Good News!!!!

Finally yesterday Mum was released from captivity, she arrived home during the day by ambulance. We called around last night to see them and she was sat in her chair TV on and waiting for the first carer to arrive. She came home with a huge bag of drugs which Dad and I had to sort into the correct boxes so that she knows what to take when.

Mum had her hair done during the week so she looked just like her usual self sitting in her chair . There is now more equipment around house, a commode, a white step thing and a new table she can use from the chair. The carer arrived while I was there and made arrangements for times that Mum would need help. They arrived on time last night to get her into bed, but this morning they were two hours late to get her washed and dressed. Knowing what we do about caring and the services provided this will be exactly what will happen. Second call in and already running late!!!

This week we have finally booked our summer holiday, Hurrah!!! After a lot of deliberation we have decided to go back to Holland. We are returning to Duinrell. As a holiday location it is perfect, there is a theme park for the kids, featuring scary rides and tame rides. There is a big water park with flumes and water rides and all of it is free if you stay at the neighbouring park. To sum it up I'll use Beth's words - Its the best holiday that's not Disney!!! So I feel much better now that its booked .

Finally a couple of shots from last weekend in Ypres, they have lovely chocolate, lovely cakes and I am dribbling looking at them!!!

Look at those lovely lovely cakes .

         This was the best chocolate shop !!!

After a trip around the Market!!

After a trip around the Market!!

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Here is Beth getting her ideas down on paper after a walk around the town !! It's still raining and miserable and we are suffering the after effects of sleeping in a hard bed!!!
Yesterday we went to Tyne cot cemetery and found the inscription on the wall for Arthur R Botwright who died on the 18th of August 1917. He is in our extended family he came from Bedmond and his parents were Emma and John Botwright. It has sparked an interest in Beth and she now wants to go and research him online.
We are now chilling in a cafe it's a out time the weather changed off of the terrible miserable rain!!!

Arrived in Ypres

Today Tom, Beth and I arrived in Ypres, we caught the 12 o'clock ferry from Dover and arrived in Dunkirk 2 hours later, nice smooth crossing. We then popped into a hyper market (Auchan) and stocked up on rose before heading on to Belgium. Tonight we have been to the Last Post at The Menin gate and had dinner at Poppies.
Now we are heading in to watch a bit of TV before doing the museums in the morning!!!

Around Ypres

I can't believe that this time last week we were glugging back Mulled wine and walking around the snowy town of Ypres. It is quite a spectacular place with beautiful buildings and fantastic mulled wine shops!!!!

So here is a glass of the famed Mulled Wine complete with a slice of clove studded orange and a piece of spicy bread pudding Mmmmm Yum. Today I have been and purchased a couple of bottles of Mulled Wine to try at home (in the interests of research don't you know!!)

One of the things that Belgium is well known for is the lovely chocolates. All the chocolate shops have wonderful window displays  full of their tempting offerings.

Here we are outside one of the shops, Sandra had been inside to buy up the entire stock of chocolate before the sold out!!!At least by the time we took this photo the snow had gone!!!

The other reason Ypres is so famous is the Last post which is sounded every night at 8pm at The Menin Gate. Its a really moving experience to be there when the ceremony takes place, it really makes you think about what so many soldiers gave up to ensure our freedom.