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Early start at 4.30am for a marathon day of flying. Probably the worst of the entire trip - but that's what you get when you buy a round the world ticket. First stop Muscat, then Jarkarta before finally getting to Bali. But even after about 24hrs traveling everyone was in good form when we landed.
Really fun week seeing lots of people. Spent some great quality time with Hayley, Jamie and Edison. Saw lots of them and Tina and Lee whilst we were there. Also manged to get down to see Isabel and Chris in St.Albans - although frustratingly spent most of the day stuck in traffic on the M25. Then a fun last day with Harriet and the kids in the park - going ape.
Spent the lovely day at the Beach Hut and Zoe, Alex and families both came down. Followed up by a little local Curry.
Slice of Cake
At the Hut
Down by the Pier
After a great week in Ireland we're back in worthing for a week. This will be our last week before heading off proper, so a great chance to take stock, pack and make sure we're ready for whats coming. Also great to catch up with a few more folks and to hang out with Hayley and Jamie.
So next trip is off to Ireland. Landed in Dublin this time and picked up a car (upgraded which is nice) so we could drive down through Longford and see Margaret. Also manged to see Paddy, Muara and Nancy and Tina. Dinner in Gowna before staying the night with Mags. In the morning we started our drive over to Mum and Dad.
Great to see Mum and Dad, as always. And the added treat to also to see Paul, Sally and the girls. Decided after a couple of fun days around Cong to head off to the Aran islands for a bit of an adventure. Also managed to see Uncle Oliver at the fly fishing champs. And got a day on the lake fishing as well. Hopefully the pictures tell the story better than I an write...
After a very busy week and a lot of emotion and memories - the house is all packed and ready to sell. All packed up into about 8 boxes. We even met the potential buyers.
Crazy long days sorting out the house and opening up boxes and clearing stuff. Great to have Paul and Richard to help me on the Thursday - which mean't most of the stuff has now been cleared, sold, or given away. Think we filled about 3 vans worth of shit and dumped, while Sarah was full tme on facebook groups giving stuff way.
We also manged to meet up with a few people - saw Jason and Sarah for dinner on the Wednesday. Had a great currey with the old Knebworth gang and Paul and Sally on Thursday.
Helen also took the boys to Camden lock for a fun day boating on the canel. They also managed to bump into Sally and the girls in Codicote park - which caught everyone by surprise.
Oliver working the locks
Also manged to get down to Barnet on the Friday night to meet up with Dec. Who was kind enough to cook us the first home cooked meal in weeks. Great seeing him and the famiy. Also managed to get through quite a few bottles of wine which we'd found in the house.
After a nice few days in worthing and at the wedding we're off to Knebworth to clear the house and get t readfy to sell. Probably the bit of the trip I was leeast looking forwrd too - but has to be done. The good bit about this week is that we get to see Helen and Richard in Codicote and also have a few night out planned while we're in the area.
A Night with Hayley and Jamie before heading off to the wedding, while leaving the kids for a night on our own since we left NYC. Great to see Lyndsay again and to meet Rob for the first time. Also amazing to see Henry and Cloe and the kids and catch up. In fact it was weird seeing so many old NYC faces in England - needless to say it was a fun night.
Next leg of our trip is the drive back to Malaga airport to drop the hire car off and jump on a flight back to the UK.
Rather than hire a car thi stime we decided to borrow the Mini from the office. So when we landed at Gatwick Sarah and the Kids got the train to Worthing while I went into London Bridge to say hello to a few folks and grab the car.
Not long in the office, but did get to say hello to Ian, Macca and Adam B as well as bump into a few familier faces. Always a little weird being back in the London office - lots of people and lots of very fond memories.
Decided to do a little day trip to Tarifa. Amazed to say that we'd never been before, which is crazy seeing as its so close and we've driven past it so many times. Anyway through it was great. Speant most of the day wondering around the little cobble streets and looking in shops - and manged to buy Sarah a few brithday presents. As I said, really liked the vibe of the place and can't believe this was our first trip - we'll have to make sure we go back.
Another drive - from Portugal to Spain and onto Duquesa. Our old home from home. One of the main reasons to go back is not only to spend time with nanna and pappa, but also to sort the apartment there - crazy to think we've had it for nearly 12 years. Anyway always fun being back there and also to have a quick 9 holes of golf.
Full Moon
Bags Packed
Picked up another hire car on the 15th from Seville train station and headed to Portugal for a few days. After a 3 hour drive we made it to Portugal. Disappointing hotel, and certainly not a resort I'd go back too. But it was fun hanging out on the beach for a few days and snuck in a game of golf on quite a nice course.
We left the festival on Monday afternoon and headed to soho farm house for a swim, and then to a camp site in Crystal Palace with the van - the only camp site in London (who knew). Night there, with a spot of food. Then a early start on Tueday to drop the van off before getting the train for a flight to Seville, to meet up with Tina and Lee.
Instead of going straight to Duquesa we all decided to be a little more adventurous and head to Seville for a few days. Nice central hotel location, which made visiting the cathedral and palace easy. Lovely city and well worth the visit.
Top of the cathedral
The Palace
Great weekend. The best thing about Give, and kimberly before it, has always been the fact that so many old (and new) freinds are all in one place and having a giggle. Musical highlight was Lou's set on the Saturday night - so that was a big night. Boys had a good time - especailly on the Friday. Great to see Alison's & Jay's wedding vows renewed, and awseome to hang out with Jeff, Lou and little Jack, amongst others. Too many stories, memories or pictures to upload - but here's a few...
After a really fun few days in Wales, we were back on the road and heading to Give to meet up with lots of old freinds along with Hayley, Jamie and Paul and Sally. Enroute we decided to stop off at Soho Farm house for a swim and a bite to eat. We knew it was on the way to the festival, although a little difficult to find. The food wasn't all that, but very nice place.
Ping Pong championship
Relaxing
row, row, row your boat...
We actually enjoyed the stay a little too much as we ended up spending more time there than expected. But eventually we left and made it on site around 10.00pm and meet up with Paul who had saved us a park/camp spot right next to the rest of the group.
So we made it to Sarah's cousins on the afternood of the 5th and were greeted with a nice meal and the oppotunity to say hello to Sarah's extended family. Also nice to sleep in a proper bed and not the van for a couple of days.
Went to the beach for the day before going to the local cricket & rugby club to watch the Wales v Portugal game. 2-0 to Ronaldo, but great atmosphere.
The next stop befopre hitting Wales we decided should be Bath. The camp wasn't far from town, and we had a top tip for a van friendly car park. Then a little breakfast and stroll around town before heading for an educational visit to the baths themsleves. We'd been to Bath a good few times - but never agone inside the baths with the kids, so something new...
Bath bubbles
Early start from the apartment and off to forest hills to pick up our VW camper van. We've done the vintage one before - look nice, but shit to drive. So this time we've gone for a brand new T6. The aim once we had the van was to go to Wales to see some of Sarah's family. So once we picked up the van, and had a full English, we decided to head to stonehenge and show the boys a bit of ye olde England.
Sarah managed to find a really small camp site after that, which by chance had a lovely little pub next to it - nice. Boys where super excited to be in the van and sleeeping in the pop-up roof, but eventually we got an OK nights sleep and up in the am to work out where next...
Pub Grub
Waking up to these two
Started the day by heading over to Bermondsey to visit Joanie for a few hours. Love the fact that Sarah always plans to see her whenever we're in the UK.
From there we went had a quick bite, before going of to Freddies Party. Needless to say it was a fun night and Fred was amaxing with his daning and speach - sure Helen and Lester where very proud.
The kids
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