An Active Easter Holiday

So, we have had a very very active Easter holiday.  We didn't have anything planned, but somehow managed to fill all our days.  The weather in the second week of the holiday was fantastic making it even better.  It really was a great time, so sorry it has come to an end.

It all started what seems like a good year ago with a trip to the Community Centre on Friday evening to watch the 'Ingleton Variety Show'.  For a small village, it was very well done, we had a lovely evening and Tom once again really enjoyed the dancing and singing.  One of the classes at school were there doing their assembly which was so good, that I found myself crying - and I didn't even know the children in it!  The upshot of this was that Tom didn't get to bed until 10pm - a good start to the holiday!!!!

Saturday
Saturday, we decided to have an easy day as Tom was lacking sleep.  As it wasn't due to rain, we decided to drive to Hebden Bridge for a look around.  We had heard that it was a nice little town worth a stroll - it was.  It has a bohemian feel, lots of independent shops to grab your interest, lots of cafes etc etc.  We walked round slowly, stopping regularly for breaks so we could keep Tom going.  I managed to buy a new top (very rare these days) and we explored many interesting shops.  Certainly a good strolling place.

Sunday
Sunday was a dull, grey day which looked like rain, so we decided to head into Lancaster to take Tom to the Lego movie.  We were 'cinema smugglers' (£7.49 for fizzy drink and a snack - I think not!!!!!) and stopped by at M and S to get ourselves a picnic lunch. .  There were only about 10 people in the cinema so we felt like we had the place to ourselves.  The movie itself was very very fast paced - I was worried that Tom wouldn't understand any of it, but he came away with the main message as he said that when he got home he was going to break up all his lego figures and make something new.  Anyway, Tom managed to keep still for most of it so a success and we came out to a damp Lancaster so it was definitely the right thing to do.

Monday
Monday Tom and I went over to the Atkinsons for the day.  We were going to go to the skate park in Kirkby Lonsdale, but it rained for most of the day, so we stayed put - although we managed to get out in the yard on the bikes for a little while.

Tuesday

Arnside from the Knott

Another grey day, but it wasn't raining so we decided to head over to Arnside and walked up Arnside Knott which was very pleasant.  We did have to finish the walk by stomping through a field of Highland Cows - something that always makes me nervous since my 'incident' with one after Matt photographed a calf a number of years ago.  There were calves in the field too.   We managed it without incident - phew!  We then headed to The Ramblers cafe, our favourite cafe in Arnside for lunch.








Wednesday
Wednesday morning Caroline dropped Fred off for a morning play.  I am always a little nervous having other people's children - not being the most confident Mum in the world, but it went fine, with only a couple of squabbles.  I took them down to the park where we bumped in to 'Big Jake' from school which was a bonus, so the kids played with him, whilst I chatted with Jake's mum - turns out he's an only child and she has a big map on the wall with pins in too!!!!!

Thursday
Thursday we had a 9am hospital appointment for Tom to check his hearing.  He went through all the tests again and he scored exactly the same again.  The consultant said that if we didn't do anything he would be 'handicapped' by it so I have signed on the dotted line for grommets and adenoids out.  the grommets sound very routine and easy (back to school the next day) but the adenoids complicate everything meaning he will be in discomfort after the op and may need a week off school.  (Apparently adenoids are needed in the first 3 years of life to help fight off infection, but Tom's are so big that just putting in grommets probably won't help as they get in the way of fluid draining away).  Anyway, it won't happen until once we are back from Japan - may even be during the summer holidays.  We were in and out within an hour and as the sun was out and we had Tom's bike with us we decided to head to Morecambe and rather than do the usual prom, decided to head towards Heysham.  Was a very pleasant walk.  We then headed up to Hest Bank and finally had lunch at the Shore Cafe (only ever had tea and bun there before) watching trains.

