In to Battle we go!!! Chaaaaaaaarrrrrge!

Ok, maybe that was a tad melodramatic for a smashing day out into a pretty little English town. But it was a brilliant day. We visited the famous field where 1066 happened :D  and walked round with a yummy picnic halfway (I had home made egg sandwiches which were lush). And we had a good look round the Abbey as well (which the boy was convinced was a castle).

All the way round the field and the Abbey (castle) we were treated to a free audio tour from these weird little mobile phone thingies (The boy and the girl had a child friendly one).

The boy listened intently to the audio but I think he actually missed most of what was around him

The girl was not quite so keen, but she gave it a go (pressing which ever numbers she felt like)

The field itself. You could almost smell the history (or that could have been my sandwiches)

By the end of the walk round the field our little fairy was looking a bit windswept and droopy but she still soldiered on

The boy looked very concerned when he heard that the Normans had won, I think he wanted the English to win (apparently they did not have the backing of the Pope which was why they lost)

He soon cheered up as we took a tour round the Abbey though

I took some pretty pictures (see above)

The Girl made a friend

Mrs Vicarage enjoyed learning the bits of history she missed (she was brung up in Wales learning about their Kings)

What was left of the Abbey was pretty impressive

And the kids found the Bagins place (apparently the monks put ice in it! Must have made the hobbit cold)

After all this we were a bit worn out and decided to call in on  Jean to drop off her mail and have nice cup of tea in her new place. And very nice it was two! Gorgeous inside but the garden needs a bit of jungle clearance.

Then we all headed home for a well deserved rest.

Today's adventure though was less grand but equally fun.
We trotted off to the Sovereign centre which is our new leisure centre, to go swimming. The girl did her usual trick of being terrified of the water to the point of climbing onto the head of whoever was carrying her into the water and then getting used to it and not wanting to leave. And, mean old Daddy that I am I pulled the boys armbands off (deciding he is now to old for them) and left him to splash around with a large red noodle instead.

We were all having great fun and then, suddenly, a loud alarm sounded! No body seemed to flee the pool in a panic though. Was it because they thought "If it's a fire I won't get burned in the pool"? Or did they just have water in their ears? We soon had our answer as a tsunami came rushing towards us, followed by another and another! It was a blinking wave pool! And they were big waves too, children at the sides were getting washed out of the pool altogether! Surprising but fun none the less.

After this exciting morning out though I have had to sit and learn the art of patience as someone was coming to fix a chip in my windscreen and they were coming between 1pm and 5pm (they call this a time slot!? 4 hours waiting?). Anyway, Jim, for twas his name, turned up at 3.30pm (too late to then go off and do anything else) and nicely fixed my chip (barely a mark left visible) and then I sat down to tell you good folks about my day. So how have you been?