Mwaaaah!

Aw, man, we are going to miss these guys so much! They left this morning, to drive down to London in their rental car. They'll be there for another few days and then they'll be flying back to NC.

Jer, Emmie, and Kara in Edinburgh, Scotland.

We love you guys and are going to miss you so much! Mwaaaaaaaaaah!

Come See Why We Love Our Little Village

How great it is to have friends in town. We are having a blast showing them around our little town. They leave tomorrow and we've done a lot since they got here last week...so today we just kept it low-key here in Whitley Bay.

We're out the door. Destination: Whitley Bay.
Turn right Ollie; it's three blocks to the seafront.

Kara, Emmie, Mike, Merrit, and I walking and bike-riding along the boardwalk
in Whitley Bay. The North Sea is so beautiful!

Only a few weeks of no training wheels and Merrit has gotten really good
at bike riding.

Merrit started out on his bike in the skate park--his FIRST TIME on his bike
out there.  Hello, panic attack. (Me, not him!)

Ollie's FIRST TIME in the skate park. He got knocked down once and we
pulled him out. It was a busy day, so we'll have to bring him back when it's
not so crowded! He did great, though! He did NOT want to come out!

Since he's still new with bike riding, the bike was a little much for Merrit, so
after Ollie was pulled, Merrit went out for a while on the scooter.

All the benches along the sea have plaques to commemorate people. I've never
seen fresh flowers alongside the plaques. Some kind of anniversary. Sweet.

The boys taking a breather. After the skate park, on our way to get ice cream.
Oh my gosh, what a day!

Merrit has the camera. Taking pictures of people.
Ollie!

Jer and Mike!

Kara!

Emmie!

Me!

Then the photographer passed the camera over to me.
Merrit!

Mike had coffee while the boys and I shared a banana split,
and Jer and Kara ate chocolate cake and scones with coffee.

Mike chasing the boys through a flower maze, just beside the Spanish
City (a famous landmark in Whitley Bay). 

Run, Merrit, run!

Run, Ollie! Here comes Daddy!

Another Double Date

We had Brioni over again tonight to watch the kids. Double date in Tynemouth!

We started out at the Barca Lounge, a fun little surfing-themed lounge.

We walked a bit down the street to a tapas restaurant and wine bar called Lui's.
We shared a seafood paella, fried garlic mushrooms, bruscetta, and an Asian-style
wrap sandwich.

Why would a couple this suave go on a double date with....

...a couple as classy as us?

The sign on the door of the women's room at Lui's.

Oooh, fancy glittery toilet seat! 

The Sunday Roast

I blogged before about the Sunday Roast. It's a tradition here. Most restaurants serve some variation of a traditional Sunday dinner each week--and sometimes it's the only thing on the menu. We have tried about 10 different carveries and restaurants, and then we found The Cottage Kitchen. The Best Sunday Roast Ever.

Roast beef, gravy, Yorkshire pudding, peas, broccoli, carrots, mashed
potatoes, fried potatoes, mashed turnips, boiled cabbage, and stuffing.

I'm not exaggerating when I tell you that this little restaurant is literally around the corner. It takes us about 45 seconds to walk there. :) Down our street, turn right at the alleyway, there it is. We had to take Jer and Kara there. Had to.

You can choose between lamb, beef, pork, or chicken. I had a bite of Kara's lamb, and it was so delicious, I am going to have to get that from now on. Plus, they served it with mint, not mint jelly or mint sauce, but just finely chopped mint leaves that seemed to mixed with a bit of vinegar, and maybe salt...? I don't know, but it was sent straight from heaven.

Here we are, enjoying our traditional Sunday meal. What made it even better is that it was so nice out, we sat outside. Sunny, a bit breezy. Great meal. Great weather. Great friends.

Edinburgh with Friends, Is There Any Better Way?

We met up with Tom here at the Scott Monument,
which is just outside of the train station. It's in honor
of Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish novelist, playwright, and poet.
He's also the one who found the crown jewels!

They say the grass is always greener on the other side,
but I don't think so...

Ollie checking out the to-scale model of Edinburgh. He's perched over the
Castle Rock, where Edinburgh Castle is built. To the far left is Arthur's Seat.

Tom shows Merrit where we'll be going today. What a treat to have our own
personal (local!) tour guide. And a friend from home. :)

At some point in the city's history, they filled in the loch that used to be
here. Now it's one big public garden.

Outside the National Galleries of Scotland.
We didn't go in. Next time...

Edinburgh has some beautiful buildings!

After we left the castle, we walked back down the
Royal Mile. Tom had a pub in mind. The boys
found these fun-house mirrors on the side of a building.

Ollie danced in front of the mirrors to the music
on the street.

Wacky family portrait. Merrit said, "Dad,
you're so short!"

We passed lots of street performers, but this
guy really captured Merrit's attention. He
wanted to go give him money, but he was
really uneasy about standing next to him
(or her?) for a photo. You can see it in his
body language!

Just outside St. Giles Cathedral.
Is he on lunch break? Would you wear this
to work? He's got a briefcase. I dunno...

We went into St. Giles Cathedral, which was stunning.
Not to mention, there was an organ concert being held,
which was free to the public. We wandered through,
admiring the music (Merrit couldn't believe it
when I told him that there was no electricity, speakers,
or amplifiers making the music that loud), and so many
artistic and skilled works. Merrit and I tried to name all the
different craftsmen/skills we saw: Carved wood,
detailed metal work, paintings, mosaics, carved stone,
carved marble, embroidery, calligraphy, woven fabrics,
even fresh flower arrangements. We weren't allowed
to take any photos in the cathedral.

The sound of bagpipes are everywhere on the streets. It's really powerful.

Thought it was cool how the patina was all rubbed off of this statue's toe...
the only part of him you could reach up and touch. Must be a good luck charm
for locals?

The best part about having a tour guide is restaurant recommendations!
Tom's wife, Catherine, met us for lunch and we went to a place called
The Mitre. Delicious!

Ah, a moment of peace and quiet while Ollie rests and
Merrit zones out.

We're in a pub...IN SCOTLAND!

Catherine and Tom.

We ordered the haggis with nips and tatties starter.
Contrary to popular belief, haggis doesn't always come in a casing. Nips are
turnips and tatties are potatoes. The gravy was delicious. We passed it
around and everyone had a bite or two.

Haggis! Mike was nervous about the first bite but ended up polishing it off.

Mike and I shared a steak and ale pie for our main.

Even now the Scottish are still rebellious and proud. 

This guy was entertaining a very large crowd. He expected tips and even
chased somebody down to get one!

Look...it's a clock. Made out of flowers.

See a close-up of the inscription below.

Our boys love to roll down grassy hills whenever they get a chance!

Ice cream with flake.

Emmie playing at a little park that Tom and Catherine took us to.

This park was AMAZING because it was in the shadow
of Castle Rock. What a view from below!

Ollie on the slide. Castle in the distance.
Wow.

Some passersby offered to take our picture. We're getting ready to head
back to the train, and then, back to Newcastle.