less dramatic than it sounds probably! my parents came to visit for the weekend. School run for my sister’s kids means that they are tied to weekends only for visiting as well. We were very pleased to see them though. We are trying for a do something one day, rest one day kind of weekend. Partly so I have done something with the children, yet had time enough to recharge before startng a new week back at work! I noticed that West Stow had some saxon re-enactors there and we are currently lookng at saxon with our history so it seemed perfect 
We didn’t quite get going as early as we would like, but reassured mum and dad there was a lovely cafe there. I was utterly mistaken 
the cafe has shut!! there were 3 vans – ice cream, funfair stuff and farm foods with loveling home slaughtered pig products. i know, most ppl woudl love, and dad did! luckilly they did have a veg butternut soup [in a polystyrene cup!] and that is what we had, in the cold on picnic benches. it was delicious, but…
However, once we got in and got started we had a fab time. we went to watch the DVD and saw the little museum first and then wandered to the animals. Loved the saxon scarecrow .
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WE had booked onto the archaeologists tour. She was very enthusiastic, explained things well, answered questions, and there was only us and a couple, so just was great. found out far more about west stow in the 1 hour + she spent taking us round. did i say she was very enthusiastic??
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We then chatted to quite a few of the re-enactors – actually we had spoken to the blacksmith before the tour, and he had talked about apprentices, costs etc and the huge importance of the role. Afterwards we spoke to the dyers and weavers, someone about the clothes worn, and the woodturner. Fabulous ended with an icecream by the play area.
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We took a ‘unique’ route home, that dad was not impressed by as in convoy – oh well 
i had loved spending the day with my parents. It was noticeable though how much less energy they have currently. Mums walking not so good due to foot probs, and i think they are both shattered by having parental roles for my nephew and niece. We got home later than expected so had a chippery tea and bedtime for the girls. we chatted whilst I sewed
The next day was a games day. BB demonstrated her ladybird game to nanny and grandad, who were duly impressed SB did some music theory [good girl 
] SB then played ticket to ride with nanny and grandad. We have the nordic version, so only for 3 players. She was a bit over confident, so got -8!! [and took it very well - far better than grandad might have, and he won!]
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They were in the conservatory, so could be sociable with BB and i, who were carving halloween pumpkins. SHe was pleased to carve one for yoshi and pteri from the mini squash and pumpkins we had grown, as well as from her own gourds she had grown that had done very well we did lots of carving together. I, obviously, did the messy part!!
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We carried on for most of the day on and off the girls also did the crazy-but-fun wii family trainer [recommended!] and SB played her clarinet for nanny, as with a filed off tooth it is more bearable. Best of all they did some lovely duetting with the jazz book
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A fab weekend spent with my fab family
We had a similar tour of West Stow with same lady (judging from photos) and she was great. Same lady ran the YAC group dig there when F found a Saxon bead. She was fab and emailed F to let her know what sort of bead it was and how the experts had dated it
Fab pumpkins!
em said that YAC had been fab and about the bead – i was jealous!!!