sun july 3rd

about to leave
got fb message from jo about the park
dad dropped us off
arrived just in time
awesome worship
good kids sermon
more worship
started real sermon - we left did playground followed by browsing the stalls
ate a 9 flake
walked home
packed a lunch & left
met sally
watched kids swim in atlantic (brr)
found jon & chris
walked to pub
had supper
left for home (thru traffic again as dad didn't listen to the gps)

sat jul 2nd house party

bought ice
saw Jon & Sal
everyone showed up at 2 (m25 was slow)
sam aslett
mark & rowan & wendy west
tim & maddie king
minimum
rosie & alan
kids played swing ball (for hours)
after everyone left
jon sal & tim off to garreths for the fight
came home late

fri juj 1st grand day/dover castle

arrive picnic lunch looking at france
tunnels
parade march on
meet joly
go to tuck shop
do dining hall
watch the parade come off
leave for dover castle
do the keep
go home

thu jun 30th

went to the stores

Royal pavilion in brighton

Built by George IV

First swim in the atlantic ocean

Got to get in down at brighton during uncle jon doing paddle round the pier (in speedos :-)

Sunday service

Got a facebook message just in time to let me know that church had moved this week. We get an open air service :-)

Awesome worship loving this

First kiss

I got my first kiss over behind that red tree

Congregation

Firsties! Ethan and bethy's 99 flakes

Had to get them one - i haven't had one of these in decades

Watching the big fight with my bro - good times :-)

All you need in life

So much for bread and water being necessities although they do both have yeast (lager is what americans call beer)

See Rachelle

There is such a thing as a tickly cough

Jun 29th london olympic park and the tower of london

Today we met up with Andy Wilkes and he showed us round his current stomping ground the olympic park. he gave up a little tour them we went for lunch at a little job site cafe which was really good. Then it was off to the tower of London we did half of the tour then split off and went to do the crown jewels during which the boys argued with me about facts I was reading to them. Then we went to white tower and the armoury where the boys were fascinated by all the guns and armour and the mint. Finally a brisk walk over london bridge to the station to catch a train home. As we were walking back from the station I dropped in at touche where i worked 25 years ago at my first job. The receptionist didn't seem too impressed by that fact even though it was probably 10 years before she was born.

Jamin's a pro commuter now

He can read standing on a train

Jun 27th whitstable and canterbury

Today we went to visit mike davies and his family sue emma lauren and Olivia. We got there and caught up for 5 mins before we set off for canterbury by way of a drive by tour of whitstable seeing the docks beach and wind farm. Once in canterbury we had a short stroll through the town before getting to the cathedral. After the 90 degrees outside canterbury cathedral was nice and cool, so that helped the kids enjoy the tour a little more. Them we went to one of miles pubs where the kids insisted on fish and chips again. I decided on a ploughman's lunch as i can't get one of those in the states. We then went back to their house so they could do the school run and pick up the kids before we went to the pool and the kids finally got to cool down. Then back to mike's for a light supper before heading home. Bethy fell asleep within a few minutes of getting in the car and stayed that way for the rest of the night.

Jun 28th leeds castle

Today we went to keep castle after much debate as to whether it was going to rain or not. We started by touring the castle in which bethy won the treasure hunt. For artwork. Followed by a picnic on the grass. Of to the maze we went finally finding the plinth in the middle before heading out via the grotto. A quick play on the fort and then off for the aviary tour. It then decided to chuck it down, but we had our macs in the back pack so ended up doing it a little faster in the rain. Then quickly back to the car where bethy fell asleep again on the journey home.

Leeds castle

Which isn't in leeds?

Bethy after a hard day

Apparently touring the cathedral eating fish and chips and them swimming for an hour is exhausting, thanks Davies family!

Typical americans

Playing tag in front of canterbury cathedral

Sun 26th church & aeroplanes

Dad took Rachelle off to the airport and I walked with the kids down to Purley Baptist. They had a great time doing worship songs they knew and then off to unday school where ethan got an award for reciting a memory verse from the previous week even though he just learnt it on the spot!
By the time we walked home Major Rob had cooked a sunday roast, he was very proud of his yorkshire pud turning out for the first time in years and I wish I had been able to do it justice but I had a squiffy tummy so barely managed half my plate .

the day was exceptionally hot - probably in the 80s at least so by the time it was bedtime the boys room was well past toasty and into very uncomfortable - at 10pm I still had them showing up regularly to get drinks or whine about something.

