"Gladly the dress I'd wear"

"Gladly the cross I'd bear"...is the title of another family in-joke...but speaking of religion and weddings it evolves into..."Gladly the dress I'd wear". It's now time to mention my middle sister's (MS) wedding in Northern Italy. The Big Event is due to take place in just over a week. I'm terrifically happy for MS as she's waited a long time to find The One.

As for us, we are 99% packed (How I HATE packing!) and almost ready to set off on our long cross terrain adventure. The itinerary (without SatNav...should be interesting): North Shields to Holland, then over to see friends in Northern Germany, travel through Germany, down into Switzerland where we may hit Euro 2008 fever and then down into Northern Italy, Piedmont, close to Asti where they make lots of that very nice fizzy wine, Asti Spumante. After 10 days staying at a farm ( L'Agriturismo "Farming Tourism") we travel back through France (to stock up on cheap wine, children's shoes and tuna fish!), Belgium and finally Holland again and then home once more. It will be like Hannibal & Co. or a marauding Roman Army on the loose (and that's just the parents). Will recount as to how "The Big Day" goes in due course. Until then, "ave atque vale" (hail and farewell).......or arriverderci Pet!

A Head's up on Hadrian's "heads"

Bronze head of the Roman Emperor Hadrian (r.AD117-138), once part of a complete, larger-than-life-size. 2nd century AD. Found in the River Thames at London Bridge, in 1834

Last Saturday was the second last day of Hadrian's Head at the Wallsend/Segedunum exhibition. I'd been meaning to go and see "Hadrian's Head" for ages. I knew that I had to go and see it returned to London at the British Museum. It was a wonderfully sunny day so I decided to go for it with the two little ones in tow. Wallsend (Sting's home town) is relatively easy to find. From the West you turn right off "the Coast Road" (A1058) and then head for the Tyne. Likewise from the East you turn left...it is incredibly easy to get there. There's also a local "Metro" station...which is Tyneside's very own version of London's "Tube". Parking is free and right outside the Museum. The staff are very helpful and as it is a small museum it is simple to get around.

Following on from expatmum's recent lavatorial themed posts I think I should mention that Segedunum has the only example of a Roman loo found in Britain. There is also a reconstructed Roman Bath House which shows how the Romans were not too bothered about having any loo privacy i.e. they literally all mucked in together. I stupidly left my camera in the car and as it was so hot and the children were being pretty good I decided not to disturb the equilibrium. Jamie Shafer has put together some excellent photos of Segedunum which are all self explanatory. In Photo No. 6 of The Bath House there is also a picture of "Hadrian's Head" and whilst not immediately apparent...it bears an amazing similarity to that of Charles Clarke MP (see above). From my children's point of view the Roman exhibition was a bit too "high brow" for them. Not surprising as they are still very young. However for slightly older children (say 6 upwards) there are exhibits which will keep them amused: there are computer screens with archeology games; they can dress up as Romans and there is a small part about how the Romans approached medecine. There is a very small cafe there which offers sandwiches and cakes (I would advise you to bring your own supplies if your kiddie winks have special food desires/wants/needs). There were other exhibitions there which we didn't get to see such as the Egyptology one which would be a great hit with children. One point to think about is that this may be a museum to do first before seeing other bits of the Wall as there is not much left of the fort compared with say the Roman remains at Vindolanda, Chesters, Birdoswald and so forth. Nevertheless as children always like discussion of toiletry habits then a visit to Segedunum is worth it purely for the Bath House and the Latrines alone! (I've also vowed never to leave my camera behind again.)

Where has all the time gone?

Aaaaagghh! Only two and a bit weeks to go before we leave for Italy. We are driving over (via the ferry to Holland from North Shields) and seeing friends in Germany along the way. That's going to be interesting as my German is eine kleine non-existent. Wunderbar.

Bills to pay. Presents to wrap. Birthday cards to send out. Clothes to pack (along with the kitchen sink). Letters to send (that have been festering in my in-tray for months) - largely regarding things that have gone kaput. I do a big line in KAPUT "BROKEN"!!**!! (more of which anon). I'm supposed to have done the accounts for last year for our business by now....oh dearie me...what can the matter be? Answer: No time. There is absolutely, my darlings, not enough time.

A walk to School past Thirlwall Castle

This is the view we have on our twenty minute walk to School. Aaah! the daily slog and the daily grind....unbearable isn't it?