London Town

That sad day on my Nan's internment.

My bro and sister were off afterwards to celebrate their 1st wedding anniversary, so bless them I got a free ride to the airport. Now with 7 hours to spare how could one not take a trip to London. So I did. Checked in at the airport, dumped the suitcase and off to Putney we jolly well go.

Here is a few pictures of my little journey there.

Off we go.

Heathrow Express to Paddington and jump the tube to Putney Bridge and lets have a little walk.
Actually it turned in to a bloody long walk as I walked all the way from Putney Bridge to the cemetery to see Ni and Yui.
That is a good few miles I can tell you. But it was worth it indeed to see the place up front and personal.

Old Father Thames.

This is the scene from Putney Bridge - also well known for the starting point of the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race.

The old church by the river - walked past many a time on the way somewhere for drinks at the river's edge.

Putney High Street.

Not much has changed to be honest. The shops are the same, apart from a HUGE H&M (don't tell Mary). The buses are all modern now, with the old 'jump on the back' ones being de-commissioned sadly.

Manorfields.

A walk up Putney Hill out of the high street brings you nearly to Wimbledon - our home for many years. Manorfields.
A lovely place full of gardens, birds and squirrels.
It was great to see it - many memories flooding back of course.

Here we are.

Yep that's ours - the one on the second floor to the left of the door.
Our home.
Where baby Ollie grew.

Heathrow landings.

Being in Putney it is exactly on the landing path for Heathrow Airport - every minute of so a plane will come overhead, yes literally ever minute or so. I'll be on one of them soon, just going the other way is all.

The cemetery.

Now because I walked I entered the cemetery from the top this time. Something never done before, so I was able to see these beautiful gardens, fountains, trees, walkways, sort of avenue like. Beautiful.

Naoko Kennett

I got to see my Ni. Just a brief hello.
An update on all things changed in the last 12 months.
Of course Mary and I is the big breaking news. She was happy with that I am certain.
Lovely to see her though - albeit fleetingly.

And final stop - The Green Man

And my final stop for my little tour - The Green Man and a pint or two with my mother-in-law, Mizuyo who was in London that very week, and did also come to Nan's funeral.

So a couple of pints of Guinness and a lovely chat. Jump the bus, jump the tube, jump the Heathrow Express, jump the plane - Hi Mary and kids, Daddy's home. 

Amy nails it again

Sophs looking after the make-up department for the big performance. 

And pucker - yeap looking good. Eat your heart out Beyonce!!!

Rutherford sponsorship for the wee one. Love these girls!

And practice practice and don;t forget the walk this time girls!!! So this was the Mountbatten Community Centre family day thing, Amy and crew get asked to come and perform again. I think they stole the show. Everyone was cameras on and filming their performance - just amazing what they do. What a performance!!! Rah Rah to Ms Ho and the troupe!!!

Now to see the full performance on video you need to visit me on Facebook at;

Just the most amazing birthday present

So many thanks to family Kennett for enabling a life long dream to happen. Not swimming with dolphins, but being in their habitat. A trip to Adventure Cove and Dolphin Island this weekend. Don some diving head gear and get 4m down in the water to be almost 121 with a beautiful female bottle nosed dolphin.

Yep I'm happy. Look at her. Rui Rui was her name (I think). She was just beautiful. So graceful. So gentle Look she even has her eyes closed as she swims past for a little tickle.

How about a kiss. Why thank you.

Just an amazing hour or so of my life. Everyone should do this. When we were under water all the visitors in the aquarium were watching us through the glass. So I/we were on hundreds of peoples tour that day. Ha Ha. "Does my bum look big in this?" Truly just one of the best things I have done, ever. Thanks again Mary, Ollie, Amy and Jude - WOW!!! For once Daddy was speechless, and we all know that does not happen very often.

Mr & Mrs Kennett - what a day

Now I didn't really get a chance to take many photos - just so so busy with the day and all that.

But here is my meagre sampling.

Not too bad though ha ha!!!

My two girls - flower girl and wedding girl - both looking incredible beautiful it has to be said.

Baby Jude just sort of laying around. Bless him he was such a good boy on the day. Lots of attention though for him!

A lovely snap of The Rutherfords. A belter in fact!!!

Tezla's toes. Class act. All the boys got decked out including Tezla and his painted toenails.

And now my two boys. Ollie you were truly a star mate. You looking after your brother made a great day for Mary and I. Thanks my mate. 

Class act. The boys. Black tie and board shorts - love it!!!

Yours truly with some of my work colleagues and friends - namely Diane, Cindy and Pat. Finally I took off the jacket.

Mwah - Mum and Son - nice one babes.

Mr Davies and Mrs Kennett + son. Once one Simon, real nice!!!

And the final one I took. A lovely one of Leni with Mary & Amy - Philippines united!!! Once one ladies!!!

Family Fun Day Siglap

Up early.

Ballet stuff on.

And then back two hours later to watch Amy's performance.

OMG amazing.

Beyonce song a blazing and 12 or so gorgeous 7 year olds do that dance of a lifetime.

Just incredible.

Amy you looked about 17 up there in the stage. Yet again you have blown us away.

You looked stunning - like a 1940's film star, just beautiful.

Sophia thanks so very much for staying on and doing the girl's make-up. Look how beautiful they were. Wow. All in the eye-liner hun!!! Ha Ha Ha!!!

And Jude and I even had the chance to get a cartoon of each other drawn up. That's one for the wall. Ha Ha Ha!!! Too many wrinkles matey!!! 

Seriously - how old?

A year had passed, and passed in record time.

Just to look at the kids will give that sense of time, and time of change. Ollie now is about 1" from being the same height as me, Jude is 18 months old, and Amy is dancing away doing her ballet version of Swan Lake. Time moves so fast.

