Just spent a weekend in south Wales, and we can't recommend it highly enough, especially Colin! We had a 4 day weekend so decided to drive over there to stay near the coast. We stayed near Tenby, an idyllic seaside town with working fishing boats and painted houses. There are lovely coves up and down the coast for picnics and beachcombing, along with farmland nearby, and loads of attractions to visit. Colin is easy to please, and is a huge fan of beaches now, to say the least. What with the sand, water, waves, gooey things to touch, and ice cream stands everywhere, I'd say it is Toddler Heaven! Mommy and Daddy liked our holiday too, and even managed a couple of decent meals in restaurants (though we had to bribe Colin a lot to eat and to sit still while we try to finish our food). Travels with a 2 1/2 year old are not easy, but make for good memories!
Had some sun and some rain, although the coast and castles are never more dramatic than when they are foggy, gloomy and drizzly, so it was good weather all around. On the way home we visited the famous "Tintern Abbey," which is immortalized in a poem by Wordsworth, and a painting by Turner in the British Museum:
http://www.castlewales.com/tintern.html
http://www.tintern.org.uk/wordswor.htm
It is considered a ruin, though still stunning, as it is one of very few in the UK that wasn't completely destroyed over the centuries. This is in the absolutely gorgeous Wye Valley, on the border of Wales and England, and is somewhere that we plan to visit again soon!
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Colin's Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine
Well this actually occurred on August 14th, but wanted to post some photos, and a blurb about it. Needless to say, Colin was in heaven!!! Thomas and his friends visited the children at the Watercress Line Steam Railway in a village not far from our town. We spent the day watching train races, looking at the vintage engines that were on display, riding on trains, and enjoying the weather (which was dry for a change). Colin has been "train-mad" for a year now and it shows no signs of wearing thin (though Mummy and Daddy have gotten bored). Enjoy the photos!
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Jane Austen Day Out
Today, we went to a nearby "walled garden" at Down Grange House, Basingstoke, Hampshire. Many places around our area were familiar haunts of Jane Austen, including this house where she was a visitor of the family there. She was born in Hampshire and had a home nearby in Chawton for several years while she wrote her novels. It is in this part of Hampshire that she found inspiration to write some of her most famous novels, including "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma." Today the Walled Garden is managed by our local council and serves as a public garden and wildlife area.
It was a fine day out, hazy, breezy, and sunny. We were a bit early but got to listen to some lovely musicians and chauffered Colin around in his stroller for most of the day. He did NOT like the Redcoats and Riflemen Display much, as there were so loud it made him cry after a few shots from their rifles! We saw dancing, many period craft displays, musicians, and a traditional "Punch and Judy" puppet show (Colin liked that a bit better, though it was loud, too, what with kids shouting at the puppets and joining in the story). We were lucky to enjoy a lovely lunch with traditioanl British goodies and cakes at their cafe and sat with some very friendly interesting people, including a woman who had been a nanny at the estate there many years ago.
We couldn't resist having ice cream there before we left either, and Colin was happy to endure some more music as long as he had his own cone.
I do belive that I saw Mr. Darcy there and if you look close you can see him off to the side in a photo of Colin... A fabulous day out!
It was a fine day out, hazy, breezy, and sunny. We were a bit early but got to listen to some lovely musicians and chauffered Colin around in his stroller for most of the day. He did NOT like the Redcoats and Riflemen Display much, as there were so loud it made him cry after a few shots from their rifles! We saw dancing, many period craft displays, musicians, and a traditional "Punch and Judy" puppet show (Colin liked that a bit better, though it was loud, too, what with kids shouting at the puppets and joining in the story). We were lucky to enjoy a lovely lunch with traditioanl British goodies and cakes at their cafe and sat with some very friendly interesting people, including a woman who had been a nanny at the estate there many years ago.
We couldn't resist having ice cream there before we left either, and Colin was happy to endure some more music as long as he had his own cone.
I do belive that I saw Mr. Darcy there and if you look close you can see him off to the side in a photo of Colin... A fabulous day out!
Saturday, August 20, 2005
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