Funny, there's no 4th of July Celebration here!!!!

July 3, 2011

Hi Everyone,

This is my first shot at the European blog, having forgotten everything I learned from the Lebanon blog, so bear with me. Yes, the bears are with me….but I digress.

We arrived safe and sound after your typical overcrowded transatlantic red-eye flight from Atlanta. I will comment on two things – the food was absolutely abysmal on the Delta flight. It’s almost as if they planned it that way, I mean how can anyone make a green salad taste like paper???? And the flight attendants really must have jumped out the rear emergency exit after take off, as we never saw them again until they literally threw our icy cold ?egg? muffins at us about 45 min. before we landed.

Oh well, we arrived, the bags arrived and the UK border officials waited until the next day to go on strike, so all in all, it was a “great” flight.

We were greeted by our beautiful English daughter, Robyn, and some sunny, but cool weather. Arrived at Marsdengate House, their 250 year old home perched in the center of incredibly green pastures, and began to remember how nice it is not to be in humidity!

The past week has been filled with end of term school activities for Robyn and Richard’s younger son, Elliot; excursions to town to shop, get e-mail set-up; cook some delicious dinners, and just enjoy being with our extended family here.

Yesterday we hiked along a roaring river to an old mill, then had a very posh dinner at an “upmarket” restaurant where R&R had celebrated their 40^th birthdays about 3 years ago. Since we couldn’t get over for the big party, they wanted to take us to the restaurant so we could have our personal celebration. So sweet!

Tomorrow, as most of you celebrate the 4^th of July, we will be having just another work/school day (yep, the kids go to school until July 7!!!). Charlie will be doing a day-long bike ride with Robyn’s uncle, Peter and I’ll be hanging out with Libby, Robyn’s mom who some of you met when she visited us last Christmas.

Today was brilliant – warm, sunny, dry. We all sat outside in shorts and read the Sunday Times! Tonight, Richard and I have cooked a huge Lebanese feast – he’s a great cook – which we will destroy in about 30 minutes.

That’s it for now, just wanted to set this up and send you all the blog address – lariandcharlieineurope@blogspot.com

Bye for now,

Lari