Mont Saint Michel

Today we travelled to an abbey that was built on an island just off the North west coast of France, that building started in 709! You can only visit during certain times when the tide is low. When the tide is high the island is completely cut off from the main land. It is seriously awe inspiring sight which actually caused me to have a physical response. Tears sprung to my eyes, I actually was a little embarrassed by it. 

It was a steep climb to the abbey, which to my amazement is still a working abbey. Lots of shops and restaurants are dotted in the streets on the way up to the most spectacular sight I have seen in a very long time. The stone work alone is crazy and the view out to sea seems to never end. 

The abbey has a protective forté built around it, almost making it look like a castle from a distance. I can understand the forté as this abbey would have been left very exposed to attack from other countries back in the day where the constant fight for ownership of land seem to rule most people's lives. 

It was amazing place to experience and have the kids try to fathum the scale of this building and just how hard it would have been to build with no machinery to lift the solid stone. 

Emerson made friends with a Japanese couple. Emerson doesn't let any language barrier stop her making friends. The lady watched her write in the guest book and asked if she could borrow the pen and preceded to draw Emerson's face in literally three strokes. It was amazing and you could see Emerson's face in the picture 100%. 

We ventured down slowly and made our way back to the car by catching a horse drawn buggy. After a long day we barbecued for dinner and the girls again played until the sun finally fell low in the sky for he darkness to come. Tomorrow is going to be a lazy day which is much needed. 

Ferry, cheese and play

Friday saw us catch the ferry across the ditch to France. It was a beautiful 4 hour crossing that saw us sitting on the top deck in the glorious sun shine. It was so nice to just sit and read my book while taking in just how busy the channel is. Boats everywhere!

The sight of the French coast line is impressive. The shear cliff faces and the French provincial buildings. It doesn't take long and we are on the move. Four hours later we are arriving at ceauce 

"le haute fresnay", the place we will call home for the next week. 

The girls are over the moon to be running around on the lush green grass that is surrounded by trees with the sound of the running stream in the background. Time is almost a foreign entity in this part of the world. Dinners haven't happened before 8pm since we arrived and you know what ........ It works. It's relaxed and it makes life nice. 

We have our own house and the girls all have their own space without falling over each other and their suitcases. 

Bedtime for the girls came at about 10.30, maybe later?! In saying that they never woke the next day until after 10 for the twins and the older 2 were after 11am! My kids are awesome sometimes. 

So today we had a casual stroll through the local village, a walk around a beautiful pond that had wildlife everywhere. Frogs, fish, lizards and even otters!!! Then we headed toward a bigger village  Bagnoles de l'orne for lunch. The place was bustling with people, more a tourist destination. We had some lovely lunch, maybe a couple of mojitos were drank, hehe. Then we went for a walk around the town and ended going on a pedalling boat. The girls loved it. A few minor accidents happened with Miss Emerson, but she is a little trooper and got on with her day!

As I sit in the garden after eating lots of cheese, bread and meat for dinner. I'm relaxed, so very relaxed. Words can't describe how gorgeous this country is. I'm off now to play with the girls until it's time for bed. Tomorrow we head to a castle in the sea.

On the move again.

Today we said a big goodbye to family we have been staying with. We have had a great week staying with these lovely people. I have laughed like no ones business to the point tears have fallen for my eyes. The girls didn't seem to want to leave. 

We hit the road and headed south. Our destination would be Eastbourne. A southern coastal town of England. It was a pretty drive, the scenery is just bountiful and green. Although the traffic on some roads left me freaking out a little as the speed limit is much higher on roads. For example we were doing 80 on a road in Australia you would do 50 on, begs a few questions. 

We arrive a little later than planned but still take the girls to the beach as promised. The girls faces when they got to the top of the path and came face to face with a pebble beach was cute. They seemed a little confused at first until the lure of the water took over. 

It wasn't freezing but it wasn't warm either. In saying that they still played in it for over 45 minutes. Maya collected pebbles she is hoping customs won't take off her for her little friend Zack, who she knows has a rock collection. 

I stood and watched, taking it all in and also thinking how each place has beauty. For what the beach was it was stunning. Not like our crystal clear water and white sand at home but for the beautiful colours in the pebbles, the cool retaining walls that travel into the ocean every 50 metres and for the beautiful white pier where the point meets the cliffs. 

Tomorrow we head to France and I have to say our week in England has been one I will never forget. 

Last day in Newark

It's Thursday here. Tomorrow we head for the South Coast of England. We are pretty shattered from the week that was, so today was very casual. We head into town to have a look at the first national civil war museum. It was very interesting and also a little sad that our world has been fighting really for centuries. At least our soldiers today are given some respect for their bravery and sacrifice. The soldiers of long ago were just a means to an end. 

The girls found this place very interesting and they even had period costumes to try on. The girls of course loved this. Made me giggle how into it they got. I watched them and felt the need to put on one too. They had replica guns, so that made the job of getting martin to dress up easier if I said a gun was involved. The costumes were so heavy and so hot. I don't know how they would have worn them day in, day out.

We went and had a casual pub lunch just off the square. We probably relaxed to much as by the time we got back to our car we had a parking ticket. Very very strict over here as we were only 20 minutes late. 

