VolcanOMG

Paul:
Ok enough with the OMG references but seriously I thought that deserved it.

Well again it has been a while and we apologise for our laxness. The main reason for it has been the visit of yet more family members and the mass travelling that normally ensues. Of course for any of you blighty followers you may have heard that there has been a bit of disruption to some of the flights and we have had some unexpected good news.

Jacob and Lolita were due to fly at 10pm on Thursday last week, that was day one of the disruption. They have been told that the first flight they will be on is on Tuesday the 27th. so from the 15th April through to the 27th they are having to stick it out here at Chez Brycock. Jacob has missed a week and a half of school (he is really missing the homework...really, he asked his mum to get some for him). His mum has been really great about it. Having owned up to really missing him just before he was supposed to return, she has had to wait a further twelve days and is coping admirably. She has also not blamed me. Apparently when it became clear it was an act of God I became chief suspect LOL.

Lolita has had to tell her boss a couple of times that she really is stuck in a different country and not skiving. Genius!

I had a 8 day break from work to spend with the family and it was really jam packed. Caves, Baseball, The Harlem Globetrotters, Museums left right and centre, Waterfall walks. Outstanding really.

The globetrotters were brilliant. they really put on a great show and Jacob 5really enjoyed it. The Great Falls waterfall were fab. We walked about 2 miles downstream and saw a high water mark that blew our minds. Imagine about a 40 foot ravine that gets really narrow. When the rains come the water can't get through t quick enough and the river backs up. It then came over 12 feet above the walking level on TOP of the ravine. Crazy.

At the weekend we had booked in to see one of my old work colleagues in Maryland. He very gracefully extended the invitation to the extra two visitors and we headed over to his house for a cracking barbie and a walk up "Sugarloaf Mountain". Not the famous ones from Brazil or Maine but a slightly smaller equivalent at 1200 feet. We drove to near the top and did a spot of walking to complete the journey. Love it! Finished off the evening by a campfire making 's'mores'. Now a S'more is a curious beast. Imaging a Ryvita shaped Digestive type biscuit that you can break into two perfect squares. Two marshmallow that you toast over the fire. Pull one of the mallows on to one of the squares of digestives, add a square of Hershey's chocolate and put the other mallow on top of that. Then put the other square of digestive on top and watch your sugar levels soot up. Crikey what a rush.

I am back at work now and getting back in to the swing of things. Despite having a email inbox of epic proportions I have managed quite well to start waking up so bloomin early again. As a result the pace of life has slowed in the house again. Not so many trips out and more Uno on the balcony (only for the non-workers). Sof has applied or a couple of jobs so we shall wait and see how that turns out. She is off to take a mandatory CPR course to help get some hospital work. Will let her tell you about that.

Brycock Manor...Population 2....no Wait 4 (gotta add in Jacob and Lolita...no...blimey...you have got to be kidding...population 6.

Oh yeah Wednesday morning two More stranded Brits will ease in to the house. Neil and Anna were having a well earned break in Vegas and were due to fly home on Monday. Virgin told them that they could come to DC and get a flight on 4th May (yeah the 4th of May two weeks later) or stay in Vegas get one the 11th May (three whole weeks). We said they were welcome here at a much reduced rate so they will increase the number of UK citizens and provide two extra laps for the cats to sit on.

We are seriously looking forward to catching u with the Francis' and will no doubt be delayed providing more updates to this Blog as we party yet further. Sof even had some time to go off Baseballing with Jacob again tonight. Lolita and I are at home trying to see them on TV.

Suffice to say it is really busy out here and we are loving every minute.

Love you all and miss you (a bit) xxxx