We just got back from Bath and Stonehenge. I assume I am not alone in having a hard time saying “Stonehenge” without going into Spinal Tap mode? As I was walking back to our apartment with my first overseas case of wine, our new neighbors (last couple of months I’d say) said hello and asked where we’d been and I mentioned Stone Henge in Spinal Tap voice and the husband got it pretty quickly. He said he had the DVD if I wanted it, and I said I had already decided to go buy it, so yes! They are having a baby in 3 months or so. I am excited for them.
It goes without saying that if we go on a trip it’s only because Sue has put in countless hours researching places to stay and see. I mean, almost as much time as I spend reading up on Mac computers!
This was the sunset as seen from our B&B the night before, so we had high hopes for a spectacular evening at Stonehenge the next day.
Sue bought special tickets so we could get in with the stones with a handful of people after the crowds have left, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. We’d have to wait until the evening the following day to find out how it would turn out, however. Before then we headed to the beach (Bournemouth) for the day.
Yes, this looks just like a beach:
We thought that on a super clear day you could see France from this position. But now we’re back in front of a computer I can see that it’s at least 60 miles to France. There’d have to be some nice big hills at the other end to see anything:
Madeline showing her form:
I got in on the action eventually:
You can see the kids were dressed for beach weather (well, they were able to undress for it) but I was not. But for the first 2 hours on the beach I had a sweatshirt and a long sleeve shirt on, so it wasn’t exactly toasty. But it was probably the nicest day of the year so far and we were lucky to have headed to the beach for it.
I could make a comment about english women in bathing suits, but I think I’ll refrain.
I could also make a comment about the fact that I put close to hundred miles onto the English roads this weekend, and not a single person was injured. We made heavy use of our Garmin nuvi 350, which I thought sucked when I first got it but now think it is the best little device I have ever bought. Its quality blew away the quality of the GPS that came with our 2001 Acura MDX that I am so glad we no longer own. I especially love the “There’s a traffic camera coming up” warning, including the speed you need to be below to avoid getting a ticket. Amazing… Amazing how many picture taking devices there are, even out in the middle of nowhere!
Here’s a comment I can make about the English: I love the way they get together and play a game of football. Everywhere you go, kids, adults and everyone in-between are playing an easy game of football. Everyone seems at ease and relaxed about it, too. A happy competition. Oh - except it is just the boys. Madeline is just about the only girl I have seen playing, except when she was in a soccer league attended almost exlcusively by Americans.
Here’s the Stonehenge teaser:
This next one will probably show up on our Christmas photo this year:
Jason doing some serious contemplating:
Obligatory cute kids shot:
My attempt at a cool, artsy fartsy shot. Yes, that is Sue and the kids on the right, and yes it sure looks like we’re the only ones there:
A nice father and son shot. Do we look at all alike? I don’t think so:
But now we’re home and things are presumably getting slowly back to normal. Sue, Jason and I were sick during this whole trip but I think I shall feel more comfortable coughing up a lung in the privacy of our own … apartment, than in some random B&B. On the other hand, we stayed in some nice places I must say.
Madeline is in the bath singing her heart out right now. Some day she is going to audition at American Idol, I can just see it. But maybe … maybe first we should get her some voice lessons to go with her one obvious, year-round passion.
I’ll have more pictures of Bath tomorrow, but for now I will leave you with this: I now look at every new meal as an opportunity not to stuff myself into oblivion. I have been successfully avoiding it for about a week or so now, although tonight was by far the toughest test: Indian food. Oh, nasty nasty Indian food, I love it too much, I have caused myself more physical discomfort with Indian food than anything else. The reasons for this new approach are self-explanatory and I will uncharacteristically leave the details out …
“American Idol” is the hit TV show where signers compete for a recording contract. “American Idle” is something else entirely. Perhaps it refers to a semi-retired American family living it up in the UK?