A day at the seaside

Hello!

We didn't really do much on Saturday.  Spent the morning in Bentham getting keys cut for the house (we have two volunteers to be key holders for the alarm), Tom managed to walk straight into a lamp post - came up with a huge bump on his head.  It would have been funny but it really did look like it hurt.  Then lunch at home.  Then Matt went off to play cricket somewhere in Kendal leaving Tom and I to our devices.  We didn't get up to much.  Luckily the weather cheered up (it rained in the morning) so we went for a walk across the moors and then to the park afterwards for a play.
Sunday - Father's Day - Tom delivered some presents to his Dad - a book about Land Rovers, some chocolate and a Camper Van bookmark which were well received.  We decided to go to Morecambe for the day as they were holding a sandcastle competition.  The weather didn't look particularly promising, but we packed hopefully and by 11am were down on the beach building sandcastles (not in the competition mind you - more of a hap-hazard variety).  When I say we were building sandcastles, what I really mean is that Tom and I were building sandcastles, Matt was sat on the beach looking very uncomfortable and groaning (he was aching all over from cricket yesterday).  I was quite pleased with the end result - managed to get some ditches going and a number of castles to stay standing up - shame that Morecambe has such a weird tide, as it meant that our ditches would never get full.  In the end Tom smashed all the castles.

Tom and Trigger

There were donkey rides happening on the beach, we offered Tom a go and to our surprise he said yes! Matt took him over, he stroked a resting donkey and then happily sat on his designated donkey and held on to hand rail.  I can't say he smiled the whole way, but he certainly enjoyed himself we were both amazed.

By now it was lunchtime so we packed up and Tom got back on his bike and we rode / walked to the Stone Jetty for lunch.  The weather was beginning to get better - blue sky was on the horizon, so we decided to amble back.  We came across a fire engine and a couple of rides which Tom had a go on.  We then found a tent that was holding magic shows.  Tom went straight in and sat down to wait for the next performance (we were surprised, we weren't that sure what was going to happen at this point)  Tom sat still for a good 30 minutes - completely enthralled by the show.  The magician to be fair was very very good and held the children's attention.  At the beginning when he asked for helpers, Tom didn't put his hand up, but after he saw what helping involved he volunteered himself willingly - he didn't get chosen though, I think he was just a little too small.  At the end of the show, each child had to bring in their grown up (Matt in this case) and they both had to dance to Gangnam Style - this I really enjoyed - Matt dancing is one thing, but being made to do Gangnam Style was hilarious, especially as the best duo were going to get a prize (they didn't get a prize).  I could feel him squirming - but to be fair to him he did do it.

Fireman Tom

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp7q19f0 - here's the Gangnam Style video for those of you not in the know)

By now the weather had got out really good - so good in fact that Matt had to sit down after the magic show whilst I went to find him an ice cream to cool down.  We all stripped down to our T-shirts and put on our sun hats (we didn't have any suncream with us - ooops).  We wondered back past the finished sandcastles (some interesting ones:  a cupcake, pyramid and Sphinx and many traditional sandcastles).  Tom rode back to the bike whilst Matt and I walked briskly.  We then headed to Hest Bank to watch trains, dig shells and play cricket.

Round and round

When we looked at the time we were shocked to see it was 5pm, too late to go home and have dinner (and anyway Tom would fall asleep and then it would be difficult to get him to eat) so we decided to have a curry at 'Far Pavilion' in Bolton-Le-Sands, somewhere Matt has always wanted to try, having driven past it for 35ish years.  It was very very good, lots of curries we haven't seen before, quick service and spice levels perfect for Tom.  We all ate up well and then we continued home.  Tom fell asleep as predicted, but was happy enough to have a shower before bed.

A great day out.