Rachelle and I picked up my dad and Andrea on Friday from the train station and let them freshen up in their bed-and-breakfast before heading out to lunch. The kids were delighted to be picked up from school by the grandparents. When my dad saw our kids he laughed because he had initially thought that all of green uniformed kids were girl scouts. Later the kids showed their grandparents Sham Castle, and my dad was surprised that we would go for a walk in wet and windy weather. After 10 months in blustery England, we have gotten to the point where we barely noticed.
On Saturday, we all headed into the Cotswalds, visiting Lacock and Castle Combe. In the afternoon we showed them around our lovely Bath including the Roman Baths, the Circus, and the Royal Crescent.
On Sunday we split up. Rachelle and Andrea managed a two garden day- first they headed to Stourshead, an incredible garden about 40 minutes away, then to our local Prior Park. I think we lucked out, as Dad, Noah, Liv, and I headed to Longleat (www.longleat.co.uk), the 9000 acre home of the 7th Marquess of Bath and the world's first safari park. We had a full day exploring the safari park and driving among lions, tigers, a wolf pack, giraffes, and other animals. We were allowed to feed the deer who stuck their heads in our car. The Marquis prides himself on allowing the animals to stay as wild as possible. For example, he feeds the lions by pulling meat on a rope behind a car so that they have to chase it and catch it. My dad and I enjoyed the English manor house, and the kids loved the hedge mazes, and the enormous playground. We all had a great time on the boat, which took us by the island where a silverback gorilla resides, watched as sea lions barked for food by the boat, and hippos emerged from the water.
On Monday, the kids were dropped at school and the grownups headed to Wells Cathedral and the Glastonbury Abbey. It was another wet and chilly day, but we stayed dry inside the wonderful cathedral and then tucked into a yummy lunch at a pub. We were lucky to have some sun for a walk through the Glastonbury Abbey ruins and ground before we headed back to Bath to pick up Noah and Liv. Jerry and Andrea played with the kids until our babysitter arrived in the early evening. Yes, Rachelle and I were headed for a grownup night out, a too-rare occurrence for us. The 4 of us had a great meal that evening at the elegant and quaint Olive Tree restaurant.
On Tuesday, I had breakfast at dad and Andrea's B&B before dropping them at the train station, where they would be heading to London, then off to Provence, and then back to Scotland before going back to the U.S. We had a wonderful visit and we were reminded of the family and friends we would get to see come August.
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