Finally! An update & the English coast

Hello all, sorry I've dropped off the face of the blog planet. I had some technical difficulties (after Kaitlyn set up her blog, they claimed I didn't exist! The nerve.) and then I had so much to write, that I posted nothing. So, pick up where I left off 1.5 weeks ago, we went away that weekend to West Whittering, in West Sussex (England). Many of Chloe's classmate's families have a weekend home, and we are lucky that one is happy to rent it out! Their cottage is about 1hr45 away and 1 mile from the beach. It was built about 300 years ago, and as you can see, is charming. What a different reality that would be to have such a tranquil weekend out of the city! Now I really get why so many have one.
The front of the cottage.


The rear of the cottage.

The weather (surprise, surprise) was chilly and cloudy on Saturday, but it never rained so that was great. We went to the beach and flew kites that Euge had brilliantly bought.

Beach huts.

I'm so bummed that I didn't take a photo of our dinner at one of the local pubs - all of our plates (um, platters?) were a beautiful sight! Kaitlyn and Eugene both had gorgeous looking (and tasting apparently) pies (steak and ale & chicken and mushroom, respectively) with heaps of steamed vegies on the side and I had fish and chips. Yum. Yum.

The weather on Sunday was much better and the kids were able to play in the great big backyard. Grass is such a wonderful thing, esp when you have children. Then we went to the beach again and had a picnic in the grass parking lot.

The area has lots of farm land and charming thatched roof houses and beautiful flower gardens.

Kaitlyn and the girls squeezed in the back.

It was a wonderfully relaxing and tranquil weekend. We're already looking forward to going back the end of June, when we've rented it out to return when Eugene's parents are visiting.