Have fallen a bit behind with the blog- and only three weeks until we are home so a quick catch up.
Returned from Turkey for a rapid turn round(just time to do the laundry) and off to Switzerland to catch up with Graeme's family - Aunt, Uncle, two cousins, cousin's children and a lovely new Cousin's wife from Slovakia - a very cosmopolitan family with French as their main language (although all great English speakers) which left Libby and Katie very keen to learn French. Had a lovely time admiring the Alps, walking in vineyards, going out on lake Geneva in Uncle Rene's boat and we bought huge quantities of chocolate - hopefully some of it will make it home to NZ!

Back in the UK we have spent a week at Graeme's sister's in North Yorkshire - our Edinburgh friends came down to join us and we had great walks on the moors and a lovely day trip to Whitby where we discovered a statue to Captain Cook. He was born in a village nearby, went to school in Whitby and of course sailed from there on his trips to discover Australia and New Zealand. Whitby is a lovely old fashioned town with the old abbey up on the hill and a beach with brightly coloured bathing huts - Bram Stoker famously wrote Dracula while he was staying there and it has old fishing boats and a replica of the Endeavour that will take you on trips around the bay. Libby and Katie were also introduced to the delights of the penny arcade - spending a happy hour putting 2pence coins into a machine to win them out again! Finished with fish and chips to make a perfect day out at the British seaside. Travelled there and back by train, on the home journey there was a beautiful steam train on the platform looking just like the Harry Potter train.

Summer weather is a bit disappointing - very damp but it's not holding us back too much. have had one trip to London so far and a day out at Woburn Abbey safari park. Have also visited friends in Sheffield and my sister in Birmingham and will see her again next week. Had a night in a youth hostel in the Peak district and a lovely walk in the dales plus a pub lunch - roast beef and yorkshire pud!

Have also done a few jobs for Graeme's mum - a new shed in the garden, new roof and carpet in the conservatory and a clearing out of clutter - the girls have been helpful listing things to sell on E-bay to help supplement their pocket money.

Graeme is out with the girls at an Aqua park just now but has promised to ad a new photo collection next. Best wishes to all our friends in NZ - we have had a great trip but looking forward to home now and the girls are keen to get back to school and see their friends.
The Atkinsons will be back soon!