Before that we managed to fit in a trip to Albany, driving down memory lane (otherwise known as Ohlone Avenue) in Berkeley's University Village, finding a lost ice rink, building a cot, meeting a Durham uni friend, lots of walks (yes Mum and Dad, you do have to put on sun cream, regardless of what British weather is doing), meals out, and several cheeky bottles of Californian wine.
Come back soon! Seriously, because Hannah starts work again next week and it's not looking good for my sanity.
Ah, so many memories.
Yep, still filled with health hazards/works of art. There's also a large...er..."community" living down here now, possibly everyone who was thrown off the Occupy Albany farm.
I like this new one.
To explain: my Dad is a big competitive ice skater, and had heard that Berkeley used to have a beautiful art deco ice rink that fell into disrepair and dereliction. So we had to go on a pilgrimage. Here it is! People are trying to get it back up and working, so maybe for Dad's 90th we'll have an ice skating party.
All the family together at WC market!
This is Georgina! She went to Durham uni with us, but was in the year below. Now she's a entrepreneur whose company organises conferences, and she was down in Silicon Valley to do a little industrial espionage at a rival event.
But she's also an incredible pianist who studied music! Like theology, a very useful degree. The Creek grand piano shop was having a sale (this Steinway reduced to a piffling $86k) so she had some fun.
But then I put her in front of that great musical leveller: Rock Band. And she was still a lot better than me, so...
Goodbye lunch at Dad's favourite, the Cheesecake Factory. In a break from tradition, he switched from shepherd's pie to fish and chips.
The new look of Cheesecake Factory lunches.
Constructing a crib! The engineer advised, the theologian did all the work.
Pete is still loving his baths, and sneakily checking to see if bubbles are edible.
In some natty British threads knitted and sent our way by lovely friend Rachel.
Newly expanded family portrait.
A final few smiley moments with Grandma and Grandpa, with Pete wondering when he'll be old enough to go and stay on his own (answer: now!)
