On a hot Summer's day, I suggested we take an early evening walk down through Wrenthorpe Park and up onto the old Wrenthorpe North/West Junction meadows. The kids loved tramping in the long grass and through the buttercups, and I got another dig for the Wrenthorpe Curve. We finished off with a pint at the Pot Oil before wandering back home.

It was a hot sunny day in Wrenthorpe, and we pretty much stopped outside. I fell asleep in the garden, but not before taking some photos of the kittens, and Ellie reading her schoool-book.

We held a big family party at Wrenthorpe for Grandma, who was turning 28 for the umpteenth time Our cousins from Northumberland came down, various friends and family I'd not seen in years, and of course the usual suspects. Brian had arranged a curry for everyone so our front room got turned into an Indian restaurant courtesy of Red Chilli II in Wakefield, and it was fine enough for everyone to sit outside. Then the day rounded off with a glass of Scotch and a good session on GH3!

The remains of the party rose gradually and had Sunday lunch at Wrenthorpe, followed by a serious Guitar Hero 3 session.

We went shopping before Brian, Ruth, Dave and Grandma Rowbottom came round for tea - piles of meat and stuff.

After a hard day's trying to get stuff working, we had a barbeque and then Joel burned stuff.

Drunken GH3 antics with the Wii after a Sunday lunch.

An afternoon barbeque with family and friends at Wrenthorpe, followed by drunken debauchery at O'Donoghue's where 'Left Hand Drive' were playing. Lots of photos from various different people due to the camera changing hands a lot

Ellie and Ben being read to, playing on the Wii and enjoying a proper family lunch - happy times after a frantic week for us all.

A peaceful Sunday lunch, and Ellie did her homework afterwards.

A nice convalescent lunch at Cafe Rouge in Leeds - mussels, steak, cheese and brandy, followed by a walk up Briggate and then the most fantastic sunset over Wrenthorpe that I've ever seen. Wow.

She woke us up around 8am to open some prezzies, then we went to Nando's in Wakefield for lunch. Her party was at the Crazy Firehouse in Normanton - an odd playcentre but really quite good. Finally back to Wrenthorpe for more presents

Santa's been! Despite Ben's chicken pox making him look like he'd got leprosy, the kids enjoyed their bikes and Tim enjoyed Joel's Nintendo Wii before we all collapsed in a rather drunken heap on the sofa.

Ben was a shepherd - he had a teatowel on his head and everything!

Nicky was helping out on the Toddler Group fundraising stand, and Ellie got her face painted.

A couple of random pics of the kids having breakfast while I checked the camera.

An Autumnal walk through Wrenthorpe park, and up to the site of Wrenthorpe Junction where the track of the East Coast Main Line split off to head out towards Dewsbury. There's nothing there now, but you can stand on the site of the junction and follow the old track alignment.

Our annual 'Last Night Of The Proms' party, which featured lobster (including two live ones I'd cooked called Dave and Nigel), crab, friends and family. There was quite a lot of food, but we managed to demolish most of it! Includes some pics by Colin, 'cos I was too busy to take pics.

Yarr, splice the mainbrace and ye'll get a quick lick o' the cat's tail! Well, something like that anyway

Getting ready for the day in the mud and rain, with lots of music - and trying on the t-shirts.

Our new black and white fuzzball kitten, bought on impulse at Leeds Market. Right now she's called 'Kitty', but this will probably change...

Lots of Rowbottoms! Most of the family were at Wrenthorpe for an Easter Sunday tea, where we drank lots of wine and avoided discussions about politics (kiss of death, that!). Oh, and Joel got taught things about computers by his 11 year-old cousin.

Ben and Ellie's new member packs arrived from the Fremantle Dockers, courtesy of Joel's Dad and Step-mum. All together now, Freo-freeeeeeooooo!

Celebrating Ben's birthday were Amy, Jamal, Lewis, Sam, Natalie and of course Ellie; plus respective adults including Nairn and SJ who paid us a visit.

A 1970s theme, involving spandex, lots of boogying, and getting incredibly miraculously drunk. Photos get a bit blurry later on thanks to Ben's fingers on the lens.

Cooking a Christmas Dinner for 10 with a centrepiece of a Yorkshire Goose stuffed with a pheasant stuffed with a chicken, Ben and Ellie ripping open lots of prezzies (including a Barbie Scooter), and then drinking large amounts of wine. Hurrah!

As she's joined Foundation Year, Ellie got a part in the school nativity play as a star in the night sky.

After the alcoholic night previously, Joel cooked a full 4-course Sunday lunch for the 14 friends left to set everyone on their way - and much port was consumed.

Pulling up ivy, redecorating, and babysitting a stall at St Anne's Christmas Fair, Wrenthorpe.

"Fantastic! Like twin suns boiling into space!" said Arthur. "Well I've seen it," said Marvin. "It's rubbish."