Jack and Katrina's Place

On Sunday we caught the train down to Brighton to visit Jack's cousin Josephine and her fiancee Jed. They have a lovely house in Portslade, a suburb of Brighton. They have a beautiful english country garden, looking as if it were straight out of a garden magazine.

A bit like our garden in Wellington, it was built on a series of terraces, but unlike our windswept hillside, they could enjoy tall bushy flowers like blue delphiniums and foxgloves. Still it gave us both some inspiration and turned our thoughts to home.

Jed and Jospehine took us for a short drive up onto the South Downs ( which are actually 'Ups', or a line of smooth topped hills) There was a lovely view, although it was a bit hazy, and a nice cool breeze for kite flying. Kirri Lynn will remember I thought months ago kite flying would be a fun game for small boys, well here is Guy having his first go at kite flying, or kite chewing actually!

Then we went for a walk down on the famous Brighton Waterfront, the lovely old pier unfortunately burnt down a few years ago and is now in the process of being removed. Brighton still has lots of other attractions and Jospehine guided us around the city centre. It is infinitely more relaxed than London, people say 'thanks' when they get off the bus and 'cheers' when you step out of their way on the footpath. They also have mighty groovy vegetarian cafes.

Jed and Josephine are getting married back in Auckland in March 2007, so we will look forward to catching up with them sometime thereafter. Guy had lots of cuddles for Josephine and big smiles for Jed, so he's looking forward to it too! ; )

P.S Guy has learnt to co-ordinate his legs enough to bounce on my lap. Unfortunately he thinks its hugely funny and does it all the time, that's what he's up to in the photo of Josephine and I in the cafe. I am going to have bulging sholder muscles by the time we get back to NZ and put him in the Jolly jumper. He bounces so vigorously Katrina thinks we may have to pad the top of the door frame!