Park, Park, Park & Park

A lovely dinner at the RAC.

C, Rajesh, Gwynnie, D, two there angels.

December 26

We managed to pack 10 people around the table- Bella's dad, and then the Boston Parks: Christopher, Julian, Ana, Monika and Chris.

A riot at Flip Out, the indoor trampoline park. Followed by a movie and pizza. Here is C, Nicky, Jacob, Nico and Adam.

Adam, Nicky, C, Jacob

D and Gwynnie had their first communion today. To celebrate, we gathered for a beautiful lunch at our favorite- Salt & Pepper. Here are the important members of the extended congregation: John- S&P Di- Godmother Sue- S&P Bells Steph Ruth- vicars wife Ian- vicar C Charlie Colin G D Pen Mike- Godfather

I took the afternoon off on the last day if half term to spend some time with the kids. Here they are, with Nico and Clhole, at the RAC, just before swimming for a few hours. Then we all went out for Mexican food.

...at Wimbledon Park.  Both kids running.

D and Gwynnie volunteered to help at church today as acolytes.  Both did great, having no previous training. And they want to do it again.

We met my cousin today in Hyde Park.  She's over to run the half marathon for the Royal Parks. C decided to photo bomb the picture in the latest teenage pose- dabbing.  Which seems to be some American sports thing.

With Gwynnie in front of the vegetable sculpture table.

My great friend Michael Johnson from the Ashridge MBA arrived on our doorstep Friday. We journeyed into Trafalgar Square for good Malay food today. The arm sling is from a recent bike mishap.

Here's a few highlights from the epic Park Family European Road Trip of 2016. 11 countries visited: United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg. 2750 miles covered over 21 days. Interesting and random sights: German marching band outside Achen The Irish kids and ours at Lake Garda Saint Marks Square, Venice Saint Avold- American WW2 Cemetery in France C drinking fish liquor in Ghent

Our last night on the road was spent in Ghent, meeting Alejandro and Veronica for a Belgian feast. It is a beautiful town, and we had a lovely walk afterwards.  Now on to Calis and the Dover Coast.

Bells discovered a 2 mile walk up out of town for the early morning. Just the thing before a 4 hour drive to Belgium.

We arrived late this afternoon in Le Petite Pierre- a small French spa village on the German border: This concluded the drive from Leichtenstein: Through Switzerland: And with a stop for lunch in Friebourg: Without counting countries twice, we've hit 10 so far...with Luxembourg to come.

Country number 9! We've ended up in Malbun, after a glorious drive across the Alps. A picnic dinner on the mountainside followed by saunas- before the drive to France tomorrow.

Well, we finally made it to the place that the whole trip was predicated on. And the morning of our trip in, the London Times ran a travel review of Venice, which included this place for food. It was wonderful. Much better than the picture is.

After the Alps and before Verona and Venice, we spent 5 days on Lake Garda. We had our own apartment in a small complex with a pool, and a collection of other families.  One of them was an Irish crew with 4 kids.  That gave the kids new friends and the adults someone to drink Prosecco with. And we lucked out- The Italians threw an Airshow over the Lake while we were sunbathing- lots of jets skimming right over the tree tops around us, with tricolour smoke.

We rendezvoused with my parents today in Verona.  Both sides had seen the sights in the Italian Alps, and now it's time for a city break.  And what a lovely city Verona is.

After a night in Central Germany in the Efiel National Forest, we drove south- 8 hours south. To Bavaria and the foot of the Alps. We stayed in Omergamergau, where we swam at the greatest pool complex I've ever seen- several pools, great facilities, all with an Alpine backdrop- and rode alpine coasters down the mountains. Then it was on to Italy. Our drive took us across the Alps and through Insbrook, Austria (country 6). And now we're in the Dolomites region of the Italian mountains. This time we're sleeping at a working farm- an agrotourismo.  Dinner is whatever they serve you.

We'really on the road again.  This year, we're driving from London to Venice, Italy to meet my parents. Here we go... Out of the house at 5am on our way to the Dover ferry. First country: United Kingdom. Landed at Calis. Second country: France. Drove straight through the flat land of Brussels. Country three. Stopped for lunch in that little bit of Holland that hangs down- in the town of Spaubeek. Country four. After only 3 hours of Euro driving, we found our hotel in Germany: Country five.  And here we are having picnic dinner up the hill behind the small town.

Well, Erin the American nanny was a big success this summer. She handled the kids with great dexterity and maturity. And seized London in her grasp, visiting as much as she could.

Long ago, we left the hustle of Earls Court for Southfields. We sold our flat and bought a house. C was 9 months old. The people who bought from us- Jeremy and Daniel- are gracious enough to invite us back every August to their annual party. And we go every year we're in the UK. C and D have a magical time meeting people, like Sarah below. And Bells and I re-acquaint ourselves with people and places that were fundamental to when we met.

D acted in her summer camp musical production of The Wizard of Oz mashed together with Wicked. She had a few lines she delivered well and lots of dancing and singing. Unfortunately this is the only picture I managed to get afterwards.

Coffees, Erin to the tube and Salt & Pepper.

On our way back from dinner in London. Erin, D and C.

The season 3nded on a high note- with a win over the kids' rival team Roehampton. From left to right: Arun, Jashan, Nicholas, James, Fred, Jamie, Joseph, Alex, Taro, James, C, Hugo.

Here she is before school, ready with her birthday badge. We all went out for a celebratory dinner- Indian food.  And we git the entire resturant to sing Happy Birthday to her.

One of D's teeth has absolutely refused to leave all spring.  Hanging by a thread, it tormented the family and dentist for months. The tooth fairy finally got to add it to her collection over the weekend.