Oscar Munoz, Part 1, 1708 Gallery on Broad

Avoided until it's last day because I feared my child might step on the installation and it turns out that is the point of it. Crazed glass, cracked and trampled on, placed over surveillance-style photos of Cali, Colombia. A city beset by violence and drugs and home to the artist, Oscar Munoz. Also a film that I liked even more, of black and white portrait photographs, being dipped into a swirling liquid that dissolves them, eventually going dark with the colour. The plug hole being at the centre of it all... beautiful, poignant and simple.

Yet more substance from 1708... Next stop the Visual Arts Centre of Richmond for Part 2 of the show.

1708 Oscar Munoz

Tulips, Maymont Park and N. Meadow Street

Who needs the Keukenhof, when you can have these subtle joys on your doorstep... The wisteria adding a fragrant touch and the Maymont waterfall was back in impressive circulation, after it's winter pause. It remains our favourite spot and reached today by bike!

Belle Isle, Richmond

High stakes paddling... with crazy high water levels dropping from 12ft an hour before, down to 8ft. There's an iPhone app for that!

Home for s'mores (Graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallow) nicely toasted on Jason's fire pit. Beer for the boys - the lovely Jake being our UK guest for the evening.

Spring on Floyd

In the meantime Spring has come a week early and the blossom and dogwoods and azaleas are out in force and it's all lovely.

While in Washington they're marking the hundredth anniversary of having their 3000 Japanese cherry trees with a National Cherry Blossom Festival.

6 month marker...

Come sunset tomorrow we will have been on US soil for a full 6 months aka half a year, which seems like some solid ground. I feel as if we have come so far and then it gets pointed out to me that if I was still in the UK, today would mark my 29th year on British soil. That feels like a mere moment ago.

The low grey cloud as we pulled into Membury Services (M5), the cold that we just couldn't shut out and the sight of Trevor MacDonald reading the news to the nation. Life has progressed so far since then, though perhaps not the chill.

We marked our US moment by returning to our roots in the woods of Mineral and the girls got to do what they loved best - playing Barbies with their friend Kami, bouncing forever on the trampoline, taking a picnic snack of unmentionables out to the climbing frame and finally being driven across the the muddy tracks of the state pipeline. It feels like the land of the free out there.

PS: A 5.3 earthquake after-shock epi-centred on Mineral on Monday night and we felt the rumble.

The male mini-break, Richmond & beyond

Starting with style at Amtrak's restored Main Street Station, Richmond (1901) and a leisurely on-foot approach, in the unseasonably warm Spring sunshine, we hit Lamplighter first for coffee and sesame bagels, then stood in blossom 'rain' at Byrd Lake.

We took to the strip in Carytown and stocked up on kitchenware and gift goodies before the lunchtime delight that is Coppola Deli's (Richmond cheese steak special!). We crossed the street for some of Bev's Oreo Espresso ice-cream that was truly exceptional and then wended our way through the sculptures and now burbling water of the VMFA's gardens.

Then it was time to hit the road in the Dodge and make an unusual cruise through the Riverview Graveyard to look down on the ever impressive James before a dash to a halloumi-selling Greek deli on Broad, before returning home for our first cook-out. The consistent flame of the gas BBQ was a luxury and the incessant mini caterpillars added an exotic twist, though made things slightly gungy around bare toes.

Finally the freeway this morning, heading out to Lake Anna State Park for a beach paddle and picnic. All approached with the utmost Britishness - trousers rolled up to reveal goose bumped, white shins and only the white handkerchiefs missing. It was 30 degrees and the car air-conditioning was switched on! A yellow cab was summoned at IKEA, Woodbridge, bringing this mini break to a close.

J's 3rd Birthday, at home

...with the official opening of J's sand pit (sand box to the locals). With four of J's friends from playground encounters and the boys next door, we had a morning bagel party and enjoyed the fantastic and predictable 37.5 latitude climate.

J helped make the cake to the tight specification of flat, blue, starshaped and with a ballerina on top. The bagels were eaten, coffee and Prosecco drunk, sand pit opened and decorative self portraits painted, cut and mounted on the garden (yard to the locals) fence.

Guests departed for lunch leaving adult neighbours to chew the cud, open more drink and enjoy the sunshine. It would be my ideal birthday party.