Day 9: miscellaneous photos

It looks as though I have picked up the same bug that Doug has. Since I can't go to the base and get antibiotics, and since the English doctors don't prescribe them for colds, etc., I am trying to cure myself with rest and over-the-counter remedies. Today I drove with Doug and Mary Ann to Swanbourne, then I have taken it easy the rest of the time.

Here are a few pictures from past days that I find interesting.

This photo is of the Rothschild Manor which was taken over during WWII, and is still used as the RAF Officer's Club. Mary Ann and Doug live a few minutes' walk away.

This was on the road to the Officer's Club.

Both David and Mary Ann look great in this photo.

Sister Withington knitted three of these scarecrows for the g i r ls.
Mary Ann and the kids prepare to cut the meat and potato pie baked and given to them by the Withingtons...a lovely elderly couple in the ward. I was so pleased when I went to church last Sunday and had several members tell me how much they appreciate Doug and his family and how they will be missed when they move.

A shot of one of the lovely rooms inside the Rothschild Manor.

Doug cleans the yard while Maya watches him. Jackie and Matt watch TV.

Rush hour traffic that we see as we drive the children to school.

Day 8: More beautiful roadside views

This morning I went with Doug to take the kids to school. These are some scenes along the way.
I like this sign in the window of the car ahead of us..a little different from what we see in the U.S.


This is a stoplight out in the country.


The picturesque village of Tring. After Doug and I got back, Mary Ann and I drove there to pick up a few things at the Tesco store there. Mary Ann is doing a Primary Activity this afternoon with an Easter Story presentation, a candy-filled plastic egg hunt, and a light dinner for the kids. And, from what I see, she's doing most of the planning and the work.


Typical roadside scene of sheep grazing in the fields.
I always love to shoot photos of beautiful skies.
A sign along the roadway.
A pub in one of the villages we pass through on the way to the children's school.
Mary Ann is at the wheel on the wrong side of the car.<.blogger.com/_FYWzUSI6ob4/R
More beautiful fields.
An English chapel in Aston Clinton, a village we pass through on the way to Swanbourne School.
Planted fields.
On the road to Halton.
The mossy tree in Doug's backyard.

A subdivision.
Another road sign.
Where the kids hang their blazers after they get to school.

Jackie and Evy hang up their blazers.

Another video of the girls singing. Can you tell how much I enjoy hearing them?

Incredibly, the family makes time for scripture reading before school most mornings. Tori is in first grade, and she does a great job.

Day 7: Scenes Along the Wayside

Today we drove to the airbase so that Doug could be seen at the Medical Clinic for a severe sore throat. They prescribed some penicillian (sp?) for him. These are scenes that I have been shooting during our drives. The photo with the newly planted trees was taken along a fairly new bypass.



Chimneys.




A Double-Decker ahead of us.

Day 6: Swanbourne School

The following photos were taken on Monday morning when we took the children to their school.


Swanbourne School





The golf course at the school...outside play rules for preschoolers. ("mini beasts" are insects)



Photos of the beautiful grounds. This area is called the "lower pitch."

Brushes for cleaning mud off shoes.

Doug and Mary Ann would probably be ahead financially had they chosen a civilian law practice, but the world class education which has been given to the kids is priceless, in my opinion. These are some shots of Swanbourne School where the kids attend each day from about 8:30 to 6:00 p.m. and half-days on Saturday (for the older kids). The drive takes from 25 to 40 minutes one way, and it's been much time and effort for Mary Ann and Doug (some days they both need to make the trip...Doug is Young Men's President, and on Tuesday evenings he picks up Matt and they travel to Aylesbury for Young Men's meetings while Mary Ann picks up the girls and brings them home.) I believe that their investment has really paid off...the kids are serious about education, and they show a lot of growth and maturing from their schooling here. Matt, in 7th grade, is taking French, Latin, and Hebrew, and he will be taking Greek next term. He also takes logic as part of his Maths studies. In addition to the usual 3 R's, the twins, in 4th grade, take Latin and Algebra, tennis and swimming. And Victoria is learning Cursive in first grade.

The daffodils on the campus are beautiful this spring.
This is where the kids store their backpacks.
They have swimming in an indoor pool during some P.E. periods. Notice the hairdryers on the wall.
"Trainer" storage for P.E.

Sunday in Halton House

After we got home from Church today, we had a delicious Sunday dinner. Mary Ann is a gourmet cook, and she baked a pork shoulder roast to perfection (browned first on top of the stove, then added a little water, covered the pan tightly and baked at 250 degrees for about 4 hours.) She also served wonderful mashed potatoes...new potatoes cooked in a covered pottery dish with a little water in the microwave at 50 percent power, then Doug forced them through the potato ricer...one doesn't even need to peel them...really flavorful. In this photo the girls are playing with Barbies up in their bedroom after lunch.
On the way to church...a light rain is falling. They drive about 20-25 minutes to get to the chapel.
Matt looks good in his Sunday suit. Mary Ann gave him a great haircut for the play...the first that he had let her cut it in two months. (The other kids teased him for having "short" hair...the style here is long and messy.)
The Aylesbury Ward chapel.

Mary Ann is the Primary President. In this photo she is helping these g i r l s practice a song. Jackie and Evy had outgrown the hems of these cute dresses, and Mary Ann added the strip of black fabric to lengthen them.

day four a restful saturday

Jackie and David in Tesco's...in Aylesbury. See below.

Today we have just taken it easy. Matt has another performance tonight, so it seemed wise to relax around the house a little. We left around lunchtime and drove to Aylesbury where we had a nice lunch at McDonalds..with McFlurries for desserts. Then we made a trip to the local walmart-like store..Tesco's...for some veggies for Sunday dinner and for the kids to spend some of their British pounds on candy. Doug is taking Dave to the train station to catch the train for the Gatwick Airport. It sure has been nice to have him here while I am visiting.
Matt uses a Fling It to play fetch with Maya...keeps one from needing to handle a slimy ball.
Tori buckles herself into the little makeshift center seat. Wonderful device which makes it possible for the van to carry eight passengers. She accidentally cut her finger while trying to cut a baguette this morning.
Doug, Evy and Jackie at McDonald's.

Evy and Jackie in Tesco's.