Trip to Hunstanton Beach

Today we caught a train to King's Lynn and then a bus to Hunstanton to go to the beach. The bus ride took 1 hour because the quicker 30 minute one was packed to capacity. It was a double decker so Owen and Granny went upstairs while I sat with Erin, asleep in her pram, chatting to a 77 year old who by the time she was 19 years old had travelled to 20 different countries. You can take it that the trip for me went very quickly!

Once at our destination we bought a sand castle bucket and headed off to find some sand. Along the way we enjoyed the taste of long awaited ice-cream cones.

Eventually we made it onto the sand and great fun was had. Owen and Erin kept saying they wanted to go in the pool (which was the sea) but there was a cold breeze blowing although the water was warmish. After 18 months in Qatar we think this is freezing!

After a couple of hours by the water we made our way to the Sea World to have a look at the marine life. We watched seal feeding, rays, sharks, turtle and otter. They got to touch a star-fish, crab, sea urchins and pick up numerous shells in the education room under the watchful eye of a volunteer. 

 We got home at 5.30pm exhausted and happy that it was such a great day.

Owen and Granny, the F1 fans.

After church today Erin and Grandpa slept while Owen and Granny watched the German F1. Owen was glued to the telly as he is mad about fast cars, but eventually the hum of the cars lulled him to sleep and Granny was left to watch on her own.

 

Planet Zoom

The weather hasn't been that brilliant and because we have been indoors for a few days we decided to go to Planet Zoom, an indoor children's play area in Ely. We were there a good while and Erin was more brave to try the slides and tunnels than Owen, who insisted that I go down with him. We had pizza for lunch, played a bit more and then made our way home happy and exhausted again!

The Stow Bridge Church Cemetery

 Douglas had a service at a lovely church in Stow Bridge. On the grounds there was a cemetery with grave sites that date back to 1913. Owen and Erin only lasted 5 minutes in the service and then were keen to go outside and explore. I had a hard time trying to keep track of which flag went on which grave as Owen wanted to put them on top of a pile of soil in the corner of the property and use them as his "digger". Erin was happy to run up and down until she was exhausted!

Passing time

The weather hasn't been brilliant so we played indoors and outdoors when we could although it felt like winter!

Erin's first trip on a train

Travelling on a train is old hat to Owen but very exciting for Erin as it was her first time. After a trip to the dentist and loads of shopping later we got to the train station to go home only to hear that the trains weren't running due to an accident. So we got the bonus of taking a coach bus home through the narrow lanes!

The Qatar Connection takes over house and garden!

Not long here and we are outside tearing up the garden, literally. Douglas and I got down to some serious gardening therapy and Owen and Erin "mowed" the lawn with the tractor, hippo and lawnmower. Lynese looked on. In the afternoon we went to the park to swing, slide, run around the cricket pitch and just be outdoors.

 

Our 7 week break to the UK starts today!

After a 3 hour delay at Doha Airport we started our journey, just the 3 of us, Owen, Erin and I to see Lynese and Douglas in the UK. I packed light - 1 piece of hand luggage, 1 suitcase, 1 stroller and 1 tripod stroller that folds up and can be carried on board. It was a manageable flight and the cherubs slept, watched tv, cruised the isles, read and were very well behaved.