Scooter Girl!

Doubtless, Ellen will be taking up the skeleton luge next.

Night Night!

Penny Drops By

More photos here

Fun with a box

Pooped

Larks at the Pub

A Walk at Blenheim

Not sure why Ellen was quite so discombobulated!

Gingerbread Girl

At this point, the gingerbread girl had mere seconds left to live, so a photograph seemed advisable.

Yeeehaw!

Blackcurrant Carnage

Not, as you might imagine, the aftermath of the girls' first attempt at open heart surgery, but, in fact, a demonstration of the havoc that can be unleashed by two small children and a humble blackcurrant crumble.

Rose in her poncho

Underage Drinking

Ellen takes a swig of the hard stuff during bath-time. A bottle of Thames Water 2010, in fact. Not a vintage year, especially after you've spent ten minutes sitting in it.

Mark Runs 40 miles at 40

It's the Big Four-Oh for me this year, and rather than subside into my pipe and slippers I've decided to embrace my fortiness and do something a bit different. I'm going to turn my age into miles and run the Ridgeway 40 - www.ridgeway40.org.uk - on Saturday 8 May 2010. This will be my longest race yet after my four marathons (mere 26.2 mile whippersnappers each of them). I see it as more of a day out than a race and hope to complete the run in about 7.5 hours.

I'm too old to party (have been for years!) so in lieu of a birthday present or any other hullaballoo I'd be greatly touched if you could sponsor me as I raise some money for the Stroke Association. As I run the race I will particularly be thinking of my Uncle Jim and Graham, Ellen and Rose's Great-Grandpa, both of whom were seriously affected by strokes.

Please sponsor and make a middle-aged man very happy!

Thanks

Mark

The route:

View Ridgeway 40 Route Map in a larger map