Norwich relatives come for lunch

At the weekend the "Norwich relatives" came for Saturday lunch. We've been promising to organise this for a year and finally everything came together - Mick wasn't working, Judy didn't have any B&B guests booked in, the kids had a space in their diaries and Julie weighed up the choice (in our favour) between her blissfully peaceful, warm and cosy house for the afternoon and a freezing cold day at the beach with the usual suspects.....



Gregor is getting very practised at waiting for the "green man" with bucket and diggers in hand.



And Alastair's not hanging about waiting for dad and Judy. He's off to the beach.



Abi wanted to collect fossils and shells - which she did. Then forgot to take them home with her.



The kids on tractor climbing frame by putting green. There's a cafe in the background, but we went home for a cup of tea instead.




Unfortunately no pictures of lunch, which consisted of Misha's hearty Solianka soup of which Gregor had two bowls full - good beef broth with capers and frankfurters, black olives, tomatoes and onion, followed by Kate's version of Charcho - a Georgian lamb, tomato, walnut, plum and coriander stew with rice and a Kashmiri turmeric and yoghurt dish with potatoes, chickpeas and a swede from the good food coop.

Tomatoes - part one

A fortnight ago we decided to plant some tomato seeds since Gregor loves them so much. First we put the soil into the propagator.



Then gently moisten the soil with the sprayer.


Then carefully pop the seeds into the squares.


Phew, time for a play after all that hard work.

Homecoming day

This week we celebrated Gregor's 3rd "homecoming day". We do this for 3 reasons. 1. Our boys are twins and need to have their own special day; 2. they were whisked off to incubators the second they were born and we didn't get Gregor home until March 19th - 10 weeks later, and in Alastair's case, he came home just over a year later; 3. any chance for a celebration is reason enough. The rules are: You can go where you want and eat what you want. Within reason.

So, first stop the bakery for muffins,


and eclairs.


Then to the Lighthouse in Southwold.


And finally, back home for cake and ice-cream.

1st Anniversary

We moved here a year ago today - St. Patrick's Day. A bit windswept during our afternoon stroll by the sea.