Italy Italy Italy!

Last week of June I took a week off work and ventured over to my favorite place.... Italy :)
I spent my time busy busy busy doing lots of things and had an amazing time!
First I went to Venice and had a catch up with Manuela and her family. The last time I stayed with them I was 14 years old and it was my first trip overseas! I met them at the airport and it was like I had never been away!
The top photo is of the beautiful Manuela and I in St Marks square and the below, of her fabulous family...
and this is why I love Venice... small streets, beautiful colorful houses, little old ladies lazing around outside their houses... if she was holding a pizza it would be perfect!
and of course the beautiful canals...
After staying with Manuela's family for 4 nights I jumped on a train and traveled to Bologna and met Sam (who had arrived the day before). We hired possibly the coolest car we could find.. Pablo and hit the road bound for Camerino, Umbria. Sam... getting his Italian on... :)
we traveled many many km's (1600 in 5 days to be exact!)
and arrived in beautiful Camerino to meet Sam's family. This is Sam's nephew Tam. Very sweet!
The next day we went to Sam's mates wedding... it was in a little church on top of a hill in a tiny tiny little town. There were about 30 people at the wedding and it was just perfect!
They made a beautiful couple.... Seymour and Enrica, and they fed us until we could eat no more! In the end, there was two massive tables of appetisers (which looked so good you wanted to try everything, and then realised you had a full plate of food!) and then were moved in side to sit down for two starters, 3 mains, desserts, cake, coffee and fruit. Fair to say we all felt too fat for our dresses come 6 o'clock!
Then the next day Sam and I jumped in the car again, this time with an extra, Rachel, who is aupairing for Saskia (she is from Sydney!) and set off for Roma!
We arrived, checked into our hotel and made our way to the Colosseum
Last time I was there (when I was 14) it was closed! So I was very pleased to be able to go inside this time! Rachel thought it was pretty cool as well :)
We also visited the Patheon...
soaked our feet in a fountain...
went to the Vatican and the Vatican museum to see the Sistine Chapel...
and stopped to throw a coin into the Trevi fountain!
After two days discovering Rome we made our way back to Todi to meet up with Sam's family again and drop Rachel off. Sam and I spent a few hours soaking up the sun and then jumped back in the car and drove to Ancona where we were flying back from London from.
All in all I took about 300 snaps, have fond memories and can't wait to go back!
Hopefully it won't be too long ;)

Saskia and Dan's wedding

Sam and I went down to the New Forest on Thursday to prep for his younger sister Saskia's wedding. We decorated the marquee, set up tables and spent hours on the flowers!
Here is Sam's second cousin and I making the centre pieces for the tables... It was quite nice to have Saskia's family and close friends helping out with the reception bits
Saturday was the big day... and she looked absolutely stunning!
Sam got the honour of walking the lovely bride down the isle- and I nervously did a reading!
Dan and Sas...Sam and I at the reception
first dance
Sam doing his 'father of the bride' reading. He did an excellent job!
everyone looking happy and having a nice time...
Sas and I on the d floor
the rest of the night was so much fun....
so much dancing!....
we made it to bed by 3 am... boozed up and so happy with the way the special day turned out!

New Shoes!

Mel requested a squiz at my new shoes.... wearing them to a wedding this weekend :)

Green fingers...

A post for my Dad, as I promised him the last time we spoke on the phone that I would share some photos of my new garden! Here it is!
Here are my strawberries...
what I think is courgette (zucchini!)
tomatoes, beans and our pet chook Wilfred (who has not produced ANY fresh eggs for breakfast. very disappointing.)
and on our windowsill.... rosemary, coriander, parsley and mint and chilli that has just decided to pop through!
Riveting stuff I know, but I'm sure my Dad will appreciate it :)

Another country pub and a trip to Brighton!

It's Monday and thanks to the royal wedding on friday, we all had the day off! So Sam and I took full advantage!
Another pub to add to our list of weekend adventures to the country!... Here Sam is standing (posing) in front of the Fox and Hound in Chelfont St Giles. We went in with the intention of having a meal but the landlord behind the bar was such an ass we had a pint and left.
aaaand thanks to google, found the Crown Inn in little Missenden not far away. AND near the new Dunker house (they moved to Gerrards Cross last week) so they were able to come out and meet us for lunch! We recon a 7 out of 10.... the food wasn't amazing but the hospitality was brilliant and the pub was very nice! (great garden out the back for the kids!)
On Sunday I went to Brighton with Brad (who i used to go to high school with) and his better half Niki... unfortunately out bus left at 1 and the only one we could get back was at 5 which meant by the time we got there we only had an hour and a half to take a look around. Still, the sun was out and it wasn't ridiculously busy.
We walked along the peer and then stopped in a pub for a few pints, a pizza and had just enough time to take a few snaps!
In true English spirit for this weekend.... (if only!!)


all in all a very enjoyable long weekend!...back to work tomorrow!

kids, kids, kids aaaannnnddd Easter!

For the past week we have had fabulous weather.... so I've made the most of it in the park with the kids! ...Effie
and Elliot!
And then today, Easter Monday, we made the most of the sunshine in Saint Peters Square (a smallish park around the corner from where Sam and I live) with a few mates and Sam's family.
Sam even put on an Easter egg hunt...
this is Tom, Sam's youngest nephew...
and Patrick, his older brother.... (with chocolate all over his hands!)
and Elodie... the newest addition to the family (she is 12 weeks old!) we played some quality football.... (soccer!)
and had some yummy bits!
a very nice day :)