Is she, by any chance, Dutch?

(Up the) Jolly hockey sticks?

Whilst going through our archives, I managed to locate an unidentified photograph of a girl I think Angela used to play hockey with (possible an el Grecco). Any guesses who this rather plain girl was (looks possibly like a team-mate in comfortable shoes?)

"And the point is?"

"OK Alex, how's about "after Rodin" as a pose"?

What could have been – Steptoe outside Salford Lads Club

Keen Wikipedians will be delighted to note that Reality Checkpoint merits a mention in their encyclopaedia, much to the amusement of our Swindon correspondent.

Those of a dim and distant memory (not an essential pre-requisire, but a bonus for undergraduates at APU?) may recall that a photograph of your correspondent at Reality Checkpoint featured in the sepia collection of photographs Steptoe took of his muse in 1994, one of which I am delighted and proud to reproduce here, along with an offering from your corrospondent of the photographer. I didn't, of course, mean it about the "dim and distant".

Bottoms Up

Chin chin, two (of the twelve) gins

Scott returning his empties

One of the delights of being a chap is the necessity of managing a kitty at a large scale fixture, something I known Susan can testify to. However, remembering quite what everyone ordered is usually the problem, especially after one has had a couple already. This problem was negated at the Buuuuud-Jackson wedding last September by ordering a round consisting almost entirely of gin & tonic. However, this is not always the case, and the accompanying difficulties of such a state of affairs are amply demonstrated in a classic Two Ronnies sketch, available for your inspection on the good eggs at You Tube.
Cheers!

The Darling Jacksons of September

Mr & Mrs Michael Jackson

"Good to see you too, Shteeeeeeve"

Bush looking radiant, and Scott in the pink

Sweens & gin vouchers

The Hobart Hugs revisited

One of the delights of this blog is that I can finally share clique-y images with the family. Hence I am delighted to share a selection of images from the Buuuuud-Jackson wedding of the same name. Hope these bring back happy memories of a memorable day. A game of spoons, anyone?

George Best

“I spent a lot of money on designer clothes, a thousand pound mountain bike and rare plants for my garden. The rest I just squandered”.

Local transport for local people (c) Diss Audi 2006

Christian & "friend"

A typically restrained weekend in Harleston

Keen supporters of quality football (sorry Scott) may recall that the former Manchester United player Phil Neville was a keen cricketer in his youth. However, a little known fact is that another Manchester United great, George Best, also played cricket during the summer months, as the photographic evidence above demonstrates.

Co-incidentally, Liz and I visited Whiting Towers last summer with Bush & Ming, only to find Christian in exuberant form and waxing lyrically about recreational fornication and organic horticulture. I know that Christian’s first wife, Mary Stavin, was particularly delighted to receive a copy of George Best by The Wedding Present as a wedding present from Steptoe, although not quite as delighted as the Osborne’s, who received a tea towel from a service station the M4. Still, at least they did better than Sarah & Dean, whose wedding endowment from Sober was enjoyed by the couple who they sold their old property to, change of address cards not having made it to Swindon from Waterbeach....

And here come the Italians....

Remember, remember the 5th of November

What with the weekend coming and the temptations of the demon drink to stave off the cold, I present for inspection a photograph of Susan the day after my birthday, having consumed 12 green 660ml bottles of Peroni. A salutary lesson to us all, methinks. Who said fatherhood would tame the bear of a man that is Susan?

Buuuuud-u-like

Mike, who was otherwise engaged on Wednesday evening at Paxton & Whitfield

Do not adjust your set - Red Bush and Buuuuuud on Wednesday evening

Bush and I met us with Buuuuuud on Wednesday to celebrate the 32nd anniversary of her birth in the time-honoured fashion, which was a lovely evening consisting of a couple of snifters and a cheap and cheerful Thai meal. Bush was late, but has a skirt on which she had bought for the Osbourne wedding of the same name (and, inexplicably, has never worn), and you could even say she looked smart. Well, you have to keep up appearances when you’re entertaining at home as often as Bush & Ming have been doing of late. Buuuud has been in town on business all week, and a s a result of a promotion at work, now has her own office. We all have to grow up some time, I suppose.

Who's a big boy then?

Rohan fresh out of the you know where and Sweens fresh as a daisy

Liz and Rohan in Burton, August 2006

Rohan on my 38th birthday last November

To celebrate the birth of this blog, I am delighted to reproduce some pictures of Rohan on the occasion of his first birthday, which conveniently falls today. Sweens tells me that Rohan has got a ball pool for this birthday, which will double as a swimming pool in the summer. The Jedi is having a small gathering with "no more than five babies" present and a gathering of family to celebrate this auspicious occasion, which I gather he is loooking forward to. He has not thus far apparently expressed any sentiments to the contrary, I understand. Sweens also mentioned that fairy cakes had been baked especially for the party, so at least Susan should not go hungry.

Many happy returns of the day Rohan – May the force be with you.