Plan B is just as fun...

What with a cancelled Christmas and two cancelled Portugal trips, it had been 18 months since we had seen the Bucks Rookes. So with the orignial holiday postponed till 2022, the McRookes travelled to High Wycombe for stop one on our summer holiday Plan B. 

And what a lovely time we had! There was a plethora of National Trust properties explored (Hughendon, West Wycombe, Cliveden, Waddesdon), a wonderful day boating on the Thames, walks in Marlowe and Downley Woods, great food and of course great company! And it was that latter part that really made it for us. It was so lovely catching up with all the Bucks Rookes face to face; we even dragged Rooke Senior down for the day, and managed to catch up with one of my cousins and our good friend Sarah. A lot of chat and laughter all the way! Thank you so much to the Bucks Rookes for hosting us and letting us stay in your home. And particular thanks to Will for letting us intrude on his space and putting up with a second shadow in the form of Niomi for a few days!!

Oh and there was also the small matter of a trip to HPW. But I’ll need to save that for a post all of its own 😁.

All aboard!!

Videoclip: Unpacking

To view the videoclip click here

Dad with his boys

What a difference 8 years makes!!

The Magnum Posse

Best Friends 1

Best Friends 2

One of the many beautiful places - Hughendon

Quintessential English countryside

Sisters

Videoclip: Skater Boy

To view the videoclip click here

Meringue delight

The mischief makers

A rare shot of the two of us 😁💗

Oh yes - it was a lot of fun!!

Let the holiday season begin...

Just a few days after schools were out for summer and we were off. Holiday numero uno. It was a strange one this year; we recently worked out we had had seven Covid-cancelled holidays, and so to make up for it had booked ourselves left, right and centre during the summer holidays. And first up, the old favourite - North Berwick - courtesy of Chez Gurney.

To add in to our hotchpotch of holidays, there'd been a little booking confusion on this trip; the Gurneys having got a little confused on their own holiday dates, which meant we were all bundled together for the first half of the week. But as Niomi would say - "that doesn't matter" - and indeed it didn't, as all the girls just entertained each other; Tanya got some 'above and beyond' help from Layla on the Edinburgh flat; and I just got to sit around drinking beer with John. What could be better!

So the week passed blissfully with trips to various beaches (despite a bit of haar), Balgone Lakes, Gosford Estate, the Law, and Dalkeith Country Park. It even included TWO visits from the tooth fairy for Niomi (she kinda assisted in the tooth extractions by intense wobbling).

And post-Gurney departure in the second half we also became socialites extraodinaire - catching up with friends David and Lesley; Claudia and David; culminating in two overnighters - first with Colin, then with the Parkers. Phew! It was epic and awesome. We had a great time - leaving exhausted but full of wonderful memories.

Wow - the holiday season had truly begun in style - let's hope for as many beautiful memories with the next few holidays!

All the girls

Superheroes

The tooth fairy came twice!

Videoclip: You're never to old to learn ballet

You can watch the video here

Tree climbing was all the rage

But Niomi wasn't always sure

Bigfoot

Videoclip: City of Sand

You can watch the videoclip here

Big sisters are always there to help

Beachcomber

Ray of Sunshine

Topping out on the Law with the Parkers

Sunset on North Berwick