Update - 2010 and 2011

Easter 2011 in Connecticut

 

We did a whirlwind 4 day trip back to 06443 and had a nice visit with the family and enjoyed egg hunts, golden eggs on a foggy beach, and family time in Madison...it was still cold and grey -
but only 9 weeks until
Summer 2011!

Book Signing with James Frey

Lauren and I went to a Grazia book club signing with James Frey, author of Million Little Pieces, and his latest book, The Final Testament of the Holy Bible...he described his being dropped by his US publisher after the Oprah public flogging, but enjoys being in Europe and has released his latest book overseas only..Lauren got her book signed and we had one signed for Tommy who was a MLP fan.

Disney Paris - April 2011 with Oki and Meg

While Rachel was on her ski trip to Montgenievre in France, and Lauren was studying for her GCSE exams, I took Meg and her friend to Disney Paris for 4 days...it was pure innocent bliss - the girls were so happy and appreciative it was a real enjoyable experience, despite the grumpy French service.

Ocean Reef ~  February 2011

In February 2011, we spent a week in ocean reef with the Wills' and then my family joined us for the weekend..perfect weather, fun fishing and a bit of family drama to spice things up.

We welcome Archie to the family...
In November (actually on Megan's 8th birthday) we adopted/rescued a little yorkie called Archie.  He is two and has helped us get over our sadness with his own quirky ways..

Lauren goes to India - October 2010

Lauren went to an ashram in Rishikesh India with a lovely London family we know...she really enjoyed the culture and spiritual dimension and is looking forward to returning next October and perhaps on her gap year

Center Parcs

While Lauren was in India, I took Rachel and Meg and two friends to Center Parcs, a fun adventure park for 4 days - it was riddled with the flu bug, from a messy start in Twinkenham to my finish, but we managed to enjoy ourselves and hope to do it again soon

Ramsay

Sadly, the summer of 2010 ended with the devastating loss by British Airways of our beloved little Ramsay. Ramsay celebrated his 3rd birthday just two days before we headed back to London. His crate was being loaded into the plane at JFK when a strong wind knocked it off the conveyor belt and he crashed to the ground, his crate broke open and he ran off onto the runway. I spent 3 weeks in Queens with dedicated volunteers, scent dogs, BA employees, 3 animal spiritualists and the NY news helping to find him...I was inside empty airport hangers, dodgy parks, highway entrance ramps and homeless hide outs...I met the most amazing, generous, loving people who helped me search, squeaked squeaky toys all over Queens day and night, held my hand, loaded food into traps, checked traps twice a day, posted hundreds of signs and internet ads...Sadly, we have come up short. His loss is still felt by all of us..I hope some day I might be reunited with my big boy, Ram sam sam.

Summer 2010

No place on earth holds more fun for us than Madison, CT and this summer was no exception...except for Lauren's one week at Darmouth Rowing camp, and one weekend at a wedding in Martha's Vineyard, we were on our HERCC beach daily~ boating and swimming and enjoying love and life at the beach.

VISITORS

We love having visitors, and the past few months we seem to be on the College circuit..we have had Kate Kelley and her friends from their Florence semester abroad, Kendal Eisele and her friends (also on a Florence semster)  Katelyn Kelley and friends while on a European trip, Austin Kelley and his friend Alek, the Finlay's made a second visit, as did Jenn who came for Thanksgiving 2010 - two years to the day of her first visit.  

Upcoming visitors include: My cousin Parker may come in June with his family, my parents arrive next Sunday and the Amatruda's are coming in July to stay.

We LOVE visitors, and as long as we still have this house, come on down!