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.

England

When we were in Cambridge with my brother and BIL in law we were walking along a street when we came across a busker. Colin stopped to chat. My brother, like my hubby, talks to EVERYONE. Turns out it was his friend Jimi. Jimi is a professional musician and is freakin unbelievable on a steel guitar.

Introducing Jimi Kazak.

Jimi it was a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for being so sweet to the girls. Lily will never forget meeting you and eating your berries.

xoxoxo.....us.

Home

We are back safe and sound a few days sooner than we had initially planned but that's life. It's funny but the second you walk through your front door it is just as if you have never left. Jacob met us at the airport and we walked in to a welcome home banner which I thought was a very sweet touch.
The plane ride was smooth and fast, one of the fastest yet, only 8.5 hours but it seemed to take forever possibly because we were up at 3am. I have to mention one little thing that happened on the plane as I thought it was a bit off. We were the very first row in coach, the bulkhead seats, and in the 2 seats to our left sat a man and his 6 yr old son. The man was obviously quite tired and kept trying to sleep. For the most part the child left him alone but after a couple of hours he woke him as he tried to walk by him and the man got very agitated. Towards the end of the flight the girls and I were playing card games and Rosie wanted to ask the boy to play. I said it was fine as we had an empty seat next to us. The dad agreed and Flynn came and sat with us. Not 2 seconds later his dad went to the back of the plane to talk with a friend and stayed there for about an hour. WTH? All of a sudden I am a babysitting service for a kid I don't even know, who, I would like to add, was quite mouthy. Finally the seatbelt light came on so I suggested he return to his seat. His father didn't return until the trolley appeared with afternoon tea! One day I will learn to avoid unknown children at all costs but until then I will remain the reluctant baby sitter in all circumstances.
The girls and their toys could not be separated today and they were not at all interested in leaving the house. It may have had something to do with the outrageously hot weather or just the fact that they were happy to be back in their home with their things. That is not to say that they have not had a fantastic time with their grands. I finally pried the toys out of their hot little hands long enough to get them into the pool for a couple of hours.
After their bath this evening Rosie fell fast asleep on the couch within 2 minutes. I think she is still on English time. I hope she wakes up at a reasonable hour in the morning....please cross your fingers.

Crazy family

Lots of fun times in the last 2 days. Cousins came to play and of course Crazy Auntie Sally was here, need I say more.

Stephen, Sally and the girls came back yesterday for another visit due to the fact that Sundays fun was cut short when Sophie didn't feel well. Yesterday, thankfully, everyone felt great and the girls played their little hearts out. The zip-line down the rec' is the new favourite this year. I think it has been used more in the past 2 weeks than ever before.

A fun lunch for the girls

playing in the park
Stephen and Sally

The big kids

Today Crazy Auntie Sally and I took the girls out for the afternoon to an open farm. We had fun and a whole lot of it.

Thanks Auntie Sally, this is fun

This is great fun Auntie Sally, you should try it.
Crazy Auntie Sally.
Good job she is even smaller than me.

We drove tractors

Someone tried to drive in a car that she used to fit in.
There were rope bridges
big tyre swings
and of course animals

Lily loves all animals

Auntie Sally, not so much, that is why you can't see her
Rosie is giddy at the sight of all the bunnies
She actually touched them, Auntie Sally didn't.
This little guinea pig just marched right into Lily's lap.

This goat tried to eat my jacket. I learnt something quite important today: I speak goat. Yes, I know it is hard to believe but every single time I would imitate this Nanny she would reply. I think I will add that to my resume.

We have almost reached the end of our stay, Just a bit more shopping and I can pack. Talking of chocolate I think I have eaten my own weight in the stuff.

The best day yet.

We have been planning, for quite some time, to go Punting with my brother and Jon and it is something I was really looking forward to. Saturday was the day. Now since we have been here the weather has been mixed but for the most part it is just cold and grey but not wet. As the weekend approached the weatherman kept saying the weekend was going to be wet. I didn't believe him as it just doesn't rain in this area. Saturday morning we were up bright and early and it was wet, quite wet. It just got wetter as our departure time drew closer and my father bowed out. This really upset us as my father doesn't do much with us and this was going to be all 3 of us together.

My sister arrived and we headed off to Cambridge. It rained the whole way there, lashing cold rain, that refused to let up.
We ran into my brothers flat, soaked and sat for a few minutes trying to come up with a B-plan. The wonderful thing about brothers and sisters and brothers-in-laws, is that you don't have to do anything, being together is rare for us and I could have easily sat the whole afternoon and just "been" with them. We ate a wonderful lunch with Jon and Colin whilst still hoping the rain would stop or at least let up.

This is a very handy dandy apple peeler that Colin has. He let both girls try it. I want one.

