5th Week of the Holidays

Saturday - Matt was supposed to be playing cricket but it got cancelled when the other team couldn't get a team together.  So what to do.  It was cold and miserable.  Tom has been showing himself to be better at swimming recently, so I suggested swimming at Settle.  We went and had a great swimming session - the best to date.  The pool was almost empty so we were able to spread out and use all of the shallow end.  We realised that if Tom puts his face in the water his bum rises up - giving him the ability to swim.  We encouraged this and lo and behold before too long he was swimming a couple of strokes.  In fact he did really really well, by the end of our time there he wasn't even interested in the woggle, wanting to swim rather than use it.  Wow!!!!!!  I think he was doing about 5 meters at his best and his head spent more time under the water than on top of it.  He had fun as well, giggling and smiling the whole time.  Now there's a turn up for the books!  We are getting there, just need to keep this going now...

We went for lunch at Inglesport as a treat for Tom and then he went for a nap (he was obviously tired after the swimming - fingers in his mouth, small voice etc etc)  I did some cake stuff and Matt some work before all heading over to the Atkinsons for the afternoon.  Finn, Matthew, Sierra were there too so the children all played together whilst the adults chatted over whisky and G&T.  Very civilised, a very good way to spend a grey, miserable and cold afternoon.

Lovely day in the Lakes

Sunday was a horrible day: thick, grey clouds and rain, rain, rain.  However, we had a cunning plan.  Quite often when we have been in the Lakes we have noticed the 555 double decker bus - it seems to go everywhere, so we thought we should spend a day on it and enjoy the Lakes from up high.  We got ourselves to Milnthorpe for the first bus of the day.  Guess what, the best seat (upstairs at the front) was free so we made ourselves at home.  As I said it was a revolting day - unfortunately there aren't any windscreen wipers for the top deck so we had a slightly blurred view, and the seal wasn't intact meaning we had a little river of water coming through (or as Tom said ' there's a flood!'  The king of exaggeration!).

Double decker!

It was a good view never-the-less, we enjoyed looking down on the houses, gardens and roads and before we knew it, 2 hours had passed by and we were in Keswick.

As I said it was a horrible day so we spent most of it ducking and diving into shops.  Tom did well out of it getting a body warmer and a new pair of rather lovely looking wellies from a sale.

Lunch was in a pub, then a bit more shopping, including a rather good chocolate shop (it was too horrible to go down to Derwent Water) before heading back to the bus stop which was conveniently located outside Booths.  We managed to be the first in line for the return journey, so we had another 2 hours excitement on the bus before collecting the car and returning home.  The best use of a horrible day.

Monday, Tom and Matt had the day out together so I could get some cake things done.  They headed to Preston on the train so they could do some train spotting and so they could recce Preston as we haven't been there yet.  From what I gather the train spotting was good but Preston is best avoided - for the shops, atmosphere and people!  They came back to Lancaster in good time to pick Vera up from the train station - yes she made it on time, on the right train AND she had to change twice!  Well done her!!!!!!

Tuesday Vera had asked to visit some caves when up.  I decided that Ingleborough Caves are the best - I think the features are better and the guides more entertaining.  So we headed in the car to Clapham and then walked up the nature trail to the cave entrance.  We made good time and joined the 12.30 tour.  We had a different tour guide to the one we had with the Smyths, but he was good, making fun of Vera because she was from London etc etc which is always enjoyable.

The tour went on for the best part of an hour.  Unfortunately Tom started jigging right at the start of the tour.  He refused to acknowledge that he needed a wee, and carried on jigging and jigging.  This meant that I couldn't relax and I doubt he took in anything from the tour.  When we got to the end he had a wet patch in his jeans!!!!  So frustrating!!!!!

We walked back along the nature trail with the intention to have lunch at the tea room / bar next to the car park.  However, it is closed on Tuesdays so we ended up at the Croft Cafe - very nice but the lady is soooooo grumpy.

