It's (nearly) all over ..................

Yep, it's over - well nearly - the children don't go back to school 'till next Monday but in effect summer hols are over aren't they? We've had our trip-of-all-trips to America and been to Wales for a week and now it's a week of going to the Dentist, getting haircuts, buying stationery and new shoes. Boo hooo hoooo.

We had a great week in Wales with my sister and family and the house we rented was perfect (for once). There were two sitting rooms - one for the six children and one for us adults and a games room in the garage that had table tennis and pool in it. The garden was huge so many games of cricket were played too. We had a glimpse of the sea from the garden but if you walked along the road you saw this:

and if you crossed the main road and walked down to the beach you saw this:

that's Harlech beach. Beautiful isn't it? It never got very busy and even if there had been a lot of people about I don't think it would ever get full. There are some pics of Harlech here courtesey of Flickr.

We had some days on the beach and the brave swam and then trembled in the chilly wind afterwards. One day we went on a steam railway:

another day we walked in the hills - that's after going down the wrong road and the boys hopping out about twelve times to open and close gates. We went to Portmeirion one morning which is an amazing place:

 

More pics here. Another time we went to Shell Island on Rebecca's recommendation and it is indeed a nice place with lovely sand dunes, a harbour and a beach. It's not really an island but does get cut off at high tide I believe.

In the evenings we adults sat and chatted and watched a few films like the old Belles of St Trinians with Alistair Simm; Shadowlands which made me weep into my knitting and an old 60's film called The Leather Boys. Yes, I did say knitting and you'll laugh to hear that I took two projects with me one which was a bit of a disaster and the other which was OK but not what I'd had in mind to knit.

You see I'd hastily grabbed the wool that Kristin had given me and some other balls from my stash and decided to crochet the Ripple Stitch blanket that I'd seen at Georgia's. Amber read the pattern for me and got me started but at some point I started making mistakes at the edge which meant that my dips and peaks didn't lie flat and whole thing was bumpy:

So I gave up and cast on to make a small cotton hand-towel for the kitchen. However, the pattern that I had printed was not the same as the one in the picture so I had to unravel that and determined not to let my hands sit idle during the films I cast on as for the King Charles Brocade dishcloth hoping that my wool wouldn't run out before it was long enough:

I think that thought might be in vain as I'm nearly at the end of my ball. Might have to ask Jodi to try and get me another ball from Weaver's sometime or else keep it as a dishcloth.

Sadly, the last day came all to soon and for some crazy reason we decided to drive back across country which in the end took all day rather than the four hours it had taken on the first day. Still it meant that we stopped off at Colinette and I bought some wool (from the sale section) for Amber and Rohan:

there wasn't enough of the turquoise for Amber so she went for the green and Rohan opted for the former. However, he's having second thoughts now about how bright it is (although one of the sales ladies was gushing about how it suited him so much with his colouring).

Then we stopped briefly in Montgomery, far too briefly. What a find. The town has a beautiful market square, nice buildings and an amazing view if you climb up to the castle (we didn't as we were in a hurry). Sorry I didn't take any pics but if you look on Flickr you'll see what it's like or click here.

That was the last of Wales and we passed into Shropshire where we saw the nicest views and the prettiest houses before we finally arrived in Ludlow just in time for tea:

Of course, it had to be a cream tea - how else were we going to bribe the children to sit in the car for eight hours?  More pics of Ludlow here.

We finally reached home around 6 o'clock and hastily made supper for ten. The children who had got on so well all week decided to have a huge row that night leaving Rohan and his girl cousin in tears, the older two sulking and being told to apologise by their parents to no avail. We finally locked them in their bedrooms at nine and managed to have another cosy evening.

After a quick visit to the local farmer's market next morning and a speedy lunch it was the moment I'd been dreading all week - saying goodbye to my sister. We always end up in tears every time and wish with all our might that we could repeat those years that we lived near each other in London and saw each other all the time.

So hols and fun times with family are over. I've done four machine loads of washing and hoovered half of the dirty house. I need to go to the supermarket and stock up, nag the children to finish their scrapbooks and get ready for school - welcome back to the real world.

PS I hope those links to Flickr work. If not, go to my Flickr page and type in the various place names into the search bar. There are some great pics of Montgomery, Ludlow, Portmeirion and Harlech, taken by many people, to see.

Comments

[Sarah]

Sounds like an incredible week. I want to go there! We also just finished a week with siblings and cousins--luckily with no big arguments :-) My girls head back to school today and I wish I had one final week for haircuts, dentist, etc. I was lucky to get them in the showers and the nailpolish removed. I'm off to go pack lunches.

[Tracy]

So glad you had fantastic week! Your photos are terrrific--feel like we were there with you. Love all the knitting and yarn (that turquoise wool especiall!). Summer in singing her swan song, that's for sure. Happy days getting ready for school and change of rhythm to the days. ((HUGS))

[Jodi Lenz]

simmy,so happy your back. I'll send the yarn.I'm glad you were able to see Shadowlands.Ilove that film.hope to talk soon.give a hello to everyone.love jodi

[Georgia]

Good to have you back Simmy, sounds like you had a great week. I'd love to go to Wales with you sometime (sounds like my cuppa tea). Sorry the blanket didn't start off well. I think I had to restart mine a few times just to get into the swing of it all properly. There are still mistakes in it, but I found that by varying where I start the row, I can even it out a bit.

[ramona]

It sounds like you had a great time/ great summer. I really enjoyed reading your travel describtions. Autumn is in front of the door. Really close.

[martha]

I found your blog last week and have been avidly reading it ever since. It's been very inspiring for my crafty side and I have enjoyed reading about your travels as well!

[jo]

Glad you had a lovely time in Wales, my summer holidays seemed to flit by and poor Neo went back to nursery school this morning without even a visit to the beach, poor mite, its embarrassing to point out that I actually live very close to the sea!

[simone]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful summer with us Simmy. When you came back from the USA I was off to Portugal for 9 days and then when I came back you went off to Wales! Good to have you back.

[Rada]

Wonderful trip! It is nice that you and your sister get along so well. Making the effort to meld your families on holidays is commendable! Your children will look back on those days with good, happy memories. They will probably not remember the bickering. (That is an expected result after spending so much time together added with the anticipation of school starting so soon).
I think that ripple stitch is gorgeous. I am sure you will work it out and soon have a ripple you are happy with. The King Charles Brocade piece is very impressive to me. I could never imagine using something so nice for a dishcloth. I don't knit or crochet, so all you ladies that do really make me envious with your patience.

[sue]

Welcome back, Simmy! Your holiday sounded wonderful. The girls got the postcard from Amber & the boys yesterday and were thrilled, of course. I'm sure Frankie will start pestering Amber via email in just a bit;)

[Lucette]

Simmy I am greeeen with envy. Wales sounds wonderful. Next time around I am going to magically slip into your pocket and go along for the trip.

[dottycookie]

Oh, it does sound lovely - knitting and grown up company and cream teas. Sorry to hear a few tears at the end, but isn't that so often the way?

It's lovely to have you back though!

[shuey]

sounds like you had a really good time. you have inspired me to go to wales for a short break
shuey