Two years in Texas

Today, we have lived in Texas for TWO years! How did THAT happen? Well, it has been two wonderfully exciting years full of fun. So much has happened during the last two years and yet time seems to have passed in a blink. But then it seems like a lifetime ago that we lived in Europe....one of those weird feelings about time. So here's to lots more fun!


Adam & Claire xxx

Pool's out for WINTER!

Excuse our random sense of humour but whilst writing the title of this post I felt it should be sung to the tune of "School's Out for Summer". Random......yep!

Here in Texas we are still enjoying warm days around 30degC - just lovely! And as far as we're concerned, still very much lovely days for swimming in our local outdoor pool. Unfortunately, it would seem the locals think it's now too cold to swim outside and the pool is closed for winter!

All seems a bid odd to us hardy Brits used to swimming in the Atlantic off the Cornish Coast! Bet that is a lovely temperature after all the lovely September weather in Blighty.....dreaming of North Cornwall surf......

Adam & Claire xxx

Jo & Paul get hitched!

On a stunningly beautiful summers day in August our friends Paul & Jo got married. In the beautiful Cotswold's, Gloucestershire. It had been a long time since I was last in this part of the world and boy had I forgotten just how lovely it is. Must make a mental note to re-visit one day.

Everything was perfect.


Congratulations Mr & Mrs Hibbert!

Adam & Claire xxx

PS Sorry for lack of photos....Blogger is playing games with me and I'm too tired too argue....

Alaska Honeymoon

In July/August we spent 17 wonderful days on honeymoon in Alaska. In such a stunning part of the United States with many oohs and aahs where do we start....

Our trip began in Anchorage where we got our bearings, bought maps, explored and relaxed before the real fun began. After a few days we collected an RV which was our home for the next 2 weeks.

From Anchorage we headed north to Denali National Park, somewhere we had both long wanted to visit. Exploring the true wilderness of this stunning National Park was bliss and we enjoyed fantastic hiking. Denali is know for its wildlife and we were lucky enough to see our first bear in the wild....well from the safety of the Denali bus. Plenty close enough for us! As well as caribou and moose. Many visitors to Denali do not get to see the mythical mountain, Denali (or Mt McKinley) from which the National Park takes it name. We were in the lucky few! Wow!

We were sad to leave the beautiful mountain scenery but on we headed to Valdez, driving east on the breathtaking Glenn Highway. More mountains and lots more glaciers. Yeah!

Valdez is a small town on the edge of Prince William Sound, one place in Alaska many of you will have heard of because of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Nature being such an amazing force and 20 years later we were told that more than 2/3 of species have recoverd from the tragic accident. Valdez gave us the opportunity to enjoy more fabulous walks in amazing scenery. The highlight of our time here was Sea-Kayaking by the Columbia Glacier. Blessed with beautiful sunshine and blue skies we had the most fantastic time paddling through icebergs, watching sea otters and sea lions. It was not just the sights but also the sounds that were so impressive. Glaciers and icebergs are dynamic environments and hence the accompanying sounds reflected this. Awesome!

We left Valdez by sea and took the ferry west across Prince William Sound to Whittier which was a great opportunity to see the stunning coastline as well as wildlife including Sea Otters and Orca Whales.

Arriving in Whittier we drove onto the Kenai Peninsular and stayed in Seaward. Camping (practically) on the beach - s0 close we could hear the waves lapping as we went to sleep - in a official campsite doesn't get much better! Aside from the lcampsite we had great times walking and exploring Exit Glacier, Harding Icefield and Homer.

Time was running out and it was almost time to return our RV so north we headed back to Anchorage. By now we had lost count of the number of beautiful mountains and countless other breathtaking sights but all was such fun.

We ended our trip with a day or so in Anchorage, enjoying the scenery, reminiscing and relaxing before heading home.

A simply AMAZING trip!

Adam & Claire xxx

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Finally, after being married for a month we opened our wedding presents (only due to the logistics of us not both being home in Houston.

What an amazingly lucky couple we are to be given such wonderful gifts.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Adam & Claire xxx

Claire's Birthday

Claire was very lucky to have extended birthday celebrations in both the UK and US. In the week before she returned home to Houston her Godmother took her to Ladies Day at Royal Ascot...

We even saw the Queen....

Simply FABULOUS fun...

Returning to Houston we went to watch Swan Lake, had dinner with friends and on Claire's actual birthday enjoyed a beach picnic and sunset walk at Galveston State Park. Bliss! Claire felt thoroughly spoiled to have so many birthday celebrations. Thank you!

Adam & Claire xxx

Sarah & Matt's Wedding

In June we were invited to the wedding of our dear friends Sarah & Matt. Unfortunately Adam was unable to attend as he had to return to the US.

It was a beautiful warm, sunny and "typically English" summer's day. Gorgeous! Just like the bride and groom......

After a lovely service there was a wonderful reception in a stunning venue.....

A fantastically fun day.....

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Cork!

Adam & Claire xxx

Lake District Mini-Hoon

Following our amazingly fantastic wedding we headed off into the sunset....

