Christmas Wishes From Bloxham

Wishing you all a very warm (if like us, you find yourself in the Northern Hemisphere) or cool (for those of you down south) Christmas from all of us in Bloxham!

Nuremberg Christmas Market

The Beans (Mel's folks) arrived from SA last Sunday and it's been a whirlwind week: we missed our flight to Paris because their incoming JHB flight was delayed by five hours. We ended up driving to France (with a quick detour through Belgium's "Flander's Fields") to pick up our connecting flight to Germany. We spent a couple of nights soaking up the traditional Christmas market in Northern Bavaria. Even the most hardened Scrooge would find it difficult not be be charmed by the magic of this place. It was an enchanting experience and is a must for kiddies.

We flew back to Paris and then heading back to the chunnel for our trip back to Bloxham. (Because of Heathrow's fog problem, our flight from Paris to London was cancelled anyway so we would have been stranded in Paris!)

Ben deciding whether or not a crepe would be a good option for his treat.

Enjoying a traditional German (meaty!) meal.

"Ninni" Pearl checking out the traditional German cakes and Gingerbread.

Another idea for the Christmas list...

Benanna going for a ride on the "Christmas Express".

Probably the most beautiful Carousel ever!

Jamie's Rugby Party

Ben and Philp have just left for Ben's friend's 5th birthday rugby party (not sure who is more excited.) Dad seems to be making the most of this opportunity to educate (indoctrinate?) son in the ways of this "glorious" game. Hopefully the little guys will take it easy and P won't come home with too many serious injuries.

More Lovely Visitors...

The Stonehill House Schonken Hotel welcomed more visitors last week: great to see Kerry (van Harmelen) who made a (marathon) trip from Cambridge (where she was visiting her dad) and Bruce, Liz, Emily and Angus Watt (old East London friends) who visited from Dorset. The short winter days seem much brighter when one is surrounded by old friends!

Angus (driving), Emily (giving directions from passenger seat) and Anna (peeping) checking out the hotdog van at the Banbury shopping centre.

Prague

We loved Prague so much that we may even buy a Skoda.

We spent a glorious few days in Prague in the Czech Republic (apparently uncharacteristically sunny for this time of year). None of the guide books told us to go in autumn, but it's highly recommended: the spectacular autumn colour perfectly compliments the terracotta roof tiles and warm-toned buildings. We were impressed by this well-preserved gem and by the beautfiul Czech people with their clearly evident entrepreneurial spirit.

Bennanna loved the cruise on the Vltava River and the string puppets on every street corner (its one of the only countries in the world where puppetry is taught in universities). Our friendly hotel Hastal (built in the 1800's as a brewery, taken over by the communists as a government building in the 50's and then restored to its rightful hotelier owners in 1991) was a fantastically central base. We managed to avoid Tescos (eek) and "old" McDonalds (as Ben calls it) and sampled the local (calorific) dishes in quaint traditional restaurants: pork knees (served with horseradish and mustard), duck and dumplings. Not a vegetable in sight in this Midgley dream destination. Philip discovered why the average Czech drinks 160 litres of beer a year (nearly there then, Jonno). Our only regret is that because time was short we didn't manage to get out of the capital to explore more of the countryside. Will just have to head back there again soon!

Benanna kicking around Petrin Hill (woodland park area above Prague); Ben practising his marionnette manipulation at a puppet shop; Yum...more sausages for lunch: having hotdogs on Nampa Island; Old Town Square with ubiquitous "Budvar" beer sign in background.

More Prague Pics

Anna in Old Town Square; children's play park with Charles Bridge in background; Checking out the Vltava River from Charles Bridge; Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square

Thanks for the birthday wishes

I know this is a bit late, but thank you to everyone for the warm and thoughtful wishes / gifts for my birthday. An Amazon Wish List is a wonderful thing! Something that was not on the list, but given to me by Gill and Dave is pictured below. The words read, "To braai or not to braai is not the question! It's WHAT to braai?"
The photo on the shirt was taken at one of the many braais we have had at Stonehill House.

Tristan's Christening

An extremely reliable third party (accountant-type) informed us today that Mr Carr is dissatisfied with our erratic posting habits. May we take this opportunity to apologise for our tardiness. (We have been richly blessed with the company of many lovely visitors in the past weeks and have therefore been struggling to juggle the rigours of gracious hosting, rusk-baking and blogging.) May this snippet help to make amends...

Below is a photo of the Field family, grannies and godparents at the Wimbledon Trinity Church in Mansel Road. The service (specially arranged for the family at 1:30pm - these friends of ours clearly have much influence in the Wimbledon area) was short and very sweet. Lou cleverly found a super venue for the "after party" nearby (plenty of milktart and Jax's world-famous carrot cake for the adults and a grand wooden climbing frame in the garden that kept the energetic kids happy).
Great to see everyone and celebrate the arrival of little Tristan!

