Float This!

Hey, two blogs in one week? Try to contain your amazement and excitement!

Last weekend we did a couple of fun things! On Friday I took the day off and we went to Pitsford Reservoir with our neighbor Julie and her kids Cameron and Caitlin. Audrey rode her bike for the first time in ages and had a total ball (the reservoir is about a mile or so from the house). There is this totally quaint "foot path" that gets you there from the village - the only shocking thing is that you have to cross this ridiculously busy road - then through the farmer's field to the reservoir. THere are all kinds of services there, a cafe, a bike shop, toilets (yes, Zoe made use of them as soon as we got there!!!! :))

There is a little maze, a bird watching hut playgrounds, etc. It was a bit chilly and windy, but we had a very nice day!

Pitsford Reservoir

On Saturday, we were invited to visit Portsmouth with the family of one of the guys Pat works with (Paul, Yvette, Emily and Sam). The Portsmouth Historic Dockyards are there - The HMS Victory (1765- oldest commissioned warship in the world!) - Lord Horatio Nelson was shot and later died on this ship.

HMS Victory

The HMS Warrior (1860) - way cool restored Victorian era warship and my personal favorite the Mary Rose (1545) This was Henry VIII's ship which sank right outside of Portsmouth Harbor in 1545 - it was found in the 70s and was recovered in the 80s - they are still restoring what is left and there is a museum full of amazing artifacts!

HMS Warrior

Audrey, Sam, Emily and Zoe on the poop deck of the Warrior

HMS Warrior from the harbor

We also took a harbor cruise and had our first family photo taken to prove that we are all actually here together!

Since Audrey is on mid-term break, we are going to take a couple of days off and go to Drayton Manor (amusement park) and Stoke-on-Trent (pottery heaven) - only about an hour or two NW of here, but we are going to get a hotel and chill for a couple of days. Then we will be heading to London - I'm planning to see Hampton Court Palace (Henry VIII amazing crib) and Pat is going to take Audrey to see the Dr. Who exhibition at Earls court - should be a fun and busy weekend!