London with C and A

In late March we spent a weekend in London with Andrew and Cecilia. Andrew's cousin met up with us and introduced us to the Chelsea Market, Duke of York Square on King's Road.

Chechi!!

We ate lots of delicious food: hamburgers, Peruvian treats, felafel, cookies, and more. Below is a video of the market I found on YouTube. It shows off the market well, and for more entertainment notice the videographer's loud breathing.

Later we visited the Natural History Museum again.

We walked and walked and the boys got a lift here and there.

Andrew, Cecilia and Alexi introduced us to Noura, a Lebanese restaurant. There are several in London and one in Paris, we visited the one in Belgravia. Here is a link to the menu...There are so many things that are hard to leave in England...Noura is definitely one of them!

Out and About on a Bike

Madonna Cow not ready to start her day.

Tipped over tree.

It was a cold day, and warm, fragrant air flowed from these greenhouses...

Train to Wokingham.

The Post.

This is what a UK drought looks like.

The hill, up and over or around?

Pass the frog crossing sign and turn right.

Magnolia in March

Most days on our walk, scoot, ride to school we pass a magnolia tree.

I love the fuzzy buds, protected from the dreary frost.

They look so soft, I want to pet them.

A few weeks on, and the buds drop their furry coats and the white petals peek out at the hint of spring.

A week or two after that and it is on like donkey kong.

That's right, spring has sprung, bitches!

Thoughtful

On the eve of the three year anniversary of my father's death, this amazing bouquet arrived. I was astonished and bewildered as to who might have sent it. I read the card which revealed what I might have guessed.

There is no one more thoughtful than you, Babette.

Michael's Parachute Homework

The 10th Doctor.

Dominic joined in the fun and needed some assistance to achieve the right altitude for launch.

 

Windrush

In March, when Mike was working in Amsterdam I took Ron Weasley and Harry Potter for a walk in the Windrush Valley in the Cotswolds.

First order of business: find sticks...

and transform them into wizards' wands.

The walk took us from the tiny village of Windrush to the equally tiny Little Barrington, then to eat at the Fox Inn, and back to Windrush.

Little did I know our path actually led us straight to Azkaban, the infamous wizard prison...

and then to the Leaky Cauldron where Harry and Ron enjoyed hearty plates of sausage and mash and fish and chips.

We happened upon a Womping Willow...

Little Barrington

Solution for a chilly boy.

Surprise!

and another Womping Willow.