Quick trip home

Last weekend I took a day off and took a trip home. On the Thursday I went home via Adriennes and got cuddles from the baby, who is the cutest thing I have seen in a long time. Such a sweetie pie! And got to download my brain to Adrienne which was a relief. 

On the Friday I went for lunch with dad and then a walk along the the railway walk and chat. But I didn't take any photos.

The main reason for going home (other than just because) as to cook super, 4 course meal on the Saturday (with wine pairings of course). The idea was to have a dinner party for my Aunt and Uncle (who ask my parents about this on a regular basis) but they were on holiday. Again. So my mom and dad, sister and brother-in-law got to enjoy it all to themselves instead. 

The meal went well (I love Mary Berry recipes) and Kerry and Craig brought some fireworks for after. They were a mix bag, I have to admit. Maybe I just just easier to impress as a kid, but the standard does seem to have dropped. And they was no Katherine Wheels, my favourite (obviously). 

But they did have sparklers.

Someone dropped it!

All gone.

About as high as it got.

I stayed back to start with because, you know, explosives! But it became apparent they they really weren't all that dangerous so I got some closer photos.

Finally some colour

Final one was a good one.

But we did have enough sparklers for one last one. Who doesn't enjoy a sparkler?

Bonfire Night

I finally managed to do something for Bonfire Night this year, getting a ticket to Kempton Park race course. They had a fair which was ok. Get if you are a kid I guess. I got there early so had a walk around before the fireworks.

The fireworks were ok. The theme was superheroes. So I resented them playing the music from Ghost Busters. Wrong! At the end they just seemed to lit everything left over.

4th July Celebrations.

I have been trying this weekend to get everything done that needs to be done while still having a good holiday week (my timing with the move sucks) and seeing everyone I want to before I leave. And I think I have done pretty well. I have packed the boxes ready to go next week. And I have just sold my chair which, other than the bed which goes tomorrow, was my last piece of furniture. So the next week is not going to be the most comfortable but will make me appreciate furniture all the more in the future. Plus it's a lot easier to clean! (Or would be if I hadn't covered the floor with the things that were in the said furniture.)

Anyway, Cait asked if I want to join her and some friends for the evening on Saturday, Independence Day. I jumped at the chance not to spent the evening packing! Plus, I was secretly hoping someone would ask me to do something for my last (for a while at least) Independence Day. :)

Her friends were so lovely and I really appreciate them letting me join them. The food was amazing, though I only took a photo of the best watermelon ever. (Though Cait thought it was a gun. It is the US of A after all.)

Watermelon flag.

 After nibbles, I played my first ever game of corn hole. I have seen this a lot of tailgate parties (pre-game parties using involving truck tailgates oddly enough) but have never played. The idea is, in teams of 2, to throw the beanbag onto the board (1 point) or through the hole in the board. Cait and I lost miserably - we really weren't very good. But were having too much fun to care.  :)

Playing corn hole. 

After playing and eating, Cait and Lauren practice some of their Acro Yoga. Thankfully they know what they were doing and no one got hurt! It was super impressive. (I wish my balance was that good.)

Flying

The throne

No idea what this one was called but still impressive.

Deb also decided to have a go. They asked if I wanted to to and normally why not? I'd give it a go. But I have 3 flights int the next 2 weeks and really don't need any broken bones. Plus I didn't want to hurt any one! With my current weight and amazing grace (not!), that's more of a certainty than possibility.

Deb flying!

After this we went up to the deck ready for the fireworks. Thanks to the rain in the last few days, the bugs were out in force. I have (thankfully) doused myself in bug spray (I was not going through that again so soon) but I forgot to bring it with me. Cait went to extra lengths to avoid the bugs. 

The ghost that is Cait!

The fireworks were very cool. And, as usual, at the end, they just seemed to set everything off. The deck was perfect for watching the display.

After the fireworks, we rushed back inside to avoid the bug invasion and eat desert. And it was all gluten free so I was in heaven!
We spent a few hours playing card games (I now know some very cool new ones) and Taboo. It was so much fun and I spent most of the night just laughing. A great way to spent the holiday evening. I love all my friend here but I have been missing nights like this with people my own age, so it was great to do that and I really appreciate them including me. :)

Today I spent the morning skyping home, organizing next weekend and finished the boxes (now 90% ready to go - just waiting for the labels to be spent). And a few hours this afternoon with Cait and some of her friends playing Kickball and soccer at the Blacksburg Rec Centre. As there were only 5 of us, kickball was a lot more running than I have done in a very long time. It's basically a cross between baseball where you kick the ball instead of hit it, and dodge ball, so if someone can hit you with the ball you are out. So a lot of fun but with our small numbers, much running.

