Pocahontas State Park - Pool & Aquatic Recreation Centre

An Aquatic Recreation Centre no less. It was certainly a bit full on and fab... with mass pool clearances for the vomiting kid, then the lost kid and then just 'adult time'. I wanted some of that!

Took a pause in the beating sun for snacks and a bit of body-shape gawping... this was full-on America. In the woods were loads of large family groups cooking out or just swinging in their hammocks.

Down by the lake all was peaceful, with canoes for hire and a mass of water lilies. Bring on the camping cousins from Canada (and the heat!) - we're ready for our canvas adventure.

Fox Talent Show 2012

The slightly nihilistic lyrics of singer/song writer, MLT, performing live at Fox Talent Show 2012, under the guidance of the fabulous music teacher, Mr Winslow, who does a great British accent.

It doesn't what you look like,

It doesn't matter what you wear.

It doesn't matter what you do,

Doesn't matter about your hair.

Doesn't matter what you watch, 

Doesn't matter what you think.

It doesn't matter about anything you want to think.

My BIG question is what does matter?! I'm not meant to be recording the answer here, but apparently it's doing what you parents tell you to do!!!!

Talent Show: 'It doesn't matter'

Nick Jr. can be thanked for providing the inspiration, in the form of the Fresh Beat Band. Who are LIVE on tour this autumn in Richmond VA and we now have tickets...

Children's Museum on Broad

OK this is Planet Plastic, there is no coffee and I feel my soul ebbing away each time we enter and the sponsorship deals are so in-your-face...

BUT the children love it, there is a fabulous art studio, proper carousel, full-size ambulance, VELCRO'd car mechanic workshop, play-shop with barcode scanner that beeps, brand new water-play fountains, DIY mini-theatre and crazy (plastic!) caves... plus there is an apple tree they are addicted to gathering 'fruit' from - red plastic balls of course.

The staff are so sweet and know both girls - though I suspect the Code Red alert M caused on her first visit has marked us out. The police were on their way, before we finally found her hidden in the top of a plastic (!) palm tree.

More Yorktown, Chesapeake Bay

Now we have the kit... sun umbrella, spray-on sunscreen, beach shoes and a much maligned shark float. 'Did they not make princess ones?!?' I heard amidst tears. I chose the shark. I thought he was cute and not at all scary but it seems I was wrong. Thankfully he's peeling off and don't mention that there was actually a sweet Nemo option.

So thanks to Mattel's inane, 'Barbie and the Mermaid Tale 2' we have a kid who was so determined to swim that she spent all of Saturday coursing this bay, then all of Sunday getting herself down the length of the splendid pool at the Jefferson Country Club, coaxed on by us, her buddy Eliza and eventually much of the clientele.

Finally she mastered the full 20 metres before setting off for the diving board... after 15 minutes of weeping and shaking at its end and mutterings of, 'I can do it!' - she jumped. The crowd cheered, the life guards stood down (yes, 2!)  and she was addicted. She was hauled home many leaps later.

All this so that she can go and learn to surf in Hawaii!!! I thought this one was not determined. It seems I was wrong.

PS: There were baby jelly fish - blancmange like things that brushed us with each stroke in the water - no stings though.

Farm Bus on Kensington

Pulled up outside the local children's bookshop was this bus and a bunny and lots of local folks... inside it's like a movie set for fruit and veg.

We got our wicker basket and filled it up with yellow zucchini, blueberries and raspberries, that tasted as good as the ones from my granny's garden. I was transported back to summer afternoons picking them with her, debating if strawberries were better (they never were for me)  and then running around her raised walkway before tea on the lawn.

Instead I baked chocolate brownies with European cocoa, a dusting of icing sugar (aka confectioners) and a few surviving raspberries on the side - our Friday outdoor-cinema guests were happy!

The Farm Bus

PS: The car in front was owned by a cute guy offering free hugs - it was humid - I declined.

Splash Party, Fox Elementary

While I continue to fret about the UK versus USA public education systems i.e. what have we lost... there are moments of joy.

It seems Mrs Harris is a closet party-planner and for three hours M's class got to splash in wading pools on the school's front lawn, compete in watermelon pip-spitting contests, chase ginormous bubbles, lounge on beach towels, create sidewalk art, hula hoop to their hearts content or just snack on good eats (!). Plus popsicles aka lollies for the wind-down.

Kindergarten is almost over for us and in the UK the class we were part of will be disbanding too and so life moves on... sigh

The Jubilee Mini-break, Richmond

So the queen's loyal subjects in Richmond, VA - one Commonwealth member, one true Brit and one ex-resident got out the PIMMS, picnic chattels and Union Jack and set about marking the occasion... sunshine not showers being the hallmark of this diasporic celebration.

Thanks to Live Streaming we watched the 1000 strong flotilla slide beneath leaden skies and dire commentary, when the cameras weren't obscured by rain;  then marvelled at the setting and projections for the Palace rock concert, when we weren't mocking some of the crooners who should be abdicating - really Sir Cliff in pink and Sir Paul in the flag?!

M wild swam in the river, having never swum unaided before and our snake spotting skills were thankfully left unchallenged in the water and whilst peeing in the woods.

RULE BRITANNIA

PS: BBC receive complaints... (add us in)