Flashback to Summer

Even though it wasn't as warm and sunny as we hoped, we throughly enjoyed our first summer in the UK. We ate loads of grilled sausages, took walks, sat outside, discovered new places, enjoyed summer fruit, played Poohsticks, learned to spot stinging nettles, and spent time with friends. It was great.

Our church had a campout in August. This trip was our introduction to Ashdown Forest, which you've seen from other posts how much we continue to enjoy it. Katy and Chris kindly loaned us a tent and an air mattress. They provided tents for many other people too. Here is Iain enjoying the air mattress. (Uh oh, Bethel, you are going to see what a spoiled camper I was!)


Brian and Anthony helping to put up some of the other tents.
A beautiful sunset on that first night.


We had a brilliantly read Pooh story by Chris that night. He does beautiful voices! This was (gasp) our first introduction to a non-Disney Pooh, and we really enjoyed the adult perspective on childhood. Very humorous.

We all slept until about 1am, then Iain woke up crying and wouldn't go back to sleep. I guess sleepin with Mama and Papa wasn't as easy as we thought it would be. After listening to him wail for about a half hour, we decided to head home so we and our neighbors could sleep. We drove back to the campsite the next morning.

The next day we went on an Expotition to the nearby Bluebell Railway, which is a restored line for steam engines. We hung about on the platform train spotting and took in a Punch and Judy show. (I never want to hear a complaint about modern cartoon violence again!) Again, Punch and Judy are nearly as much for the adults as the children.



After that, Brian and I drove around the forest, stopping in Pooh Corner (a touristy shop) and heading down to Pooh Bridge to play Poohsticks! We will always remember this summer and Ashdown whenever we play Poohsticks and it is fun and simple, so I know we will take it with us when we go.

Iain is ready for adventures!


Pooh Bridge.



A friendly game of cricket.


This is from another time at Ashdown this summer. We had a nice long walk.


Another new place we discovered this summer, Devil's Dyke. I love it up there.




And lastly, what happens when your baby eats summer sausage and puts his fingers in his hair: the world's strongest hair gel. Ewwww. No wonder the pioneers used to use bear grease to style their hair. It works!