Car hunting with TomTom

On Saturday, Nige and I drove to Jeff's to take him to look at several cars he'd found advertised on line. On reaching the first dealership on the Bridgwater Road with the help of my Satnav, we were told that the car in question -- a blue Vauxhall Zafira 7-seater --  wasn't due to arrive (from London) until the following Monday. Check!
Our next port of call was Hanham, a borough of Bristol I'd heard of but never visited. Again, TomTom took us there quite effortlessly, although it did seem a rather long way out of town. Here we were looking for a green late-model Volvo, which we eventually found at the very back of the lot, so close to the fence that Jeff couldn't open the back hatch to check out the extra seats. However, it didn't matter as we soon ascertained there were no extra seats.
'I'd swear it said 7-seater in the ad!' Jeff maintained as we left.
Back to the drawing board!
'That's it then, except... where's Frome?' Jeff asked, studying his iPhone and pronouncing the town's name so that it rhymed with Rome. (Actually the way the locals say the name, you'd think the spelling should be such that it rhymes with broom.)
After phoning to make sure the dealership would be open by the time we got there and to ascertain that the car in question was still for sale -- check! -- Nige took over the driving, while I sat back and enjoyed the marvellous scenery of Somerset. And at the end of the cross-country drive we reached our reward: a very tidy 7-seater Vauxhall Zafira, one year newer than the London/Bristol one.
After a thorough examination of the car and a short test drive, Jeff quickly made his decision.
'Sign me up!' he said. Check mate!

A family Sunday

I met the J-gang at the bus stop in Congresbury and drove them to the farm. With the rain still falling, we spent the rest of the morning in the caravan, chatting and playing board games. After lunch the sky began to clear, and it was time for the children to meet some of the farm animals.
In the pasture adjacent to the caravan were our two Indian Runner ducks, two chickens and a cockerel that have thus far managed to stay alive despite nightly visits by a persistent predator (likely a Mink), and a small flock of sheep. Further along the lane we found the herd of cattle -- among them a cow I raised from birth and call Panda. Such is the bond we formed as I bucket-fed her for the first few months of her life that, even after fourteen years, Panda still comes to me when I call and stands quite still to have her head and neck stroked. We didn't tarry long, though, since the bull and one particularly aggresive cow were making even me nervous as they advanced a little too close for comfort.
From there, in two cars, we headed for Cheddar, drove up and down the gorge to view the massive rocks then proceeded on foot to enjoy the delights of that quaint and, for the most post part, unspoiled village. We watched a batch of sweets being made and sampled some deliciously spiced Cheddar cheese. And near the entrance to one of Cheddar's famous caves we were pleasantly surprised to find and photograph a Gromit -- one more for the children to add to their collection.
Although the Costa coffee shop seems rather out of place and a tad too worldly among the smaller local businesses, we were glad to sit on the deck and indulge ourselves with drinks and cakes. From that vantage point, too, we marvelled at the mountain goats casually picking their way along the crags and ledges high above us.
Back at the caravan it was time for dinner, and we chose the easy option -- a takeaway from the local fish and chip shop. However, the fish was disappointingly tasteless and the chips not much better. For the J-gang's next visit, I'll make sure I have a nice selection of pizzas in the freezer!
That said, we all enjoyed the day.

The day they came to Weston

... 'they' being Jeff, Tricia, Heather, Addie and Lauchy (in age descending order)... and for purposes of simplicity and brevity, I shall henceforth refer to the group as the 'J-gang' -- the only collective term I have come up with until a better moniker comes to mind.
Jeff is the second of my five children, four of whom live in Canada. Tricia (Trish) is his lovely wife and mother of their children: Heather (9), Adelaide (Addie 7), and Lauchlan (Lauchy 5).
On Thursday they arrived in Weston by train, and we met at the entrance to the pier. Still, it feels surreal to greet the J-gang on my home turf, but there they were, their take-away meals of fish and chips, hot dogs and chocolate crepes in hand.
Since the tide was out we headed for Marine Lake, an enclosed swimming area left full by the receding tide. The little beach was crowded and rather overwhelming for the children, but we found a spot to sit on the concrete steps from where they could jump into the shallow waters. I explained that although the water didn't look all that appetising, it was simply a result of the channel mud mixed with sea water.
'When you travel further afield,' I explained, 'to Devon or Cornwall, you will find the sea a lovely blue, even turquoise colour. They call the south Devon coast the English Riviera!'
The children enjoyed their cool dip, but Lauchy cried when the salty water irritated a cut on his finger. I suggested he wash it off with fresh water from his drinking bottle and then apply a band aid, but soon he forgot about his injury.
Next we spent a couple of hours on the pier, which I suspect is a lot larger, busier and noisier than they had expected it to be. They played on the two-penny slot machines, and when I challenged Lauchy to a game of air hockey, he beat me hands down!
When the children were played out and their tubs of tuppences almost empty, we regrouped outside on the pier's open deck, found seats in the shade and enjoyed the cool breeze and an ice cream. By then the tide was fully in, and again the children swam, this time in the open sea and gentle waves.
From there we took a ride on the Ferris wheel. Trish found the prospect of sitting in an open metal bucket high above the ground quite daunting and was somewhat relieved to find out that we six were allowed to ride together. And I would be fibbing if I said I didn't have some initial reservations about the safety of our group. Thankfully the children sat quite still as we teetered at the highest point of the ride while more passengers filled the other buckets. Around we circled five times, and then the ride was over.
On the walk to the train station, we detoured down a lane to see the tennis club at which I'm a member. I'll take the J-gang there on a subsequent visit for a bash; I have plenty of racquets stored in the Prince tennis bag Jeff used as a teenager.

Jeff and his family have arrived!

First of all... I am writing this blog not only to share with my friends and family some of the highlights of Jeff's sabbatical year in England, but also so that I can read and recall some of the year's events once this branch of my family have returned home.
First, though, some background information. My son, Jeff, worked hard for many years to be in the position that he enjoys today. Having earned a bachelor's degree in Waterloo, Ontario he continued his studies in Vancouver, BC to finally become Dr Jeff Orchard, Phd. His area of study was computer science, fine-tuned now to neuroscience and computer imaging. There is a lot more to his field of study and research, but this description is the best I can offer.
Fast-forward a few years and to cut a long story short, the family of five arrived in Bristol yesterday!
With two cars, Nige and I managed to transport the family, and much luggage, to a lovely house ready and waiting for them in Knowle. A photo of the family in the little front garden was snapped, and from the moment the front door was unlocked, I knew at once that this new home matched everybody's expectations. It sits high on a ridge overlooking the city with fantastic views as far as the eye can see, taking in the Clifton suspension bridge and distant hills. The owners generously left available all the necessities of daily living and, to the children's delight, books and toys.
The neighbourhood turned out to be as friendly as we'd all hoped. Within half an hour two families had welcomed the newcomers to the street, and before long Lauchy, my youngest grandson, was happily playing on the climbing apparatus next door with two new friends.
Nige and I watched the children play in a park one block from the house while Jeff and Trish shopped at the Co-op for enough food to see them through the night. That done, we left the travel-weary but happy family to settle in.
I still find it quite surreal that my son and his family are now living less than a thirty-minute drive from where I live. What a happy day was yesterday... with many more to come over the next year!