Moving on

I'm still re-living my birthday week but its all in the fantastic blogs that my family wrote so I will try and move on.  But I might drop in the odd photo.

just want to say a big thank you to them all for coming over to Spain to celebrate with us and a special mention to my nephew Iain who had to cancel at the last minute.  It was because he needed to step in to help prepare the Freedom Road Creative Arts group he supports for the Hull Youth Rock Challenge - which they won for the 2nd year running!  We missed him but well done Iain and co!

So back to normal I'm afraid...

Weather: A mix of quilts, blue skies, torrential rain and log fires!

Verges:

Well what else would a devoted husband do on his wedding anniversary than to drive his wife to a needlework fair?  Mega bonus points there.  In Verges,  just outside L’Escala,  people had hung out their needlework eg tableclothes, bedspreads etc and the shop windows were displaying projects too.  Then there was a lovely display of old and new work in the town hall and a big craft fair with tables where you could try out different crafts in the sports hall.  Right up my carrer.

So back to our campsite after a week of living it up in the villa.  Our old neighbours were still there including the lovely Dutch couple who had let me have a peek inside their vintage caravan.  It was like a grown up’s dolls house!

But we felt we needed to move on and ease back into campervan life so after a coffee and honey cake send off from Steve and Margaret we set off for the mountains again.

Ripoll

The campsite we ended up at was really nice with a log fire burning in what looked like an old mill house.  It offered home grown and butchered meat, we were a little disturbed by the plumb rabbits outside and ordered lamb chops and chips.  Feeling rather guilty!

We also asked about ordering bread for the next day and the owner said we could take a loaf with it as she only baked once a week and it would last us.  It was delicious in our sandwiches that we took on our walk the next day but David did comment that the backpack was much much lighter after we’d eaten them.  Can’t imagine what it must be like after 6 days!

It was a very nice walk but quite a long one for us (18km) and I have to admit we did enjoy the lamb and chips that night

Our neighbour and his wife went for a day out in Barcelona when we did our walk and were very upset when they got back.  They had driven in as he has to use a wheelchair after falling 9 meters at work a few years ago.  Someone had slashed their tyre at a red light and when they pulled into change the tyre all their money, credit cards passports etc were stolen while the guy was under the car getting the spare tyre.  Apparently it is a well known scam in Barcelona – so take care if you're planning a visit!!  

The Final Countdown!!.........Friday 7th June

10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0... go!!! Margaret and Bella reporting from Spain on the penultimate day.
Off we go on the last  full day of our holiday at Villa Girasol! This morning Julie and David were up with the swifts and off to drive Simon and Lucy to the airport at Girona. After the usual trip for croissants and baguettes the remainder of the party had breakfast and a final play with Nyah and talked with Uncle Robin and  played with  the marbles. Robin managed to find his, before finally packing his case, eating his lunch whilst feeding Nyah and checking the route to Barcelona airport! This Super Grandpa vying with Steve for Grandpa of the Year was ready for action! Laura enjoyed a last sunbathe around the pool before packing Nyah's trendy wardrobe and joining the party for a group photo!
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0...go!!! We waved off Robin Laura and Nyah with lots of kisses hugs and waving.
Then it was time to put up Bram and Pops tent for a few days back at Camp Neus. Bella Finn and Ollie and Bram and Pops spent a very hot half hour putting up the tent, playing on the seesaw, swings and climbing frame and visiting the Dutch couple we had met last week who gave the three children 12 points each! A bit like a Eurovision result!!! Finn was so hot that he requested a return to the villa and a swim in the pool!
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0...go!!!
Bella jumped at 4! Finn waited until go! But on the fifth or sixth countdown it was a joint jump at 5 and even Bram and Mummy joined in!!! Followed by Daddy!
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0...go!
Julie's countdown was a sad end to her wonderful birthday week! It was her final wash of the week and we all felt a little sad. To cheer her up Bella ordered her a Magnum Kisses creme brulee from the lady at the icecream stall on the beach!
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0...go!
To cheer David up we had our final Mini Disco which was attended by a group of people with pink noses and black glasses and bushy eyebrows!
10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...0...go!
It had almost gone but what a brilliant journey it had been and all thanks to Julie and David and a 60th birthday party!!!

Donkey Derby

So the Smiths have landed at Villa Girasol and we are learning the ways of the group.  Don't go near the washing machine without the express consent of Julie (or in her absence Margaret), Nyah.. please use the toilet for number twos - not julie and davids' bath! Please be clear about who is buying croissants and only eat those bought for you (Neil was afraid of a lynching like a donkey when he ate one of Robins !)

