Matt and Becki Dillingham

Home Assignment Week 2

I think week 2 has gone even faster than the first one, here is a quick catch up of our travels...

On Saturday we travelled from Northampton to Stroud to have a quick catch up with an old uni friend, Becky. She was busy renovating her house so we also met the extended family, who were there to help! After a delicious lunch we sat on the M5 for a few hours due to a 5 car pile up then made it to Weston-Super-Mare, our home for a few nights.

Making the most of Amelia's toys at Becky's house

So much traffic it's like being back in Madagascar!

  We gave our first MAF presentation at Bristol Road Baptist Church on Sunday morning. It was lovely to go back to such a friendly church and give them an update about what we've been doing over the last year. In the afternoon we had a relaxed day with family in Weston.

Bristol Road Baptist

On Monday we were up early and excited about a visit to Thomas Land at Drayton Manor near Birmingham. Bethan is mad about Thomas the Tank Engine so we were looking forward to taking her there to see her reaction, but mostly we were excited to reunite her with her best friend Grace. After initial apprehension the two girls spent the day hugging and laughing as they went on the rides.

The two girls enjoying themselves

Tuesday was spent with friends in Bath where Bethan had one of her best days of furlough in the company of Emily, Katie and Ben. We saw a new side to our daughter as she became an outrageous flirt with Ben. I expect most teenagers would have locked themselves in their room but Ben played with her all afternoon and we had a great day catching up with the whole family.

Enjoying the trampoline

Poor Ben wasn't given a moments peace!

After spending the night in someone's shed (renovated to be a nice B&B)  we visited family in Calne and Bethan met her third cousin twice removed who was staying with her grandparents. Then it was back to Bath to spend the afternoon with another family who we are very close to. You have to work for your dinner at the Goaters' but Bethan was happy to squeeze her little body into a gap to get a missing sock and Matt delighted Colin by fixing the TV! We also squeezed in a quick trip to Bath city farm with Ruth and Colin. It is hard saying goodbye when its followed by "see you next year" but the few hours we get to spend with people is very enjoyable.

Playing with her 3rd cousin twice removed!

Feeling very British in Calne!

Feeding the pigs

Always happy to be with Ruth

On Thursday we woke up in another B&B, this one with a pool and hot tub so we took advantaged an had a quick dip before setting out for the day. We then headed across the bridge to Wales to see Matt's brother (Chris) and his girlfriend, Beth. We were also treated to a surprise visitor as Bethan got to see her Grandma for the first time since we left for Madagascar. Then we headed onto the house of another supporter in Cardiff for dinner and an evening meeting with people they knew, who are interested in the work of MAF in Madagascar. Bethan chose this evening as one where she wouldn't go to sleep until 10pm so Matt missed most of the meeting!

Quick dip in the hot tub (the pool was too cold for Bethan!)

Mini beasts in Cardiff

After a trip to feed the ducks and visit the park, we headed to Bovey Tracey in Devon on Friday, where we had been kindly given a cottage to stay in for a week.

Feeding the ducks, geese and swans