Day 6: Day Trip to Bath

March 2nd, Tuesday

This morning we all woke early again at 7am-ish. The kids have on their second day in Cardiff gotten over their jetlag. William, as usual would be the first to wake and he would play on the bed until I get up.

Today we drove to Bath using Kevin's car. He is so nice, he not only loan us his lovely wife Ivy to navigate and bring us around the city of Bath, but also loan us his precious Mazda 6 which is very spacious.

Since Kevin had to work, hubby drove to Bath using part GPS and part Ivy's help. Ivy is very familiar with Bath and we were all in good hands. We made the kids sleep in the car on the way there, so they will be refreshed.

In Bath, we walked around the city centre, then had early lunch at the famous Sally Lunn's to try out their buns. I ordered their famous Cream Tea buns (Ivy please correct me if I got the names wrong), pork loin in apple cider sauce and their cumberland sausages and hubby ordered their cranberry brie sandwiches. Vic was supposed to have the pork loin but as usual, she cannot resist the sausages.

Sally Lunn's is a very english place and the waitress who served us was a friendly lady also called Victoria. But William was exceptionally uncooperative and wanted to walk and go out. He's really loving his time here in his own way, the weather and the scenery. But we had to force him to sit down and after many tries and coaxing, Daddy finally spoke to him sternly outside and when he came in, he was all quiet and willing to sit. The first thing he did was to go to me and hug me. Hohoho... : )

We visited The Crescent and Ivy told us that one of the houses there can cost easily 3.8mil pounds. The average terrace houses in town would be at least 1mil. William slept as we were walking to The Crescent and he didn't get to run around on the lawn there. But Vic did, and she watched some students run around too. They were climbing a brick wall onto a private lawn and got told off by their teacher who said, "What are you all doing? Can't you see that it's PRIVATE?" in very typical english accent!

Throughout all these, Vic just stood and watched the kids. She told me later that she wanted to climb the wall too but of course mummy won't allow. Over here in UK, better follow rules or risk getting fined. Btw, Vic has to put on her seat belt in the car all the time, and William must always be strapped into his car seat. The police here don't accept bribes too. If you ever do offer them, it's straight to the prisons you go!

From The Crescent, we walked over to the Royal Victoria Park. I showed Victoria her name on the park. Being in UK now, she knows her name is named after the Queen, but keeps saying that she's not Queen Victoria, IT'S KING VICTORIA.

William woke up somewhere in the park, just in time before Daddy and him arrived a small pond where there were some ducks and pigeons. A nice English family offered us some bread to feed the birds. Meanwhile, I was happily snapping pictures along the way and Vic occassionlly posed for me sportingly (big thing already!).

I saw many beautiful awkward shaped tree barks on mighty trees albeit all still bald. Took some pictures, and also got Vic to pose on a bark for me, which she did, just like a model. This is because there were nobody else around. Then next to this tree, some kid must have left a small rabbit toy lying on the bottom on the tree. Vic was so amazed at it, she wanted to touch it but dare not. (As usual, she's very "sai dam" one) I watched her from a short distance away and told her to quickly touch it if she wants to and then move on, but she even had time to talk to the rabbit. Haha.

Feeding the ducks was another happy time for the kids. I wish we can all feed ducks eveyday. Sure lifts away even hidden sadness. After feeding the birds, she decided to give them a little excercise by chasing those out of the pond, and yelling out "Cock-a-doodle-doooo". Thank God there were not many other people around so Vic can do all these.

On the way back to the carpark where we met Ivy, Ivy told us that a piece of metal which forms part of the cone on top of a church near the carpark, fell. It just fell. And missed Ivy a few steps. Phew, what a close call! The firemen got there very quickly and our car was "stranded" in the parking lot, so we stood and watch the firemen at work. Mummy and Vic have totally no complains watching the muscled, tall and cute english firemen at work ; ) But it was just a short eye-feast for me, coz Ivy brought me and William to walk around town abit looking for a shop and buying some souvenirs on behalf of hubby.

Hubs and Vic stayed back to watch because Vic wanted to.

It took us 1.5hours back to Cardiff from Bath, the same time that we got to Bath. Traffic was smooth and the kids didn't sleep in the car this time. So I kept their mouth and fingers busy with gorilla munch cereals that I pre-packed in the bag. Good thing too coz otherwise William was getting restless and rather lau gai.

Then it was Vic's turn to sleep and I feel partially asleep too. I say partially, because I still had to mind William who was very playful but because no one was awake, he sat quietly and occassionally took my headgear and his legoman to place in my hands, just to test me if I was awake. I peeped, but didn't move, and he sat still as if understanding that mummy needs to rest. So loveable!

After picking Kevin from his hospital, we stopped by a fish bar (shop) and Ivy bought us two large fish and chips with salt and vinegar for our snacks. It was already 630pm but who cares, it's our first fish and chips in the UK!!! And just the way I remembered it, with salt and vinegar, although a lot more vinegar would be nice.

We drove out to Happy Gathering for dinner. This time Ivy ordered dishes ie stirfry kangkung, stirfry siew pak choy, sugared vinegar pork ribs in aluminium foil and roast duck (after feeding so many ducks, it's time we ate some ducks, hahaha). William was too tired to even last till dinner venue but no sweat, daddy just carried him in his carseat upstairs in the restaurant whilst we ate.

As for Vic, she did munch on some fish and chips (the fish without the batter) and before the food arrived, she kept saying that she will not eat dinner because she's not hungry. But when the food arrived, she ate I think 3 bowls (or was it 4?) of rice and the dishes. Daddy insisted to pay for the bill before Ivy disappears and secretly pays for us again.

After dinner in the car, Vic conks out. We drove around Cardiff to see the Milennium Stadium and Opera House. We didn't walk to Cardiff Bay because the two kids were sleeping.

Weather was great the whole day and we continuously thank God for this. No doubt it is cold, and colder in Bath, but God has blessed us with wonderful hosts like Ivy and Kevin to make us so at home. We are truly warmed by their hospitality and generousity.

Tomorrow it's bye bye Cardiff and off to Stratford-upon-Avon for a 4D3N farmstay.