:: schonken.com ::

Family catch-up

2012-01-07T16:54:00.007Z

Lovely to catch up with the N Schonkies (aka Coco&Co) for a new year's braai in London and with cousin Chris back in Moray.
(And one more pic of Annie guarding my corker lemon meringue pie.)

Last week of 2011

2012-01-01T18:24:00.012Z

After a peaceful "just the 4 of us" Christmas at home, we trained down to London and caught up with the Pinnocks, Hills and Coco&Co. Highlights included a trip to Hamleys toyshop, lots of sushi, the Tate Modern art gallery, and lunch at Jamie Oliver's new "Union Jacks" family-friendly "British flatbread" establishment for lunch.

The past week

2011-12-16T16:34:00.004Z

We're finally on holiday (although poor Annie only breaks next Wednesday). The weather has been clear and crisp and not much snow to speak of during the last few weeks (pic below of Benanna's best snowman attempt). The tree is up and the chocolate (!) fruitcake has been baked and iced. Philip is one step closer to becoming a true Scotsman: he wore a kilt to the school's Christmas supper last week!

Hard to believe it's nearly the end of November...

2011-11-22T17:11:00.007Z

We spent the weekend up the coast at a colleague's sea cottage in Spey Bay: fab, clear, sunny days and P and B even managed to get onto the lifeguard paddle ski and play around in the Moray Firth (wetsuits compulsory). Not bad for the 20 November, though!

October Half term

2011-10-31T06:43:00.012Z

The Bloxham Thompsons visited us and we had a great time with Frankie and Sam (Philip's godson). Other highlights included last night's spooky Halloween party.

40 Years' Young...4 October 2011

2011-10-14T15:14:00.005+01:00

Aviemore 24 September

2011-09-25T19:21:00.007+01:00

We spent the night in Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park to celebrate our 12th (!) wedding anniversary this weekend. We took the mountain railway up the Cairn Gorm Mountain: 6th highest mountain in Scotland and popular ski centre. No snow just yet, but it felt bitter at 3000 feet. To top off a special day, two new babies born to cousins on both sides of our families: congrats to Mike and Vix Williams on the birth of Emma Sophie and to Cindy (James) and Darren Kingman on the birth of James Peter!

Cousin Chloe's 2nd visit to Scotland

2011-08-22T19:37:00.006+01:00

Cambridge and Bloxham

2011-08-06T14:43:00.016+01:00

We spent a fab weekend in Cambridge with Cousin Coco and cutie Emro Awerbuck et al.
Then on to Bloxham to see the Thompos and the Gerbers...

Camping with the Hills: Weymouth, Dorset

2011-08-06T14:27:00.015+01:00

Down south...

2011-08-06T14:15:00.012+01:00

Camping in Dorset, in Eastbourne and near Littlehampton for Tristans' birthday.

Venice

2011-07-12T08:20:00.013+01:00

Jesola - North Venetian Coast

2011-07-12T08:09:00.012+01:00

Quick update...

2011-07-01T15:43:00.002+01:00

We break tomorrow for our lovely long summer holiday - hard to believe we've completed our first year here!
Latest news includes: Ben got the prize for the top academic in his year group and we're really chuffed.
Anna came first in the 100m sprint at her athletics day (equally chuffed!)
I've just accepted a full-time teaching post for next year: maternity EAL cover for 6 months, so it seems that my life as a stay-at-home mum is sadly well and truly over :)
We are heading to Italy for a few days next week and then hope to see many friends and family down south while we are in England for the rest of the month.
Some pics of our night away in the nearby "whisky" village, Aberlour (gorgeously situated on the banks of the River Spey).
The top photo was taken from our lounge window: the drama department presents a production in the Square annually. Ben was in the front row during this performance and the rest of the family got to see the play last night. Gotta love this school!

Leavers' Ball

2011-05-29T16:28:00.009+01:00

We survived our first major parents' weekend and Leavers' Ball. Benanna did a sterling job handing around the canapes at our pre-ball drinks with our Year 13s and their parents. We had a fairly stress-free evening saying goodbye to our lovely senior boys. (Pictured downing their pints of milk, as house tradition dictates, and with the portrait of the school's illustrious ex-governor looming behind them in the bottom picture).

