Technically we probably need 3 parts to our summer story (Europe, Scotland, France) but I'll go with two as both El Puma and I returned to work and took less pictures.
A huge thank you to all those we saw over the summer and who also helped us out with looking after the kids while we worked - greatly appreciated. I may need to choose my next job based on the amount of annual leave I get ;-)
UK
Our first stop set the scene somewhat when El Puma dropped me off at the office just north of London only 2 hours after we got off the overnight ferry, and he joined Steve with Thomas and Samuel for the day while I did worky things before we continued northwards the following morning.
Although we managed to fit in lunch with Uncle Gilbert and Auntie Rose, bad traffic on the M6 (as always) after that delayed us and we missed out on dinner in Edinburgh with some Paris friends. Just another excuse to go back to Paris.
The fun began, as it often does, with a family BBQ in Perth and the first time we have been all together for a good few years. Thanks to Uncle Stan and Tante Margret as always for the food, the venue and the welcome. We didn't manage to get a big group photo but we did get a young-Kelling-cousin photo with almost everyone (1 was napping and missed out).
We then dropped off Small Fry, Toby and Zach at the bus in Edinburgh and they went on a week long SU camp in East Lothian. They came back knackered, stinky and happy, while I spent the week at Heriot-Watt in Edinburgh, which went well but afforded no photos as you can imagine.
On Friday we had to pick up the boys, and so we all met up again at Auntie Stina's and Uncle Simon's place and nearby park for the day, enjoying the hot sun but chilly wind (enough hot sun to warrant an ice cream at least), and another cousin photo.
The following week was spent in Inverurie enjoying the usual wonderful Boyd hospitality, guidance and internet access. Being up in Inverurie meant it was a little more feasible to get to Nairn and visit Jimmy and Kay. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite good enough to get on their boat (Merlin), but that's on the list for next time.
We left on Thursday afternoon, stopping in Perth on the way down to visit the cousins we hadn't seen at the BBQ, a quick toilet and tea break in Stirling with Oma, and then southwards, breaking for the night near Carlisle. In theory that meant we should have reached Plymouth mid-afternoon, but...that M6 again...and we only arrived at dinner time with Olaf and Julie.
They also recently remodelled their house and it was fun swopping stories, experiences, and picture books of the renovations.
Staying with Julie and Olaf made it easy to get to the ferry for Roscoff on the Saturday night, although we only found out on Sunday morning that we brought a little gift from the Ferry Port with us: a 2 inch long bolt embedded in our tyre. I could hear a rhythmic clunking but couldn't work out what was wrong. A few kms away from the port we stopped again, and this time the wheels had stopped in a position where we could see the bolt. At the same time Fingerling opened the door and vomited everywhere. You just can't make things up.
After discussing with Uncle Stan we drove onwards, slowly, via back road (which didn't particularly help Fingerling but what can you do?) and made it to Locmaria-Plouzané for a very late lunch and a garage. We're lucky we didn't end up with a flat on the ferry.
France
The weather was a bit iffy but Crevette enjoyed her first sailing week and we all enjoyed catchups with family and friends (Nandi and Steve and kids also joined us again). Due to the dodgy weather and familiarity of it all, I also didn't take so many photos.
We had a fun week and finished it off with a....day at the beach. But this time a different beach, meeting friends from Paris who are in La Baule every summer, before finally returning to Nantes after 6 weeks away.
But the summer wasn't over - we still had 3 days before school started, which included the English bank holiday and my Wednesday off, so we had plenty of time to enjoy the final rays of sunshine and heat. Aunty Fona came with Aidan and Nora to stay and play and we spent one day on the coast and one day biking around Nantes. Perhaps not as warm as they're used to in Jordan, but it didn't stop us from indulging in our usual daily ice cream in summer.
Although the rentrée took place on 1 September (more on that later), summer really only finished for us on Saturday 3 September when we took Aunty Fona and the kidlets up to Paris so they could catch their connecting train to Graben.
We had lunch by the Eiffel Tower, had lollipops instead of ice-cream and said good bye to family, friends, beautiful places, fun times, happy memories, and all else that summer represents.
Let the routine begin! (should be cheaper at least).
