No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one.
Elbert Hubbard
The holidays have been wonderful. It is hard to choose my favourite moments, but here are just a few of our best bits:

But, my mother returning to the UK last weekend marked the end of our ‘summer’ activities.
I expected to be a quivering wreck by the end of them, done in by the constant noise, activity and need for entertainment.
Instead, my heart is full of memories and my mind is full of ideas and inspiration.
However… I am exhausted, worn out, in desperate need of some quiet time to take stock, plan, reorganise and revitalise. Recharge my energy (and enthusiasm!) levels.
Tidy my house…
I have always returned from holiday in the past saying ‘I need another one to recover!’.
But, I don’t feel the need to recover from the summer holidays and our various trips. We have had so much fun, so much quality family time, I have no negative feelings.
I definitely have need of a rest though!
Just a small one – perhaps a few less activities, a few less outings… A few more early nights!
Then we can throw ourselves into Autumn with the same enthusiasm and excitement with which we approached the summer.
Bring it on!


Such lovely photos, it certainly looks like you had a lovely holiday. I know what you mean though you often need another holiday to recover
Yeah, I definitely need a rest :) Thank you for commenting xx
Wonderful pictures. A summer to remember! Here’s to autumn too, although it feels like winter here! :D
Thank you :) I am looking forward to autumn, I love September with its blue skies and crisp mornings – the slightly surprising bit has been the hot afternoons over here!
Amen to that! Perfectly said thoughts. . .
Thank you xx
do Usa have 6 weks off school too? We had such a great summer here & such adventures but yes, I am still recovering from the exhaustion hehe * xx
The 7yo was off for 9 weeks and the 4yo 11 weeks… It was a long holiday! Great fun, but definitely exhausting :)