Life!

I took Amanda and the kids to Devon for a few days.  Suki had to sit in the back between the two child seats!  She was quite good and soon settled down to sleep.  We stopped off at Leigh Delamere services for a break (about half way) both there and back.  The weather was appalling - Storm Brendan lashed the county for most of the 4 days were were there.  Luckily we arrived at the house before it hit hard - I was really glad not to have been driving in it.  The kids were soon playing with the sticker books Jayne had got for them, and with the monopoly set which didn't have a board but it didn't seem to matter as the draughts and snakes and ladders board seemed to do the job for Harry! We went for a very wet and muddy walk in Parke on the first day. The next day was the one bright sunny day so we crammed everything in to it.  We went for a walk on the moor and then went to House of Marbles for a cream tea - a first for the kids.  Amanda and I had the two scone ver

Started the year with a walk I had organised for Maryanne, Mary and Steve taken from the Thames Valley and Chilterns book - no 8 Windsor and Eton.  It was supposed to start in Windsor but parking is difficult and not free, so with some advice from Madeleine, who is local, I arranged for us to park in the free car park by Eton Wick library.  It was a nice flat walk, easy to follow with good views of Windsor Castle and Eton college.  One of the paths was closed and we had to divert through Eton which added a bit to the distance and time.  The weather was kind to us - dry and mild if a bit grey. 5.8 miles.  3 hours I had booked a table at The Palmer Arms a mile away in Dorney, as the pub in Eton Wick had mixed reviews.  The Palmer Arms was excellent - lovely food and a nice ambience.  All four of us had the roasted lamb rump. Amanda and the kids returned the next day.  Sam had gone back to Majorca on Boxing Day, but Amanda and kids stayed with us for the whole of January which wa