Irene

http://westportnow.com/ have a look at the damage caused in westport.

Quite a weekend.

Friday I started getting organised for Irene and making sure the cars were full, withdrew cash, checked torches, refilled gas bottles and shopping for some groceries. People were going crazy buying huge quantities. The thought of eating baked beans for ever was too horrible. The amazing thing is we really have so much already. A little bit of creativity and more time with no TV and computers I am sure I could have come up with some good recipes to clear the cupboards.

Saturday glued to the TV and starting to get quite scared we packed up all the garden goodies. I packed my metal birds from South Africa, because can you imagine the neighbours faces if my heavily rusted metal art flies threw their window. I would never hear the end of that. We would certainly have to move. Trampoline was taken down, swing tied to the tree, bath filled and camping bottles filled. Fridge packed with ice packs to keep temperature.

All done all sorted. Now what. So we headed to the beach to see what was happening.



The huge pack up.




Daddy's little helpers




We had a good laugh on the beach because besides the wind and been a bit cold the three other couples on the beach were English. They needed a taste of home.




The house boarded up. All the residents from the beach area were evacuated.

 We checked out the beach, roads quite so we went to Pier 1 for a little shop. I bought another chair for our patio. Leon was saying we will come back later and get the chair, I was NO we make a plan now. Kids happy to sit free in the boot.

The storm was really bad on Saturday night. Quite scary. we moved downstairs to be closer to the kids in case anything happened. They were awake at 3.00am because of the noise.

Sunday we took a bike ride to the shops to see what was happening. Carol and Michael came over to charge batteries and borrow some camping stuff. 60 % of westport is without power. Schools closed AGAIN. We now start on Wednesday. Boy oh boy.

Summer and friends

Pizza fun with daddy. The kids just love the time with Leon making the pizza dough. I normally run as far away as possible so I don't see my dining room table and also so I am not roped into cleaning.

Devil Den is a nature conservation park. It always reminds me so much of England. The kids love running around and exploring. They found orange mushroom, hairy caterpillars, picked up sticks and skipped stones. Good fun.

Kara has been quite hard work lately. I keep thinking its a stage. Leon says she is just like me???? Kara was invited to her first sleepover on Friday. Poor sausage was so anxious. Totally no pressure from us. Anyway she went had dinner, watched a movie and came home. So she was very happy. I hated been away from home so could so relate to where she was coming from.

Kara having a quite moment on the beach

Stephen came to visit and it was so wonderful to have him. I had to work Saturday morning, so Leon, Stephen and kids hired double kayaks and played on the sound. Then it was the Ginger Man for one of their 100 selection of draught beers. Chicken wings to put anyone on fire.

 Kara wearing her present from England

 Sono in South Norwalk

Sherwood Island. James visiting from South Africa. We went to Sherwood Island so James could watch the remote helicopters but the weather was terrible.

 All the kiddies

 Messing around with Carmen.


Cove Island in Stamford

 Kara found a huge horseshoe crab. It was dead.

 Kids picnic spot in the sun

 The gang

 Rebekah and me having a laugh

James and Carmen are staying at the same complex we stayed at when we arrived one year ago. When i think back how I felt a year ago and how I feel now. How much I have learnt and experienced. It was a good reflection. It was great to share a fantastic day with Carmen and kids

Pennsylvania Holiday

We have had the most fantastic time away this week. The days have been full and bursting with adventure, good quality family time and wonderful memories.

We headed out to Pennsylvania which was a 3 hour drive away. We were in the sticks with no cell phone or internet connection. Nice to be away from everything.

http://www.sylvaniatreefarm.com/index.php?id=home

We stayed on a massive tree farm. From the porch we saw green and a very loud creek.

 Fun on the hamock, on the front porch

 Our cottage, called the Promise land

 The path we walk along to reach the river for our swim.

 The river where we did all our swimming

 Always a joke along the way.

 Our tubes all blown up ready for the swim. The shops are no longer stocking summer goodies, but i was so lucky to get the last 4 tubes in Walmart.

 The kids were wild in the river. No fear at all. They did tumble turns, front flips off the dock.

 We hired a raft and rowed 5 miles down the river. The kids got hot so jumped overboard and had a little paddle or hung on for a ride while Leon and I paddled. Once again crazy and no fear. I enjoyed the river swimming but did think about the water snakes and snapping turtles.

 Holding onto the raft.

BETHEL WOODS

 We headed over to the Bethel woods museum which was where the original Woodstock began. It was amazing. We were not allowed to take pictures.



WOLF CREEK LODGE


 I said to Leon that I really did not want to go home. The kids are older now and we can do things on the spur of the moment. So Wolf creek lodge was our next stop. Huge water slides. The whole hotel was geared for families. The water rides were a little scary for me.

 We booked a room with bunk beds in the theme of a wolfs den. So cheesy but heaven for the kids.

 The hotel was great and lots of fun.


RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT - NEW YORK

 For Kara's birthday we promised her tickets for Ripley's. The London Ripley's was fantastic and had way more stuff.

 Dylan's Candy store

Paddle Boarding

Leon and I booked ourselves a lesson on how to paddle board. Both a bit nervous to start but it was amazing. Harder than it looks. Then the boats come past and we have really keep our balance.

 Nice calm sound. Yes no waves - brilliant

 The sailing school we booked the course through

A great week.