Home for a While

We have come to the end of a three month stay in the UK. So, what have we been up to apart from tidying the garden and watching the telly!

Just a few days after arriving back from Australia, we were on our way to the Isle of Man for my sister, Sara’s marriage to Geoff. Our daughter, Emily, came with us. It was a lovely day. The wedding was held at the historic St Peter’s Church in the village of Cregneash, followed by a Reception at Port Erin Golf Club.

Geoff, Sara, Pat, Kathy and Mum in front

I stayed with my sister, Pat, for a week visiting my Mum everyday and seeing the newly weds before they left the island for their honeymoon in Cyprus.

Ellie and Sophie

Back home in Suffolk, it was wonderful to catch up with the fast-growing grandchildren, Ellie and Sophie and their parents, Emily and Ben, plus Tess the dog.

Gavin, Jeremy, Martha and Eileen

In October, we went to the island of Mull for a week’s holiday. On the way north, we had lunch in South Yorkshire with Jeremy’s brother, Ritchie and his wife, Catherine. Continuing our journey, we spent two nights with Jeremy’s middle brother, Gavin and his wife, Eileen. We were joined on our second evening by our great niece, Martha, who had recently started medical training at Newcastle University.

Kathy on Aros Pier, Tobermory

The rain began in the north of England and increased in intensity by the time we reached Tobermory. Despite the rain, we still enjoyed several rather damp walks, catching up with friends and watching a number of starts of legs of the annual Mull Rally.

Jeremy at Loch an Tor, Mull

November was soon upon us beginning with a bonfire party at Em and Ben’s house. A severe weather warning meant the party had to be deferred by one day. About 40 adults and their children enjoyed eating hot dogs, while watching the fireworks and admiring the bonfire.

Further fireworks and inferior hot dogs were enjoyed a few days later at the firework display at Ellie’s school.

 

Mid November saw me return to the IOM, to see my sisters and my Mum. Once again the week was spent taking Mum out, catching up with relations and spending time with friends.

Westbank Reunion

One week before our return to Australia, we drove up to Lancashire for a reunion of Jeremy’s form from his Westbank School days of 32 years ago. It was amazing to hear clear and largely positive memories from the ex-pupils.

All that remained back home were sad goodbyes to the Suffolk family, packing, closing up the house, collecting the hire car and driving to London Gatwick Airport for our Chinese Airlines flights to Brisbane, Australia. Two days later, we arrived in Oz, collected another hire car and drove about 50 miles to The Boatworks. Sal Darago was in the work yard, the temperature was about 30C and we were tired out.

Preparing SD's bottom

Another sailing adventure begins, but first the hard work of preparing the boat for the sea must be done. Watch this space.

My apologies for the different sizes of photos. Jeremy's new laptop does not have Microsoft Picture Manager, so I am using Paint to resize the photos - not always successfully.