England

Dear Family and Friends,

Following our brief trip to the Somme Valley, we crossed the English Channel by ferry and drove to Crawley where the London Temple is located.



This was the first time that we crossed by ferry in the summer and therefore the first time that we have been allowed out on deck. While Joe relished the salty sea spray and strong wings, each of the kids was quick to ask to go back inside to our seats in the lounge.



This time, we were able to spend a couple of days at the temple. While one parent would do a session, the other stayed with the kids in the temple grounds, which were very nice this time of year. The kids used there stickers to play a kind of "war" for hours on end. In addition to our time at the temple, we were able to do some shopping at the local mall and watch a movie in English.



After leaving the London area, we went north to the county of Licolnshire. While the two and a half-hour drive was arduous, it gave us an excellent opportunity to explore more of the English countryside. Upon arriving in the city of Licoln, we located our charming Bed and Breakfast near the center of town. More importantly, we found a Papa John's pizza restaurant and had an excellent feast.

The following day, we all went hiking in the nearby hills. Our path along the crest of highest hill led to a kite fair complete with kite-flying demonstrations. Each town has its own unique festival like the scarecrow display in a neighboring village.



Our next stop was at Belton House, a National Trust site in the area. The mansion and surrounding gardens date from the late sixteen hundreds. Like many other National Trust sites, there were ample activities for both the adults and kids. Nicolas and Elyse took turns climbing on to a small seat at the end of a rope that was attached to a cable strung between two points. Just as they reached their maximum speed, they would hit a bumper at the end of the cable that threw them into the air with a huge jerk.

Another favorite was the tree slide. The two or three story slide was reportedly very scary!

On our walk around the large estate, we encountered ruins of early buildings along the river.

We also saw a lot of wildlife, such as this kite sitting on one of the many statues as well as a small fawn munching grass in a wooded area.

During our walk, we stopped to play in a small hedge maze. While not much of a challenge for Joe who could see over the walls, it was perfect for Nathaniel!

As always, we loved the English countryside, gardens, and English hospitality. Of course, our favorite part of visiting England is just being able to speak English for a change!

Cheers,

Joe, Julie, Nicolas, Elyse, and Nathaniel