Full House...

My niece, Zoe, paid a visit this last weekend, took in some shopping and some sightseeing, and even visited me at work on Friday afternoon.

Of course, being only 1, (and a couple of months), she had to bring her entire baby infrastructure with her - Mum, Dad, Grandad, cot, bottles, nappies, several dozen bags, most of the Early Learning Centre, etc. My normally very minimalist house was temporarily turned into a cross between a refugee camp and E-Bay (and there was also the "How many ways can you blow up an airbed?" dilemma), but it was all absolutely worth it, as it's the first time all four of them have been down to see me together and we had a really excellent family weekend.

On Saturday, they all went over to Southampton on the ferry - all tourists must do that, it's the law...



(If you zoom in, you can just about see my sister waving...)

The reason I'm not on the ferry is because we needed a car to get back in with the four hundred-weight of shopping and baby paraphernalia. But as I got there in time to take the photo of the ferry docking*, it did prove that it's quicker to drive into town (11 miles) than to sail (1.5 miles).

(* DO ferries dock? This one looks too small. Perhaps it berths?)

Shopping done, it was whistle-stop tour of the New Forest. Roger had a good excuse to pass on this excursion as (1) Zoe was alseep and (2) Sky Sports News was on. A happy coincidence for him! They both missed...



...Rufus Stone...

(I think we established that we last came here over 20 years ago. I might have to try and find a photo of me and my sister being surly teenagers standing by it - I'm sure one must exist.)

...and some trees...



(Herne the Hunter just out of shot...)

The other compulsory touristy thing is to crawl about on the glass floor of the Spinnaker Tower. I have made people do this before, and Zoe had to do it too...






The concensus of opinion was that this would freak out Ambler grandparents, but it didn't seem to freak Zoe out at all. She did dribble on the glass a lot though, which perhaps caused a health and safety slippage incident after we left...

Back down the lift for a hot chocolate and a coffee... (actual sizes...)



Had a great weekend!

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