Annie and Gerry's Blog

4th September – Upton on Severn

Administrator — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:31:11 +0000

On Saturday 4th September we visited the lovely town of Upton on Severn. We enjoyed lunch in a pub on bank of the River Severn. Looking from the pub down to the river level it seemed impossible that the river could have risen so many feet but photographs and marks on the walls prove that where we sat was 4 ft under water during the 2007 floods. We then went along to the Church of St Peter and St Paul for the Christening of Amelia who is the third daughter of Annie’s nephew Dan and his wife Kate. Kate’s father is the Rector of the church so, not surprisingly, we adjourned to the rectory garden after the service for tea and cakes.

August 2010 – Fairford

Administrator — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:17:28 +0000

We have enjoyed a good month catching up with friends and getting some exercise. We have swum or gone for a walk or both on most days and both feel a lot better for it. We were particularly pleased to visit Carly and Ian (friends from our South America trip in 2006) and their twin girls Freya and Bree. The girls were born very early and spent 3 months in hospital before being allowed home. They are both gorgeous and doing well. Mum and Dad seem to be taking everything in their stride.

August 2010 – Harford Bridge Devon

Administrator — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:54:40 +0000

We decided to brave the crowds and go and stay at our favourite campsite in Devon for 3 nights. The weather was really good for most of the time with only rain for the last mile of our third walk. We enjoyed some lovely walks across Dartmoor and to a small church on the top of Brentor.

The only time we saw real crowds was when we decided to visit Hay Tor. As we approached the car park and saw hordes of people and many cars we decided not to bother. However, that was the only real evidence that it was the height of the summer tourist season and we enjoyed peace and quiet for the rest of our walking. After our third night, we woke to steady rain and decided that we had had a really nice stay and would head for home rather than walk in the rain. We packed up in the rain and although the tent was absolutely soaking everything else was dry. A good journey back to the dry Cotswolds meant that the tent was erected in the garden and completely dried by nightfall.
A really good break.

February to July 2010

Administrator — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:00:50 +0000

First, apologies for not updating the Blog since February but we have had a busy few months and problems with the software. Fortunately, Todd has very kindly sorted us out!

At the end of February our friends Gene and George from New England arrived in the UK and spent a night with us before going to the cottage they had rented. We enjoyed some lovely times with them during their extended stay in the UK. Indeed, we headed to California before they returned home

Just before Easter we set off for our Spring trip to California spending 8 weeks based at our usual place in Palm Springs. Todd was in the process of changing jobs and joining Yahoo based near San Francisco so, not surprisingly, we ended up looking after Alexander, Oliver and Sienna for some weekends whilst Jo and Todd went house hunting. One weekend the weather in San Diego was so dull that we piled the children into the car and went back to Palm Springs!

Jo, Todd and the children also managed 2 more weekends in Palm Springs. On another weekend we celebrated Annie’s birthday and Mothering Sunday (USA calendar) by going camping high in the mountains near the Mexican Border. We had a great time even if the facilities were just a portaloo.

On the plus side the cabins were brand new and lovely with electric light and a gas powered stove to keep us warm in the very cold night. The setting was idyllic and so peaceful. We rented some boats and the boys fished on the lake. No fish but the worms bought for bait were quite something!

On another weekend we travelled to San Diego to take part in Sharon’s Walk for the Epilepsy Foundation as members of the A team (arranged by Jo).
Not a long walk, but the weather was good, lots of walkers, bikers, scooters etc and a great atmosphere.
Afterwards we enjoyed a mass BBQ.

Palm Springs was as usual fantastic although the weather was somewhat cooler than normal and we only had one day over 100F. Nevertheless, another great trip to California. Click here for more photos.

We were not home for long before Jo and the children came to the UK for 5 weeks. However, before they arrived Annie and Gerry managed a few days camping in Scotland at Roy Bridge near Fort William. The weather was fantastic and we managed some lovely walks as well as a trip to Mallaig on the West Highland Railway. Click here for more photos.

We also had Bethany and Callum to stay twice – once before Scotland and once after.. On one visit Bethany had a great time demonstrating her baking skills and, being a good cook, insisted on doing the washing up.

