A really busy weekend as Thomas and James came to stay (eldest and middle nephew). They arrived on the train on Friday lunchtime and we collected them from Cardiff station. In the afternoon, Andrew took them swimming down at the new leisure pool at the International Sports Village. The complex has a large competition pool and a separate leisure pool area with lots of slides, water spouts and other similar features to appeal to small boys. And it did, they had a great time. I made a vegetable pizza, which we had with some garlic bread and salad, followed by ice cream, then a movie then bed for the boys.
Saturday we took the dogs for a walk in the morning, came home for a brief lunch then went out to Caerleon Roman Fort. Caerleon is just the other side of Newport, a pretty little town which is also the site of Isca, a Roman fort and settlement which has been extensively excavated and partially preserved. We started our visit in the amphitheatre which when built housed around 6000 spectators. The boys loved running around, jumping off various bits, exploring the arena and chasing each other over the steep banks. We took some pics (attached). Then we headed over to the small but excellent (and free!) museum nearby which told the story of the Roman invasion of Britain, the local Roman presence and gave a great deal of information about the running of the fort and daily life, all supported by a fascinating range of artefacts found on hte site, including gravestones, statues, pottery, jewellery, weapons, a coin hoard, glass and so on. At the back of the museum was a play area with lots of Roman games for kids, then out in the garden there was a planted area with plants that would have been used by Roman cooks and doctors. Roman re-enactors were dressed up and encouraging children to have a go with a sword and shield or they could make woven willow bracelets.
Then we strolled back via the Roman barracks, another large complex but less remaining above ground than the amphitheatre. The boys enjoyed it, although of course being brought up in Bath they are no stranger to Roman features. Returning home, the boys disappeared upstairs onto the computer. Andrew cooked a turkey and leek pie with some home made cheesecake, then we watched a Star Wars film, then it was time for bed.
Sunday was another busy day, again with a dog walk in the morning, then we headed off to the Hope Rescue Dog Show, over at Newport. This was held at Coronation Park, just behind the unique Transporter Bridge (see website here). Thomas and James love engineering and railway visits so were fascinated by the bridge, and we've promised them that on a future visit they can make a crossing on it.
Hope Rescue are a local all breed rescue who take a lot of the pound dogs from the Newport Council dog pound, so I was delighted to go along to support them in this work. There were the usual array of classes, Best Rescue, Best Veteran etc. so we entered Boola and James into a selection. Boola got a 4th place in the Most Handsome Male Class! James was impressed by the fine rosette he was awarded and the goody bag from the judge which included a spare dog lead, and a sample pack of kibble. A pic attached.
After the show finished, we came home for a welcome meal of beef casserole that had been cooking in the slow cooker since the morning, so was meltingly tender and lovely, with sage dumplings and mash. Boys decided to watch another film, so watched Hellboy, which they really enjoyed, then it was time for bed.
Today, it was going home day, but first a busy morning. Andrew went to the hospital for a check up at the Fracture clinic at 8, and was delighted to find that his collar bone has now officially healed - X rays reveal the bone is regrowing, and it's nice and straight. So no more visits there. Then back home and he took the boys down to Cardiff Bay for an enjoyable hour's boat trip on a powerboat, right out as far as Flatholm in the middle of the Severn estuary. They loved it, and had a great time. Pic attached of them in their life jackets before setting off. While they were gone, I got busy doing some cleaning, then did the prep for a BBQ, including lighting the coals nice and early so that they were properly ready by the time we cooked. I marinaded some sausages, and we had a selection of salads including a coleslaw with a maple buttermilk dressing. Andrew had also made a giant raspberry trifle. The boys came back, damp and happy from their trip, then Claire (Andrew's sister) and youngest son Alex arrived. We also cooked some Glamorgan sausages and mushroom burgers (Claire is a veggy), grilled sausages and burgers, and then all tucked in. It was lovely to eat out in the garden, surrounded by lots of flowers, enjoying the warmth and the sunshine, listening to the birds. We put the dogs in the house as Andy kept trying to pinch the boys' food.
After a leisurely lunch, trifle and coffee it was eventually time to say goodbye and the boys left around 4. Suddenly the house seemed very quiet! I think they had a good time and the weekend just seemed to fly by. We've had a quiet evening - watched a taped episode of Torchwood. I am not enjoying the new series as much as previous ones. Andrew is going to the physiotherapist in the morning, hopefully she will be as positive as the Fracture Clinic.
Then we strolled back via the Roman barracks, another large complex but less remaining above ground than the amphitheatre. The boys enjoyed it, although of course being brought up in Bath they are no stranger to Roman features. Returning home, the boys disappeared upstairs onto the computer. Andrew cooked a turkey and leek pie with some home made cheesecake, then we watched a Star Wars film, then it was time for bed.
Sunday was another busy day, again with a dog walk in the morning, then we headed off to the Hope Rescue Dog Show, over at Newport. This was held at Coronation Park, just behind the unique Transporter Bridge (see website here). Thomas and James love engineering and railway visits so were fascinated by the bridge, and we've promised them that on a future visit they can make a crossing on it.
Hope Rescue are a local all breed rescue who take a lot of the pound dogs from the Newport Council dog pound, so I was delighted to go along to support them in this work. There were the usual array of classes, Best Rescue, Best Veteran etc. so we entered Boola and James into a selection. Boola got a 4th place in the Most Handsome Male Class! James was impressed by the fine rosette he was awarded and the goody bag from the judge which included a spare dog lead, and a sample pack of kibble. A pic attached.
After the show finished, we came home for a welcome meal of beef casserole that had been cooking in the slow cooker since the morning, so was meltingly tender and lovely, with sage dumplings and mash. Boys decided to watch another film, so watched Hellboy, which they really enjoyed, then it was time for bed.
Today, it was going home day, but first a busy morning. Andrew went to the hospital for a check up at the Fracture clinic at 8, and was delighted to find that his collar bone has now officially healed - X rays reveal the bone is regrowing, and it's nice and straight. So no more visits there. Then back home and he took the boys down to Cardiff Bay for an enjoyable hour's boat trip on a powerboat, right out as far as Flatholm in the middle of the Severn estuary. They loved it, and had a great time. Pic attached of them in their life jackets before setting off. While they were gone, I got busy doing some cleaning, then did the prep for a BBQ, including lighting the coals nice and early so that they were properly ready by the time we cooked. I marinaded some sausages, and we had a selection of salads including a coleslaw with a maple buttermilk dressing. Andrew had also made a giant raspberry trifle. The boys came back, damp and happy from their trip, then Claire (Andrew's sister) and youngest son Alex arrived. We also cooked some Glamorgan sausages and mushroom burgers (Claire is a veggy), grilled sausages and burgers, and then all tucked in. It was lovely to eat out in the garden, surrounded by lots of flowers, enjoying the warmth and the sunshine, listening to the birds. We put the dogs in the house as Andy kept trying to pinch the boys' food.
After a leisurely lunch, trifle and coffee it was eventually time to say goodbye and the boys left around 4. Suddenly the house seemed very quiet! I think they had a good time and the weekend just seemed to fly by. We've had a quiet evening - watched a taped episode of Torchwood. I am not enjoying the new series as much as previous ones. Andrew is going to the physiotherapist in the morning, hopefully she will be as positive as the Fracture Clinic.
No comments:
Post a Comment