1st stop Brighton!

So after night one in a hotel (arrived late - kids asleep and transferred straight to bed......HUGE glass of wine for me.............and sleeeeep!) we wake up the next morning to big flakes of snow falling..........quite a stack of the stuff outside already!   looks lovely and white and fluffy!   Quick stop at Tesco to stock up on ellas organix for Ruby and toothbrushes/paste which I forgot in my haste to leave (and of course grabbed a few other treats on route to the till!!!!) and what a pleasant experience to be in and out in less than 10 mins......yes it can be done all you luxembourgers!!!!

Driving the few miles down to Brighton was an experience......well not for us as we sailed up  and down the country lanes no probs.........but you had to feel quite sorry for the 10-15 cars (and stranded drivers) we passed abandoned on the side of the road as the snowy conditions obviously proved too much!!!!!

We arrived in Brighton minutes later to no snow and a drive along the seafront to Stacey's flat!   Unload number 2........presents and overnight stuff for kids.....tick!   Great to see Stacey........the adventure begins!    We walk along the seafront...............very cold and blowy but a good half hour walk tee'd us up nicely for good ole british fish and chips!  

Stacey then took the kids to see her friend's axilotal (SP?  even googled it and all responses had caveat "not sure if spelt right!!!!!......well I did try!) which left Shaun and I a couple of hours to browse the shops of Brighton.......fab shopping....could have done with a couple of days not hours!!!!!!  Anyway we had a lovely afternoon and were reasonably successful too..........more stuff to try and fit in the car...........but Shauns got a supply of shoes for the next few months!!!!!!

Only so much shopping one can do (well for men anyway!!)......so off we trot to the lovely Hotel du Vin to check in (yep - Stacey bless her has offered to have all the kids so we get a night away.......woohooo.........well we can't all fit in anyway so sounds like a great plan to me!!!!!) and enjoy some post-shopping........pre-getting ready drinks.....................so more mulled wine it is........fantastic!!!!

After a brief return to Staceys to sort of help with the kids (or just make them more over-excited!!!!) and pick up our (very big 2-week for 5 people!) overnight bag.........we return to the hotel and enjoy the (upgrade!) hotel room we manage to have bagged before quaffing champagne and dining in style!!!!  All together a great night and made being back in England all the more lovely joubly :-))))