On our first day out as a family (Bryan included) we enjoyed the foodie stalls in Borough Market, purchasing a few things for dinner, stopped into The Whisky Shop where Bruce found a thing or two to bring home, and we finished our outing with a pitcher of Pimm's on the patio of The Anchor pub looking out over the river. It was so nice to have some London sun to share with Bruce and Gayle after previous visits with less than ideal touring weather. No snow this time for Gayle!
Before heading off to Northern Ireland for a long weekend we made a trip to Wandsworth Common for a picnic and some time to kick the football around. It was nice to get out with our Rosie girl and soak up more sunshine. Later that evening we celebrated Bruce's birthday at a local Italian restaurant that we haven't been to yet. With pizza that you order by the metre no one was leaving hungry and the staff were very welcoming and attentive. Any restaurant that has toys on hand for customers wins with me!
Our Saturday morning saw the Imrie clan headed off to the airport at what "gramps," my dad, would call "o-dark-thirty"; in fact, the boys made the trip in their PJ's. Our stay in Belfast was full of typical Northern Ireland weather - rain and dark skies overhead but we were fortunately staying in a very lovely and large home that kept us very comfortable despite the weather. Highlights of our trip included the Titanic Belfast exhibit, W5 (like science world but way bigger) and, even with the long journey, our trip to the Northern coast to see the Giant's Causeway and a quick stop in Bushmills to visit the Old Bushmills Distillery. Bryan and Bruce did manage to fit in a quick tasting at the distillery before we headed back into Belfast by train and if I am not mistaken had a bottle to bring home too.
Much of the remainder of Nana and Pop's visit involved just spending time in each others company on walks and here at home. It was lovely to set aside the tourist spots and just be together as family. Christopher was more than happy to have Pop's to play imaginative games with him and William was quite content to have Nana's shoulder all to himself while she sang various "unique" versions of "I'm a Little Tea Pot" and "Mama's Little Baby Loves Shortnin' Bread". As is the way when you live abroad there comes a time when you have to say "see you soon" to visitors and it is never easy. Christopher was quite disappointed the first morning that Nana and Pops were not in the kitchen having coffee and breakfast with us, but we are very lucky that Chris understands that FaceTime is available to him when he wants to have a virtual visit with the grandparents. Now we just need to get a handle on the whole time zone concept...