Oxley Woods Living

Life in an Oxley Woods eco house

 
 

Posts Tagged ‘oxley park’

 

Night of the Oxley Woods Living Dead…

November 1, 2010

Last night was Halloween. Some people really, really hate Halloween. But me, I love it!

Trick or Treat is often a controversial subject, but I love that too, and our kids (now seven and two) went on the rounds last night (with adult supervision), had a fantastic time, and managed to return with a booty of sweets and cakes that’ll last them through Christmas!

But we have a rule when it comes to raiding the neighbours for goodies, and it’s a fairly simple one. If you’ve got decorations up, or a pumpkin out, then expect a knock. If not, we’ll pass you by.

As much as I enjoy the dressing up, the going out "late at night" for the children, and all the spooky fun that goes with it, I do realise it’s not for everyone. I think it’s important to teach that respect to the kids as well.

I know some people consider trick or treat glorified begging. Or at least, that’s the reason they say they don’t like it. But it’s not. I think it’s actually a nice, sharing thing, a neighbourly thing, a fun thing!

We didn’t get many callers this year, I felt a little disappointed (even though we still ran out of supplies with the last callers!), but for all the naysayers, I really hope trick or treat goes from strength to strength, and more people get in the party spirit.

There aren’t enough reasons for neighbourhoods to join together in a bit of fun, and Halloween, if you respect the wishes of those who don’t want to partake, is a brilliant excuse to get out there, meet some people, and share some little gifts with each other’s kids (big ones included).

Spooktacular!

Milton Keynes is bloomin’ lovely

October 8, 2010

Never one to miss out on a pun, Milton Keynes and the towns it engulfed as part of its creation and expansion have won a number of awards at this year’s regional Britain in Bloom ceremony.

Milton Keynes which is of course not officially a city, or really very big, won the gold award in the Best Large City category. It also won an award “Best Treatment of Roadsides and Roundabouts”, which is perhaps not surprising, if only through strength in numbers alone.

Milton Keynes will now represent “the region” (although it’s never that clear which region we belong to) in the National Britain in Bloom awards. So even if “our” football team cant win anything, at least our vegetation can.

More on the MK Council website.

Attack of the killer tomatoes

October 4, 2010

I’m ashamed to admit it, and I don’t want to spread fear panic and terror across the neighbourhood. But. We’ve created a monster!

Last year we had a bumper tomato crop, considering we only had a couple of plants, and it was lovely. This year, not so much so.

But, we have produced this…

To give you an idea of the intimidating size of the beast, the “little” tomato next to it is actually pretty much a regular sized tomato. It’s a gargantuan freak, and I’m getting shivers down my spine at the mere thought of trying to eat it.

If you don’t hear from my family or myself for a while, please, send help. The tomato got us. Apparently, they have form.

Running all over the woods

September 30, 2010

Recently I decided I was way too fat.

I appreciate everyone has their own limits, but somehow, at some point, I breached mine. Again.

I was once pretty fit, I used to go the gym four times a week, and work out solidly there combining interval training, weights and other cardio activity. I got hooked pretty fast and carried on for a decent length of time.

But then, as is so often the case, my situation changed. We moved about, had kids, got a full time job, and decided that gym membership wasn’t really offering value for money.

But I kept eating. And that, not surprisingly, is where the problem lies.

I love food, I love healthy food, and a bit of naughty stuff once in a while too. I eat a healthy balanced diet. But I eat a lot. I know this, I like this, I’m a food burning stove of a man. But when you stop burning that energy, the boiler room starts to expand, and your system slows down.

So, I decided to start running. And now, despite a few set backs as a result of my system wondering what the heck was going on, I’m addicted!

I’m not a runner. I never have been. I’m not that fast, and I simply don’t enjoy running. I always say if you want to get somewhere rapidly under your own steam, use a bike. If you want to use leg power and take in the view, walk. If you’re being chased, run. Otherwise, running is pretty much redundant. We’ve evolved to eliminate the need for all that carry on.

BUT, with the surroundings we have here at Oxley Park, a decent bit of kit on my iPhone to keep me motivated (RunKeeper, it’s a MUST if you’re a runner with an iPhone!), I’m loving it!


View Larger Map

It’s relatively quick, it’s simple, it’s varied, and it burns a heck of a lot of calories.

So now I’m at the stage where I’d say I actually run. Dare I even call myself a runner. And it’s very weird. But it’s very rewarding, and made all the more enjoyable by Milton Keynes’ redway path system, and the wonderful amount of green space and woodland we have in and around the Oxley Park estate.

Thank you. Now, the rest?

September 3, 2010

Finally.

I’m delighted that a very much shortened signed letter, emailed to Taylor Wimpey was enough for our cheque to arrive super fast through the post Yesterday. I am honestly pleasantly surprised and grateful they didn’t try to twist any further.

Anyway, in the interest of balance, the letter we signed simply stated the EXACT settlement figure is, and shall remain confidential, and we accept a cheque of that value as full and final settlement of fuel bills up to and including 31st March 2010. Nothing else. No conclusion of “all matters” or agreeing to “all terms”, no ambiguity.

And it did the trick.

Brilliant.

Now, if only Wimpey and Wood Newton between them could finish fixing the house, we’d be happy campers at last, perhaps before our two-and-a-half year anniversary here at Oxley Park?!