UK Trip

We arrived back yesterday from our 2 week visit to the UK and are still struggling with jetlag.  We had a lovely trip dividing our time between Jordans and Holland Park to try and avoid too much running around.  We spent Easter up at Jordans with the complete McPherson/Whomsley clan.  Tom and Tess were delighted to see their cousins Sam and Anna and the four of them spent many happy hours playing in the garden.  We took all the children to Woburn Safari Park in the campervan and judging by the looks and waves we got from the other visitors we were as much an attraction as the animals!  One highlight was the monkey enclosure when we were all so busy looking at the monkeys sitting on other people's cars that we didn't see the monkey sitting on the bonnet staring in at us.  Another highlight was the children's fairground rides although we all sprang into action to stop the spinning cup when Sam turned an alarming shade of green.  

On Easter Sunday we had a delicious roast dinner which Bernie and Janice came along to.  The children were relieved that the Easter Bunny figured out where they were and hid substantial amounts of easter eggs in the garden.  

On one day lunch for 10 turned into lunch for 17 with the addition of the Daniels and the Hintons and we were blessed with a lovely warm day allowing the 7 children to run around in the garden.  Tess and Jo got on amazingly well talking about schools and the subjects they enjoy - at one stage I walked past to hear Jo say "So Tess, what do you know about science?"!  

On Thursday we headed up to London by train which the kids found incredibly exciting with Tom saying "This train goes really fast!".  Tom was desperate for the toilet by the time we arrived at Holland Park and christened the tree outside the moment he got out of the taxi.  

We discovered the wonderful playground in Holland Park with a long flying fox and amazing climbing frames - Tom was transfixed by the squirrels and we found a pond with tadpoles.  

On Friday we went on a Duck Tour which is an amphibious vehicle built for landing at Normandy during the Second World War.  Our tour guide was fantastic - incredibly knowledgeable and a lot of fun too - I don't thing I've ever done a guided tour of London and it was absolutely fascinating.  I was less convinced by the water part of the tour - it was very cold and noisy and the bus/boat sat uncomfortably low in the water for my tastes.  We travelled in the front top row of the bus on the way back to Holland Park for bowls of hot chili to warm us  and the children pretended they were rally driving.  In the evening we went to the Menier Theatre (a tiny theatre with 180 capacity) to see a light-hearted farce which suited my mental capacity perfectly!  It is debatable who had the better evening with the kids babysat by Rob and Kat who got out the Lion King on DVD which they all loved - Tom is now obsessed and pretends he's "King Lion".  

On Saturday Dad, Jules, I and the kids  went to the Natural History Museum to see the dinosaur exhibition which was a huge success until we got to the huge animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex at which point we rushed through the rest of the exhibition.  David, Ann, Harriet and Edward came for dinner and we all had a lovely time with the younger adults incredibly impressed that Jules was still trendy enough to shop at Urban Outfitters on High St Ken.  Ann was a little anxious as one of her "first-time-mum" sheep had given birth to twins that morning but the mum and lambs are doing well.  

We had a relly day on Sunday meeting Diana, Fiona, Peter, Sarah, Jimmy, Emily and Will at a pub near Odiham.  The pub was fantastic with a great playground for the children so we were all able to have a conversation.  For all the global financial crisis a large number of my family members seem to be currently involved in various property deals - Alistair Darling will be pleased!  After lunch we headed to Bramble's for afternoon tea and more running around in the garden chasing rabbits and jumping off walls.  Tired and exhausted at the end of the day we headed back to HPA for, you guessed it, even more food - we were onto our second kilo by now!

Dad and I had a shopping day on Monday which was hugely successful and followed by lunch at Osteria Basilica where we shared a fettucine with veal ragout and fettucine with black truffle - I can still taste it now and I hold it responsible for an extra half kilo!

The rest of the week was spent up at Jordans taking the 4 cousins on outings and enjoying the warm weather.  The two weeks passed incredibly quickly but we all had a wonderful time as you can tell from the photos.  Thanks to all of you for making time for us, feeding us, watering us and entertaining us!  We hope to see you all soon.