Visiting Leeds

 Tryfan and I took the train up to Leeds today so that he could visit the university and I could attend a meeting.  A two-fer!  It was great traveling together actually, and lovely that Caroline could meet us at the station, take us for a walking tour of the city centre, then take us back to her and Locko's house for a fabulous evening of conversation, gorgeous food and drinks.  It was a very memorable night!

We took the train back to London today in the afternoon, had dinner at a German Gymnasium place at Kings Cross, then eventually got home. It was wonderful.

So much love

 Look at this gorgeous photo my girl sent me.  I love seeing my Mom and my Girl together and smiling at me.  It makes my heart feel so good.

Firle Bonfire

Today Tryfan was up in Edinburgh for the day with Eva, due to come back late tonight but then planning to stay with her in Brighton anyway, so we were free to do what we wanted!  We ended up driving to Firle and meeting up with Duane and Sara, and their friend Andre. As the Firle Bonfire Society says, "We are Firle, and we do bonfire".  It was a really fun night, with a clear starry sky and chilly temperatures - perfect for flaming torches in a parade, and a gigantic bonfire.

The 3 men who were addressing the crowd from the stage on stilts were dodging firecrackers that were being thrown or shot at them every few seconds.  They just ducked and dodged and the guy in the middle was giving a long speech. We found this hysterical. Anyway, we left a bit early while the fireworks were still going, and we joined Duane and Sara for a nightcap back at their house before calling it a night.

Girls weekend in St Leonards

 Cat invited Emma and I to come stay with her in St Leonards for the weekend (or at least a night), so we did that!

We went swimming in the murky chocolate colored water (which wasn't very inspiring, but it was still fun and felt good once we were out in it), then walked along the beach to Hastings where we went in a museum and then found food before heading back to Cat's house. We bought cheesy Captain's hats along the way!

 

Tryfan turns 18!

 Tryfan's 18th birthday party was last weekend, but today was the day he actually crossed into adulthood.  Rhods was away for the weekend in Wales with his buddies, so this morning we had the traditional birthday morning start without him.  We still piled into our bed though, and let Tryfs open a few presents to start off his day.  

Eva and I went to the rugby club to watch Tryfan's match in the afternoon, and then we all went out to dinner at a Miller & Carter's in Haywards Heath.

We came home for birthday cake that Eva and I had been working on.

 

It was a fun day, and also a poignant and momentous occasion as it marked really the end of the childhood era for our family.  

And so, at 18 years of age, our Tryfan is fun, easy-going, curious, caring, inquisitive, and many other things.  Its nice to see him grow into himself, and to navigate decision making in life (both good and bad decisions).  In fact, last night we watched a video of Tryfan's first year that I had edited into a movie back about 16 years ago.  Its crazy to see him as a baby baby and then see him now. Typical Mom comment! But anyway, Happy Birthday, Tryfs.  You are a very satisfactory son.

Roxy's birthday

Tonight was Roxy's 18th birthday party, and all the boys came dressed up in suits. Here are Oscar, Sam and Tryfan:

Tryfan's 18th birthday

... I arrived by taxi from Gatwick after traveling back from Zurich today, and the party was in full swing!

 

There were a couple of minor casualties, but nobody got hurt, nothing got broken and the police were not called, so we are calling that a WIN!  There were a handful of kids staying in the tipi out back, and the morning was rainy so we had a sobering next day cleaning up and getting the house back to shape.

Zurich

I went to the European Geothermal Congress in Zurich this week.  I was glad for the chance to go, although I felt very heavy and conflicted due to some unfortunate work-related stuff.  Anyway, it was a long week but overall quite a good one.  This is my friend Jeanette...

And here are most of the SLB gang: Marc, Phil, Etienne, Carla, me, Fabio, Gio and Stephen.

Here we are at a really cool bar which is up in a telescope tower.

I got to see my long lost friend Aldo, and meet a new friend Kubilay bey

 

I went on a field trip to Riehen Geothermal Power plant

And then took the train to the airport and flew home, straight into the throes of Tryfan's 18th birthday party!!