This is what your apples look like when that machine is done with them.

The rain didn't stop, Punting was off. I was so disappointed. We decided to go to the Folk Museum instead. A few umbrella's, a couple of borrowed raincoats from Grandpa and we head out. It takes 2 cars to get us anyhwere at the moment so Andy drove the lead and Jacob followed him. The museum was a hit, the kids loved it and so did the adults.

The "kids" pretending to work in an old fashioned sweet shop. They were weighing out the sweeties

Rosie fashioning a wig.
Crazy Auntie Sally sporting a beautiful (not) hat and dress
Uncles, Colin and Andy putting on a Punch and Judy Puppet Show
My brother found himself a stylish new bathing suit.

You can see how much fun we had with this nutty bunch.
Once we left the museum the sun was out so we headed at warped speed for a punt. 2 minutes into our walk and the heavens opened again so we dove for cover in a shop front. There was a little commotion across the street so we dodged the rain to see what was going on. It was this.

There was a street busker in the rubbish bin.

The rain let up again and we started to wander through the beautiful streets, another corner another busker. This time my brother started to chat with him and grabbed Lily and introduced her to him. It was uncle Colins friend Jimi. He played, the kids danced, he gave them his money as opposed to taking theirs as they tried to throw it in his guitar case and shared his blueberries. I have a fantastic video of him playing but the internet connection is so slow over here that it I'll post it when we get home.

After chatting with Jimi we realised that the sun was still out and made a dash for a punt. Colin has lived in Cambridge for a kazillion years so he didn't take us to one of the touristy Punts we went off the beaten track to a place where he likes to go. It is still the same river but not the same prices. What can I say. This thing that I have dreamt of doing for months was even better than I anticipated. The setting, gorgeous, the weather, fabulous and the company, top notch. Colin and Jon can punt, Andy is learning and us, well we have no idea. We needed 2 punts so Colin took Jon and Andy and we were chauffeured by a chap also named John.

Waiting for our punt

The ladies
Andy struggling
The mathematical bridge. This wooden structure is not attached to this building it just rests on it. It is safest when there a lots of people on it as the weight of them holds it in place.

Worlds best brother
Trinity College Cambridge
Jacob and Lily kicking back
My BIL jon taking a very laid back approach. At one point Andy was doing the punting and things got hairy, they got stuck in a huge traffic jam, Colin was paddling like mad, Andy was working up a sweat but still Jon remained unfazed.
And my favourite photo of the day:

Look at these faces, such concentration and brute force. I didn't find anything tiring about the punt at all. Bwa ha ha ha.

By the time we were done the kids were starving so it was off to a pub for a bite to eat. Not a bite exactly, a full and fabulous meal.


We had a fabulous day. The best so far since we arrived but really when you spend time in the company of someone who can sit and drink a cup of tea whilst looking like this just because it makes his nieces laugh, a lot, how can you not have fun. Thank you Jon and Colin for a truly lovely day.

DISCLAIMER:

I almost called this post, I've done this before, as I have already written, and I thought published this post. My brother made a comment that he was surprised I hadn't blogged about it and my initial thought was, Helllllo, I have but then I actually looked at the blog, something I rarely do and it wasn't there. With the internet being what it is here I have now spent 2 hours on one post, but it was worth it as this was such a fabulous day.

Sunday

We have always considered our Sundays somewhat sacred, they are our family day and it is a rare occasion when we don't do something together.
Today wasn't all fun and games. Jacob left so that meant a lovely 4am wake up call followed by a trip to Heathrow Airport, thankfully there wasn't any traffic so we were back nice and early and in plenty of time to meet all the cousins and the rest of the family. We had some family business to take care of today which wasn't a bundle of fun but long overdue and quite necessary.
This was the site of todays family meeting. Not to bad if you have to work on a Sunday.


Once all business was adjourned for the day the kidlets got to play and Auntie Ann got a taste of Rosie, bossy little Rosie who was apparently running a shop and not letting anyone buy anything. I played with her later on and really got a taste of what Ann must have gone through. Note to self, send letter of apology. LOL

A very tired Lily
Stephen. Always great to have him near.
Ann, Rosie and Stephens girls, Katie and Sophie all playing, "casher casher", Rosie's name for shop owner.


Grandpa has promised Lily for the long time to take her up into the old hay loft. She must have decided that today was the day because I was called by my father to hold a ladder. I had no idea for what until I got outside and saw this. If Grandpa and Lily think it is a good idea then there is nothing I can say and do as Grandpa power veto's Mummy power. Hmpfff.

More fun and games planned with Grandpa in the next few days......I'm going out. Right now I am going to bed cos 4am is a daft time of day to wake up.