Puppietastic!

We've got puppies coming out of our ears up here. Well... six of them if truth be told. Gorgeous, fluffy little cuteness-on-a-stick cockerpoodles they are, all reared by the lovely Gracie, with a little help from The Lady Brenda. Sorry to disappoint you... they're all sold!

A family affair...

I was at the christening of my niece's son today. Here are the lovely family with Lucas being pretty well behaved and big sister Eva helping out at certain important points in the ceremony

I made a keep-sake to mark the occasion for the little fella, and Eva got one too as I missed her dunking four years ago.

Happy 10th Birthday Leon!

Our grandson Leon is ten years old today. Here's a picture of him with his dad just before they went on holiday to Finland earlier this year. Also here is a special track that his dad wrote for his big day. I have to admit it brought a tear to my eye listening to it. Happy 10th birthday Leon... hope you have a great day!

Half Term in that London

A half term trip to visit the southern contingent of children and grandchildren. A mixture of busy-ness and chilling, travelling in the capital, plodging around in the rain, a gorgeous Thai meal with Aaron and Nicola, playing with the grandkids and a quick visit to the National Portrait Gallery!... listening to Angel play her violin, watching 'UP' with the Toggies.... oh.... and Emma died her hair red... beautiful!

Poppy plays the cello!

Here is our eleven year old granddaughter Poppy, who was playing the cello last night and performing with 300 other children from Islington schools 'Music First' project. A cute picture... but nothing really remarkable about this I suppose you might say, except that Poppy has been profoundly deaf from birth, and has a *cochlear implant. Wow Poppy you are amazing!

(*A cochlear implant bypasses the damaged part of the ear and sends sound directly to the hearing nerve providing a clearer understanding of sound and speech).

Wicked!

Our granddaughters went to see 'Wicked' at the Hammersmith Apollo and went backstage to meet one of the actors, Alexia Khadime (the Wicked Witch of the West), who is a friend of Aaron.

Christmas #2

More festive fun from the Sokell household on Christmas Day...

Poppy and Grandpa took Gracie for a walk in the snow... while Emma preferred to stay in the warm and read her new book...

The Wii was a big hit with Grandma, Sari, Angel and Megan...

Matt 's competitive edge was channeled into Monopoly City...

Grandma applied the ceremonial flame to the pudding...

And then relaxed with her new massage machine.

Christmas #1

Christmas is here once again, and here are the photos to prove it... Firstly the winter village scene made by me and Bren on Christmas Eve... (cut outs provided, in case I duped you into thinking we had constructed all those little houses from raw cardboard!). Then some mince pies, constructed by me - mincemeat courtesy of daughter Emma, pastry courtesy of Jus-Rol. Thirdly Leon (nine years old) using his new touch screen phone to call his friend whilst holding his Wii control in the other hand. I think when I was nine my Christmas present was The Kit Carson Annual... how times change. More family arriving tomorrow for continued festive fun.

Another party...

Last weekend, despite the unpredictable weather, we ventured forth to that Romford to go to a party. Emma and Phil have a party every year before Christmas and we wanted to be there! Safe journey down, despite frozen screen washers, with a 5.5 hours journey as opposed to the usual 4.5. The journey was well worth it and we had a brilliant time and also got back safe and sound. Here are the ladies in the kitchen rustling up some goodies.... of which there were many and various... thank you Emma!

Celebrations included musical 'spots' by various individuals, including Megan (almost 13!) and Poppy. Her version of Silent Night, helped by grandma, were enough to bring a very large lump to my throat and a tear to my eye. You could have heard a pin drop from those assembled, as Poppy impressed her talents upon us. Beautiful!

Poppy is eleven!

Following the family theme of the last post, here is a photo of our granddaughter Poppy. It's her birthday today and she's eleven years old. What a wonderful girl Poppy is... lively and engaging, with a charm and smile that can knock you down from six feet. Mind you, she's not averse to the odd 'lip' when things aren't going her way! Poppy has had much to endure in her eleven years, and she has born it, as far as I know, with bravery and determination. I have no doubt that the next eleven years for her will also have their challenges, but I'm equally confident that she will rise above them all and become a young lady of talent and vitality. With that quick wit and disarming smile she's got it made!

Sokell's x4

Bearing a slight resemblance to a police line up.... here are four Sokell blokes (three generations) in one shot. Bren managed to get this while we were all together this weekend.

She's back in town....

Granddaughter Angel returned last week to stay with us for a few days (14 to be exact!) As usual her behaviour has been impeccable and I believe she has thoroughly enjoyed herself. Leon has been to stay this weekend too so they've had fun together, and also with Gracie, including a trip to Blyth beach this afternoon.

Fairground attraction...

Annitsford hosted a fun fair during the weekend. We went with Leon yesterday and he enjoyed a few of the rides. I accompanied him - so that he wouldn't be scared - on something that went around and around and up and down (both at the same time mind!) at a great rate of knots. "This is great fun isn't it grandpa?" "Yes," I replied... through gritted teeth. I have hated these things ever since I was a child, and I never get used to them. After the ride finished and my feet were once again on Terra Firma, it took me a couple of hours before I stopped feeling sick. What a softie I am!

Lucas makes his entrance...

Here's the latest addition to our family. My niece gave birth last week to this lovely little bundle of joy... Lucas Isaac Thompson weighed in at 8lb 12oz. Big sister Eva starts as she means to go on by letting Lucas know who's in charge around here! Little does SHE know that that role has already been taken by Granny!

Newcastle Mela

Yesterday we were at the Newcastle Mela with Matt and Leon. This is an annual event (Mela means 'gathering') and is organised by the Asian community in the city. It's always a bright, lively and colourful event, and one of the outstanding features, for me at any rate, is the wonderful range of cooking smells from all the terrific food stalls. Leon settled for Candy Floss (the packet said Cotton Candy but we knew what they meant, and in any case, when did they start to put it in a PACKET?!!) The Lady Brenda headed directly for the Chikken Tikka and Gracie loitered around, picking up any scraps. Perhaps it was the lack of sunshine, but we all agreed that this year's event wasn't so bright and lively as previously.

Post London pics

Been catching up on the inevitable back-log of work this week since our return from that London. Here are a few highlights of our trip... Emma marked our arrival with a special dessert... what an amazing cook she is!

Some bloke Bren met on the Embankment...

And a slightly better catch farther along...

It doesn't get much better than acting the fool in McDonalds with your granddaughters...

Megan taking things slightly more maturely.... writing her memoirs no doubt...

Apparently this is what passes for a beach in somewhere called Brighton...

Summer water fights.... great fun!..

Matt and Leon were dropped off at Stansted en route to Finland...

Aaron and Bren at Carnaby Street...