I decided it was about time I found out where Tom kept jetting off to... so while Tom drove across four countries in one of his company's brand new pool cars, I flew straight to Amsterdam airport (after nearly getting on the wrong plane... and feeling very stupid - I mean, how many times have I been through the drill now??!).  It was all calculated with precision that Phileas Fogg would have been proud of, and would have worked out perfectly, had it not been for the traffic around Brussels.  Tom arrive two hours late to find me drunkenly attempting to look suave and sophisticated, "reading" a newspaper in a rather nice bar...
 

Anyway, we had a gorgeous weekend in the little town of Roermond in the Netherlands (where the shopping is better than Bristol!), had some excellent beer, and I experienced my first schnitzel (which reminded me A LOT of tonkatsu...). 

Mum came over to the UK again to keep me company over one of the weekends Tom was away.  We decided to stay around the Bristol/Bath area this time, and she had her first Tapas experience!!  We also pottered round Bristol Zoo (which I last did about 8 years ago), and went to an out-door Shakespeare performance (the Globe Players, performing The Winters Tale near Cabot Tower)... which was excellent, despite the rain.

Tom and I checked out the Bristol Kite Festival - on the one day during the summer when there was No Wind!!!  But at least it didn't rain!  And we finally, FINALLY got to explore Glastonbury Tor!!

The month ended with two festivals (Brizzlefest and The Bristol Do), a second trip to Longleat (in better weather), and the opening of the Brand New and Shiny Cabot Circus shopping centre.

	Yes, I can see the likeness (Tom in Roermond)
Market in Roermond
	Tom, in the sunshine, with a beer - perfect!
Me, wondering where my schnitzel is...
	Legs...
Tom by the river in Roermond
	Sunshine!!!
St Christopher's Cathedral
	One of the streets near the hotel
The square, with the market packed away, and tables set up...
	Some very funky modern art in Germany (we crossed the border and did some exploring during our weekend in the Netherlands)
Mum's First Tapas
	Mmmm...Tapas!
Dessert at Cafe Rouge after Tapas
	Mum and I went to Cheltenham for some shopping, and stopped off here for lunch... one of the weirdest experiences (we were the only people there for most of the time, and the waitress was a bit odd)... the food was excellent, though.
Mum tries out a camping chair...
	At The Winter's Tale, in August...! (though it felt more like winter)
Bristol Zoo
	A lizard at Bristol Zoo
Karma-karma-karma-karma-karma-chameleon
	Mum, with a catfish which is almost as big as her...!
And what became of the monkey, monkey, monkey...?
	Red lemur
I'm a gnu, spelled g n u, call me bison or okapi and I'll sue (not a gnu)
	Mum's favourite!
Tom, on a weekend walk around Chew Valley Lake
	Tom, blackberry picking on a weekend walk
Bristol kite festival
	Bristol Kite Festival - pretty much the only day this year with no wind!
Finally... we made it to Glastonbury Tor! (which Tom sees every day on his way to work)
	The tor
Cows
	Close encounter of the bovine kind
Cows...
	...Tom
Brizzlefest!
	Longleat Take 2 (in better weather)
We used up the rest of the free ticket from Tom's work... exploring the lake (complete with seals), waving hello to the lonely gorilla who likes watching telly, peered at the meercats, and generally pottered...
	The opening weekend at Cabot Circus! (Apart from the acoustics, I have to admit I quite like it... which says a lot, given that I don't like shopping)
The Bristol Do, St Pauls...
	...Lots of street theatre... plenty going on... We'll definitely be going back next year!

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