A day-trip in the air

Thomas was fortunate to win first raffle prize at the school summer fair. And the prize?? A pleasure flight in a light aircraft back over the school.

So today was the day. Daddy, Thomas & Rosie drove down to Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield and climbed aboard a Cessna 172M Skyhawk, flown by Chief Pilot Ian Sixsmith of British Eagle. Thomas got a seat in the front, so was co-pilot for the day.

After pre-flight checks we taxied out to RWY 18, and were cleared to take-off.

The route took us from Wellesbourne, past Southam and Leamington Hastings (right over the school), and up to Grandborough where we circled our house. Then we flew back past the school, and even spotted Joseph's nursery in Bishop's Itchington.

And around half an hour after take off, we bounced gracefully back onto the runway at Wellesbourne.

A big thanks to the Friends of Leamington Hastings School for organising such a cool prize. And thanks also to Chief Pilot Ian Sixsmith and British Eagle.

More photos can be found here

A Summer Morning

"Woke up, got out of bed
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup
And looking up, i noticed i was late"


....then I got to the car.

Ah; the joy of an English Summer Morning....

A night in Guardamar

This evening we slipped into Guardamar to go to the fair. The first challenge was finding a parking space - given half of Madrid are in residence.



Then yet another Chinese meal.

And then onto the fair to shake all the noodles up on the rides. Surprisingly the kids weren't sick!!

El Pinós

A trip inland brought us to the town of El Pinós, about ½ hr drive from Alicante.

The town was preparing for it's fiesta (well, it's that time of year).

We had an explore, and on top of the hill found the Torre de Reloj

Fiesta!

It's party time in Quesada, and fancy costumes are all the rage, as is dancing in the street

It may be very late, but Rosie doesn't mind..

On The Beach

At Playa de La Marina we discovered that Joseph is quite partial to a dip in the briny....

Phew

Just another July evening; the town prepares for the fiesta and temperatures still swelter.

On The Beach

A day in the blazing sun at Pilar de la Horadada, where the water was more than warm enough for a dip.



Pinky & Perky indulged in that great British habit of building sand castles. Meanwhile, being on a day off, uncle David went all rastarfarian.



Wat gwaan?

Another BBQ

Another sunny day; another barbecue. The food went down well, despite Thomas & Sam fighting over the last sausage !


Grandma had just the one glass of vino, whilst the kids tucked into yet more ice cream.

Ni hao ma; ni hao ma; ni hao ma; zaijien *

I like Chinese.
I like Chinese.
Their food is guaranteed to please,
A fourteen, a seven, a nine, and lychees.

Click on picture to see the whole table-full

* Ni hao ma; ni hao ma; ni hao ma; zaijien = "How are you; how are you; how are you; goodbye" in Chinese