Summer continued

So we arrived home from China, a bit sad, but ready to start our next summer adventure! After sorting out dad's luggage (which didn't make it from China, in fact hadn't even been put on the plane in China!) we headed north to Stirling for the wedding of a friend who lived across the street from us when we were growing up. Suzanne and Mike came back for the wedding so we had some extra time with them which was great.





Next up we went to the lakes for a week. My aunt and uncle have a cottage there which they kindly agreed to let us use. The five of us had a great time and Mike's mum and gran were able to come and join us for a couple of days. We even had nice enough weather to have a BBQ!









After the lakes, Suzanne and Mike went back to Manchester, mum and dad headed home to NI and I made my way across to Newcastle for Liz and Harry's wedding! It was really beautiful, quite traditional, and relaxed.






Then it was home to do nothing for a few days before Rose came to stay (sorry no photos yet - updated when I steal Rose's!), and then Phil and I headed off to Scotland to visit her mum (we went to the rare breeds farm, hence the second photo).





And I think that was it! I'm now back in Newcastle doing my PGCE (Secondary German and French) and I think it's going ok! More about that in a later post. We've had our church weekend away which was physically exhausting but mentally/spiritually refreshing, and I'm due to start playing hockey again this weekend - I can hear my muscles screaming in protest already!

Holidays

Wow, it's been a while since I posted anything. Summer was hectic but fun. Here's a snapshot of what I got up to:

1. Graduation 12/7/07

We had a fun day; the ceremony was traditional but relaxed. My Pop (granddad) made it over for the day which was great, and I particularly loved swooping around in my gown!

Being hooded as part of the ceremony

With the folks

With Auntie Sue (who lives in Ncl) and Pop (who is not Ian McKellan, as some others have thought!)

Not much explanation needed really!

2. Then we went off to China to visit my sister (Suzanne) and her boyfriend (Mike) who live there. We had an amazing time - didn't do a whole lot apart from chill out, catch up and a bit of culture (ha, 3 alliterated points - I should be a minister!)

The Wall:

Hong Kong and Macau - we went for a week of ultimate relaxing (and even shared a hotel with some premiership football players!):

Hong Kong Conference Centre - our hotel was right behind this so we had a great view :)

Lawrie Sanchez - former Northern Ireland Football Manager, now manager of Fulham - at our pool!

Reading Harry Potter by the pool in Macau - it was tough

Our hotel in Macau - view from my lounger

Visiting the casinos......but only for dinner!

Random selection:

In Tiananmen Square

View down from Suzanne's 31st floor apartment. Bottom right, if you can make it out, that's my parents sitting in the garden swing!

Church! Beijing International Christian Fellowship to be precise. Foreign Passport Holders only

Ok, that's all for now - will finish the rest of the summer in the next post :)