Before we fly off to Vienna, here's a post of things we've been up to as the weather has heated up - it really feels like summer is coming, although of course I know we'll still be hit hard by the Vienna heat... British heat just doesn't compare!
Adventures on and in the water
For something completely different that we'd never done before, we booked into a cruise on the Paddle Steamer Waverley - going from the Welsh side of the Bristol Channel over to Clevedon and back (about 90 minutes each way). The kids went from being very apprehensive about being on a boat - because what if it sinks! - to actually having a great time. Helped in no small part by a friendly dog sat right next to us, who was actually the highlight of the trip for the kids. Mr. and I did enjoy the ride too though!
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| Yes, our hound came too! |
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| Sunset ashore at Clevedon |
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| Goodbye and good night, Waverley! |
Another activity on the water has been a five-week sailing course in the floating harbour. Couldn't be more sedate, as there are no waves to speak of, and it was beautifully calm and warm every time we went. Yet, unfortunately, both kids have decided that sailing isn't for them, much to the disappointment of Mr. who is, after all, a keen sailor. The silver lining of this is that Mr. is now going to have a few sailing sessions in the harbour, himself!
We enjoyed an evening cruise through Bristol Harbour as part of the Bristol Festival of Nature: being shown the wildlife we wouldn't otherwise have spotted was great fun!
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| Cormorant! |
Finally, we actually went in the water - at Portishead Lido, an outdoor pool we'd never been to before, with our friend Daniel. The Lido, to be honest, is old and somewhat underwhelming for us (spoiled from Vienna facilities as we are) but it was nice to cool down in the water after a heatwave; until there was a bit of drama, when Daniel slipped in the belly-high water and could not get his feet underneath himself to come up again. N(10) was right next to him at the time and immediately realised what was happening, and even as he began to panic, she steadied him and lifted his head above the water.
This girl is so intuitively empathetic, she realised the emergency much quicker than anyone around her, and I couldn't be more proud of her. Daniel later sent her a thank-you card, which she treasures - I couldn't let it stay on her bed, as she does need to sleep there, but it's now got pride of place on the shelf above.
Camping - and again!
Since D's birthday, we have been camping twice! Having decided to stick with the camper van as our main vehicle now, and having sold our car, it just feels right to give the camper some good use. At the end of May we went to Hill House Family Camp for the first time (and we'll absolutely make that an annual event!), and at the end of June we camped with the Bristol Christian Home Edders as we have done every year since the kids were toddlers. Both times, absolute blasts. It's been so good to connect with friends old and new!
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| D(9) learning to whittle (yes, he still does the squat!) |
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| On a Treasure Hunt through the village |
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| Worship night at Hill House Camp was great |
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| At the BCHEdders camp - D being initiated into the manly art of fire making |
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| N(10) reading to all the kids and she had their rapt attention! |
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| Pizza night at camp is tradition |
Celebrations
We've had a few things to celebrate these past few weeks. For a combined Fathers' Day / Grandma's Birthday celebration we went to our by-now traditional place in Weston, which we love because it's dog friendly and right on the beach... oh and I have to include here the amazing card D created for his dad, the amount of detail is just gorgeous. That D wants to go up a mountain with daddy was news to me, but we're now thinking about how and where we can make this happen - Sugarloaf, here we come!
The following weekend, N celebrated with her football team, and all received their trophies - she continues to love to play, and will definitely continue in September.
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| It's not hard to spot my girl... haha |
Finally - I found this sweet picture in N's room, a self portrait with the hound. My girl, running free in the sunshine... I am beyond grateful that this is what her life looks like.
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