The end of the holidays

So the end of the summer holidays has arrived, I feel like I've only just got into the swing of things! The first few weeks were taken up by cricket, which meant the whole family had to travel many miles to play or support. The final weeks have slowed down a bit and we've managed a few days out, as well as lucky number 2 son managing a week in Spain! He arrived home in the early hours of this morning, we have all missed him loads. He's texted us and we've spoken to him on the 'phone several times but it's good to have him back, 7 days can seem like a long time.

The house has however, been much quieter without him. Sometimes that's been a good thing. He can be a bundle of trouble sometimes - is it a middle child thing. What if we had 4 children? Would we have 2 middle children? Or none?!

Number 1 son son started sixth form college today; late yesterday afternoon he thought he might start to gather some things together for the morning! Maybe a little late to give it any thought?! He's travelling on the bus with a girl down the road, a friend since nursery who is going to the same college. As he says, it will save him having to remember where the college is in relation to the bus stop!!

Little Miss will go back to school tomorrow and at about 4pm today we managed to get new school shoes  - that's the only bit of uniform we're missing..... and I wonder why number 1 son leaves everything to the last minute!

On Sunday we took another trip to London. We don't go that often but the builder and had been offered 2 tickets to the cricket at Lords, England vs South Africa (I think!). As they had never seen a match at Lords and as there were only 2 of them he was keen to take them. We decided to use the Olympic park and ride buses again as they seemed quick and economical - obviously designed for the Olympics though and we had a bit of trouble getting on and off the bus as all the volunteers kept trying to guide us into Olympic Park and were a bit baffled as to why we were heading in the opposite direction!

Little Miss and I hopped on a tube and pointed the boys in the direction of Lords; we decided to see some sights - mainly based around some good coffee shops and places that are free to view!

 

 

We enjoyed looking for the Olympic mascot statues dotted around

The Abbey wasn't open for us to look around as Sunday is for worship only.

 

We enjoyed looking at some of the more refined Olympic statues

We also did a mini Thames river cruise, just half an hour from the Eye to The Tower of London

and only £9 for the 2 of us.

 Before getting on the boat we stopped for coffee and a Slush drink for Little Miss. I had a large cookie with my coffee, I asked if there were any nuts in it and was told no it was white choc chip (my favourite). I'm not allergic to nuts I just can't stand them. Anyone 1 bite told me it was full of hazel nuts so I took it back to the counter - customer service was sadly lacking; I was told nothing they stocked was free of nuts! Not even the cheese sandwich? No apparently. But the assistant did offer to change it for a gluten free brownie?? Any logic in that??

 

The river cruise was great though and a lovely calm way of seeing a few famous sights.

St Paul's Cathedral on the skyline

 

 

 

Tower Bridge

The Shard


 

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre



Tower of London

We had a lovely day out and even popped in to Fortnum & Mason before hopping on the tube and sampled the free fudge on the counter!

 

And we happened upon a street circus in Piccadilly Circus, we sauntered by a saw a few acts performing in sectioned off parts of the street. All for free too - you may have noticed I like a freebie!

So then we headed home to get prepared for a new chapter in their school lives, all four of us tired and at least 2 of us with very sore feet!