A very quick check in and post for all my friends in SA. As you know this week we have been so blessed to have Charise, Shane and the children staying with us. I cannot believe that time has sped away and tomorrow is our last day together. So here we go...

Wednesday we took a drive up to the lake district. We had two 'must do's' on our agenda. First was a visit to Ambleside for Charise and I as we are Charlotte Mason home schools and you simply cannot be so close to where she lived and not pay a visit to her home town...

and for the highlight of our day, a visit to Hilltop Farm. Home of the legendary Beatrix Potter. The house is just as Beatrix Potter left it. So many parts of her home were used in her illustrations. In each room one of her books lay open for visitors to see her home reflected in the book illustrations. Just lovely! An interesting thing that we discovered was that her brother, Bertram, was also an accomplished artist. In one of the rooms the walls are adorned with his magnificent paintings.

The dads having a laugh

It's hard to say which part the children enjoyed more. The beautiful house and gardens, Mr McGregor sitting in the sun...

Or the trip on the ferry crossing Lake Windemere

Whatever it was, we all loved being out in the countryside, walking through beautiful gardens and villages in the SUNSHINE! Yip - the weather played ball.

Today we were privileged enough to go on a tour of the Manchester United football stadium. Trevor does quite a bit of business with them so arranged a tour - mainly for the benefit of the boys - but us girls enjoyed it too ;o)

Although half the time Charise and I had no clue what the guide was talking about - we could appreciate it for what it was.

Tomorrow is our last day together ;o( we are off to the beautiful walled city of Chester. I'll be sure to post some pictures of our time there. Until then...