We then headed to a water park. Slides, wave pool and all the other fun kid things. The girls needed a little bit of time to blow off steam as they have actually been pretty well behaved all week. Which surprises me as they would have to be tired. The sun sets here at 10.45pm and rises at 4am. It's actually doing my head in more than the kids as they can remain asleep. I also have a cold which isn't helping the sleep thing, really bad timing!

I have loved being here though. Seeing marty's family. Laughing constantly with them and having the girls get to know other family is super cool. For them to meet cousins close to their age, that they didn't really comprehend existed. 

Next stop South Coast in preparation for the ferry to France!

A final goodbye to grandad bear

Today we said a final goodbye to grandad bear. We scattered his ashes along the river Trent. It was something I had never taken part in but was very humbling. A fish even jumped out of the water next to us as we're doing it. The girls found this hard as it was like going through the funeral all over again. It was hard to see their pain again and it was hard to settle them. It crushed Marty all over again to go through it to. 

Watching a man in pain is for me one of the hardest thing to do. My children I know a cuddle and a kiss will settle them but a man is different. It's a complex emotion that is not always shown and very rarely shared. It breaks my heart to see him in pain. 

Marty lives with the guilt of not being able to say goodbye. Of not being able to say sorry for the argument that caused 9 months of silence between us all. I live with it to, I mean I was the one who was having a mental break down and said nothing for a very long time. Yet this is also what we have to learn to deal with. Nothing can be undone and time can't be rewritten. So we have to find a way to move forward. 

Marty was very upset by today but also found closure in it aswell. He said goodbye and he also made a pack with himself. To be open and honest about his love for his children and to be the man he knows his dad would be proud of. 

Poppa bears heart will always hold the scare of his loss. This scare also helps him remember how he wants to be for his babies and me. We love him with all that we have and he never not tells us his feelings for us. Poppa bear is our strength more than he realises. 

Harry Potter and the Squires clan

Today we went to Warner studios in Watford where most of Harry Potter was filmed. All of the Movie props and major sets have been moved to studio J and K. For lack of better words it was out of this world amazing. Since Maya was 2 1/2 she has watched these films. Marty has read all the books and since then my girls have been in love with these films ever since. We had even worn out three DVDs in the process. 

We almost didn't get to go in as it was fully sold out. The lady behind the counter took one look at the girls. Realised where we were from and said "stuff it im going to over ride the system and issuer you some tickets". I couldn't believe how nice she was and she made our day. 

Once your inside it is mind blowing. The sets. The props. The designs. The models of sets. The creature designs. All in all the girls, Martin and I absolutely loved ever minute of it. It was something the girls would never have been able to experience at home so I'm glad we took them. 

London run

Well today we hit the road in the car and headed down to London. We have booked a room on the outskirts and plan on staying over night to give us as much time as possible. Once we arrive, dump our bags we head for the tube. 

The underground train system here is awesome. Marty asks the girls if any of the stations seem familiar. Euston, Kings cross, Piccadilly, Hyde Park? They all thought they were really familiar but couldn't place them until I said maybe a game you play? Monopoly seem to be screamed out in unison. 

The girls are bursting with excitement and the minute we walk to the top of the stairs at charring cross station we are greeted with London telephone boxes the girls faces are priceless. 

We head to the Sherlock Holmes pub for lunch. It's such a cool little pub with heaps of memorabilia to look at. If you blink you would miss it but the girls all loved their food. Marty had toad in the hole, which was the biggest Yorkshire pudding I had ever seen. 

People are everywhere. Not like sydney City busy but like that times 4!  It's crazy just how many tourist are around. It's loud and crazy. We walk down the strand to come face to face with Trafalgar Square. The last time I was here it was cold and raining, so to see it in the sunshine is amazing. 

The statues are beautiful and the fountains are just gorgeous. The only thing missing were the pigeons. None! Don't get me wrong I hate them as much as mice but it was weird to not have them everywhere. 

We then headed for the open top hop on hop off buses. These are the best way of seeing as much of the city as possible. It's a audio guided tour and means you can listen or you can just sit back and enjoy the view. We get to see heaps. The cathedral, London and tower bridge, Tower of London, Big Ben and much more. 

We get off at the London eye which is bursting with people. Over 4 hour wait to get on the eye and it's 5pm!!! We opt to go to the London dungeon which is a walk through show of all the dark past of London. Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, mrs Lovett and the plague just to name a few. 

I couldn't take any photos while we were in the two hour show, but let's just say Georgia has a scream built for a horror movie. The scare factor with super cool and they may have managed to get me to squeal very loudly. 

We finished and walked back out onto the promenade. It felt like it was 3 in the afternoon. Their summer time is crazy. It was actually 6.30pm. We had ice cream while people watching and took a load of for the first real time today. 

Next stop was the queens house. This we had made our last stop while heading back towards the hotel. It was getting quieter in the city which made for getting photos a whole lot funnier. We had some room to get our crazy on and the result was we ended up with a super cool photo to end the day. London was exhausting, busy and expensive but so worth it. The girls will remember it forever. 

Tomorrow takes us to platform 9 3/4. All aboard!!!!