Halloween Weekend Mayhem in York

These are some of the photos I took of the weekend, and a few sent to me by others. Will come back and write comments some time I am feeling well enough...

This is one of the sections of walls aroung York. We walked some of them, and with no railing, and being wet and slippery, made for an interesting, mildly frightening morning. When I was packing my bag, I had to choose between water proof shoes and slip proof shoes, unfortunately I went for waterproof....

This is a church, whish if my cloudy brain will allow me to remember, might have been destoyed at the time Henry VIII abolished the Catholic religion so he could divorce his wife. The locals then destroyed the church to use the stones whilst building the city.... Or something like that!

The Hole in The Wall in York, made me feel right at home, shame we did not have time to go in..

This is the costume I made for the Fancy Dress Feast and games in Castle Bolton

Us enjoying our feast

TEAM BOOB - second place winners in the games, but by far the best eam as they gave me credit as a team member even though my illness forced me to stop playing after only the first round!

Someone being creative with me, my costume and a few candles. Quite like the effect, pretty sure it was Selina's handywork.

All of us after the games

These are the girls I knew before the weekend, Kristy, Mel, Selina and myself.

Me, Anna and Selina at the waterfall where Robin Hood and Little John fight in the movie Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

Same movie, only this waterfall is where Kevin Costner was bathing naked when Maid Marion paid him a visit....

Ania and I decided not to go to the last waterfall as it was starting to rain, and I was not well and she kept me company in the lottle pub, warming ourselves in front of the fire whilst the others made the trek, with my camera...

This was about the scariest thing we saw on the Ghost Hunt we went on this evening. Photography by Michael, only man on the trip and only one who was smart enough to drink beer on the hunt, and therefore slightly enjoyed himself!

This is Michael and his fiance Anna, a really cool Kiwi couple (yes they do exist). Anna is an Architect and Michael does something to do with Law and the Film industry. Anyway, awesome couple, really wished I had met them earlier on my stay in England, but as things are, they will still be here when I return next year, so looking forward to keeping in contact with them to renew the friendship then. they are also coming to my farewell party, and looking forward to seeing them again.

Here is Selina trying to concentrate whilst the Archery instructor chats her up. Even with him trying to distract her, she still managed to get the highest score from the women who played!

By the end of the trip we had all had enough of the tour guide Duncan, and decided to get our own back...

And naturally we succeeded!

This cool machine was in a services stop on the highway. For only one pound, you can safely charge your mobile phone for 20 minutes! Was a godsend seeing most of us had not taken chargers with us!

Kew Gardens

I thought taking the kids to Kew Gardens for the day would be a great way for the new nanny Nicola to get to know the kids before Christina and Max flew to Germany for the week. I also wanted to check out the Harvest displays, and thought the kids would enjoy it too.

A replica of how cranberries are harvested. Over 5million cranberries were floated in the lake near Victoria Gate, plus there was a whole display about everything there is to know about cranberries.

The is the main entrance to the Palm House. Inside this massive greenhouse are planted various gardens depicting the different tropical regions of the world. Unfortunately the Frangipani trees were not flowering.

The worlds oldest pot plant.

20 foot pumpkin man, and the kids with Nicola.

This is the herbal remedy hut in the Queen's Garden. There are inscriptions on the walls, books to read, and the herbs planted in the garden all have notes about what they were used for in ancient times. There was also a blank book for you to write your own remedies, to be collated by the staff.

Annemarie, Carl and Christina rolling down the hill just before we left for the day.

Some more random photos

Sunday 1st October, Roast beef lunch prepared by Felix. The Yorkshire Pudding was to die for... One of the best I had had yet...

The dinner I prepared for Saturday 7th October, for Sonny and his flatmates. Australian meat pie, with mash and green beans. Unfortunately we ate too many nibbles (Mums sweetchilli dip and french onion dip, and too many jaffas and strawberris and creams etc, that we did not make it to the pavlova!)

This is seven of the 9 children I was looking after on Friday the 13th. Have noticed the date on my camera is incorrect, so will have to change that.

This is some of the people who stayed around for drinks and dinner after the Weekend TEFL course run by i-to-i. A very intensive weekend, from which we all felt we gained invaluable information.

My kids on the last day of term, 17th October. Took them to the Gourmet Burger Kitchen. and I wish i had taken photos of the burgers we ordered, but instead took one after from the people from the table next to ours, who happened to be family friends anyway. This burger is taller than my hand!

Annemarie opening presents on her 4th birthday, 19th October. I gave her the shell and the Tinkerbell slippers. The slippers were way to small so will have to return them, and the shell came from my Holistic Centre, she was playing with it the last time I took her there

Liz's Wedding

Here are a few photos from Liz and Michael's wedding. A great night was had by all and as far as I know everyone bar Laura behaved....

The Hole in The Wall Farewell.

Here are the photos from Sunday 23rd July 2006, the last day of trading for the Hole in the Wall. I was booked to go on a Mystery Weekend trip with Topdeck, the company I went to Normandy with, however as soon as I heard about the last day, I sold my ticket to a friend and stayed in London for the party. As of yet, nothing has happened at the site, and perhaps it will still be the same when I return next year...

Sally and Peter, who have bought a property in France and will be living there when I return. They also live up the road from one of the sites used in a Bridget Jones Diary movie. Outdoors scene, with vines growing over door and wall. Will have to watch them again to see if I can find it...

Charlene and I haveing a quiet moment. I remembered this photo being taken during the day, but obviously not...

Although this photo of Felix was also taken at the same time (I think) so maybe it was just the light from where we were sitting...

Billy, with the ever present grin, always slightly cheeky, that knowing glint in his eye which tells you he has so many stories to tell (like the ones he told us the other night about his days from touring with The Who)

This is Chris, Sara's brother who was at Park Road when the bench broke in Jennifer Saunders house

This is Edna, and Ian, who divorced years ago and have remained friends. A few weeks ago they announced they are going to be remarried on the upcoming Valentines Day, so all the best for the both

This is Lewis - mad car man, who floored me during the night by coming up to me and saying 'so you must be a Holden girl right?', Laura - who despite appearances is only 17 and was not drunk at the party. Laura's sister, and Hannah - sister of Sara, gf of Lewis, and owner of black patent Maryjane Manolo Blahniks!!!!

This is Ann, mother of Sara and Hannah

Barry doing what I will remember him most fondly doing, pouring himself a pint whilst listening to a story which he will no doubt have some knowledge and a great fact to relate...




















This is Sniffer (Pat's sister) and Liz. If you enlarge and look at the photo on top left, you will see a Kiwi taking out a date...














All the girls did a singing dancing routine for Pat of her fav song - New York New York




















All the staff who were still standing at the end of the night - Sniffer, Barry, Hannah, Liz, Laura, Maggie, Pat and Sara














The great couple themselves, who were a great support to me during my stay in Park Road, and after I moved to St Margarets