Football & Colour Dash

Getting stuck in. At last.

Saturday 6th May
Tom had a football match at home against Embsay.  He was in the second team again, but WOW!  How good was his football?  He was amazing, he was tackling, racing up and down the pitch helping his team mates and trying really really hard.  He scored a goal too, which was well deserved.  It was a pleasure to watch him and I actually had butterflies as I wanted them to win so much and I was nervous for him.  We came away feeling really good about the whole thing.

We came home, put Tom in the shower and then headed over to Sedbergh for lunch.  Tom was allowed anything he wished, we tried out a new eatery (Smatt's Duo) and he went for scrambled egg and smoked salmon on crumpets - it was well deserved.  Matt went for a panini and I went for a jacket potato, and they were all really really good and large portions.  In fact the portions were so large, we had to have a cupboard tea once we got home.

Pendolino!

We then went for a walk near Tebay and the M6 at the base of the Howgills, along the River Lune near the West Coast Main Line.  It was a really good location, miles from anywhere, down a long winding road from Sedbergh but, as I said, right next to the M6 (the pretty bit in the hills, just North from us).  We enjoyed throwing stones in the river, playing on a swing and just enjoying the scenery (whilst spotting Eddies).

Sunday 7th May

With Annabel and Owen

So today was the 5 km Colour Dash in Kendal.  I was slightly worried about this as even though I had explained the event to Tom and he was happy to be entered, he then came up with 'the winner is the one who gets the least dirty isn't it?"  and "isn't all the colour dangerous" etc etc.  I had to explain to him that it is fun and the idea is to get as dirty and colourful as possible.  We got there early and bumped straight into the Holmans.  We were glad we were there early in the end as there was a MASSIVE queue to register, in fact the even twas delayed because of the queue.  We got through and bought a couple of packs of colour to play with before we set off.  Wow!  Tom was first to open his pack and desperate to get it all over him.  Within seconds he was covered and had it in his hair and he was loving it!

Tom's blue period

We all started the race together but as Matt had a cricket match he was nervous he was going to miss it and shot off, Tom didn't have any trouble keeping up (I did!) so we lost the Holmans and I huffed and puffed behind them both.  Because there were so many people doing it and the pavements etc were quite narrow there was quite a bit of walking and the constant stop and start meant that I sweated quite a bit - not great when you are coated in coloured powder.  Put it this way, my T-shirt and face was way more colourful than anyone else's.  Oh hum!  Every 0.5km we had to run through a colour station where volunteers through loads of the powders at you.  It was fun and Tom loved it.

Getting into the spirit.

Before we knew it we were back at the start?!  This was way shorter than my Ingleton 5km.  I tracked it with my Fitbit and yes it was only 3.9km.  Hummmm.  At the end Matt went off to his cricket, Tom and I found the Holmans and we went back to the colour stations for a play.  The kids got stuck in playing snow angels in the powder, rolling in it, tipping it over themselves and basically having loads of fun.

We then headed to the fishery tea room we went to recently for lunch and then on to the Holmans for a water fight before showers and some wine.  I then had to leave the car behind and walk back home to find Matt (they lost), made tea and went to bed.  It had been a good day.

Holidays, snooker, industry and scarecrows...

Saturday 29th April

Foul throw!

In the morning Tom had a football match against Grassington at home and did very well.  After a shower at home and a well deserved lunch in the village, we took him to Grannie and Grandpa's.  They had requested a sleep over so they could watch the snooker with him - it was the final of the World Championship.  They had noticed on an earlier visit that Tom had been thoroughly absorbed by it.

It was good timing as Matt and I had a job to do - book our summer holiday.  After much discussion on where to go, we had decided on Malaysia.  We spent the afternoon planning where in Malaysia to visit, work out a schedule and then look into international flights.  By the end of the afternoon we had flights booked and had a skeleton itinerary of where to go.  Hurray.  We celebrated by having dinner in Platos in Kirkby, a grown up 3 course dinner none the less, and very nice it was too.

Sunday 30st April

Hoffman Lime Kiln

So, we picked up a happy Tom in the morning - he had had a good night watching the snooker with Grannie and Grandpa and had apparently really got into it.  He likes the maths behind it and already knows the names of the main players.  Apparently he was completely engrossed.

Beautiful 1925 Bentley

Today we decided to do some exploring of the Settle area.  We had discovered that there was a good Hoffman Kiln in Langcliffe (just north of Settle) and thought we would see if we could find it.  Well, how we have gone 4 years without being here is a bit of a mystery.  An amazing place, reminded us a bit of Telford - being an old industrial site with an incline plane and 3 different types of kiln.  The main one, the Hoffman Kiln was amazing, pretty much intact and absolutely massive.  It's a good job that iPhones have a torch built in as we needed them.  The whole area was well managed, with interpretive boards at every stage explaining what we could see.  Seems strange that it isn't signposted off the road?  Anyway, we spent much longer than we thought there.  Played hide and seek with Tom in the Hoffman Kiln, which went wrong because he couldn't find me and got upset but it was so big that I didn't realise!  He's still not the best at hide and seek bless him.  Oh hum.

