Springtime UK/Holland

The days are finally getting longer and we change to summer time this weekend. It’s pretty to see spring flowers coming through everywhere. It is still cold outside though I get out most days for a walk as it’s lovely and fresh.

Cute little fella

Loving the squirrels and sight of the River Thames from bridge as I walk into town everyday.

High tide at White Cross pub

2-19 April, Fab time in Holland where I stayed with Pap/Mam for just over 2 weeks while I waited to get my passport back. Mam and I had a great time attending a stamping expo (weekend trip away), making cards, cycling and just enjoying time together. It was also nice to have time with Pap; chats and cycling to see Jelle play soccer together. And time with Anouk and family where the children helped me improve my Dutch. In fact, it went well being by myself as I got closer with the family in a different way. In this time we celebrated Jeroen's 46th birthday!

Arriving at the expo

Stampers wonderland!

Beautiful creations by the stampers at expo.

Back in Hengelo, farmland surrounding Ouders home

Tinka's violin quartet

The boys helping with the sound

family Brinkman, poster family

Rakker Brinkman

Off to town

Pap and Mam admiring a Dutch wooden bike

Church in Borne, neighbouring village

Mam and I cycled to Borne for a look around and a coffee 'met something'

I love doors

Road to Twickle Castle

Back to Richmond and together with Jeroen again.

Snoozing in the sun at Hampton Court Palace

 21 April, A sunny day out with picnic at Hampton Court Palace.

Old tree at Hampton Court

Food served here...

...and eaten in the dining hall

Nobility approaching

Camera-shy King Henry v111

Royal tennis where games are still played

Hampton court 

Royal gardens

Back to Richmond and the time is getting closer to moving again...

To the River

Spring-time Richmond

3 May, 10 days with Pap and Mam as they visit with us again in Richmond. We visited Windsor Castle, mooched around Richmond, saw Les Miserables onstage at Queens Theatre in London and thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon at Kew Gardens.

Westminster visit

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle, where the Queen was absent for the day...then to Kew Gardens...

Japanese gardens

Chatting in the gardens

Kew Palace

Heathrow, from Kew

Victorian glasshouse

Dad and son 

And of course we admired the thousands of beautiful flora and fauna...

Nana's Orchid

I called this one 'Nana's Orchid'...remembering her 'Awkward' House

10 May, a night out at the Queens Theatre to see Les Miserables. Magnifique!

14-16 May, Newcastle for 2 nights to stay with Mam's sister, Joyce and husband Ray(mond)

We travelled to the seaside at New Bigham for afternoon tea then a home cooked meal by Ray on that night. .

Aunty Joyce and Uncle Ray

Barker Books

Wednesday we were out the door early for a trip up north stopping at Barker Books (THE bestest 2nd hand book shop I have ever seen, complete with steam train running around the top of the books, poetry on signs everywhere, dogs also everywhere as it was dog friendly, wall to wall and ceiling books and all in a very cool old railway station. I could have stayed there all day). We then went on to spot the Harry Potter castle at Alnwick (an unexpected treat, after I had already found platform 9 3/4 of Potterdom at Kings Cross station), and on to Bamburgh Castle (c. 430!) very cool.

Dog friendly bookshop

Alnwick Castle

Alnwick Castle featured as Hogwarts in the first two Harry Potter films.
Scenes filmed at the castle include the first Quidditch lesson in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone and the crash landing of the flying Ford Anglia in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets.

Goodbye family!

19 May, We had a nice outing to Strawberry Hill House to find neither of us had taken our wallet so we could just look from the outside and then walk home. But, it was a lovely day and walk along the Thames.

Strawberry Hill House

My favourite Uk tv ad...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skOHTPynB08

2-11 June, Time in Holland again as passport/visa's returned and we're all set for Angola. Time to relax first with family.

5 June, a trip with Tinka and Jelle to the adventure Park, Hellendoorn.

Bye to Pap at the station ready for our day of adventure

Over and over again, the log ride

Oom Jeroen, met Tinka en Jelle

Wet again

Jeroen rides alone? 

11 June, back to Richmond to get ready for our move to Angola. No opportunity for language (Portugese) lessons yet so will do that when we get there.
17 June, Packers arrived and its all go. Flying tomorrow. Bye bye Richmond.

Cycling to the holiday house