Gairloch: Camping with the Collins Family

2011-05-16T16:45:00.018+01:00

2011-05-16T16:45:00.001+01:00

Benjy is 9!

2011-05-16T16:42:00.005+01:00

Star Wars and Hello Kitty Parties

2011-05-10T19:44:00.012+01:00

We very bravely held Benanna's combined 9th and 6th birthday parties on Sunday. Fortunately, some of their 63 Big Brothers from the house were on hand to help with the treasure hunt, games on the cabbage patch field outside, and the arduous task of manning the chocolate fountain. We held the party in the library's "Silence Room" adjoining our flat (well, not that day). Star Wars inspired snacks included stormtroopers' fingers and cosmic candy floss, while the girlies indulged in kitten cupcakes and homemade rainbow jelly. Mum and Dad lived to plan another party...

Birthdays and Royal Wedding

2011-04-30T21:17:00.003+01:00

Jozi

2011-04-30T21:10:00.011+01:00

Nieu-Bathesda

2011-04-30T20:55:00.011+01:00

East London again

2011-04-30T20:47:00.010+01:00

Stutt

2011-04-30T20:38:00.009+01:00

East London

2011-04-24T18:42:00.011+01:00

Jeffries (via Knysna)

2011-04-24T18:35:00.006+01:00

Cape Town continued

2011-04-24T18:08:00.015+01:00

Apologies for the lack of blog-action. We've been home for a week and I came back to two extra English classes, which is seriously impinging on my blogging time :)
Had a great holiday and good to see you all (hope to catch up with people we missed this time around, next year).

Cape Town Day 1

2011-04-01T09:14:00.006+01:00

Jhb to CT (via Colesberg)

2011-04-01T08:58:00.005+01:00

Red Nose Day

2011-03-16T14:16:00.004Z

Never one to be caught napping, Ben has already planned (and laid out on his bedroom floor) his outfit for Friday's Red Nose Day (big national fundraising drive). Unfortunately the trousers he plans to wear are in the wash :)
(We are planning on changing his name to Bean Schonken.)

Moray Coastal Path Cycle

2011-03-06T18:38:00.001Z

The Scottish Costas

2011-03-01T11:52:00.007Z

And after Health and Safety Policy Review...

2011-02-28T11:51:00.000Z

Before and After...

2011-02-26T12:26:00.004Z

Regan, Cordelia and Goneril (and lots of sunshine!)

2011-02-15T10:08:00.004Z

Meet the latest three additions to the family. No eggs just yet, but they should be laying by the Spring.
And just in case you are feeling sorry for us at the tippy top of Scotland, don't. Weather has been fab in Costa del Moray: we've seen more sun here in six months than in our entire 10 years in England. We've had weeks and weeks of lovely blue skies, which is a real treat!

Ropes' Course

2011-01-29T22:54:00.006Z

It's fast becoming our little Saturday afternoon tradition: cycling up to the top of the school campus to the ropes' course and spending half an hour or so monkeying around in the trees...

Happy Burns' Day

2011-01-25T19:25:00.005Z

Annie was delighted to make it through to the big final of Class P1's Burns' Day Poetry Recital today with her rendition of Scottish Wee Willie Winkie ("runs through the toun" etc. etc). She came second and was the proud recipient of a certificate "with a gold star".
Now she just needs to work on the accent.

New Year's Day

2011-01-06T19:34:00.014Z

Thanks to the Barnes family for hosting us at their hotel in Ulverston for the weekend! Fortunately the snow stayed away and we kicked the year off to a great start with a hefty walk up a Cumbrian fell, without a single whinge (and the kids were fine with it too).

New Year's - Lake District

2011-01-06T19:27:00.009Z

Edinburgh

2011-01-06T19:23:00.008Z

Another great few days in Edinburgh: thanks to the Chapmans for organising a walk up Corstorphine Hill and tickets for "The Secret Garden" musical at the Fesival Hall.

Christmas Day cont.

2010-12-26T14:24:00.008Z

Christmas morning

2010-12-26T14:19:00.008Z

Christmas Eve

2010-12-26T14:16:00.006Z

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas...

2010-12-24T09:38:00.001Z

It's not every day that you get to (Nordic) ski in your back yard...

