England 1- reuniting with Roofie.

By the time we finally got off our delayed flight, picked up our rental car and drove to Roofie's house we were 2 hours late. My text message hadn't got through so she'd been waiting expectantly all that time. It was so great to see such a good mate again, after so many years. Her partner, Ghal, was so kind and welcoming and made us feel at home (he is also a super cook so we were spoilt with many of his meals). We caught up over wine and a delicious meal and made plans for the next few days. Sunday morning was spent preparing for the house warming bbq they were having to coincide with our arrival. Everyone began arriving at 12.30 and we all enjoyed an afternoon of great food and wine in the sun before the rain began late afternoon. Roofie and I continued our celebrations until early the next morning so we were both not feeling the freshest on Monday! 

After a restful morning (for Roofie and I anyway- Daniel and Ghal did lots of cleaning up), we headed to a country pub for lunch and a walk along the trout filled stream. It was a stereotypical English village- houses with thatched roofs, small lanes and green pastures.  

Tuesday's adventure was to the New Forest and two of the beaches on the south coast. The weather was still a bit dubious on the drive through the New Forest but we managed to stop and pat some of the ponies synonymous with the area. Thankfully the rain stopped just after we began walking on the beach and we were able to enjoy some fish and chips gazing out to the ocean. Jackson, Emilia and Isha couldn't resist the waves, with both of our kids quickly ditching their shorts. Although it was cold Jackson really got into the spirit of it, striping to his undies and getting completely wet. Next was ice cream and a walk along the beach at Highcliffe Castle.  Roofie joined us, as Ghal and Isha had to go back for Isha's netball, and we decided to explore a few more areas in the New Forest on our way back. We found more ponies, some very tame, then discovered some great rope swings over a stream. Daniel and Roofie provided some great entertainment on them!

On Wednesday they took us to an open air museum, displaying houses and relics from over 1000 years ago. As well as the old dwellings (which had been transported from all over England and painstakingly restored) there were heaps of activities based on life in the olden days. The kids got to launder and 'spin dry' clothes using an old wringer, carry two pails over their shoulders like a milk maid, learn how to spin a large metal hoop (an olden days kids game), walk on stilts, make lavender bath bombs, carry water in a wooden bucket with a hole and use felt and water to make beads. It was a great day and we all had loads of fun.

Our short visit had come to an end and we left on Thursday morning, doing all we could to encourage them to take a trip to Australia soon! 

Thanks Roofie, Ghal and Isha - we had a blast!  

Christmas in August!

After quite a few glasses of Prosecco!

Jackson washed his face (and head) in the stream on our countryside walk after a pub lunch.

One of the gorgeous English country homes.

The obligatory red phone box photo.

Horses everywhere in the New Forest.

On the beach...the sun was finally breaking through.

Enjoying some delicious fish n chips.

The ocean was too tempting for the kids, and kne big kid.

Jackson eventually got down to his undies.

We stopped at this lovely castle on  the cliff to get ice cream and wander down to another beach.

Ice cream on the beach (Isha and Emilia)

More horses roaming about in the New Forest.

Exploring the New Forest.

Still great mates even though we haven't seen each other for 9 years.

This photo was taken from my car window. 

We discovered some great rope swings at a stream we stopped at.

Daniel getting some serious speed up.

Trying out stilts at the Old England Outdoor Museum

Making lavender bath bombs (our hands smelled so nice).

Public humiliation for these two.

There's a hole in my bucket.....one of the activities they had at the museum.

Milly the milk maid.

Trying out one of the beds in the olden day houses on disply.