Visit from Chananja and Raimo

On Friday I found myself driving to Manchester airport to pick up Chananja and Raimo.  We have been talking about meeting up for quite a while, but things always got in the way.  Chananja got divorced last year, and I think was needing some time away from home, but somewhere safe and friendly and thought we would be a good idea.  Also Raimo and Tom haven't yet met (last time I saw her, Raimo was 4 months old and I was 6 months pregnant.)

I was actually quite nervous when waiting for her - 5.5 years is a long time and obviously both our lives have changed significantly.  I didn't know what sort of character Raimo is and was worried about him and Tom getting on - both character wise and language wise.  Also they were coming for 10 days which is a long time to entertain anyone.

I needn't have worried.   Raimo seemed to accept me and Chananja and I slipped back into our easy friendship in seconds.  It felt like it was only last year when we last saw each other.  I got slightly lost getting home (so many motorways around Manchester Airport) meaning it was a longer trip than it should have been - gave us a chance to catch up and meant that we came home to a very excited Tom who didn't show any shyness at all which is quite unusual.

Turns out that Raimo is similar in character to Tom - not boisterous at all - very sweet natured, very protective of his mother (I got told off by him on many occasions for 'mistreating her'), he eats well and was always prepared to try something new and he slept well too  - going to bed at 7pm without any nonsense.  In fact he was our best child guest to date - it really wasn't a problem having him to stay at all.  Phew!  In fact Tom was the more boisterous child (that is a first!).  Raimo found the language barrier difficult at first, he doesn't understand why it is always them that have to change their language where ever they go. As he got used to us and Tom he felt better.  I made a huge effort to speak as much Dutch as possible - not easy when I haven't heard a word of it for 5.5 years, and I never really knew much to start with anyway.  Tom also tried and was saying a couple of words by the time C & R left.  His Wow Wednesday this week was learning to speak Dutch and teaching his class a couple of words (bet they've never had that before!)

Saturday

Boys in orange

Saturday in true British style it rained.  We weighed up a couple of options and ended up deciding on going to Leeds on the train.  Chananja wanted to do some clothes shopping for Raimo and I had mentioned the presence of the Lego store which interested both of them (they don't have one in Holland - 3rd world country don't you know!).  Today is King's Day in Holland, so C & R were dressed in Orange, Tom did too.  We got there, it was crowded big time.  First job was lunch, I decided to take the lead from Raimo - new country, new people, new food - it was only fair.  He decided on MacDonalds, so Tom had his first experience of MacDonalds.  Don't think he was overly impressed by it (phew) but was very happy with a bug hunting cup thing he got as a freebie.  I wonder if he will remember it next time he sees one.  Next stop was the lego store, where we got another tub of bits from the pick and mix (this time there were windscreens so we went a bit mad on those, we've been desperately needing them for the wonderful car creations he makes).  Then a bit of a walk around.  I was hoping to find a park for R & T to run around in, but we don't know Leeds at all - this was only my second visit.  After studying city centre maps etc, we gave up and ended up in a pub.  Raimo got engrossed with his lego, Tom did some dot to dot and we sat and drank.  Then back home to Ribblehead.

Searching for sticks and stones

Phew - finished

Sunday

Sunday Matt went out to collect the eggs from the long Easter egg hunt trail.  I took him up to the Hill Inn to do so and saw some horrible weather coming in so C, R, T & I headed away from Ingleborough and to Austwick to repeat the walk we did on Monday up through the wood to see bluebells, primroses and orchids etc.  I don't think they were particularly overjoyed with the prospect, but it is only a small walk and would give me an idea of what they are capable of for the rest of the week.  Raimo found it difficult and was very very tired at the end.  I was hoping Tom and Raimo would run the whole way round like Tom did with Charlie and Harry but it wasn't to be.  Chananja had to encourage Raimo quite a bit at the end.  However, he is a city boy from a flat country and he did climb a significant hill - so not at all within his comfort zone.  I know for sure we won't be climbing any mountains this week - will have to re-think the walks I had in mind, I think some maybe too long.

Scrambling under the army net

We returned home, had lunch and then headed out to Fred and Franks for their birthday party - an army themed party (of course) with Paul from Enjoy-a-Ball in charge of the entertainment and a big authentic mess tent with camouflage net etc.  Tom joined in straight away.  Raimo hung back (not surprising as he didn't speak the language and didn't know any of the children), but he found himself some jobs to do during the first half and fully participated in the second half - good on him!






Monday

Me and Raimo

Today it wasn't raining but it was grey, so I decided to take C&R on a boat ride on Windermere as we still get 50% off tickets - and luckily the lovely lady in the ticket booth passed on that discount to C & R as well.  Surprisingly they had the big boats out (not been on a big one yet) and the lake was as flat as a pancake meaning that it was a very smooth ride (although a little cold).  We had a little look around Bowness and then had a picnic on the green.  A easy day, but nice enough.  Luckily in the afternoon the greyness cleared a bit so C&R got  a little view of the Lake District mountains - I don't think they were overly impressed - I guess the weather has got something to answer for.

Tuesday  

Bolton Abbey

Working on a money tree

Wow a beautiful day.

We all went to school to drop off Tom this morning - both C & R were curious to see his classroom.  Unfortunately his teacher wasn't there, but we showed them around.  Chananja is still in shock that school are already teaching them and expecting them to read and write.  That doesn't happen in Holland until they are 6.  Raimo hasn't done anything at school regarding reading and writing.  In fact Chananja could hardly speak when she found out and then with Wow Wednesday on top, she was in total shock.  Her Dad was a Primary school head teacher - she couldn't wait to tell him and get his reaction.