On another occasion we managed a lovely day at the Cotswold Wildlife Park
with Jenny as well as the children. It was amazing how Callum suddenly decided to climb a tree and moved very confidently to a height such that his mum jumped up to go and stand by in case he fell. Bethany seeing the antics decided to join in. We decided to have a group photograph and Annie said she did not want to be in it so Bethany simply put her hand across Annie’s face so that she would not be recognized!! Clever but it did not work.
Click here for more photos.

Jo, Alexander, Oliver and Sienna arrived from San Diego without incident and based themselves at the Nook for the duration of their visit to the UK actually staying with us for nearly 4 weeks of the 5. Todd arrived for the last 2 weeks.

We had a wonderful, if not busy time, with trips to Goodrich Castle, and a camping expedition to the Cotswold Farm Park where the children enjoyed their first night under canvas.
The weather was brilliant and the campsite at the park ideal for the children.

Gerry also took the boys on a day out to the Severn Valley Railway travelling from Kidderminster to Bridgenorth by steam train. The threesome walked into Bridgenorth centre to buy a picnic lunch before returning to Kidderminster but not before the boys had been invited onto the footplate (grandpa was a bit miffed but he was not invited!).

The rest of the time
was spent visiting the parks in Fairford and Quenington, fishing in the water meadow for tiddlers, feeding the ducks, walking to the Cascades, eating iced lollies and a trip to Birdland where the penguins were standing on blocks of ice it was so hot. We also celebrated Alexander’s 6th and Sienna’s 2nd birthdays whilst they were with us. We had a gathering of all the cousins for Alexander’s birthday but Todd’s family were visiting for Sienna’s so no children’s party but a nice birthday cake.
Oliver is passionate about trains and not surprisingly Gerry’s model railway was a particular hit with him. Oliver was so careful and his level of control so fine that he was allowed to take the key, open up the garage, switch on the power and operate the trains unsupervised. Gerry was incredibly moved when packing the trains away on the morning of their departure, Oliver suddenly reached up hugged and kissed him and said “Thank you” – a moment to be remembered for a very long time.

Family P left on 27 July to go back to their new home near San Francisco.
Click here for more photos of their visit.

That brings the Blog up to date – a busy, exhausting but enjoyable few months.

31 January – 2010 Central America

Administrator — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:40:06 +0000

We have just returned from a great trip to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.
Click here to see what we did.

28 Nov 09 – Fairford

Administrator — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 10:21:58 +0000

We had a visits from Martin and Louise as well as Jen, Mark, Bethany and Callum. The weather was not brilliant but Family Davidson managed a walk to search for puddles that Bethany and Callum enjoyed jumping in. Martin and Louise also managed a walk but they did not get splashedThe children have grown so much and Callum has developed the independence that walking gives and loves exploring! Bethany is very much a little girl but still likes playing with toy cars that shoot across the floor. Nevertheless she normally has a doll in her hand!

We were so pleased Martin and Louise were able to join us as Martin had got back from Russia the day before and was off to the USA the next day. Poor Louise for being on her own for so much of this year and poor Martin for spending so much time on airplanes (over 100 Flights this year). Annie and I are so grateful that our travelling is together and when we want to go!!!

It was lovely day.

Sep – Oct 2009 Palm Springs

Administrator — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:05:02 +0000

We have just returned from 7 wonderful weeks in Palm Springs. That said, we visited Jo, Todd and the children on 4 weekends and family Papaioannou spent 2 weekends with us and we also had Alexander, Oliver and Sienna to stay with us for another. It was the first time we had had all 3 children to stay without their parents and although the boys have stayed several times before and knew the ropes and routine, Sienna seemed to settle in without any problem – in fact we all had a fantastic time! Each day started with the children coming in to our bedroom. Alexander used to lift Sienna out of her cot and Oliver would poke his head around the door to see if we were awake! Once he sussed out that we were, the door would open fully and the 3 smiling faces would emerge and climb on to the bed to watch some TV (sorry Jo and Todd) with us. Annie and Gerry got to quite like Spongebob.

