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4th and 44th birthdays

We met Dom & Emma for lunch in the New Forest and cake on the common among the ponies!

Some snaps from mum and dads trip 2019

Pretty Piran

Up early to catch a bus from Bled to Ljubljana and then a bus to Piran on the very small Slovenian coastline. We did get there after a hiccup with the bus - no seats left so plan B - we caught the train and then a bus. Took a bit longer but not too bad. And Piran was another beautiful town. It is very medieval at the centre with little windy streets and houses with shuttered windows and balconies facing each other. Lots of restaurants along the seafront with all the beautiful poeople looking out to sea except they are much nicer than the usual beautiful people jangling their jewellery! It is definitely a lovely place to visit. We stayed in a hotel on the seafront- a handy place to stay and a great hotel - especially as it included a big buffet breakfast.

Our first afternoon was a bit of a walk around getting our bearings. We had a great meal of fish in a square where you ordered your meal from a hole in the wall and waited till they called your number. It was just delicious! The next morning we had the big breakfast and went to mass in the church on top of the hill. After that, it was a walk all over the hilly town. Great place and very busy as lots of people visit on the weekend. We did visit a very interesting museum/expo thing called Mediadom Phyrani with a 3D movie and other roach screens which gave information about the town and surroundings.

Some photos

The seafront.

The church on the point.

The main Square early in the morning.

Inside a church on the square.

medieval street

Looking over Piran

On the walk

Dad with the map.

and the we moved on to Ljubljana.

Self portrait by Grandma

Abi’s birthday

Birthday week is over, she had a lovely time! Thanks for the lovely presents - she loved them all. Xx

Another posh afternoon tea

Mum and I went for a fashion themed afternoon tea - very fancy but they still packed up the cakes we couldn’t eat!

Bleddy Beautiful!

We are leaving Bled today after 3 beautiful days. The weather has been helpful - 22 degrees everyday! Unbelievable! We arrived Tuesday afternoon, found the apartment then the supermarket for breakfast supplies etc. Nothing changes there. The next morning we went for the walk around the lake as is usual for visitors to Bled. We had a bit of a detour up a hill which was quite steep - we had to hold on to a steel cable in one part otherwise we would have had a bit of a fall - no mention of this in the Lonely Planet - it just mentioned it was a steep walk! Anyway, the views were amazing and the walk down was easy. You will notice we had a walking stick each. Just as well as we mightn’t have made it up the hill.

After the hike, we stopped for a drink at the rowing club and then a rest before having tea at the pub next door. Our accommodation was great. Very clean and comfortable. TV with 200 channels. Dad was able to watch some golf in a Japan and BBC News forever. There was a coffee shop as well as the pub. The Supermarket was only 200metres away and the lake was 300 metres down the road.

Nexr day was a trip to Vintgar Gorge about 5ks out of Bled. We caught a bus to the gorge, walked 1600m along a wooden walkway and then up over a hill back to Bled. The gorge was amazing except for the crowd and people stopping to take selfies on a very narrow walkway in places. The walk was through a beautiful forest with autumn leaves falling everywhere and at the top of the hill was a Church and great views down over a valley plain. The walk back to Bled continued through a couple of villages. Outside a pub a lone woman was holding a sign with Protest written on it. We asked what the protest was about and it seemed she had been married for 31 years and then her husband divorced hr and it was all over in 2 months. She lost her home and her pharmacy business to her husband who had some help from his boss who was supposed a big wheel in the community. It was quite sad but I am not sure what the protest would do to help. Here are some photos from the gorge and the walk.

After the walk we stopped at a Gostilna which is an inn / pub / restaurant. Later we walked up to the top of the castle hill and down again. The end of a lovely day.

Hi de hi!

we went to Butlins for the week - a British institution, home of the famous redcoats and def a cultural experience ;).  mix of ye olde fairground, ulladulla funland pokies for kids, southern cross club style entertainment (including my first ever panto!) and a fab brand new indoor pool perfect for small people.  Plus we went and met Dommy and Oliver on the beach in Goring by the Sea for a scrummy lunch and ice cream. The girls had a fab time, their favourite part was “everything”.  

it’s behind you! 

We went to watch dommy play footy

Beth’s Birthday

We had a bbq party (but there were no party bags or crowns much to Abi’s disappointment) for Beth - it was 24 degrees...in April.....in Britain!!!  

At peppa Pig world  

birthday girl

Cheeeeeeese

mine cake

Bunny cakes

loves the dress I made for her

bbq party 

I made the train cake

Christmas in Blighty

where’s my unicorn mummy?

French France

we had an amazing holiday in France at a caravan park - almost exactly like going to the cotter.   Pools and bouncy castles and delicious pizzas all on site, plus a bike ride round the beautiful countryside, beaches and scrummy seafood.  Abi worked on her best French’s bonjour! and Beth made it clear she doesn’t like long car journeys.  

Grandma’s It!

Pop at the Park

Solomon’s birthday

Solomon came round for his birthday lunch yesterday and had a lovely day - we went to the Boot Inn on the Test River (very picturesque) and then back to ours for pirate cake thanks to Abi’s help.   Thanks for the presents - he loved them. 

Beth's Christening

Sunday was a busy day - Father's Day for breakfast, Beth's Christening for lunch and Solomons birthday for dinner - much to celebrate. It was properly hot - 29 degrees (the roads are melting) -  and a beautiful day all round.

The christening service was lovely, in a tiny church on the edge of Romsey with a vicar who had divine baby calming talents.  Dom and Emma, Brendan and Nene were godparents - you have at least 3 here - 2 of the same gender plus 1 of the opposite.

Andy went with his favourite BBQ strategy (invite an Aussie) and put Dom and Brendan to work on the barbie while he sorted everything out,  Em made a salad that everyone raved about and I ordered a cakre from Waitrose - my special skill.  The paddling pool was very popular, money well spent ;)

Love days like that.  There are some photos here
http://www.mcinerney.tv/new-gallery-2/

Do we have a footy team yet?

We'll be adding another little baby to the clan next April! All good so far and v exciting. Cx

Claire

Smart boy on first day

Solomon is off to senior school today!

Claire

Before and After...

Claire