have been found.

We visited two of the sites: firstly the visitor interpretation centre at Maropeng and then later that afternoon the museum and caves at Sterkfontein.

Maropeng

Sterkfontein

 

Holiday in South Africa – South African National Museum of Military History – 15th April 2010

We were due to fly home in the evening so I took the opportunity to go to the South African National Museum of Military History which was just a few minutes drive from our friends’ place.

There’s lots to see in the museum and the extensive collection photographs from the Boer War were especially  interesting.

Holiday in South Africa – Durban – 10th to 13th April 2010

We drove down to meet our friends in Durban and stay at her brother’s beach house there. The next few days were spent relaxing and enjoying the beach and the great weather.

 

Holiday in South Africa – Rorke’s Drift – 10th April 2010

The next morning, on our way to Durban, we stopped in at the battlefield of Rorke’s Drift. Fought later in the same day as the defeat at Isandlwana, this was an epic last stand where the British soldiers managed to hold the small mission station against overwhelming odds: 139 British against an estimated 4,000 Zulus.

   

Rorke's Drift Lodge where we stayed for our visit to Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.