A weekend to remember
It’s not every weekend you get to stay in an English stately home. And, having seen the prices, I don’t think it’s very likely we’ll be there again any time soon. But for this weekend when my mother turned 60, she decided she wanted to take us all away to stay in this gorgeous Stately home where one of the wings has been converted into a hotel. It was so much fun to be away with the whole family. All my siblings and siblings-in-law, nephews and nieces, and my mum’s parents were there. We ate WAY too much food but we weren’t complaining!
My mum is an amazing lady. She gave up paid work to raise the four of us siblings and her influence in all of our lives is hugely tangible. And since the four of us have left home, she has extended her influence into countless other people’s lives. She has been involved with running numerous Alpha courses at her church, cooking for the homeless, visiting the elderly, and, more recently, running Alpha in Leicester’s high security prison. She has truly lived - and continues to live - a life that is of eternal significance. I am very proud of her.
Here are some of the pictures from this weekend (check Rachel’s post for some more pics):
My mum with her two grand-daughters, Abigail and Elizabeth
Mum and Dad
Mum with her parents, Terry and Kathleen
My elder sister, Penny, and her husband Rowan
My elder brother, Julian, and his wife Vikki
My younger sister, Jo, and her husband Jon
Me shaking hands with my nephew, Joshua, after he beat me at tennis
Joshua gloating
Me and Rachel
The view from our bedroom window
technorati tags: the future now, family
August 7th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Wow, your Mum looks great. All my best to your family. Does everyone live near Sheffield?
August 7th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
No WAY your mum is 60! I think my mom looks older than she does…and she’s not yet 50!!!
Looks like a lovely weekend!
August 7th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
Everyone reckons my dad is the older of the two, but he’s not actually 60 until January ‘08.
My family are all over the country, Dean. My parents are about 90 minutes south of Sheffield in a village outside of the city of Leicester. My younger sister and her husband live actually in the city of Leicester. My older sister’s family lives in a town called Weybridge, which is about 20 minutes from Heathrow. And my elder brother’s family live in Kent. We’re quite dispersed!
August 7th, 2006 at 11:07 pm
Yes, quite– for a family entirely contained in a country the size of Louisiana. :-p
I here feel it incumbent upon me to point out that at the time I was born my parents lived nearly 750 miles (about 1200 km) from the nearest relative and were only three states away. And that was in the Eastern half of the country where the states are all much smaller.
Still, it’s nice to see everyone at once!
August 7th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
PS What does your mum use on her face?!? I’ve got to get me some. She doesn’t look as though she’s aged in fifteen years.
August 7th, 2006 at 11:11 pm
dang… what a good looking family. your mom and dad are great looking actually… wow!
August 10th, 2006 at 12:13 am
Beautiful family! Beautiful estate! THAT is the way to stay!! Thanks for the comment! I am settling into my new little bungalo in Los Angeles. I am hoping to post my “walk to Starbucks” pictures soon. Kinda hard when I don’t have internet at home yet!!
August 10th, 2006 at 7:35 am
Looks like a wonderful time! Your Mum does look wonderful…especialy with her grandchildren…don’t suppose she’s putting any pressure on you and Rachel..?!?