The rest of the holiday

Friday
Friday dawned horrible.  Grey, raining and miserable.  I asked Tom what he wanted to do and he suggested swimming.  It seemed a good idea - so we went off to Hornby Swimming Pool.  Tom was a bit of a wuss to start with - clinging to me.  So we had to slowly get his confidence back and lo and behold - he took his first strokes without any swimming aids!!!!!!

Working hard at the pub

The first time he cried afterwards as I think he realised the gravity of what he had done - i.e. swim without any aids (he could have drowned after all!)  Anyhow, we managed to calm him and then he did it again.  He would jump in, swim 2 or 3 strokes to the steps, climb out and do it all again.  He did it for Matt, we wouldn't do it for me - he just started clinging again.  Anyway it was a big improvement and we were really proud of him.

We then headed towards Hest Bank for lunch.  Our first choice was Archer's Cafe - closed.  Our second - Shore Cafe - closed.  Our third - Hest Bank Inn - open with fantastic food which we all very much enjoyed.  We then headed on to Morecambe where we went to a big furniture store to find a new dining table (we realised that the one we currently have really is too small for celebration dinners - it was a bit of a squeeze on Christmas day.  We found a couple that extend out which seemed perfect: remain small when just the 3 of us and grow when we have guests.  We took lots of measurements to check everything would fit.  

We then headed back to the Atkinsons - they were at a loose end and were wondering if Tom wanted a play.  We popped in and ended up staying for dinner (Christmas dinner left overs covered in pastry) which was really tasty.  We had a really good evening (lots of wine for me which was great) and rolled home quite late.  One of those great afternoons, where we had nothing much planned which turned into a very sociable day which flew very quickly.

Saturday

Loonies

On Saturday we returned the favour with the Atkinsons - meaning we ordered them to us so they could eat our leftovers.  They came in the afternoon.  I'm sure we did something in the morning, but for the life of me I can't remember what.  Not to worry.  We went for a little walk around the village and Storrs Common with them to build up an appetite.  I made a huge vat of beef stew with rice and dumplings which we almost finished.  I then got the cheese board out and to their credit they ate quite a bit of it.  They left lateish as well.

Sunday

Above Arnside

Sunday dawned a nice, clear and rain-free day, so we headed to Arnside for a walk and lunch (we have found a really good cafe there which we can't resist).  This time we parked at the National Trust Arnside Knott car park and walked down through some woodland to Morecambe Bay and then followed the Bay round to Arnside and indulged ourselves.  Then back along the Bay to the car.  It was a very pleasant walk and we managed to see I think 3 trains going over the viaduct towards Grange which was a bonus.  We were able to throw stones into the water, find walking sticks in the park, write in the sand, all those things you have to do by the seaside in the Winter.  Because the days are sooooo short, we didn't have time to walk up to the Knott as well - maybe next time.  We did manage a good 4 miles though and lots of play so it was a good day.

Monday

Monday I took Tom to the Drs as recommended by the school.  It was a shock to the system as the appointment was for 10.20 which I thought was late, but we've been getting lazier and lazier during the holidays and it was quite a rush to get there on time.  I told the Dr what the school had said.  She asked my opinion (more to do with lack of concentration than lack of hearing).  But because his speech was late, and because he can't say 'th' and 'sh' properly and because the school have requested a test, she has referred him to specialists on both the physical side and the technical side of the hearing spectrum so it can all be ruled out.  If so, we will have to concentrate on concentrating.  We have worked on this during the holidays, making him watch telly, films and computer games (everything people say you shouldn't do with kids!)  He hasn't done too badly, but he is such a sensitive flower that he cries at pretty much anything.  Toy Story we had 4 episodes of crying and he was inconsolable at the end of The Snowman and The Snowman and Snow Dog.  It almost feels like we are torturing him!

