House quiet again - NOT amateur radio

Our "London" grandchildren have gone home and the house is quiet again. We have had them since Monday and visitors for over a week, leaving me exhausted. We love having the grandchildren, but they do tire me!

Treat time - NOT amateur radio

Last week we treated our grandchildren to meals at our local farm shop. This is 2 of them enjoying a rather special drink.

With the grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

Earlier today we did a trip around a few local churches.

This is me with two of our grandchildren outside Snailwell Church near Newmarket.

Chippenham Park - NOT amateur radio

We were here earlier in the week with our other grandchildren. Here is a photo of the "London" grandchildren next to 2 frog statues and one of the lakes.

With the grandchildren earlier - NOT amateur radio

Today was "changeover day".  Some went home and some others arrived.

For a period in this mad house they were all here. This picture captures them now - growing up all too fast.

Chippenham Park

Yesterday we took our son, his wife and their children to Chippenham Park, near Cambridge. There were loads of snowdrops out as well as aconites and just a few daffodils.  Our grandson was fascinated by the ice on the lakes: he spent much of his time finding sticks to throw on the frozen water.

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

Last night we had one of our sons and his children staying. They have now gone home. This is them outside "our" windmill.

Rare snow - NOT amateur radio

Until this winter, we have not seen snow for some years. We have had the odd flurry, but not decent snow that has stayed. Yesterday it snowed (unexpectedly) all morning and there is still snow on the ground this morning.

This is a photo of 2 of our grandchildren in the snow yesterday with their mum.

Mince pie factory - NOT amateur radio

We now have our other 2 grandchildren staying. Here they are busy making mince pies in the kitchen with my wife. I can't wait to taste.

UPDATE 1314z: They tasted very good!

UPDATE 1545z: 26 made. All gone! More tomorrow.

Busy period - NOT amateur radio

When you get older you love to see grandchildren, but you do get very tired. Our 4 are still little and on the go all the time. One lot has just left and the next lot are due very soon. Ho hum...

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

As mentioned yesterday, at the moment, amateur radio is having to take a back seat as we have 3 (of our 4) grandchildren staying together with one of our sons. We love having them, but these days I get tired.

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

For the next few days we have 3 of our 4 grandchildren staying with us. The picture shows them having tea together in our kitchen.  The wine is not theirs!

Canterbury - NOT amateur radio

Earlier this week, we took our "Kent" grandchildren into Canterbury on the bus. Whilst there, we bought them a drink and a bun in a café near Canterbury cathedral.

In Australia - NOT amateur radio

At the moment a couple of our grandchildren are in Australia visiting their Australian grandparents with their mum and dad. The photo was taken on Hamilton Island in the Whitsunday Islands. The grandparents live in Brisbane.

Grandchildren coming later, so less amateur radio

Our "London" grandchildren arrive after lunch. It means that amateur radio takes a back seat for a few days, although I can still go on 10m WSPR and 6m JT65 RX or beacon mode. My usual Monday night sked on 2m FM is out as one of them sleeps in the bedroom near my shack.

Home quiet - NOT amateur radio

We have had all our 4 grandchildren and parents here over the last week. These days I find them very tiring. It is great having them and it is "clean mess". Once they have all gone, the house does seem empty, but tidy!

On yer bike - NOT amateur radio

We are lucky to live at the end of a quiet Close with no through traffic. It is ideal for our grandchildren to play outside. We always watch over them.

Home quiet once more - NOT amateur radio

After a busy couple of weeks we are alone again. All grandchildren have now departed. We love seeing them very much, but when they go we return to calm! It was pretty "full on" and I am exhausted. As the old saying went, "nice to see them come, nice to see them go".  In years to come we will miss these visits.

Baking - NOT amateur radio

We have 2 of our grandchildren staying this week. They are a handful, but it is usually "clean mess". They enjoy baking as the photo shows. This is them making a cake. The floor loves it :-)

Grandchildren - NOT amateur radio

Most of this week we have our "London" grandchildren, although we spent most of the afternoon with our granddaughter having an x-ray! She fell over the weekend and hurt her arm. We were afraid she'd broken it but all was well.

The photo shows her looking pretty happy!