So, before Caroline left for her flight we embarked on another Villa ritual - The Pinata.   We felt that the Whites were animal lovers - how wrong can you be?

A rather strict Donkey control encouraged our three small children to smash a helpless donkey with  a rolled up newspaper. Disappointed with their efforts they then enlisted Mum and Dad to have a go - with a cricket bat - as the newspaper was not damaging enough!!!! The reward is enough sugar and E numbers to keep all three kids up for the next 36 hours - yipeeeeeeeee!!

There then followed a splashtastic couple of hours by the pool with debut swims from Margaret and David - (was he pushed or did he jump?)  The water 'booshas' were a real hit with everyone.  The alcoholic refreshments were provided by Bella, Finn and Ollie who charged astronomical prices - (well done guys!)  So our little 'angels' are now donkey bashers and alcohol hustlers!

The afternoon saw another cricket match on the beach -Pops encouraging Finn to "Smash the ball like a Donkey!!" Finn then moved on to a fantastic fielding spell but unfortunately he was unable to stop the ball being hit over the enthusiastic crowd of spanish supporters and into the kitchen of the beach side bar...not once, but twice.  Simon 'butter fingers' White

was sent away with his tail between his legs and the game came to a sudden end.

Off home for a frenzied "mini Disco".....'Heeeeeeeeeey Baby .. oooh ahhh..." then big thanks to David, Margaret and Steve for a lovely BBQ tea for the exhausted families.

We'll be back in Newick on Saturday - if Finlay is spotted heading towards the donkeys' field with a cricket bat in his hands looking for sweets we know who to blame!!

Thanks for a great few days everyone. xxx

From The Outside In

My family has always been dysfunctional, awkward, frustrating and crazy. But, I thought that was what all families were like. It wasn't until I asked my girlfriend, Lucy, to come out on holiday with me that I discovered that the dysfunction, awkwardness and frustration wasn't a common trait amongst other families. The craziness doesn't even rate on the scale.

The first give away was the fear I saw in her eyes when she met the uncles and aunties that I had assured her were pretty cool and chilled. Apparently, Uncle Steve going for a casual 100-mile cycle before we've gotten out of bed isn't normal. I'm also told that the impressively contorted faces Uncle Robin makes at his grand daughter, Nyah, are not that of a regular grand dad.

I've heard Auntie Margaret's knowledge of all forms of literature is inhuman and befitting of Mastermind. Cousin Laura's unbelievable ability to devote all her time to her daughter yet still be the cool cousin is impressive to say the least. My sister, Caroline, may have teased me about my lack of tanning to highlight her own but Lucy says the patience she maintains with the young kids - and I suppose the rest of my family - is worthy of a superhero.

My parents who I've always known were slightly insane, courtesy of mixing Hull and Essex (making me from 'Hussex'), were incredibly the most normal… I don't get that.

Today, we welcomed another subset of the Thompson/White/Smith clan with Paula and Neil and their super cool trio of Isabella, Finlay and Ollie. I'm yet to get the low-down on them but if this picture is anything to go by then I don't see why it would be any different.

So apparently, my family is as I thought; dysfunctional, awkward, frustrating and crazy - that's no problem. But the problem is that not all families are. Although Lucy should probably be worried that they've accepted her.

Nyah's Tuesday Blog

By Nyah Nefertari Harris-Thompson, aged 15 months, as told to her grandpa.

"The pressure is illegal.  Its 9 adults and a baby.  The expectations are so high: I have to act cute 24/7.

Take the second evening.  Its 10.30 at night - 3 hours after my bedtime.  Everyone has eaten.  Conversation has started to flag.  So it falls to me to get a Mexican wave going.  Its lots of laughs and fun, but its hard work being a cheerleader.   And it has to be done.  Do you know that last night, after I had gone to bed, they were so desperate for entertainment that they blindfolded each other and tried to wack a cardboard donkey.  Mental!

Then there was the tapas meal today.  Lovely restaurant and lots of nice toys, but sitting still for 3 and a half hours is a big ask for a 15 month old.  So each of my kind wheel me in turn to the beach in my buggy, whilst the grown-ups eat snails in liquorice soup or whatever.

But its great!   Everyone is so kind and jolly.  Best of all is the Queen, who smiles and waves to me the whole time.  Auntie Julie is a queen as well: people keep toasting her.  Everyone is well nice and gives my lovely mum some well-earned breaks.  Grandpa means well, if only he could cut out the gurning (and that  pink baseball cap is a bit OTT).

