Trips North to aid Mark's Sabbatical agenda.

Shortly after arriving in Devon for Mark's sabbatical. We packed up once more to head back up north for 10 days as Mark had a trip to Europe, so I took the chance to visit my mum and dad. It was a rude reminder of the terrible traffic in the United Kingdom. From Devon to Bolton took around 7 hours and a fair share of it was spent in long traffic jams in the rain. The traffic jams were mainly because of road works and Felicity had great fun looking for all the diggers.

After spending an evening in Bolton catching up with an old friend Lindsay.


And saying a goodbye to Mark who headed to Europe on the Sunday. Felicity and I said goodbye to Gran and Gramps and headed to Danny and Alan's for a lovely stay and play date with the new arrivals since we were last in UK. It was an pleasure to mean Danny and Alan's daughter Maisie, Pete and Kim's daughter Molly and to finally meet Gaz's girlfriend Jo. We had a lovely relaxing afternoon in the garden with the children. Before heading to see Granny and Grandad.

Snack time.

Kids are in bed



The drive to my parents on my own, the following day was a challenge for me. Driving in UK with a chatting child in the back seemed harder than it dose in Adelaide. To cope with this the usually 2.5 hour drive from Danny's took me nearly four, but when it Rome I had to call into the big M. Just because it was a Morgan tradition. When we were children the nearest MD was just outside Chester, so on our return from my Granny and Grandpa's we always called in there for tea.

Arriving at Granny and Grandad's Grandad gets out another piece of family history. I toy I remember playing with at Mum's Aunty Barbara house and Dad showing me how it works.


After have a good meal thanks to Granny, Felicity and I head out for a walk to the beach with Kelly before bed.


After a good night hug from Granny and Grandad we settled down for the night before our week with Granny and Grandad began in style.



The next day we take Granny to Pili Palace and had a lovely morning.





Then a lovely afternoon in the garden with Uncle Ben. Den building



After a few days Felicity and I hit the road again to go north to visit Aunty Anna and Uncle Dan for the weekend, as Mark was off to Spain to celebrate a mates birthday.





And while Felicity and I were enjoying time on a great walk and chill out time with Anna and Dan. Mark was partying hard with friends in Spain. :-)







After a busy week we meet up again in Bolton and head back down south until October. In October Mark had a road trip to complete some lectures in Nottingham, York and Newcastle. Instead of staying in Devon I decided to go with him and use the time as an opportunity to visit some more friends. In Nottingham Felicity and I had a lovely time reconnecting with a family friends.


In York we had a lovely time catching up with friends we met in Adelaide and we spent a lovely family afternoon in the Train museum.










And heres a picture for those of you who went to Mark's stag Do.


Our time in Newcastle gave us a chance to meet up with Badger and Liz.


Our trip was rounded off with a lunch break with Aunty Anna.

Visit from Granny and Granddad

So we say goodbye to the Farrell's and hello to the Morgan's all within 12 hours. After a long trip south Mum and Dad spend a lovely week with Felicity and I. Mark was with us for some of it but had a trip to Cambridge for part of it.







First morning in Devon we take Grandad to the National Trust Mill just down the road.




In the afternoon we took them up onto the moor.







Day in the Eden Project with Granny and Grandad.






After a fun day out to the Eden Project it was time to get back up on the moor the next day to see the visit above South Zeal.
What view Claire?

Mum it'a cold up here. Can we go home?


Last day in Devon brings a little bit more history for Grandad at Okhempton castle.







It was a priceless week with my parents full of fantastic memories.