If you’re reading this in the UK or elsewhere on the planet, you’re probably considering your plans for the weekend or thinking something along the lines of “I can’t believe it’s only one month until Christmas!”

For those in the US, however, it’s Thanksgiving, a day of family, food, and (American) football.

In the MissElaineous household, today also marks a number of celebrations: MomElaineous and I have our birthdays (with one of us bidding a fond farewell to our thirties), MrElaineous and I mark our anniversary, and the ParentsElaineous likewise commemorate their wedding anniversary.

In the past, we’ve tried to do special things to celebrate these various events, such as an afternoon tea at the Manor House in Castle Combe or a visit to Blenheim Palace. However, last year’s celebrations were muted: the UK’s lockdown meant that we all stayed home and on our respective sides of the Atlantic. 

Yet with travel restrictions eased and my parents’ vaccines boosted, we have been able to meet up for the first time since March 2020. We’re sticking to outdoor activities such as Westonbirt Arboretum and the Cotswolds Water Park, and this has seen us racking up the miles walking through the British countryside during an unseasonably dry and sunny autumn.* 

So, what are we doing for our birthdaversaries this year? Well, that’s a surprise for a future blog post! In the meantime, check out related posts from past years, and keep scrolling to see what my parents have gotten up to during their UK visit.