Cotswolds weekend with friends

This weekend was spent in the Cotswolds with Matt, El, Clare and little Livvy. We had a different cottage to previously which of course meant we got horribly lost trying to find it. (The GPS wasn't nearly accurate enough at the end.)

The weather was a bit miserable on Saturday so we went to Gloucester Quays and got some lunch.

Because we can.

Loves her pasta

A lot.

Livvy was quite happy feeding herself so we could also eat.

After lunch, the weather had cleared up enough to take a walk along the cannel before doing some shopping. Although you wouldn't think it from some of the photos. At least it stopped raining.

Day time, I promise.

It was a bit windy.

We had fun getting Livvy to walk in the wind. She loves it and giggled as much as we did. But she does only have little legs so went in the carrier.

The gang

After a walk we did a little shopping (I think I am completely finished with Christmas presents now) and Matt and I had fun putting hats on the kid. (We were left unsupervised!)

Not a fan. Though so cute.

We had a quiet night in, with snacks (no dinner needed after a giant lunch), DVDs and a fire when Livvy had gone to sleep. We really are party animals. 

After cleaning out of the cottage, we stopped at Stow-on-the-Wold as it was only a 10 min drive away and wondered around.

Our cottage.

Chilling.

We stopped in a cafe and got Livvy some lunch. She really enjoys looking at pictures of herself on the phone.

Waving at herself

Giggles. 

Not sure how this one happened.

Matching jumpers.

The trip back wasn't too bad though I hit some nasty traffic on the way back Clare's. Looking forward to the next catch up.

And today I managed to get my USA visa approved so looking forward to some travel next year. :)

Cotswolds Zoo with Friends

I spent last weekend in the Cotswolds with Matt, El, Clare and little baby Olivia. We couldn't go to our usual cottage but found a really good alternative. On the Saturday we went to the Cotswolds Zoo. All for Olivia of course, even though she slept through most of it. The adults however loved it. The weather was hit and miss but they had little shelters from the drizzle and we had umbrellas.

The best bit was at the start. Rhinos. And there was a baby! Baby Alan was born 13th September so roughly the same age as Olivia.  

Baby Alan

They came so close! There was just a little wall and ditch and they went into the ditch to snacks. Little Alan had some issues get out though; it was a bit slippy.

Olivia was a bit confused by them.

Next was the giraffe and they were inside by the viewing platforms, having lunch so we got really close to them.

Not sure how impressed she is.

I really recommend this zoo. They have big enclosures and lots of animals. And many I have never heard of.

Lion pack

Yawn.

Gundi.

Cloudy leopard.

Capybara 

Matt attempted the kids play ground but gave up.

We lucked in and were in time for the penguin feeding. There was one little cute one who was playing the clown, swimming on his side, waving his flipper and splashing. The Happy feet of the bunch.

food! food!

We spent the evening at the cottage watching a movie and playing with the baby.

Yes we dressed her up.

Sunday we went to Bourton-on-the-water for a walk around and lunch. One shop was packed so Matt and I stayed outside with the buggy so we entertained ourselves.

Shiny object!

Trying to make her smile.

Milk coma face - and blackmail material for later in life.

Cotswolds

For the Bank holiday weekend, I picked Clare up in Richmond on Friday and we went to meet Matt and El in the Cotswolds at the same cottage as last time. This time we left earlier and got there at roughly the same time as Matt and El, in time for food and a movie. We were all complete rock stars over the weekend and in bed by 10pm latest (often earlier). Getting old.  

The goose shed - our cottage

The cottage is lovely and very cosy. Though on Saturday morning, I stepped on a very large beetle in our living room. I didn't realise what is was until I flicked it off, still alive and it started crawling over the floor. Yes, there was some screaming involved in this.

The weather was hit and miss most of the weekend. On Saturday we went for breakfast and passed a farm shop on the way back. It has some lovely things including some nice English wines and ciders which we enjoyed over the weekend. And also Chuckleberry jam. It sounds fake but it's amazing! We are all addicted. Initially I brought some to try (given the name, how could I not?) but after we tried it, we had to got back so we could all get some. It's a cross between a recurrent, blackcurrent and a gooseberry. And delicious!

It's real.

On the afternoon we had a walk up the lane and around the fields to the bluebell wood, disturbing  a few sheep on the way.

Hello?

Lambs!

Bluebells.

Clare and Matt strolling ahead.

The bluebell field was very lovely, a thick carpet. 

We carried on walking for a bit along the rapeseed field. The weather doesn't look great but it was dry and reasonably warm.

El, Matt and Clare

We turn back at the yellow brick road. Seriously, that's its name! 

Yellow brick road.

Given that no one really uses the red phone boxes before, Grafton village have put it to another use: a library.

Given the lovely weather (and because I hadn't been to a BBQ in years), we did a BBQ on the evening. We had some slight issues as I remembered everything except matches. We are rubbish at starting fires. We tired the cigarette lighter in my car and then the grill. We got it to smoke a lot but no fire (proving where there is smoke, there doesn't have to be fire!). Clare and El gave up and went to buy matches in the end. I thought Matt and I were getting close to success. :)

Finally. Fire!

BBQ

We even remembered to buy marshmallows to roast over for desert, which is becoming a tradition. Plus it was much warmer sitting by the BBQ. We huddled back inside soon after for another movie.

Toasting marshmallows.

On Sunday we went to Cheltenham. I think we missed the nice part. We ended up walking along your average high street. We did get a nice lunch at TGIF. But we got bored of shopping and went back for more movies, and sandwiches for tea.
And Monday, the weather was not great again, so we went to the cinema and had lunch before we all had to head back. The trip back to London wasn't too bad, though my GPS has decided to start giving me directions in relation to pub locations. That is a new one.