Trip to Telford

Tom, Becca and Hannah

On Sunday morning I loaded the car and headed down the M6 to Telford for a mini break with Tom.  We tend to do this every summer - it is a chance to meet up with old friends and catch up - always nice, if not frantic.

The motorway was ok, we got down there in 3 hours, stopping off in Waitrose in Newport for lunch (very underwhelming and therefore disappointing!) We got to Eastwood Drive dead on 2pm and headed in to see the Gouges.  Wow! Becca has grown up big time.  She has been in Secondary school for one year and looks a full on teenager already - full of make up, false nails etc etc.  I'm not sure I would have recognised her if she hadn't had been in her house!  Hannah, on the other hand looks exactly how she always has looked, but is just taller.

The Eastwood Crew

The sun was shining, so we had a lovely afternoon basking in the sunshine in their back garden.  Tom played with the girls and Paul whilst I chatted.  George and Margaret also popped round to say hi.  It was a lovely afternoon, Rose even gave me a quick crochet lesson (still don't understand it!).  Before too long it was 4.30 and time to say our goodbyes and head to Lawley to meet up with the Shaws.

I used sat nav to find Helen's house - Telford roads confuse me now, especially when you have to go from North to South. I got there in 10 minutes (would have been 30 mins a very long way round if I had done it by memory!)  Jake and Tom instantly remembered each other and were playing together in seconds.  Thomas was very grown up too - he has turned into a very beautiful boy, with the most amazing eye lashes.  I was greeted by a huge hug from Helen, a glass of chilled prosecco and a roast chicken in the oven - what more could we want?  Believe it or not we are their first overnight visitors since Helen had Jake over 7 years ago???!!!!!   I know their family live nearby, but really - how on earth have they managed that?  I wouldn't want that!

The best group pic I could manage
Tom, Jake, Thomas, Abby and Ollie

Anyway, it was a warm welcome from Helen, the boys were happy and we chatted and played as if it was only just last week we last saw each other, always a nice experience when you get on so well like that!  The roast was lovely, Tom ate his up well too.  The boys then settled down in Jake's room with next to no high jinx and Helen and I chatted into the night whilst finishing the prosecco.

Super Ollie!

Monday, Rose, Abby and Ollie came over to Helen's (they are close friends).  We made a picnic and then headed over to Attingham Park for a play.  Abby wasn't a happy girl - very tired and clingy, but Ollie was great and the children played together really well.  I was hoping that Tom would go off climbing things and forget about his arm, but he refused to use it and decided to boot around a football by himself instead (how do we get him to use that arm?)  Jake and Abby played together and Ollie and Thomas dipped in and out between them all.  Somehow, it didn't rain on us so we ended up having a lovely day - I dread to think how much we ate (we had a huge picnic) but it was fun and it was good to see Rose and crew again.

We all returned to Helen's at the end of the day as Rose was wanting some of the chocolate cake I had brought round to Helen's.  However, we all forgot - 5 tired children in one house means that there is always one crisis to manage!

Monday evening Tom was very tired, so much so I couldn't reason with him (he didn't sleep well last night as Jake and Thomas's snoring kept him awake!).  This meant that Tom ended up in my room to sleep, which in turn meant that Jake had a melt down as he wanted a sleep over again - there were tears and frustration from both boys - oh joy!  Once they were in bed though they were all asleep pretty quickly.

Mae

Lucy

Tuesday we had a leisurely breakfast at Helen's and then said our goodbyes and headed over to see Rachel and co.  They were just back from a mini break in Switzerland, so instead of rushing out to do something, we chilled out at their home which is a lovely home in a lovely location.  The children got the frisbees out and devised a frisbee school for the adults.  I passed Primary and Secondary levels but Rachel and Phil were apparently naughty children and only passed Primary phase!  All three children had a grumpy afternoon (tiredness) but cheered up in the evening and had a great adventure trying to catch chickens - it was a joy to watch and although I knew Tom needed an early sleep I couldn't bring myself to end the magic so let it happen.  They eventually went to bed around 9pm, none of them complained and all were asleep in minutes (a first!).  Rachel, Phil and I had a lovely evening, drinking far too much wine and chatting away - always a good evening.

Tom, a chicken and the MacConnachies

Wednesday, we had a relaxed morning before heading to Weston Park for a run around.  Rachel and I were put through frisbee university by professor Tom and Miss McConnachie.  We both passed, but it took a couple of attempts!  The children went for a play in the park before we headed back home for lunch.  Tom and I then headed home.  Tom was asleep in minutes and we had an uneventful trip back.

Thanks to everyone who we met up with - we had a great time.