I still had a headache but hopefully my tummy will be better for tomorrow.

Sat jun 25th the return

we were up and at-em pretty early today and managed to leave the house by 9 then it was a short drive of 4.5 hrs to Stratford upon avon (where shakespeare was born to meet up with the Way's. It was great to see them again and catch up. Kids have treated them well and they are the same Matt & Alison we knew from the bay area (Owen being exceptionally relaxed for a 5yr old boy - ours wouldn't have been that peaceful after a too brief 2:45min it was time to pull the parking ticket of the windscreen (2 hours was the most I was allowed to buy) and head back to Major robs which we got to around 6pm in time for a green curry for Rachelle before she left tomorrow.

Fri june 24th whitley Bay & Newcastle

Friday we started off with the Downing's headed for their beach only a few minutes walk away. the little ones took off their trousers and shorts to play in the sea and it was all fun and games until Oscar got submerged from a rogue wave and jamin stood like a scarecrow soaked to the skin not helping up the screaming 3 year old. we changed them into what we had to hand and headed back via the ice cream shop.

at about 11:45 we headed off to Ingrids house to see her & her boy as the others were all in school. She took us down to Jesmond Dene (a valley type park that was owned by Lord Armstrong before he gave it to the town)
we had ham and cheese sandwiches and a new instant favourite for the kids Hula Hoops off the fingers. Ingrid did an awesome job (as a mother of 4 as well she knows what works and what doesn't) then we went to the little agricultural farm in the park (a few sheep chickens and rabbits etc - and then went to play in the playground. Thoroughly tiring out Dylan in the process then a slow walk home via the milk run and the shoe tree (along with it's mythical story) up past the seperated womens and mens lawn bowling greens and back home.

Dylan fell asleep in his buggy and we got a nice cup of tea as the kids played with Dominoes - then Ingrid took the boys off to pick up her girls (Madeleine, and Eden) from school and I tried to get Bethy to take a short nap.

By the time they got back there was time for the kids to do a couple a things together and then we had to set off for Martin's

then it was a short drive over to the Beasley's were we got to meet Sharon and Amelie for the first time. So strange to see others again after 20 years and realise they are the same with more crows feet (and occaisionally like me larger waistlines). we got to hang out and eat piza before a couple of hours before we headed off back to rachels house for the night and an earlish bedtime (only 8:30pm ;-)

We get worship at Purley baptist today

And it's even songs that the kids know

Burning flies

Apparently a magnifying glass will actually start a flame on a fly if you wait patiently.

Thu Jun 23rd - we went to newcastle

We started on our trek to Newcastle today - Tim's never been there so it was new for him too. We stopped at of all places Milton Keynes as I just found the next brown sign and followed them to Gullivers Land - an amusemant park chain. they wanted £14 each for us to go in and eat a picnic so we left and went to Willens Lake were we had a nice picnic and then (after paying £15 each)the kids got to do a ropes course. they all did the small one (even though Ethan was tall enough to do the large one) and Bethy did exceptionallty well with only a tiny bit of whining at the end as she needed to go pee ;-)
we then headed on and got to Whitley bay around 7pm for a very late supper of Spag-bog with Rachel her Dad and her Kids (Her Hubby was at work)

Jamin doing his batman impression.

Or at least a shadow of him.

Eating hula hoops off your fingers

Another english thing to cross off the list

Willen lake

We followed the brown signs to Gulliver's land then changed our mind and came here instead

Willen lake

Willen lake

Staff required sounds so much more british than help wanted ;-)

Willen lake

On the train to London

Bizzy playing her video game on the way into town. We're doing a few sights today

Jamin and Rachelle

Ethan next to a cab

In the city of London

Ethan got to help in a street show

Heading home

After a long day in London we're finally heading home

On the way into London again to watch the Lion King this time

Changing of the guard

At Buckingham Palace

Wed 22nd June - Lion King!

