'Little Miss Vera' comes to stay

Don't know what to say!

The weekend started early this week: Denzil, Lucy and Meg the dog came to stay with us.  Denzil is one of Matt's friends from Bridgnorth Jelly - he's into doing super marathons and was doing one this weekend in Ennerdale.  They had decided to make a holiday out of it - especially as they have a recently acquired campervan that they wanted to try out.  They arrived Thursday afternoon.  Denzil is the guy that got Matt into Shite shirts, they thought they would hit the local pub in them!  Denzil even brought some fab white platform shoes with him.  What a pair they looked.  The look went down well in the pub, someone even came up to Denzil and asked him if he was in a boy band!

We had a good evening with them, Tom even managed to stroke Meg the dog (we were amazed) but then reverted to type when she came rushing in from the garden.  Oh well.

On Friday Matt decided to take the day off. We decided to go in to Kirkby Lonsdale - so Tom could have a ride on his bike and so we could get copies of our passport certified for the Estate Agents.  One of these went really well, the other was a no starter.  Because we are buying the house from an internet estate agent we don't physically see them, they need copies of our passports and a utility bill as proof of who we are.  We need to get someone to certify these copies saying that they are true copies of this document.  I was told to try either a Post Office, Bank, Estate Agent or Doctors to do this.  Post Office: "no" we don't have authority to do that, Bank: "no" we aren't allowed to verify anything, Estate Agents "no" we can't do that because of possible money laundering??????, Doctors, "no" because we have never had a Dr's appointment and therefore they don't know us!  What next, I phoned the Estate Agent we are dealing with back, we will now have to go to a solicitors.  She said she couldn't understand it as no-one else she has dealt with has had such trouble.

On the plus side Tom had a good bike ride, he found himself a really good track in the church yard and went round and round and round and we found a lovely ginger cat to play with, apparently he spends most of his time in the church yard, he was a very beautiful and solid cat.

Here's a link to a video of the cat and Tom biking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhAK9YD6Occ&feature=plcp

We then had lunch in our favourite tea rooms and then back home before heading off again to drop Matt off at Oxenholme, he was heading off to Edinburgh for a translator's workshop and meet up, so I arranged for Vera to come up.  We hadn't seen each other for ages.  I managed to persuade Vera to come up by train rather than drive but as she lives in Watford she was unable to get a through train and ended up on a journey with two changes instead.  Matt and I cruelly discussed this - both of us predicted that something would go wrong along the way.  Guess what - it did - at the first change.  She had to change trains at Milton Keynes to go to Crewe.  She did get a train to Crewe, but the wrong one, meaning she was an hour late arriving with us.  Not a disaster, just typical Vera!

Anyway she arrived at the station, absolutely loaded with bags, Tom gave her a huge hug which was fab and then we made our way home.  Tom went straight to bed and then the two of us had dinner and sat up chatting and catching up until midnight - very late for me, early for her.

Me, Church Cat Bob and Tom

Saturday we looked at the weather and decided to head East into the Dales.   So first stop was Kirkby Lonsdale where we did the same route as yesterday - including many circuits of the church yard and another encounter with the ginger cat (we've christened him 'Church Cat Bob').  We also bumped into Judith from the nursery (made me look popular) before heading off to Ingleton and Neptis for lunch.  Tom was made very welcome as usual by Rachel, and Vera had her first ever cheese scone.  We then showed her our new house before jumping back in the car and heading to Settle the scenic way - ie via Horton in Ribblesdale.  Tom fell asleep so we waited for him to get his kip in the Booths car park.  I then introduced Booths to Vera.  Vera always makes me laugh because whenever she comes to visit me she always asks if there is any food I would like her to bring me (I don't know what she thinks we can't get outside of London)   Anyway she took one look and was amazed - her words "it's better than Waitrose" she's now said that she will send us a food list when we are heading south.

* Oh and Vera we looked the most southerly Booths is in Knutsford - still a bit of a trek for you I'm afraid*

Vera and Tom at Tarn Hows

Tarn Hows

Sunday dawned gorgeous - deep blue skies.  We headed west towards the Lake District.  After a lot of humming and harring we decided to go to Tarn Hows.  We are so glad as it was absolutely beautiful.  We headed to Newby Bridge (at the bottom of Windermere) and then up the west coast of Windermere to Hawkshead - a beautfiul road winding its way around the hills and through dappled tree lined roads. All the trees are turning so there was a rainbow of colours.  Couldn't ask for more.  Got to Tarn Hows and were rewarded by the most beautiful scenery.  The walk round the lake (or Tarn) was only 2 miles, so we decided to do it.  Everyone did really well - it was an easy walk - Tom could do it on his bike if he wanted.  It was completely still, there wasn't even a sniff of a ripple in the water meaning there were the most amazing reflections going on.  Both Vera and I were staggered by the beauty of the place (Tom just liked being outside and running around).  We even saw some Galloway Belty cows.  We took our time walking around, however, before too long our tummies were rumbling so we sped up and finished so we could find some lunch (no lunch here but plenty of picnic spots).  We headed off to Hawkshead and had lunch before continuing on our way up the mere to Ambleside and then around and back down to Kendal in time to collect Matt from his train at 4.09.  Note to self - must go to Tarn Hows again with a picnic it really was a stunningly beautiful place.

Another view

And another

A big Tom hug

A Galloway Belty (incase you were wondering)

Monday we had to put the car in for its service, so I swapped it for a manual red Colt and then had our day out (and if you are wandering - I didn't stall it once, I was very proud!)  First stop was Greenlands for Tom's Enjoy-a-ball.  He did really well.  I stuffed him with a Kinder Egg that Vera got him directly before he started and it worked - he lasted the whole lesson, only having one very very minor wobble.  That is obviously the way to go.  We then went in the farm shop and saw a Cartmel sticky toffee pudding, Vera wanted to buy one, but I suddenly thought why don't we go there and buy one locally - so that's what we did.  Cartmel was a lovely sleepy little village - a very villagey village - little village square, a river housing the biggest, noisiest ducks I have ever seen, winding streets. Unfortunately some places were closed on Mondays but we found ourselves a lovely pub with good food and service for lunch and then we went to the sticky toffee pudding shop for a pudding (we saved a whole 75p buying it here - not withstanding petrol of course)  We then took the little windy roads hugging Morecambe bay back to Carnforth to pick up the car.  It was a really nice ride, Arnside in particular looked very pleasant and worthy of a return trip.

Anyway we got the car back and headed home for Japanese curry and rice.

Tuesday we took Vera back to Oxenholme.  It was a shame to see her go - I haven't laughed so much in ages.  We just slotted right back into being the 'Nik and Vera' who lived in Treetops - just that there was a little boy as well.  Tom absolutely adored her and certainly latched on to her sense of humour.  He called her 'Little Miss Vera' and 'That naughty lady' I think he has got her sussed!  It was a fab long weekend and as she said we shouldn't leave it another year before we meet again.  In fact I promised to try to meet up with her when we are in London in November.

Development

Tom has been developing away recently - other than cycling.

We have entered the 'Why Phase' - so have ridiculous conversations for example why is a train called a train?

He has also started arguing, just for arguments sake.  It's not Saturday, no want to have breakfast, no want to wear clothes etc etc.  This can be quite trying as you can imagine.

We also have 'are we nearly there yet?' in the car for EVERY destination

He stands up for himself if someone dares call him the wrong name - ie not Tom.   This can be quite fun as Vera found out - she came up with lots of names for him for example 'Sweetie Pie' - to which she got: 'I'm not a pie, I'm a boy!'

He's certainly maturing - he's not a toddler anymore and gets more and more fun with each day.