Week 26 Project 366

It’s a bit blurry I’m afraid, but I wanted to put up a pic from BritMums Live and I didn’t have another image (didn’t take too many).  I spent the weekend at a blogging conference meeting up with fellow bloggers; learning blogging techniques and making some useful contacts.  It was an exhausting weekend, but fun and very worthwhile.  Hoping to put some of what I learnt into practice over the next few weeks and months.

Sunday was an in between sort of day: recovering from one thing and getting ready for the next.  I still felt very tired from BritMums Live and we were busy working on our home.  Last week we decorated our study and my husband had been working on it while I was away.  It’s starting to look good now and I might share a picture or two next time.  Getting the study into use has helped free up some space which is very useful as we have 3 house guests this week.  As I write this H and his cousin are playing with an iPad in the study with me.  It’s allowing others to get a lie in.

Monday was a day we had been looking forward to for many months.  Our cousins from America arrived to stay with us.  I last saw them 20 years ago last summer when we went as a family to visit them in the US.  They were a party of three: Duncan (my mum’s cousin and my first cousin once removed), Dale his wife and their grandson Duncan Ray (Henry’s third cousin). Henry and Duncan Ray struck up an instant friendship when Duncan Ray came with me to collect Henry from school on the day they arrived.  Here are the two of them chatting away as they stroll home.

On Tuesday our guests were recovering from jet lag and we all went to visit my Grandmother.  It was a fairly quiet day as a result.  My Grandma was thrilled to see her nephew and his family after so long.  In younger years, she went to the states for several long visits with them, but she hadn’t seen them for many years as it’s been difficult for her to travel for some time.

On Wednesday we went out for the day to the picture postcard village of Broadway.  We had a lovely time walking around the shops; exploring the fab park (many thanks to Nikki at Stressy Mummy for the tip); and enjoying a picnic.  In the afternoon we went to the nearby National Trust property: Snowshill Manor.  Snowshill is full of one man’s eccentric collection and includes a room of Samurai armour, one of old bicycles and another of musical instruments.  There are also some lovely gardens and that’s where I snapped this white cat on a wall.

On Thursday the heavens opened and our guests went off to Cadbury world for an out of the rain day out.  I stayed at home and got on with a few things.  Henry went on his first ever school trip.  They went to a farm and had a great time.  The only downside was that they were late back and Henry missed his swimming class.

Friday was another Worcester day.  This time we went to the cathedral with my aunt and uncle as well as our American relatives.  It was interesting to walk round the church with my uncle as he worked on the building many times as a stone mason.  It’s a very interesting cathedral with tombs of King John and Prince Arthur (Henry VIII’s older brother).  It’s well worth a trip.  Here are some beautiful roses in the cloister gardens.