Easter

Last Easter there was so much sun that we have had to buy Ben a sunhat and suncream. No such problem this year. It was the first time it had snowed at Easter for 10 years although there was the excuse that it was the earliest Easter since 1913.

After marking Good Friday with the traditional walk of witness in Kenilworth we headed off to Mark's parents in Suffolk for the rest of the weekend.

Whilst we were there we took in a trip to the Bentwaters Cold War Musuem - for Mark who grew up just a few miles from RAF Bentwaters and RAF Woodbridge, the twin US airbases in the area, it was fascinating to find out some of what went on on our doorstep until really quite recently. It seems such a long time ago now, but a reminder that the Cold War was a reality whilst we were growing up in the 1970s and 1980s. A photo of Ben next to some Rapier missiles in the snow seems somewhat incongruous.

After several months of practicing, Ben is finally well and truly mobile. He has been walking unaided for the past week or so and rapidly making up for lost time! After a lovely Easter lunch we decided to go for a ride out to Bawdsey. It wasn't quite the weather for going on the beach so after a brief walk around the car park we came home again - but there was enough time for Ben to show off his new found skills outside for the first time. He even got cross with his Gran for holding his hand!

Mother's Day

Last weekend we celebrated Mother's Day again. Debbie was truly spoiled, with a bacon and egg breakfast in bed and a good half hour or so reading a book and listening to Aled on the radio, while Ben and Daddy played downstairs. Then we headed off to Debbie's parents for a lovely day with them - including a trip to the park. Ben was very excited by the giant abacus there - after a miserable week of sickness, this was the happiest we had seen him in days. However, it was to be shortlived. Strangely reminiscent of last Mother's Day, Ben took the opportunity to fall ill again later that afternoon, and by the time we arrived home had a fever, which lasted for another couple of days. We hope it's not going to be an annual occurence!

Fairtrade Fortnight

For the past eighteen months or so we have been part of a campaign to make Kenilworth a Fairtrade Town. It all began as a discussion in our Homegroup from church, and from humble beginnings of a few people wanting to do something practical to make a difference here in Kenilworth for producers in the developing world, we now have an active campaign and are well on our way to achieving the goal. It's been Fairtrade Fortnight the past couple of weeks, and we've been out and about raising the profile of the campaign. We've been handing out leaflets about Fairtrade products in the centre of town, promoting a Fairtrade Town Trail and recruiting supporters to strengthen the cause. On Friday night we even had our MP baking Fairtrade muffins at the local Youth Centre! Ben has been doing his bit too - generally attracting interest by smiling at everyone, and sleeping quietly in the corner when the exertions of social action got too much.