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25 June 2012

Holidaying

What a perfectly lovely week!  Jude's Celebration began our time away perfectly, in the woods, with shared food and prayer and wildness and friends.
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We visited the beach (an entirely necessary pilgrimage for me).  Some little people I know had nearly an ice cream a day while we were away.  AND got a donkey ride.  The donkeys were very happy and friendly, and the children adored them.
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Here is Talia, in the sea, where I took a picture of my bloomingly gigantic bump in the late autumn last year.  Right Here, I told her, this is where I knew I could do it.  For the first time.  Knew I could birth you, mother you; peace settled on me Right Here.
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Martin spent a fair amount of the week engrossed in The Hunger Games.  Mr I-Hate-Reading.  ;)
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We went to a few National Trust properties (I keep a tally to justify the membership to myself, and we always seem to break even for the year in June - my membership runs from May).
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Barrington Court was great fun to run around.
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They had a big installation by Anthony Gormley in the basement, and outside has crafters in the old stables including a really beautiful woodworking shop (the owner of which kindly answered a long stream of questions from Jenna about how he makes his wares).  We came home with a gorgeous candle holder made from slice of branch with the bark still on.  (If you're interested in looking him up, meet Jozef Mesar.)
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Oh, and we even went to some open air theatre at one property: The Brothers Grimm by the Pantaloons, which the children adored (us too).  And it was quite encouraging to go somewhere where my children looked like utter angels by comparison!
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The girls painted a kite.
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Yet more National Trust places to see...  Lytes Cary Manor.
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It has this woodland play area that made me desperate for some big logs to put in my garden.
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Oh, that smile...
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And it also has awesome gardens.
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We never did manage to fly the kite the children painted one morning.  We explored Yeovil Country Park, though.
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And went swimming at an outdoor pool.  Talia looked very confused.  Here we are afterwards, as the grown ups drink takeaway mugs of tea to warm up!
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In the flat we had a challenge to keep the children reasonably quiet; they all have thunder feet.  Lots of crafts were the order of the day week.
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You can see why we didn't desperately want to come home, in spite of sharing a very teeny flat for nine days.  We all slept well in our own beds last night though.  And the memories, and the photographs, have given me a lot more smiles.  On what would otherwise feel like rather a bleak Monday afternoon.
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:)

9 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a fabulous time :) we are hopefully getting a national trust membership next month, very excited for it!!

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    1. It's so worth it for us - one of those extras I don't find it hard to justify. :)

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  2. Looks like an absolutely wonderful holiday.

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  3. I am quite envious, Duncan has just had a big project drop in his lap at work which means no hols for us for a while. It may however be the funding for one latter on. I guess you cant have it all ways. The kids look so happy and relaxed and Talia is her usual beacon of brightness lol. Glad you had a great time.
    V
    xxx

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    2. They're a funny bunch. Roo slept next to me as the night time noises in the flat frightened her, but now she keeps asking to go back!

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  4. :) it was such a lovely week, and so delightful to have company. :)

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    1. Thankyou! I'm sure your apartment feels so quiet now. :)

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  5. We found a great way of saving money on our National Trust membership; by joining NT Scotland we can visit all properties in the UK but have the option of paying monthly direct debit. It works out around a fiver a month for a family membership!
    Teresa

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Penny for your thoughts? :)