Bigger and better!

The theme of the week in the Hammond house is definitely bigger and better. Mrs Hammond desperately (and I use the word desperately) wants an IPad for her birthday and the build up to the two days of consumerism in October coincidentally around the time of Amy and Lucy's birthdays is hitting fever pitch. Lucy is also not missing out by pointing out that every toy advertised on the  television she would like for her birthday. Anna thinks this is small fry and at the cinema she asked Amy if we could have a television as big as this! I, on the other hand have very big aspirations - I would love a bigger house and am currently working on this! Watch this space....

All good things must come to an end....

My quality time with my family has come to an end. We got back to Norfolk yesterday after an amazing family holiday in Cornwall and I now have to role my sleeves up and go back to work in the morning. I will take away with me so many lovely memories of the last two weeks: taking Wiggle on her first roller coaster and log flume and the shear giggles of delight as she sat next to me; delicious cream teas; the day on the beach at Sennon Cove and the walk I had with Lucy hand in hand, just the two of us, talking about nothing much is very special to me. 

The collective family Hammond's addiction to two pence slot machines, candy floss and Cornish ice cream. Collecting shells and treasure on the beach with Lucy and the appalling sand castles we made! I would not say we had that much skill but it was fun! Pizza Express in St Ives with the amazing and stunning view of the harbour - we became regulars by the time we went home! The way watching my girls play on the beach makes me simply breathless - the wonderful innocence of their childhood...

Anna's need to try out every beach in Cornwall naked and her great one liners such as "Now that's a real digger!"; teaching the girls how to play pool; Lucy's desperate attempts to survive two weeks without Sky television and the way she almost cuddled the remote control when she got back yesterday, and last but not least some precious time with my beautiful and very expensive wife. I know one thing: all three of my girls have definitely emptied my wallet in the last two weeks. Till the next holiday my lovely family...

Simply doing holiday things...

I have to say we like digging holes, us Hammonds. Where there is a beach, armed with a bucket and spade we will dig the biggest hole we can and with a backdrop like the one pictured, you can't help but enjoy the experience. Holidays suit us as a family too. We love staying in bed late, drinking way too much lemonade and eating way too much ice cream. Why stop when we are so good at it?!  I really enjoyed doing the history quiz with Lucy in the castle at St Michael's Mount. We got full marks and won a badge! Sadly, only a few more days before we have to go home and today has been washed out with the rain, so we had to make do with the water slides at the park. The red one is red for a reason and indicates severe danger. Amy and I both tried this heart attack inducing slide and both came off a nervous wreck! Not for the faint hearted and I have to say we took our duties as a parent to the extreme in testing this out before deciding if Lucy could have a go. Amy went first and I thought she was exaggerating, how wrong I was!

And then the heavens opened....

There I was cappuccino in hand, sun streaming down on me on St Ives beach with my feet buried in the sand. I was surveying the iconic sand castle that Lucy and I had just built and drinking in a wonderful experience when it happened, the heavens well and truly opened. Boy did we get wet. A shame because the rain just burst my bubble as dozens of families legged it to find shelter, including us. It was a picture of chaos as buckets, spades, picnic blankets and various inflatables were grabbed in the mayhem. I felt so far removed from the stresses and strains of day to day life and was so content to be there all day and just simply watch the girls play. The girls have spent so much time together away from the television, school and nursery as well as strict routines and have really reaffirmed their bond as sisters. Playing, giggling and letting their imaginations run wild in their new surroundings and environment. To add balance there has been a few fights too! 

A birthday that took me to Eden and back...

What a fantastic birthday I have had. A simply wonderful day with Amy and the girls. I was woken early and briskly ushered through opening my presents by the girls and presented with pictures and cards that have come from the Anna/Lucy assembly line over the last few days. Loved my ipod touch - wow! (thank you Mrs H) Anna has insisted on calling me 'birthday boy' all day. Then off to the Eden project which is a spell binding place. Anna describing the dome as bubble wrap that she wanted to burst! Back to the cottage for chocolate cake and then out to Newquay for a birthday KFC. We know how to live us Hammonds! The day finished off with the wonderful sight of the girls running away from the waves on the beach. No need for a picture of that one, will keep that one in my head for a long time. Thank you to my lovely family for a cracking birthday. xxxx

Yop, bumble bee, wiggly woo, wiggly woo!

Sometimes I just set myself up for a fall and it comes back to bite me several weeks later. In a moment of silliness about a month ago I recorded the above words on Lucy's DS and I have to say that we have not heard anything else today when she found it this morning. Ahhhh! Cornwall is fab. I have to say that it can keep Penzance after our visit yesterday, but Lands End was stunning and the girls loved it. In particular the miniature villages that just sparked Lucy's imagination into overdrive as she dreamt up stories about fairies and little people. Today we have been prospecting for Gold (I am afraid we did not find enough to induce early retirement for me) and whooshing down water slides - great fun! I do like these holiday things, they really help you chill out. Loving time every day with the girls and Amy, I do however require more sunshine please. One more sleep till my birthday!