The title of this post might be a slight exaggeration but Karen, Steven and the girls did travel from Australia to England via Dubai before visiting France then back for a whirlwind tour of England and a return trip to Australia all in the space of forty two days. I realise they didn't exactly go around the world, but they certainly crossed it a couple of times.
We have hundreds of photographs so choosing the ones to share is proving difficult, but I hope you enjoy this selection. If you would like to see more, please visit my
previous post.
Paris - Karen, Zoe, Steven and Lilly
Lilly's pose was entirely spontaneous, but I wonder if the inspiration came from her favourite Disney film.
Queen Elsa starring in a Frozen Sing Along at Disneyland Paris. Notice anything familiar in the pose?
Zoe had difficulty remembering the name of the Eiffel Tower but pointing first at her eye and then her tummy (Eye Full!!) did the trick.
These two photographs make me smile, I love the way Lilly is copying her daddy with a sad and happy face.
Is it just me or does anyone else think Lilly looks a little like Audrey Hepburn?
Lilly on the left Audrey Ruston (Hepburn) on the right
As Zoe gets taller, I get shorter!
From Paris, it was back to London.
Karen and I enjoy a glass of champagne as we walk around a Christmas market alongside the River Thames.
We stayed at a hotel close to the London Eye, but the girls were more impressed with the playground (London Eye in the background)
Steven and Lilly
Zoe having fun
Why are playgrounds made for big people when I'm only little?
London by night
Fortnum and Mason all decked out for Christmas
Back at home and Zoe is very excited to see 'Postman Pat’ pulling up outside. The girls are more used to seeing the postman arriving on a motorbike.
An Australia Post Postie
(Flickr:
Vanessa Pike-Russell via
News)
On the move again…this time it’s off to a hotel in Basingstoke to join more of our family.
L to R; My sister Sue with her husband Brian and daughter Jackie, me with our two grandsons Kip and Tris from our son's first marriage, Terry, Karen, Paula (my niece and Sue's daughter) holding Zoe, Steven, Jean and Fred (my husband's parents), Dave (Paula's husband) and Lilly in the front.
Our two little granddaughters treated us all to a surprise performance - don't they look adorable in their tutus.
Lilly on Christmas morning
Zoe with her half-brothers Kip and Tris, the boys returned to England from Australia a few years ago so this was an emotional reunion.
Zoe and Kip getting to know one another again.
Steven taking Nanny for a spin around the dance floor.
With the excitement of Christmas behind us it was time to return home.
Now I understand why adult colouring books are so popular there is something very therapeutic about getting out the paints and crayons. I loved ‘colouring in’ with the girls and also enjoyed sticker books and magic painting, something I hadn't done since our grandsons were small.
We were delighted to see this little chap while out walking.
We couldn't be with Zoe on her actual birthday, so we had an unbirthday birthday tea a few days before they returned to Australia. Happy fifth birthday Zoe.
Happy New Year everyone!
Karen, Steven and the girls arrived from Australia on the 6th December, and life took on a different pace. We enjoyed a trip to Disneyland Paris, a few days in London, Christmas in a hotel with more of the family, a pantomime, numerous days out plus lots of time for simply catching up. Our son and daughter-in-law haven't changed a bit in the two years since we last saw them (
Malaysia 2013), but the girls have changed a great deal. Zoe was five on the 21st of this month and will be going to school soon. Lilly will be four in May, and they both appeared very grown up in comparison to when we last saw them.
Thanks to my hubby Terry and daughter-in-law Karen we have hundreds of photographs. Picking the ‘best’ is proving difficult, but I hope these and those in my next post will give you a flavour of the fun times we shared.
Knowing how arduous the journey from Australia to England can be we decided to stay close to home for the first few days.
Visiting
Sherborne Abbey. The Abbey has featured on my blog in previous post (The filming of Far from the madding crowd)
here and (A Royal Visit)
here .
Inside the Abbey
Back row L to R Terry, Karen, me, Steven. Front row L to R Zoe and Lilly
Zoe so loved the Christmas tree in the Abbey she had to give it a kiss!
The sun came out to greet our visitors, but rain is never far away in England much to the delight of two little girls from Australia.
This and the previous photograph were taken on the site of the old railway line that used to run through Henstridge. As you can see the girls were beginning to feel the cold so it was time to hurry home and warm up.
A couple of days later and time for a trip to the
City of Bath, it's getting colder now but the family are suitably dressed. Shame I didn't think to wear a hat it was pretty nippy around the ears.
Karen & Steven enjoyed a little light shopping. I don't think they intended the bags to be in the photo but Terry and I decided to keep hold of them – you can never be too careful! :-)
A Few days later it was time to catch the train to Disneyland, Paris. We spent four days at Disneyland and a further day in Paris.
We boarded the train at St. Pancras and it wasn't long before Zoe and Lilly made friends with a little girl called Delilah. The three girls spent almost the entire journey together. I'm enjoying all the attention especially the hug from Lilly.
Disneyland, Paris.
More holiday photos next week.
Feeling very sad when the family left I decided a little Joanne Harris would be the perfect pick me up and Gentlemen & Players didn't let me down! In the words of Anne Marie over at
Beetles, Bikes and Books ...
a very dark tale of events centred around a boys' elite Grammar School. Strange things happening relating to an event 13 years or so ago. I love trying to work out who dunnit! but I admit to being stumped. There's always something you miss in a book like this. If you're a Joanne Harris fan and haven't read this - do so.
Did you enter the
Joules Design a Welly Competition? If you did you might be interested to see the winning design...
The boots will be on sale at Joules.com later this year. To find out more visit Joules Facebook Page. The winner was a lady by the name of Andrea it would be nice to think she read about the competition on my blog!
Thanks for your visit I hope to catch up with all my lovely blogging friends very soon.
Whatever holiday you celebrate, from all of us at Stately Beat Manor, wishing you a happy and safe one.
Merry Christmas to you and The Beat staff and thanks for another great year of info and commentary!
I was going to say flow like a Margarita but I suck at making those…
And a Happy New Year to everyone at Stately Beat Manor. May the good times flow like an awesome Tequila Sunrise!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!