The villa is lovely and very good for walking practice, especially up and down the stairs (which seems to annoy some people who don't understand that practice makes perfect).  I like to watch the swifts flying past the terrace in the morning.  I'm a bit frightened by the alsatian down the road...but then so is grandpa.  There is a teddy here who comes from Harrods but doesn't seem at all stuck up and is very friendly.

This sunny weather means that I have been able to showcase all my new summer outfits.  The water is too cold to swim, but I really liked throwing pebbles into the clear blue sea today and the slide on the beach was good.

I'm told that three more kids will be coming tomorrow.  Great..that will evens things up a bit.

This is my very first holiday abroad and I love it."

Me and my mum in summer outfits

So much pressue

More ceremony for Queen Julie

What grown ups do when I'm asleep

The Queen and I

Day 2 "Gin and Tonic"

Ok ok is the dirty south Londoners turn to blog away for my amazing Aunties 60^th. It’s Laura Thompson aka Auntie Joo’s niece and mother to lil Nyah pants turn. Hiiii J. So hold onto your pants! *The opinions are mine and not of the entire Thompson clan J

Thompsons on tour weeheeeee (and lovely Lorna and Lucy)!! Yes Lucy we like you!! Make sure you look after our Simon (and keep his wardrobe intact)

First things first after my 30 clam exercises (if you don’t know get to know) Nyah and I were first awake despite my attempts for her to sleep longer (which didn’t work) and we woke to what was a beautifulllllll day. No wind (unlike the previous day) and an absolutely stunning morning with the swifts speeding around flying right near us and into the balcony.

Lil croissant run a tasty boiled egg by super Joo we were ready to roll…..roll right down to the pool 5 steps away. Lush.

Shame my extreme tiredness hampered the first few hours (thank you to brilliant dad and our Margaret for taking Nyah out and getting her to sleep throughout the day for me) after a speed sleep, I was cooking with gas!!

Caroline and Lorna went off on a horse with Mr Gay horse guide extraordinaire and the rest of us lazied around the pool. So nice.

Nyah lapped the perimeter of the pool (the outside not within the pool lol) went up and down the steps a few…. Hundred times lol (my) dad went to Carrefour (someone had too) for supplies and Steve/Joo went on their usual bike rides and walks across the sexy Spanish hills.

Sorry to lose Lorna so early! Waah. Caroline coolly drove hours and hours (and didn’t seem to phase her the cool queen)

Okayy… 3 words of the evening….. GIN AND TONIC!!! Hahaha. Lovelyyyy.

Highlight of the day/evening was the Pinata – pics below!!!

And its only Monday!!! Woopeeeeeeee.

Love my family so much … each and everyone of you. Aaaah. Love love love. <3 xxxxxxx

Steve's Sunday blog

Sea, sun and wind......we've celebrated Julie's sixtieth bash with a day relaxing by the pool, drinking tea  ( OK,  and beer and wine ), eating chocolate birthday cake and digesting the majesty of Simon's faultless triple tucked somersault entry in to the sparkling blue water of the pool.
Earlier Caroline had crawled her way up and down the pool whilst Nyah crawled around it and serially enlisted the help of each and every party member to climb up and down the steps - Lucy gets the prize for staying the distance longest.  
Last night we enjoyed an evening's barbecue, courtesy of David, and rejoiced that the weather is finally warm and comfortable, even if blustery, whilst the views, comfort and expanse of Villa Girasol are both awesome and relaxing. Julie's birthday speech was short but commanding and regal ( no royal wave but she has a substitute to wave for her) - she requires no thanks from her guests but simply demands that we fill in a blog a day....a tall order to someone who has never blogged before.
The junior members of our party retired early to their apartment, whilst the retired members christened the gaming season with a round of trionimos - tonight we'll read the rules.  
Earlier in today, Julie and Davis had led a trip to Montgo beach whilst I took a bike ride out to Sant Pere Pescador returning via a fete in L'escala where I watch people dancing the Sardana to music by various Coblas - or bands. The Montgo beach party had played cricket ...in Spain????... and Julie had joined Caroline and Lorna for a swim in the sea before ambling back up the hill to our villa and a very easy and relaxing afternoon.
Margaret and David have asked to be mentioned in despatches. Julie will advise me on where she wishes them to be despatched.
We've got the dishwasher on, washing is on the line (clothes not dishes) and tonight we're off down to a restaurant.....may this good weather continue to bless us.