Vera and Tom

Climbing trees

Wednesday I took Vera to the Apple Store at Wyresdale Park.  Heather at Elemental had recommended it to me as somewhere I should take her.  We arrived around 11am and found the cafe in some nice grounds.  Not manicured at all, very rough and ready, but very pleasant.  We had a little explore.  It was a strange place, no map, no instructions, so we assumed we could roam free around the grounds but weren't really sure.  We found an Estate House in quite tired gardens which Tom ran up and down.  The house said private but no where did it say we couldn't look around the grounds.  I felt quite lost as to what we should do, so we returned to the cafe where there were some swings, a croquet set and a football.  I was made to play football for quite a while - tackling was the order of the day so we tackled and tackled until we were hungry and thirsty so we ordered lunch.  A very nice lunch too.  I asked the waitress about walks we could do but she seemed clueless, however, a nice couple told me that there was a lake to walk around if we wished, so we decided to do that.  First though I could hear children playing in the woods and decided to investigate.  Oh, now I get it...the woods were full of trees to climb.  There was a rope swing, dens to play in, a truly fantastic area to play hide and seek, which we did.  I relaxed and began to enjoy it all.

In a tree

I did some climbing too

On a rope swing

Vera was very keen to find the lake so we went across the road and found it.  We walked around it to a little beach - across boggy land, walking on planks etc - all very exciting when you are 5 and have been doing about pirates in school.  Maybe a little daunting if you are Vera - but she did it all in good humour and no one fell over.  We spent a good hour or so on the beach, Tom paddling and throwing stones, Vera watching and me throwing stones as required by Mr B. Boots.  It turned out a lovely, relaxing day in the sunshine.  We must return with some of Tom's friends one day, it really is a boy's own adventure sort of a place.

Playing on the beach

Walking the plank around the lake

Thursday - we all took Vera to Lancaster Station, to make sure that she got on the right train up to Edinburgh (she was staying with another friend so she could see some of the fringe performances).  It was really lovely to spend some days with Vera, she's as mad and as lovely as ever - thanks for making the effort to come and see us - we are missing you already!

Cool straw!

It wasn't the nicest of days, so Matt and I decided to try out the one Japanese restaurant in Lancaster.  However, it wasn't to be as it was closed for the holidays.  Not to worry though, Kate had told us of a good cafe in the city centre that does really good coffee, so we headed there.  We had a lovely lunch (Tom got the best straw ever with his drink so he was happy) and Matt said the coffee was very good.  So good in fact, that we hunted out the shop that supplied them and stumbled across an amazing shop where they roast their own coffee beans, the smell was amazing.  But not only did they sell coffee, but tea and whisky.  Not any old whisky but good quality, rare whisky.  Matt was hooked and very interested and I now know where to get his future birthday and christmas presents!

Friday was a nice day, Tom had a swimming lesson first thing.  Following his swimming session with us on Saturday, Matt had said to him that he would get a present if he swims a width by himself.  He got in the pool and swam a width easily, in fact so easily that he was staring at us and grinning as he did it (his head didn't go near the water!).  The little monkey!  He was very pleased with himself and ignored what the teacher said to him for the rest of the lesson and just kept swimming!  We were very proud and yes he got a present.  It was his last session, the teacher said that he is a swimmer now and that he needs to work on his reach with his hands to give him more propulsion.  

We then had lunch at Inglesport before heading to Ribblehead to get our train to London.  Tom was as excited as always and we had a good trip down arriving on time.

Fourth Week of the Holidays

Being looked after

Hannah, Becca & Tom

Saturday morning Matt left early to go for his train driving experience at Miller Beck - his birthday present from last year!  Neil and Co. then left and Tom and I headed to Carnforth to deliver the cake I had been working on.  In the afternoon Paul, Rose, Hannah and Becca, our old neighbours from Telford came to stay.  They had been camping in the Lake District and were staying with us on their way back home.

Playing in the river

It was great to see them - my they have grown up a lot recently, not so much girls, more like women. Tom was in his element, with two girls to look after him, so the tempo and noise levels in the house reduced somewhat.  We did the Storr's Common walk and then as it was hot got ice creams, a play in the park and then a play in the river.  Hannah and Becca had been playing in a river at their campsite all week so were straight in.  After initial refusal, Tom submitted and joined them.  I was suprised as once again I wasn't prepared, meaning he had to go bare footed into the river full of stones.  He didn't seem to notice or care!

Made it safely to the middle

We managed another bbq, which once again we got to eat outside.  Tom went to bed early, and then the girls spent the night teaching me how to make loom bands.  Think I got there.

