Family time in Bristol

Destination 1 – Bristol, United Kingdom

Where? Auntie Linda and Uncle Bruce’s house in Whitchurch

When? Touched down on Wednesday 20 May – Sunday 24 May

Bristol, a city in the south west of England, about a 2 hour coach ride from London, is home to my English family. After a 20 odd hour flight from Perth, John and I arrive to the smile and warm welcome of my Auntie Linda. Nothing beats seeing a familiar face after all that time being couped up in a plane. It really is a shocker of a journey!

For the next couple of days we take it easy, trying to beat the jet lag as we adjust to the 7 hour time difference. I always seem to get sick when I arrive in England. I put it down to breathing in recycled air for all those hours on the journey over. I tried everything to avoid it this time. Vitamins, antibacterial hand sanitiser and wipes, nasal gel (yes, nasal gel) – I’ve become a crazy germaphobe! I manage to avoid the normal cold-like symptoms I usually end up with and instead get a killer of a stomach ache! Blimmin air travel= 1, Sam= 0.

On Thursday we head out for lunch at a quaint farm house, darting down typical English narrow roads to get there. Since I was last here in mid 2013, my cousin Jess has had a baby boy, Arty. I get to meet him for the first time at lunch and he’s incredibly adorable. As nan says, ‘he’s got a smile for everyone’.

We’re out and about with my cousin Ocean on Friday exploring an area of Bristol city centre called ‘Cabot Circus’. We have lunch at St Nicholas Markets which is a quirky little part of town nestled amongst laneways. John goes for a pommy option of a pie, mushy peas and mash. Osh and I go for Moroccan!

I wonder if the people around us can pick up on our Aussie accents or whether we’re fitting in like locals. John and I have already noticed how much we are starting to mimic the accents around us. Soon we’ll be talking proper Bristolian! http://www.buzzfeed.com/elliewoodward/you-should-probably-read-this-mind#.lpxJWLQeD

We have a busy day on Saturday, both feeling better now after our tummy troubles! John and I explore the Bristol docks and enjoy a homemade brownie each (salted caramel for me and raspberry cheesecake for John) from a little stall on the harbour. We meet my cousin, Katie, later in the afternoon on Park Street, one of the main high streets in Bristol that is located on a steep hillside. Here there are shops, bars and cafes galore! We climb up the narrow staircases of a nearby tower, known as ‘Cabot Tower’ and are rewarded with amazing sweeping views across Bristol.

Before we head off, we grab some drinks at a bar called the ‘Elbow Room’. We get 3 drinks, 2 of those ciders, for 7 pounds which is roughly $14. John and I both look at each other in amazement, feeling like we need to sneak off quickly in case the barman tells us he calculated wrong.

Bristol docklands.

Park Street.

The view over Bristol from Cabot Tower.

On our way back to Auntie Linda’s, we drop in to see nan and share a cup of tea while watching Ninja Warrior – what else would my 87 year old nan be watching?

On our last day in Bristol before we head off to Switzerland, we are treated to a ‘gert lush’ (Bristolian for ‘very nice’) big brekkie cooked by Auntie Linda. With bellies about to burst, we somehow muster some energy to run around with Lex and Olivia (my cousins gorgeous children) blowing and popping bubbles, running races and just generally being kids ourselves!

For me, time spent with my family in England is precious. I have my nan, 2 aunties, 2 uncles, 6 cousins, 7 cousins once removed (my cousins children I think?) and so many more family members living in the UK. It’s just the best thing to be able to catch up with everyone. We soak up the family love before heading on to the next leg of the journey.

Geneva awaits!