Day 2 - Amboise

It is day 2 of grey skys and rain so we decided to head into Amboise after breakfast for a proper look round. We investigated the local weekly market which had loads of fresh food produce on offer although rather expensive what with the current exchange rate. We did stop for a coffee and some fresh strawberries though and enjoyed seeing the sites of the locals doing their weekly shop.

Afterwards we went into the Chateau Royal Amboise where Leonardo De Vinci is buried, it is a beautiful Chateau and the gardens were stunning. Sam and Daisy also thankfully enjoyed looking around it as well and pretending it was Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom. Thankfully the rain stopped and the sun did shine on and off for the rest of the afternoon.

When we came into Amboise yesterday we saw a land train and promised Sam that we would go on it (he was getting train withdrawal). We had booked our tickets but had some time to spare so we stopped at a local patisserie for cakes and drinks. Sam and Daisy choose some cakes and went for the mini versions which Sam proceeded to eat each one in one mouth full and our little lady eat them in small bites - the difference between boys and girls.

We boarded the land train at 2pm for our tour of Amboise, Sam had a great time and we also got to see Leonardo's house as well. We got off the train a few times and poor Sam thought the train was going to leave with out him or that the ride was over so he stood by it everytime and every time the driver rang the bell to get back on he moved within a flash and was always the first back on the train.

We then headed back for a quick swim before suppa. After today our faith was restored in our holiday location and we really started to relax and enjoy ourselves.

France Day 1 - 29/5/10

We woke to grey skys this morning!!! We had a celebratory breakfast to celebrate Daisy's 6th birthday and she opened her cards and presents. Afterwards we went off to the swimming pool for a dip. Unfortunately it was too cold for the outdoor pool but we had lots of fun in the indoor pool as we had it to ourselves.

After a spot of lunch we popped in to Amboise to have a look around but France shuts down between midday and 2pm so it was rather desserted and the Parker's left pretty unimpressed and wondered if we had made the right choice for our holiday destination.

When driving around the site we have been allowing Daisy and Sam to drive on our laps and boy have they loved it. Sam is actually very good at steering.

We chilled out for the rest of the afternoon and Daisy went along to Pirate Club for a couple of hours and had a great time as it was party afternoon so they celebrated her birthday. After suppa we had Birthday cake and then headed up to the bar for the Pirate Show which the children loved and Daddy even got up and did some dancing (he loves it really).

Our little lady is 6 today

To our beautiful Daisy pops

Wishing you a wonderful 6th birthday

Lots of love

Mummy, Daddy and Samuel

xxxxx

This morning we caught the ferry to....

Dieppe.

We left at 7.30 and arrived at Newhaven in plenty of time to board the ferry to France. I was just thinking of it as a means of travel and forgetting my memories of rusty old dirty boats smelling of sick from my childhood but we were pleasently surprised. The boat was like new and very modern, it even had a play area with a ball pit for the children. The 4 hour crossing flew by and we enjoyed a picnic on board, the little people were great so it was a good start to our journey.

From Dieppe we had a 4.5 hr drive down to Onzain. It was a very warm and thanks to the early start the little people were asleep within half an hour and slept for most of the way. We decided to ignore the sat nav and go the directions my friend Martine had given us which was all motorway. We had a shocker with the tolls 30 Euros in total but it was the quickest way and we reached our destination in just under four hours. Thankfully we did ignore the sat nat as a few other families we met when we arrived, didnt and ended up driving through Paris which took them 6-7 hours!!

Our home for the week is a three bedroom mobile home, thankfully it is nice, modern, clean and spacious. We have a wooden deck outside, the little people have a bedroom each and Tim and I even have an ensuite. It was a quick suppa of pizza before we headed up to the main area for the 'show' the little people made friends very quickly so Tim and I just chilled and enjoyed the evening talking to other families. What a great start to our holiday.

Birthday celebrations begin

Nanny & Grandad came over to see Daisy with a lovely chocolate cake for her birthday we are not going to see them because we will be on holiday. I did take lots of lovely photos but unfortunately I deleted them... durrr!

What we did last week...

• Had a BBQ
• Sam went to 3 birthday party's
• I had a photo shoot on the beach for www.teacupsandtiaras.co.uk
• Daddy had fun in the skate park
• Daisy went to 2 birthday party's
• We cleared the shed out
• Sam and Daisy went to swimming lessons
• Daisy went to Rainbows
• Painted the play house in the garden
• Sam had a visit from the firefighters at playgroup
• Mummy and Daisy went shopping in town for her Birthday party dress
• Daddy and Sam went to Nanny Anne and Grandads for breakfast
• Painted the shed
• Went to the park lots and lots
• Enjoyed the sunshine
• Daddy and I went to a friend for dinner
• Nanny Maureen babysat
• Michaela came over for dinner
• Went to the tip!

At last we are enjoying fantastic weather, it has been hot hot hot for the past three days and long may it continue.

Tonight we are off to the fair by Daisy's school, the little people watched for three days whilst they erected it and two days of school runs of it in action, so they are been given some money each to enjoy the fair, Sam is beside himself with excitement as they happened to put the train ride just where we park for school drop off so he has been desperate to go on it.

This Friday we are off to France for ten days so lots of organising, sorting out and planning to do this week.

Lavender Line & Abbots Wood

The day started with me heading out to some car boots sales looking for a Tea Cups & Tiaras client and took Nanny Maureen to the grocery store whilst Daddy and the little people went to church.

After a busy morning we made our way to meet Uncle Murphy and Aunty Jo and stopped off for a picnic before going on to the Lavender Line in Isfield. Having a son who is a steam train fanatic we thought it would be nice to take him there. It is near Bluebell Railway where he has a life membership and goes there every week with his Grandad. Unfortunately the Lavender Line did not live up to the Bluebell experience, it was rather run down, very disappointing and extremely overpriced, if I hadnt had a half price ticket to get in it would have cost £50 which is a joke considering their offering. The adults did laugh at how bad it was, Daisy wasnt too impressed but of course Sammy boy loved it as he got to play in the signal box and ride with the driver on the diesal train.


Afterwards we went to Abborts Wood where Sam had an ice cream nearly as big as him, we walked through the bluebells back to the wooden park where we all had a go on the assort course. Unfortunately I was very poor on the train crossing where as Uncle Murphy had it nailed but I proved I still had it in me walking along the beam high up... well it was for a 5ft3 person.


It was then back to Jo and Murphy's for a cuppa and finishing off the picnic, Cala and Andy came home just before we left so a nice ending to a fun day.