Sophie's travels 2011-2012: June 2011

Thursday 30 June 2011

20.06.2011 - 26.06.2011 UK - week 12

Early in the week was spent getting ready for the arrival of Mum and Dad from Aus and Uncle Roger from the USA. Mum and Dad were due to arrive on the Thursday morning but flights were cancelled due to the ash cloud from Chili so didn't end up making it til Friday morning. On Saturday we went and had a look at the house Roger is buying in the UK then went to the pub - the Red Lion. On Sunday Mum and Dad had a party in the garden with all Dad's university friends, the weather was amazing 30+ hot and sunny!

Nan enjoying her wine at the pub!

Roger and Dad walking the dog around Mortimer

Roger walking through the corn fields in Mortimer

Evening drinks in the garden

Dad with his friends

Jambo brought his blow pipe from their Borneo days and we all had a go at sending darts into the target!

Dad aiming for the target

The garden at Highfield

I had a go and managed to get it in the target!

Long distance shot!

Blow pipe and target

Relaxing in the garden after the party - Spikey is happy!

Monday 20 June 2011

13.06.2011 - 19.06.2011 UK - week 11

This week was fairly quiet. The weather was temperamental with showers on and off all week but still fairly warm. I spent the weekend preparing for mum and dad's arrival with Nan and made a trip into Reading to get some last minute things like a pump for our air mattress!

Nan feeding the pheasant - as you can see it's not phased by the cat!

We have spent a lot of time this week hunting for things Grampa looses (usually his teeth and his glasses) so when I found them in the bath tub this particular time he decided it was best to wear both so that he could finish eating his favourite desert - strawberrys, cream and sugar or should I say cream, strawberrys and sugar...

Grampa helped me pump up the new air mattress

Inspecting the tent that is a little small for the air mattress...

It's going to be cosy!

Grampa inspecting inside

Nan very proud of her 1st big cucumber this season

Tuesday 14 June 2011

6.6.2011 - 12.6.2011 UK - week 10

This week I had another busy week of home visits around the Oxford area at work and started recording some of Thea's amazing recipe's on her visit to Highfield during the week. I booked all our flights for our September trip around Europe and went down to stay with Thea on the weekend again in East Sussex. On Saturday we went to the South of England show to help cousin Anne with her catering job. I loved the show, especially all the animals (pigs were the highlight!) and learnt all about 'hunting' - got to watch demonstrations of all the hounds responding the the horn of the huntsman, pretty amazing! Finished the week with a BBQ at one of Thea's friends places and drove back to Mortimer.

Nan's pheasant eating her breakfast

Clipping and grooming the prize winning sheep at the South of England show

Sheep with dreadies!

Loved the piggies!

hiding...

cute!

loved this guy! smiling for the camera!

Dopey...

Babe?

too cute!

Sleepy

the best way to sell a dog bed!

Demonstration of the hounds with the huntsman

Serving out the back of the horse lorry

preparing for lunch...

The hounds in sprint!

Unreal - the hounds following the call of the huntsman, there were about 12 different packs of hounds who all joined together - hundreds of dogs racing around - was amazing!

Full flight - check out the one flying over the horse jump!

Back in the ring...

Monday 13 June 2011

30.5.2011 - 5.6.2011 UK - week 9

This week I did a lot of home visits at work which meant I was out and about seeing the countryside which was nice. On the weekend I drove down to Wadhurst (East Sussex) to visit Thea and help her with some catering jobs. I learnt some beautiful recipes and we managed to squeeze in a bike ride around Bewl (the local dam) which was good and we had yummy Chinese take away for dinner!