Well as promised – though as I am not being allowed time to write properly – shorter than intended – the details of the weekend.

Saturday:

We met up with David, Lois and Spike to have a day out around Leeds castle. This was a lot of fun despite Alexander being totally headlong into everything. We went around the maze and the play park and Alexander insisted on getting a sword and shield for both him and Spike. We also went around the castle though Alexander went through at breakneck speed so didn’t really get time to look at anything.

We came home and had a quick tea. The Liz came around. She and Rachel chatted while I got Alexander to bed. Then Liz and I went to the pub for a few pints and a long chat like the old days (and not just about the old days but also about the future.)

Sunday

We had a slow lazy day on purpose. We took a leisurely walk down to the village and went to the pub (Queens Head) and had lunch. There was a reception for a christening going on so it was busy and there were lots of children for Alexander to play with. We came home and Alexander played with his friends out the front for quite a while. We then had a lazy evening.

Monday

We went to a Kent Wildlife Trust event at Bigbury Hill. This was an old fill fort where the local Celtic tribe – the Cantii (from where Canterbury gets its name)  resisted the advance of the Romans. Ultimately unsuccessfully but bravely nonetheless.

They had set up a camp with roman soldiers walking around and showing off their armour, and a play dig for children. There was a guided walk which was just starting as we arrived so we tagged along. However at the first  stop Alexander announced very loudly that the man was taking for too long to talk about it. So we discretely slipped away and did our own walk. Liz and Martin were also there but we didn’t see them despite Martin calling out to us. – Sorry guys. We we probably chasing Alexander.

The walk was lovely. The bluebells were out as was the sun and the shade of the trees was welcome. Full of birdsong too.

Then we came home for a relaxing evening – somewhat marred by Alexander and Rachel having bad Asthma – probably aggravated by hay fever – but otherwise and nice weekend. Walks, beer, kids and friends.