Leisure Time

We had our first camping trip of the year at the end of May which ended up during the first great weather weekend, as well. Thirty degrees and not a cloud in the sky and a total of 33 kids and adult campers in our group made it our for Paul's birthday weekend. This big group seemed to be too much for our first destination and the lonely two campers that got caught up in our convoy; thank to their complaining provoked perhaps by our chatting did get us evicted the very next morning. FYI: Christchurch Camping and Caravan Ground in the Forest of Dean doesn't let you talk after 10pm because it is a family site... the kids in our group ages 9 months to 16 years didn't seem to have any problems falling asleep, but never mind. We found a better campsite just around the corner the next day complete with horses and free range chickens. Oh yes, I must explain that when I say campsite in England, I really mean a farmer's field... not a little clearing next to a brook in the forest like a Canadian campsite. "Campsites" may or may not have facilities of sorts on them; this one did have a shower and toilet block in a make-shift mobile home type thing and running water... great for the kiddy paddling pools! I highly recommend bringing an inflatable paddling pool along with an air mattress when camping in sunny weather as it serves as an instant refresher and doubles as a large vat to keep your cider cool.

Tracy and Nick as Simon serenades us all.

Free Range Zack Abbotts

Other than "catching the sun" (getting tanned) and your typical ball and Frisbee games, the convoy took a trip to Broome Farm which produces its own cider on site and supplies fruit to Magners. It is set in the gorgeous English countryside where you can order freshly made Cream Teas. A Cream Tea is a wonderful English treat consisting of tea (duh), scones (biscuits), jam, and clotted cream. You know you are having a good Cream Tea when the scones are freshly baked and you can stand your ickle spoon straight up in the cream.

From the English countryside to the French Riviera, Craig and I have had a month of leisure it would seem. We have just got back from a week long holiday in Sainte Maxime in the South of France. Our friend Vicky has privileges at a family villa and invited us along for a holiday with her hubby Richard and their two kids Zach (nearly 3) and Luke (9 months). The villa is a gorgeous typical little home on the hillside with a view of the Med from the estate terrace (on our doorstep). As always with the Abbotts', we ate (and drank) very well all week... including Moules and Frites where for 15 Euros I received an entire soup pot of mussels in a delicious white wine cream sauce, Steak Tartare (Richard dared and finished 300g + of raw seasoned ground beef topped with a raw egg- and yes, I did try it, and yes- Richard felt the ill effects of eating that much raw ground beef), and gourmet gelato (chocolate epice was le bon choix- dark chocolate and nutmeg/cinammon/ all spice). We visited Ste. Tropez and did see some big yachts, but didn't see any celebs. Steak Tartare

View from the villa to the Med

Unfortunately our holiday did take a turn for the worst (worse than England's performances at the World Cup thus far) halfway through when we were confined to the villa for the entirety of a day because of torrential rain. I have never ever seen so much rain sheeting down and it was reported that in one day the area received as much rain as England gets in five months. This rain did cause devastation as you may or may not have heard... we were, and 95% of local businesses were without power for approximately 48 hours as much of the area around us had flooded and damaged the main power line. Cars were swept off the highway in places; we saw an old campervan straddled over the highway barrier, and those toilet blocks that are like small mobile homes flipped on their sides at the beach. The beach itself was closed for swimming, not that you would want to go because the lovely Cote d'Azur was murky brown. Oh well... we did get a few nice days of weather before the storm and quite typically, everything was starting to sort itself out the day that we left.

Back to reality now while Craig and I buckle down for the summer. The next big thing coming up is my first half marathon in Birmingham on July 3rd, so wish me luck! Until then, let's hope that England can give us something to cheer about for the rest of the World Cup!

Pictures

I really cannot believe that it is actually mid May! Time is zooming! I should probably do some shout outs as the birthday season has begun... April: Leanna... all the best for a new chapter this summer and best of luck training your ass off. I have put my name down on the list for Olympic tickets, so you better be there! It was my friend Tracy's birthday two days before Craig's at the end of April and we did a joint celebration at a local comedy club. I can say that it wasn't really any different from going to the ones in Edmonton. The MC (Comp-Air they call it here) was FABULOUS and the acts were good and terrible. I bought Craig a new kite (you're how old?) for his birthday. I do admit that this isn't your ordinary paper kite with the bows on the tail, it is a power kite that lifts you off the ground if you aren't careful or are feeling particulary dangerous. Happy b-day to my dad, my aunt, and to Nadia in May. Good luck Nadia with getting your photography business up and running... check out http://www.nlnstudios.com/ to see what Nadia has been up to. As well, Happy Mother's Day to my mom and all the mom's in Canada. FYI: Mo-day is in March in the UK so I had to remember to buy my cards then because I realised I would't be able to buy any cards at the end of April. Now that's planning!

What else have I been planning lately? First camping trip of the season is coming up next week, so stay tuned to hear how that has gone. But for this one, like I promised a long time ago, picture diary! I was asked by Kym and Chelsey in Edmonton to take really ordinary pictures of "a day in the life..." back in December, so this is really overdue. I suppose better late than never, and looking back at some of the photos, it is nice to see how spring is coming along. Without furhter delay and in reverse/ no particular order...
A view on my way from Birmingham to Reading. This is the power station in a town called Didcot. Apart from the houses being made of brick, you would think this could be Springfield.

Jap-nap on the train. My colleagues have never heard of this term and I was explaining how Japanese tend to sleep on all forms of public transportation and never miss their stop. I also explained how I must have been Japanese in my past life because I (touch wood) have never slept through my stop.

The road that we live on.

Spring daffodils pop up everywhere! It amazed me the first time I saw them because the city does not take the effort to plant them, they just grow.

A row of terraced houses.

The English que for many things... like the bus.

Horrible pointy suade shoes.

Assembly point... where you gather outside if there is a fire in your building. The English signpost everything.

Bus with stairs... I am in a double decker.

Pedestrian walk-way in the parking lot.

Crocuses that also spring up naturally. They cover the entirety of a field.

Ye olde house on Reading University Campus.

Reading town hall.

Reading. (pronounced redding)

My train screen in the AM before I get on my traing. Yup... see the time.

Computer says no... How my dongle DOESN'T like to work for me.

My own Jap-nap.

Local train seats. Nobody there because it is 6:30am.

My local train station and destination.

That's all. Check my facebook page for more pictures coming soon.

Hope all is well and have a great May long weekend!