New Year's Eve

This morning we were invited round to Caroline's for a play and lunch, which was lucky as we were going to get the bus to Settle to go to the market - we went later in the day and found the market wasn't on so it would have been a long 2 hours hanging around Settle between buses!  All the usual suspects were at Caroline's: Fred, Frank, Finn, Sierra, Mack and Jack with their mums.  Sierra is a friend from baby groups etc that Caroline and Kate know - she lives in Stainforth near Settle and goes to Horton-in-Ribblesdale school.  We know them from swimming lessons in Settle (Sierra was in the same class as Tom, but went up a couple of weeks ago)  Tom showed his true colours and spent most of his time playing with Sierra (he always plays with girls given a chance).

Once we left there, we went to Settle to go to the market as originally planned, but ended up in Booths when we discovered it wasn't on.  Although we still had lots of left overs, we were running low on milk and veggies.

We had tea (notice I'm changing my diction - evening meal round here is definitely tea not dinner.  Dinner is at lunchtime.  I'm constantly getting confused as is Tom - because I don't use the words in-line with school and his friends at school.  I end up overcomplicating things in my head when I invite people round for dinner (tea) - lets call it a hot meal to be clear after school!) and then went round to Janine and Craig's for drinks.  She's got 2 boys:  Jack (6) and Seth (3) and was one of my first friends in the village.  She asked us round for a 'couple of drinks' so that we could feel we were celebrating New Year along with some other friends also with little ones - the plan being that when the children started wilting we would return home.  It didn't happen.  All the children played together really nicely (the adults too), meaning that time flew and before we knew it we were all celebrating the new year together.  Wow!  I didn't expect that at all.  Janine and Craig were the absolute perfect hosts as well - plenty of food and drink and great chatter.  They even had homemade Elderberry Gin and Sloe Gin which Matt downed to help sort out his cold (it worked for the evening - but the cold returned in fury the next day).  We came home feeling very blessed to have found such lovely friends so quickly in the village.

New Years Day

The morning after...

New Year's Day was a horrible day.  Grey, dark, rainy and windy.  We slept quite well considering we had been drinking loads, and woke up feeling OK.  However, we were all in need of a greasy spoon and found out that a very good one we know in Hawes was open so we headed up there for a good feed of carbohydrates to sort ourselves out.  When we got back Matt looked like he was dying, so he collapsed on the sofa.  I got a call from Eli asking if we wanted to come over to play with Adam, so we popped over and spent a very pleasant afternoon with her and Phil eating homemade scones with homemade jam - super yummy.  Then back home to the invalid.  I made a vat of macaroni cheese in an attempt to cheer him up.

Thursday 

For once today it wasn't raining.  Tom had been itching for a bike ride and Kate and Caroline had told us that the old quarry in Storr's Common in Ingleton is a great place to start mountain biking - with lots of ramps etc, so the three of us headed out.  Matt still full of cold, but needing some fresh air.

Tom was a complete wuss to start with, not able to do any ramps, not cycling up hill etc, but as we took our bike with us, he was able to watch us do some bits (yep, even I was doing ramps etc) and gradually he got the message and gave it a go.  By the time we left, he was cycling up hill and doing a ramp one way really well.  His biggest problem is that he sometimes thinks he can't do something.  If he thinks that, then of course he can't do it.  It's encouraging him to think that he can do it, once he thinks he can do it, then we are almost there.   He put him mind to doing the ramp and there was a real glint in his eye as he cycled towards it - he did it every time no problem!

Anyway, he improved considerably and we were quite proud of him.  He managed not to have too many spills as well which I guess helped.  When we got back to the village, he requested lunch at Inglesport cafe, we couldn't refuse as he had done so well.  Matt went back home to have lunch and do some work whilst we settled down at the cafe.  When we came out, we bumped into Alice, Pete, Charlie and Harry who had just arrived for a play in the playground.  As we didn't have anything planned, we joined them and they had a good play together.

Don't think we got home until about 3pm, by which time it was getting dark.

Video at Storrs Common: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9dHSJTiPOc

Friday

We didn't have any plans for Friday and once again it was horrible and rainy.  Matt suggested we go to Morecambe again to order the furniture - we had measured up and decided on the table, but we unsure on which chairs would go with the table so needed to go in person.  Tom and I went, whilst Matt stayed behind to catch up on his work.  I must say Tom was just brilliant company today.  When we arrived at the furniture place, he decided to play with the children's toys and happily sat by himself and did so.  I told him where I was and he came and got me when he was finished.  This meant that I was able to drag chairs around the store to check they went with the table and try them out for comfort etc.  It made shopping very easy.

