Beautiful Weekend

Last weekend was one of those magical weekends.  It didn't rain (what?!) and everyone was in a good mood - hurray!

Nice sausage

Bernard Thresher

Saturday was quite busy.  In the morning we headed to Wigan as we had planned to meet up with the Francis's - it was Wigan's Continental Food and Drink festival - a yearly event.  They had a stage in the high street for it and the Lancashire Hotpots were due to play.  It was Debbie and Adam who got us into the Hotpots and after we told them we had seen them in Manchester they told us they were playing in Wigan and asked if we wanted to come along.  We got there early enough to explore the market and enjoy some lunch - German sausages for the boys and french mushroom thingy for me.

Having fun

Photo with the Hotpots

We then did some shopping as we were in the big city (although it wasn't long ago that we were in Leeds and Plymouth - so we really didn't need much).  We met up with the Francis's at the stage - right at the front!.  There was a support band on first and then the Hotpots.  They were as good as ever,  they are certainly a band who are better live than recorded.  There was lots of comedy and all the usual tunes.  Tom loved it - he was either attached to the front fence or in my arms dancing, grinning, clapping and unusually for him trying to sing along.  It was a really good day.  We even managed to get a photo of Tom and the Hotpots after the gig (phew - that's Wow Wednesday sorted for this week!)

We headed back home (Tom slept pretty much all the way) we had a quick small tea and then all headed out to The Auger's.  It was Ruth's birthday and she was holding a cheese, wine and pudding party.  It was strictly no children, but Ruth took pity on us not having any family nearby and anyway she has 3 children herself, so there were plenty of toys and children to play with.

Tom did really well, he was initially clingy (mainly due to a snappy little dog) but he was off playing with Florence and Blaise quite quickly.  I only had to see to him twice - both times Blaise had been hitting Tom (apparently he has a bit of a reputation).  Anyhow, he lasted until 11pm which was great. 

Throwing stones

Mum and Son

Sunday was a nice day, after feasting on Ruth's cheese last night we found out that there is a new cafe in Barbon (from where she bought the cheese).  We had to find out more.  We decided that as Tom was down on sleep we would do the nice river walk, past the magic chocolate tree into the Gruffalo wood and down the hill climb into the village.  The cafe was lovely - lots of cheese themed food.  It was run by a French woman who is your comedy French woman.  She teaches French at QES and collects frogs!  We got chatting - turns out she is 50 next year and would like a froggie themed birthday cake.  We will see if she orders one - that will be one I would definitely like to do (I am in the middle of a froggie wedding dummy cake at the moment).  After being well fed with cheese we headed back - stopping for lots of stone throwing.

I must say Tom was at his absolute best.  Very surprising as we expected him to be grumpy as he was down on sleep, but he was charming.  The weather got better as the day went on as well.  It was one of those days we didn't want to end.  

Ingleborough from Whernside

On top of Yorkshire

Monday dawned absolutely beautiful - clear blue sky.    I have 2 big cakes and 12 cupcakes this week to do, but the weather was too good to stay at home.  Following on from last Monday's success Matt suggested we walked up Whernside. I agreed, so 9.15 saw us parking at Ribblehead.  Whernside is the tallest mountain in Yorkshire, but the walk up it is much gentler than Ingleborough.  I found the walk much easier than Ingleborough - we had lots to enjoy, walking along the railway, a lovely waterfall, a mini lake, and then at the top the most amazing views: we could see the whole of Morecambe Bay,  Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent, the How Gills (near Sedburgh), Dent Dale, the snow on the Lake District mountains.  It was amazing and I was very pleased to make it and see it on such a fantastically clear day.  

We didn't finish the walk until after 1.30pm - so we headed to the Station Inn for lunch - which didn't hit the sides, got back home, had a shower.   I then had about half an hour before I had to pick up Tom from school.  Oh good news from swimming - Tom is finally ready to go up to the next class where he will learn to swim properly.  Yahooooooooo!  He will start in the next class after Easter.