Friday

Friday was a beautiful day - bright sunshine and no wind.  We decided to try out Gisburn Forest mountain biking trails.  Kate had assured us that Tom would be fine on the blue route there.  We grappled (as usual) with the bike carrier for the car and then headed out.  It was much closer than we thought (ie no where near Gisburn) - down a road we haven't been down before - very beautiful too.  We unloaded and set on our way to the blue run.  We were faced with a series of steep switch backs going down a big hill.  I was pretty scared, Tom started crying.  We were a little confused as we were expecting something gentler.  I ended up having to carry my and Tom's bike down the hill all the while cajoling Tom to walk behind.  At the bottom of the hill the track became easy and for the rest of the ride we were only faced with gentle uphill or downhill slopes - all of which Tom could manage, so we ended on a high.  Tom did really really well, his little legs are very very strong and he was able to get up hills with no gears with little effort.  He has said that next time he will try to do the switch backs.  We bumped into Kate and Finn on the way back - they were heading over there for the afternoon.  Shame we didn't coincide - I could have done with some tips on those initial switch backs!

Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbv3_NVORaQ

Saturday
Matt spent Saturday out in the Dales helping to set up the extreme Egg Hunt.  It wasn't a good day for it: rain, howling wind, but he battled through and climbed up Ingleborough in 100 mile winds to get it finished.  He did over 15 miles in all.  Tom and I had a lazy morning and then headed over to Hawes for lunch and cheese shopping - always good fun.

The only other Japanese translator in the Dales

Sunday
Sunday we met up with one of Matt's translator friends: Mayumi and her 6 year old son, Ryuichi (Roo).  They live in Ilkley, so not that far away in the grand scheme of things.  We met at Ribblehead and did our usual walk around the viaduct.  Tom and Roo got on immediately.  Roo was completely mad, but it is always good for Tom to spend time with a boisterous boy - helps bring him out of himself.  We got back home quite late, so headed over to Inglesport for a greasy spoon lunch and then returned home.  Tom and Roo played whilst we chatted.

Cycling along the canal

Monday

Monday we loaded the bikes on the car again and headed to Halton Station where we parked up and then cycled along the Lancaster Canal to Hest Bank and a very good pub we know there for lunch and then back again.  When we got back to the car, Tom wanted to go further, so we cycled to Crook o'Lune and back again.  In total we cycled 12 miles.  I don't think Tom felt it at all - he didn't fall asleep on the way home and then kept going until past 9pm in the evening, playing lots of silly games at Seasons with Sophie, Macey and Jessica whilst Matt and I helped sort the eggs out for the Ingleton Easter Egg hunt.

Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppO3UE8ZNlU






Tuesday

Tom conquers Ingleborough

We thought Tom would be tired and grumpy after the bike ride and late night on Monday, but no.  As it was a clear, beautiful day with little wind we decided that today was the day to attempt to climb Ingleborough.  We packed a picnic and headed up to The Hill Inn parked up and walked over the fields through limestone pavement, eerie looking trees and wife holes to the main path up the mountain.  This is the shortest path and therefore the steepest one.  This doesn't matter to Tom though, he doesn't even notice when he is going uphill - it is very rare to hear him out of breath.  We walked along the gently ascending path, past lots of pools full of frogspawn and some with tadpoles.  Made friends with a Swaledale and generally enjoyed ourselves.

Helping each other up the mountain

We then hit the steep part, Tom went up holding his Daddy's hand and basically didn't miss a footing.  In fact I think he helped his Dad more than the other way.  When we got to the top he wasn't even vaguely tired, so we carried on to the summit.  It was a little windy but nothing too bad so we headed to the shelter and had our picnic.  We then walked around (Ingleborough has a very flat and large top - they used to hold horse races up there).  We took some photos and then headed back down.  This took longer as it is more difficult climbing down than up, but Tom remained in good humour all the way home.  He did, however, admit that he was tired when we got to the car and happily took himself off to his bed for a lie down when we got home, very timely for me as it meant I could get some decorations done for a cake at the weekend.  We then headed down to Seasons to collect our eggs and strung them up around our section of the village ready for the Egg Hunt starting tomorrow.







Wednesday

Mae, Tom and Lucy

Looking for sticks

On Wednesday we had a quiet day as he had packed it in over the last couple of days.  Also Rachel, Mae and Lucy from Shropshire were on their way over for a visit.  Tom was very excited and even washed the patio door in their honour.  The MacConnachies were late in arriving (what's new) but settled in straight away when they got here and happily played in the garden and field behind.  It was lovely to watch, they really enjoyed themselves and Tom and Mae were the bestest of friends all over again.  Rachel observed that they really do play beautifully together, there was no squabbling at all - which is rare - there are always squabbles with all of his other friends.  Lucy also settled in well and made herself at home.  In fact it was so relaxing that Rachel and I were able to catch up and chat without too much interruption.  All 3 ate well - Tom astounded Rachel with his eating - she couldn't believe how much he puts away, and then they all had a bath together.  Mae and Tom then slept together in the same room.  It took quite some persuasion to get Mae to settle down, but eventually they went quiet and were fast asleep.

