Back from vacation....

Me to Daughter: "What did you enjoy the most in UK?"
Daughter: "Spending time with family" :).

We returned last night from our UK trip. We have family based in London, and friends all over UK....and we had an amazing time out there. I am going to miss the superb London public transport system a lot. I fell in love with it.

The trip has changed all of us. The kids loved mimicking the British accent throughout their trip. We were fortunate enough to not experience any sort of racism out there. In fact, I found the people much better (polite, respectful, well dressed, well mannered) than the US. Whether it was traveling during peak hours on the tube, or taking long distance trains, we found ourselves taken care of very well. The kids were always offered a seat, and most people volunteered to move around (without being asked) to provide adjoining seats to us.

The weather was simply beautiful throughout the month of June. We got a few showers here and there, but frankly, coming from a dry, drought-ridden California, the rains were very welcome. I couldn't get enough of the green fields and parks and forests. Again, it was in stark contrast to the browns here in California.

We didn't dine out much, but I got to explore the local markets and made a lot of meals at home. Beans on toast has become a favorite of the kids. The cheese selection in UK is outstanding. Coffee was always good (much better than US), and I loved that we always got fresh milk and brown sugar (mostly fair trade) to add to our coffee or tea. Water is also served at room temperature. These are simple things, but water with ice and sugar laden drinks are a big turn off for me in the states.

We spent an entire week on the coast in Wales. Our friend A grew up there, and he hosted us during our stay in Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park. I am sure I will write a lot more posts about our time in Wales, but in a nutshell, that place is a wonderland. It has pristine beaches, lush green mountains, an amazing coastal walking path that would take several months to explore, tidepools, rock arches, wild life, dairy farms, lambs and cows, beaches to see the sunrise as well as sunset, and so much more. And when you have someone who grew up there to take you around, you see the place through their eyes, through their experience, through the local lens - and that is the BEST way to experience it! We also met A's family - his 76 year old mum (who is adorable), his sister and her family, and their pets. The kids couldn't get enough of the beach, and we came back with loads of sea shells and a heart full of happy memories from that trip.

Brexit happened while we were there, and we also attended a memorial of an MP who was shot down during our trip.

As and when I get a chance to upload pictures, I will write more.

As of now, we are jetlagged, but very happy to be home. The kids missed their bed, their toys, the garden, and that sense of belonging in this home and town that they've been since birth!

Happy New Year 2016

Hello Hello!!!

Wishing you all a VERY Happy New Year!!!

How were the holidays? Hope you all enjoyed some quality family time, and/or had time for yourself. I know some of you took vacations and I hope your travels were fun.

Sorry for the disappearing act last month. I was hoping to write a lot more than I did, but for some reason, whenever I sat to pen down things, I lost my motivation to write. I just wanted to read, read, read and so that's pretty much what I did during all my spare time.

We took a week long vacation to the Palm Desert in Southern California. From hiking in the snow at an altitude of 9000 feet with snow gear and a sled, to off-roading in a hummer at Joshua Tree National Park, we had a grand time. Throughout our trip, I never got tired of the 100's of windmills on I-10, always tuned to the winds, churning slowly, all day and all night long. The sunsets were fantastic as well. I fell in love with this area.

We were fortunate and were able to stay out of most touristy areas during our trip. We had rented a private condo, so we stayed out of the resorts. We also made most of our meals at home, so avoided the crowded restaurant scene. We saw lots of Christmas lights, met extended family, and even spent an awesome quiet but educational day at the local Children's museum.

The kids and I spent a few days after our trip at my sister's house, getting pampered by my parents. My mom cooked, cooked and cooked. We ate and slept, on repeat, during our time with them. She also cooked loads of stuff for us to freeze before she left for India last week. Mum is my star, and whenever I get lazy around the kitchen, one thought about her brings me back to action.

After my parents left for India on the 31st, we met loads of friends in the bay area. Conversations, dining out, games, coffee outings - it was a different kind of fun and relaxation.

When we returned home after 2 weeks, it didn't feel that we were very much in California the entire time. It felt we had traveled several countries and met so many people. We saw snow, rain, desert, new vegetation, Joshua trees, loads of cacti, windmills, tons of airplanes at the Air Museum near SF, rolling green hills and cloud covered vistas during our drives....and so much more. Nature truly treated us this time, and I am very grateful for that.

Our local friends waited for us to celebrate the new year, so once we returned, we partied with them and caught up. Here are a couple of pictures from the party....the kids' gang and a family portrait...

I gifted myself a "kindle unlimited" subscription for my birthday in November, and since then, I've read atleast 30 books, if not more. I stayed up on most nights after the kids slept to read, and after ages, I felt satiated on that front.

The kids are back in school, and I am back at work as of this morning. We are rested, and relaxed, and are looking forward to a couple weeks of solid rain and snow in NorCal. We have more outings planned for later this month and then again in Feb, and I can't wait for summer when I have 2.5 months off this - Sabbatical - can't wait to start planning it!!

What are your 2016 plans :)? I'm listening!!