2010-12-22T17:21:00.007Z

Ben's Christmas concert

2010-12-17T18:03:00.003Z

Ben won the programme design competition (will try to scan it, so watch this space!)
See pic of him singing (enthusiastically) in pic on the right (third from the left in the bottom row).

http://www.gordonstoun.org.uk/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=738&cntnt01origid=15&cntnt01returnid=62

Christmas Poem

2010-12-16T10:19:00.000Z

Making cards and wrapping gifts

Endless fun

Ring goes the bells

Riding their cars to the mall

Young people waiting for their parents to get their coffee or tea

Christ was born this day

Holidays

Rest time

It's a merry time of year

See your family

Time goes fast on this day

Movie time

A time for giving

Santa comes

By Benjamin Philip Schonken (aged 8)

Dave and Gill in Scotland

2010-12-06T21:02:00.000Z

Snow!

2010-11-28T15:17:00.004Z

The Hills in Scotland: Loch Ness

2010-11-22T21:43:00.011Z

The Hill's Visit cont.

2010-11-22T21:37:00.006Z

Bonfire Night

2010-11-22T18:54:00.007Z

Halloweeeeeeeeen

2010-11-01T18:54:00.012Z

We hosted a spooky Halloween party that involved lots of tricking and plenty of treating for the kids on campus - much fun and sugary confectionary had by all...
Ben dressed up as a blue-faced monster and Anna is the one under the white sheet.

Glasgow Science Centre

2010-11-01T17:56:00.008Z

We visited the fab Science Centre in Glasgow during half term and Benanna were thrilled to meet Wallace and Gromit and learn lots of fun sciency-type stuff (while mum snuck over the river to the BBC Scotland Food Show and spent far too much money on fresh (edible) seaweed from the Isle of Bute and the "Queen's" cheese: made in Balmoral). Bottom pic taken in August: dinner with the Williams family and the Senior Schonks when they visited Scotland in August.

The last month...

2010-10-20T16:38:00.005+01:00

The De Conings visited at the end of September. Always good to see family!

Look who no longer needs her training wheels!

Happy Birthday to Daddy (Benanna insisted on a "Round Square" cake).

Message on the house noticeboard from the boys for Philip's birthday. His pressie from them was a Scotland rugby jersey!

The Queen's Visit

2010-09-15T20:14:00.007+01:00

We were treated to our first Royal visitors at Gordonstoun yesterday. We were seated in the Sports' Hall that Her Majesty and Prince Philip opened and sadly no photography was allowed.
Check out the official pics on
http://www.gordonstoun.org.uk/default.aspx?pageID=1721

From The Queen

Class Music

2010-09-09T14:29:00.005+01:00

From Violin

You know it's not just any old school when your kid comes home from "Class Music" lessons with a purple, nogal (the school colour) violin. Ben is delighted and the rest of the family was eager to have a go.
Sure beats our lessons with Mrs Burger where we banged along on triangles to "So ry die trein"!

First Day of (Scottish) School

2010-09-02T21:05:00.009+01:00

Sorry we've been so scarce! We are happily settled in Morayshire: new school for Anna and new school for Ben (minus one front tooth). Pop back for pic of Ben in his kilt next Friday! Check out our link on the new school's website: http://www.gordonstoun.org.uk/senior-school/boarding/round-square-house/
More news to follow...

Camping - West Coast of Scotland August 2010

2010-09-02T21:01:00.004+01:00

Ben's Eye

2010-07-11T09:46:00.003+01:00

Ben had a little run-in with the bunk beds last evening and we ended up at A&E for stitches / Steri-strips. His eye lid should heal in about 5 days.

Ben's Sports Day

2010-07-08T10:03:00.001+01:00

Anna's Sports Day

2010-07-08T10:00:00.001+01:00

Visiting Cousin Chloe

2010-07-08T09:55:00.001+01:00

About 10 days after she arrived in this world, we made the trip across to Cambridgeshire. Ben and Anna loved meeting their new cousin, Chloe.

Father and daughter

Proud cousins

Happy parents

New Stuff

2010-06-20T19:10:00.002+01:00

Philip's new longboard skateboard: Happy Fathers' Day!

Like Father, like son/daughter.