Overlooking the Abbey

She said Tom's classroom wasn't that different from Raimo's except, obviously, all the reading and writing stuff.  She was surprised that the children didn't have allocated desks, she also thought it was strange that the teachers didn't wear a uniform of type considering the children have to.  And she was amazed at the size of the grounds, that they cook hot meals on-site for lunch and that there were two teaching staff for 23 pupils - that is very different to Holland.  I guess we are lucky to have TAs here.   Raimo is in a school of over 500, so I guess he has a very different experience.

I had suggested a trip to Bolton Abbey today - it didn't disappoint, the place looked absolutely beautiful and C & R had a good time enjoying good weather, beautiful scenery, stone throwing and hill walking.

Don't think any of us could believe the weather, at one point Raimo was stripped down to his vest.   I introduced R&C to money trees (everywhere around here), we had a picnic on the beach by the river and played lots of football.  Oh and there was ice-cream too.  What's not to like.

Wednesday

Making pavlova

Today it dawned grey and miserable again.  C&R were wanting a quiet day so I took them to 'my club' for swimming.  We got the pool to ourselves which was great - Raimo was happy, jumping in, swimming, using the Jacuzzi etc.  Chananja and I even managed to use the sauna as he was so content (I almost fainted as I stayed in too long).  In the afternoon we did some baking.  C had a great memory of a pavlova in Australia which she wanted to revisit.  She thought I would make her one as I run a cake business.  I bought the ingredients and then made her make it - ha ha.  She did a good job.  Not often we have pudding!









Thursday

Enjoying Cheese

Thursday wasn't a great day either weather wise.  As C & R both like cheese, I decided to take them up to Hawes and the Wensleydale Creamery.  First stop though was Ribblehead - it was a little windy but we walked to the viaduct and back for photos.  Next stop was Hawes, we did the museum and then watched the factory at work.  Raimo was mesmerised watching the process (which was great as I was too).  We then went to the tasting room - Raimo couldn't believe his eyes and did his best to eat as much as he could.  He certainly wasn't shy and at one point had hamster cheeks full of cheese (worse than me!!!!).  We then went into the village, had lunch, visited the Herdy shop etc etc.  Then we went home in the now emerging sunshine via Dent to give them a better idea of the Dales.









Friday

Thornton Force

Bluebell Woods

Professional Hiker

Waterfall

Friday the sun was back - yahoo.  C & R said they were up for doing the Waterfalls walk so after dropping Tom off at school we packed a picnic and set on our way.  Now Raimo had never walked so far ever and it had been a while since Chananaja had done so too, both were a little nervous but up for the challenge.  As I said it was sunny and the walk is very interesting - changing with every turn.  We did it very slowly, and Raimo had a sheet to collect rubbings of metal plaques which kept him interested.  There was some huffing and puffing, but on the whole they did really well, although both collapsed in the village when we got back, whilst I ran around doing some fruit and veg shopping for the weekend.

It took about 4.5 hours in all - a record for me, but everyone enjoyed themselves and we may even have got a tan!
















Saturday

What's up there?

Raimo helping Mummy down the steps

After hike food

After food madness

Saturday - we gave Chananja the choice of Malham or Tarn Howes, she plumped for Malham, so off we went.  Once again we had sunshine and the walk was much easier than yesterday.  They even decided to walk up the steps to the top of the cove and did really well.  It's taken a week, but I think I got them acclimatised to hills and walking.  We enjoyed the view and then returned to Malham the back way.  Chananja then treated us to lunch in a pub on the village green before we returned home.  A lovely day.











Sunday

Spiky hair

Sunday we treated C & R to Blackpool - it would be rude not to make them endure a proper English Seaside town don't you think?

First of all Chananja spiked up Tom's hair - she does Raimo's hair everyday and was wanting to do Tom's.  He wasn't having it, but decided Blackpool would be an OK location for him to have funny hair and so went with a mohican.  He said it felt funny and didn't want it like this everyday, but he happily showed it off for the whole day.  Chananja left the styling gel behind so I can style it myself in the future.

Carousel Boys

I had managed to get vouchers to the Blackpool Tower Circus, so we got there early to exchange them (I wasn't 100% sure how they worked, how many seats there were etc etc, but we needn't have worried.  We then headed to a pier for a couple of rides on the fun fair for Raimo and Tom, fish and chips on the prom and then the circus.

Spining thingy

The circus was on the whole pretty good.  The first half was much better than the second, ending up with some acrobats riding on the edge of a big spinning top thingy (there were quite a few wobbles) and hushed voices.  The second half ended with the circus platform being flooded with water - unexpected, but not really sure why they did it.  Anyway, a good time was had by all and both Tom and Raimo fell asleep on the way home.




Monday

Boys in a basket 

Monday we had a quiet morning - heading to the play area in the morning for a play (met up with Frank and Fred).  Oh, we showed the boys some pictures of us in Australia, dreading what they would say about us as we were obviously fitter, younger and slimmer in those days.  Both Tom and Raimo reacted in the same way.  First difference was our hair (mine was long and Chananja's almost white) and the second difference was how brown we were.  No mention was made of our weight - phew!  On getting back from the playground we had a picnic on the wall and off to Manchester airport.  Being a bank holiday we weren't sure what the traffic would be like, but it wasn't too bad.  So we got there early.  We had a quick drink before saying goodbye.

We had a good time together, felt just like the old days, except being older and fatter!