I'm being judgemental again

Just down the street from my sisters house is a rather large home with big wrought iron gates with dreadfully pretentious gold horse heads slapped in the middle of them. Way, way beyond their house and garden is a paddock and in this paddock is a pretend horse that is life sized and saddled up. Seriously WTF? My sister had told us about it and I wanted to see it for myself so we took a quick drive down the road and to the top of the hill where I could clearly see this "thing". Now I am going to MAKE her go and knock on their door and see what the hell they are thinking. Damn she just said she won't go to a strangers door as they might have a dog. If they do it's probably stuffed too, silly girl!


There doesn't appear to be any "real" horses anywhere on the property.

A quiet, cold day.

We spent the day today at my Fathers house. We went out for a walk this morning down into the town and almost froze to death, really we did. This has been the coldest day since we arrived and so much colder than yesterday that I wasn't expecting it. We all took jackets with us to Grandpa's and we needed, coats, boots and hats but we left them at Crazy Auntie Sallys house. This afternoon we ventured out again to the park and spent over 2 hours on the freaking zip line. It did warm us all up.

This evening we all went out for dinner together and by the time we left the restaurant it was 2 degrees. That's cold by most standards but when you live in Florida, it can kill you.

The girls are having fun and Lily is loving the cold, Rosie not so much. The weather just said, "It should be much warmer tomorrow, we think" We think, what the hell is that about? Weather is a science, it's based on facts not guess work. Well, we will wear all of our warm clothes tomorrow just in case he is wrong!

The worst part, without a doubt was the fact that my father and his wife had to go out for a few hours and the house was so cold that my teeth were chattering. I nearly rang my sister and asked her to bring over our coats.

A couple of photos of the girls playing in the garden during a 20 minute span when the sun actually shone.

I've seen London, I've seen France....

That is the little song that Lily is singing tonight but of course she is saying, I've seen London I've seen France I've seen Sally in her underpants (just makes me giggle). She has been to London before but she was little and doesn't remember it she does remember France though. We took the girls to London for the day today and I can't even put into words how much fun we had.

I think my sister should get a job as a personal tour guide, she was amazing and crammed so much into a few hours. The girls will talk about this day for many years to come. We took the train down, which in and of itself is huge excitement and then we hopped onto the tube and headed to Tower Hill where we visited the Tower of London and saw the Crown Jewels. I am sure we saw lots of other things to and learnt an awful lot but I was so taken by seeing the worlds largest diamond that I have forgotten everything else. Sadly no cameras were allowed in the jewel house.

After a lovely lunch at the tower we headed back on the tube, destination, Westminster. No sooner had we climbed the steps to the street level we were greeted by a view of the London Eye. I wish I had a photo of Lily's face as it was priceless, she was so happy to see it and at this point had no idea we were going on it. My sister told me to turn around as there was a clock right behind me that might look familiar, it was Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. I could have stayed at the very spot just staring at London and all it's majesty for hours. I love my country. I had no time to gawk we were heading to the ticket office for Eye tickets.

Once that marvel was completed we headed back on the Tube and headed for St James Park. A quick stroll up the street and we were greeted by Buckingham Palace. Here I had to pick Lily's chin up off of the floor. Rosie on the other hand wanted to know why we weren't going in and why the Queen wasn't coming out to say, "hi".

From there we zoomed back to the Tube and then the railway station to head home. Rosie fell asleep within minutes of getting on the train and Lily was so tired. Oh my word we had the most fantastic day.

I have so many photos to share but that would bore you to tears so I will just show a few.

