Sundowner festival

Last weekend I took the kids to visit Matt, Anna, Joseph, Eliza & Vivi and to go to the Sundowner festival where Matt & Anna were doing their last gig with their band.

Zach & Martha loved the music

and the hot dogs!

Zach loved it and danced away until 9pm. Martha crashed out in the sling at 8pm.

Sociable Martha

Martha loves hanging out with people. Here she is joining in with the girls - Aunty Tri, Aunty Anna and Mummy.

visiting Matt & Anna

So here are a few pics of Matt & Anna's new house in Winchester which comes with Matt's new role as housemaster. It is really gorgeous and huge!

the garden

hallway

kitchen/dining

drawing room (where Matt hosts the other teachers in the house for pre- and post-lunch drinks every week day)

Basement which they have turned in to a lovely play&tv room

Kiddies on holiday

Clare, Pieter-bas and Amy

My University friend Clare and her lovely husband Pieter-bas put us up for 5 nights. It was so good to catch up and have them show or direct us around the city, lend us their bikes for an evening (while babysitting our kids) and share evenings chatting over delicious food and wine. Thanks guys!!

They live in central Amsterdam in the Red Light District in a big ecumenical community called Oudezijds100 which is doing amazing social & medical outreach stuff.

It was great to spend time with them in their lovely home and to get to know their little girl Amy who is a month younger than Martha.

Early morning pyjama rendez vous for Martha & Amy (+Mummies)

Zach took a particular shinning to Amy, smothering her with kisses and hugs

On our last day we went out for brunch

at a great cafe called Bakkerswinkle

This is the impressive kiddie section next to our table. It kept Zach happily entertained while we ate and drank coffee.

And a walk in the park..

Amsterdam Library

We particularly liked the very swish new library. The library had a piano in the foyer for any (decent) pianist to use. So Sam played and his beautiful tunes floated through the building.

There was a great kids section...

amazing views from the cafe

and a very funky floor in the lobby

Exploring Amsterdam

We loved exploring the city.

Beautiful & educational boat tour of the city

Sam & I borrowed our friends bikes and rode around the city one evening stopping for a drink at a bar.

resting at the flower market

playground

On the tram (Zach loved the trams!) to a beautiful big park