Keeping a school boy employed

Last week Tom saw a window cleaner in the village.  He obviously liked the idea as when we returned home he requested a bowl of water, a sponge and a rag.  He then set to cleaning the kitchen door.  Fantastic.  He washed them about 5 times in a week.  Just need to get him more practised in polishing out the streaks and he will have another 'job' to do in the house!

Walking the Dales

Playing on the bridge

I haven't blogged for a while, mainly because nothing of note has been happening recently.  Last weekend Matt had 2 cricket matches on 2 days meaning we didn't really get up to much.  Then last week was spent mainly hanging around.  Tom was at school in the afternoon - 1.15 to 3.30 so we had nice lazy mornings, then I spent my 2 hours doing cakey things including icing an 18 x 18 inch square cake for Seasons bakery for Save the Children - which is the largest cake I have ever iced and a complete nightmare.

Pretty place

Saturday morning Matt was in York at a translators do, it was a glorious day so Tom and I did some gardening (weeding for me, digging landrover into mud for Tom) waiting for Matt to return.  Once he did we went into the village for lunch (we tried Ingleborough Sport this time - still not as good as Neptis).  We then decided to go for a walk, we bought a new short walk book recently based on the 3 peak area.  There were a few based on Austwick so we decided to do one there and time it so we finished in time for dinner at the very good pub there.  Our friends Racheal, Graham and Isabella live there, so we told them and they were up for dinner too.

We did the walk, we thought it would be a nice short walk looping the village, but it turned out to be a really beautiful walk, along old cart tracks into Crummockdale (great Northern name).  Before we knew it we were out of civilisation and enjoying classic dales views.  The walk was pretty easy as well, hardly any elevation, no fields or farm life to contend with.  The lanes were full of blackberries and as usual we didn't have any vessels to put them in - poo!  Such as shame as there were soooo many and they all looked good and juicy.  We ate some on the way, but I think if we have time next week Tom and I will return to pick them - I have an urge to make some blackberry jam/jelly.

Paparazzi

The walk took us to a bridge across Austwick Beck - where they used to dip sheep.  It was a very lovely location, very pretty bridge, bench to sit down and take it all in.  Tom did really really well, once again, no complaints, talked all the way.  We have given him my old camera which he takes out with us (when he remembers) his photos vary as you would expect from out of focus, heads chopped off etc to some ok ones.  In fact when I next find it, I'll download the pics and put his good and funny ones on here for you to see.

Anyway, we finished off the walk, had a little play in the playground (another really good one) and then met with R, G & I at The Game Cock for a really good and fun dinner.  We didn't get home until about 8pm (not a school night so it is allowed!)

School Boy

School Boy

We have a school boy!

Finally on Friday afternoon he started school.  He was only there for 2hrs 15mins - shorter than a pre-school day.

He was excited to go, he said earlier in the day that he thought that school was going to be good and fun.  It's comforting to know he obviously has a positive attitude to it all.

We both took him to his new classroom, where he was warmly welcomed by Mrs Pickard and Mrs Tennant and some of the other mums who know him (including Sally who works at Smile and has a little girl - Caitlyn starting.  Tom and Caitlyn have never met as they went to Ingleton Pre-school and Smile on different days).

I think Tom was a little overwhelmed by it all - it has been 10 weeks after all since he was last there.  He was beginning to get clingy when he spotted Freya.  He went over to her and she gave him a huge hug.  He immediately relaxed and went off with her to play in the water.  We took our queue and left.  (Phew - thank you Freya!)

Got home to find that someone had posted me a card. It was from Matt.  A lovely card telling me what a good job I have done bringing up Tom.  I immediately burst into tears (so much for keeping it together at school!)  My reaction almost got to Matt as well - although he did look pleased with himself for bringing me to tears.  Anyway it was a lovely surprise and wonderful sentiment, very nice to be appreciated.

Once I had pulled myself together, I got out Ben's cake (next door neighbour who is football mad and just turned 7).  I decided to make life difficult for myself and make an actual football for him - I discovered it isn't easy!  I managed to get it done just within the 2 hours and then we headed out in torrential rain and wind to collect him.  Tom came happily out and was full of smiles.  He didn't seem to notice the very very bad weather and chatted all the way home.  We then sat down together to read his book (all about heavy vehicles).

To finish off the day we headed into Settle for a curry.  Tom almost fell asleep on the way there (2 hours at school can tire out a boy you know!)

Anyway a successful first day.   I sincerely hope he has a good time at school and takes away only good memories.

School Visit

So Tom, Matt and I had our 30 minute visit to school this afternoon.  He ran all the way there, so I guess he likes it there. We met with his teacher (Mrs Pickard) and Teaching Assistant (Mrs Tennant), they showed us around the room, pointing out the different areas and Tom got to choose his peg and welly cubby hole (no-one told me he needed wellies and his need replacing as they are too small for him - arggghhhh!)

