There are a few bits of news that I have to share with you all.

1. I had a hair-cut (I was starting to look like Samson in the Bible!).

2. I got my 200metres swimming badge at my swimming club.

3. I won a photo scavenger hunt run by a HomeSchool group (I got 19 out of the 30 items).  My prize arrived today - a game, a jigsaw and a "Countries of the World" Info-disc.

4. I went to a Sports Day yesterday afternoon and got a certificate, a small trophy and a bookmark.  I also made two new friends (John and Barnabas).

5. Yesterday evening, I took my Radio Amateur's Foundation exam and passed!  Hurray!  I got 22 questions out of 25 right.  Now all I need is a radio set!!

Lots of great things to celebrate.

Today was my Dad's **st birthday, so Mum and me decided to take him out for lunch at one of his favourite restaurants.  Actually, he took us because Mum can't drive - but she and I shared the bill between us!

Here is Dad with his meal -

As you can see, he had a great big plate full of grilled meat - but he did go for the healthy option of adding a jacket potato instead of fries!

He had grilled gammon, grilled pork, grilled steak and a grilled lamb chop, a sausage, a grilled tomato, a grilled mushroom, peas and a jacket potato.  He also had a cup of coffee to go with his meal.

Here is Mum's meal -

She had a gammon steak with fries, two fried eggs and a slice of grilled pineapple. Her drink was very healthy - water!

I decided to go for my favourite - a chicken breast burger with fries (and definitely without any dressings!). I had a glass of orange "squash" with my meal.

We had a great time - we were there for over two hours!  As they say, "Time flies when you're having fun!".

What can I say, my little boy is suddenly a teenager!  I can't remember very clearly what it was like to be thirteen - just that it was a time when lots of changes were going on in my life.  I didn't know whether I was an adult or a child - I wonder if you feel the same?

Anyway, here are some things to make your birthday extra special - a sort of "virtual" birthday party!

 

No party is complete without a cake!  Yours would have to be a plain sponge cake (no chocolate for you my lad!) and we'd also have to make sure that the sprinklies didn't have too many additives - typical Mum thinking, eh?

Then there would have to be balloons - personalised ones of course! 

Decorating the party room would be a large banner in the form of a Scroll -

As well as shields placed at the end of each table - very medieval looking!

Each guest would have received their invitation in the form of a scroll as well. Like you, they would all be great fans of the past!

Do you know the reason I've been asking you rather strange questions over the past week?  Well, I thought you might like to see some rather interesting things I found out about you -

 

Which Star Wars character would you be? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Yoda One of the last jedi masters. You are very wise and think much on every decision that you make. You believe that tradition and values are important to follow. Now if only your swamp hut had a de-odorizer.

 

What Stargate SG-1 Character Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Daniel Jackson

I hope that your party goes well, young man, and that you receive gifts that you will enjoy using over the coming months and years!

Lots of Love,

Your Mum ( and Dad as well, of course!)

I actually sent a Valentine's Day card this year - to my Mum!  I am just not interested in the whole "being in love" thing - unlike some of my friends and family who seem to have different girlfriends/boyfriends every week!

To me, if God wants me to get married in the future, He already has someone planned as my wife.  If He does not want me to marry, then He obviously has something else planned for me!

My Mum and Dad have been married for nearly 15 years now - and both sets of my grandparents made it past 50 years of marriage (some achievement!).  Obviously, God meant for them to be together.  Unfortunately, three of my aunties and my uncle have gone through divorces - I think they listened to their own feelings and forgot to listen to God.

My prayer this week is:

Sorry for not blogging over the Holidays - lots to do!!

I'm afraid that my Nain (grandmother) has not been well over Christmas and went into hospital a few days ago.  We got the news this morning that she had developed breathing difficulties and, sadly for us, passed away at about 9:30 am.  I am feeling rather sad that I will not see her again, but also glad that her physical problems are all over now that she is with Jesus.

Dear Jesus,

Please look after my Nain, let her meet up with all her old family members who are already with you and be happy with them in Heaven.

Amen.

Last Thursday, we all went to visit my Nain and Taid in Wales.  You're probably wondering who they are?  Well, here's a quick Welsh lesson - "Nain" = "Grandmother" and "Taid" = "Grandfather".  If you haven't guessed already, one of my parents (my Mum) is Welsh, so that's why I call them by their Welsh names!!

It was a rather drizzly day, so we didn't do very much; however, I did get to take a walk to the shops with Taid.  We bought some milk and some biscuits for a snack before we left for home.  We also looked at some of the shop windows - lots of them are entered in a competition for the "Best dressed Christmas Window"!

Here's a picture of Nain and Taid on a drier day -

I don't get to see my Nain and Taid very often, but I love them to bits!  As you can see in the photo, my Nain has to get around in a wheelchair most of the time, she has a lot of health problems including Type 2 Diabetes.  Taid does most of the work around the house - they are soon getting a powered wheelchair, which will be a great help!

They live in a town called Llanrwst which is in North Wales.

I suppose I should start by introducing myself!  I am known as Little Smurf (because my Mum has a blog here and calls herself Mamasmurf!)

Here goes.....

I am a 12 year-old boy and I live in England.  I like reading (all kinds of books, but especially historical ones), colouring pictures and painting (occasionally!).  I also like telling jokes and watching Rugby Football.

I am home-educated and really like it!  I did use to go to school, but I didn't really enjoy it there because I always felt that I was "different" from the other kids.

Today is my Mum's birthday, so we have not done a lot of "work" today.  It has been quite warm all day and I've found that I've been getting a bit cross because I've felt too hot inside!  We went for a short walk and that cooled me down a little and put me in a better mood!

Bye for now!