Oxford

Dan got one of his posters accepted for the Oxford Foundation Symposium a national conference for foundation doctors. Roy and Julie looked after the girls for the day while we drove down to Oxford. We got there in good time and registered for the day then did a bunk into town and had a few hours exporing the city centre before we had to get back for lunch and the poster presentations.

It was nice wandering the covered market and listening to a busker singing a little Irish Jitty 'you are your mammies prescious boy' to a little kid.

The Radcliffe Camera was very impressive, I felt as though I was in some Italian city... the only difference was the cold.

As we were admiring this interesting building on Folly Bridge a friendly local flying by on his bike shouted out that it used to be a brothel.

In ther short time we had, we even managed to scramble up Castle Mound to get this view of the city.

We were back in time for lunch and for Dan to give his presentation. He looks ever so cheery considering the subject of his poster! We enjoyed the rest of the afternoon in various workshops and talks. All in all a very enjoyable day. We had the choice to finish the day off with the local fireworks display but I was quite happy to call it a day and not freeze to death.

Liecester

We had a lovely Autumn trip to catch up with Anna and Isaac, take a look at the New Walk Museum and stop by the university.

Fortunately for me, there was an exhibit of one of my favourite photographers August Sander (German portrait photographer 1876-1964). They had a large collection of his prints many of which I had not seen before from his Face of Our Time project. The kids enjoyed the new dino area. I've not been in the museum for a couple of years I think and they've done a very nice job.

Gorgeous crisp leaves up New Walk and Anna attacking Amy!

We were rather impressed with the new Student Union building, they've got really nice big open social areas. Very different from the old Percy Gee Building with it's long narrow corridors which all looked the same.

Bobbie exploring the corridors of the Geology department. It was nice to be back and chat to Norry and Jan to name a few. The welcome wasn't quite so warm in Geography where the secretary asked us if we had permission to have children in the building until Kevin Tansey turned up and we had a good chat.

Bob is 1!

We had a little birthday gathering to celebrate Bobbie's first birthday. She thoroughly enjoyed the present opening (although Amy did most of it).

 Bobbie was delighted with her new dolly friend and her little picnic basket. Helen Made a gorgeous quilt for Bobbie's doll but she insisted using it as a picnic blanket to sit on rather than to tuck her dolly in.

 I was pleased with how my caterpillar cake turned out. I had fun mixing all the colours for the icing.

 The kids all made absolute pigs of themselves and thoroughly enjoyed all the birthday food treats.

Bob is 1! Horay!

Back To Lincoln and Patisserie Valerie

I'd been itching to get back to Lincoln to spend some time with Patricia. The girls and I spent the morning in the Bail popping into all our faourite places. I don't know who won a medal but in my opinion our old victorian postbox looked far better in red!

 Just after lunch we met Patricia and Pietra for cake and hotchocolate. Yummm, I really enjoyed my lemon cheesecake. Totally delish. It was fanatastic to see the girls and we had a lovely catch up.

Bobbie enjoyed opening her first birthday gifts. I absolutely adore the poncho.

Ward Temple Trip

I had a fun day on the ward temple trip with Lydia. It was lovely to be able to spend the whole day together and have a proper catch up. It's not often I get the chance to go off and do things without the kids so it was a real treat to be able to have the day free while mum looked after the girls.

Bike Trailer

We were excited to try out our new bike trailer, that I purchased from ebay. I wanted an easier way of carting the kids about, mainly to get Amy to playschool, which is a bit if a long walk for her.

We got the kids suited and booted and headed for Holme Pierrepont Hall, which in all my 20 odd years of living just around the corner I had never seen.

 Bobbie wasn't so impressed to be snug with her sister.

 Exploring the adjacent church yard St Edmund's.

A lovely sunny Autumn afternoon, perfect for a little trip with the kids.

Unlce Joe Pays a Visit

It was fantastic to be able to spend the day with Joe before his flight back to South Africa. The girls were ever so pleased with their ballet outfits and all the trimming. Thank you Uncle Joe and Auty Stayci!!!