Tom then did a drawing with Mrs Tennant whilst we spoke to Mrs Pickard.  She asked us lots of questions about Tom - what he likes doing, academic ability, any concerns etc.  It was good to have some initial quality time with his teacher and be able to spend some time explaining him to her before she teaches him, hopefully it will mean that she will be able to initially play to his strengths.  We will see - she does have 19 other children to teach after all...

9 Years!

We didn't do much this weekend.  Tom was tired from the week's excitement and Matt was playing cricket on both days.  We have made up for it since.

Climbing Wall

 Monday we met up with Eli and Adam (friends from Enjoy-a-Ball) at the Lakeland Maize Maze. e had a really good time.  She also invited her friends Kate and Finn.  Finn is in Tom's class at school but I haven't really met him and have only said 'hello' at the school gates to Kate.  Kate was really lovely, very easy to talk to.  Turns out that she used to race, yes RACE, at the TT.  RESPECT.  I texted Matt who got very excited about it all - he can't wait to meet her.  He looked her up on Google and she is very well respected in the race community and did really well at a time when there were very few ladies racing.  Needless to say we were talking 19 to a dozen and time flew.

Rope swing

Kate and Finn had to leave early (school shoe shopping) but Eli and I stayed until 4.  The boys were having such a good time: there was an indoor soft play area, a fabulous climbing wall, go-karts, bouncy castle, trampolines, pedal tractors, out door play area and the maize maze, oh and proper tractor rides.  They didn't stop the whole time they were there.  They even ate their lunch whilst riding tractors!  I really like Eli - she seems to have a similar outlook on life and child raising - shame he is a school year below Tom and going to a different school.  I will try to keep in touch with them.  Needless to say Tom fell asleep on the way home.


Tuesday was our 9th Wedding Anniversary.  Matt took the day off, it wasn't raining so we decided to go to Bolton Abbey for the day.  Matt reckoned that it had been 20 years since he was last there and I had never been.  I didn't really know what to expect apart from some ruins, and was very pleasantly surprised.  First of all the village in which Bolton Abbey was in was lovely, bright flowers everywhere.  The grounds of the Abbey were gorgeous with the river Wharfe running past.

Down the tunnel

By The Strid

We had a look around the ruins, Matt walked across the stepping stones: I didn't think that was any sort of a challenge until I did them myself and discovered that the steps are farther apart than they look and the river quite deep meaning it was quite frightening - well I found it quite frightening anyway.  We sat down on the banks of the river for our picnic lunch, we were joined by lots and lots of ducks who seemed to be very tame and not take a shoo away as even a slightest hint to leave us.  To my amazement Tom didn't seem too fussed by them.  After lunch we had a good stone throwing session.  Tom then announced that he wanted to do the stepping stones.  No way was I doing them with him, but Matt was game, so I took hold of all the bags and they did the stepping stones, and they did them really really well.  I filmed it so once Matt's done his magic with it I'll put it up here.

Throwing stones

We then continued on to the Welly Walk which was really good, lots of obstacles along a path in the wood: slides, tunnels, rope swings, mazes, scramble net etc etc.  It was fantastically well done and kept all of our interest.  Tom did his usual thing of going shy and loosing interest when someone else was on a piece of apparatus but apart from that he did really well and enjoyed himself.  We had a quick stop for ice cream and then continued up the path to The Strid - a turbulent part of the Wharfe.  It was a nice walk and Tom did ok.  We stopped at The Strid for a while and then returned back and managed to get to the tea rooms just before they closed for a very welcome tea and a bun.  We then headed back home and stopped at the Craven Arms for dinner (in Giggleswick).  We hit upon another goodie.  Really good service and very very good food.  We all ate up well, so well in fact we had to order pudding.  Was a really good end to a lovely day.

At the end of the Stone Jetty

Wednesday Tom and I headed out to Morecambe for the day.  We had decided to go for a ride together.  This of course meant that I had to get my bike ready.  This is the part I hate.  First of all, I had to pump the tyres which deflated rather than pumped up - we don't have a normal pump - Matt had to show me how to use it!  Then I had to heave them into the car, then I couldn't find the car keys, all the usual stuff with loading up bikes that puts me in a bad mood.  Anyhow, we got there in the end, I drove to Morecambe and we parked up on the prom.  We then rode down to the stone jetty.  Wow!  Tom really is fast on his new bike, it was a proper ride and when he was going fast I had to work to keep up.  We might be getting into the realms where Tom's fitness is going to hurt me!  (In fact as I am writing this I am stiffening up!)  We rode happily to the Stone Jetty, had lunch and then continued down to the end of the prom before turning round and riding back.  Tom didn't seem to tire and was happy racing me.  He got quite a few comments from the oldies walking up and down the prom.

Eating a well deserved egg sandwich on the jetty

We then went to Happy Mount Park to the splash park.  I thought that as he had had such a good time in his swimming lessons he would be more confident, but no I was wrong.  I did manage to get him into a fountain (by getting myself soaked) but then he cried because water went up his nose.  Basically there was no way I was going to get him to enjoy himself or relax so we gave up.  I need to get him there with a friend, then I think it will be a whole different story.  We then had a play in the park.  Tom then requested a visit to Hest Bank, so we ended up there for a drink and sit watching the trains.