Today we set off for London again this time meeting Jon & Sally at Victoria station a brisk walk to get to Buckingham palace for 11am & changing of the guard - only to find out it was at 11:30 - oh well we got a good spot & pushed the kids to the front only for them to loose their spots when they heard a band behind them and rushed out to see - not realising in 30 seconds they would have marched up front :-( no matter I got to have Ethan on my shoulders for about 20 minutes - and Jon had to take Elizabeth - guess who ended up whining more about their back afterwards ;-)

then we walked down the mall through trafalgar square and back to covent garden for a pub lunch where Alison Way got in touch with us. (not sure if we'll pull of seeing them yet or not.)

Then the highlight of the day we got to see the lion King which was "fabulaaas dahrlings" Highly recommend it for costume, stage and lighting alone.

then finally onto the millenium wheel/london eye which is outrageously priced - but lets you see so much

then a quick jaunt home & off to be for the kids.

DAY Trip to London Jun21st

we took the train into London £25 for all of us return which seemed pretty good!
arrived At london bridge
walked to Southwark cathedral
walked past the golden hynde
walked past an old london prison
crossed over on the millenium bridge to st pauls
stood outside st pauls
couldn't go in as the queen had taken it over
got a photo of the kids with the queen('s rolls royce)
walked down to covent garden & watched a street performer
sauntered to trafalger square
strolled over to houses of parliament & big ben
schmoozed to westminster abbey
skipped to victoria station

here's the map

photos will catch up (Dad has no wifi??????? so it actually takes effort)

On the bluebell line train before going to Brighton

We rode a train pulled by a steam engine called Sir Archibald Sinclair!

Fire buckets

Apparently you only need three buckets to put out a train fire.

Dinner is served

Visited an old friend & made some new ones Jun 20th

went down to Southbourne near Portsmouth to visit Kath (Robson) Silk whom I have been trying to track down for the last 14 years to thank her for being instrumental in God's plan of getting me to the states. We got to meet her Husband Stuart (a vicar at the local church) and her 3 lovely boys Jude (7), Peter(4), and Dan(16m). It was fantastic to see her again after so many years and finally get a little up to speed and the kids had fun playing in the meantime. Hopefully we won't have so long the next time, but I came home a happy boy :-)

did some Brighton

After slowly improving my english over the night we got up an finally headed over to Jon & Sally's took forever to get there due to the london-brighton bike race being on and the place was packed where we so his refurbished place at 27 Baxter St, and got to rewatch his Take that video Remix he had made for Sal

after that we went down to the front & bought fish & Chips and took a quick walk down the pier - it was very windy

finally got home throught he traffic which I drove the easy part - so far no mistakes except that I tend to want to ride teh divider as I feel like I should be in the left side of the lane & not the right as the driving wheel is on the right not the left.

called Katherine all set up for tomorrow - I'm excited :-)

Increased the Mrs Sinclair-Lee's in this world by 50%

Jon & Sally get married.

had a beautiful service from Rev Chris Maclay with humour & Honesty, I got to help out by doing a prayer & Bethy got to be the beautiful bridesmaid (one of 2 no less!)

then moved over to whitson house which J&S had booked out and was able to visit with
Alan & Rosie
Peter & Jenny
Do & David
Mo & Hans
Anna
Charles & Meg (George & ?)
David & Sarah (& Hannah)
Minimum
Es

& I got to be "so you must be Jon's brother" for the night

great food - good kids meals, and wonderful company finally pushed off around 4am

went to Bluebell Railway & the rehearsal fri 17th June

we had a leisurely drive down to brighton stopping to ride the Bluebell hill train for a couple of stops before continuing down to Stepney to St.Mary's Church for the rehearsal with Jon.

went to Godstone Farm June 15th

we went to Godstone farm which was a bit of a hit although we got more use out of the play area than the animals as our kids could run themselves ragged on the play structures, and leave us alone

So we leave - 14th June

We flew out of SFO on the tuesday - the wait for the flight was long as Grandma had dropped us off early so she could avoid traffic and get home in time to put Jonas to bed. Apparently he isn't missing us yet :-)

From England 2011

Kerb side at the airport ready to leave