Friday, May 17, 2013

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Rhodes

We had a great (Greek) Easter break on Rhodes. We stayed at a family resort called Holiday Village run by a UK company. The kids absolutely loved it. The staff were very friendly and cheerful and Emma felt right at home greeting everyone as if she had known them from Adam. There was a show every night which the kids looked forward to and many day-time kids club activities ranging from science experiments to swimming lessons and olympic games. Great fun for them and time for us to chill in and around the pool, catch up and also relax at the SPA. Lo-ve-ly!
William was not at all afraid of getting into 
the pools on his own despite the fact that he cannot swim!
Emma and William checking out the pool temperature
Steph and Emma writing postcards while we wait for dinner
Emma getting ready to go down one of the slides
Steph and our rental car

Steph at the pool bar
William wrapped in a towl
Emma and Will at the evening show
Emma and William enjoying some fries by one of the pools
Me by the rented car
a Lindos door and stone mat
Emma and Will looking over Lindos bay
a church in Lindos
Emma and William having their swimming lesson
The four of us ready for dinner

More pics of our hols in Rhodes here.



Our little garden

Here in north of Athens house, we are lucky enough to have a small garden. Although at first it was a challenge; you need to set up the watering right and plant things in the right places for the right amount of sun or shade and I had no idea about any of this - I am now really enjoying having it. 

I like breathing in the flowery or onion-y wiffs I get as I walk by. I like feeling the grass under my feet in the mornings or evenings when I go and have a look at what has developed, dried or grown, been nibbled on or bloomed. I love seeing small bees come and pollinate my flowers and hearing them and other insects whizz by totally reminds me of my childhood when I was lucky enough to have garden owning grandparents on both sides. 

I love having my own rosemary, chives, mint and parsley - and hopefully basil - on my little balcony to add to drinks or salads. 

It's sometimes hard work and frustrating when things die on me or don't grow as expected - and conversely immensely satisfying when things grow unexpectedly fast or blossom into something magnificent and colourful. Nowadays, I find it really relaxing having all this nature around us and am really glad the kids can enjoy it too. 

 There is a tiny bee in there can you see it?
 our flowery corner includes some plants Emma and William brought 
back as sprouts form school and we don't yet know what they will become
 shared roses with the neighbour and the kids trampoline 
I can't remember the name of the white flowers
 no idea what these orange beauties are called but aren't they pretty!?
 In Greek I think these are Gallia or something. 
I love their bright pink colour and the fact that they 
reach out to the sun so high


 the purple ones are something solaris and are 
usually found on islands but I saw them in someone else's garden 
and asked our gardener to find us some.
 our kitchen balcony with coloured flowers 
as well as rosemary, mint, parsley and chives
and a place to have coffee or an aperitif and chips

Happy Mother's Day to me!

A card with a mummy swallow hugging a baby swallow and "Mama I love you" (in Greek) on Emma's hands and cookies and a yellow "I love my Mommy" tulip card from William. ;-)) I am definitely a happy Mummy.

Wednesday, May 08, 2013

Grand-papa & Pata's visit

Well, we are back from Rhodes (click here for pics) and we thoroughly enjoyed Grand-papa & Pata's visit. Let's hope next time we manage to combine the two; a holiday trip and their visit!!!

Here are some pics:

William banging away on one of his birthday presents

 Stopping in the shade during a walk in Varibombi
 visiting the Acropolis

 Emma and Grand-papa cooling down in the pool
 Pata and the kids chilling in front of some cartoons...
 at the park, trying out the see-saw


William's birthday cake 2

First cake of the day, a cupcake for breakfast    
 

then a strawberry mousse and chocolate biscuit cake 
for 25 at school (enough for the 2 classes and teachers)

William wanted another piece!

And then another one with Grand-papa and Pata

Can you see how happy he is?