Looking Forward to 2015

“A thin grey fog hung over the city, and the streets were very cold; for summer was in England.” 
― Rudyard Kipling, The Light That Failed [Illustrated]

In order to raise myself out of the doldrums of this upcoming week, I am putting a positive spin on things and thinking happily forward to... our 2015 family trip to England!  That's right!

We've taken Maeve to England, in fact, we did it twice before she was two, as it was a lot cheaper to fly with her when we didn't have to pay for a seat.  And when she did a lot more sleeping in a day than she does now.  But of course, she doesn't remember those trips at all, and who can blame her?  But this time she will have turned five, and will be nigh unto starting kindergarten when we take this family trip!

I don't want to do a whole lot of sightseeing with her, but I do want to try and take her into London for a day on the express train.  Whatever she's into at that age, we'll try and go see.  But I'd like her to see Waterloo station, Buckingham Palace, St. James' Park, Westminster Abbey, etc, at least from the outside.

And she'll get to wander around my parents' town of Chobham, too, see the 12th century church and the little shops on the high street, wander over to the big soccer field and playground, and take lots of nature walks on Chobham Common, as long as it's not too muddy.  Oh! The child will need wellies!

I hope she'll have fun trying lots of new foods, and really seeing what it's like where Grandma and Grandpa live.  I'm excited, wondering what she'll fall in love with over there, whether she'll love any of my favorites, like toffee chews, the fruit sodas, the Indian takeaway, the tea, the rainy days.

And even though it'll be a year ahead of our big 10th wedding anniversary, the Husband and I want to do a day trip into Paris to celebrate our anniversary.  He's been there before and I never have, and would love to spend the day wandering around eating good bread and seeing Monmartre, Notre Dame, the Sacre Coeur, etc.

We are starting to put money aside now, so don't be put out with us if we turn you down for a dinner out or a big shopping trip this year.  We're setting money aside for London/Paris 2015!  It's important!

Baby Maeve at Brighton pier, her first look at the ocean!