Harry Potter Experience!

 Another goal as we planned out our long-awaited return to the UK was a family trip to Hogwarts! On our final full day in England, we spent a long afternoon at the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

The collection of actual sets, costumes and props was amazing, and a must-see for any true Potterhead. My girls, both Slytherins, here are in front of the Slytherin section in the Great Hall.

The treasure trove of Bellatrix Lestrange was very sparkly cool.

The teller at Gringott's Bank.

Diagon Alley!

The Weasley family's home

The special effects and props exhibit was very interesting.

We had a great experience here! 

We stayed overnight in the nearby village of King's Langley, a lovely spot we highly recommend. Our Premier Inn was well-priced, and the town felt upscale and safe. On Thursday morning, since our flight wasn't until 4:30 p.m., Stace and I walked down the main drag where he spotted this patriotic flower array.

The 13th Century church had an amazing bit of history - it had been the burial place for royalty, a 14th century Edmund de Langley, the first Duke of York!

When we'd finished our walk, we packed the car up and drove to Heathrow. 

All went smoothly with our flight home; I'm so very thankful for these last few weeks!

Willow and Wetlands

On Tuesday, our last full day in Somerset, we went with Sue and Gord to the Willow and Wetlands Museum, which has expanded since our last visit to include a number of shops and a walk with displays of wicker creations. 

I absolutely loved the bunting they had up! Stace is checking out the withies for sale - they're processed and ready to be made into whatever you want! The gift shop also sold craft kits where you can make your own wicker items.

We last came to the museum when Cora was one, and this time, we didn't actually pay to go to the museum itself. They added so many shops and displays outside that we didn't feel we needed to.

We then walked to the river, and along the way, you find lots of Alice in Wonderland characters, all made of wicker. They were impressive!

"We're all mad here!"

Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum on the left, and the Mad Hatter on the right.

 

We took a break to enjoy the sunshine by the river. Stace just had to lie in the grass, and Cora just had to throw grass on him. Apparently, Stace asked her to. 

It was a beautiful day and scene, and a lovely day out together. 

Later, we met up with Dean and Jenny at the swimming pool in Yeovil, before going out to a last meal together as a family. And we finally got the traditional cousins photo! Two 12-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a nearly 9-year-old. They still all enjoyed playing on the playground in the beer garden at the Hungry Horse.

Terrific Time in Tyneham

A few months ago, Dean and Jenny went to a cool place we'd never heard of, on the south coast, with history and a beautiful cove; it sounded like the perfect family day trip, and it was!

We went out on Sunday to Tyneham, a tiny village that was taken over by the British government during WWII because of its strategic position on the Channel. Even now, the military uses the area around the ghost town for tank exercises. 

There were plaques to read in every destroyed cottage.

The church had lots of informative displays as well. 

This photo shows the row of cottages before the war, with their upper stories and roofs intact.

This was inside the schoolhouse, where I found the framed photos of Queen Elizabeth and King George V interesting. 

There was so much to learn and see, and the only charge was a suggested two pound donation to park the car! 

We then took a lovely 20 minute walk on a path near the woods to the bay. 

It felt like a private beach, and it practically was. If only it had been warmer, I think we all would have been in there.

Violet asked me to go with her up a nearby path up the hill, and I'm so glad I agreed.

The views were gorgeous!

On the other side, away from where our family played, we spotted a sea cave.

It felt like we were a million miles away!

There's my girl, on the narrow path.

Our family was resting on the white rocks near the edge of the green hill.

Such a great day out together! 
 

Fun with the Family

On Saturday, we braved the rain and went to Burrow Hill, for a weekend Cider Bus event, with food trucks and entertainment. Oh, and cider, yes, we also had cider.

Later, we went to Auntie Doreen's and Uncle Pete's house to relax and enjoy the day with the whole famly. 

Check out that dessert spread!

Cora and Violet played with Olivia and Bethany, which included a bit of abuse for poor Cora. Ha!

Spending time with family, after three years, was the highlight of our trip.

Stace and I went out with Karen for a drink at the Drayton Crown, while Martin was away for a stag do.
 

We also stopped by Auntie Pauline's to say hello, for the first time since the loss of Uncle Brian. We enjoyed meeting her new puppy, the black dog Stace is petting.

On Friday night, we met up with Dean, Euan and Livi to have a go on their little motorbike. Violet had quite an adventure on her very first time riding a geared motorbike. She didn't know the layout of the fields, and didn't see the single wire strand of fencing separating the fields. She zoomed toward it, and didn't see it until too late - wham! She went straight through it!

The fields, owned by Dean's friend, were full of old cars and equipment, including this dozer the girls were climbing on.

Sue made a lovely roast dinner, and I wanted to remember this sweet moment of Cora helping Pop with the dishes.

Up the Bell Tower

When we returned from our trip north, Sue had some great news for us. The girls had expressed interest in climbing the bell tower at Kingsbury's St. Martin's Church, and Sue was able to arrange it! Yes, it pays to know people who know people!

We were all able to go, led by a friendly man named Dave, who has the keys to the tower. Up 130-plus steps we climbed, up the circular stairwell. We stopped and peeked in at a room with the bells themselves, one of which was 700 years old!

The views from the top were beautiful, of course!

I love this photo Violet took.
 

Here's Dave, with the bells.

This is the door at the top of the stairwell that led to the top of the bell tower.

Stairs going down

John White, in 1733, wanted to be remembered!