Blogs from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Woolly says – It seems like years have passed since we arrived in Dudley although Jo swears it has only been weeks, our backpacks lie stationary, empty and forlorn. Applying for work has become the norm, I have already been shortlisted as chief nut taster for one of the UK's leading suppliers and don't feel that it would be to challenging a role. I had however turned down the position of lion feeder at the zoo as having met with my would be charges it appeared they were more interested in eating me rather than their usual rations...... it was a scary moment and one best forgotten as quickly as possible. Boredom and tedium was setting in and I found large sighs escaping from my trunk at regular intervals. In the hope of stopping the sighs ... read more

I'm gradually getting through the pre-holiday 'to do' list but it seems to be getting longer by the day. We're all 'super excited' about our family trip of a lifetime. Still to do: online Esta form Universal tickets Getty tickets BBB tickets Hunger Games tickets Baseball tickets SFMOMA tickets A theme is emerging, we need to buy lots of tickets! And bags, do we need new luggage? Need to order Madi's veggie meal for the plane. Need to discuss the amount of hiking that Madi & I intend to do with the boys who don't intend to do much at all!... read more

Before we left Shropshire we had one last dinner with Philip and Pat up at the College. Their house sits up on the hill and is adjacent to one of the old farm paddocks. With the weather having become stunning – mid 20s and clear blue skies – we enjoyed fizz in the garden in glasses adorned with Diamond Jubilee crowns. We have joked with everyone that the bar for the standard of hospitality seems to get higher and higher; at Pat and Philip’s there was something distinctly summery and different. As we enjoyed our first drink a hot air balloon was launched on the College grounds, it rose up over Spy Bank and the basket load of people set off into the sky – PAW could not have scripted it better as the moment was ... read more

As you know we decided that postcards are soooo yesterday and instead we would keep you in the loop of our holiday by keeping a blog. Sounds easier than it actually is figuring out the most appropriate site - but hopefully this is it. Although as I got so frustrated with it yesterday and tried to delete the account, it may be that it isn't sorted after all!! Note to self: there's a reason why there is a welcome page it explains all the things that made no sense...so really I should read these before I start. Anyway, fingers crossed, if I am patient this should all work out fine. So to get your daily postcard from the Baltics, log in each day and read up on our experiences and a selection of pictures of local ... read more