3 days with number 3 sister

My little sister and her husband spent a lovely 3 days with us on their visit over from London.  Their fleeting two week trip home involved a wedding, a tramp and they opted to travel around the country to spend some quality time with each family, preferring to see us each at our own houses rather than cram us into a big family get together. It was a good idea because as you can see, we are crazy enough family to visit on our own.

We had them in Hawkes Bay at the tail end of their trip.

The wonderful thing about Sarah is that she is so good at keeping in touch via texting, emailing etc that it didn't feel like we had all this catching up to do. I opened the door to them on Tuesday evening and after a welcome hug, we simply picked up from last time we saw each other.

We took them on a bike tour of some of the local vineyards, ate an ice cream at the strawberry patch, climbed Te Mata Peak, did all the touristy things and just really enjoyed their company.

Sarah looked London worn, and to her shame, their were tears of homesickness and the feeling of not wanting to return. Sarah out of all three girls is the most like our Dad in terms of being an outdoor girl, loving the open spaces, mountain tops, tramping and so it is somewhat sad and ironic that it has been her living the caged bird's life in London's urban mass these last 5 years.

While Kathy and I look on at her life in envy most times, being childless in a big city, NZ has been tugging hard on her heart strings. And being the servant people pleaser that she is, she has kept most of that longing to herself not wanting to let people down.

She is married to a wonderful English husband Luke who is her rock and so while of course we would LOVE to have them return to NZ, they need to do what is right for them and right now that is doing some hard yards in London, paying back student loans, getting through the tough early years of law. It doesn't make things easy when she comes visiting in a glorious summer and having to return to a gloomy winter. Winter is gloomy the world over, and don't forget you guys get Mr Whippy in London too right?

P.s Sam managed to photo bomb most of these photos. Cracks me up, Sarah you better check he hasn't snuck into your luggage before boarding your flight.