Sunderland - Episode I

So we arrived in Sunderland with a major item on the ‘What we Hope to Achieve, Fingers Crossed’ list firmly ticked off.  Pete’s got a contract in IT.  Thankfully this really allowed us to be in the here and now and so we reunited with the Forster family and friends with gusto.

1^st stop – Norma and Alan, Pete's mum and dad.   It was great to see them and we were loving the long chats and reminiscing, punctuated with a delish Shepherd’s Pie which we all devoured.

Saying ta ta, we went to stay with Rob (Pete’s brother), Pauline, Lucy and Sophie.  The boys were bouncing off the walls when we got there and Charlie just launched into some sort of break-dancing gymnast type of exhibition!  They must have been hit with overwhelming exuberance to finally meet up with some family we have been talking about for so long (we like to think so but... probably just hit by a crazy, testosterone-fuelled attention thing).

Us with Steve (Pete's bro)
and Pauline (our sis in law)

I think the boys made Rob and Pauline glad they had girls and this notion was cemented when our sleepy, almost 5 year old boy quietly wandered into the bathroom, ignored the protests of Pauline in the shower - “No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!”, calmly stated “I’m just going for a wee!” and relieved himself as he needed.  Privacy?  Forget it.  That added to the visit though and we thoroughly enjoyed hanging there with the fam.  Seeing Lucy play superbly in goal on a frosty Sat mornin’ and a great Italian meal out later that night were highlights.  

Charlie (looking delightful)
 and cousin Lucy

Tyler & Charlie with
cousins Sophie and Lucy

Tyler, Uncle Rob and Pete