Skip to main content

France #2


Another whirlwind of a week - I'm looking forward to everything settling back to normal so that I (we) can all get some routine back in our lives. This time last week we set off on a bike adventure, the first proper one since before the kids were born. We headed to France with Simon and Sharron, only for she and I to discover that our first stop was actually Belgium. We should have clocked this - after all we knew we were going to go to the Menin Gate - but somehow neither of us had realised that this was not France... good job we weren't navigating!

The weather forecast had looked poor and Glenn was in a quandry before we left as to what combo of gear to wear. I only have one set of bike clothes so for me it was a much easier decision. As it was although we left in rain by the time we reached the M3 it had dried up and by France it was warm again. We finished the journey complaining about being too hot - just can't please us!

The Menin Gate was a really sombre occasion - a commemoration of the 1.7 million men and women who died in WWII. That is such an enormous number of lives, and yet we still seem to be killing each other around the world. I walked along the ramparts of Ypres and promised myself that I will go back and spend more time there - it's a beautiful and historic old town with much more to explore.

From here on Monday we set out for Normandy and the beaches. The plan was to do a number of particular sights, with whatever we could fit in around this. We did Utah and Omaha beaches, Pegasus Bridge, Dead Man's Corner and the American Cemetery over 2 days. By that time it was all beginning to wash over me but I learned so much. Actually what I realised was just how little I really knew about the war and what happened where, also something to remedy otherwise it does become just another forgotten war. We had a lovely time and I really enjoyed being on the bike again - 4 days was definitely enough though - very difficult to feel you've moved much when you spend so much of the day travelling.

We got home late on Wednesday evening with me feeling a bit sorry for myself. Glenn had some bug while we'd been away which I then got. It made me feel very tired and nauseous and for 2 days I just wanted to avoid food and sleep. Unfortunately I had to work so that wasn't going to happen! At least it didn't last too long.

While we were in France the kids were having a ball with Simon and Audrey. Every time we got a message from them they were doing something else, at the waterpark, making necklaces, walking with Piper, playing on the zipwire, teaching Simon to make slime, eating popcorn under a duvet while watching a film... they came home absolutely full of the fun they had and how much they'd enjoyed their stay which was so lovely to hear. A repeat visit is clearly on the cards every summer!

So another 2 weeks of holiday and then back to school. We've started to get ready; Izzy just can't wait  and nor can Glenn quite frankly. They are making the most of having the time to spend with friends. They both seem to drift in and out which is good but a bit strange. This weeks highlight is having Ben and Laurie come visit mid week. They are coming by train which will be an adventure but one I'm sure they are ready for - kids can't wait!!








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cough, cough

Izzy - can't do a photo without rude finger gestures It's fair to say that the last couple of weeks have been rough. I managed to get the cough Mum had a while back and it has been horrible! Both Dad and Glenn seemed to get a very mild version of it but Mum and I got the full dose and I can safely say that it has been a stark reminder of just how bad a viral infection can be. It also illustrates the whole Covid experience - some get it worse than others. For me it has meant that for over 2 weeks I have had the worst cough which has left me unable to sleep properly. I still can't sleep lying down fully, and have to be propped up on pillows on my back which is not my favoured sleeping position! It has also meant that Glenn has spent the last 10 days in the spare room because I have been coughing so badly he is unable to sleep in the same room. Thank goodness we didn't all have it - we'd have shaken the house to its foundations! It has also meant that I have been exhau
Post a Comment
Read more

It's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas...

I was sure I write the blog last week.... but, it seems another 2 weeks have flown by and now we are staring down the barrel of the Christmas holidays and the end of the year! Currently it's all about Doug and what a star he has proved to be so far. He has now been with us for 3 weeks and he is (so far, I keep thinking at some point it will change) a pretty chilled out puppy. As a second dog he has been thrown in at the deep end and has been to Sunday lunch with Alan & Sarah (which he loved), socialised at home with friends and their dogs, met babies (he loved Elsie) and started to go for walks. The walking has been a bit different to our previous approaches with new dogs. In the past we have ventured out carefully, making sure that our new baby only walks a short distance so they can experience all the new sights and sounds. Doug's first walk was after Sunday lunch last week, just him and 8 other dogs for bout 45 mins - he loved it! In our defence we didn't let him wal
Post a Comment
Read more

March!

Betty kisses! Blink and 3 weeks have sped by - just like that! The good news is that it's a) beginning to feel like Spring (well, some of the time), and b) that means we are nearly through year end at work which is a blessed relief - that last couple of weeks have been pretty intense.  Although it's been busy, we have a good few weeks, including a lovely weekend where Glenn and I managed to get away on our own for the first time in 2 years - amazing! We only went to a cottage in Devon for 2 nights but the cottage was really nicely arranged and we settled in very quickly. We did have to adjust a bit t the fact that it was in the middle of nowhere - us and sheep - but Glenn had Wi-Fi and the rugby and I had plenty of time to walk so we were both happy. Kerrie and Elsie came and stayed with the kids so they had a great time also, with lots of time to realise that a young baby might look like fun but it's a lot of hard work! Betty and Doug went to Mum and Dad's. They surviv
Post a Comment
Read more