Park, Park, Park & Park

Grand-dad and C spent an hour discussing poets- Frost and Wilber- after a New Year's Eve dinner. 

We all had a glorious lunch at the RAC to celebrate Mom's birthday.   

Lesson number 1 was a success!

...in a few years, in London.

Bells dropped D at school very early this morning.  The girls are off to Brimingham to tour the England Women's soccer facility.

D dancing with Flo at a tree lighting ceremony.

Colin, Steph and Gywnie joined us.

To celebrate his birthday, we ventured into Chinatown and ate chili crab at his favorite Malaysian restaurant. 

D just packed her lunch for school, and is now telling me LOL. C is stuffing spaghetti after just coming home from 8 hours of work at the movie theatre. 

Setting off on a 3 mile walk- to the nearest pub.

We're back up in Scotland, at Louisa and Peters house. Which means daily dips in the water, which is about 40 degrees.  And someone forgot their swim suit...

For the last few years, every school day, I'd walk D up to Cafe Nero in Southfields, where she'd meet Sophia.  They would then wait for the bus together.  Sophia is moving now (not out of Notre Dame though), which changes her travel plans.

Left over baguettes from the Crawfish Boil were turned into swords this evening.

Charles, in the red shirt and hat, organised gin by the bins during Covid. For the Queen's Funeral, he brought the idea back.  It was great.  Lots of people from the street, all after the ceremony, having her favourite drink- Debonnet and gin.

All done and a big success.

In front of Chelsea Registry Office.

C and I went to hear Lord Tugendhat talk about the UK and EU this evening.  And the enjoyed roast beef downstairs in the Long Bar.

She's off to dance this evening wearing my old high school jacket.

B and I went into London on Saturday to experience the crowds around Buckingham Palace.

We spent 5 days with Bella's best friend, and C's Godmother, Louisa, who lives on Loch Fyne. Here we are way up in the hills behind the Loch.

Back to Notre Dame.

C starts his last 2 years of KGS today. No more uniforms, but suits!

Up in Essex over the weekend to see CMW.

Both kids are now in Salamanca, Spain attending a language school.   Class in the morning, pool and siesta mid day, and then class again late in the afternoon. And then out with their new friends until late at night. And there's a few kids there from the US.

With Ardkinglas in the background.

Ubu, Cary and all the kids; Mexican outside. 

On Lake Michigan, at Jane Young's House.

On Lake Michigan, with the lovely Ryan / Bartlett family.  

... Boogie Board.  On the shores of Lake Michigan.

Top down, running towards the Mississippi River.

Here we all are- outside Del Rhea's Fried Chicken restaurant.  Nates favorite. This place is famous because its located along the old Route 66, as it heads out of Chicago.

I took my Miata out of storage, cleaned it up, and entered it in the local parade. That is Will and Christian, riding on the back, throwing candy to the crowd.  We re-appropriated the name BAFTA to fit our use. 

Here we are- Ubu, Will, C and me- outside Jones bbq in Marianna, Arkansas.  This was breakfast- pulled pork sandwiches- after leaving Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Ubu, Will, C and I are driving south, all the way to Mississippi, to sample bbq. 

Off tomorrow to the US.

On the North Downs Way, starting at midnight, 9 miles worth!

Out in the backyard.

Over for a BBQ today.  Both going through GCSE exams right now.

After dinner, the kids work off some energy with some hockey competition.

Down at Coranation Gardens.

In a Kingston Grammar School uniform.  It's suits for the next two years. Today is the last day in classes before study leave starts for exams.

Layers of Scottish beach sand, from our roadtrip last summer, in old liquor bottles.

Lamb and plumb pie.

Just about to leave our cabin, after 72 hours of no phones, internet, clocks, etc.  Lots of long hikes, food cooked on a campfire and reading old fashioned books. Highly recommended.

The last picture before turning our phones off for the next 3 days...