And last but definitely not least, our adorable new niece and cousin, Chloe Rebecca Schonken, born 15 June 2010. Congrats Nico and Fi!

Warwick Castle

2010-06-16T16:20:00.002+01:00

More Warwick Castle

2010-06-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

New Environs

2010-06-08T19:16:00.014+01:00

Hopeman Beach, Morayshire, Scotland (a few minutes' drive from our new home). This is also the view that Anna will have from her school, which is situated on a hill overlooking the Moray Firth. (You really are going to have to get out that atlas. Come on, you know you want to.)

Lossiemouth Beach (also a few minutes' drive from our house).

Lossiemouth's Moray Golf Course ("probably one of the finest links courses in Scotland"): ready for Jon&Co's Golf, Whisky and Nessie tour (although it probably won't look like this anymore after their visit).

Hopeman again.

New Environs cont.

2010-06-08T19:14:00.006+01:00

The Main School Building (Admin block).

The only shop in the village (in a Welsh accent, please): the "DPO" (Duffus Post Office) and about a two minute walk from our house. Proud successor to the Bloxham Co-Op Pantry.

Anna's Primary School (with corker seaview) in nearby Hopeman (2 miles away according to the sign above).

New House

2010-06-08T18:55:00.003+01:00

Annie on the stairs leading up to our flat (house built in the 17th century as the estate's stables and to house carriages and equipment.)

Lounge

Dining-room leading into Lounge.

Our garden area (due to be fenced off) with utterly perfect "hammock" trees.

Camping Wye Valley

2010-06-08T17:49:00.001+01:00

Staff Cricket Tour Wye Valley

2010-06-08T11:31:00.003+01:00

Benanna were thankfully delighted with their role as scoreboard-updaters. They hardly seemed to notice that cricket is a really boring sport...

The undefeated Staff Cricket Team after their second game against Ross-on-Wye.

Sam Thompson, Philip's godson.

Ben's 8th Birthday

2010-05-20T09:38:00.001+01:00

Bloxham May Festival

2010-05-12T21:07:00.002+01:00

Bloxham's first ever May Festival was held last weekend. Part of the festivities included an old fashioned British Street Party where we fed 200 very excited children seated at a 60m-long table on Old Bridge Road in the middle of the village! Great fun despite the soggy weather (also typically British). Traditional Menu included egg and cress sandwiches, organic chipolatas from a local farm, cupcakes and jelly (not so organic).

The kids assembling before the Street Party.

While we assembled the food for the Street Party.

Blonde bombshells: Anna and Frankie the Tiger enjoying the Street Party.

Dr Who Exhibition Cardiff

2010-05-07T20:10:00.000+01:00

Mike and Vix's wedding

2010-05-06T19:59:00.000+01:00

Cousin Mike and Vix - Cardiff 1 May 2010

Benanna with Jean.

Wedding cont.

2010-05-06T19:39:00.003+01:00

Four cousins.

Entrusted with craving the Welsh lamb for our table.

With Fi, Duncan and Jean.

Anna's 5th Birthday

2010-05-06T19:25:00.001+01:00

Joburg

2010-05-06T19:17:00.002+01:00

Joburg cont.

2010-05-06T19:12:00.002+01:00

East London

2010-05-05T16:26:00.002+01:00

Easter Egg Hunt on the Featherstone's Farm before heading back to East London.

With the Van Harm boys.

EL Aquarium Penguin feeding.

Circus with the family.

Fun on the Farm

2010-05-04T17:37:00.001+01:00

More antics on the farm

2010-05-04T17:14:00.001+01:00

On the Farm

2010-05-04T17:03:00.001+01:00

Benanna had a ball with their cousins on the Featherstone's farm near Stutterheim.

The Carrs

2010-05-04T16:59:00.002+01:00

Getting to know Josh and Dan Carr again.

JBay 2010

2010-05-04T11:45:00.002+01:00

We stopped in Colesburg for the night after landing in Joburg and making our way down to the Eastern Cape.

Anna showing off (another!) pair of new shoes.

Ben was delighted to accompany Oupa in his "police car"!

More Snow!

2010-01-06T13:05:00.003Z

View from the dining room.

Building a snowman with Dylan and Luis.

