Summer holiday 2016 - part 4

Way back in history, my dear school friend Emma "married into" part of a field in Wiltshire. Ever after I have heard of the "field" or caravan; this year was THE year to discover it for ourselves. 

And what a gem it is. A field with a view to Salisbury cathedral. A poky little caravan, but 2 large huts - one for dining and relaxing (i.e, staying dry if need be) and the other to cook and wash and even use a flush toilet! There is a big gas stove and running water, which really do take the edge off camping. It was a divine few days and such a pleasure to share this treasured place with some of our favourite people.

There was lots of this sort of thing

Typical breakfast scene in front of the 2 huts

What every parent wants to see - books and fruit being consumed 

Doesn't show but Ava and Sophie got on great

As did Seb & Ava - who together doted on this toddler for ages

The gang on one of our walks

Doing what they love to do

hammocking around

My love had some helpers to make pancakes

Seb was happy to tuck into them

solo time was important too, given that we were 10

As you can imagine, he was in his element

as was Soph

as was I!

Love these kids to bits!!

and their terrific parents. I got so lucky when I met Emma

We did a few cultural things - a National Trust house where this horse was made from reclaimed wire from a NT cottage 

On the one actually rainy day, we went to see the BFG (amazing!!) at an unusual cinema in Salisbury

The foyer is a converted Tudor great hall!

Summer holiday 2016 - Part 3

The last Saturday in France we managed to squeeze in a visit to Arc-en-ciel / acrobranche /
zip lining!Very fun and so rewarding to see our brave and capable kids doing their monkeying 30' up a tree or between them!

Active family = happy family

My original mountain goat

Yes, I did some of it. I had the middle-age indignity of having to give up when it became stranded between two trees... clearly my upper body strength wasn't up to it...

It was a fantastic day out. Memorable in many ways and showed that family pulling together is key.

It's been a great week for walking England's southern coast

So the tables are turned. This summer, I returned to work and the rest of the family has been having a splendid week on the Dorset/Devon border. Dog-sitting, no less.

Their first walk with Ebony (who was clearly interested in the sheep)

The next day's hike

The beach captivated them 

but being a sandy beach in Britain, it was packed 

The stunning coast on day 3

Of course Dad had a hiking book

The kids ached to go for a swim. So Ebony played ball for ages

and the kids borrowed a boogie board

Their books are so good that Seb wants to read BEFORE computer time.

It's tiring all that walking. So there has also been lots of reading and Olympics viewing (sailing, gymnastics and archery are popular).

Summer holiday 2016 - part 2

Our 2nd day was market day and yet again, a bounty haul

The amazingly wonderful Babush and family came for a visit (B&K's 3rd, Ben's 2nd, and Hannah's 1st)

Seb & dad played "arc touche"

pal-ling around with Flossie who was visiting at the same time as us

riding her make-believe steed

undercover spy?

taking on a medieval opponent

flexing with pals

smiling (and spa-ing) with other pals

marketing with Toronto friends

visiting with "nos amis vacanciers"

annual dip in the Eyrenville's frigid pond

The kids caught a beetle

and made it a lovely home

There was some time for crafts, night markets,

cold, garlic soup-making

nocturnal canoeing

kitchen tile selecting

snacking in the garden

But in addition to all that, we snuck in the 600+ pages of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and reflected fondly on the summer that the Brighton cousins were visiting and co-reading it when it was hot of the presses (2005)

SPOILER:
 But hark, what's this? Dumbledore dies?! my love shed a tear at the funeral scene. xoxo