After we arrived at our Airbnb flat in London and dumped our gear, we headed off to my Aunty and Uncle’s for dinner. On the way we realised we’d been without the English language for just 5 days short of 7 months. We could understand what everyone was saying! Even the train and bus announcements!! It was wonderful! We had a lovely evening with them, great food, great company, and the kids were totally spoilt! Thank you Aunty & Uncle.

The following day we had a slow start, BK did some work then headed off to see a friend and the kids and I spent the afternoon back with my Aunt and Uncle and explored the beautiful Kew Gardens together. So BK got a good chunk of work in and the kids and I enjoyed an afternoon out and about.

For our last full day in London we got up early and took the underground to the other side of the city. Actually to the city of London. Did you know London is actually two cities squashed together? One is called London (a tiny banking district), the other is called Westminster (the bigger area everyone knows as London). Then we took a local bus to see the sights rather than pay some horrendous amount for a hop on off off. This is how Team Knowles rolls (and how that budget is going so well). I had got the idea from a blog which described each building and what it was used for so it wasn’t boring just looking at buildings and guessing what they were. Instead I could tell the family what they were or what to look out for. Here is the blog I got the information from if you wanted to do the same.

As the day went on I watched Mum’s flight make its way across the world to London, it was running an hour early at one point so it headed to the airport early to ‘pick her up’ (actually guide her onto a train back to our flat). It had been a long 7 months without her! Once she got there it was lots of chats and sorting my stuff (souvenirs etc) into a big mostly empty suitcase she had brought over. Which was going to be stored at a friend’s till we go home in September. After a good sleep it was time to leave London. We’ll be back again later in the trip for some museums and palace fun.

BK picked up a rental car and we drove out to a friend of Mum’s. She feed us all the most lovely lunch! No dinner was required that day. Mum stayed in Essex and we drove out to Norwich. We decided we’d go for a canal boat trip the next day on the Norfolk broads. We putted around for an hour then had a pub lunch at a brewery BK wanted to visit. Then we went out to the beach and saw a family of seals having a lovely time diving in and out of the water.

After all that moving around recently we had a rest day was in order for the following day. However we did manage to get some fish n chips for tea. We were going to sit in a park and eat them but due to the awful heatwave we sat in the air conditioned car and looked at the very brown grass!! A few days later I saw that our area had recorded the hottest temp of the year that day. 34.7 degrees Celsius I think it was. Hot for England! C also managed to get another sting, a wasp this time!

Then it was off to Dorset. We stayed in a cute village of cobb houses (made of mud, thatched roofs) called Milton Abbas. It had a pub and a post shop. There was a beautiful Abbey with attached private school close by too. We walked there every day. We found their cafe/school tuck shop and enjoyed the cheap drinks and food. Schools out for summer at the moment so we didn’t gate crash the students! The weather finally cooled down and we had some rain. Mum came to join us too.

One of the days we went on a trip to a seaside town called Beer. First we went to a place called Pecorama which had mini steam trains which you can ride on. Bigger than the ones at memorial park but not by much, about the size of the one in Palmerston North if you’ve been to that park. Then we had a walk through the gardens, where Mum got a wasp sting!! What is it about Europe and stings! The kids found a soft play area (think mini chipmunks) so they played and us adults sat outside and ate the lunch we’d brought along.

Mum and I then walked into the little town and Bk fed the kids and saw a little train exhibition where apparently you could control your own model train.

Next it was to Honiton. Apparently my Father’s side of the family lived there before they left for NZ, but I’m 4th or 5th generation kiwi on his side so I couldn’t really connect to the place. We did see a nice lace museum which had a fantastic age appropriate scavenger hunts for the kids. We loved our time in Dorset. Everyone was extra friendly and everything was calm and chill. We also enjoyed our first Sunday carvery lunch. Yum but oh so much food!! Thank you Aunty & Uncle for letting us stay in your cute cottage💗

4 days before we were due to move on we had our first Airbnb fail. Our host cancelled on us for our next stay (which I had booked back in February!!) in Derby. It being the peak season and busiest month of the year, it took me an entire day to sort out somewhere else to stay. We ended up doing a night in a youth hostel family room before moving on to another airbnb for the remainder of the time. I had been waiting all year for something to go wrong with Airbnb but couldn’t quite believe it finally happened.

So then it was then off to Derby (and our new found accommodation), where Mum was born and lived until she was 5 (she then got on a ship with her family and immigrated to NZ). The following 4 days were a mix of hanging out with the extended family, exploring Mum’s old neighborhood, another Sunday carvery lunch, and shopping (new jeans for me, yay!). Bk also bought me a beautiful gold bracelet – been nagging, i mean asking, him for 2-3 years, finally he gave in and purchased it from where my Dad bought my Mum her engagement ring. (Do you remember the name of the store, Dad??)

Then it was time to clean the rental car, downsize our gear and head off to airport, for the first time since March.
Stay tuned for dramas we had going through security!! 😄

Till next time,

Claire

 

Budget update
England : $673 under
Disclaimer – Does not include gold bracelet!