Wirral, UK: 11th April 10

Today we got up early as Stasia and Soraya are back at school, and then joined Nicky, Mimi, Gigi and Mama on a walk around Eastham Country Park again. The weather is still lovely!






In the afternoon we had dinner with the kids, Colly, Nicky, Mama, Mum and Dad and said our goodbyes as we’re off to Norwich tomorrow.

We’ll miss everyone and we’ve had a great week, with brilliant memories to keep us going until we’re be back again at Christmas!

Wirral, UK: 10th April 10

We spent this morning playing with the kids at Colly’s, then went to Brotherton park for a walk with Mum, Dad, Mimi, Gigi and Stasia. We visited the tunnel under the railway where Dad did his Giant impression “Fe Fi Fo Fum, I smell the…etc.” – he used to do it for us when we were kids, so it’s funny to see him doing it for the youngsters!



We also visited Saint Patrick’s well - according to local legend Paddy stopped off here on his way to Ireland!


In the evening we went to Nicole’s house to celebrate Mimi’s birthday – she’s 2 next week. The weather has been lovely so we sat in the garden and ate LOADs of food, joined by the whole family including Eileen, known as Mama, who is the grandma of Colly’s kids – and Eileen McDonald, a family friend who lives a few doors down from Nicky.





Mum had bought Mimi a bubble machine which was a great success – the kids loved it!

Bromborough, Wirral, UK: 8th – 9th April 10

Yesterday we returned from Blackpool to Colly’s house in Heswall where we spent a few hours playing with the kids – then had lunch of fish and chips and ice cream at Park Gate, which is on the banks of the River Dee. We spent the rest of the day chilling at Mum and Dad’s.



Today we went shopping in Birkenhead as Matt needed to get some new glasses, followed by a quick visit to our family friend Sheila, who is now in her late 80s.

In the evening we had a family dinner to celebrate Matt’s birthday which is next Friday, complete with cake and candles!





Then we all went to watch Dad play the piano, in his regular Saturday night slot at a nearby hotel – on the way Soraya amused us by miming to Barbara Streisand records in the car!


Matt and I spent the night at Colly’s which was fab.

Wirral to Blackpool, UK: 8th April 10

Today we drove the hour and a half to Blackpool to join Colette and her 3 kids Stasia (10), Soraya (6) and Gigi (2) at the haven holidays caravan park where they’re spending a few days as it’s the Easter holidays.




The whole family came, Dad, Mum, Richard, Nicky, Mimi, Matt and I. We had lunch of Mum’s famous green pea soup with sausages and then went for a game of mini golf – the kids loved it, although Gigi and Mimi thought picking up the balls and putting them in the holes meant that they won – little cheats!





After the golf Dad and Richard left and Nicky went for a kip, the rest of us went to play on the arcade games and rides, and then hired bikes to cycle around – 2 adults per bike and 2 little ones on front – much fun!






That was followed by swimming and bingo, which was great, if slightly stressful – they read those numbers out way too quickly for me! Stasia very kindly spent some of her pocket money on a toy ‘Super Bradley Bear’ for Matt and I and then the girls got their photos taken with Rory Tiger!



After that Mum, Nicky and Mimi headed back to Bromborough. Matt and I are staying in the caravan for the night – it’s a bit cramped so Gigi is staying in the perfect toddler sized bedroom, known more commonly as the wardrobe!

We had fish and chips followed by a puppet show by Soraya, using some knitted finger puppets of condors and llamas that Matt and I had brought back from Peru. Soraya wanted us all to concentrate but when we got a bit excited she popped up from under the table and shouted ‘Just Calm Down Everyone!’ A true Scouser…

Colly and I finished the night by tormenting Matt with her Hello Dolly DVD!