Bristol

We decided to go to Bristol this weekend to visit Serena & Jon who are now all settled into their new flat.

We caught the National Express coach for the first time since we've been in the UK, we've always previously chosen to travel by train or car. Even with the poor traffic leaving London,we made it to Bristol bang on time!

S&J had hired a car for the weekend so S picked us up from Marlborough St coach station in Bristol. We spent the evening catching up

After a good sleep in and breakfast, we decided to hop in the car and head to Wales to Chepstow.

There we checked out Chepstow Castle. There was people dressed up in the time period of the castle and demonstrating things, we saw part of the weapons demonstration which was interesting. From the castle we headed to Tintern to the Halfmoon and Sixpence pub which had been recommended to Jon by a work colleague. The boys liked their fish and chips but Serena didn't like her mains much and my shepherds pie was average. But it was all made up for by the delicious deserts of jam rollypolly, sticky toffee pudding and bread and butter pudding.

We decided to check out Tintern Abbey, a Cisternian monastery, though much of which is in ruins particularly the accommodation surrounding the Abbey.

We drove further up the Wye Valley to Monmouth where the rest of the gang did a quick scope out of the cathedral there while I stayed in the car - too full from lunch to move! Then after a bit of a tiki tour as we got a little lost around Monmouth we headed back to Bristol.

I really wanted to go watch Sex and the City and we managed to convince the boys to join us, so we headed out to the cinemas and grabbed a bite to eat at the American style Italian restaurant before the movie. After about 35 minutes of ads and trailers the movie finally started. It was fantastic, a great girly flick as the series had been.

WIth the late night, we had even more of a sleep in, and when we eventually got up, Jon made us bacon and eggs. The dragon boat racing was on by the river so we went for a walk, we wanted to check out the SS Great Britain but at £10.95 pp, we decided to pass for now, maybe next time. More walking around the river, and on the way home, picked up some scones and cream for afternoon tea, we were wanting to go to a cafe but didn't find one which did cream teas. After tea, it was time to head home on the bus. This time it got delayed by the bad traffic coming back into London and it took half an hour later than it should have, but we made it home, bags and all.