It's Christmas!!!!!!!!!

Wow, what a week we've had, we have had a lovely time, just hope I can remember what we have been up to.

So, on Monday Granma and Pop Pop arrived after a non eventful 2 day trip up.  They came with a car full of things, mainly presents for Tom, what a lucky boy and plenty of Christmas cheer.  It was good to finally see them up here, they liked the house and (hopefully) felt at home pretty quickly.  Mum was looking good, her knee has got a bit better since the steroid injection, it has reduced in swelling a bit and she is definitely a lot more mobile, being able to negotiate our stairs OK, which was one big worry taken care of.

Tom, Jack and Seth

Jack the bright Elf

We didn't do anything on Monday (they didn't arrive until late-ish afternoon), however, we were visited by the Bickerstaffs almost 10 minutes after they arrived, which meant we were in chaos for a little while, but good chaos.  Jack came dressed in real working lights - I loved it, something to think about for next year?  We had an earlyish tea of roast jammy ham and then I headed off for my boxercise whilst Mum and Dad fell asleep on the sofa.

Tuesday dawned a miserable, grey, raining day.  I gave Mum and Dad some options for the day, one of which was the Wensleydale Creamery.  Dad's eyes lit up at this, so off we went.  We were very lucky as they were making cheese, so we paid to go into the museum and viewing gallery.  Tom was happy enough watching Wallace and Gromit videos whilst we looked around the museum trying to work out how the milk knows how to become Wensleydale and not cheddar etc, and then we went in the viewing gallery.  They certainly weren't making Wensleydale today as the cheese they were making was bright orange (so either Red Leicester or Gloucester).  However, they were in full production mode so were were able to see a tank full of milk, a tank full of 'porridge' a tank with the curds draining, another with the curds cut into blocks and another where salt was added to the blocks and then the blocks fed through a 'chipper' and the 'chips' then packed into molds.  We spent a good amount of time watching with interest - it was compulsive viewing but then we are all cheese nerds.  We were able to drag ourselves away with the promise of a visit to the cheese tasting room (Dad's eyes almost came out of their sockets) - we did our usual round, Tom of course studied every plate carefully to make sure he got the biggest chunk of cheese for each flavour.  We were lucky in that there was a member staff on hand to ask questions, Dad was in his element and quizzed him.  By now it was quite late and we were in need of a cheesy lunch (plus it was pouring down and very very windy so there was no way we were going anywhere else).  So, Yorkshire Rarebit for me, soup and cheese for Dad, cheese on toast for Mum and macaroni cheese for Tom.  We were all very happy campers.  By the time we left we had spent the best part of 3 hours on site.  I think we could say the day was a success!

All ready for Father Christmas

Wednesday, Christmas Eve, it was still grey, but not windy and only a little bit of rain.  Tom woke up crying in the night, he was sad because Father Christmas hadn't been, he had got his dates mixed up, bless him.  Dad and Matt decided to do the waterfalls walk, whilst Mum, Tom and I went swimming at Stacksteads.  I think Mum enjoyed it there as did Tom as we spent over an hour and a half in the water.  Mum doing various physio exercises and some swimming.  Tom swimming with armbands and his woggle and after some persuasion some widths without any aids (think he did 5 altogether).  I even managed to get Mum into the jacuzzi where we stayed for a good 20 minutes.  In the end we were all looking quite wrinkled and getting hungry so we got out and headed to Country Harvest for lunch.  We have never been to the cafe there before - not sure why?  Anyway we had good nosh.  Lots of people were going for the full Christmas Dinner but Mum decided on soup, I had a goats' cheese baguette and Tom a jacket potato with cheese and beans (was a kid's portion but he was served a whole potato!).  We then dropped in at the Wheatsheaf on the way home for a drink as Dad and Matt were rehydrating there after their walk and then home.  Not much of note happened afterwards, except Tom sorted out his plate for Father Christmas: a mince pie, a carrot and a dram of Glenlivet.  Then to bed, Tom went to bed quite well considering he was very excited about tomorrow.  