Christmas 2009

2010-01-06T12:01:00.005Z

Christmas with Nico and Fi in Cambridge

The Schonken boys showing off their new beanies and scarves.

Fi showing off her gifts.

Christmas lunch with the Ramsay family.

Granchester Village Barrel Race - Boxing Day

Benanna begin the demolition of their homemade Gingerbread house.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T13:57:00.002Z

I think I may be Wonder Woman...

2009-12-01T20:10:00.018Z

Christmas order rusks lined up and trying to look pretty for the courier tomorrow.

Sheesh, it's been one of those weeks. I've taught some foreign pupils; I've attended an ESOL conference in London; I've made some big decisions at a not-so-sober-but-serious Bloxham Festival meeting; I've done the regulation "momming" and "school-running" and "nativity-costume-designing" that two kids demand; I've been fighting off some pesky darn flu; I've looked after my friend's kids and I've baked nearly 300 bags of rusks. Sometimes I've just got to stand up and say, "I'm Melanie, and I think I may have super powers." Anyone else out there feel the same at this hectic time of year?!

Fields and Pinnocks Visit

2009-11-26T13:01:00.001Z

October photos

2009-11-04T11:03:00.002Z

"Cuzzin" visit: Duncan and Fi and Gary, Ros and Sian.

Visiting Great-Uncle Ray in Winchester (with Jean and Jane).

The Mays and Philip's visit.

More October...

2009-11-02T20:44:00.010Z

Rebecca's 40th: 1969 was a good year. We went as Daphne and Shaggy (Scooby Doo piloted in 1969.)

Murder at Deadwood Saloon

2009-09-13T18:09:00.005+01:00

All dressed up as Anna Belle (the Southern Belle) and Gambling Jack for our friend Clare's 40th birthday murder mystery party.

With Holly "Hussy" Hickok and "Black Barbara".

And even the Sherrif was in town.

Anna's first and Mel's first day (back) at school

2009-09-03T10:37:00.003+01:00

Applecross

2009-09-03T10:22:00.001+01:00

Iconic Eilean Donan Castle on the Western Coast of Scotland.

We decided not to pitch the tent for our last night and hired a wigwam in Applecross instead.

Learning to spin at the Applecross Heritage Centre.

Chess at the famous Applecross Inn (while Anna spies out the dessert, below)

Lewis - Outer Hebrides

2009-08-30T15:05:00.007+01:00

Callanish standing stones.

Famous Stornoway Black Pudding for breakfast.

Northern tip of Lewis: Port Nis

Everything is closed on a Sunday - even the play parks.

At play on a Sunday - oops...

Harris - Outer Hebrides

2009-08-30T14:46:00.014+01:00

Yup, it's a Harris Tweed cap.

Our beautiful campsite at the "end of the world".

Isle of Skye

2009-08-30T13:45:00.006+01:00

Ferry from Harris arriving in Uig Bay.

View of Uig Bay (our campsite to the right of the photo).

Ben reading his beloved Katie Morag book in the most perfectly apt setting.

Philip trying out Heather Ale.

Ben was 8 for the day and was delighted to accompany dad on the Talisker distillery tour.

We set off in fear of the dreaded midges, but our Mosi-guard seems to have done the trick on the few occasions that we did encounter these pesky swarms.

The Uig campsite dog, nicknamed "Champion" and befriended by Benanna.

Kinlochleven

2009-08-30T12:54:00.003+01:00

Not a bad little view of Loch Leven from our campsite pitch in Kinlochleven near Glencoe.

Mussels from the loch just off the braai.

And cousin Christopher "popped" over from Elgin for supper.

Edinbugh - Family and Friends

2009-08-30T08:43:00.008+01:00

Daddy and daughter at Pizza Express in Leith.

Meeting Jean's neighbours, Sophie and Joshua Chapman (and their parents,Claire and Rufus). Coincidentally, Claire was at Rhodes while I was there and is also Helen Pfister's cousin!

Going for a walk at Crammond.

South Queensferry with Jean, Chris and Mike.

Jean's neighbour gave the kids a tubful of glass beads when we arrived and they were an instant hit and became everybody's stand-by entertainment.

Annie cuddling up to Jean's (fake) dog, Magnus.

The Geeks.