I'm trying, trying, trying to catch up on photos, but it's very hard when both Dave and I are falling asleep on the couch at 8pm, and Alexander is waking up between 3am and 6am ready to start the day. It's very clear we all have been effected badly by jet lag this time. I'm jolly well over it!!!

I'm going to be updating each of my entries with photos from while we were away.

Rather than just add a wad of photos now, check back over the last month, as I'll be adding new photos to the entries as and when I get time over the next few days. Hope that makes sense :-).

Did I mention I have a pile of washing and 3 huge suitcases of things to put away, I feel like I have been making piles and moving them round the house all day.

Alexander wanted with all his heart to go off to kindy this morning, I guess he is not suffering with jet lag as much as I am to day.

We are back safe and sound, I'm the only one up at the moment, its 7:48am and Dave, Alexander and Scrufty are tucked up in bed snoring.

Will post more and some photos later today, I've got to get some unpacking done.

Just finished our departing meal of real fish and chips, we have done that every time we have left the UK, Mark is on his way to collect us for the airport. I don't like the leaving day :-( Goodbyes are never fun.

Will post again when we get back home probably on Monday sometime.

The packing has started...oh boy! Dave brought 2 pairs of shoes this morning to add to the packing.
Nan organised to collect us at the other end. Ive got one last day for shopping tomorrow morning with Sharon, while Dave has the boys, Adam and Alexander.

Alexander has ordered Nan to bring his Scrufty in the car to collect us from the airport.

Ive been very spoilt over the last few weeks I think ive cooked once the whole time and that was just bacon sandwiches, we have either eaten out or been cooked for, now that for me is a real holiday, thank you everyone especially Mum and Dad.

Wish us luck for the 36 hour trip door to door.

Looks like we will be leaving as planned on Friday according to our airlines website and the airspace is fully open and there were planes in the sky's today, a strange sight after 5 days of silence.

Alexander is asking when he will see his Scrufts again and he is asking about kindy all the time now.

I was thrilled to find 2 more character jugs by Royal Dalton today in the local charity shop, just 7 pound each. I also found a lovely little Next handbag for 3 pound also.

Mark, Sharon and Adam are on their way back from Tenerife as I type, so we will get just two more days to spend with them before we go, I know a shopping trip and lunch is called for and Dave will get a pub night with Mark, and Alexander a play with Adam too.

I'm pretty sure we will need another suitcase to return home with again this time along with the three we came with :-)

2 months or 8 weeks till Alexander is 5 and starts school would you believe!

Alexander crashed out in the car on the way home from a full day out at the fun park, David and I took turns going on the roller coasters and mental upside down over and round rides. Alexander got a bit mad as he really really wanted to go too but he was to small for those kinds of ones. He thoroughly enjoyed Thomas Land as much as he did last time we were here.

It's still crazy here with flights, airports and confused travelers. We will call ours tomorrow, Wednesday and see where we stand for our return to New Zealand.

Mark, Sharon and Adam are still stuck in Tenerife, they have been put up in a hotel with a pool etc so Adam is happy.

Off to Drayton Manor tomorrow, that's the fun park and Thomas World, Alexander is very excited of course.

Today we went into Birmingham city and I reckon half of Britain were shopping there, it was crazy, Dave said there are 1.5 million alone just in the city, that is half of New Zealand's population.

Still no movement for planes today, they do say that airports in Scotland and Northern Ireland, then the British Midlands are opening up tomorrow, I reckon it might be wishful thinking and speculation, still who knows, we will know more in the morning.

Another 24 hours on and still no planes are flying. Really feel for everyone trying to get home, more especially if you have children or sick and elderly.

Home from a wonderful lunch and afternoon with our UK family celebrating our engagement and up coming wedding in September.

Mark, Sharon and Adam are still in Tenerife unable to return home in time due to the volcanic dust cloud.

Alexander thoroughly enjoyed the company of his elder cousins Matt, Rich and Rebecca, absolutely glued to Matt the whole afternoon.

Not sure how likely it will be returning home next Friday due to the volcanic dust over the UK at present, suits me fine! Luckily we have nothing pressing to return home for, so putting it off for another few days or longer won't be a problem. Really the people in the know here in the UK don't really have much of an idea when it is likely to clear. On the upside the sunsets have been beautiful.

It's looking more and more likely Mark, Sharon and Adam will not be able to get back from there holiday in Tenerife in time for our engagement party tomorrow. Planes are still grounded here in the UK and it looks like there will be no change to that till 1am Saturday.

Got your message Lesa, will have to look when I get home, looking forward to watching Dylan's videos, Alexander will love it too!

Been to the Safari Park yesterday, lovely day, and it was so cute to watch Alexander calling to the elephants with his elephant noise, they did take notice and wandered over. Can we stroke it, can we stroke it, he kept on asking :-)

Forgot to mention also poor old Alexander fell out of bed a week ago and added another scratch/bruise to his chin, for a couple of days he looked like he had just stepped out of a boxing ring.

It's been three weeks on Friday that Dave quite smoking, he feels so much better about it this time, the whole change of his usual routine has helped immensely.

While in Wales we saw a real Punch and Judy Show on the beach in Llandudno, the same family have been doing it for over 100 years. Alexander absolutely totally loved it.




On Friday we went to Weston Super Mare to visit Great Grandma's and Granddad's grave and leave flowers. Alexander rode the donkey's on the beach.





Had a fantastic weekend, been to Wales for a couple of days, the highlight for me was our visit to Denbigh Lunatic Asylum and it was even more stunning to see it for myself, I was so excited my hands were shaking for my first few photos... lol



Alexander, Mummy and Daddy had a ball on every ride we could find, Donkey's, The Carousel with Mummy, mini roller coaster, the jumpy trampoline thingie, go carts, trams, and the huge wheel etc.

Lucky I packed lightly and managed to fit the smaller suitcase into the bigger one. One pound equals two of our dollars (NZ) the best it's been out of all our trips to the UK. Dave has picked up a load of bargain's and increased my ironing pile ten fold, by buying 15 new business suits. Alexander and I have done well too.

Power Rangers are big over here so we have found plenty of PR stuff for Alexander, strange as the show is made in New Zealand but we don't have any of the figures etc there.

Would you like a laugh courtesy of Alexander of course, while at Church on Easter Sunday, to a packed and silent congregation, Alexander stood up on the pew while the priest was blessing the communion and called out in his clearest and loudest voice "Excuse me, what you doing" Funnily it was received by a quiet laugh from people around us.

No photos to upload as I'm using Dave's work laptop while we are away and I don't have software installed to do it, but when we return home ill have a photo feast for you.

Yesterday I dragged Alexander and Dave around a huge and I mean huge flea market. I had a ball but Dave and the little guy found there were too many people. I found several Toby Jugs to bring home for the kitchen bench.

We just polished off a lovely curry from the local pub. Off to the Safari Park in the next few days and on Saturday we are going down to Weston to visit great Grandma’s & Granddad’s grave. Later in the week we are off to Blackpool and Wales so I can visit and photograph an abandoned Lunatic Asylum.

Alexander had a ball today driving (driving) around at Becky and Andrews in one of those battery powered kids jeeps, I’ve never seen his eyes light up like that before! Alexander played with Mark and Gabrielle and we all had a lovely lunch of thick bacon sandwiches while Alexander scoffed a huge piece of chocolate cake.

Lots of fun, fun,fun !

Happy Easter to you all. Been jolly cold here!!

Looking forward to catching up on Coronation Street soon, a year ahead, so will know all the jucy gossip when I get back.

Just off to tuck Alexander into bed, and then have a little walk down the road to the local pub for a quiet drink.