Sunday was a horrible, horrible day.  We were going to show the Gouges more of the area, but it was too horrible, so they went home early and we headed to Feizor for lunch and then into Settle for a quick look around Watershed Mills (Tom got a replacement signal for his model railway).

Monday we met up with Kate and Finn again.  Kate's arm is much better, but she's still unable to drive.  There was a weather warning out for the Dales for wind and rain so we decided rather than go for a walk to go to the cinema.  We went to Lancaster and saw Planes 2.  It was really good, I really enjoyed it as did Tom and Finn.

Tom at the top of the crow's nest

and Finn

Lovely butterfly

When we got out we discovered that the weather was pretty good, so we headed up to Williamson Park and had lunch and a look around the mini beast area and butterfly house, before a play in the park.  Before we knew it, it was 5pm so we headed back.  I had put on a stew before leaving the house and Kate was out of food so they came back to ours for tea.

Tuesday, Tom and I got up early and drove down to Telford as we were having a mini break to meet up with our old friends and give Matt a nice quiet house to do some serious work.  First stop was Suzanna with Nate and Brandon.  Tom, after swearing to me that he couldn't remember Nate, remembered him in a second and they were best buddies in seconds.  We didn't see them for the whole time we were there!  I caught up with Suzanna - she's getting married in November (I'm making her cake) and I'm going to her hen do in Birmingham in September.

Lucy 'helping' with baking

We said goodbye (she had to go to work) so Tom and I went to the Town Centre for a look around and lunch.  Wow!  It has changed so much.  I could hardly recognise it.  The Town Park has changed significantly, with lakes being moved, and there are loads of new buildings: a new cinema, a new library, a Premier Inn and loads of new restaurants about to open.  Telford certainly needed it, it should be much better once it has been finished.  However, the people walking around made me remember just how chavvy Telford is.  I felt super slim and super old to have a 5 year old with me!  However, mostly I noticed how grumpy and miserable everyone looked.  I'm glad to have got out!

Tom and Mae balancing

After lunch Tom and I headed to Rachel's new house in Moreton (well in the middle of no-where).  a very lovely barn conversion set around a communal courtyard with other children - Rachel's idea of heaven, I can see why.  It is very lovely.  Rachel's house was in a state of chaos, they only moved in 2 weeks ago, plus it is school holidays and her children were out of routine.  Not a great formula, but one she copes with admirably (it would drive me mad!).  Tom and Mae were very pleased to be together (Tom had been moaning that it was taking too long to get to see Mae all day) and were playing together immediately.  Rachel and I were able to catch up around Lucy and a 1000 mini disasters which kept occurring.  The children had tea together - Tom ate up fast and then demanded more food after pudding as he was still hungry (a little embarrassing).  Tom was very tired after a full, exciting day but Mae wasn't and Mae can be a little monkey if she wants.  She had no desire to go to sleep at all and wanted to play up.  Rachel, sensing how tired Tom was took Mae out of the room and Tom was asleep in minutes.

Children on the swings - all swinging under their own steam!

All the NCT girls (Michelle, Lou and Rachel) came round for dinner in the evening.  It was really good to see them.  We don't see each other very often, but are able to pick up where we left off each time.  The evening raced by.  Mae was up to greet them, but then went to bed in the room with Tom very quietly (the perfect way to get them to bed in the same room together!).  We kept going until 11pm but then tiredness crept up on everyone and we said our goodbyes.

Wednesday morning I took Tom and Mae into Telford Town Park to meet up with Helen, Jake & Thomas and Sammie, Jen and Sophie.  Tom said he couldn't remember Jake, but as soon as they saw each other they gave each other big big hugs.  So lovely to see.  The children all played together superbly well.  It was as if we had never been away.  It was so good to catch up with everyone.  Such great, easy company.  Oh and Tom for the first time ever got swinging by himself (mainly because I was too busy chatting to attend to his needs)  Never again will I push him!

On the assault course

We split up for lunch.  I returned with Tom and Mae to Rachel's to find a house full of action.  Rachel's in-laws were helping with the move and Phil's mum was round to put up a shelf and paint the garage.  Mae and Tom played in the courtyard with the neighbour's children quite happily whilst Lucy came in and out and demanded this and that (you forget how demanding a 2 year old can be!)