Starting our journey

Next step of the way
the Tower of London
weather vane in the tower
THe girls with Peter, our Yeoman
the jewel room. My favourite place in the world
locked up in the tower
Tower Bridge
Trinity Garden
Lily acting like a regular commuter by standing up
Big Ben ( the sun was impossible to work with today the sky was grey and the sun blinding
London Eye
Happy girls
view from the Eye
Us on the Eye
Crazy Auntie Sally
BIg Ben and the Houses of Parliament....circa Charles Dickens era. Look at all the fog.
Taxi

When I saw this Beefeater wearing that drab old gray coat I thought he was in mourning but Sally pointed out it's his winter caot. I think it's a bit drab and am thinking of telling the Queen it's fugly
At the gates of Buckingham Palace


Aha, the flag was at full mast so she was home.
I never get tired of seeing this


My niece also came with us but she is a camera dodger!

Out for a walk

Today was a shopping day. I probably shop more in the few days that I am here than I ever do at home but this was Lily's idea. One of the supermarkets over here has the biggest shopping trolleys that we have ever seen, they seat 4 kids, and she wanted to go in one and also eat at McD*onalds. Neither of my girls can eat Micky D's in the States it makes them both violently ill, so this is a huge treat. It tastes so different over here. I did all of the shopping that I needed to do and it was still earlier enough in the day to go out for a really nice walk.

We went to Salcey Forest and walked the Tree Top trail. It was gorgeous. I think the thing I miss most about living over here is the beautiful countryside and lets not forget the chocolate but that's a whole other post. I hadn't realised until today that Rosie has never seen mud. I know it is a bit odd but we live in Miami and it isn't muddy there, ever. Luckily I had both the girls wear their welllies, I wore mine too. A little story behind my wellies: these were my wellies when I was a teenager. For some reason, and I expect it was because they were in his barn as opposed to the house, my Father kept them. He told me many years ago that he had them and I told him to pitch them but he didn't and I wore them once when we went salmon fishing in Scotland about 15 years ago and I wore them again today. I stopped at his house and asked if he had them and he produced them. It makes me laugh. They are getting a bit old now but then again I have had them for 30 + years. I think they are a true testament to the quality of Hunters.

As you can see Rosie was rather thrilled at the idea of walking in mud.

I suddenly thought to video her doing it and asking her what she thought about it all but things didn't go as planned. I forgot to tekk her that mud is sticky and her boots would stick to it.


Good thing Auntie Sally has a good washing machine. LOL

I actually washed everyones wellies tonight as they were really disgusting.

The lower trail

Getting ready to walk up the trail.

At the top of the trailOur view down, very far down
Tree top trail
My sister noticed all of these frogs as we were heading back to the car. Yuck is all I can say.
Silly BIL didn't wear his wellies and rolled his trousers up. My sister thought it was hilarious.


We had such a good time. By the time we headed back to the car it was getting dark-ish and really cold. All of us had red rosy cheeks and really cold hands it felt so good.

I can hardly wait for tomorrows adventures I am so excited.

Oh Blogger

Is anybody else having a hard time with the new layout of the word verification for commenting. OMG I can never get them right. If I appear to have stopped commenting on your blog it's because I can't pass the word verification section so I just give up.

Perhaps it will get easier when I get my new glasses but for now, sheesh!

Sunday lunch

My brother and BIL, Jon, drove over from Cambridge today, and we all went out for lunch. There were only 11 of us, quite small for a gathering with my family. We had a lovely time.

My brother, who is loved beyond measure by Lily. Everytime I tried to get a photo he decided they needed to act up.
Again, my brother influencing his niece
My sister is missing from this

All the grown up talk and long winded conversations got quite tedious for the girls but they survived and were taken to the Rec for some fun on the zipline afterwards.

LilyLily
Uncle Andy wearing his daughters pretty scarf
Crazy Auntie Sally
When we got back to Grandpa's house lots more cousins had arrived. The girlies were in heaven.

Lily is rather taken with her newest cousin Taylor, I am too.

I'm really not short it's just my brother in law is really tall.

Honestly they really are a motley crew and not at all trust worthy! I know they are scheming

It always happens when we come here, we bring the warmer weather with us. I really wanted some really cold weather and I had had my fingers crossed for a little snow but it's not happening. We have beautiful blues skies and sunshine. I'm not saying it is hot but it certainly isn't winter.