Back home for the Essex Boys

Monday after playing duckie (pacman) and singing Karaoke with Frankie it was time for a little shopping before taking the boys to the station for the airport bus, due to traffic chaos it was a close thing but they just made it. Emilie was the happiest girl in the world as she was given a copy of the Joseph (Lee) Children in need charity c.d

Beerhause

After Bastogne we went to the Beerhause for dinner with Abigail and family plus Amelia, it was a BBQ and buffet. The boys enjoyed the beer testers. Liam had been last year when he came with Kay and Robin. Sunday Liam & Nick had tickets to see the Killers at Rockafield we packed them off with wellies and macs a la Glastonbury but the sun shone and they got a little burnt..... My mother came to stay for a holiday so the boys spent the night at Abigail's.

Bastogne

Saturday was a bank holiday in Luxembourg so everything was closed plus it was raining. So we took the boys to Bastogne. First stop was the Pizza restaurant we found last time not only is the food excellent but the building is one of the few left from the Battle so it adds a little extra. Then it was up the monument because the rain had stopped. There are rails around the top now which made me feel much safer. I always thought I was going to be blown over the edge before. Then into the museum for some education. I think Malcolm ought to do battle tours he enjoys it so much. There was just time for a quick stop at the Band of Brothers memorial as we call it at Foy.

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg

The Grand Duke celebrates his birthday in style a street party, parade and firework display the night before and a military parade the following day, which is a bank holiday. Last year it was very crushed but because the weather has been so bad the crowds were much smaller.( sounds like they shrunk in the rain). In fact the rain stayed away till the fireworks were almost over. Romain had kindly given us all a lift and picked us up afterwards. I think if the weather had been better the boys would have liked to stay in the city to hear the music. Amelia and Martin stayed till about 4am............ There are no pictures of the fantastic fireworks because the photos just didn't do them justice.

Liam & Nick

Wednesday was out 37th wedding anniversary and we went to The Pigeon for dinner. How time flies. Talking about time passing on Thursday Liam & Nick came to stay for a long weekend. A break after their exams. Malcolm cooked a BBQ for dinner and it stayed fine so we could eat out side. They will hate me for this but my haven't they grown up.

The Boys done good

The climbing frame is finished at last, much to the excitement of the children & the builders. The vegetables are looking a bit better now the sun has returned. There are some birds of prey Kestrels? nesting in the gutter of our local Marie they look almost ready to fly. At Abigail's the decorator has at last been able to repaint the kitchen wall so we had a spring clean. The cupboards should be rehung next week then the kitchen will be finished a year after they moved in.

Construction begins

At last the climbing frame has arrived. To be fair it came in record time its just the first one was ordered two months ago so it seems like the kids have been waiting ages. This one was slightly bigger so the bark had to be extended by a meter. Romain and Malcolm had a lot of (help) from the children who couldn't wait for it to be finished before they had a turn.

Elvis Night

Friday night we went to Martin's apartment for a BBQ the weather stayed fine and we had a lovely meal. Then it was off to Grevenmacher for an evening of modern jazz. This week in Luxembourg all the communes put on a musical event. It turned out to be not jazz but an Elvis Presley impersonator but he was surprisingly good and we thoroughly enjoyed it. The rain was a problem but we braved it for a couple of hours before going home.

Girls night out

We decided to have a meal out together once a month and although it was only two weeks since we went out Amelia is so busy these days we had to fit in another outing shame...... We went to the Parrot which always looks very busy at the weekends and had a wonderful meal. Abigail has been having physio for her back and we took advantage of a break in the weather to stop at the park with Frankie and attracted two other little boys who wanted turns on the swing too.

The rain came down & the floods came up

Yesterday we had the hailstorm and as I said Abigail & Romain were out but luckily their neighbour was home and lifted the drain covers to let the water drain faster these are his photos. Malcolm was very despondent this morning when he saw his veg patches. Its thundering and raining again now.

Hailstones

The weather here is crazy, to day we have had thunder and hailstones. There was another flood and mud slide at Abigail's they were out but their neighbour had to lift the drain covers so that the garage didn't flood we will see if there are any veg left in the morning. All good fun and we don't have time to get bored.

Lee Mead wins the part of Joseph

We all got together at Abigail & Romain's on Saturday for a Chinese takeaway and to watch Any dream will do followed by Dr who and then the big final what a night! Emilie had to have a rest while we watched Dr Who then she was allowed to come down to see the final. There was great excitement when Lee won. Aaron and Anna were on the phone from England a great family event. Romain was looking glum because he had promised Emilie if Lee won she could go to England to see him at the Adelphi.

Mud Mud Glorious Mud

I am sure Malcolm has told every one that he once taught Natasha & Rachel Swan daughters of Donald. Anyway the weather broke today with a tremendous thunderstorm which triggered another mud slide down Abigail's street, just as the tour de France was passing the end of the road. We were not going to risk standing out side to watch so I tried to get a photo from the saftey of the garage but they were too fast. I did get a photo of the fire truck cleaning up from the study window. Emilie ignored all the excitement and thought I was quite mad rushing around with the camera.

Emilie's garden

Malcolm, with a little help from Frankie got around to digging a bed for Emilie to plant her flowers and veg in . The neighbours thought it looked more like a grave for an elephant. The weather has been beautiful and all the plants are growing well. We bought the children water pistols and gave them to them just as we left so they could have a water fight. (perfect grand parent behaviour). I like to come home and chill out on the terrace with a book and a glass of wine after the temperature has dropped to 25c which is normally about 7pm perfect.....