Goodbye hug

Phil's sister came round as well so there was a full house.  Phil's parents are lovely people, but they seem unable to say goodbye, we had the longest parting ever recorded and then settled down for dinner.  Once again Tom was tired and Mae not, so Tom went to bed first and Mae afterwards.  During this time I also got news that Uncle Claude had passed away, so I left them to the longest ever goodbye and had a long phone conversation with mum and dad.

Thursday, we said our goodbyes to Mae, Lucy and Rachel and then headed to softplay at the ice rink to meet with Sammie & co.  Sarah and Basia were going to be there too, but family crises stopped them attending.  Not to worry, we had a good time and more so Tom and Sophie had a great time.  One sausage roll and a hot dog each down we said goodbye and we headed back home.  We got home in good time.  Matt took us out for tea.

Friday, as Matt had done loads of work whilst we were away, he decided to take the day off.  We went down for Tom's swimming lesson and then decided to go to Ulverston to climb up to the lighthouse there.  Bad idea - there was a crash on the main roundabout for that area, meaning traffic built up big time.  We were stuck in the jam for a good 40 mins until we were able to peel off up past Windermere.  We decided to go to a pub we found the other day near Gummers How and had a large lunch.  Wow!  It was good.  A steak sandwich with caramelised onions, horseradish and blue cheese = pure, pure heaven.  We were then told that the windermere road was blocked so we had no choice other than to go home the scenic way, which we did.  A bit of a non event day but a great lunch.

Third week of the holidays

New car please

Saturday was a rainy day.  I was supposed to be providing the cricket tea for the cricket match.  I had made a banana cake, huge amount of flapjacks, sausage rolls and was about to start making sandwiches when it got rained off!  Oh hum, freezer is now full.  So, we had a day to fill.  We headed off west and ended up in Staveley at the rather lovely Hawkshead Brewery for lunch.  The rain was unrelenting so we decided that we would go into Kendal and see if we could find Tom a big boy bed (we've been promising him one for ages).  We found a bed shop so he tried out all the matresses and looked at all the beds and chose for himself what he wanted.  He has great taste as he went for exactly what I would have chosen.

Once the transaction was made, Matt and Tom went off for haircuts whilst I did a bit of shopping.  I quickly got bored, so joined them.  Then we headed to Costa for tea (coffee) and a bun before heading home.

Sunday was Car Fest.  This was held at Oulton Park near Chester, so we left quite early and got to the gates just as they opened.

Private Tom!

How's my position?

 We had a fab time. We saw a monster truck, the red barrows (very tongue in cheek), a couple of parades of cars.  I did some shopping (bought a skirt??!?!?!).  We had lunch in the big top watching a mini beast show (bumped into an old friend from Encounter Overland and her family so we were talking 10 to a dozen catching up).  There was an air show, lots of military vehicles to clamber on and over.  There were plenty car stands where Tom tried out various cars (he wants Matt to get an Aston Martin DBS next!) a motorbike stand where you got flung from side to side to understand some of what it is like to ride a race.  We had a go on the mini diggers (playing 10 pin bowling) and on the mini tanks (see here: http://youtu.be/0E5y2w4al_A).

Invading army

What a big head!

All in all it was a great day out, loads to do.  We didn't get round everything in the day we were there.  It was so well set up for children, that in a way it seemed it was more for them than us.  We had a dinner date in Manchester that evening, otherwise we would have stayed a little longer.  In the evening there were some big acts: Texas, Jools Holland and others I can't remember.  They provided some trailers with cushions for children, so if you wanted to see the acts, you could put your children to bed in the trailers and stay and watch them.  Great.  Something to remember for next time.

As I said we had a dinner date - with Karen, Adam, Leia and Rosa in Manchester.  Great dinner too - Adam makes a fab roast.  We had a lovely evening and the kids enjoyed themselves.  Sleep didn't happen for a while until Karen read them the riot act (you can see she is a teacher).  All went quiet and we were able to relax.

Rosa getting stuck in

On the beach

Monday was a gorgeous day - Karen suggested we go to St Anne's to the beach.  Her brother lives in St Anne's so we parked at his had tea and then headed to the beach.  It was perfect beach weather and the sand was perfect sandcastle making sand so the kids were happy.






