Day 1 - Helsinki

Went to winter markets in Helsinki - a few presents bought. Alison got som new boots and Simon was confused by the tram map so spoofed some extra areas of Helsinki. Went swimming in a cool (temperature) hotel pool and then birthday dinner in the hot before we all fell asleep exhausted.

Watching planes

Waiting to board our flight to Ivalo

Alison's Birthday surprise

London to Helsinki. Plane delayed 3 hours by IT failure at air traffic control but we got to the hotel by 3am. Thomas and Anna coped admirably.

Toys R Us

Only $150 worse off

Amazing big wheel inside - we went in the Lego taxi

Natural History Museum NYC

Anna has been to the nail bar

Breakfast again - Bubbys near the hotel

Breakfast NYC day 3

Jeffrey's in Greenwich Village

Day 1 NYC

We have now checked into The Standard, High Line NYC.

Yesterday there was more frenzied activity at the Rocking Horse Ranch Resort with pony rides (Thomas and Anna), water skiing (Simon and Alison, Alison stood up for longer), rock-climbing (Thomas), indoor/outdoor pool areas. Last night was spent with Chris, Anya, Lukas and Alma having a relaxing time at their house in Bronxville.

The Standard is great as is the air-conditioning. NYC is hot and humid. We had lunch in the Chelsea Markets and then went to the Top of the Rock (efeller) and looked out over the city. Thomas and Anna probably enjoyed the taxi rides more.

Rocking Horse Ranch Resort

Wow what a day, run with military precision.....

08:00 - Breakfast

09:30 - Pony rides. Thomas loved this a went round three times on Callahan. One trip was an extra long trip that no one else did! Anna was very excited and then a bit worried about actually getting on a pony. She patted Dixie for a while, made friends, and on the third attempt managed to sit on her and go round. She loved it.

10:00 - Bungee jumping for Thomas (Anna was too small)

11:15 - Mining for jewels

12:00 - BBQ after persuading Mum and Dad to buy them some cowboy/cowgirl hats

14:00 - Afternoon spent in the outdoor pool area on the watersides

15:15 - Banana boat for Thomas - need to be 7 years old but we looked confident! Pulled round the mini lake three times before jumping in whilst still moving. No photo but here is one from the brochure

16:30 - Pedalo

18:30 - Everyone asleep - the pools are still open, we missed the tractor rides, .....

New Haven, CT to Highland, NY

Breakfast in the local bookstore. Major knee graze for Anna en route so Daddy covered in blood. Lots of new books bought before drive to Rocking Horse Ranch Resort in upstate NY. Listened to "Under the Sea" many times on the way there.

Not sure what to make of the Resort - it is all inclusive for meals and activities and looks a bit crazy. Simon described it as posh Butlins although he has never been to Butlins and made Alison very uncertain. ? Centreparcs ? something peculiarly American.

Great time in the afternoon - hours in the indoor pool area, lots of water slides, dinner, trip to the stables to meet the horses. Anna and Thomas fed one of them from their hands. Playground. Indoor play area and the best ball guns ever.

Looking very good so far.

Last morning on Shelter Island

Breakfast at Star's Cafe in Shelter Heights

North Ferry to Greenport, Carousel, then the Ferry from Orient Point to New London in Connecticut. We were lucky as we hadn't made a reservation and managed to get straight on to the next ferry at 1pm.

Drove to New Haven (home of Yale University). No pressure for the kids - checking out universities already! We stayed at The Study at Yale. 

Excellent hotel and they were great at helping us find where to go ten pin bowling. The leader board at then end was...

1. Thomas

2. Anna

3. Daddy

4. Mummy

We have the evidence to prove it too. That makes it 1-1 in the overall Thomas-Anna bowling championship for all time.

Saw the Temptations briefly in the Green in New Haven, but everyone was getting too tired....

The highlights of Shelter Island

Shelter island is amazing. Some of the houses on Ram Island and around Dering Harbour looked out of this world in terms of their size and luxury. Thomas and Anna approved of the house, garden and the sprinkler....

We spent most of our time on the beach (we preferred Wades beach over Crescent beach and Shell beach) or in the garden. Anya, Chris, Lukas and Alma joined us for the first few days which was fantastic.

In general it was very sunny. On two overcast/rainy days we went to the Hampton's (a lot less character than Shelter Island which seemed much less pretentious and more relaxed) and Montauk. The Candy Parlour in Bridgehampton sold amazing home made ice-cream.

The ice-cream parlour...

We went kayaking one morning...

Sunset on Crescent beach. Thomas and Anna thought it was very exciting going out to the beach in the evening.

 Around Shelter Island...

Montauk and Sag Harbor...