Said Goodbye Today...

...after a wonderful couple of days. They didn’t need to leave until noon so we went for a walk with Bella this morning to Peel House and on the way saw a steam train. The kids were over the moon as they said it Hogwarts Express. We had planned to take them to Shed 24 - the cafe at Hellifield Station and if we had gone earlier they would have seen it close up. As it was when we got there for a brunch the cafe was packed out with trainspotters. We had to wait for a while for a table to become available so they had time to go into the little museum room where there are all manner of Railway memorabilia. The brunch filled them up for their long journey. 6 hours from Hellifield to Cairnryan nr Stranraer then the ferry 1.5 hours and 1 hour from Larne to Martinstown in Co Antrim.
We said goodbye in the car park and Isla and Arón hugged us so long and tight - they didn’t want to let go! 
Siobhan sent a message saying Isla was sobbing in the car. They are such loving children. At least they have a visit from their Nana Pat (Frank’s ex) to look forward to on Thursday as she is flying over to see them for a few days. They too haven’t seen each other for at least 18 months. It will be the first time she has flown to Ireland to see them as she has had to stop driving for a year after a scary health episode but she’s OK now.

Bella will miss the kids, there was a lot hugging and kisses with the three of them, she was in her element. (Extra)

We came home after they drove off and we both fell asleep on the sofas - me for 2 hours! 
We were so lucky to have dry weather while they were here because it’s pouring down now and we’ve had to light the wood burner, it’s so cold!

We just had salad for tea and will be settling down to watch some telly this evening.

Goodnight ;-)X