From Left to Right:

If, by the title, you were expecting to see a photo of people all nicely arranged in rows with a caption that reads "Back Row, Left to Right: David, John, Helen, Noah, Harry... Front Row: Jake, Rachel, Flora, Marcus..." then prepare to be disappointed.

I suck at names.

I also suck at remembering to get everyone together for a picture of all who were there on Saturday for the Jake's birthday/"Canadians are here, let's use this as an excuse to all get together as we haven't done it since, well, the Canadians were last here" get together. And even if I did remember to get such a picture, I'd still suck at labelling it properly.

So I owe everyone a very heartfelt apology. I truly am sorry that I haven't got all of you sorted out properly yet. Yes, I remember many names, but I don't want to get any wrong, and I don't to miss any out. And we're not at Lime End anymore, so I do not have John and Helen to help me when I stumble.

So what we'll do instead is open this up for audience participation. Father, you've sent me emails with many names without even seeing the pictures, and cousins, you all know who you are, so how about people use the comments at the bottom to get the following shots all sorted out. Yes, that's right. I can't even bother to remember your names, even after you asked for the blog address so you can keep up, and I am now giving you homework. As I mentioned, I suck.

I expect I may be forgiven this. Afterall, they are a warm and welcoming bunch, eager to share in celebrating Jake's birthday, to hear about our travels, and to share their stories with us.

So here we go:

 
From Left to Right:

From Left to Right:

From Left to Right:

From Left to Right:

Left and Beside:

Left and Right:

(That is, by the way, what happens when I ask for a "nice picture". You may now understand why you keep seeing shots of their backs, in the distance. It's got nothing to do with going for "artsy". It's got nothing to do with trying to capture interesting landscape. It's just the only way to get a shot of them without an odd face, strange look, or diabetic coma inducing sweetness pose occurring.)

Left to Right:

And yes, those are all the pictures I took. Could I have taken more? No, because I complete forgot to. I was too busy talking with everyone, getting to know them all a little bit better, listening in on family stories, and learning about this whole family in England that we have that I really only met for the first time three years ago when my Dad and I came for a visit.

I am so happy that we did it then, and I am so happy that Noah, Jake and I did it this time too. I am blessed with family, and very thankful to them all for their kindness.

Saying that it was an excellent way to spend a Saturday afternoon would be a gross understatement. But I'll say it anyway.

It was an excellent way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Sunday morning was a fairly quiet one, with breakfast and packing, and then it was off to the train station in Polegate to catch our train to London and then continue on to York. That though is another story.

I'd like to dwell here more. Here being Lime End. Here being with this "new" family. They've/you've (figured I should speak to you directly now that you're following along) been around for a long time, so you're not new. Now I'm not saying you're old. There was a bit of that being flung around on Saturday and none of it from me. But you're fairly new to me, and you're very new to Noah and Jake. So yes, new. I'm thrilled that as part of this trip the guys have had the opportunity to discover all of these (yes I'm talking to everyone else now) people here who are related to them. It makes me realize that I should value the family I have in Canada more, and should make more efforts to connect with them, invest in those relationships, as we've all let them slip over the years.

But I'm not going to dwell here. Instead I'm going to go wake up Jake and Noah and discover York. Last thing though, just before I go.

John and Helen, I am ever so grateful to you both for opening your home to us these past few days. It has been a wonderous time, and I appreciate everything you have given the three of us. And to the rest of my family here, yes, we'll be back in a few more years to give you all an excuse to get together again. Afterall, what's family for.