Off to Daddy's Old Stomping Ground

We headed to the West Country towards Andrew's hometown of Weymouth for a day trip today. Sophie had been there before, but the last time was two years ago and she was too young to remember. Today, she was taking it all in and very interested in learning which house Daddy used to live in and where he went to school. 

 On the way I asked to stop at Shitterton to have this picture taken (Andrew was embarrassed). The town finally figured that this stone will be impossible to steal as a souvenir. 

 Our first stop was the Royal Navy cemetery in Portland. It is a very quaint cemetery on the hillside overlooking Portland harbor. Since Andrew's grandparents' ashes were scattered (partially at this site), the family donated a  bench in their memory here. The view is fantastic. Unfortunately, Sophie was acting a little grumpy at the time. Probably getting a bit hungry.

 Thus, we headed back to Weymouth for some real fish and chips by the harbor. Sophie is not so sure...

 With our stomachs filled, Andrew insisted we take the row boat ferry across the harbor. It was not just a first for Sophie but for Sandra as well who had lived in Weymouth for years. That is not Sandra in the picture by the way. 

 Frolicking on the beach. It could have been a wee bit warmer. 

Not too cold for a traditional donkey ride on the beach, however. Reliving her daddy's childhood.

{If anyone has a picture of Andrew on a donkey - I would love to have a copy}

Afterwards we visited Andrew's other aunt Susan and her husband Dave for some tea and cake. By then the rain had set in - in time for our upcoming jubilee pilgrimage to London.

Here is one picture of Sophie's last trip to Weymouth two years ago visiting with great-granny, who has since passed away. 

Kingston Lacy

After a somewhat quick obligatory stop at the shops in Bournemouth (some of us needed outfits fitting to meet the Queen), we took a drive to the countryside.

This is Kingston Lacy - a beautiful country house which was given to the National Trust in 1981. 

Auntie Sandra was so kind to take Sophie on the preschooler tour so that Andrew and I were able to stroll through the house and take it all in. 

We entered through the laundry house or should I say the turn of the century Miele showroom?

Collecting ideas for our own interior decoration

Princess stairs

Talk about a library! 

Somewhere on a desk was a bust of Kaiser Wilhelm, who had visited Kingston Lacy. The bust was tucked back into its box and stowed in the cellar for a few years in 1914.

Isn't this how everyone in England still sets their table for dinner?

Love the pink.

We spotted a painting of Kate Middleton!

A spider in the bathtub

Sophie was fascinated

All that separated me from the cows was the ha-ha. 

 The highlight of the preschooler tour of Kingston Lacy was finding the hidden chest full of outdoor toys.

 One more view of Kington Lacy.

Finally, here is the dress which Auntie Sandra had bought for Sophie. I think I have seen Kate wear such a dress on a couple of occasions. 

Farmer Palmer's

During our last visit in Bournemouth two years ago, we made an excursion to a kids' farm, called Farmer Palmer's, teeming with cute animals and fun attractions. Of course this place was a must on our Bournemouth-to-do-list this time as well. We arranged to meet up with Andrew's cousin Holly and her adorable 11-month old daughter Scarlett.

 One of the funniest-looking animals there. He was in with the ducklings and seemed so desperate to get out. 

 Auntie Sandra posing with the two beauties watching the ponies being groomed.

 Sophie seemingly enjoyed taking care of baby Scarlett. It was so cute watching the two of them play.

 Sophie showing Scarlett how to get the most out of a bouncing cow-castle.

 Together on the tractor ride. 

 Look: sunshine in England!

 So, who let the goats out?

Flashback: two years prior.

 Sophie loved petting the guinea pig.

 The farmer and his entourage.

Enough excitement for a day.

The Beginning of a Fantastic Holiday

Here we are. Finally on our way to see the Queen (and Kate). For the next two weeks we will be touring Britain from the coast of Dorset to the Highlands in Scotland. 

Cute pilot for our Easy Jet flight to Gatwick. 

 It has been a year since Sophie flew with Daddy. The flight was so empty that I had the row to myself in front of them. Although it was sunny in Duesseldorf we had to wait a bit for the fog to lift at Gatwick. That did not bode well. 

 Auntie Sandra fetched us from the airport and here we were in the middle of the New Forest after an al fresco ploughman's lunch and some tea.

 The New Forest is full of wild horses. We spotted some right next to the road.

 Then we walked down a path to look for the wild deer. They were hanging out in the distance.

 We found the truck with the Dorset ice cream. Spicy ice cream (mint chocolate chip) of course for Sophie and rhubarb custard crumble for the rest of us. Yum.

 After a long drive to Auntie Sandra's house in Bournemouth, we quickly stretched our legs at the playground.

- Flashback to March 2010 - 

England in Jubilee fever. Buntings and flags everywhere. All the papers were full of specials on the Queen. We kicked off our Jubilee celebrations in style with this Victoria sponge cake.

 Sophie had the Queen on her piece. 

Any Excuse For a Party

We have been very busy this last month especially with traveling (be ready for loads of pictures) that I am only now starting to find time to catch up with posting pictures. 

A few days before we left for Britain, we all went an hour north where Uncle Gerrit and his girlfriend Gerdi live. They had sent us an invitation to a garden party already back in January making sure that we would all be able to make it. 

 Uncle Gerrit is ready for the party or a beer. Fortunately, the weather was gorgeous. Sophie was excited to see her cousins again: here with Talea and Thore.

My brother Stefan joins Uncle Gerrit in entertaining the kids

Talea and Sophie surrounded by pink balloons...

... while Kiron is showing off his chain saw (!) to cousin Thore.

Although there was more delicious food apart from dessert, devouring the mousse au chocolat made for the best shots.

So yummy.

So after the meal, we were stunned to find out that Uncle Gerrit and his girlfriend Gerdi had eloped to a light house by the North Sea two weeks previously and were now celebrating their wedding with all of us. Like I said, we take any excuse for a good party. Congratulations!

Waiting for the toast.

Cheers to that!

Summer in the City

We took the subway to the city today to look for some sandals for Sophie. Unfortunately, due to the lack of service and choice in the stores, I was much luckier on the internet that evening.

But our trip was not in vain, as we found a nice ice cream place right by the city hall (Sophie also calls this a castle). And to top it off, they had spicy ice cream for the princess.

Summertime Play

The gorgeous weather is holding up, so after Sophie's ballet lesson today we scouted out a water playground that was said to be in the park near the gym. My last stupid words to Sophie were: "Try not to get too wet," as I had not brought a towel, but how was that going to be possible. 

 Off she went, and for a full hour she was running around like a maniac having a blast. 

 I caught her with that "Oh my god, I'm having so much fun, I can hardly control myself" - face. 

At the mega-waterpistols

The nice thing was that they had lounge chairs for the big people.