On Grandads Birthday...

... cousins get together.

Megan's Birthday Trip - The Tempest @ The Globe

Megan's birthday isn't until Friday -

but next weekend she's away at Sun Run with the Explorers,

so her birthday trip/treat had to move forward a week.

We had decided to take the last train down to London -

I figured that the 9.04 from Runcorn would have us in Euston for 11ish.

But no - it turns out that the last train of the day takes 3 hours instead of 2 -

and then a day of accidents and breakdowns of the West Coast Mainline meant that we actually arrived at Euston at 12.40am!

A quick taxi ride to Southwark and we were finally in bed for 1 o'clock!

Saturday morning we had a bit of a lie in -

a Premier Inn cooked breakfast

and a lovely wander along the Thames

{with a diversion accross the Millenium Bridge}

past sculptures and street art

Lunch was Megs choice of skinny fries and milkshakes at GBK

Then it was off to The Globe to see The Tempest

Megan was desperate to see Colin Morgan as Ariel,

Al and I to see Roger Allam's Prospero

and we were all intersted to discover how Jessie Buckley had grown

since we saw her in "I'd do Anything"

The production was fantastic -

probably the best Tempest I've ever seen

(and considering that I saw Anthony Sher twice a  few years ago - that is something)

So clear and funny

and in Roger Allam the most human Prospero who commanded the audience.

Megan squeeked and squealed at Ariel's every appearance

Miranda and Ferdinand were touchingly young lovers -

Not a weak link anywhere.

I do so hope that this production will be filmed  - I really want to see it again!

I'll add the production photos tomorrow :)

After the show, we walked across the Millenium Bridge to St Pauls,

and got a taxi back to Euston.

A  tiring couple of days  - but I think we can declare Megs birthday trip a great sucess!

Wales on a Strike Day

The NUT and NAS/UWT took strike action today -

it was already my day off

Megan and Ben's school was shut

Al took a days holiday

and we went to Wales.

It rained - but we had the usual lovely time -

Coffee and scones at Waterstones in Llandudno

trying out the new play area at the RSPB Conwy

bird photography time for Al

and a rather wet wander around Conwy.

We certainly wore Ben out!

A walk at Tegg's Nose Country Park

Al's team from work organised a "Team Building" walk at 

Tegg's Nose Country Park near Macclesfield.

It did mean leaving the house at 8.30 to get to there in time for the off,

and the weather forecast was more than ropey.

But in the end the rain held off,

it was good to meet some of the people Al works with,

and the views from the top of Tegg's Nose were great.

 

A delicious lunch at Leather's Smithy rounded off the morning beautifully.

Fathers Day at Martin Mere

On Father's Day we went to Martin Mere straight after Church 

for lunch in the Mereside Cafe.

Al spent the afternoon birdwatching-

Megan spent the time reading

and Ben enjoyed himself on the adventure playground and the new Splash Zone.

It was only went I looked at the photos that I realised that there were none with Al on - 

but I do think he enjoyed his quiet time with his camera!