The Year So Far

 Its been a quiet start to 2016. There hasn't been that much to report. I must admit to posting more on Twitter now that this blog. But here is a quick update. In February half term we spent three days in Wales. We stayed in a little cottage in the middle of nowhere somewhere just outside of Snowdonia National Park. It was very cold but quite sunny. We went for a walk up Snowdon with Willow. This lake is about as far as we went before the girls got fed up. We were no where near the snowline, but never mind. Carl wasn't very happy and went back the following weekend to make it to the top (it was rainy and horrible by then!)

 Snowdon's summit in the background. The little train wasn't running cos it was still only February. So one day I think I'll have to go back too.

 On the second day we went for a drive round the local area and stopped at the village of Beddgelert, amongst other places. We went to visit the grave of the dog Gelert (if you don't know the story look it up - it's very sad) and then followed the path along the river for a ways. We saw the steam train pass us. It was a nice little break.

 In April I took Ellie up to London for the weekend with Jo and Kia. We went to the Shadowhunters Super Fan Event. Cassandra Clare did a talk about all things Mortal Instruments and her new book Lady Midnight. She signed Ellie's book.

And the icing on the cake was the appearance of Dominic Sherwood and the chance to have her photo taken with him!

Golden Wedding Anniversary

 We helped my mum and dad celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary today. There were 14 of us there including dad's brother and his wife, and one of mum's oldest friends. It poured down with rain all the way to the Commodore Hotel in Instow, but not long after we sat down the sun came out.

 We all had a lovely meal and were very full afterwards. Then it was back to mum and dad's for a cup of tea and a bit of a chat. Adrienne, Caitlin and Ellie all but cleaned mum out of jewellery. It was a rescue to stop her sending all our family heirlooms to the charity shop.

Mum looked very lovely in her posh new frock. Caitlin decided she would try mum's wedding dress on. Don't they both look lovely!? Here's to a very happy next 50 years, mum and dad.

Tarr Steps

 We had a nice day out on Sunday. Once we eventually got to Tarr Steps. It seems it does matter how many times we've been before, we can never remember the way, so out comes the Sat Nav, and what do you know, the Sat Nav never takes us the same way again either. This time it took us down the link road and then left along some tiny country lane and half way round Exmoor trying to find Dulverton. Eventually we ignored and took the first turning we found signposted Tarr Steps. Of course this brought us to the wrong side of the ford, which is where we usually end up, but this time we were prepared. We were in the Land Rover. So we drove through the river. This caused much embarrassment to the girls because everyone stops and stares.
  Never mind - we had arrived! We parked, ate our pasties (now somewhat colder) and then set off for a walk. We did what we usually do, headed up-stream until we found the footbridge, crossed over and then walked back where the path is high above the river. Willow had a marvellous time, ran round like a mad thing and voluntarily went in the water several times. Caitlin took lots of photos as part of her summer Art assignment. We spotted several poetry boxes on the walk around so Ellie composed a poem, wrote it down on her phone and copied it into the book inside the box next to where we had our lunch. It's going to be up in Lynmouth Pavilion in September.

  After our walk we went to the café for a hot chocolate and cream tea (cos you can have them with hot chocolate instead of actual tea) and completely confused the waiter by moving to an indoors table between placing our order and it arriving. There were wasps outside. Tarr Steps is definitely nicer when the sun is out and you can paddle in the river, but it was still a nice day out. We didn't get home until 5.30. I am writing down the way so we don't forget it next time. Link road - North Molton - Withypool then turn right to Tarr Steps. Stupid Sat Navs!

Portugal

 We've been back a week now and already it feels like ages ago we were in Portugal. It was slightly strange to arrive and not need to adjust our clocks - I am so conditioned into thinking that whenever you fly to Europe and the sun you have to adjust your clock. But we soon got over that when we realised we were actually in THE SUN! After so many busy holidays this was going to be a 'do nothing' holiday.  Most of our time was spent on the beach and by the pool and when we weren't doing that we were taking a break from the sun by lounging around in our apartment. But we did manage to do a few things, of course.

 We went for a boat trip along the coast to see the caves. This wasn't nearly as scary as Caitlin is making it out to be here. She actually enjoyed it and despite the bumpy waves, so did I.

 We had a few meals out in restaurants overlooking the beach. The food in Portugal is very cheap but the service can be a bit hit and miss. This restaurant was a bit like being in Faulty Towers, with a doddery old waiter who kept wandering off to serve other people half way through taking our orders.

 Cocktails in beanbags on the beach were great. Carl had a few too many and had a bad head the next day, but it was his birthday.



 We went to Slide and Splash, a water park, on one day. It was quite windy but we managed to enjoy the sun too. Caitlin and I got stuck in the middle of one ride, Ellie got caught under a boat and cut her foot and knee trying to get back out, and Carl managed to lose 40Euro on a water slide cos he didn't listen when we told him to put his money in my purse, but insisted on keeping it in his back pocket instead.

Water parks are dangerous places!

We had a nice, relaxing time though. Which was the main point.

Two Days In London

 I took Caitlin and Ellie to London on Wednesday and Thursday. We had a lovely girlie time which started with a tour of the Google offices where Christopher works. Its great inside, with gyms, massage parlours, sleep-pods, canteens and coffee stations all free of charge. They make it so you never want to leave!

 We did plenty of shopping in Oxford Street then popped back to our B&B in Pimlico to change for the theatre. We just about made it to the Barbican on time and had great seats in the fourth row to watch 'To Kill A Mockingbird'. It was great, and the kids in it were fantastic. Really glad we went to see it.

 On Thursday we took the tube to St Pauls, walked across the Millennium Bridge to take photos and then went into Tate Modern to look at the art. After that there was time for a visit to Hamleys in Regent Street, then a late lunch in pub off Carnaby Street before heading home.

July

 It's been a busy month. The end of the school year always is. But now its the summer holidays and I can catch up with all the things I haven't had time to do until now. At the beginning of July we went to Pilton College's Awards Evening, where Ellie got a runner up Key Stage 3 award from the English Department. She was quite happy to have not won, as the winners 'Only get a trophy to keep for a year' but she a £10 gift token. We were all very proud of her.

 On 11th July Carl and I were in Cardiff to see England beat the Australians in the first Ashes test. It was fabulous and the atmosphere inside the ground was great. You don't get that from watching it on the telly. The chants of 'Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio,' accompanied by waving every time we got one of them out was just so hilariously English!

 When it was over we rushed back to Ellie's guitar concert and made it in time for the second half. Caitlin was there to watch her too. She'd done a good job getting Ellie to her rehearsals and the start of the concert.

We have birds living in our house just outside our kitchen window. They are very cute and sing a lot. The babies are almost ready to fly the nest by the look of it.

Caitlin's 18th

 My second baby is now 18! I can't believe it! But we celebrated in style on Friday night. She wanted a fancy dress party and she wanted to go as Anna from Frozen, so I made her this dress. She looked stunning in it.

 Everyone made a great effort to dress up. My sister and her partner were definitely the best ones there though! Well done Shrek and Fiona.

 There was much legal drinking going on, thanks mostly to Blues Brother Elwood and his Mexican son. Caitlin discovered she does like shots, but doesn't like Sambuca - liquorice, who would?

 Granny, Caitlin, Mum and Aunty Beth.

 The Betazoids

 Eventually the teenagers all warmed-up and there was actual dancing going on. I think they got so fed-up of the embarrassing Mum-dancing they felt they had to show up how it was done.

The last men standing!