Village Life

Today we went back to our old Village where we lived for ten years and where both children were born. Huffle and I always dreamed of living a quiet life in a small village and when a house came up for sale in Billesdon (a most desirable sought after village location), we jumped at the chance to live there. We looked at the garden over the very neat manicured hedge and fell in love with it straight away. Once inside, we discovered parquet floors and terracotta floor tiles hidden under purple swirly carpet and thick windowsills covered with many layers of white paint and sticky back plastic. There was a pantry with an original stone where meat would once have been kept and outside outhouses and toilet (as well as an inside bathroom!). We thought that house would be our forever home and it seemed huge. Then along came Small and the house became busy and more full. Then we had Smallest and we realised that one tiny bathroom and two adults and two children didn't work. So we had an architect draw up some plans to convert the loft into another bedroom and a bathroom. It was all very exciting. Then we got the chance to move to Canada and you know the rest......

On the way we encountered some lambs on the road, so after I had taken their photograph, I usherd them back into their field. Ahhhhhhh

So today, we started our day by visiting the boys old school. When we rang the bell, the Headmistress came to the door. She knew we were due to visit but didn't know what day. She recognised us immediately, apologised as she was in the middle of teaching but said we could walk around as we wanted. MrsN was the first class we encountered. Small's old teacher but not his school mates. She explained to the class who we were though some of them knew us already. She told them all about where we lived and asked lots of questions. Next we went to Small's class (his friends) and the teacher stopped their maths class and the whole class asked us lots of questions. We stayed for ages until lunchtime when Small went off and sat with his old friends while they ate their lunch and played with them on the school field. Smallest stayed with us and we visited the staff room and talked to the teachers.

We then drove to the next village where we met up with Aunty Miaow, Uncle Tuc and Little Yorkshire Pudding. We had a lovely meal (LYP did too!) and a chat but unfortunately we had to leave. Lots of hugs and kisses and many promises to Skype and a future visit.

Uncle Tuc, Beer and baby, me and Aunty Miaow.

LYP.

These two are going to be fabulous parents. Already, they are working together as a team. They will make a lovely lovely family xxxxx

We went back to Billesdon to go to the local shop where we all walked in and the owners glanced at us and said hello, then glanced again and asked if we were okay, then glanced again and realised who we were. We chatted and the owner said "so where are you now, Leicester?" "No" said Huffle, "still Canada". He had forgotton we had gone there. Oh dear, so easily forgotton. We bought some nice things to take back and the boys spent some of their money and we walked on to the Post Office where we chatted to Joan and Huffle printed off our boarding passes. We were just in time for the school coming out so we walked to the playground, talked to lots of people we haven't seen for ages and then took the kids to the park to play. LizzieDotDot and her lot were there. Everett and her little one was there. Rach was there with Iz and a few others. The boys had a great time playing, climbing trees and hiding Smallest's hat. All the friends played together again like they always did. LizzieDotDot brought her flask so we had something warm to drink and handed out Jam Tarts - just like old times, it was really cold. I had forgotten how high and windy The Village was.

Our old house (a little less loved than when we lived there maybe)

Old friends climbing trees and us all walking back from the park.

Huffle went off to sit and chat to C&M, our old neighbours and have a warm by their lovely open fire. I stayed with the mums and the boys. It was very hard to say goodbye to Everett and LizzieDotDot again. I visited with C&M again and then we left to come back to the barn.

We finished some more packing and then Moo arrived. Not long after Grandma and Grandad and CousinPest arrived. We finished off all the food, tried the homemade wine and chatted about our two week visit. MrsChappo and her two kids arrived to say goodbye. OChappo and Small went straight upstairs and chatted as if they had never been away. RChappo and Smallest were a bit shy of each other but we got some nice photos of them all.

Chappos and family

Lovely friends.

Smallest, OChappo, Small and RChappo.

We had stories before bed which we all made up, then lots of kisses and huggles, working out it was only 83 days till we saw Moo again and then the barn was quiet. The kids fell asleep very quickly I blogged and Huffle put the cases in the car.

BYE BYE ENGLAND, WE HAVE REALLY ENJOYED BEING BACK x

 

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