I cannot believe it's been over a year since the last blog...life has definitely got in the middle of my blogging life (which really is non existent in the first place LOL) ...but hey i figured that it's about time to update everyone on our life over here in the UK (even though most of you know the ins and outs by now - otherwise we haven't really been good friends) :-)
So you might be wondering what's happened since our Paris trip last year...how do I sum this up in a nutshell (ie. short version)?
May 2014 - Plumpton, Cam/Olivia's Wedding
This was our first time going to a proper British day out to see the horses race and put in a little bet just to see what all the fuss was about...here are few photos of the day!
We also had a quick flight home to see the little brother get married - typical...what a crazy week - too short but it was nice to be home :) :) :)
Us with Alex and Neil posing for the camera :)
Trying out the new hat - British style!
Our view of one of the races - super close!!!
The girls all dolled up for the horses :-P
On the plane home to Canada a little early this year for a cheeky wedding!
I get off the plane and this is the first gorgeous face I see, outside of Mom's of course!
Ready for a wedding!
Girls selfie...couldn't resist!
Family portrait ;)
Gotta love the boys...they're hilarious! :)
And of course the best of the best selfie with Grandma :)
June 2014 - Steph's 28th Birthday + so many more people's birthdays (June is a popular month)
Really chill month not much went on ...great birthday celebrations with friends - makes it so much better! Got some nice gifts and enjoyed the summer weather.
Birthday day at the beach, charity shopping in Brighton and some vino on the beach!
Alex and I <3
The crew out for a good night out...great night!
Girls getting goofy at Emma's - more birthday celebrations!! :)
July/August 2014 - End of school, Alex & Neil Wedding, Adam & Danielle come to visit --> Summer home in Canada!!!
A really busy month here in England with so many things happening in the last couple of weeks and then we finally flew home to see everyone for the summer. Between finishing school on July 22nd and then a wedding on the 26th and Adam and Danielle flying to ye ol' England, we were just buzzing with excitement!
Absolute pleasure to play during the ceremony for Alex & Neil - and on a $40,000 Steinway!!!
The boys celebrating the new nuptials!
Aren't they lovely? <3
Simon is one funny guy and the flower bouquets were so pretty!
Anthony was a really good help with the picture frame and guests :)
Double decker bus ride to a day out in the sun biking, swimming and chilling!
View of the sea on our bike ride through Seven Sisters...Danielle had her first swim EVER in the sea!
So sad, but this was unfortunately a few days after A&D got here...half of Eastbourne pier burned down...what a crazy mess but 1 year later, they're almost done rebuilding!
London - how can you not love this city? We spent a few days here :)
Sunset viewing of the Parliament buildings...so beautiful!
Trafalgar Square - just being tourists and taking in all the amazing views/architecture!
Boys getting all British on us!
Great addition to the flat...starting to feel like a home now <3 <3 <3
December 2014 - January 2015: Winter Wonderland, British Christmas & New Years, Wassail Walk, Anthony New Job Temp Position
A busy couple months again with everything going on and holidays are always super busy. It was super hard to not be able to go home to Canada for Christmas but it was definitely an experience staying here and getting adopted into multiple families for our 2 weeks of vacation. This is why we love it here in England - we're all family! We also did our annual Wassail Walk through the rolling hills of England with of course hitting a few pubs along the way and it was definitely a challenge this year - 18km walk, 7 pubs, rain, hail, flooded paths and mud sliding...what a day!
**Anthony has officially started his temporary new job role as Head of Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9) and will want to move forward with this permanently in April when he has to apply for the full time job officially - so we're hoping that it all works out!
Winter Wonderland in London - stopped for a delicious German sausage! mmmm...
And they even had an ice castle...now THAT was cold - like Canadian cold!
We went to check out the outdoor ice rink and it was a huge puddle of water!!! LOL
A nice winter date in London with the best man I know <3
If you've never tried pork crackling (ie. fat) then you've never lived - best thing EVER!!!
Yay first British Christmas Tree and decor all set up :) LOVE IT!!
All ready for a Christmas dinner/party and I had to make sure that I wore my Christmas sweater - it's a British thing! :-P
Homemade Christmas hats that were passed around throughout the evening LOL
Out again on Boxing Day evening with some hilarious friends!
We just couldn't stop laughing the entire night...a great 2 days in a row!
New Years Eve with a great dinner out with friends...amazing roast beef!
Flooded pathways - British people be crazy walking through that!!
Little stop to make a phone call boys?
All excited to be out in the POURING RAIN for our walk! LOL
February 2014: Half term vacation
We stuck around Eastbourne this half term in hopes that we would go somewhere nice for our 2 weeks off at Easter and we didn't do much except see all of our lovely friends, go to a murder mystery birthday surprise, have a few girls nights out and a couple dates with Ant :) IT was a fun filled week of random spontaneous outings and things to do. Oh....and the best part, I GOT AN ELLIPTICAL/BIKE to get back in shape!!
March/April 2015: Short term for teaching, Easter Vacation, Anthony Promotion for Work
It was a very very short term for teaching this month as we had a week off in February for vacation and 5 weeks later, we had another 2 week holiday for Easter. We wanted to go to Scotland this year and spend a few days there like Paris, but it never ended up happening and we just did stuff around Eastbourne and spent time with friends over the course of 2 weeks and we definitely caught up on a good amount of sleep that we were missing - much needed!
**Anthony went in for the official interview for his job position and was up against another candidate who apparently did not have what the school was looking for, and therefore Anthony was hired to permanent role of Head of Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9)!!! We are so excited that the new job has kicked in but the new salary won't kick in until end of April - well deserved! So proud of Anthony - he's worked so hard to get where he is in such a short span of time!!!! <3
Sometimes within our 2 weeks off, we got bored and as can you see Anthony was! LOL
We decided to watch the Blue Jays home opener game with some Brits - they seemed to get the hang of it...GO BLUE JAYS!
Finally finished our picture wall...looks so nice!!! <3 <3 <3
May 2015: Plumpton (again - it's become an annual event now), Nights Out, ANOTHER half term!
I love working in England because they have the best horse races and pubs and there we have 13 weeks worth of vacation...which are currently sitting in the last one right now before the summer hits us in 7 weeks. We are off to Twickenham tomorrow and I get to see my first proper rugby game so I'm really excited about the experience - pictures to come!
Representing the hats <3
Won 50 GBP that day! WOO!
Nicely dressed men :)
View from Alex and Neil's new house - sunset BBQ - doesn't get any better than that!
Happy bunnies...out for a good night!
LOL...the boys are typically trying to be funny!
Girls all dolled up to go out and we all matched! <3
Wow....not bad...long blog of more pictures than words but they do say a picture speaks louder than words so enjoy having a look through and we will update our life sooner than later. LIFE DOESN'T STOP but it sure is one amazing ride!
Only 58 days till we're back on Canadian soil - I can hardly contain my excitement!!!!!!!!!! See you soon Canada!
Love,
Steph & Anthony xoxo
