Sofia at Whitley Court

Sofia is now 18 months!

Sofia is growing fast!

Sofia at 6 months!

Sofia at 4 months!

She's here! Sofia Marie - our first Grandchild!

Yes, it's finally happened! I am a grandad and Gilda a Granny!

Sofia Marie was born at 12.10pm on Wednesday 23rd April 2008 to Anna and Eliot at Wargrave Hospital, Coventry and things haven't been the same since!!!! Anna is well and Eliot is knackered (no change there then)!



Lewis is over the moon too!

Since I loaded her pictures on to my PC things have started going wrong! I think she is going to be trouble!

But gorgeous with it!

Wyre Forest 5k walk in aid of the BHF - March 2008

We all had a great morning, that is Gilda, me and John. The weather was pretty good except for the odd shower. We all went and had a pint afterwards in the Royal Forester Pub! I met an old friend of mine Tony Kenny which was nice!

I wish that I had taken this picture !

What a classic? This has to be the best picture that I have seen for many a year! Gilda's friend from work gave it to us and everyone I have shown it to just love it!



If you can think of a really good caption then let me know! She seems to be trying to talk some sense into him but I think he will definetely become a builder when he grows up! What a belly? What an advert for NEXT? Priceless!

Another challenge - the London to Brighton bike ride - Sunday 15th June 2008!

Yes, I have applied to to do this and should soon know if I've been accepted! It's only 50 miles so it won't be a big deal! It goes without saying that I will need sponsorship so luck out, I'll be about! All monies collected will go to the British Heart Foundation, one of my favourite charities! Don't forget - we aim to eliminate the 'silent killer'! Think about it! Give generously, it could save your life!

Watch this space!

Meet the outlaws!

Well, we have at last met Anna's parents and we got on great! We met at Eliots restaurant and had a lovely lunch.

BHF 50 mile cycle ride - The Grand Total

At last I have managed to get most of the money in and can now confirm that the total amount of sponsorship collected is £1,515.00! This has exceeded by far any original target so I am very proud of myself and also very thankful to all of those who contributed.

I now need a new challenge! What is it to be?

Looks like I'm going to be a Grandad!

Well Eliot is never short of surprises and this one probably tops them all. He and Anna are going to have a child! The big day is around the 20th April, start of the fishing season (most inconvenient I think!). I have to say that I've been looking forward to being a Grandad for years so this news is like music to my ears! I will of course be taking him fishing as soon as he can hold a rod and talking of Rods - Rod, my friend from down in Bucks, is going to be one too, so we can both take the 2 boys fishing and camping as Liz, Rods daughter, says!

Should be good fun and something to look forward to!

It's official!

Done it! 50 miles in 4hrs 36 min RT!

Lewis and I have done it! It wasn't as painful as we expected and we were very lucky to have a lovely day. It was sunny and warm and slightly painful! My arse came off worse closely followed by my thigh muscles but all in all we got through it very well and ahead of schedule all the way through the various stages. We stopped about 4 times with the biggest break being at Claines church where we sat and ate our sandwiches in the churchyard. Gilda met us there with supplies of water and grub! It was great except evey time we rang Gilda to tell her where we would be for lunch she was either on the phone yapping to someone or in the shower! Never mind we got her eventually and it didn't take her long to come out! Near the end Lewis and I decided we would finish at the Rose and Crown Pub about 1 mile from home so we rang Gilda to let her know and so she could tell others. Could we get her - NO. In the end we left a message about 1 hr away from landing. When we arrived at the pub we looked everywhere but there was no sign of anyone that we knew! Bit of a letdown really! Anyway we rang her and she came out with Marina and John which was nice.

We are very proud of ourselves and have raised more than £1200 for the BHF! Not bad for an old bloke hey?

Wednesday 22nd August 2007

Count down to 50 mile ride!

Only 3 days left, better start training!

I keep telling Rod not to leave his bone lying around where someone could trip over it! Greedy sod! Lazy sod actually! Good fly tyer though!

Fund raising update!

Well, today is my birthday and I'm as happy as I can be despite being 56!

There are just 4 days to go before my 50 mile cycle ride and I have being training fairly hard. I've managed 50 - 60 miles per week and individual rides of up to 27 miles. Lewis hasn't trained anywhere nearly as much as I have so I am a bit concerned that he may not make it!

Sponsorship is going great guns. To date I have been promised in excess of £900! My target was £500 but I am now changing it to £1000. If you are reading this and haven't sponsored me yet then please go to the link on the page below.

I will update this blog after Saturday when the pain has subsided!

50 miles - 25th August - on a bike in aid of the British Heart Foundation!

I've bought slick tyres and a crash hat! Now its time to get down to some serious training. I have my own space on the BHF website so that everyone can sponsor me! Warm up those credit cards because I want to raise some serious cash!




I have set a target of £500 but I want more!



You can sponsor me by clicking this link

www.bhf.org.uk/sponsor/ajholmes

Bewdley braces itself for severe summer flooding!

These pictures were taken on Saturday 21st July 2007 (no not December - July!).

This is unheard of during the summer months and makes you think that there could be more to this global warming than we first thought!

Sounds so good!

I've been a Hi-Fi buff now for many years and have built up a pretty good system. It comprises of a Linn LP12 record deck at the heart of the system fitted with a Naim Aro tone arm and Lyra Helikon cartridge. The LP12 is powered by a Linn Lingo power supply and in my view is the best deck you can get for a reasonable price (better not enlarge upon 'reasonable price' in case my wife reads this). Amplification is all Naim including Hicap power supplies to the Pre-amp and the Stageline phono stage. Naim are the best amps for the money in my view. Finally the speakers are Wilson Benesch Orator's - gorgeous to look at and to listen to. Oh - nearly forgot - I can play CD's in my Naim CDi player but rarely do! To the best of my knowledge it's all made in the UK, except for the cartridge!

Since I have had the Wilson Benesch speakers I have played them close to the back wall of my music room, mainly because the Music Matters Guy at the shop where I bought them recommended me to do so!

Linn LP12 - can be bettered but at what cost?

Just the other night I thought I would move them out away from the wall (about 1 metre). Wow - what a difference it made! The sound stage came alive like I had never known it and the bass tightened up beautifully! Now I can't stop listening to it again!

Mobile Fidelity LP's sound amazing on it but so do many of my old LP's from over 30 years ago! I don't think CD's will ever compete with vinyl. I just hope that new titles keep on coming from Mobile Fidelity, Classic and Diverse to name just a few.

What a picture?

Another of Rodney Byles masterpieces taken in his back garden in Buckinghamshire!

Unless you have very expensive photographic equipment don't try this at home because you won't succeed!



Thanks Rod!

A lovely Great Spotted Woodpecker

Christmas meal at the Dog at Harvington

Jusy a few pics to remember it by?

My dearest and beloved - nice hair do!

Dad always enjoys these do's as long as he's got his gin!

Beverley's Derek and the lads

Me and Gilda

Beverley and the glamorous Melody

Beverley amd Lesley Ann - where's Gareth?

The tribe!