The children all love the water and Alexander and Oliver continue to amaze us and our friends at Ocotillo Lodge with their prowess on and under the water!!!! In fact the first thing our friends say to us when we arrive (after hello that is) is when are the children coming?

Sienna seemed had grown up so much in the few months since we last visited. She certainly showed no fear of the water as you can see here where she and Jo are having a woman to woman conversation in the pool.

On one of our weekend visits to San Diego, Jo and Todd had arranged a lovely birthday weekend for Gerry. We arrived on Saturday for a BBQ lunch and then a trip on a power boat. Gerry enjoyed driving but sometimes needed a little help from Oliver with the steering. In the evening Gerry was treated to dinner at a very nice restaurant. As if that wasn’t enough, on the Sunday Todd, Alexander and Oliver took Gerry to the Miramar Air show – What a weekend!!

Our final weekend in America was Halloween and Jo invited us to their Halloween party. In Bird Rock, Halloween is quite an event with many from outside the community turning up to trick or treat. Everyone was dressed up and we had a wonderful time helping give out hundreds of pieces of candy as a never ending succession of children came to the door. The party was a great success and Jo and Todd were also able to go out later with some friends leaving us to baby sit but more importantly recover from the hectic evening. The next day despite the clocks going back an hour the children were up and about at their normal body clock time – now 6 am!! A picnic lunch and a visit to the Model Train museum rounded off a fantastic 7 weeks for us. I don’t seem to have said much about our actual time in Palm Springs but as usual we enjoyed many hours by the pool (in temperatures between 80 and 100F) and chatting and seeing the many friends we have made at Ocotillo Lodge. We really feel it is our second home!

Click here for more photos.

6 September -Fairford

Administrator — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:34:20 +0000

On Saturday 6 September Gerry thought he was going to our local restaurant Allium for lunch with Annie and some friends. However, as he sat down to in the bar area to wait for Freda and John, so Bethany appeared followed by Jenny, Mark, Callum, Martin, Louise, Lucy, James (Lucy’s), Jess and Jon.

It was a surprise birthday party to celebrate Gerry’s 60th birthday. Although his birthday is not for some time Annie and he will be in Palm Springs on the day. It was a brilliant and total surprise. A long and pleasant lunch was followed by an afternoon of games, rest and relaxation at The Nook.

August – Yorkshire

Administrator — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:24:40 +0000

Annie and I decided to head to the Yorkshire Moors for a few days camping and walking. It started to rain as we were pitching our tent just outside the village of Osmotherley and rained very hard every evening so much so that the ground was really very wet and muddy when we came to pack up. Nevertheless, we had a great time walking across the moors marveling at the heather and also visiting Mount Grace Priory and Rievaulx (shown here)and Fountains Abbeys.

We then spent a night with Bridget and David in Thorner and achieved a long standing ambition for Gerry to eat in Rajas Indian restaurant. We had a great meal and the place certainly lived up to its reputation!.

12 July – Devon

Administrator — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:12:51 +0000

We decided at about 11 am on Friday to go to Devon/ Cornwall border for the weekend. Before 12 we were loaded and on our way to one of our favourite camp site at Harford Bridge near Tavistock.

We enjoyed a pleasant afternoon and evening although it started to rain after supper. On Saturday the weather was dreary and showery so we set off to visit Annie’s sister. We had a pleasant time with Pam and Neil and the weather did not seem to matter! There were still very heavy showers when we arrived back at the camp site but nevertheless we enjoyed an evening of wine and rummikub (a great game with a lot of luck and some skill needed and similar to the card game rummy.

Sunday was a different matter weather wise and we had a super day visiting Cotehele, a National Trust house not far from Tavistock. We had visited previously and so decided not to tour the house but explore the estate. We bought a (very old) pamphlet detailing various walks which was fun as it was a bit out in some places (10 ft of brambles in front of mine opening for example) and quite vague on distances and directions in others. Nevertheless, once we got away from the house there were very few other people and we enjoyed the quietness and scenery for a few hours.

We returned to the campsite just before it started to rain again!

The weather still didn’t seem to know what it wanted to do on Monday morning so we decided to head back to Fairford!