This is a picture of my family (minus me) a few years ago (perhaps early 1997?). From the left there's Andrea (my wife), Tracey (little sis), Mandy (big sis), Vince (Mandy's hubby), mum and dad. At the front there's Izzy and Elliot with their dad Chris (Tracey's husband) and then Becky (Mandy and Vince's girl) and Jess - Tracey and Chris' eldest.
Spixworth is a small village with a round tower church just a couple of miles north of Norwich in Norfolk. We had adjoining cottages set back from the main road and had a fun time here in 1992. Jess was the only child with us as the Scotts could only make it for the weekend. We did take our budgie, Fairfax, with us though!
Piddletrenthide in Dorset doesn't sound like a nice place for a holiday but this was one of my faves. Mandy, Vince and Becky couldn't come this year (1993) but Margaret and Dave did (as did their rabbit Tanzy!). The excellent swimming pool and sauna helped us enjoy this holiday.
We were back in Norfolk in 1994 - this time to a little village called Trunch - where there is a fabulous church to visit! The weather again was good to us - we had two cottages this time as the whole family came again - including Margaret and Dave. This shot was taken outside our house - Honeysuckle Cottage.
In 1995 we all went to Tewkesbury (Chris just for the weekend) and stayed at a beautiful old farmhouse just outside the town. This was the first year that Izzy joined us!
1996 saw us in staying just outside the town of Honiton. It is a nice part of the country but we didn't see the best of it as it poured down with rain most of the week and dad had a terrble cold for half of that time.
Bakewell in Derbyshire (1997) was a nice holiday despite the Scotts not coming. The house we stayed in was thatched - one night it rained so hard we had water flowing down the walls - inside! The rest of the weather was pretty nice though.
Unfortunately, the Farmhouse we stayed at in 1998, Mullacot half way between Ilfracombe and Woolacombe wasn't quite up to our usual standard. Despite this we had plenty of fun while we were there.
Back to South Devon the following year (1999) - and this time we stayed in a lovely little cottage on the cliffs above Croyde Bay. The place we stayed in was ideal, the weather a little patchy - and the photography here - on a self timer - definitely sub-standard!
2000 saw us first going north east to Whitby for a holiday with Martyn and Ann. This was photo taken on the last day. We the travelled to the north west of England to the Lake District, where the scenery was beautiful - if not the weather. This family shot was taken on our final day.
In the August Bank Holiday week of the year 2001 the family (minus Vince and Chris) made the long trek to the island of Anglesey. The island is quite bleak but we were very lucky with the weather and the pre-historic and historic sites there are plentiful. Becky and Jess insisted we went to see some of the Burial tombs instead of lazing on the beach. The first we visited was just outside Holyhead. The second was further down this road. I. of course was tired by now, but undaunted the two rascals insisted we went and saw a third! Not only that but back in Holyhead they talked me into going to see the Roman fort at Holyhead itself! Later in the week the whole family went to see Beaumaris Castle and here's a picture of Izzy on one of the walkways within Caernarvon Castle. You'd have thought that an ex-Beauty Therapist could do her own make-up wouldn't you? But Andrea needed help from Izzy to achieve this look... On the very last day we did the usual thing and took a family photo.