We had a picnic, made some castles, destroyed some castles etc etc.  St Annes is a little like Weston Super Mare in that there is no sea (or you have to walk a long way to get to it)  As a consolation they have a great paddling pool on the sea front so we headed there, more to get the sand off them than anything else.

Sopping!

Building team

Concentration!

They had a great time.  Unfortunately we didn't have swimming costumes for them so they went in fully clothed and got drenched.  It was a joy to see them - pure enjoyment, the fun that hopefully gets etched on your brain as how good summer holidays used to be.   Luckily I had a spare pair of jeans and a jumper on me (you can never be too sure when you go to a beach in England) so he went commando and didn't freeze when he eventually came out.

We ended up coming home on Monday evening after dinner as Matt had been working on a particularly hard translation at their house during the day and needed to get back to his office with his equipment to get it finished.

Tuesday - sorry I can't remember what happened on Tuesday!

Wednesday was a grey, miserable day, raining, raining, raining.  I realised that this was our last proper free day before school starts so we went shopping for school shoes, uniform and pe kit.  (Ingleton Primary decided in their wisdom to have a pe kit next year).  It wasn't an amazing day, but it all got bought and now I don't need to worry about it.

Rory, Tom and Lewis

Thursday Neil & Sharon, Matt's friends from Dollar came to visit with their two sons Rory (8) and Lewis (6).  I haven't seen them since Rory was born, but Matt has at various reunions etc.  Rory and Lewis aren't the best of friends, meaning that Tom was Mr popular - a position he relished.  Matt took them out to do the Storr's Common Walk whilst I did some work on an anniversary cake I needed to deliver.  Then we had a bbq - and it was warm enough to eat it outside too which was ace.  Lewis and Rory slept with Tom in his room - a great idea, execpt they wouldn't settle, so Lewis (the chief trouble maker) was pulled out and all went quiet (Neil and Sharon are teachers, so have that tone of voice which works on Tom - maybe not Rory and Lewis).

Tom and Rory

Friday Tom had his swimming lesson so Matt took the others for the Ribblehead walk.  We caught up with them and then headed into Hawes for lunch.  We then went to the Dales life museum a little museum at the National Park Centre that we've not yet visited.  It was surprisingly good - there were eye spy nature sheets for the children to do and plenty of hands on exhibits to play with.  Not bad, especially as it was free for kids.  Before we knew it, it was almost closing time so we made our way home.  Tom, Rory and Lewis had a good time.  School has been great for Tom's confidence with other children, he made friends with Rory and Lewis in no time.  By the time they left, it was as if they had known each other for years.

Second week of the holidays

Monday we met up with Eli and Adam at RSPB Leighton Moss.  I had arranged this on purpose as Eli is so knowledgeable in nature, so thought I would pick her brains and learn something.  I did learn a bit, not so much with birds (although I now know that a 'squeaky bike' like tweet is a Moorhen) but more to do with bugs.  She had bought two bug collecting jars and 2 nets and the boys spent most of the day hunting bugs.  We didn't find a woodlouse (Tom's current favourite) but we did find lots and then we went pond dipping and found my old favourites - water boatman, pond skater, leeches etc.  It was good fun.

Can I do it...

yes I can!

They also had an inventive play area, including a place where you could 'walk the plank' and stack pieces of wood.  Tom and Adam stacked them up and invented a jumping game.  Tom was surprisingly good and managed to jump pretty high to avoid the tower of logs.  Fun was had by all, but at 3pm, once again the shutters went down on Tom.  We went to the cafe to try to revive him via food, but his behaviour deteriorated and in the end we had to leave.  Tom fell asleep within minutes of leaving in the car and slept all the way back.  Phew - at least his bad behaviour was tiredness not naughtiness!

Tuesday - sorry can't remember what we did!

Driver Tom

Wednesday was Matt's birthday so we celebrated with a trip on the Eskdale and Ravenglass Railway a cute little ex mining railway over to the west of the Lake District.  We had to go through some truly stunning scenery via some quite twisty and steep passes to get there, it was worth it, even in the grey and mist.  We got our day rover tickets (free via Tesco) and settled down to our ride.  It is a really lovely ride and the trains were very cute.  We went all the way down to the end of the railway and had a lunch in a pub and then set out again doing some half trips before ending up back at the start again.

