Off to England!

And so...another adventure begins!  So looking forward to getting to the house again in France.  It feels like forever since we were there last.  In fact it was a year and a half - so we really want to make the most of it.

This year feels a little different. Normally, I plan all the details, hotels, flights, arrangements - all of that.  But this year, because things have been a little 'tricky' for me, Adrian has planned everything...and not only that, but has kept it a secret from me and the children.  He has had a 'secret holiday planning folder' which has been for his eyes only.  I'm very much looking forward to an exciting few weeks.

I think Adrian is a little worried that I'm expecting some sort of huge surprise...but to be honest, picnics and walks in the countryside are what I'm hoping for :-)

We also plan to put a new floor down in the snug and kitchen...and I also want to decorate the living room as well.  So, a fair bit to do.  Our contact in France, Steve, has cleared the garden for us, so a nice couple of barbecues would also be really nice.  All on the credit card...hopefully...unless 'credit card says no'!

I am writing this at the airport, so I am not able to add pictures just yet as the card reader for the camera is in the case.  But perhaps I will try and take one with the laptop - let me try...

Haha - success - but only a picture of me.  I will add more pictures once I can get the photos off my camera!

As you can see earlier in the blog - I've added some ore pictures now :)

Keep an eye out on the blog for what we are up to...

Penang Day 5

 

So day 5....Adrian took the kids out with him, I had a day of rest in the room as my back has been a bit sore over the last few days.  Bed is a bit firm for me so has 'set things off' a bit.  So instead of photos of us 'out and about' the next two posts will be random photos from Holly's camera!

 

 

 

 

Penang Day 4

So unfortunately, Christopher is not feeling very well today.  He didn't really sleep last night, is absolutely full of it and feeling very grotty.  We decide that Adrian and Christopher are to stay at the hotel, and me and the girls are going out to the cinema.  A bit of an adventure as we are going to get on a local bus :-) 

So we stand and wait for the expected bus where we've been told to wait....and two buses with the right number just drive straight past us...not sure why!  We had out hands out and everything - and they weren't full!  We eventually manage to get on the bus, but the driver speaks no English...we manage to make ourselves understood though.  Off to the pictures!

This is the girls at the top of the shopping mall - just outside the cinema.

So how many 'selfies' can we take????   Evidence below!

 

 

Why a picture of diet pepsi?  Well the cinema had a large sign outside saying 'No outside drink or food permitted'.  Now the shop only had full sugar drinks...and we wanted a diet pepsi - so rebels that we are we bought some and 'smuggled' them in.  Our only problem was finding a noisy enough bit of the film to open them - didn't want everyone to look around at us!

 

Underneath are the last two picture - this is us enjoying an Italian late lunch and chilling before we brave the rain and head back to the hotel.

 

Lex

 

Polly

 



Penang Day 3

So, me and Adrian are off for a wander of our own while the three kids are off by themselves - Christopher has deemed it their 'little adventure'.

I'm glad of the walk if I'm honest - the bed at the hotel is comfortable but a lot firmer than I'm used to and back was very sore this morning.  I'm hoping the walk will loosen it up somewhat.

First thing we did was walk through the heritage part of town.

Would you want to have your teeth seen to there??!!

So I stopped in to a church......I passed along the way.....well I got down on my knees (got down on my knees) and I began to pray...

Well, not really, but we did see this beautiful old church.  Built 200 years ago by the then governor of colonial Penang.  It was beautiful inside and the lady there had some interesting stories tell us :-)

 

We also stopped in at the museum which was very interesting with lots of bits and pieces from the colonial past again.  Check out the pith helmet :-)

 

Me and Adrian at the museum

It was a very very hot day!

 

 

 

And finishing off with a lovely Indian meal before we head back to the hotel to find out what the kids have been up to!

 

Penang Day 2

So, up for a late breakfast at 10 :-)  then off wandering...

It was super hot today so we were flagging by about 12pm.  First stop was an interesting Chinese Temple...because we've not seen enough temples in our 7 years in Asia!

Look mum...another temple!

I'ts all in Chinese!

Completely took Alex by surprise with this one!

We then carried on wandering through the streets...



Was very bright and very hot today!

Some pretty buildings in the old colonial part of Penang.

After a couple of hours of wandering the streets we deemed it just too hot to carry on much further and we dived into a nice air conditioned coffee shop.  Luckily it was also attached to a shopping centre, so we spent the rest of the afternoon looking around the shops :-)  Tomorrow me and Adrian are going to have a proper look around the heritage district - the kids weren't really interested and they are more than happy to have a day at the hotel tomorrow.  They have money for lunch and I think are looking forward to being free of the parents.  First time we've done this so hope all is well!  We'll only spend a couple of hours looking around the streets...but still!

It's hotter than hot and Christopher orders a hot chocolate!

Much more sensible iced drinks ordered by the girls.
 

 

 

So after lunch at the mall, and a lot of shopping, we headed back to the hotel.  Ended up getting back about 4pm - knackered and rather smelly! Looking forward to exploring some more tomorrow :-)  The kids are also looking forward to not being dragged around tomorrow!

Penang Day 1

So it has been absolutely YONKS since I posted anything on here!  But first day of the Summer Holidays and we are away to Penang- cheap and cheerful! so I thought I would get 'back on the horse' so to speak. 

First job was to get everyone awake...at 5 in the morning as we had to leave by 6!

Christopher was fast asleep

But once he was up he was super excited!

Holly was already awake as she had set her alarm.

Alex needs a bit more encouragement to wake up!

Mutley is up for anything, but unfortunately not coming with us :-(

So once we ready, it was off to the airport.  But unfortunately heavy rain - let's hope it doesn't spoil the holiday and it's not raining in Penang!

Rain rain go away :-(

Waiting for our flight.

What's that - Alex reading? Surely not!

Step off the plane and head off to find a taxi and finally arrive at the hotel.

The hotel is unusual, but comfortable :-)

Then off for a wander around the streets before heading back to relax.  Random photos underneath!