On to Cambridge

After York we took the train down to Cambridge to see Gran Helen. While we were there we were also visited by the Oaktains, who cunningly rented an airbnb just down the road from Gran Helen, with patio doors that opened onto the orchard, giving the kids tons of space to run around. We visited the Natural History Museum, and the Computing History Museum (which Bluet and Caroline loved and Ilona and Madeleine hated (Bluet wanted to live there, presumably to play Sonic the Hedgehog for the rest of her life). We also took a walk to Granchester, and the double decker bus back. Oh, and the guided bus to St Ives (not that one).

My Birthday 2019

Near our house is Putnam park, where there was a large encampment of American soldiers during one winter of the revolutionary war. The rocks in the photos with Bluet are the remains of the chimneys of these tiny huts that slept 12 soldiers each. Anyway, it has a museum that has been closed since Labour Day last year, and opened again on Memorial Day, which was my Birthday. As the school was closed because of Memorial Day, we took the kids, and Emily's friend and her mother who were visiting to check it out. 

On the way home from dinner we stopped for ice cream at a roadside ice cream shop. For some reason Bluet needed to lie down right next to the road while we waited

All the kids at the park

We went to a restaurant for a birthday dinner (I had the impossible burger 2.0), but while we were waiting for the food Wilder was pretty bored, so I took him back out to our car where he could do some driving. This kept him entertained.

Rain and Trains

Last Friday was the 1st of May holiday so we had a 3 day weekend. Unfortunately the weather was miserable, so we had to postpone our BBQ in the garden until Saturday, when there was an interval in the rain. On Sunday we decided that if it was going to be a wet weekend, we needed to go somewhere. So early in the morning, after enjoying a Starbuck's coffee, we boarded the train and headed to Luzern to visit the Swiss transport museum. It is a lot like other transport museums, but smaller. There were some cool mountain trains, and Ilona was delighted to see all the aeroplanes, running around shouting 'airplane' 'airplane' 'airplane' just like Benny shouts 'spaceship' in the Lego movie. So a good afternoon's entertainment, and then we headed back on the train with the playground on the top deck, which excites all children.

Ilona awaiting the BBQ

At Starbucks

On the train. Note rain on the window

On a boat at the museum

Microscopy

A week or two ago it was raining (as it often does) so I took Bluet and Ilona on the tram to the dinosaur museum. Bluet was instantly attracted to this microscope. I don't know where she gets that from.

Today in York

A fun morning so far for Della and Bluet. First, a trip to the library, where Christmas books were read and songs sung. Then, Emily went for a run around the city walls whilst Simon and I took the cousins to the Railway Museum. Della and Bluet were thrilled., as you can see from the photos here.

Instablog from the roof

We're on the roof of the metropolitan museum of art, soaking up the culture, sun and the last of the summer beer.