The weather was pretty good to us with only a couple of spots of rain.  As predicted Tom fell asleep on the way home, so we waited for him to wake up before stopping for tea.  He slept a while as we got to Kirkby Lonsdale!  We were intrepid and tried a new venue - the Royal Hotel who do pizzas - very nice they were too, although we think on the whole Avanti's are better.

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Anyway a good day was had by all and everyone went to bed happy.


Thursday, Tom and I spent the day with Kate and Finn.  We were going to go out for a walk but Kate had had a nasty accident on her mountain bike (ripped her elbow off!) and had a very fat arm and hand and really wasn't looking too great.  We stayed at theirs.  Tom distracted Finn for the day playing with him whilst I sat and chatted to Kate, she wasn't looking well and was in pain - yuck.  (Turned out she had an infection and ended up in hospital for a number of days undergoing more surgery - tough luck to happen at the start of the holidays!)

Skinny Herdy

Friday Tom had his swimming lesson at Ingleton Pool (he did quite well) and then spent the afternoon at Matthew's playing.  The day went in a whizz - before we knew it, it was tea time so we headed back so we could have our dinner out with Matt.

First week of the holidays - part 2

Thursday was yet another wonderfully sunny and hot day.  Grandpa wanted a 'day in the countryside' so we decided to take him for a walk in Austwick - what is becoming one of our favourite short walks, across some fields, up a hill through a wild flower haven to the top of a hill, down the otherside to a river and back to Austwick, where of course there is a lovely pub to relax and recuperate in.

Nice cool feet

It was a good walk although it was quite hot so a little harder than usual.  The wild flowers were still out including bluebells and orchids and the view from the top was as lovely as always.  We headed down to the river.  As it was so hot we very much looked forward to having a paddle in the river at the bottom.  Matt and I were straight in (it was delicious) but Tom was hesitant.  Surprisingly it only took a little persuasion to get him in and in the end he was splashing around as if it was exactly why he went there.  We also found a swing over the river, I said there was no way we would get Tom on there.  Of course Grandpa was with us so he had to prove us wrong - he sat on it and was quite content to swing over the water (wonders will never cease!).

After quite a bit of playing we walked on to the Game Cock and had a lovely lunch - I went for the Breton Gallette which really did take me back to France (their kitchen is run by a French chef).  We left with happy bellies and returned home to laze around inside - we had all had enough of the sun (it got up to about 28 degrees today)

Another good day.

Just hanging around...

Friday Tom had his first summer swimming lesson at Ingleton Pool.  It went surprisingly well.  I had asked for Tom to be in the class where they don't wear swimming aids (he will be lazy if he can).  He was put in a class mainly with people from year 1 (Strangely most of his class mates were in the class above that?!).  He did pretty much everything he was asked and even tried to swim at the end of it (he managed about 1/3 of a width).  I'm hoping Vicky (the teacher) might finally get him on his way - surely it has got to click soon????

Saturday morning we headed to Clapham for their street fair.  We had a good play in their lovely park and then had a browse around the stalls set up in the village after enjoying the Batala drum band again (the same one as was in Ingleton last week).  Problem was that most of the stalls belonged to churches and I feel quite uncomfortable giving my money to organised religion (I've never been a fan and since living in Israel have become even less of a fan).  There were the odd charities, but one tried to give me a guilt trip about Tom and the fact that he could have a brain tumour at any time which would be incurable (why oh why do they then think I would turn round and give them some money after saying that to me???!!!!!) However, the Cave and Mountain Rescue were there with some rather lovely looking cakes, so we sat down, ate cake and happily gave them some money.

A walk in the wheat

Matt then enjoyed a rather lovely looking bacon butty before we headed back.  Matt to play cricket, Tom and I to have lunch and then decide what to do for the rest of the day.  Tom wanted to go to the swimming pool to show me how he can now swim.  We went along but it was a lovely sunny day so it was rammed full.  Tom didn't seem to mind, but it meant there really wasn't enough room for him to try to swim.  Nevermind we had fun, until suddenly he went quiet on me.  We got out and went home.  He was tired.  We had a 5pm tea.  Tom was in bed by 6.30 and sound asleep by 6.45!  I guess it has been a busy week.

