Dungareees!

Well, we've managed to finally get some time to download some more photos of the Wilkinson Jr, and it seems as if he just keeps getting cuter! I don't know maybe I'm biased? Anyway, these new dungarees look like the real deal. Especially with his little red suitcase. Hi-Ho it's off to work he goes...

The Official Birthday Cake

I know it's been a month or so, but after some legal wranglings we now have permission to release official photos of the 1st Birthday cake.

3 Wheeling

A few moments later we realised it was actually part of a bigger plan. The plan being the classic piece of Kiwiana, which most kiwi kids had, the plastic 3 wheeler. These things will run until the cows come home. They are almost indestructable, I think they are made by NASA. (It says they are made in China, maybe NASA is outsourcing?). Who can forget the classic hard plastic wheels and the sound of them grinding, cracking and skidding over stones on driveways throughout the country. Brilliant! (I miss NZ)

The 1st B'day Unicycle

His Grandma or, mormor as she is affectionately well known as (in Sweden anyway) sent a unicycle for Benjamin's 1st birthday present. We were initially a little shocked and we thought that was a tad inappropriate as the wee man wasn't even doing wheelies yet on his skateboard and he may not quite be up to unicycling, but alas, we were trumped again. Benji grabbed the one wheeler and off he went.

Benji is GaGa for dancing!

Such a long time ago?

OK, sorry for the lack of posting everyone. No excuses. Tons to do, too little sleep and not enough time to do it...but doesn't everyone live like that? I was just wondering, as I saw this photo of me swimming in a lake in Germany this summer, where the bloody hell did the summer go? Seriously, wasn't it warm last week? Now it's chilly, dark and wet! I am still contemplating bringing out the shorts again for some giggles as the hyper sensitive Swedes don't like anyone to be 'that' different.

The Invite

ONE YEAR OLD TODAY!

We are the proud parents of the most incredible one year old in the world. This absolutely stunning photo proves it!

Noah's 1st Birthday

090909

As you can see the wedding was a beautiful day for the whole Swedish Family Wilkinson, Austrian Family Nitz, Swedish Family Gelin and all the rest of 'em. Sara and Benji were in Austria for a whole week and by all accounts had a blast with most of the family that could make a mid week wedding. I, on the other hand trying to keep my bosses happy and my chances of retaining a contract intact, only took one days leave. It was a hectic late night flight on the Tuesday night and an eye watering early flight on the Thursday morning. Hindsight being what it is I probably would have done things differently if I did it again. Needless to say the whole time in Austria was full of whole hearted and life enrichingly feel good moments. I missed the actual wedding as it was Benjamin's nap time and he was squawking and screaming, so we went outside to play with stones, until he could actually fall asleep himself.

Is it a bird...Is it a plane?

A while ago Benji and I were in town and we saw something we could not quite believe...we think it was a bird but maybe it was a plane...all we could figure out is it was flying fast above our heads.

Skate

The Duck Hunter

In 1978 The Deer Hunter won 5 Academy Awards including best picture. The movie meditates and explores the moral and mental consequences of war violence and politically-manipulated patriotism upon the meaning of friendship, honor, and family in a tightly-knit community and deals with controversial issues such as drug abuse and mental illness among others.

30 years later the sequel has arrived. Benjamin Wilkinson (playing himself) is a young but adventurous soul searching for answers. The questions to these answers see him travel and explore not only himself, but many of the greatest campsites in southern Sweden. During his stay at one of these holiday destinations, Benjamin comes face to face with the stark realisation that he is not alone in his search. He then decides to become...The Duck Hunter

The Happiness Before the Storm

After a fantastic summer holiday, Benjamin was a little tanned, a real blondini and very, very happy. Little did we know a massive bout of sickness was just around the corner...

Hailelujah!

Golf balls from above and no one even shouted "fore".

