Stormy Weather

Sunday morning we all had a lie in. Followed by brunch. It was a beautiful hot day and Amelia and Marc came with the English papers and had breakfast on the terrace. We all then went to visit Abigail & family in Clemancy after a walk around the garden and a tour of the house the weather changed. It thundered and lightened then we had the most tremendous hailstones it was very impressive. The rain came under the doors onto the unsealed parquet so we were all closing windows and mopping floors with towels the noise was horrendous. Frankie slept through it all. Kay and Robin were pleased it happened before they started their journey back to England. When we returned home our table and chairs had blown over, the umbrella had flown next door and the seat cushions had gone ........ We have found all but one now. My poor plants had overturned which has not done them any good at all. The following day we saw that a 600 year old tree at the end of Abigails road was split and sadly had to be taken down.

Kay Robin & Liam

Our friends Kay, Robin and Liam came to visit us just for the weekend. Sadly Nicholas had to stay at home in England as his new passport hadn't arrived in time. It was rather late when we got to bed about 3.45am so it wasn't an early start on the Saturday. It was a beautiful day so we did a tour of the city and the Casemates followed by lunch. After trying to buy Nick a Luxembourg football shirt with out success, we went to Ikea. Unfortunately by the time we got to the the supermarket it was closed and Liam didn't get the beer he wanted for the Reading festival, so we will have to take him some when we go to England in July. Everyone met at the Beerhouse where Liam tried horse steak for the first time........... The beer testers were more to his taste.

National Day

Thursday was National Day the Grand Dukes birthday celebrations. We went to Amelia and Marcs parked the car and caught a bus ( our first) to the city. We watched the torch light parade of various organizations a wonderful carnival. We stood just outside the Dukes Palace and had a close up view of the Royal family as they walked by. No photo's I am sorry to say as Malcolm insisted we didn't need the camera and spent all night saying why haven't I got the camera. The parade was followed by the most exciting firework display we have ever seen. There was a crush bordering on the dangerous after, as everyone tried to leave the streets at the same time. We ended up in a very trendy night club ( about 40 years to late) to escape the crowd.As we left, the streets had turned into an open air party with a wonderful atmosphere we stayed the night at Amelia and Marcs and had bacon for breakfast. Friday was a bank holiday thank goodness.

Fathers Day

On Saturday after ballet and lunch Amelia and I took Emilie to see the circus animals she was so thrilled to see the animals up close then we went to see a Dinosaur exhibition she couldn't believe her eyes, apparently it was the most exciting day of her life. Sunday was fathers day and Amelia came with the Sunday papers and a present of a boule game for Malcolm. We had poached eggs on toast for lunch on the terrace before it got too hot. Abigail Romain and the children came in the afternoon with a cool box for the car which will come in very handy next month for the storage of English bacon and Haigs pies which we hope to buy in the lake district.

Helpful Boys

There was so much to do at Clemency it was great that Aaron was here to help,we got so much done. Frankie was very helpful as usual. Emile had school lunch and although she wasn't keen on the food she liked the experience so much she stayed another day. Aaron enjoyed sitting on the terrace in the evenings and chilling out with a beer the weather was so hot a change from last week. On Thursday we all went out for a farewell meal and Friday sadly Aaron went back to England but we will see him next month.

Mothers Day

This has been a very busy week Abigail went back to school but it was Emilies half term. The builders were still laying floors at Clemency so it was easier for the children to come to our apartment in the mornings and for us to take them home in the afternoon. Friday Aaron paid us a surprise visit it was wonderful to see him and we couldn't get over the shock. Saturday we surprised Amelia, we turned up on her doorstep and Aaron hid round the corner she was shocked when he knocked on her door, we stayed and had a B B Q cooked by Marc. Sunday was mothers day so it was extra special to have him here.

Sunshine

Now we are back in Luxembourg the sun has come out at last. I put the plants back on the terrace and hope they will dry out. We took Pam and Richard shopping for their goodies to take home and had lunch at Ikea which they had never managed to do in England. A quick visit to Abigails new house we couldnt see much just lots of boxes.Then it was time to pack. We had dinner for the first time at the Carpini our local Italian restaurant which was wonderful and will be the first of many visits I hope. Saturday Amelia came round to see Pam & Richard and we said a sad farewell, but we hope they will soon return.

Mount Titlis

It was time to check out of our hotel but we decided to have one last excursion on the train so we went to Engelberg where for the last few miles the train was hitched to a rack and pinion as the rails were so steep. Then followed three cable cars the last of which rotated to give a fantastic view of the Titlis mountain. At the top is a play area where you can snowboard,sledge and ski but there was so much snow it was closed. We all had a great time but were glad that there was low cloud cover as a drop of 10,000 feet is quite daunting. The journey home took us through the Alsace area of France full of little picturesque villages and vineyards. It also snowed as we drove over the hills.