Carrs in the House

Seems like we now have a bit of competition in the Blog World. The Carrs have launched their very own blog and it's now a race to get these pics up before they do.

Perhaps Mr Carr will soon see what it's like to have abusive and belittling comments posted on his blog...

Jokes aside, we were privileged to have the Carrs visit us last weekend. How we miss them! Great to hear about life in Jozie and for Benanna to get to know little cousin Josh a bit better. The Fields also made a welcome return to Bloxham to assist with the braaing.

Benjy's Big Day

Today was Ben's first day at big school (dressed in "you'll grow into it" uniform). He loved it! (Totally unthreatening because his new classroom is next door to his old "nursery" class in the Bloxham Primary School's Foundation Unit). No sobs (not even from mom or dad). Miss Guest is his new teacher for five mornings a week (9am - 11:30am). Anna can't wait to follow in his footsteps... (Red is everyone's favourite colour, afterall!)

Bank Holiday Weekend

We kicked off the weekend with Amber Field's birthday in London: the cutest little 2 year old we know! Everyone enjoyed Granny's giraffe cake and milktart and masterbraaier Deano definitely has the knack of making even Tesco steak taste like it's from Impala Meats in Slummies. Thanks guys for a great day!
After the party we headed to the pretty posh St Albans (north of London) where we spent a couple of nights with the Adlards (sadly, this is probably the last time we'll see them before they head back to Cape Town). Once again, some great braais and chats and a fun time searching eBay for sofas (for Michelle) and dough mixers (for my rusks). (No "how sad is your life" comments, please!)

Benanna and Gabriella reached record-breaking speeds in their £2 "Tesco-auto".

Barman Ben getting another cold one for Uncles Dean and Ant.

Checking out the St Albans space programme.

Ben and Josie using their noodles to get to grips with their Wagamama lunch.

Red or Green?

Edinburgh Fest

We just got back from Edinburgh (drove up, rather than flew, which proved to be a God-send after the scary chaos at our airports today). Thanks to Philip's aunt, Jean, for bravely hosting our energetic family and giving us insider tips on the world-famous Fringe Festival.

We saw the jaw-dropping Ron Mueck exhibition at the National Gallery of Scotland and hopped to the other end of the sophistication scale and took the kids to a Scotty & Lulu show (Anna's first ever theatre experience). Benanna were dazzled by it all and Philip and I can't wait to go back (the book festival is a must for next time). Well worth the seven hour drive! (Although I must add that the Grahamstown festival dudes are doing a pretty fine job. It could never compete with the sheer scale of the Edinburgh event, but good ol' GTown is certainly up there with the best.)

Hitting the mean streets of the festival with Jean.

Ben (white shirt) lapping up the street acts.

A bit of a story behind this one: Anna had a "moment" during one of the street productions and began sobbing hysterically during the finale. The perfomer promptly rushed up to her and jangled the pink-shirted woman's keys in front of her to hush her up. (I'm sure her reaction had absolutley nothing to do with his haircut.)

A happier Anna bopping along with the Sri Lankan dancers.

And an even happier Anna sharing Jean's profiteroles.

Taking a break at Cramond, North West Edinburgh.

Midglards

We once again took advantage of the empty upper floor of our ex-boarding house this weekend and had the lovely Midgleys and the lovely Adlards over for the weekend. Entertainment (also courtesy of the school) came in the form of tennis and climbing in the sports' centre. Highlights included braai smoke, Pimms, contented kids, Michelle's fudge and uplifting chats.

Dorset

We spent five days camping in sunny and idyllic Dorset this past week. Stopped over in London first to do a "rusk drop-off" and popped in to Orchard Close to meet Tristan Field, Dean and Lou's new addition. Congrats guys - he's a sweetie!
We camped at Redcliffe Farm campsite near Wareham on the Isle of Purbeck and spent time catching up with Bruce and Liz Watt and their children, Emily and Gus (who live in Wareham). Lots of "beaching" and "National Trusting" (visiting the Trust's protected coast, countryside and historic landmarks). Had such a good time that we didn't want to come home! The photos say it all...

Meeting Tristan

Braving the icy water at Durdle Door.

Corfe Castle (Enid Blyton's "Kirrin Castle" in the Famous Five)

Picnic with the Watts and other locals on Wareham Common.

At Max Gate, Thomas Hardy's home and chilling with new best friends, Emily and Gus.

Tubing on the River Frome with the Watts

Kingston Lacy: 17th century country mansion.