And another year passes and Ryan's world famous BBQ kicks in again - woo hoo.

Multi-cultural indeed as always.

Food galore, amazing food in fact - check islifearecipe.net to get my contribution.

So here to some photos.

Photos though pretty much grabbed by Jude ha ha.

I was cooking so did not get much time to man the camera as well, sadly.

But anyways some nice snaps!!!

Do you reckon Mary & Jude conversed about outfits? Mum I'm thinking of wearing my really loud Hawaiian shirt that Nanny got me. OK Jude I'll wear my version too, said Mum. 

Just chilling Dad.
I like it here on the sand.
But Dad I'm not sure if I look cute enough?
Indeed you absolutely do baby Jude. Believe me!!!

Special guests both first timers in Singapore from Philippines.
I welcome Mary's boy Jimboy (who has been here a month already) and Mary's Mum.
I think they had fun. Well from Jimboy's face maybe you won't get that, but Mum's face absolutely!!!

Brothers in Arms!!!

Here's that carnivore again.
He is chomping on a lamb cutlet bone.
A lamb cutlet that was a little spicy as I had made Persian lamb.
Looks like Jude loved it, bless him.

"Yummy Dad, I love it!"
I love you too baby Jude!!!

OMG - go Amy, go Amy

AMY ROCKS!!!

OMG - you know as a parent you think, will she survive in local school, how will she get on, will she be OK? Well my darling Amy has just answered those questions for us, as we attended PTA this morning at her new school - Opera Estate.

Let's have a little walkthrough shall we.

First up School Values for which she gets an across-the-board 100% marking.
Does not need any assistance.
The teachers were so impressed with her attitude to learn, her classmates, the teachers etc. WOW

Next up is Mathematics.
This is a SUPER tough subject in local school.
Oh dear me - how did she do, scary....
BOOM she got 28/35.
AMAZING!!!!

And next is English Language.
A MASSIVE 19/20.
Amy my darling you are on a roll indeed.
But the big scary Mother Tongue comes next.

Out of my way Mother Tongue - you don't scare me.
10/10
or 100%
Amy you have amazed Mary and I today.
WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW!!!

So very very happy for you and your success today Amy.

The teachers were so happy with your work, you being you, the fact that you chat away in Chinese all the time. But one final thing they said; "Look what happens when you don't revise!!!" 

Such a proud Dad moment!!!

Weekend of 16/17th May

Now please don't accuse me of bad parenting here.

For Amy's 7th we had;

• In-laws over from Japan for amazing get togethers and meals;
• Loads of presents from overseas family and friends;
• Too many for her, but thanks so much - something I now must fix with the rest that is now cluttering her room from days of old - 3, 4, 5 year old presents;
• Trips to ballet;
• Japanese meals; 
• Universal Studios; and 
• Linking all of the above to Mary's son's birthday a week later than Amy's.

So this year friends, family & Amy - no official birthday party.

I think we did so so much already to celebrate the amazing date now past.

So here is a taster of the yet more fun we had after the event of the actual birthdays.

Not many snaps as our Jimboy is a tad of the shy-side shall we say - but I think, and hope he has had some fun with us, and of course spending some lovely quality time with Mum.

Little Jude having a wee dance in front of the mirror ha ha. Weekend about to start it seems.

We went large for the ballet at Esplanade. Hey why not - a wonderful Daddy Daughter Day. Getting dressed up with one of the most very special women in my life. 

I think we look damn good.
Funny thing was Amy had this dress out on the day of her birthday until the ballet on Saturday ha ha.
Yes she was VERY keen to have her present.
And I have to say what a absolutely amazing experience - seen some ballets in my time, and this was a stand-out.

Off to Universal today - bit of an additional birthday treat for Amy, and a big one for Jimboy. I think they both had a ball. Of course accompanied by Mary, Jude and Ollie - and my very good friend's son, Ben. Lovely lad - Trevor you should be very proud mate. But have to say was rather funny when 13 year Ollie was stood next to 17 year old Ben. Who could have got away with ordering a pint and getting away with it - ha ha!!! Great to have you with us today Ben, thanks for coming.

Sadly no pictures of my today. Unless you think the big fat hairy thing above is me...
No need for anyone to answer that!!!

I love this one as the green character from Sesame Street is called Oscar.
For some of my close family they will know that my Grandad used to call Oliver, Oscar in his latter years and the mind was not so 'straight'. Great memories - so I demanded Ollie sit in this s one with Mary and Jude. Jude loved this character too as you can see from his face and the fact that he is holding Oscar's tongue ha ha.

Also you'll see Ollie's leg is MASSIVELY on the mend. Patch off today to let the air get to it. Drugs over. Stitches out.
So all hopefully a bad memory, but one that mays stop him doing it again!

Now Amy was able to ride all the open rides today - lucky growth spurt there.
But poor baby Jude was very limited and sadly so therefore was Mary. We did a couple of swops, but...
So here is one such ride where all the guys (except Ollie and Ben who were off doing their own thang!!!)

Very nice Jimboy - maybe even a little smile coming out there matey??? 

Ah OK Jimboy must have been wind.
Come on your Mum and Brother were all smiles ha ha.
I know you had fun though pal - as I saw you chatting to your Mum with A HUGE GRIN on your face many times today.

Last but not least - little Amy having a blast on the tallest animal on the merry-go-round.
I actually sat next to her on this ride to save standing up after taking a few snaps.
Like this ride - takes you back some years!

Just gong round and round, with no real sense of purpose or energy output.
Sounds like some of my old careers to be honest!

And final one for the day is Baby Jude - all a bit phased out today.
But dancing man oh man - he and his sister put in some dance miles today.
Maybe just a little tired then mate.
Hope you have fun too!!!