And here is Matthew, later in the week, helping to drive the canal boat down the Grand Union. We went with Grebe Canal Cruises who operate from Pitstone Wharf.

Grandma W was staying with us (having evacuated her house when the heating decided to pack up) and also came on the trip. We've often walked up and down the canal towpath, but this was the first time we'd been on a proper trip. Don't know why we've left it this long, and I'm sure we'll be back again next year. Or maybe even the Santa Special...

Also during half-term, Aylesbury Museum had a special day to celebrate the arrival of a restored "Cubitt" car, originally manufactured in Aylesbury. As well as the exhibit (in a glass case) the privately owned sports model in this photo was on display. Many Cubitts apparently found their way to Australia, where the high ground clearance made them popular on the (then) rough roads.

The museum has some great activities for children, and an excellent physical quiz about food through the ages.

Another annual event locally is the family fun day in the garden of Gipsy House, Roald Dahl's home or more correctly now, his widow's. The event is in aid of the Roald Dahl Foundation.

James and Matthew enetered the fancy dress competition, James dressed as "James and the Giant Peach", and Matthew as the monkey from "The Giraffe, Pelly and Me". James won a prize for his costume, well worth Bridget making all the insects and Malcolm painting the beach ball and making the seagulls. James gets the credit for the idea.

June is midsummer, and that means Chiltern Shakespeare's open air production. This year it was "The Taming of the Shrew", and excellent it was. Shakespeare wrote, of course, well before the days of polical correctness, and "Shrew" is as incorrect as they come.

Before the performance we had a picnic, and for a change the weather was just right. We have in the past sat there in our raincoats.