We managed to get tickets for the Nick Junior Milton Keynes Bowl event.

Alex had just enough energy after a great day out in London yesterday to enjoy yet another day out!

It all looked like it should be a great day, but even though Alex enjoyed himself, I was disappointed at how it had been planned.

The stage show was poor. This is summarised by the Lazy Town set.... a stand in Sporticus...no Stephanie, yet all the music was from the show...with Stephanie singing. Yup...they didn't have the original people (fair enough)... but they didn't even bother with a stand in Stephanie... I'm sure Alex didn't notice.

As well as the main show, there were program based sub stalls....only a few and these all had 15 to 20 minute queues....great for a toddler.... There weren't that many people there, yet these queues were ridiculous...and then the actual stall was about as good as a local church fair bouncy castle.

Alex had most fun running around the masses of open space that could have been more bearable for parents by having kiddies entertainers wandering around...but that would be too obvious.

Not very well put together at all. Bad show.

As for Alex, he's just gone 2 1/4, so he loved it (apart from the queues and waiting). Colouring on a real car was a highlight for him - although many parents thought this idea was a real bad example to set toddlers.....again, well done Nickelodeon...

...and don't even get me started on the £2.50 half a bap burger......yes....you read that correctly....

2 hours was enough though.... so we went home and had a meal with Alex's Grandparents... Ah!!!! Great to see them!

Blog entry by Lucas.

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This is Alex in his paddling pool on Thursday. We had a busy weekend planned so I thought I quiet day in the garden would be perfect.

I was still filling the pool with water when Alex couldn't wait any longer and jumped in with his clothes and nappy on!

After I had taken his clothes off I then was asked by Alex for some bubbles! He does love his bubbles!

He had a nice quiet day, this picture was taken at about 9am. He had a break for lunch and a nap and then went back in at 3pm.

This paddling pool was a birthday present for Alex from his Great Aunt. As you can see it is much appreciated!!!!

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Canary Wharf Tower - and the yellow maniac at the bottom is Alex, being followed by Chris.

He loved running around the Canary Wharf fountain...as you can see!

I was in London for Business, Pleasure and a head shave for charity (see previous blog entry), and I took Chris and Alex with me.

Alex had a whale of a time in the Docklands area - luckily it wasn't overcrowded. I was surprised at how great the area looked. I'm so used to London being either old or dirty - I still love the place as a living breathing city, but did not realise that such a modern and airy build had happened.

Alex made lots of friends - patrons of restaurants....local police officers with dogs....heads of industry.... the usual toddler type things!

He even tried sushi - and loved it.... He never fails to surprise me.

He managed to stay awake and very active all day, but once in he car...and also back at home he was so tired he just fell asleep. Early night on his own choice!

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King of Shaves and Capital FM held a sponsored head shave today in aid of "Help a London Child". I had my head Azored (The new term for a polished top).



Whilst getting my Azoring by the very talented KoS Master Barber, Diane Woods, Johnny Vaughan stopped to chat about how short I had gone on top. Johnny had already been clippered, but still had a fuzzy head.



I explained to Johnny that I often go pretty short, so as it was for charity I would go down to the skin....then pointed at his 2mm long fuzz and called him a hippy. It seemed the thing to do.



A couple of hours later he also had his head Azored - so it must have been done in two parts for the show. Good man - After listening to his show I can understand why his counter part on Radio One (Chris Moyles) is losing listeners. Yes, Moyles was a breath of fresh air, but after a while it gets old, and he's just doing the same stuff over and over again. I used to be an avid listener, and although his show is still funny, I find myself switching to CD or another radio station .

Whilst getting the Azor masterfully manouvered over my scalp Nicky Clarke walked by and stopped next to me. Well..... I wasn't going to miss a chance....so I said..."Tell you what, I'll put a few extra quid in the charity pot if you shave that lot off....." Oddly enough he didn't get his trademark locks removed, but he did have a grin on his face (So would I if I was in his position though, come on....).



Besides shaven heads, joking with radio and style celebrities and catching some time with Will King himself (Do you think Gillette or Wilkinson Swords owners would take time out like this? Me neither....), I went around Canary Wharf and Docklands with Alex and Chris....but that deserves a blog entry of its own.....

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Yes....if you hadn't heard by now...I'm going bald for charity!!!!

Yup...polished top - no half measures. I just hope we get a warm summer....

This type of charity means a lot to me as a father. I hope I can give my son all the help and support he needs in life, but I know that there are those out there who will never get that chance of parental support. This is my little bit to try and help.

http://www.justgiving.com/lucasblack

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It's inevitable that I'll keep thinning up top, so I may as well do it in one quick go for charity.