After kickball. we tried soccer. Much better as I installed myself in goal as soon as possible. You may get hit with the ball a few times (which I am fine with) but a lot less running. Plus they were very competitive. And like I said, broke bones = bad!

group photo, post soccer

We were all pretty tired (and hot) at the end. And I am definitely the less fit. :( they all do cross fit etc so this didn't come as a surprise.  But it was nice to get out.
now I get to spend the rest of the evening doing some more packing. Oh the joy! :(

Independence day

Friday was Independence day here, one of the few American holiday where we actually get the day off. And the weather was a lot better than last year! And thankfully cooler than the rest of the week or I would have melted.
Unfortunately none of the buses were running so I walked down to Smithfield Planation which took about an hour. I was melting when I got there but managed to find someone selling cold drinks.

Dressed for the occasion 

Different version of the USA flag

 There was a band playing on the porch of the house so I sat listening and cooling down for a while.

Band

 There was also a re-enactor talking about the war and showing us who to fire his gun. He let me hold it and it was really heavy.

Preparing the rifle

Take aim... 

Fire!

It was really loud. And the little flame on the photo was only a small amount of the fire that shot out from that thing. They have had to add bits to the gun to stop enactors from setting themselves on fire!
They also sang "Star Spangled Banner" and read out the Fincastle resolution (an early version of the declaration for just this area) and then the Declaration of Independence, which I'll admit, I didn't sit through.  I snuck out (it's long and really quite out of date) and headed across town to get some food and a good spot to watch the parade.

Leading the parade

Community band

Scouts

 There was a lot about the veterans so in the parade there were lots of army jeeps and veterans groups, including (in Preston style) a car from the Veterans cemetery.

And a car from the forest services with a guy dressed as Smokey Bear suit who must have been really hot!

Smokey bear

Apparently they let any who has a really cool car in the parade as a lot seemed to be just random people in cool cars.

So American

My favorite!

 There were also some horses who must have been the most placid horses alive. As right behind them came the entire of Blacksburg's rescue service, EMTs, and fire service. All honking their horns and using their sirens.

Docile horses

 Even a random bus got in on the act.

Blacksburg Transit buses

The mayor got the coolest seat!

Blacksburg fire department

I hope no one needed to emergency services! They were all in the parade. But I was very impressed. They closed down main street and reopened without any dress or drama. Within 10 mins of the parade finishing, everything was normal again. I guess they do it so often, it's easy.

After the parade, there was a free movie, "Angels in the outfield", a Disney film, showing at the Lyric. But I had to do it the full American way. With popcorn and Milk Duds. Which I had never had before but are very tasty. Basically chocolate coated chewy caramel. My jaw ached after a while but it was worth it.

Classic movie snacks! Yummy!

There was some time after the film before the evening shuttle buses started over to the park, so I just chilled around campus and read my book in the sun.

War Memorial

Alumni Mall 

Buress Hall and the Massacre memorial

Once at the park, I found a stand selling fresh lemonade (so American! Loved it!) and a hot dog and sat listening to the community band playing American classics. (I couldn't name any of them but they said they were classics so I'll believe them!)

Listening to the band

 I also brought a "small" bag of kettle corn.  Small by American standards. The large was bigger than most 6 yr olds. (I did not eat all my bag!)

Kettle corn with my shoes for scaling purposes! 

The second band, the Meter's Running (which until they got on stage I did think was some sort of strange race they were going to run through the park), were a jazz/blues/swing band and despite the lack of a dance floor, it didn't stop many people from dancing. The atmosphere was really fun.

Dancing

The band 

the band

 They sang until the fireworks started. Which was the real reason me and most of the audience were there. I got some decent photos. Though I missed the one which shot a smiley face into the sky. Very cool! :-)

They got to a certain point and it seems they got up setting them off in order. They just set everything off at once. Awesome!

After the fireworks, which were worth the wait, I had to walk home, which was very uncomfortable thanks to 2 large blisters (evil shoes!). But it was a good day.
Now I have to start packing again :-( But have lots of fun things planned for the next month. So I am excited even if it does mean more planes, airports, and living out of a suitcase again for another month. :-)

Happy Independence Day!