Cranwell

Hi

After Knutsford we travelled down to Cranwell to visit 2 lots of friends there. Our first stop was at Sarah's. Sarah had been in the Falklands with us. Thomas was in Jacob's year and Finlay was in pre school. Sarah also helped in pre school. It was lovely to see them again and it was as if we'd not been apart. The children had a great time with the chickens in the garden. I've included a photo of Abi chasing after one. They also had child horse jumps so the other photo is of Jacob jumping them. We stayed for one night with Sarah and joined in with a treasure hunt the next day around the quarters. After lunch we headed off for Helen's house. She's about 5 mins from Sarah in the actual village. We know Helen from our time at Leuchars. Jacob and Abi were very excited to see William, Issy, Sam and Alice. I've included a photo of all of them in the door way. Abi slept in with Issy and Alice and Jacob was in with William. They eventually went to sleep at about 9.30pm. No one wanted to leave but we had to get the hire car back so we all went for a picnic and play at Belton House - photos of them on some play thing. So our trip away was a great success. Mum and Dad were pleased to have us back. Thank you to Sarah and Helen for having us to stay, feeding us and entertaining us too!

Rachael.

Wales and Knutsford

Hi

We have had a busy time travelling over the last week. We set off from Mum and Dad's on Monday and I drove us to North Wales. My University friend, Ruth, had kindly lent us her cottage that is 20 mins from Betsy-Coed. It's very picturesque and is located within the Snowdonia National Park. We stayed until Friday. The weather was variable but it didn't stop us getting out and about. The first day we went on the Festiniog Railway - for Dad's benefit really. We did enjoy it, a tiny bit too long for Jacob and Abi who were bribed with toys and chocolate! We arrived in Portmadoch and did a coast walk and ended up in a lovely bay for a picnic lunch. I've included a photo of everyone near the train. The next day we went to Harlech Castle. This was a favourite for Jacob and Abi. It's well maintained but still needed a bit of imagination on their parts to think about what it would have been like to live their in the 1280's. I've included a photo of them outside the castle. On the Thursday we explored more locally and took the children swimming. Ruth arrived Friday evening and it was lovely to catch up, we really shouldn't leave it for 4 years until we see each other again! On Friday Ruth took me and the children to Llundundo and we had fun on the pier. Mum and Dad drove back to Holwell for a rest and I picked up a hire car and set off for Knutsford to stay with Anne, Pete, Emily and Vicky. First experience of driving the car was bad as I haven't driven a stick shift for a while and kept forgetting about the clutch. I think the hire car people were a bit worried! Anyway I got to Knutsford easily, well with a few toilet stops on the way.

We met Vicky for the first time, she's very cute with a high pitched cry. You definitely cannot ignore her when she wants something! I've included a photo of them all plus one in the paddling pool. Jacob would have slept there if he'd been allowed! We had a fun time at the local park and one further afield. We went out for dinner too with all the children - what an experience! It was great to see them all. So today we're off to Cranwell to meet up with Sarah and co who were in the Falklands with us and also to spend a night with Helen - who we met when we were in Scotland. Will try and update this one more time before we leave the UK. Jacob's really missing Allen, bless him. Abi's loving all the attention she's getting so Dad's been forgotten a bit! I'm missing him too and am looking forward to 3 days relaxing in Ascension.

Hope all is well

Rachael.

PS Sorry for the bad spelling of place names.

UK Holiday

Hi

We have been back in the UK for a week and a half and are all really enjoying it. It's been lovely to see all the family but flowers, grass and trees have been great to see too! Allen and I went to a friend's wedding in London, she looked beautiful and we had a fun 2 days at the wedding minus Jacob and Abi. My parents had them for 2 nights. I've included a photo on our first day in the UK. The sun was shining and all the children wanted to do was play in the garden - lovely. There's one of Jacob up a tree.