Help a London Child (HALC) was founded in 1975 by Lord Attenborough CBE, as Capital 95.8's charity to assist and give opportunities to thousands of London’s children and young people experiencing abuse, homelessness, disability, poverty and illness.

Over the last 30 years the charity has raised in excess of £20 million and awarded that amount to over 10,000 small groups across the Capital, directly helping over 1 million children.
Charity Registration No 1091657

So why the picture of me and Alex at the Airshow? Well...why not?

I'm blessed with such a wonderful son, and I hope to give him all the opportunities that I can - and there are a lot of kids out there who will never get those same opportunities, so I'm doing my bit for them too.

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Please sponsor me to lose my hair for a good reason -
- (other than natural ageing.....)

It's all for charity - just click the above link to find out more!!!

Cheers!!!

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The Mighty Avro Vulcan.

It gave me such a great feeling to see this cornerstone of British aviation take to the skies again.

The awesome sound of the engines as she started her take of roll just a few hundred yards from me.....and the breath taking, ground and gut twisting thunderous rumble of the four RR-Olympus engines (like Concorde's) as she accelerated down the runway before rotating into a steep take off climb.

Amazing.

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Yes, yes...here we go again - but this time you don't need to just take my word for it..... here is my own photographic evidence of the new Azor (hush up at the back there - I know it's "just" a razor, but try it and you'll understand the hype!).

What more proof do you need?

On use alone I managed to get about 3 times the shaves from an Azor as I did a Fusion. Was this just me, or was there a reason?

After 20 shaves the Azor was still cutting well, but I managed to bang the blade and damage it, so it needed changing. It was only just losing it's edge.

After 7 shaves the Fusion was dragging and deteriorated fast in the last couple of days....

Under a microscope the reasons become clear.....

www.kmishop.com

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Seldom do I sing the praises of products....but after the Azor came out I was impressed and had to spread the word....

Since the beginning of June I have become a shaving convert. I know when Alex reaches his shaving age he won't have the concerns I did about taking a sharp blade to my face (yes..it did scare me as a kid!).

The beginning of June... Shaving was just something I had to do, and I didn't care much for it.

My shower had a mortgage inducing Gillette razor and whatever gel I first grabbed from the supermarket shelf - After all, they are all the same, aren't they?

I then tried a KoS Alpha Gel... but I ran out of blades so bought a cheap Bic....and got a better shave than with the Gillette....So I realised that the type of Gel is a major player in a good shave then... KoS Alpha gel is just that - a gel. It doesn't turn into a massive foamy covering, it stays clear so you can see what you are doing, and the razor glides over it.

I then decided to try the oil....with great results...and then I got with the whole program - "Prime - Shave - Protect"... and have found that a good shave is refreshing, relaxing and worth having.

Finally the KoS Azor came along...and after a couple of shaves getting used to the new style blade and handle ergonomics, I became a convert!

It turns out there is more to shaving than an overpriced Gillette and a fistful of foam.

Go on....ask......"How much do I get for this advertising?"

The incredibly cheesy answer is "I just get a great shave from a product that I think more people should try".

WWW.KMISHOP.COM for KoS products.

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Alex is in for a busy month of treats!

He had a trip to the Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend, then two days later we went to the water slides over in Bracknell, where he had a great time splashing around in the bubbling waters and "rapids".

He had a whale of a time in the outdoors section of the pool as I launched him into the air and caught him time after time! He then swam off...kind off...with his arm bands on and legs kicking away....

He shows no fear, quite happily jumping off of the side of the pool....so I took him up to the top of the water slide complex and went down one of the tubes with him. It was pretty fast, and Alex squealed with excitement all the way down! He then had another go with Chris...still squealing!!!

After a short nap, he was up for more fun, so we went down to the lake and he played with Chris whilst I sailed my R/C yacht under the Airbus A380 (Farnborough Airshow practice) filled sky!!!

He's back to the water slides again this week....and then off to his first airshow the next day...and then a birthday party....and then more swimming!

A busy month indeed!

As for me.... after a days swimming, sailing my R/C yacht and generally having fun with Alex and Chris....I went to a BBQ with ER at a superb pub in Amersham (The Plough on the Hill).....where a certain Will King was holding a KoS Azor tour launch party. Great food, great music, great atmosphere - and great people. - Great!!!

I met up with Will "King of Shaves" King and some of his team whilst I was there - and am not surprised at the success he has been having. The guy is a driver and innovator, and his enthusiasm shows within his whole team. Gillette and Wilkinson Sword had better watch out!

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