big red party

Attended Richard+Sarah’s “big red party” to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary yesterday. It was a very special occasion and made even better because it was held in their new home - some 12 miles from Welshpool in the middle of glorious Welsh countryside (with absolutely stunning views across an incredibly green valley and layers of distant hills!). The setting is wonderful and the house is something of an architectural masterpiece (combining a refurbished/converted cottage, the remains of Listed barn and beautiful, elegant new extensions) and filled with countless pieces of Richard+Sarah’s lovely art, their extensive library of books and their wonderful knack for getting everything to look just “right”.
It was the perfect house a big party and the party was just perfect too!
(and a great opportunity to meet up with old friends).
Photo: as you might guess from the picture, the only party rule was that you had to wear something red!

history of modern britain

If you didn’t watch it the first time round (and, actually even if you did, I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s worth seeing it again), I thoroughly recommend that you check out “Andrew Marr’s History of Modern Britain” – the first of the five programmes was repeated on BBC2 last night at 8pm. Brilliantly presented and wonderfully informative, it provides a fascinating insight into the changing face of Britain since 1945.

kielder challenge heats

Had a great day yesterday at Ashton Court in Bristol with our Kielder Challenge team. It was one of the regional heats and the Norton Hill/Fosse Way team were really excellent and came out winners (out of five teams) by quite a margin. We now have to await the outcome of the remaining heats before we know if we’ve been fortunate enough to make the finals in the Kielder Forest in September (there are over 300 teams participating nationally and we gather it will be touch-and-go whether we make the final twelve teams).
Fingers crossed (but, whatever the outcome, the pupils did REALLY well today)!
PS: As I’ve probably explained before, the Kielder Challenge is a national annual competition involving outdoor problem-solving activities for teams of eight 13-16 year olds (four with and four without disabilities).

more football fantasy

The football season has ended and Villa have qualified for the Intertoto Cup (I think that means they need to start palying football matches again at the end June or something rather silly like that!).
The fantasy football season has also finished. As I suggested in February, I am now recognised as one of the up-and-coming managers in this particular aspect of the game….
As I previously reported, ten games into the season, I’d slumped to 630,638th in the UK; since then I’ve edged up to a mere 174,270th. I’m in various leagues and actually WON the Norton Hill league at school for example (ok, there are only 4 of us!) and ended up in 3rd place in another league (out of some 25 teams – but pipped by Colin… although, being a vicar, he did have God in his side or at least by his side!).

I can tell you’re still impressed!

Photo: Villa manager Martin O’Neill (who is rumoured to be interested in utilising Steve Broadway’s wisdom, authority and “can-do” attitude at Villa Park next season).

ten tors

Four of the five teams from school completed the gruelling Ten Tors two-day trek across Dartmoor at the weekend in very warm, strength-sapping conditions (the 55 mile team had to stop at Tor 8). Spoke to lots of them at school yesterday and they were rightly elated (and very proud of their achievements). Great to have been part of the event and to have worked with such wonderful young people – but frustrating not to have been there to see them finish!
Just hoping that the arts trail and ten tors don’t clash again next year!

arts trail (again again!)

Yesterday, I mentioned that Cara+Lisa had travelled from Oxford to see the Arts Trail. Well yesterday we were visited by four students from Japan+Korea! They were in London studying English and decided that they wanted to see some “art”. So, they apparently googled “art”, came across the arts trail event and decided to jump on a bus and check it out! Amazing!
Yesterday was another gloriously sunny day and the crowds were definitely out – in each of the previous two years, we reckon we had some 500 people through our door over the weekend and we certainly reckon we matched that by 6pm yesterday (at least).
Now need a day to recover!

arts trail (again!)

Day One of the SouthBank Arts Trail went very well – perhaps not quite the numbers of the previous year, but still pretty good – and, for a change, the weather was sunny and warm. Although I didn’t take any photographs (something to do with impracticalities of holding glasses of red wine and camera at the same time!), Friday evening was really enjoyable – lots of lovely friends came along (70-80 perhaps?) and it especially good to see so many from school (they ARE just brilliant people!). Moira+I even managed to get out and visit a few of the other venues.
There are over 140 artists in 48 venues within a mile-and-a-half radius in Southville+Bedminster!

PS: It was really lovely to see Cara+Lisa - who came all the way from Oxford to see the exhibition! Stars!

ten tors weekend

This is Ten Tors weekend on Dartmoor – the actual event, not the training. Unfortunately, for the second year running, I’m not going to be there to support our various school teams as they make their way across the moor for 35, 45 or 55 miles (with their huge rucksacks!) because it clashes with the SouthBank Arts Trail weekend. I’ve got to know the participating students pretty well over the past few months and have been hugely impressed by their attitude, determination and humour. If anyone wants to criticise the “youth of today”, I’ll introduce you to any of our students and they couldn’t fail to be impressed by them.
Quite humbling stuff and a real privilege to work with them!