Leicester to Nottingham, to Leicester, to Birmingham and back home again to Oxfordshire......

....That's how much we travelled this Easter Bank Holiday weekend! It was exhausting, but definately worth it. First we went to Leicester (where I satyed the night whilst Nick and the children went on to Nottingham - I met up with them the next day in Nottingham). Then Saturday in Nottingham we spent the day with nick's Dad and the children, and then with his mum. We then travelled back to leicester on Easter Sunday to have lunch with my family at my grandmother's house. here we got to meet my cousin Nathan for the first time at the grand old age of 3 1/2 months. He's such a cutie and a much longed for new addition to the family.

Nathan with his cousins, Benjamin & Jasmine

Nathan with his very proud daddy!

My family is nothing if not rambunctious, loud and excitable, but I love it and hadn't realised how much I missed it. I had feared that after Gail passed away things would change somehow, but despite us all obviously missing her a great deal, everyone still makes the effort to get together as much as we ever did.

Jasmine with her great-grandmother 'Nanny'

After lunch we then travelled on to Birmingham to have dinner with Nick's family at his grandmother's house. His dad had also gone to Birmingham so we all met up again there. The combination of Benjamin, Jasmine, Emile and Theo is one that leads to a lot of bumped heads, screaming, shouting, laughter and 'tale telling' on eachother. It is not for the faint of heart! Nick's family is very much like mine and there was lots of food, drink, laughter (a few fights and accusations of cheating (you know who you are - Devon!)) and gernerally a lot of fun. The next day was Emile's 8th birthday so we went out to lunch at the local Harvester and had a great time, if not the greatest food! It was then straight on back to Witney were neither Nick nor I could muster up the will to do much more than slob in front of the TV. A tiring, but satisfying time away. I'm looking forward to a few quiet weekends now mind!