15th March 2018 The adult members of the Rothwell and Braunstone branches of the family, along with Jamie, thoroughly enjoyed the Murder Mystery weekend in Grantham that I had gifted them for Christmas. Unfortunately, Ashton was unable to accompany Jamie, having become the latest victim of the flu virus. She spent a week in bed… Continue Reading

22nd February 2018 After retiring from playing rugby, I decided I couldn’t completely walk away from the sport that had shaped so much of my life. I first dipped into coaching and then took up refereeing to stay involved. The game has given me countless memories and a camaraderie that’s hard to find elsewhere. Sharing… Continue Reading

1st February 2018 I recently learned that germs can survive for two days or more when sneezed, coughed, or wiped onto a surface, lying in wait to be passed on. Door handles, bannisters, light switches, these are the primary culprits in this insidious transfer, though until recently, I had given them little thought. Of course,… Continue Reading

12th January 2018 A cruise to the Amazon was Susan’s Christmas present. Sadly, from the 28th of December onwards, both Sue and I became very unwell, and on the 3rd of January, we had no choice but to cancel the trip after Sue’s GP strongly advised against travelling. In truth, we had resigned ourselves to… Continue Reading

28th December 2017 Sarah seemed to have weathered the worst after her spell in hospital, while Sue appeared to have turned a corner once the antibiotics started to work their magic. We’d kept the rest of the family at bay to avoid exchanging any more bugs, or, worse, making the poorly even more ill. Fortunately,… Continue Reading

17th December 2017 Why is it that the month before Christmas always brings with it a wave of bugs, infections, and NHS shortages, along with the usual horror stories? This year has been no different, though I suppose I can be blamed for kicking off this season of ‘infestivities’ with a dose from my Italian… Continue Reading

16th November 2017 A couple of days after Sue and I returned from a delightful week in Italy, the Rothwells jetted off for two weeks in Phuket, Thailand. They had booked a hotel that proved ideal for Lucas and Ellis, offering excellent children’s facilities. The rest of the family followed their daily adventures with envy,… Continue Reading

12th October 2017 On the 26th of August, we invited Paul and Louise, Jim and Brigitte, and Sean for a BBQ and to watch the Women’s Rugby World Cup Final. I unveiled the quarter-pounder beef burgers I had made earlier in the day, and satisfyingly, they seemed to go down rather well. Unfortunately, our girls… Continue Reading

25th August 2017 During the build-up to Sarah and Lee’s wedding, the main concern was what the weather would do. The long-term forecast predicted that the week of the ceremony would be very damp, but it suggested that Wednesday might be the best day. And so it turned out to be. Monday and Tuesday saw… Continue Reading

13th August 2017 While Jamie was enjoying the sun and warmth of Tenerife with his friend Bill, back in the UK, we were treated to a typical British summer. A few promising days were scattered amid a miserable sequence of showers, cool temperatures, and wind. At least the garden and allotments appreciated the regular dousing,… Continue Reading