We were blessed with the weather this summer but there was the odd occasion when the weather caught up with us. This was one of those days. Luckily we had not checked into a campground at this stage and we managed to wait out the golf ball sized hail in the car. We managed to find a small roof at the supermarket to park under which gave the car shelter. Lucky too, as when it was all over there were people running their fingers over their cars checking for dents and quite a few people miffed about the situation.

Swimming, Sipping and Shopping

Viva la Deustchland! After an almost heavenly high altitude drive through the summery meadows of alpine Austria, we descended to Germany, where the weather deteriorated (see next post) but our shopping instincts kicked in. We went particularly crazy (even for us) at one store in Fusser (home to the Neuschwanstein Castle). Our destination was Munich where Sara bought everything she saw, I bought everything in the wrong size and Benji just tried on things. We also used each store as a base to rewrite the rules of how to feed your child. See above pic. Needless to say it was a blast and Munich certainly has it's own unique charm. Conveniently a 2 hour drive down the autobahn, which has to be driven at least once in everyone's life, we were home at Åsa's house in little Lochau.

Swings

Our holiday home!

We finally arrived at our holiday home in Germany. We rented this castle for a week. It was ok I suppose!

Hotel Schloss Fernsteinsee

Somewhere in the Austrian Alps, deep in the green rolling expansive valleys and amongst the sheer granite mountain tops we discovered a sublime place. Not by accident, in fact during a little research I stumbled across an article which in plain print told us that this was one of 'the' mountain campsites not to be missed. Not one to ignore the appealings of an overworked and maybe travel starved British journalist, we duly obliged and stopped in on Schloss Fernsteinsee and wasn't disappointed. A magical castle awaits you as you wind off the busy main road and after descending thorough tree fronds and dense forest you arrive at a pleasant little campground with views towards the castle itself. The campground was well run and possessed all the qualities you'd expect. The one thing it was hiding was it's stunning castle-side lake complete with boats and it's very own flock of bossy geese. Although the superbly clean water surrounds a well manicured grassy island subtly inviting you in, the amphitheater of steep mountains surrounding the lake reminds you that this water will not only be clean but also cold. Really cold!

Sunsets

We somehow left these photos out. These were from our trip down to southern Sweden. Yes that's right Sweden, and yes that is the sun! Superb stuff. Benjamin took both photos!

Camping Austria!

Benji gets results

The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win.
Roger Bannister

High Altitude Training

Benjamin often demands the most of himself. This is never more apparent when he is in the mountains of Austria during a training session.

Caption Competition

Please enter this competition...winner recieves lots of stuff!

2025 Liverpool Football Club

The Transfer Window is Still Open

More Sweden Camping!

A short picnic after a night's camping, every night we intended to leave early, and after both training and eating and swimming and feeding and walking etc we always left at around 11am

We only had 2 short periods of rain while other parts of Sweden flooded, this night was one of them, we stayed ina sort of sports camp dormitory with no one there. We had the whole place to ourselves, even the showers...and also a small tub we use for washing up! 

This photo just stood out for us...I guess it's the intense expression or the way the light hits his face or maybe even the fact that he stood still long enough to get a still photo!

Cannobio, Italy

Benjamin is now the ultimate traveller. In one day he drove through 4 coutries and arrived here in picturesque Cannobio.

Beautiful Austria

Austria has been heaven. The weather has been superb. Hot sun every day and Åsa and Chris have a huge pool just to top it off. we have spent more than a few days training then lounging by the pool. The pool is not so child friendly so we have a large plastic bucket for Benji to splash around in. Åsa has been the hostess with the mostest, cooking us some delicious meals and planning loads of fun activities. The photo on top was at an Austrian restaurant neslled high in the hills that surround Lochau where we endulged ourselves with a traditional Austrian dish from this area, called käspätzle. A cheesy doughy affair and it is absolutely delicious! 

Benji's 1st Flight

A report from Austria...as you can see Benji checked in and managed to get to the gate on time...just! Crawling to Terminal 5 was not easy, Sara are I are not used to crawling that far! Needless to say his very first flight was smooth as he slept the whole way!