2011 fun and games

2011 started with the new job, which for about 3 weeks had me based in the London office.  Then a couple of day trips to Paris by Eurostar to meet clients.  Then a consulting engagement based in La Defence, Paris which turned into a 4 month weekly commute.  I now have a reasonable working knowledge of Paris as a City and grew to quite like it, especially for jogging along the Seine, around the Arch de Triomph, the Jardin Tuilleries and Luxembourg etc...

And by the end I'd built up enough points to bring Fran over for a couple of days to enjoy a weekend for very reasonable cost.  I can't find any pictures of Paris, but I'll add them if I do!

Family Davies for Ruby Anniversary

Easter in sunshine at Olney

When we got back from our Europe trip we were convinced we would use Roofus for all sorts of little getaways and overnighters...  We have done a bit, and certainly the fact she is parked outside the house all the time means it's really easy to jump in and go.  The reality is not quite so idillic but nothetheless we do try and use her, even just for pinic or takeaway lunches on Chipperfield Common!

Roofus did have quite a busy 2011 when we had outings to:
- Thetford Forest for valentines
- Easter weekend in Olney with Chris, Sarah and SPAR

Birthday at Samyeling monestary

- Graham and Amanda's wedding (Staffordshire) in May
- Mum and Dad's Ruby Anniversary in April at Whipsnade Zoo
- Natalie and Mark's wedding (Surrey) in August
- James and Nicki's wedding (West Sussex) in August

From Sussex we took a Roofus on a trip of northern England taking in Hull, Segways, Keilder, Peebles, Lake District including the Wrynose and Hardnott passes, and returning via Blackpool and the Peak District.  Beautiful scenery and pretty good weather to boot.

My Birthday this year was partly spent at the Samyeling Buddhist Monestary somewhere in the borders.

October Half term 2011 was perhaps the least successful housing selection in all the years we've been doing the holiday.  We stayed in Shoreham by Sea and the location, company and weather was up to standard, it's just the the house itself wasn't.

Sometime in November we had a random and not fully successful night out somewhere near Duxford where we stayed in a pub garden and ate in the pub.  An experience to be remebered but hopefully not repeated.

Boxing Day 2011 was spent in Farnsfield, near Mansfield and included using Roofus as our overnight lodgings, which was pretty refreshing although the heating did us proud.