Thursday

Spaceman gathering big sticks

Shouting Mae

We had two very excited children meaning that Tom and Mae were up at 5.45!  5.45am on a holiday day - that's not funny, but there was nothing we could do so up we got.  We had planned to do the Easter Egg hunt together but unfortunately the weather wasn't great so it wasn't a huge success.  Lucy didn't enjoy the wind, meaning that she and Rachel headed into the Coffee Pot whilst I took Tom and Mae round the main part of the village, the park, the swimming pool etc. We found about half of the letters but then had to go back to the Coffee Pot to rescue Rachel.  We then came home as Lucy was showing signs of tiredness so I made beans on toast for everyone, then sent them on their way to The Wirral (where Rachel's parents live - they decided to drop in on them on the way home)  then Tom once again admitted tiredness and when to bed for a nap, so I finished off the cake and woke him up after 2 hours and took him swimming, where once again he did very well.

Friday

Playing with sticks

Cycle break

On Friday we loaded the bikes onto the car and headed to Grizedale Forest in the Lake District for a cycle.  This place was different again, we chose what we thought was the easiest route, but it was mainly uphill.  Poor Tom doesn't have any gears and small wheels, so he feels it the most (although he is the fittest of all of us).  He did really well, even overtaking me at one point, but he lost it right at the top of the hill.  He recovered after a rest and some snacks and then we zoomed all the way back down - always the fun bit, although Tom doesn't like to free wheel - preferring to skid as much as he can on the way down (or as he calls it 'tail whips').  We had an ice-cream each on our arrival back to the hub and then Tom had a play in the playground.  We then decided to head to Coniston for dinner.  Literally 30 seconds out of the car park Tom fell asleep.  We thought he was pretending at the start, but no he was asleep.  I guess he was still tired from the events of the week.  We parked up by a beach and gave him an hour before throwing stones and then heading to Coniston and The Sun Inn for tea.  The pub was in a wonderful position overlooking the mountains, but the food was disappointing - think it is more of a drinkers pub than a foodie pub.  Oh hum, never mind.  We then headed home.

Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbv3_NVORaQ

Saturday
Saturday we decided to have a quiet day.  Matt and Tom went into the village to finish off the egg hunt whilst I went to the i-centre to do some face painting.  Luckily not many people turned up as I'm not the greatest face painter in the world (mind you it was free so people couldn't complain).  I stayed until 1pm and then met up with Tom and Matt in Inglesport for lunch.  We then had a quiet afternoon.

Tom and a big engine

Sunday - Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Sunday we went to Keighley to spend the day on the Keighly and Worth Valley Railway - made famous through the Railway Children.  It is only very short at just under 5 miles, so we got a day rover ticket and rode up and down it.  The railway starts off at Keighley and then goes  through Haworth and Oakworth ending up at Oxenhope.  At Haworth we got off and after a very cheap lunch in a tiny cafe got a double decker vintage bus back to Oxenhope and a steam train to Ingrow where there were 2 very good little museums to browse.  Then a couple more rides before heading home.  Tom fell asleep on the way home again, so we drove back to Ingleton and had dinner at The Masons Arms.




Monday

Young hikers

Monday, the last day of the holidays - how did that happen?  We met up with Alice, Pete, Charlie and Harry in Austwick in the morning for a lovely walk through the woods which were just about to bloom with bluebells and primroses and around the hill back to Austwick, a really lovely walk which only took about an hour.  The kids really enjoyed themselves and pretty much ran the whole way round.  We then headed into Settle for lunch and some shopping ready for a BBQ in the evening.  Yes a BBQ!!!!!!!  Luckily it was good weather and the wind was warm and of course we are in the North now surrounded by people who don't feel the cold!  We invited the Bickerstaffs and the Shults round and we had a good evening.  The kids played mostly in the field, the BBQ stuggled a bit so I finished things off in the kitchen, but everyone was in good humour and no-one complained they were cold.  It was a lovely ending to a lovely holiday.