Once done there we went to Dunelm Mill for lunch.  Once again he was on his best behaviour and very pleasant company.  He ate his lunch without any trouble and chatted away really nicely.  It was one of those days when I really appreciated his company.  In return I then dragged him around Dunelm Mill and then Matalan to get a couple of things and once again he was really really good.    I wish I could bottle these days - it would really help on bad days.

Once I had got bored (it doesn't take long!) we returned home in the rain.

Saturday

Ready for Panto

Today it was Panto.  Hurray, it's been years since I've been to a Panto.  Tom next door was the headline character as Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Blackpool.  He had arranged through his church a trip to the panto with coach travel etc.  It was a steal - £8 per person for ticket (should have been £20 where we were in the Stalls), popcorn and return coach travel.  Someone somewhere was making a loss - I don't know who - but we were very very grateful.  Caroline and crew also had tickets and were meeting us there.

We were very very lucky - somehow Caroline etc had tickets for the seats next to us which was brill.  The panto was ace - especially Captain Hook and his side kick Mr Smee.  Forget Peter Pan and Wendy (especially Peter Pan who was as wooden as anything) - the whole show should have been just those 2 - they were so funny.  We really had a laugh.  Of course Captain Hook found us with the water pistols and we had a mention at the beginning which is always good.  Matt to my surprise really got into it all with all the boos and hisses and 'he's behind you' etc, I didn't think he would as he has mentioned in the past that he doesn't enjoy panto (you would never know - but I guess it's easier when you have a 4 year old in tow)

Tom really enjoyed himself, he began to get all the boos and hissing etc, but his absolute favourite was the acrobats - he was literally squealing with delight at them tumbling through the air.  I guess we need to find him a circus.  Tom did concentrate during the show, but he did get a severe attack of the fidgets - I guess somethings can't change overnight.

Sunday

Tom & Fred

On Sunday morning, Tom and Matt went to the Atkinson's yard for some bike practise: Rob has a low loader with ramps that the boys could cycle up and down.  Matt took some video - it looked like they had a good time.  I stayed behind for a wedding cake consultation (first of the year) for a wedding in Austwick, which I think went well.

Video from the yard: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UgMxPrcAN0

Then Debbie, Adam and Luke came for a visit for lunch.  They were having a mini break in Carnforth, so it wasn't too far for them to come over for a nose around.  Luke is 6.  The moment he walked through the door, he and Tom made friends and they were gone upstairs into Tom's bedroom.  They remained good chums for the whole visit which was just fantastic - there is nothing better than watching Tom having fun with other children.  It was great to see Debbie and Adam too, and we realised that really we have been naughty: we are only about an hour's drive away from each other (they live in Wigan) so we really should have met up before now - although I did try last year, and she admitted that she had been rubbish about this in the past year.

Anyhow we had a good time and it was getting dark when they left.  Apparently Luke had a good time and has been pestering Debbie about when he'll next see us - so that's good.  Oh and we got him to eat a pepper today which apparently was a big achievement - we did Mexican wave eating of it round the table - which made it fun.  It also meant that Adam had to eat some which I think Debbie enjoyed as he isn't a fan of veggies either!

Monday

Today Tom and I were going to go to Dalton Zoo as Cumbrian and Lancaster schools had gone back, but the weather was atrocious and the road there was flooded so we decided not to go (I think I was more disappointed than him!)  However, Lynne came to the rescue and invited me and Tom round for a play / catch up (they were just returned from a week in Lapland)  So off we went.  She had had a wonderful time - certainly looked magical.

We returned home for lunch and then in the afternoon Tom had his first swimming lesson of the term which went well.  I told the teacher that he is now trying to swim by himself and when she asked him to do it, he did which was ace.  Hopefully soon he will advance to the next stage.  Just need to keep his confidence up.