Holiday in Ireland

Rapunzel's Tower.. at least that's what we told the kids it was, and they had a great time trying to get her to let down her hair. What we should have said was "This fine tower, built of mica-slate interspersed with granite is about 30 metres high, with an entrance 3.5 metres from the base. The conical roof was rebuilt in 1876 using the original stones. The tower originally had six timber floors, connected by ladders. The four storeys above entrance level are each lit by a small window; while the top storey has four windows facing the cardinal compass points. Round towers, landmarks for approaching visitors, were built as bell towers, but also served on occasion as store-houses and as places of refuge in times of attack." It's going to be our fault when they flunk out of school.


Rich holding up the headstones at Glendalough Co. Wicklow. Glendalough (Irish: Gleann Dá Loch, meaning "Glen of Two Lakes") is a glacial valley located in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest, and destroyed in 1398 by English troops.(Can't you just tell I have the Wikipedia page open!)


Amie insisted she wanted to carry these horses, a present from Granny, around with her. Of course I ended up carrying them after about 5 minutes. In this picture she is nice and dry. It's a pity I didn't have the presence of mind to take a picture AFTER she fell into that stream behind her, while trying to cross over on stepping stones. I left Daddy in charge for 5 minutes, and came back to a soaking wet sobbing child. Luckily we had a spare pair of trousers with us, and I managed to dry her knickers in the women's toilets with the hand dryer... stoically ignoring the strange looks I got from all the women in there.








Now this is a great invention. In the shopping centre's of Ireland they don't need creches. You simply shackle your child/ren by the neck and collect them when you're finished shopping.


No Disneyland for us. If you want to keep your kids entertained (with the added bonus of scaring the life out of them so they're too scared to kick up too much of a fuss at bedtime in case the Vikings hear them) then head to Dublina www.dublina.ie. Rich and kids had a great time in here for a few hours while I got in some retail therapy.










This is what happens when you have a wee too much Guinness!




Rich the morning after the night before


Aunty Sandra


Aunty Marion

My first attempt ever at making a cake (for Rich's birthday)


Noah seemed to think it tasted ok :)

Back from Honeymoon

Just in case anyone missed it, Amie's mammy and daddy finally got married. And the added bonus of getting married, is that you get to go on Honeymoon too!



(Hope you don't mind Marie that I used some of your photos!)




Stopping off in Malborough on the way to Norton St. Philip. This is a really pretty market town, only 1.5 hours drive from Wokingham. Hopefully we will visit it again, probably with the kids in tow.. so it'll probably be a slightly less relaxing experience :)


Isn't it just lovely? (and I'm not at all surprised that Rich picked the B&B directly accross the road from it!) We stayed in a wee place called Norton St Philip in a lovely B&B, right opposite THE GEORGE pub....very very old building, really stunning views from the beer garden! From the blurb on the website it says it's probably one of the oldest pubs in England (but then they all say that don't they).


Now that's what I call a beer garden! The view from the George Inn.
http://www.georgeinnnsp.co.uk/home.php


"You have don't have any friends. Try finding friends on facebook" . Not only does the iphone sort out my mobile phone and internet access needs, it offers advice into the bargain!

We went to see Christy Moore live in Bristol on the Tuesday night which was really a great gig. He played a really beautiful Richard Thompson song that I'd never heard before... check out Beeswing on Youtube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HApy-Xoix-g


Rich approves of this sentiment...we stopped off at this place for lunch, and had a cheeky beer or two with it.


Slaite (Cheers). I ordered a glass of Guinness, which in Ireland means a half pint, and in England means nothing, or at least you get given a pint glass of Guiness. I'm sure the barmaid must thought what does this mad Irish woman think I'm going to serve her Guinness in? A soup bowl?


Now that's what I call a lunch!


After our cheeky pints and beers we did what all self respecting people do. .. we feel asleep in a park. Ah the bliss of not having to keep an eye on little kids!


After a power nap it was onto the crazy golf course where (if Rich isn't reading this) I trounced Richard.




Inside the clock tower.


