New conservatory

The building work is all complete at last after a year or so with the new kitchen, utility room and conservatory finished and furnished. The new sofa and seats for the conservatory arrived yesterday and it was lovely in the evening sitting out there with the wood burning stove blasting out heat from the utility room. We've got a good log pile and the garden is looking fairly up together despite the late start to the winter.

It wasn't until last week that we had frog spawn in the pond, a good 4 weeks later than has been the case in the past few years. Just 4 days until Easter and a good long break. It's been a hard term but the result of the early entry in GCSE Maths and English means we have already beaten the outcomes from last year in the summer exams. It looks like we could be in for some outstanding improvement which will be a great pay off for an incredibly demanding year.

Sunday morning sunshine

We were up and about early on Sunday morning with Maria already dressed up as Little Red Riding Hood, a costume she'd worn to play group on Thursday for World Book Day. From there I had a trip out to Blashford and got a pretty poor picture of a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Back home again and time to light to the new wood burning stove which is lovely and warm as we try to warm up the conservatory which is not largely finished bar the electrics and floor covering. Maria calls it the new house and thinks Daddy built it which is something I will hang on to given my poor record with DIY. Isn't lovely how your children think you can do everything until a certain age when they realise just how hopeless you are.

We also had a trip to the parks and made the most of the sunshine depsite it being rather cold still.

Off and running (but not very fast of course)

At the second time of asking Sparkshop got the new season up and running with a comfortable 3 - 1 victory over rivals relegated with us in the reorganisation of the two divisions into 3. Thanks to a well taken hat-trick from new Matt, the win was an assured one as we lined up with Rich in goal, who pulled off a wonder save low to his left hand in the first half, the big fella(s) Dougie and Dom at the back (although Dom is starting to maraud this season), 4 pint Pete, Matt C and Kev in the middle, and myself and new Matt up front.

The first goal came from a quickly taken free kick on our right and saw Matt C cross to new Matt who volleyed a sweet shot first time into the goal despite the close attention of the defender. We looked comfortable in the main and Pete was having a fine passing game, setting up several chances. Our lead was doubled in the second half when new Matt picked an astute pass up and shouldered a defender to one side before steering the ball home with aplomb, high and handsome into the back of the goal. A momentary concern came with a long cross seemingly destined for safe hands Rich, deceiving him and flying over his outstretched arms and in for an unexpected goal.

The now fragile lead was well protected though with a dominant performance at the back from the 2 Ds and a good ball from Kev set new Matt free but pushing him out slightly wider than hoped. Despite this he beat the same defender twice and crashed a cool finish home to leave Sparkshop victorious at 3 - 1.

Good game all round.