Three, two, one...

This morning I took the Girl to Troy for a skating competition.  It was a return to the Garren, at the RPI rink, where last year she took gold (but there was only one other skater in her group). This year she came third in a strong field of seven, and we both agreed that it was a greater achievement.  She skated well and was rightly proud of herself.

After that I spent some time in Albany, helping two lovely young friends register for the teens' work placement scheme that the city runs in the summer.  There were pages of forms to fill out and sign in advance, but registration itself only took a few minutes, which surprised and pleased us all...

...Especially me, as I then had to dash back to my own suburb to pick up one Boy from Chess Club. A friend had persuaded him to go and he seems to have had a good time.  He even beat a 7th Grader in only five moves - not bad on his first time there.

The Man adds...I have briefly stopped off in England on the way back from Germany to visit my Mum and Dad. Today I had an enjoyable walk round Henley in falling snow. The Thames was running fast and had breached its banks in several places.

These guys outside the River and Rowing Museum were stone cold. They looked vaguely familiar as well.

Inside, the museum was an unusual mix of the natural history and social history of the Thames, together with the history of rowing. It also had plenty for small kids, including a large "Wind in the Willows" exhibit, and a moving temporary exhibition about a local children's hospice. Altogether rather eclectic but very interesting.