From December 26-30, we spent four lovely days with our dear friends, Sue, Danielle and Nicola Meredith at Sue's parents' home outside London. Danielle and Mallory have been best friends since kindergarden and they spent the first night breaking all known giggle records.
On the 27th, we went for a VERY chilly hike at Ivinghoe Beachon in the Chiltern Hills.
If you look closely, you can see the girls descending this steep hill (it was much steeper than it looks, actually!)
Nicola, Sue and Danielle
After the cold hike, we enjoyed a terrific meal at a traditional British Pub... The Green Man pub
Sue's parents, Liz and Ron Fennell
The girls enjoyed some well-deserved hot cocoa (while Sue I enjoyed a few glasses of warm mulled wine)
I loved a warm plate of "Bangers and Mash," an old English favorite (sausages and mashed potatoes...tasted MUCH better than it looks!)We spent a wonderful day in London
The giggle girls in front of Westminster Abbey
We appreciated the street directions to look right toward incoming traffic since the drivers were on the opposite side of the road!
We had a ball on the London Eye. The day was bitterly cold, but quite clear, so the views of London were incredible.
Julie and Sue, at the very top of the 45 minute ride
Best friends
Danielle, Mallory, Sue and Nicola
Another nice view of Big Ben
After the London Eye ride, we walked along a promenade with dozens of street performers. Here, the girls enjoy posing with Zorro!
Danielle got a BIG HUG
Even a statue of Elvis came alive for us :-)
We spent a late afternoon at Hyde Park enjoying the annual Christmas Fair. I founds it a bit humorous that we are Americans, living in France, vacationing in London, enjoying a German Christmas Fair!
On our last day, the girls enjoyed the morning at Northala Fields, a recreation park which includes four huge hills created from the rubble from the original Wembley stadium. After a cold morning of running/hiking around the hills, we had another warm pub lunch in Denham, a charming village outside London.
Julie decided she would like to live in this cottage, thank you.
Denham's castle-like church
On our final evening, the girls turned the Fennell's home into a restaurant. They prepared a lovely meal they called "Mount St. Dalola" and presented it as if they were waitresses/cooks. Lots of giggles added to the merriment!
Danielle serving fine wine to sweet Auntie Rosemary
The giggle girls in front of Westminster Abbey
Big Ben with the London Eye in the background
Just love that BIG BEN!
Just love that BIG BEN!We appreciated the street directions to look right toward incoming traffic since the drivers were on the opposite side of the road!
We had a ball on the London Eye. The day was bitterly cold, but quite clear, so the views of London were incredible.
Julie and Sue, at the very top of the 45 minute ride
Best friends
Danielle, Mallory, Sue and NicolaAnother nice view of Big Ben After the London Eye ride, we walked along a promenade with dozens of street performers. Here, the girls enjoy posing with Zorro!
Danielle got a BIG HUG
Even a statue of Elvis came alive for us :-)
We spent a late afternoon at Hyde Park enjoying the annual Christmas Fair. I founds it a bit humorous that we are Americans, living in France, vacationing in London, enjoying a German Christmas Fair! On our last day, the girls enjoyed the morning at Northala Fields, a recreation park which includes four huge hills created from the rubble from the original Wembley stadium. After a cold morning of running/hiking around the hills, we had another warm pub lunch in Denham, a charming village outside London.
Julie decided she would like to live in this cottage, thank you.
Denham's castle-like church On our final evening, the girls turned the Fennell's home into a restaurant. They prepared a lovely meal they called "Mount St. Dalola" and presented it as if they were waitresses/cooks. Lots of giggles added to the merriment!
Danielle serving fine wine to sweet Auntie Rosemary Big thanks to Sue, Liz and Ron for hosting us and for sharing such special memories!!
Julie, Samantha and Antony while the night is young
Sydia, Sarah, Pip, Julie and Sam
After MANY attemps, Joey used Christian's Dutch Navy sword to open a bottle of champagne!
Margriet, Julie and Sarah led the crowd in a farewell song for the Hamlin Family
The kiddos really got into the farewell song
Surprise, surprise....we made Sydia cry!
Sydia and Julie give the party a double "thumbs up"
Joey and Syd toast their friendship
At midnight, we all gathered outside to watch a fabulous fireworks display. The kids were mesmerized and perhaps a wee-bit exhausted!
Alexander, Alexandra and Hubert were some of the first to pile in
Sydia, Sam and a host of other crazy party-goers
Some of the guys, starting to look a wee-bit uncomfortable
Joey LOVED it!!
Alicia and Nick. Like Father.....
Like son :-)
Shane (above) and Alys (below) were inspired to break-dance around 1am
Lulu and Simon 
Simon, Pip and Henry 
Simon and Tom
Pip and Sydia's hug at the end of the night says it all... it is very hard to say goodbye to such dear friends.