After the wedding we caught the train up to Scotland for a week with Allen's family. We started with a family BBQ in the sun. Jacob and Abi have had a brilliant time with their cousins, and of course Grandma, Auntie Louise and Uncle Stuart. Grandma and cousin Sarah took the children to the zoo in Edinburgh while Allen played golf with his Uncle and I went shopping with his Aunt - very successful! We go to lots of posh things in the Falklands so I needed a few new smart things. Everyone had an enjoyable day out. Allen and I had 2 nights in a hotel outside Edinburgh where we met up with friends from DC. They were there to see a bit of Scotland and play golf. It was lovely to catch up and very relaxing as it was again without the children - thank you Grandma Melrose. On our last day in Scotland we went to the beach with the family. It was a perfect afternoon and I've included a few photos from the day.

So thank you to the relatives so far, it's been a fun trip. Allen flies back tonight but me and the children have 2 more weeks of seeing friends and relatives.

Hope all is well

Rachael.

X Factor

Hi

Had a busy last week of term and we are finally on our winter holidays! The pre school fund raiser was great fun last weekend. One of our neighbours won a bottle of Moet and kindly gave it to us when she found out it was our 12th Wedding Anniversary. Can't believe it was 12 years ago, I can still remember Allen doing his handstand in his kilt like it was yesterday! So we did enjoy our anniversary. Different to normal as we try to go away/ out for a romantic meal etc... Bit difficult down here especially when the snow comes in and everything is shut including all the roads. From that comment you can probably tell it has snowed a bit, well not just a bit a lot. At least 5 ft snow drifts. Our car couldn't cope with the cold so we got lifts from kind neighbours. It was too cold/too deep to walk anywhere even though we don't live that far from anything. No school closures though as everyone can get in the military did get a half day which I thought was a bit off. I've included a photo of the children near our house in the snow. They have had a great time in it all. The ice caused lots of heating to break, not ours thankfully and also the water tower to crack so we've had no water for 24 hours. I have just about used all the pans we filled up but I suppose there's lots of snow outside that I could use too! It should be fine later, we'll see. So no showers this morning.

Jacob and Abi took part in the X Factor at school. It was an end of term thing. Jacob played the recorder. I had no part in this. He was up on stage with 2 of his friends and did a great job. Abi did a ballet dance to Hi Ho with her best friend Emma. They loved it and looked very sweet. They also did a class song that was very funny - I won't survive. It was about staying in the same class with the same teacher due to being in a small school - Jacob and Abi stay with Miss Scott for the next school year. Abi's not bothered by this but Jacob's not so keen. We actually went in to discuss his report with his teacher as we felt it was extremely negative and made him out to be a difficult child. I know he's not an angel! She was very helpful and did apologise as she didn't mean it to be a negative report. She has suggested a behaviour chart idea that we are going to use in September when he returns to school. It was good to talk to her and stopped me worrying so much. School holidays now and it's lovely to just not rush in the morning. We have got to go to pre school and sort it as I won't have any time when we return from the UK. We fly out on Tuesday - flight dependent as the flight this week got turned around and didn't make it to the Falklands. We have gradually run out of fruit and veg. The plane landed last night so there should be food in the shops again!

Anyway hope to meet up with lots of you over the next few weeks,

Rachael.

Go-Karting and other bits!

Hi Everyone

Had great fun at the Go-Karting track last weekend. It was a wives trip out to the local race track on base. I've included a photo of me and Rebecca, she's the one in the green suit and I chose not to wear one. I however got covered in muddy water so next time I'll look as silly as she did! I couldn't stay for the whole time as Allen was home with the children and he wasn't well with his elbow infection. He's much better but it still hasn't cleared up after 10 days on antibiotics. He goes back to the Dr at the end of the week. So I didn't get a medal on the Karting as they counted your laps. I have to say I wasn't bad, I think I would have been second overall. Allen went karting the following weekend and he won a trophy. I've suggested a go of wives against husbands and it seems popular. I don't think I'll beat Allen but I think I'll beat most of the other husbands.