Sunday we headed over to Crooklands as we had heard you could get a free narrow boat trip down the canal there.  We turned up and yes, we could, although we couldn't get on the first boat, so went for a little walk and played catch with a pine cone before boarding.  It was a lovely, peaceful ride, we didn't go very far or for very long, but it was a lovely, relaxing ride.  There were 4 dogs on board with us - Tom didn't mind at all and they were all well behaved.  Once back, we headed to Plumgarths for lunch (very nice too - homemade quiche for me, meat sandwiches for the boys), then to Lakeland in Windermere for a browse (good for ideas - but too expensive to buy).  We then headed up the Kirkstone Pass to the Kirkstone Pass Inn for a quick drink before heading back home.  Tom fell asleep within minutes and remained so all the way home - is he really 5 going on 6?!  I don't think his classmates run out of steam so quickly?!

The Fellsman

Big day today. Grandpa turned 70 earlier this year, and we all thought he'd like a steam train ride to celebrate it. Fortunately, The Fellsman runs every Wednesday during the summer over the Settle and Carlisle line. Very handy.

Today was another very hot and sunny day, and we were apparently fortunate to be hauled by a steam locomotive - in prolonged dry spells, they have to switch to Diesel engines because of the risk of fire.

Anyway, Grandpa, Tom, Auntie Jude and yours truly drove the 10 miles or so to Long Preston, the last pick-up point before the train heads into the Dales. The platform was pretty crowded with travellers - it is a very popular activity.

Appleby

The train arrived bang on time, a class 8F freight locomotive pulling 12 coaches, with a class 37 Diesel engine on the back providing electricity. We had seats in coach E, about 2 steps walk to the buffet counter. It felt a bit odd pounding through Settle at speed, as regular trains always stop there. The Dales looked wonderful in the blazing sunshine, with photographers sporting expensive cameras and tripods in almost every field as we sped north through Horton, Ribblehead, Dent, Garsdale... Just south of Garsdale, we spotted a field of highland cattle, all of whom studiously ignored the sight of a steam train at full chat. Mind you, most of the sheep we saw fled in terror.

Seemingly in no time, we were at Appleby, where the train stopped for about 15 minutes to take on water. Some passengers got off here, to take a trip on a vintage charabanc followed by a cruise on Ullswater, which I'm sure was equally pleasant today. There was a guy selling ice creams on the platform, and he must have done a roaring trade today. The temperature was close to 30°C, almost unheard for this part of the world. A certain young man took something of a shine to the peach & mango flavour, and demolished almost a whole tub by himself.

Carlisle

Once the water tank was full, we set off again for the pleasant roll through the Eden Valley to Carlisle, where we arrived a good 10 minutes early. The long train and steep gradients seemed to prove no trouble at all for the engine (or was the diesel at the back giving us a sneaky push?).

Luckily, it was lunchtime, so we headed straight to Eaten By Monsters, a quirky American style diner that we'd been to (and enjoyed) on a previous visit. It didn't disappoint this time either, and we all enjoyed a good meal. We had a bit of time to kill before the return journey, so we had a stroll round Carlisle's (rather disappointing and formulaic) shops before heading back to the station. Someone enjoyed 20 minutes or so of watching the wide variety of trains that pass through Carlisle (Pendolinos, Voyagers, blue trains, purple trains, freight trains ...), before our train rolled into the platform. There was a brief delay while they couldn't get the steam engine coupled to the coaches. They got it sorted fairly quickly, though, and a violent lurch signified that we were on our way.

Garsdale

I think the train must have been sitting out in the sun, as it was absolutely roasting on board. We opened all the windows, bought bottles of water from the buffet, and more peach & mango ice cream from the guy at Appleby, but we still sat there and boiled all the way to Long Preston. We got yakking to the people in the seats opposite ours, a nice couple of couples from Dorset, who'd picked absolutely the right week to have a holiday in Yorkshire, having been enticed to visit it by Le Tour de France.

We waved goodbye to the train at Long Preston, where the platform wasn't even close to long enough to accommodate such a large train, and then headed back to Ingleton, to regale Mummy with tales of our adventure. It was a grand day out, and I hope it did justice to Grandpa's milestone.