Lego workshop

Beef ready to be shown the oven

Thursday, Xmas Day - hurray!  We thought Tom might be up early, but no, it was 8.30 before he stirred.  He came into our room saying - Father Christmas has been and went to get his present and stocking.  He unpacked his stocking with us and then went in to see Granma and Pop Pop to unwrap his present - an Eddie Stobart Coach - the good man must have been listening to him and thought him a good boy.  We got up and had a posh breakfast of scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and then I prepared Christmas dinner whilst the others got themselves ready and Tom and his grandparents played with his stocking presents.  This included a Lego kit which transforms from a steam engine to a rocket to a carriage.  Tom got his Pop Pop working on this immediately - all three models had to be made, so Pop Pop put on his glasses and was supervised whilst doing it.

Hot Wheels!

Once the roast was in the oven and everything else under control, we ventured into the lounge for present opening time.  Tom had an enormous load of presents, they just kept coming and kept coming  - Matt kept a list (thankfully) but all I can say is how very generous everyone has been to him and a huge thank you for your generosity.  Special thanks have to go to the Smyths in Australia as once again they out did themselves and bought the biggest present ever.  Obviously they stayed with us this year and were introduced to Bruder vehicles.  Martin obviously kept note of this as he sent Tom a HUGE breakdown truck to him via Amazon - it was almost as big as him and an instant hit.  In fact, I think we could have stopped Christmas then and he wouldn't have been disappointed!  Anyway I think it took him a good hour or so to open them all.

Hot Wheels and Army Onesie = Happy Boy

Thank you for all of our presents too, we were chuffed with all of them.  The house of course turned into a huge tip and Tom was keen to play with everything straight away.  We had got him some Hot Wheels and he was very keen for it to be put together and wanted to help.  Of course his idea of helping and Matt's idea of helping were two different things.  Luckily Granma and Pop Pop came to the rescue, they wanted some fresh air and as I explained to Tom, they don't know the village very well, so he needed to go with them to make sure they didn't get lost and also so he could explain where everything is.  He agreed it was a good idea, so he went, proudly wearing his new hiking boots (thanks Grannie and Grandpa) and his new thick welly socks (thanks Granma and Pop Pop) whilst we cleared the lounge, Matt fought over the Hot Wheels and I sorted out the veggies etc.  Granma and Pop Pop came home after their guided tour just in time for a Skype with Grannie and Grandpa.  Dinner was then ready just after 3 (oh and for future reference for cooking roast beef - check out December 2012 and take off about half an hour).

A huge present - thank you Martin

We then spent the rest of the day eating.  A huge dinner - roast beef and all the trimmings, followed by Christmas pudding and then tea of cheese (what else could it possibly be?!)  We all went to bed happy.


Friday wasn't a particularly lovely day.  We gave Granma and Pop Pop a list of places to go and they chose a walk out to the Ribblehead Viaduct.  Although it wasn't particularly lovely, it wasn't windy and it wasn't cold so the walk was as pleasant as it could be under dark grey clouds and drizzle.  Mum made it under the viaduct and to the farm but then a big cattle grid spelt the end of the walk - too much to expect with a dodgy knee, so we headed back.  We went further than I expected and was impressed with Mum's ability, she did much better than I expected which opened up other possibilities for other walks later in the week.  We returned home and had 'Christmas Day Soup' - i.e. all the vegetables left over from yesterday blitzed up into a thick soup using the ham broth.  We were all feeling fortified after lunch and Matt was curious to see what sales Daleswear had on so decided to take a walk down.  Mum and Dad said they would like to come too, so we all headed down to find it was closed.  Oh hum, we went to the pub instead for a drink and then headed back home.  We had a traditional Boxing Day dinner with cold cuts (Mum and Dad devoured the cold beef!) including a huge pork pie from the butchers (become a bit of a tradition now), before having a sleepy night on the sofas.

