Blog

A potter around Lacock

30/7/2024

A friend of our gifted us a family pass to any National Trust property, so yesterday we decided to visit our closest one - Lacock Abbey [above]. It had an amazing history - a thousand year old nunnery, a family home where photography was invented and most recently the setting for a number of Harry Potter scenes.

The Cloisters doubled for the corridors of Horwarts Wizarding School.

And we had lunch in a local pub, which appeared in the background of the "Half-blood Prince" film.

It was beautiful summer weather (at last) yesterday and we had a fantastic trip exploring the Abbey, its gardens and the museum.

Toy car boot sale

28/7/2024

We had a fantastic morning at Dauntsey Car boot Sale this morning, picking up bargains galore: Star Wars figures, Chinese plates, a Dalek clock, slippers, a Captain Scarlet Angel Interceptor, a slow cooker, shelving, old toy cars, mugs, Paddington Bear teddy, pictures, ice-creams, leather jacket, plant pots, a foot warmer, a small tree, piggy bank, book, comics, Thunderbirds' Tracey Island, etc! Quite a haul!

Sams sons

26/7/2024

Lovely visit today from the Sams family. Jo and Rob's two boys are so grown up now, considering we last met up with them 6 years ago. Both graduating/graduated really well from University and thinking about careers and girlfriends!! Well, sorta....

We have a nice carvery meal before heading to mutual friends Krista and Stuart's for desserts and watching a decidedly odd Olympic Opening Ceremony from Paris!

Flying visit

25/7/2024

We were visited today by my friend from China, Julian [bottom right], and his brother Chris [top left] en route from Hay to Croydon. A short visit, but nice of them to check us out. Julian flies back to Kunming next week.

Attic attack

24/7/2024

We had our loft boarded over today. A very efficient and personable handyman worked through the whole day to build us enough space to store the 15+ boxes which are en route to us from China.

Too good!

22/7/2024

At the suggestion of my brother Andy, we downloaded the "Too Good to Go" app yesterday. They arrange for supermarket/bakery food which is about to go out of date to be picked up at specific times at rock bottom prices. We booked three pick ups yesterday to give it a go!

The first supermarket cancelled (in good time) but JD and I drove to the next two and found it very easy to pick up our heavily discounted goodies. We got about £23 of random food for £7.30. Not bad at all. The greengrocers is already booked for this afternoon!

Win win

20/7/2024

We spent today in Winchester visiting my brother and 2 of his 3 kids.

We had a lovely time - Lego, X-box, river walk, board games, pizzas etc. JD and Louie really clicked over Minecraft. JiaJia had lunch and some charity shopping with Ali, Andy's ex. And then Daisy serenaded us with her sweet singing and guitar playing. They are just 1½ hours drive from us, so hopefully it will be the first of many such meet-ups.

Daisy

Louie

parent / teacher

18/7/2024

I've learned it's a lot less stressful being a parent than a teacher at a school Parents' Evening!

Picnicturesque!

16/7/2024

Jiajia, JD and I went to Bath last Saturday. We went by bus this time - a chance to see some local villages from the top deck, and a little cheaper than the train. But the journey took five times longer!

On arrival, we climbed up to Alexandra Park viewpoint for a picnic overlooking the picturesque city.

The main reason for the trip though was to meet "Ginny", a Chinese lady living in Bath who is helping me link up with some Chinese students to tutor online. We got on very well and there seem to be plenty of opportunities for future collaboration.

But then after the meeting, we suddenly found ourselves walking alongside the Bath Carnival. We hadn't even known it was happening! So a fun end to the day.

Breadline

14/7/2024

Although we're not on the breadline, as such, we are enjoying our almost daily hunts for reduced price food in the many supermarkets in Chippenham. We haven't got used to British prices as yet but, if you see something reduced by 50% or more, you can be pretty sure you are getting your money's worth! And it prompts you to try different foods that you may not ordinarily risk your money on.

This was my best find so far. Tandoori bread, reduced from £2.99 to 19p! I bought four of them. Now that's a bargain!

Transition

12/7/2024

JD had his first proper Transition Day at Sheldon School today. The new students were asked to wear their Primary School uniforms but we had already disposed of JD's pink polyester Primary School monstrosities in China, so he went in his new Sheldon School uniform instead.

We parked in a nearby Lidl car park, to avoid the traffic, and walked the ten minutes to school from there. Jiajia and I returned for a food shop in Lidl afterwards.

The day went well for JD. he met up with his "new friend" Liam again (who has been placed in his tutor group as requested) and met another boy in his class who speaks Chinese. They did ice-breaking activities, had a tour of the school and met their form teacher.
There's a second Transition Day on Monday next week, and then we focus on real lessons starting in September.

Thunderbirds are Go!

10/7/2024

My brother Dave brought down the remaining boxes we sent to his house from China 6 months ago, including some of my sci-fi collection.

No way! Li Wei!

8/7/2024

We had our first (and only, so far!) Chinese visitor the other day. Our good friend Li Wei was amidst a month's tour of the UK and Ireland when she realised how close we are to Bath (10 minutes on the train) where she was staying the night, and popped over to meet up with us for a meal.

She was the last person to wish us farewell when we left China, travelling all the way from Hong Kong to Shenzhen airport just to catch us for a final half hour before we flew off. So it was perfect to see her at this end of the travels too, and for her to see our little house for herself.

Shoot over and shoot out

6/7/2024

Had a lovely visit from Dave (brother), Sarah (sis-in-law) and Evie (dog) today. They are now just 1½ hours drive away. It was good to show them our little house and how it's slowly coming together. We were also able to watch the England football match together and share the stresses of the penalty shoot out at the end!

'Ave an Avebury

4/7/2024

We drove to Avebury today to see the largest prehistoric stone circle in the world, some 4,500 years old. Then we walked to Silbury Hill - the largest man-made pre-historic hill in Europe. Finally, after a pub lunch we headed home. Lovely trip out.

Good bed?

2/7/2024

Took all morning, but I think the bed is built.