A Walk In The Park

 We met up with the Eberts for a walk in the park on Sunday.

Zoe at 21

Somehow another godchild has snuck through 21 years: Zoe graciously returned to Mum and Dad to enjoy her party with friends and family. A great excuse to update the older generation's dance moves - thanks for all the tips girls. 

Grandma FT

On a beautiful sunny Friday in Sidmouth, all the FTs were able to share lunch at The Victoria with Grandma.

Hockey

Hannah was in action at Newent on another sunny October Saturday.

Porpoises & Paddleboards

A mid-October scorcher, on a weekend, combined with rideable waves was too good to pass up. Arriving at The Ho on a falling tide, Hannah joined us for her first go at stand-up surfing. Tim and Chris also came to make the most of a beautiful day. In 1-3 foot swell Hannah impressed us by staying vertical brilliantly. The morning session ended with 20+ minutes when a porpoise mother and calf gracefully swam near us as we chilled out-back. After lunch, Tim and Jerry decided to have a board shorts session (on the 15th of October!!). Simo turned up with his new 8'6" SUP and proceeded to rip up the increasingly large waves, while Mr Grills put all of his 2011 experience together in a fine display of watermanship, with some lovely long right handers across shoulder high faces. We stayed overnight locally and enjoyed a walk on Sunday morning and then meeting lots of Simo's friends before heading back to see all the relatives at Taunton and 'Rio' the 12 week old collie. A superb weekend.

Corsica

Check out 'our' plane: 1 x 737, 6 x passengers! (Arranged specially for Nigel's birthday). After a short hop south we picked up our 'Scenic' and carefully drove into Calvi on a beautiful morning, collecting essentials like cheese and wine. Our villa was superb, with views out across the bay, with the mountains beyond. Mon: Around the Golfe De Calvi to Lumio and down to the beach below. With cool beer at £4 a small bottle, we opted for a crate on the way home.

Tue: We took off early with a picnic around the coast road hairpins, South to Galeria. Lunch overlooking a white sand beach and then back through the interior valleys over the Col de Porcarello. We walked around the citadel in the afternoon.

Weds: Short walk along the cobbled streets to buy lunch, then to Baie d'Algajo, a wonderful little beach with azur water and white granite rocks. Dinner at U Minellu of small crustaceans in an amazing sauce, accompanied by awful accordian playing! Thurs: Finally having worked out the airconditioning, we had a lovely sleep to preceed a tour of the mountain villages. We enjoyed dangerous ravines, coffee with a view,coffee shop owner with an attitude, red kites with altitude, followed by a flop on the white sand near L'ille Rousse. Fri: Pool, beach, kiteboarders.

Sat: More lazing on the local beaches. We captured The Island Of Beauty in pictures ahead of our drive across the high bits to Bastia for the flights home. As ever, we made a film of the week.