Ruth and Peter: Holidays, family events, friends and much more from 2012 onwards... : Our first family weekend: Easter 2016

For the first time, the Southwold house had all the bedrooms in operation! I'd made some bedding purchases and we went down on the Wednesday before Easter in anticipation of the family arriving. Eliot, Nancy and the boys arrived on Thursday afternoon and the boys were thrilled with the house. They scampered everywhere exploring and particularly liked the three staircases and the possibility of going up the wrong staircase! Rupert joined us on Friday and Simon and Tania arrived on Saturday and stayed until Monday. Rupert was back to work on Tuesday and Eliot and Nancy also headed home.

We had a couple of good walks (one of which ended in a hail storm which saw us all arrive back frozen and damp). The other walk included a ferry crossing to Walberswick and a pub lunch there. We also ate out at the Sole Bay Fish Company on the harbour and and on Monday the boys treated us to champagne and lunch at the Butley Orford Oystery in honour of my birthday. After lunch we went to look at Orford Castle. It was so windy that Saul was blown over on the edge of the moat, but fortunately did not tumble too far. We also ate at home and took turns with the cooking.

Despite the fact that the weather was mixed, the small boys managed to play on the beach at least three times with the bucket and spades that we found in the garden. We even took down the body board which was another garden find and Abe and Saul got into their wet suits and made a very brief attempt at surfing! Well, it was very cold and I thought they were brave even to dip in their toes! I was pleased to be wearing a windproof coat and warm hat!

Rupert was chief fireman and made some purchases of logs and coal and we had some roaring fires. All in all we could see how well the house accommodated the whole family and our purchase got the thumbs up from everyone.