Long time - No posts .......

We are now in Solo Ice Dance Competition season, I won 2 Gold medals in my last Solo competition in March 2015 at Lee Valley.










I have been working as a couple too since August, so this is my first year competing as a couple.  We won a Bronze and a Gold medal at the Couples Competition in Lee Valley too.  This is us skating together.

Look at the page we have on Facebook, please like us:
Ice Dancers: Natalie Nicoll & Theodore Alexander

I started bookcrossing

I have read a book and reviewed it here: Big Dog & Little Dog visit the moon by Selena Young

You can be my friend on bookcrossing.

Theo skates Gangnam Style

After a long break from blogging, it is time to add a few posts of Theo's recent activities.  Theo has continued to work on his ice dance, performing a program to Gangnam Style at the Christmas show 2012 at Brixton Ice Rink.  The program can be viewed on YouTube.  The program was further developed to Level 2 standard and used when he took and passed his Level 2 NISA tests.  

This year for the first time Theo entered 2 competitions.  The first was Bracknell Solo IJS 2013.  He entered at Pre-Juvenile level and was placed 4th in the Pattern Dance and 3rd in his Free Dance.  Photos can be viewed here.  Pattern Dance Photos and Free Dance Photos.  A week later he entered the Oxford Open Ice Dance 2013 in the Pre-Juvenile Men class and was placed 1st for Pattern Dance and 3rd for his Free Dance.  Oxford Photos.

Theo is currently working for his Level 3 Nisa tests and working on a program for the Summer show, skating to Party Rock.

Sports Day - Edenbridge

Theo has been having swimming lessons and fencing lessons at the Seflags home ed group in Edenbridge for a few weeks now, everyother week.  This was the last sports day before the end of term.

Theo is not quite swimming unaided yet, but getting there.  He confidently does what he is asked in class.  The class is small, with usually just four pupils.  He has been fencing for a shorter period of time, but takes part in the classes, organises getting his own kit on and is now not dependent on my getting it and helping him, but takes help from other adults when needed. 

Theo has a number of friends in the group, William being one of his special friends, but mixes with the other children of all ages.

Skiing Holiday contined...

After ski school on day one, we all went back up the mountain to a cafe for a drink.  Unfortunately we missed the last lift down so this outing entailed skiing down a blue run after just one day's lessons.  

Theo didn't have enough skill to do this, so was skied down by his Dad but the older members of our team managed...just.

On the second day, we returned up the mountain in the evening for a brilliant skiing display by all the ski instructors.  This showed the history of skiing, and was very entertaining.

By Wednesday unfortunately Theo had a cold, so did the morning lesson, but by lunchtime was not happy to return to class.  After a late lunch where he had the best ice cream in his life, we went swimming in the hotel spa.

Theo did Thursday's class, then spent the afternoon with his brother, who had by that time finished his 3 day snowboard course, and friday was spend as a family on the mountain, investigating the sister resort.  Theo overall was not too sure that he liked skiing, but understandable however with his cold.  We will organise some lessons at the snow dome in Hemel before skiing next year.  Friday afternoon was spent making a snowman, while we took turns to stay with him leaving the others to ski as a party.  

Gains from the holiday:  The chance to fly in an aeroplane for the 1st time since he was a baby, made friends in class, stayed in a hotel, was part of a group, learnt to ski - would have done more but for the cold, learnt about different currencies.

Skiing holiday - Obergurgl Austria

As part of a party of 7, we arrived at midday today for a weeks skiing. Theo has done one skiing session before at the ski centre in Hemel Hempstead, but will join the kids beginner school tomorrow.  Theo's 21 year old brother will join snowboard school tomorrow, having learnt originally aged 13. Our friends will join adult ski school and we get to refresh our skiing skills with a trip to the top of the resort, and a nice hot chocolate!

Theo is drawing skiing passes for the family and is learning a little about time zones.

Classical Spectacular - Royal Albert Hall

Wow, we enjoyed a fantasic performance by the Royal Philamonic orchestra.  This was the schools program. For the home educating families we had the additional treat of watching the show from a box.
We followed the show with a run around in Kensington Gardens for the children. We had run into lots of other familys we know, but spent time in the park with twins of similar age to Theo. 

A quick coffee at the Giraffe establishment and we were off home to pack for our skiing holiday.

Moving House

Well we were a bit quiet on here due to the house move. Moved from Kenley, Surrey to Crystal Palace in December, followed by nearly six weeks without broadband. Theo and I were practically tearing our hair out by the time it was installed, but we have been making up for lost time since.

Virtual Body

Today we investigated this web site, www.medtropolis.com. On it is a virtual body with both narration and interaction on certain aspects of the human body. Having seen that Theo has been interested in skeletons in the past this was our first point of call. One of the puzzles was to build a skeleton from all the bones. Theo did this really quickly. We then moved onto the brain which had an animated section about neurones. The other two sections covered the heart and digestive system but by this point Theo was beginning to loose focus so we stopped after just watching the videos rather than trying to discuss it. I do not get the impression that the site is designed for children as young as Theo however the interactive element was good enough to hold his attention and teach him some basics about the human body.

Quick Recap on Theo's Art

Just a quick record of some of Theo's other pieces of art, created before the blog was!
























Some more of Theo's Art.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30927&id=752237657&l=9fbe4d5d76