Three on a boat

Gorgeous Scenery

Saturday it dawned sunny with a blue sky and snow on the mountains - hurray!  We decided it was a good day to go to Lakeside for a day on the Windermere boats.  The drive over to the lake was gorgeous with the snow capped mountains glowing in the morning sun.  We arrived to find the lake completely still and not a breath of wind - perfect boating conditions in fact the conditions were so good that we all decided to sit outside and we all stayed outside for the whole trip.  It was truly beautiful, everyone was in a good mood and Tom was happy in his Grandparents company taking in everything as if it was his first trip.  We all came off with a good feeling and hungry bellies - staying warm had made us hungry so we headed off to Auntie Val's Tea Rooms for some hot food.

Missing his pub date!

We then split up to walk around town before heading back to Lakeside.  Unfortunately it rained just as we got on the boat, so this time we were all inside but it didn't really matter, the scenery made up for it and we were once again all happy by the time we got to Lakeside.  This evening we went out for dinner at The Game Cock in Austwick thinking Mum and Dad would like some Yorkshire French food.  It went down well - Dad managed to order the biggest thing on the menu and ate it all!  Tom ate off our plates so managed to have some rabbit, venison, cassoulet and tartiflette and ate it all - what a gannet and how many children his age would eat rabbit and venison without questioning it?  What a good boy.  He did miss his dinner date though - normally when we go to the Game Cock we meet up with Rachael, Graham and more importantly Isabella, but she was busy entertaining some others and couldn't make it.  Oh hum, it meant we got home earlier.

At Malham Cove

Sunday was another lovely day and as Mum was doing so well with her walking we decided to take them to Malham for the walk to Malham Cove.  The walk is a little bumpy but is paved so no rocks to trip her up etc.  It was a cold day, the snow was still on the hills (thicker than yesterday) and the roads covered in thick frost.  It was a good job our car is 4x4 as otherwise I'm not sure we would have made it.  The road to Settle was fine, but then we took a minor road up over the hills and down into Malham Valley - the scenery looked amazing - deep blue sky over snowy hills, I'm not sure it could have looked any more scenic.  We came across a very proud herd of Highland Cattle on the way one of which was perched up the top of the hills looking down on his herd.  Others were down by the road, all looked magnificent - it's

Helping Pop pop

Hairy friend

their element isn't it: Highland cows in the snow.  Matt drove very carefully over the hills (we only skidded once) and we made it in one piece.  I was a little concerned that Malham would be iced over and the trip a waste of time as there was no way I would let Mum or Dad walk in the ice, but luckily the valley was deep enough that there wasn't any snow or ice - phew! We parked on the road and then headed to the path.  Of course this time I noticed every little hill - the path was steeper than I remembered, but Mum did a stirling job and walked fine without complaint to the cove at the end.  We then found ourselves a nice rock to sit on in the sun (we actually got hot waiting) whilst the boys climbed up to the limestone pavement above.  The boys weren't too long, having enjoyed the view from the top and not slipping over on the ice (phew).  We then walked back the same way and headed to the Lister Arms for a well earned lunch and drink.  We then drove back over the icy roads to Settle and then home.  In the evening Matt and I had a date out at the new whisky bar that has just opened up in the village.  Very nice too, we didn't get back home until 11pm.

Goodbye hug with Granma

Goodbye hug with Pop Pop

So Monday came and we had to say goodbye to Granma and Pop Pop.  It came round too soon.  We had a really good time with them and we hope they enjoyed it too.  I was very sad to see them go as was Tom, we didn't have any strained atmospheres, no bad words, it was a week of harmony and we all reconnected very well, it's the longest amount of time we have spent with each other for a while and it went really well.  We all hope we see them back here again sometime soon.  Thanks for a great Christmas x.