This girl loves her Pizza!

Nothing makes a Hammond happier than sunshine and good food. Once again this weekend we have been treated to both, as well as a bit of the wet stuff. Rock pooling at West Runton provided a picnic in the rain, Cromer provided sunshine and ice cream and Mrs Hammond provided a barbecue feast for Grandma and old friends yesterday. It has been a home day today, clearing bedrooms, housework and catching up on jobs, much to the girls disgust. 'I was not born to clean' stated Anna in a sultry mood this morning. 'Neither was I', was my reply! After such a great weekend, we cannot sustain the levels of food and entertainment we have all weekend. We still have the rest of half term to get through as yet! So as we finish off a practical day, I am typing having completed my work, Amy is asleep on the couch (Mrs Hammond you surprise me!), Anna is watching Star Wars and Lucy is sewing in her room on her patch work project. Pretty much a normal family then. We may all be doing separate things, but the house has a lovely feel about it today. After all it is home...

Where's Anna?!?

Jamie's game at Carrow Road is a great way to spend a May Sunday afternoon in the glorious sunshine, even better when spent with the girls. We rocked, boogied, ate way too many sweets, shouted till hoarse and enjoyed the footy together. I have to confess to barely knowing who any of the celebrities were, I must be getting old. Lucy was animated and excited all afternoon in an attempt to get the autograph of her favourite 'YouTube vlogger' - alas her efforts were in vain. Anna and I did manage to bag both the autograph and firm handshake of John Ruddy for the last time with sadness on probably his last appearance at Carrow Road. Thanks for the memories big John and the fine saves. The bottom photo sent to me by a friend in the crowd behind us is proof that no matter where you are in Norfolk Anna can be spotted in her distinctive hat and even in a large crowd. It does come in handy if she wanders off to identify her! Thanks for a lovely afternoon girls xx

Another member of the family also progressing...

When she arrived in our home, I cannot lie Inkey was a bit of a mess - a nervous, worried and not really healthy looking dog. It been over a year now and she is turning into a lovely family pet and one that is now firmly embedded into our lives. Whilst she still retains some of her old traits and worries such as she is scared of the microwave, howls when the house phone goes off and really does not like any strange men coming to the house, she definitely feels safe and loved now. She is still very much a beagle as she loves to empty the kitchen bin, eats her fair share of cat poo and could not be trusted off the lead! There have been times when she has urinated on the carpet and cost an arm and a leg at the vets (everything that Inkey has is not covered by her insurance) that I have not felt the love or owner bond. She is cheeky, greets you when you come home (sometimes more than my uncommunicative girls!), starting to become playful and adores a cuddle with the girls. The change in her behaviour I think is so wonderful is when she comes home from her walk, she bounds with pure and unrestrained excitement, legs a flailing everywhere and leaps through the dog flap into her home. She loves being part of a family and we love her. I do wish I could drag some more enthusiasm out of the girls at times though in walking her though, but I do confess to enjoying the peace and quiet of a walk with the dog sometimes though too. Just me and her, my thoughts and the sunshine...

Greatness beckons bombing down the right hand side...

I am sure I must describe Anna's footballing achievements with more than a little dramatic licence and parental over exuberance, but Saturdays tournament saw the 'Fakenham Under 9's Ghosts' footballing prowess move up a notch or two.  The team were fabulous and recorded their third and fourth victory of the week. All against teams they had previously lost too. Anna, resilient in defence, but desperate to get a goal did just about everything but score. At one point, taking the ball from her own penalty box right up to the oppositions and forcing a save from the tight angle, having beaten no less than four of the opposition. She was like a woman possessed! I cheered and roared like I was watching a Norwich game. Anna wears her heart on her sleeve and sometimes this spills over. In not getting her goal, got quite upset and for a few minutes failed to see the very real importance of all the defensive work she put in. That will come with maturity and as each season goes by. You may not have believed me in the past when I said a real team is now evolving and emerging and one that is capable of going from strength to strength with some really good wins next season, but it genuinely is. I think Anna may just have found her position as an attacking full back as well. I am looking forward to watching her again and again immensely next year, perhaps a new hat is needed! Well done Wiggle and team. It's all coming together! xx

Wild about the Hammonds!

The beauty and backdrop of Pensthorpe and the 'Wild about Wensum' day was the setting for a very relaxed and slow paced family day today. A ramble through the woods, collecting stamps and stickers, a classy pastry and pringle picnic, arts, crafts and activities, a feral run around the playground and pop home for a delicious tea next door. One sorted and contented Hammond family! Lucy begins a big week next week, with the advent of the 'Sats' exams - she is taking them very seriously indeed and has put some level of pressure on herself to work hard and succeed. We will not know the outcome of her efforts till probably July, I can only place on record that I am extremely proud of her, her application and effort. We keep saying to her that all we want is for her to work hard in all she does and simply do her best, not because we think she will fail, this is all we expect and she never disappoints and always meets our expectations. Good luck Looby Chick!