USA - Boston

Saturday 9 October - Monday 11 October

We're home! It sure feels like home as Paula and Ben have made us very welcome and Tessa enjoys having a big four year old around. Tessa and Meg are getting on very well (for the most part - I won't lie here!) and are having fun. Meg is enjoying having different toys to play with and Tessa is enjoying having a "big" friend.

Our dinner after arriving home from Niagara Falls. See, it's true - we do eat from this table!!

Paula's wonderful home made American apple pie which was seriously delicious. I now have the recipe!!

We all went on a terrific walk in the Middlesex Fells which are very close to Paula and Ben's home. The woods are wonderful and the walking track wide and easy for the little ones to navigate. At the top of the hill there is Wright's Tower from which you can view the Boston skyline.

Paula, Tessa and Ben in Wright's Tower.

Paula and Ben are keen climbers and the gene seems to have rubbed off on Tessa.

Meg in the woods.


We spent an afternoon in Boston Common which is a large public park in downtown Boston. What a beautiful park! There were squirrels galore which amused us no end, a playground that was a delight, acres of grass that was so green it looked unreal and lots of historic statues. All in all a very relaxing and enjoyable afternoon. I now know why the Americans call this season Fall - the changing of the leaves is beautiful.

I didn't believe I would ever see it but apparently Quidditch is alive and well and taking off in Boston. Two teams, six hoops, quaffles, bludgers and brooms. Didn't spot a snitch though - don't know how they would manage that one!

More squirrel watching. They are certainly very entertaining and highly amusing.

Even in Meg's excitement she managed to find a squirrel brave enough to take a piece of chocolate chip cookie from her hand. Not sure about the ethics of this but the kids enjoyed giving them a small treat.

Jack managed to entice four squirrels to his hand. His ability to stay still and not shout out in excitement, I think, gave him the edge.

g found a pair of blue star glasses (eat your heart out Dame Edna!) and Jack a circus nose which they enjoyed immensely.


I have always wanted to see the Robert Gould Shaw Memorial in Boston. Robert Gould Shaw was the colonel in command of the all-black 54th Regiment which entered the American Civil War in 1863. The movie Glory focussed on Shaw and the regiment he recruited. So, this was the one thing on my wish list for Boston whilst we were here. This is how it looked. Unfortunately, at present, a restoration project.

This is how it should look (except much better).


This is actually how much we saw. Very disappointing although it means another trip to Boston one day ..... I am determined to see it fully restored.