Penny Stafford

Adam took part in the North Yorkshire Youth Games again last Sunday, held at Ampleforth College.  He played for both the boccia and curling teams and his team, York, won the trophy:

Congratulations Adam!

While we were at a picnic by York’s Millenium Bridge organised by the York in Transition initiative, Adam had the chance to try out a few martial arts techniques thanks to a local ju-jitsu club:

Also present and looking for volunteers was the World Naked Bike Ride organisation.  They have organised a naked bike ride in York on Friday 12 June to protest against oil dependency and the car culture.  We haven’t made up our minds about that as yet.

Over Saturday and Sunday, 22 and 23 of November, the Open Junior Boccia Championships were held at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.  These games are organised by Disability Sports Events for teams representing all regions of Great Britain.

Adam was in theYorkshire team and did very well, getting second place in his group.  This helped Yorkshire to get enough points to win the Championships.  So in 2008 the trophy goes to Yorkshire for the first time.  Well done Adam and all the others who worked so hard.

Eleanor joined in the mini-beast hunt at the local Environment Centre in St Nicholas fields during National Insect week last month.  The event was directed by prize-winning poet and photographer Anneliese Emmans Dean.  See her blog for details (including a picture of Eleanor and friends looking for pond skaters): thebigbuzz.wordpress.com

Adam took part in this year’s games again as a member of the City of York Sports Ability team. He played boccia and kurling against teams from Scarborough and Hambleton and, although York did not manage to come top again this year, it was a close and exciting contest.

Adam’s school geography field trip to Bewerley Park near Pateley Bridge included an excursion to Gordale Scar in the North Yorkshire National Park. His teacher decided this qualified as an extreme activity and this is the photo to prove it.

That we live in a very special home has now been recognised by the BBC. See what you think: www.bbc.co.uk/northyorkshire/content/image_galleries/eco_house_gallery.shtml

Friends have told us that odd things are happening with plants just now but we were still surprised to discover one of our apple trees in bloom in November!

Is this a sign of global warming?