Days of being parents to students is over!

Well, it felt like a long time but, as is usual, you look back and it feels like the blink of an eye really. Both the younger children have now completed their degrees and had their successes confirmed, with Richie now a BEng (Hons) and Laura a BA (Hons). What with the current climate, their aspirations on the career front may take a little longer than anticipated but they are both gainfully employed, which is something for new graduates thesedays. It's been a stressful few months for them, so lets hope this great summer continues so they can have a bit of fun.

Happy Campers (well almost!)

We have taken the plunge and bought a new VW T5 to convert to a camper! We hunted for ages for the right van, as we want to do quite an unconventional conversion to it.

      

It will go in for its conversion whilst we are in Canada in September and come out looking something like this:

  

In the meantime, we pick it up Monday and will 'rough it' unconverted on any weekend we have free this summer (not many!).I spent my childhood holidays in a VW Dormobile. I recall lots of fighting with my brother for the best bed! I personally wasn't prepared to rough it in a camper with our own children but am happy to with just me and him now the children have all left home.

London June 2010

We visited London to see our daughter Laura's final graduation show. Even Richie came along to make it a family affair. Nick was excused as he was in France. Pictures will never do justice to an artistic piece but here goes!

Light, White Walkthrough

 

It certainly made an impact in the room! I personally loved the precursor to this piece, The White Cuboid.

See Laura's work on her blog  LAURA ELIZABETH. ARTIST

After the show we went to the Taste of London food fair in Regents Park. A good time was had by all and Laura bagged a picture with Gary Rhodes!

She wanted to get closer to Heston Blumenthal but this was not to be. This is as close as we got!

Laura and her father in Regent's Park (she suggested he roll the edges of his jacket up for some reason!).

Switzerland June 2010

We returned to Switzerland at the beginning of June and had a great time with hubby's sister Sue and her hubby Francis. We did alot of what we usually do, including lunching on the waterfront in beautiful Montreux, sightseeing in the beautiful city of Sion, visiting Evolene and walking up from Thyon 2000 to get amongst the snow and admire the panoramic views. We returned to Zermatt to show Sue and Francis, but the weather wasn't particularly kind. It only spotted a bit of rain though, so we took a lovely walk up the Matterhorn Trail and were rewarded with hot chocolate at a tiny chalet restaurant before we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the way down whilst the sun came out (well almost!). We finally got to the Blue Lake, which we've been meaning to do for ages. The walk is well rewarded, as the lake really is blue! and is very pretty. We also did the St Bernard Pass on my 50th birthday - what a lot of snow! After the pass we spent the afternoon in the Italian city of Aosta before returning, this time through the tunnel. I will never tire of Switzerland. Even though we really only ever do a little bit of it.

From Switzerland June 2010

From Switzerland June 2010