....for a few days "Mini-Hoon" in the Lake District. We stayed at the AMAZING Drunken Duck, a fabulous gastro-pub complete with its own brewery. Perfect!

(The next photo is the view we had from where we were sitting in the photo above)

We were very lucky with the weather, enjoying lots of warm sunny days, so did plenty of walking on our beloved lakeland mountains.

It was not all mountain fun though...we had a day trip to Belfast. Belfast? we hear you say. Yes, Belfast. And why? Because we had to go to get Claire's US Visa and the quickest way to do this was to go to Belfast so hence the daytrip!

Back in the Lakes we enjoyed more time and more walks, in one of our favourite places, before heading home. Bliss!

Adam & Claire xxx

And then we were Wed!

April and May were busy months in the lead up to our wedding, all very exciting and we were so incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such supportive friends and family.

And finally, after months of planning and anticipation, on Saturday 30 May we were married in a beautiful ceremony followed by a wonderful reception. Everything was simply amazing thanks to all our wonderful family and friends. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Adam & Claire xxx

A wee bit busy...

Sorry folks, we've been manically busy the last few months and hence blogging hasn't happened. Shame on us we know. So much has happened though that expect this to be the first of many posts bringing you up to date with all our happenings!

More soon.

Adam & Claire xxx

Another April Shower

Last Saturday 18th April we didn't just have one type of "shower" as described in our previous post....we had another shower...

Our wonderful friends threw a "Wedding Shower" for us as they told us we couldn't possibly get married without being "Showered"!

Hayley, Meghan & Stephanie organised a wonderful evening for us from the delightful invitations to delicious dinner and everything else they so kindly did to give us a fantastic evening. Thank you wonderful friends!

Adam & Claire xxx

April Showers

Last Saturday, 18 April, we didn't just have April showers, well we think we had them all in all one as we had some major rain.....

But we didn't just have lots of rain. There was also much wind, thunder and lightening resulting in lots of flooding. You can see from these photos just how much water there was....

Such was the extent of the storm, which included Tornado warnings, our friends nicknamed it "Hurricane Mike" (as in "Hurricane Ike's" little brother!).

Adam & Claire xxx

Count the Candles

Last week was Adam's birthday, which was suitably celebrated in many forms. Of course, the birthday boy had to have a birthday cake. Can you count the candles?

We also popped a few corks and raised our glasses "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADAM"

Adam & Claire xxx

Tri Tri Tri...Triathlon for Claire

On Saturday 4 April Claire took part in, and successfully completed her first triathlon! The Lonestar Triathlon was held at the Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas. It consisted of a 500 metre ocean swim.....

After the swim and on the way to....

the 12.5 mile cycle ride....

and last but not least a 3.1 mile run....

Claire loved every minute of it. But of course, she could not have done it without the 110% of Adam as official cheerer, mechanic, motivator, photographer and all round wonderful supporter. Thank you also to Megan who also got up long before sunrise to cheer Claire on!

Adam & Claire xxx

Texas Hill Country

Earlier this month we took a camping trip to the Hill Country, west of San Antonio, to see some more varied countryside! Unlike flat old Houston, the area, although not particularly high in elevation changes, is definitely hilly in comparison to Houston. A good comparison to the morphology would be the English Peak District or the outlying fells of the Cumbrian Lake District. Although the nature of the vegetation looked more like the Australian bush!

We enjoyed exploring the pretty town of Fredericksburg...

And the beautiful Enchanted Rock State Natural Area. The rock is a huge granite exfoliation dome, rising 425 feet above ground and 1825 feet above sea level. Apparently it is one of the largest batholiths (underground rock formations uncovered by erosion) in the United States!

Fabulous fun so roll on our next camping trip!

Adam & Claire xxx

Philadelphia

Been a while.....we've been busy....

Back in February Claire took a trip to see friends in Philadelphia. The area of Pennsylvania around Philadelphia is very pretty and full of history. Much of it looks very "British" or should I say you can see the British influences! They even have high streets in PA:

We took a trip to the wonderful Reading Terminal Market. I could have eat and eat and eat.........

And for a little bit of culture we visited the Liberty Bell...

All very interesting and great fun.

Adam & Claire xxx

Ski Ski Ski....

Earlier this month we took a trip to Steamboat Springs in Colorado for some ski ski ski snowy

fun.

We both really liked the mountain and the skiing it had to offer; plenty of variety and fun trails which suited are skiing so we made the most of our trip and were on the first lift every morning, every day ensuring we skied as much as we possibly could during our trip. We were fortunate that the slopes were quiet. Bliss!

The weather was kind to us bringing some warm blue skies when it felt like it should be March or April it was so warm. The weather also brought some of the magical white snow. Indeed we were very fortunate and had fantastic snow; something that Steamboat Springs is famed for. We were even lucky enough to enjoy some wonderful powder days on the mountain. In Steamboat they refer to their powder as "Champagne Powder". Not quite sure about the link between the glorious bubbly stuff and the fluffy white stuff but apparently it's to do with the type of snowflakes that just happen to fall in Steamboat! We'll leave that one for you to work out.....

So all in all a fabulous trip!

Adam & Claire xxx