We climbed 212 steps to get to the top Bath Abbey, and we got a bookmark to prove it. Beautiful views up there (and I'm not just talking about the two of us)


We stopped off in Bradford Upon Avon for a few hours on our last day. It is a really beautiful little village, with a continental feel due to the little millars' cottages perched over the town. Really nice place with lovely independent shops, stunning views and few tourists.. apart from us.


The no calorie way of enjoying a cream cake!


It's an affectionate attempt at strangulation, honestly.

On the last night we visited the Therme Spa, which has an outdoor spa on the roof... naturally hot water, and stunning views. Very relaxing, even if I did start to feel a bit pickled after 2 hours. Thankfully, for all of you reading this, I didn't take any pictures of us there.
http://www.thermaebathspa.com/

We are back to reality now, but Rich and I had a really lovely time being just the two of us, away from the kids for a few days. That's the great thing about kids, you don't appreciate them until you escape from them! Apparently they were very good for their Nana and Pa so that's good news. Tomorrow is a Bank Holiday here, so it's been a very nice weekend.

Amie starts BIG school

Today was Amie's first day of big school.. though she only had to go there for 3 hours. She went in no problem at all, was very excited. Poor Noah this morning said he didn't want her to go to Hawthorns as he wanted to go with her and would miss her..but he'll be occupied with a few more hours at nursery, so hopefully he'll be fine too!


Seamus is also going to miss having her around during the day. Looking at the size of him I hope he doesn't turn to food for comfort!

Everytime I look at this picture I wonder why they've put lob-sided boobies on the bunnies.. then I realise it's supposed to be their paws!


Amie looking very cute in the purple satin bomber jacket Granny O'Brien bought her for Easter (it sure beats a chocolate egg!) I thought I'd blend in with purple tights. We were on our way to a friend's 40th birthday bash at a local pub.. handy for her that she owns the place. Apparently the bar staff were giving very generous measures .. typically I was on babysitting duty and driving so had to make do with juice! I was babysitting Amie as Noah was at his first every birthday party (that he's been invited to on his own without Amie). He returned home from it looking like this....


Amie was not impressed to say the least that he managed to get his face painted, and she didn't. Suddenly she felt she'd been done, having to go hang out in a pub with old people while he got to bounce around on a trampoline... I can kind of see her point. Which is why today we went here...


Bracknell Trampoline Centre!
Amie having fun at her party today. A very relaxing and fun afternoon. Better yet we didn't need to do much more than show up with the cake,and leave someone else to tidy up when it was over.. so will definately be considering it for next year!



We went for an Easter Egg hunt at Calafornia Country Park.. which is, I quote from the webpage "California Country Park is set within 100 acres of rare ancient bogland and lowland heath. It offers a wealth of walking and wildlife watching opportunities for visitors." Not only did we not find one single Easter Egg... we decided to veer off the beaten track and go exploring this wealth of walks. Sounds good!

On the Beaten Track...


...and off the beaten track (and realising why it's called the Beaten track. It's because the person that suggests you go off it, deserves to be beaten to a pulp... just not 4 weeks before his wedding!) After hours wandering around in a swamp, trying not to get mud all the way up to our armpits, we emerged, shattered, back to civilisation. Next time, we're wearing wellies!



There's been a definate thaw in relations between these two kitties. While I can never see Jessie actually cuddeling up to Seamus, she's at least stopped growling at him every time he goes near her.. so that's progress.



Most problems in life can be solved with a cute smile.. and failing that, a really big stick. Lucky for Noah he's got both.

And lastly, I had a moment this wekk when I wished Amie wasn't quiet so chatty. We met up with a friend of mine who's due her baby on 30th April.
Amie (rubbing Julia's belly) "Is your baby upside down?"
Julia "He is, he's getting ready to come out"
Amie "When is he going to come out?"
Julia "Soon I hope!"
Amie "I bet you'll have a very ouchy fanny then!"
Julia (in between lauging her head off "I hope so all going well"
I'm definately telling Noah the story about the storks.. less chance of embarrasment with that one!

We had a lovely weekend at the Lakes, finalising some things for the wedding! Some more photos to follow!