Porto

It's good to be back in the UK and especially nice to be with family again! The kids are all getting on which is fabulous - Vincent and Juliette are getting on like a house on fire which is a big relief. Have stolen these two collages from Anne-marie's blog as I love them! (Thank's AM!)

We have spent this past week shopping and going to pubs!! So nice to be in 'civilization' once again and Andrew and I have loved going round the supermarkets buying all the wonderful cheeses and cheap wine etc! No matter what people say, Britain is really cheap for shopping in comparison to so many other places in the world.

Like our new pram? I bought it on Ebay for 120 pounds all in - new, it is anywhere from 300 - 400 pounds so a bargain really! It is beautiful - only weights 8 kilos and is so light to push around. With both girls in it, you can still push it one handed and have full maneuvering capabilities! Brilliant!

I love this picture of everyone shopping in Birmingham - all the kids are FAST asleep - ahhhhh! The stress level in the Gillam-Greene-Beck household goes down by 400%!!

Wednesday night Andrew and Pete went out to the theatre pub. They came back late and feeling very merry!! Thursday night, Anne-marie and I went out with the girls for a pub quiz - we had a great night although we didn't win and as usual, I was as helpful as a pile of poo. I am slightly addicted to Magnus Pear Cider though - it is LOVELY!!

Then on Friday, we flew to see Daddy in Porto. It was so nice to finally see his neck of the woods! He picked us up from the airport, dropped our bags off at his very lovely apartment (and oh, so clean and tidy ....perhaps due to bachelorhood and no kids or maybe it's because of the cleaner he has recently employed to come once a week!!)

We went out to dinner at his favourite drinking place, just around the corner. It is a great little place that serves Spanish & Italian food (The owner is from Barcelona) and so Daddy & I had Paella for dinner! Very scrumptious. The girls were a little wild but I think they were just exhausted after so much travelling round - they don't know what's in store for them this holiday - this is only the beginning! 3 flights down, 7 more to go! The owner of the bar is a lovely man and he kept the girls occupied with pens and paper and didn't mind that they were running around his bar/restaurant and climbing all over the seats!! Nice man!

On Saturday we went to Porto old city - it is truly a beautiful city, as you can see from the photographs. We walked round in the very hot sun and had lunch at the riverside, overlooking the most marvellous view.

Saturday night, Daddy went to school ball so we went out with his best mate Aiden & his wife Georgina and two little kiddies to a Japanese buffet restaurant called 'Wok'. Annalise and Juliette made friends with a little Portuguese girl called Sophia. They had a wonderful time playing with her and Aiden & Georgina's daughter Lily. Note in the photo, Andrew's opinion on eating sushi.... and Annalise trying (and being successful!) at eating jelly with chopsticks!! Hilarious!

Sunday we spent preparing for Daddy's BBQ party. And celebrating Father's Day!

The party was fantastic fun. Most of Daddy's friends from his work came and the day was just gorgeous out on his HUGE balcony - it really should be called terrace as it is far too big to be a balcony. A fantastic party space! All of his friends/colleagues are quite lovely.

Monday we spent recovering and had lunch at the beach. It was a lovely day, although the photos look like it was little cold - it wasn't! Although, the Atlantic ocean was pretty chilly! The girls didn't mind though and were quite happy to paddle in their knickers!

We flew back later that night to UK. A great long weekend away!