When we headed back home Tom fell asleep.  He was in the front with me so he must have been tired.

Tom on a Jet Ski

Jet Ski

Today was Tom's last swimming lesson at Ingleton Pool.  They have been really good fun.  Can't remember if I have chatted about them before, but the first one didn't go too well, he clung to the railings, then clung to the teacher and then clung to some other children.  The teacher suggested that maybe we should put him in the baby class.  I asked her to give me one week to sort him out.  I managed to borrow the life jacket they use in the lessons and then took him swimming twice to get him sorted.

Having fun

He was a changed boy in the next lesson, the teacher was impressed and he was allowed to stay in his class.  Phew!  I then took him swimming in the pool once or twice a week to make sure he was comfortable in the water.  The pool was really busy each time we went but that didn't seem to phase him at all.  Pretty much each time we went Sam and Ben from next door were there.  They are completely fearless in the pool - bombing all over

the place.  I tried to explain to Tom that he could have loads of fun jumping in and splashing around too, but he didn't trust me.

Anyhow, we had fun at the lessons, we met more mums, had picnics in the park afterwards and had generally good Friday mornings.  In his last lesson the teacher made some jet skis out of some woggles and the children had an extended play session with them.  Here's Tom having fun with his.

Leia comes to stay

Rosa and Tom

We have been very busy this week.  No sooner had our Japanese guests gone, we were welcoming Leia, Rosa and Karen.  (Always the way, nothing happens for ages and then it all happens at once).

Anyway, Tom went to nursery on Tuesday morning whilst I sorted the house out and did some cake preparations for the week (just one cake this week - mind you it is one that has been a pain as it is one for Seasons and they have been pretty rubbish with their communication about it - oh hum!).

Feeding the Ducks

The Komorovskis arrived after I collected Tom, they had lunch and then after a play we went out for a walk to the park.  The sun actually came out for a little while and Tom and Leia played really nicely with each other (very little interaction required from me).  Rosa is now 15 months old, so into everything -

you can't take your eyes off her for a minute as she has the death wish that all toddlers have - wanting to jump off walls etc.

Our 2p in the money tree

We walked home and had dinner, then bath and bed for the kids.  Tom and Leia slept really well together which is a miracle considering Rosa was very unhappy to be in bed and showed her anger by throwing up!  It went everywhere - the cot, the guest room carpet, the landing carpet, the bathroom, all over Karen's nightclothes.  Everywhere, although she managed to remain completely clean.  Typical!  Oh well, just as well we have a vax, so we managed to get it all up.  It certainly took us back to what it is like having a baby in the house.  Anyway after all the excitement Rosa went to sleep and we didn't hear any more from her.

Tom and Leia - just hanging

Wednesday I was hoping for a day on the beach / Happy Mount Park with everyone, but it dawned grey and cool.  It wasn't a day for the beach and certainly not one for the splash park.  We changed our plans and went instead to Clapham.  We did the nature trail up to the Ingleborough Cave entrance and back again and then went for a picnic and play in the very good park.

Flowers in their hair

Our time in the park turned out to be quite interesting.  A lady turned up with her children and got chatting to me and Karen.  She knew me!  It took me quite a few subtle questions to work out who she was.  Obviously there has been quite a bit of village chatter about me as she knew about my cake business, knew Tom was about to start school, knew that I go to Fiona's craft nights etc.  All this without me having met her since we moved to the village.  I managed in the end to remember one meeting with her once last year at the playgroup that I used to take Tom too.  Anyway she was lovely and chatty (obviously) - I managed to get some village gossip from her, so came away quite knowledgeable about what is going on in Ingleton.  She also informed us that we had just watched a pop star mow the lawn of the park.  She is Chair of the committee that runs the park in Clapham (as usual round here it is the community that sorts out the parks, not the council).  The person we watched mow the grass as we ate our picnic was the lead singer from EMF (Your Unbelievable).  This place is full of celebs - Alan Bennett lives here as well.

Having fun in the basket

Anyway, the kids had a good time.  Egged on by Leia, Tom seems to suddenly have a liking for playing in the baskets in playgrounds (he has always been too frightened before).  They spent ages in it and went pretty high.  He told Karen "sometimes I'm brave, sometimes I'm not"  That's certainly true, peer pressure can be a great thing.

Somehow it got to be 4.30 so we called it a day and came home.  After dinner, bath etc all children went to bed happily.  Not a sound was heard from any of them.  Well done Rosa, Leia and Tom.  

Thursday the Komorovskis went home early (Rosa was in need of a long daytime sleep and needed it in the car - she refused to sleep in the buggy for a long time yesterday and only managed an hour in the end which wasn't long enough).  It was a horrible day here, so Tom and I ran some errands and after lunch Tom went for a rest.  (He didn't go to bed until 8pm the last two nights).  He slept for 2 hours so obviously needed it.  That meant I could do some cake work which was very fortunate.