Abi & Izzy - the next 5 years

So the big weekend of cycling (for me anyway) is done and I don't think the girls even missed us. That's probably not strictly true, but we are moving to a stage whereby I know that they both have enough going on in their own lives not to dwell too much on us being away for a few days.  We got home on Sunday afternoon hot, tired and looking forward to a big welcome.  What we found was Di and Alby sitting quietly in the garden on their own with the kids round at our neighbours.  When I went round to retreive them it was clear they had been there all day.  It's not surprising really - it was a hot weekend and they had just taken the cover off their pool for the first time (swimming pool or grandparents - which would you choose at that age?!?).  That coupled with the fact that Claire had baked cupcakes with them made for a perfect day. I came in to find them 'decorating' the efforts of their baking.  This entailed a 'one spinkle of sugary goodies for the cupcake,

The biking season is open and we seem to be spending a lot of time over the next few weeks and months cycling our way around various parts of the country / Europe. This weekend was a Taunton 100km sportive in the rain and wind (ugh).  Upside was the girls got to spend some time with Fifi and Grumps as well as do more farm planning with Ben and Laurie (the plans are getting ever more complex but they have realised they'll need some capital and experience - progress!).  Thanks to Amanda who amused them for the morning while we cycled, particularly for taking them out of the house while we returned and collapsed in a wet heap for an hour or two - much appreciated.   All this has obviously rubbed off on Abi who is now entered for her very first event - a 10 mile sponsored ride that starts from Newbury town centre in June.  She is very excited and in true Drinkwater form, she immediately wanted to set out a training schedule and buy some new kit - that's our girl! She wanted to

How wonderful it is to be of an age that when the sun comes out you just strip off and get naked.  Izzy is definitely still 'get naked whoever is around'. Abi is now a little more conservative and does at least check who might be watching, but yesterday there was none of this as they both enjoyed the early May bank holiday sunshine and a spot of 'gardening' (otherwise known as 'mud-pies').  Watching them as they played on the patio, then roaring around the garden chasing each other just reinforced again how lucky we are to have the house and garden we do. So 2 days of playing together, inseparable as ever, followed by today where Izzy was invited to go to Marwell Zoo with Aran, on her own!  Poor Abi was devastated that she hadn't also been invited ("Why didn't they invite me Mummy, it's not fair!"), and even Izzy was a bit put out ("Don't they realise we are sisters Mummy?"). So after many tears and suggestions they get u