Walking

On Saturday a group of parents and our daughters went for a great walk from Warborough up Wittenham Clumps and back again to help prepare them for their trek to Everest Base Camp - sadly 120 m of height on the Clumps doesn't compare with Everest but at least we're getting them out walking and having fun!

This was the view from Dorchester up to the Clumps.

Rome

Paul and I went to Rome last weekend to stay with friends and celebrate our 22nd wedding anniversary! We visited lots of sights, ate lots of delicious food including fresh mozzarella, my favourite (!) and I tried to practice my beginner Italian. Definitely better than it was!

On Saturday our friends drove us out to the south of Tuscany and I took this picture in Pienza, looking out over the old walls.

Easter Weekend

I've just spent the Easter weekend sailing in a mix of weather - rain, grey cloud, fog and sun! This picture is us leaving the marina at Bucklers Hard in the New Forest and we also went to Chichester, Lymington and Cowes. We managed to eat masses of food and chocolate and celebrated my birthday too.

Stella Plage

We have just got back from 4 days in France, about an hour from Calais on the coast. It was beautiful and a lovely break and the apartment was only 100 steps from this fantastic beach. We ate lots of delicious seafood - mussels and scallops - and visited lots of places including the old battlefields. We managed to fly some kites too but ended up spending hours trying to untie the knots we'd managed to make!

Sailing

Our second weekend sailing this year and beautiful weather again. We headed down to Hayling Island with our friends and spent the night there, using our cruising chute to make the most of the wind that there was. We then had a great sail back with more wind and a clear calm sea. We arrived back at the marina to see people sitting round in shorts in the sun and it felt like summer already! The red mark in this picture 'West Pole' shows the entrance into Chichester Harbour.

North Wales

Paul, Hattie and I have just spent the weekend close to Chester, just over the border in North Wales, with some old friends. On Saturday we climbed up Moel Famau, a hill near Mold, which has the remains of a tower on top that was built to celebrate the jubilee of George III. There are fantastic views from the top but as you can see from the pictures, in particular my hair (!), it was so windy that we couldn't stay up there for long!

Nepal

Last night we went to a school meeting for Hattie's school trip to Nepal in July. It was fantastic to hear about all the things they are going to do: fly into Kathmandu, trek to Everest Base Camp, go on an elephant back safari and do some white water rafting. Paul and I were green with envy and it's exciting to start planning all the gear that she will need to take. I just wish that I was going too!