Owl chicks

Next stop was Feizor and Elaine's for lunch  - where a beautiful 1925 Bentley turned up before doing the Oxenber Wood walk.  We did it hoping to see lots and lots of bluebells - the place is famous for it, but unfortunately they weren't quite out yet, although there were plenty of primroses and lots of other meadow flowers.  The best thing though was coming across a nest of owls.  There were in a hollow in a tree at eye's height.  3 of them all cuddled up, looking very fluffy, not making a noise but awake, alert but very still, obviously waiting for mum to come back with some food.  A sight you don't see very often and it very much made our day.

Monday 1st May
Today was the main day of the Wray Scarecrow Festival - the scarecrows are out, there was a fun fair and festival field with displays, food, crafts etc etc.  It is always a good day and this year we went with the Ellershaws, which made it even better.  We did a scout around all the scarecrows - the theme this year was Traditional Tales, but somehow Donald Trump did appear quite a bit.  It is always fun seeing all the scarecrows, the whole village get behind it so there is pretty much a scarecrow in every property.  We had a drink and the children a play in the cafe and then headed to the fun fair.  I told Tom he could have a go on two things.  He chose the penalty shoot out and rather tame roller coaster, I was quite surprised as there were some better rides and he has got braver recently.

Caitlin, Tom and Lottie

Caitlin decided on the rather more interesting ride which went up and down, she loved it.  As we were watching her, we noticed one of Tom's class mates, Lucy in the queue with her Dad.  Tom went over to say hi.  Lucy's Dad immediately asked him if he wanted to go with Lucy.  Tom said yes, Lucy's Dad was mighty relieved, lifted Tom over the gates into the queue and then escaped!  Tom pimped a free ride.  Andy, Lucy's Dad would not take any money from us.  Did Tom enjoy it? Oh yes, he loved it.  He and Lucy were giggling for the whole time.  Funny how much braver you become with a friend around...

Lucy and Tom

We had a late lunch - paella for me and a sweet pancake for Tom and then stopped to watch some displays.  The Ellershaws then had to leave and I got a text message from Liz asking if we wanted to join them in the pub and that Annabel had a surprise for Tom?  We don't need to be asked twice to go to the pub so we finished off and headed back home.  We found the Holmans in the Wheatsheaf garden in the sunshine, so the kids played whilst we drank.  We then decided we couldn't possibly cook dinner, so we stayed and had tea there too before staggering home.  It was a good day.

A Cheat's Way up Whernside & St George's Day

Saturday 22nd April

Deepdale and Dentdale

Tom had football training in the morning, he did really well again, we think that maybe, just maybe we've turned a corner and he now realises what needs to happen to be a good footballer. There's definitely more commitment, tacking these days. Finally!

Tom at Yorkshire's highest point

As it was a lovely sunny day we decided to head back to Kingsdale for the afternoon.  We had heard of a walk up Whernside which was short but very steep and went to investigate.  The walk was quite unremarkable, up through some fields, up and over some ridges and then suddenly we were there.  It was one of those walks when suddenly you finish when you aren't expecting it.  The whole walk took about an hour and that included rest stops for Tom.  We enjoyed the view at the top and felt slightly peevish looking at the walkers coming up the traditional way - which is much much longer.  It almost felt like we had cheated.  After enjoying the view for a half hour, we headed back down and were home within the hour - it would have been much much longer had we gone the traditional way.  A good walk to remember when we want to be challenged but don't have much time.


Sunday 23rd April

Cubs Parade

Today was St George's Day and therefore Cubs Parade.  Cubs are asked to attend two parades a year: Remembrance Day and St George's Day, and we make the effort, but are one of the few families to do so, which is a shame.  It's not exciting, but its important to the leaders, and as they are all volunteers, I think it is the least we can do to support them.  Grandpa even came down to see it all.  There was a Cubs band and they paraded around Settle Primary School - not sure why the school and not the church but I'm sure there are reasons.  The Explorer Scouts did a play about St George, there were hymns and a religious bit.  It went on far too long - these things always do, but it was OK and Tom had his picture in the paper this week as a result.


We dropped in to see Grannie after the parade, she wasn't feeling well and wasn't up for leaving the house, so Bob went to get her a sandwich and then we went to a cafe in a nursery near(ish) Settle for lunch - very pleasant it was too.

Hull Pot and Pen-y-Ghent

The afternoon saw us getting some new walking boots for Tom - he's now a size 3!!!!!!! and then testing them out with a walk to Hull Pot which is near Pen-y-Ghent.  It's basically a massive hole in a field, no fencing around it, one minute you are walking on the grass and then suddenly there is a massive drop.  Not a great place to go walking in the dark or after a beer or two.  An interesting place though and we were brave by sitting with our legs dangling into space.  A very pleasant walk and the boots worked fine.

Fred's Birthday

Friday was Fred's birthday.  He had asked to come back from France early so he was at home for his special day, but not many of his friends were around.  I had promised Tom a visit to the zoo with me, but on hearing Fred was back, he wanted to spend the day with him.  So, after a morning of chores, we met up with Fred, Frank and Caroline at the Pump Track so that Fred could try out his new bike. 

After an hour or so, he wanted to go home, so we went with him and Tom had his tea there.  It was quite a quiet affair really, he had his proper party the following week once everyone was back at school.