A caravan Halloween

We set out our pumpkins on the caravan steps -

{Ben was VERY proud of his design}

We got a few little visitors from the site -

and finished off the rest of the chocolate ourselves 

during family film night.

Ben was happy to wear his Stitch costume from last year -

whilst Meg's rocked her BOO tee shirt!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

We met Gma and Gpa at the Pancake House in Rowen for a birthday lunch -

then shared cake back at the caravan. 

HAPPY 76th BIRTHDAY!

Glorious

The most perfect autumn day -

a walk by Llyn Ogwen, 

fabulous views of Snowdon

lunch at Beddgelert

and finally meeting up with Gma and Gpa back in Llandudno.

Wind swept by the Conwy

A morning walk along the river, and into the RSPB reserve.

Much cooler than yesterday 

{more like autumn}

but lovely all the same.

A most beautiful day in Llandudno

A truly beautiful day - more like August than the end of October!

Kathie, Iaian and Eleanor came out to see us - 

we had lunch at Tribells, then walk along the beach and pier,

before sampling the fabulous ice cream at the Looking Glass Parlour.

Good time - well spent with friends!

October Half Term

We really need this week at the caravan - I don't think I've ever hit half term so exhausted. 

Megs has a huge pile of work from college - 

40 days into A level studies and GCSE are a distant memory.

 Ben needs chill out and decompression time, and Al time away from work. 

It may rain - there may be gales - 

but time at the caravan is pretty perfect whatever the weather!

Small Girl - Big City

Meg's day trip to London with her Theatre Studies friends -

 

Main aim - see Phantom of the Opera

Secondary aim - Shopping!

 

{I remember when I was Megs age, London=Museums}

 

Being Megan - she took no photos -

but that doesn't stop a mum finding the evidence on Facebook does it...

 

 

 

My Perfect Mind @ The Unity Theatre

 

It was a chance thing really - I saw an something on the Guardian website about the play and it intrigued me.

 

Somehow this was our first trip to the Unity

{what a great little space!}

and what an introduction.

 

The two hander with Edward Petherbridge

{saw him as the Ghost/Player King in Hamlet at the RSC in the mid nineties}

and Paul Hunter.

 

Very loosely it tells the story of Edward's stroke as he was preparing to play King Lear in New Zealand - all mixed in with anecdotes from his career and speeches from Lear.

 

Very, very funny. And very, very moving.

 

I've seen King Lear lots of times -

some great productions and some not so great -

 

But never before have I understood Lear the man so keenly.

 

And at £8 a ticket - theatrical bargin of the year!

 

Clannad at the Cathedral

 

Liverpool Cathedral - What a stunning location for a gig!
 

We reckoned it's been about 18 years since we last heard Clannad live -

and oh, the magic is still there -

possibly sounding better than ever in the cavernous, echoing cathedral!

They played all our favourite songs
Dulaman, Newgrange, Harry's Game, I will find you, Robin of Sherwood....

For us - the ultimate 80's music fest!
 

Harvest Festival 2014

 

Ben was all "Do you have to take a photo? I'm too old for this!

Why aren't you make Megan have her photo taken?"

 

I was all "Just smile for the camera!"

Hamlet - Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester

 

A really astonishing performance from Maxine Peake as Hamlet -

in a very intimate production.

 

Fantastic support from John Shrapnel as Claudius and the Ghost,

and Gillian Bevan as Polonia.

 

Some very innovative and dramatic staging added to a magical three hours.

Rain, sun, amazing light....

and over 40,000 pink footed geese.

  

First trip of this autumn/winter to Martin Mere -

the whooper swans are on their way-
looking forward to more afternoons watching the wildlife on the Mere

At the start of October

 

 

A month into the new school year -

 

Megs is settled at Sixth Form - working harder that she ever did for GCSE -

especially loving Theatre Studies

{and surprisingly maths!}

 

Ben seems to be perfectly happy in Year 9 - starting work on the GCSE/BTEC syllabuses.

His support package still seems to be working -

no phone calls yet this year!

 

 

{DELIGHTED to get the latest Adventure Time graphic novel!}