Also had 5 families around to say farewell to the Dr and his family. They are off to the sunny climbs of Texas. Abi wore her cowboy boots and cowboy hat for their farewell!

It also snowed quite a bit so we, of course, went sledging. The snow had drifted so it went up to my tummy in places.

Went to a dinner night in the Mess on Saturday, it was a British summer time theme. Good fun and much more relaxed than normal.

Jacob and Abi had a knights and princess day at school on Friday. They'd been doing a castle topic for 2 weeks and had a party at the end to celebrate. I've included photos of them dressed up. We have a busy rest of week. Took pre school on board HMS Gloucester today. I was most impressed. Unfortunately they have had swine flu on the ship and they only found out after our visit, oh well. I'm taking the pre schoolers to see the helicopters this week too. Off out in Stanley tomorrow night for dinner and then a pre school fund raising dinner on Saturday. I'll need a rest when we get back to the UK!

Hope all's well

Rachael.

Tornadoes, arts week and the beach.

Hi

I have had a cold and have also been very busy down here but have finally got a day to myself! Did a trip to see the Tornadoes with pre school. We all enjoyed it and I had fun sitting in the cockpit - see photo. Did you know female pilots wear big nappies on long flights, the children giggled at this! It was sad though that the day after we'd visited a Tornado crashed in Fife with the 2 air crew being killed. It was very sad down here as they were known to a lot of people, Allen included.

Jacob and Abi had a big arts week at school. Jacob performed in a play. It was set in Victorian London and had slang in it. Jacob did well to learn his lines as it was lots of 'ere, 'and, feelin' etc. I've included a photo of him and his friend Harry dressed as street children - Jacob sold violets. Abi was a mouse for her performance. She loved it and showed off particularly well! They then both got swimming certificates, Duckling 5, the highest one they could get for their class. They are both good little swimmers. Jacob also got his 3rd smiley certificate, beating his sister so he was well pleased.

Last weekend we celebrated July 4th and invited around 20 people. I did American food and drink. We started at 6pm and kicked the last people out at 11.30pm. I let Allen have a long lie in on the Sunday, it'll be my turn next weekend! Sunday afternoon we headed down to Burtha's beach as it was sunny if chilly. I've included photos from the beach. We all had a great time.

This week as been busy. Allen's been on exercise so stayed at work for 48 hours, they pretend they are at war. Chicken pox has hit pre school and we had 7 off with it so it was a quiet week there. I've started helping out at the local cafe as a volunteer so I can now work a coffee machine - hot milk and foam. The cakes are lovely there too. I did 2 afternoons but am probably only going to do one normally. Haven't been to the gym this week due to my cold. Still can't breath and my nose is a glowing red colour.

Was hoping to take the children sledging after school but the snow is melting, had a few snow falls this week, so it'll have to be the cafe instead!

Hope all is well

Rachael.

More Sledging

Hi
We have had more snow over the past week and we, at last, got to go sledging. Jacob and Abi are so busy after school during the week it's hard to get out and play in the snow, especially as it's dark by 4pm. So Saturday morning we made up for it and sledged for a good hour and a half. I've put 3 photos in. One of Abi doing a backwards roll down the snowy bank, one of Jacob post sledge and one of Harry sledging with Jacob looking on.

The other photo is of Jacob and Abi in PJ's, it was the wrong trouser day at school and they could wear anything wrong! Jacob had been off the day before with a cold, he's still got a cough, hope he makes it into school tomorrow.

Allen and I went out to a fund raiser last night. It was fun if a bit loud - how old are we??? Had a Sunday lunch thing at the Mess which was very social but we're knackered due to our night out. Busy week this coming week with book club and a ladies leaving thing too. Having an American night for the 4th July, so it's be wings, chili and brownies.

Hope all's well

Rachael