On the way home!

We left France on Wednesday morning, drove tediously slowly to Stanstead and flew out to Kuala Lumpar that night. We had a 20 hour stop-over, mainly spent getting to and from the airport! But we had time to visit the night market in Chinatown, to buy some Bollabing jackets, Buberry wallets and Switch watches!

Arrived home last night tired but glad to be able to sleep in our own beds. Didn't do too much sleeping as after 4 hours the majority of us (not Rob!) are all awake and I have began to tackle the enormous pile of washing!

Fromelles

We eventually arrived at the hotel on Sunday night after a traumatic journey through the north of France. Thank goodness for data roaming!

Up early-ish on Monday and off to Fromelles. It was the hottest day of our holiday so far and of course we were not kitted out with hats or enough sunscreen - we had packed more with a view to the rain of Ireland (this worked to Sarah's advantage as she was able to sit under her umbrella!) But it was a wonderful moving ceremony (possibly the hats we wore made out of newspaper were not as solemn as the occasion but they were memorable!) If you did not see the tv coverage the ceremony was attended by Prince Charles and the Governor-General, Kate and Iz were filmed by Channel 9 but we have yet to find out if they were shown on the news - how could they overlook those 2 stars? We all, even Kate, returned to the hotel pink, but happy to have been part of a historic day.

The next day we went back to Fromelles to spend some quieter time exploring. We also found the area of the battlefield that my great grandfather was killed in - now a field of corn so peaceful it is impossible to imagine the brutality of World War 1. We met my family in Ypres for dinner and listened to the Last Post at Menin Gate with getting on for a thousand other Australians!

Getley Camping

We spent a wonderful day with my cousins and their children (10 of the 12 cousins and an amazing 28 of our combined 31 children!), there were also aunts and uncles there to ensure no-one fell in the ponds or got too close to the campfire! It was a lovely relaxed day, Todd and I chatted with the adults while the children disappeared with their friends, and we were all so sorry not to stay overnight and catch up with more people the next day but we were off to France!

Time spent with friends!

We have just spent a lovely few days near Leominster, staying with Martyn and Becky and their family. It was so much fun, lots of chat, good food, plentiful wine and late nights. I also had a catch up with Donna. It was like we had not been away for 12 years - except that all the children are so grown up no. Oh, and I am seriously envious of Becky's beautiful home and garden! Hope we can catch up again soon.

Yesterday Todd and I spent the day in London at the War museum . We had a good time and with no-one to be bored we were able to spend as much time as we wanted, which was a nice change (The children were very happy to miss out!)

Today we are going to pack up here as we are going to the Cousins camping weekend and then on to France this weekend. It has all gone too fast!

Alton Towers

In an attempt to get over the children's boredom we spent the day at Alton Towers, the UKs premier theme park. Following a night at a nearby B&B (Quite a frightening experience, but better not write anything down in case they send the scary chef to get me!) we arrived as the park opened at 9.30 and started to queue for rides, we continued to queue for rides/food/drink until the park closed at 6.00, when we started to queue to leave! It was a fun day but the park, which is in the enormous grounds of a stately home, was so big and had so many rides with such long lines we possibly only really saw half of it - but that will have to wait until another trip. Opiniion is mixed about which was the best ride - most of us liked the scary'Thirteen', but Kate enjoyed 'Hex', and surprisingly Iz liked 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'.

Then a long car journey back to Salisbury, listening to the Friday night dance music on Radio 1.

Camping in York

We have driven north to the old city of York - amazing place, the Romans first settled here, then the Vikings, then the Normans, so the history is layer upon layer upon layer. It is pretty amazing! We stayed at a campsite 3 miles outside York run by Farmer Bunce (you have to be a Roald Dahl fan to understand that!), the tent was next to a river with hundreds of ducks for Izzy and Kate to feed.

The first night we went on a ghost walk through the city and then returned to our campsite to eat take-away curry in the dark by the river! Yesterday we spent the day walking the walls and visiting the minster(didn't go in as it was going to cost a fortune for the children to be 'bored'!). We did however go to the Jorvik museum, which was great - a sort of cross between a museum and a fairground ride. I'd thorouughly recommend it to everyone, not just desperate parents! Todd, Izzy and I climbed to the top of Cliffords Tower - a medival round tower in the centre of York, we waved at the others but they were so bored by then that they didn't see us! We got thoroughly lost on our way back to the campsite and decided it was safer to eat dinner at the local pub rather than going back into town!

Today we drove south and visited the National Space Centre, which was going to cost 62 pounds and was only open for another hour, so decided to go to the (free) science and technology museum next-door. It was in a victorian pumping station and was quite eclectic (Bizarre in fact!) Sarah and Kate decided not to join us to missed seeing the police box(aka Dr Who's Tardis)They do not appear as disappointed as they should be!

We are staying in Uttoxeter tinight and off to the Theme Park at Alton Towers tomorrow in our qest to ride rollercoasters on all continents ! Heading back to Salisbury tomorrow night.

A domestic weekend

We have had a relaxing weekend - Kate is working her way through Mark's DVD collection, while Todd and Rob compute and Sarah,Iz and I indulge in Retail therapy! But amongst the high lights were a lovely picnic in the New Forest with my family on Saturday, beautiful sunshine and numerous ponies! We all went out for dinner on Saturday night and on Sunday Mark and I went swimming with Kate and Iz at the local pool (Marg : you will be pleased to know it was claner than Gisborne!)

It's good to be home!

As a truly British welcome it poured with rain and 'Britain's number 1' crashed out of Wimbledon, so there are things that never change! But it is so great to be here and to see my family. Everyone seems well and we are all currently happily co-existing.

We spent a relaxing day shopping and going to visit Mark's lovely new house, then had a family evening. Hoping the weather is going to be kind as we are heading out to the New Forest for a picnic today! Kate is also very keen that we go swimming so may have to go out and buy new bathers!

Last day in Ireland

We spent the last day exploring the Limerick area and the weather was kind. First a visit to ?Boyces garden, which was lovely, we were given an indvidual tour of the garden, including (much to the childrens disgust) his home-made manuure patch!

Then we went to a Flying boat museum inFoynes, which was soo cute - I want to work there, it was like something from a previous age!

We then drove to see Limerick Castle, which was a very impressive sight - a castle built by King John (of Robin Hood fame) on the banks of the Shannon. I always find it strange when buildings are described as 'built by what-ever king/queen' as if they actually did much towards the building beyond telling someone else to do it, most of the time they didn't even pay for it themselves!

So then it was time to return the hated rental car (Very little powerand dodgy indicators!)and off to the airport. Shannon airport is tiny but is a US outpost. The place was packed with US military in desert gear, the small number of civilians looked very meagre by comparison. Luckily we were just ahead of the group or we would never have bought a drink/found a seat, there are probably people still queuing now for a cup of coffee!

Pub Desserts by Sarah and Kate

Right: Eton Mess
This was my (Sarah) awesome dessert the other night. It was strawberries, and meringue in whipped cream with raspberry sauce, with raspberry and blackberry sorbet on top. I strongly suggest you try it!!!! I loved it, and want to learn how to make it!!

Sarah

Left: Vanilla Ice Cream With a Drizzle of chocolate sauce and Wafer
The other night I tried a delicious ice cream at an Irish pub. I loved it and it is simple to make so you make it from the comfort of your own kitchen if you don't feel like venturing out to a pub.

Kate