Kite Buggying

I was given a voucher for a kite buggying lesson for my 50th last year. I booked a lesson down at Camber Sands near Rye in Sussex. I got up early and headed down. The people were freindly and helpful, but unfortunately there was very little wind. So in the end I had a couple of hours practice flying some big kites, but will be going back for the actual buggying part another time.

Globe Theatre and Olympics London (Part 2)

I mention the Olympics as London seemed full of the volunteer helpers giving directions and travel advice. We also found that they were giving away "free stuff". At Waterloo station, we were given ice creams and maps, a,nd whilst walking along the South Bank, Zoe got a pair of sunglasses and I got a small electronic fan which lit up when it span.
There were also some large versions of the Olympics mascots, Wenlock and Mandeville.

Would you like a map sir?

Nelson with new hat!

A phonebox (didn't work)

Mascots at St Paul's

Free music!

Near "Wobbly Bridge"

Outside Tate Modern



Rings and Fountains



Globe Theatre and Olympics London

Zoe and I went to see Mark Rylance playing Richard III at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Obvioulsy it was my idea, but Zoe seemed to enjoy it. She had read a book outlining the story, so had some idea of the characters and what they were up to. It helped that Roger Lloyd-Pack (Owen from Vicar of Dibley) was playing one of the characters. (I think that he also appeard in one of the Harry Potter films).

Let me in!




Let the show begin!

 

Summer 2012:

Have missed entering any updates since we got back from Disneyland.  So here is a selection of what we have been up to this summer....

Disneyland Paris

Monday - an excellent day in Disneyland Park. we rode many of the rides - Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril; Space Mountain; Buzz Lightyear; phantom Mansion. Sadly despite several false alarms, Thunder Mountain was closed.

A great time was had by all.

"No Dancing" in a Small World!

Tuesday - We tried the Disney Studios Park today. A different atmosphere to the Disneyland Park and some different rides and shows.

We went on the Tram Ride around the special effects which started slowly but was very spectacular. Lots of rain, flames and floods of water.

Daniel and Lynda went on the Parachute Drop whilst me, Zoe and Hannah went on the "Twilight Zone Tower of Terror". Aptly named as it turned out. Was all very exciting though.

We paid the "Moteurs Stunt Show" a go which was excellent. Lots of flames, wheelying bikes and fast impressive driving.

For a last hurrah we all went on a Finding Nemo themed "Crush's Coaster" which promised steep drops, fast spins and high speed action. This turned out to be all true. I thought that I was going to succumb to motion sickness, and was quite concerned as to how Daniel got on. It's fair to say that I don't think that Lynda or Daniel will be queuing to go on it again any time soon. Still, we all got round and have a story to tell.

Wednesday - We had a different day today in Paris. It was hot and sunny again, so the Metro was pretty stuffy, but we got to the Eiffel Tower which always looks impressive, especially considering how long it has been there. We didn't go up as the queues were enormous due in part to some of the lifts being faulty.

Le picnic near le Tower Eiffel

Mc and Arc de Triumph in the same shot!

Waiting for the Metro

We made our way to the Arc de Triumph and then wandered down part of the Champs-Elysées, passing the rather out of place looking McDonalds. We didn't go in. Not out of some cultural protest, but because the queues were far too long. A milkshake would have gone down very nicely at the time.

En route to Disneyland Paris

Translates as "delayed for an hour!"

Sunday - a long Day. We got up at 5:00 AM to head for the Tunnel. We had an hour or so delay, but wasn't too bad.

A shady spot at Vimy Ridge

We reached the memorial at Vimy Ridge at about 13:00 and had a look around. Although the memorial is for the Canadian fallen, the recreated trenches set the scene a little more helpfully for Hannah and Daniel. Zoe has studied the First World War at school and is also a veteran of a very long day trip to Ypres and some trenches visits with school.

We drove through Arras and "le Petit Place" before reaching Great, Great Great Grandad's grave. This was a little odd for Hannah and Daniel especially, but hopefully it will mean more to them looking back in a few years from now.

A corner of a foreign field

They're back!

Well, both Daniel and Hannah seemed to have a good time away last week.  The house felt very strange without them around.  It sounds like they tried lots of new activities.  Some were rather muddy!....