August 2008

It always seems strange not to have to have our proper holiday in August, having been restricted to school holidays for so long, so we had a mini break again this year in UK. Firstly we went to Yorkshire to see my brother on his 75th birthday, then Melvyn spent time with his family while I went to catch up on the gossip with the 5K gang from secondary school. It was great to meet Sylvia this time - first time for 45 years. The following day we went to Liverpool and spent a lovely couple of days. Highlights were the Gorms at St Helens and Gormley's full size statues on Crosby Beach, as well as the Klimt exhibition at the Tate. We also had a touch of nostalgia at the childhood houses of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

July 2008

Bettina and Klaus visited us at the beginning of the month during one of their regulars trips to the UK. Bettina first stayed with us when we lived in Whitley Bay and she was on a student visit and it's good to keep up the contact. Other highlights were seeing Rufus Wainwright ( a real favourite of mine), Evita in Bristol, a theatre trip with friends from school, Hilary's 60th birthday celebrations and a holiday in Crete. Melvyn spent a week at Katy and Mark's helping them put in a new kitchen. That makes it the 3rd Ikea kitchen they've installed and I'm not sure that they get easier!

June 2008

We had a lovely, busy June at home which included dinners out with friends, birthday and fathers' day celebrations, the school fete and 3 music concerts in London. One birthday was Jordan's 18th in Yorkshire so it was good to catch up with families during that weekend.

The month finished beautifully with Lara and Ivan's wedding. The weather was kind and the day went spectacularly well. We were pleased to be part of it.