Dinosaurs and Remembrance

We had a busy weekend this weekend.  It all started on Saturday morning with football training down at the school field, whilst I went for a run (haven't done one for weeks due to illness or work)  I also tried to get the kitchen back to normal again - easier said than done as so much stuff got removed to make it bigger, cleaner and less cluttered.  When Tom got back, he got changed quickly and we set off to Manchester to meet up with some friends to see a dinosaur thingy near the Trafford Centre.

We stopped off for lunch on the way and then plunged into the Manchester motorways to get to the Trafford Centre.  OMG, it's not that close to Christmas, but it seemed as if the whole of the North West was trying to get to the Trafford Centre today.  We got horribly stuck in traffic, and were moving at 3 miles an hour for the last 3 miles - not great - just as well we left plenty of time just in case.  On arrival, we couldn't find any parking spaces, the place was rammed.  In the end Matt had to dump me and Tom so we could make our way to the exhibition (we had timed tickets) and he find somewhere to park.  He eventually left it on a grass verge on double yellow lines (along with everyone else!).  He made it to the venue in time - phew!  This was a meet up with Sara and Ian - friends of the Watsons, well now the Watsons aren't here we are having to meet up with their friends instead!  Their 6 year old Jessica, gets on really well with Tom.  They also have a 2 year old, James, who is a bundle of energy and, well a 2 year old, so into everything with no regard for anyone or anything including himself!

Squidging dinosaur poo!

Sara and James went off for the duration as James was too young.  We didn't really know what to expect - didn't really read up on it.  Something along the lines of some animatronics.  Ah ha, in a way I'm glad we didn't read up on it as it was better for not knowing.  Basically we were time travellers with the company Chronotex and entered their time travelling machine to go back 67 million years to Montana.  We took a armoured car across an expanse of land full of dinosaurs - a huge herd of Triceratops, some huge Alamosauruses, some naughty Dakotaraptars and others into their base.  There we were greeted in reception, got to look in their labs (we squidged dino poo), saw a beating heart, handled a T-rex tooth etc.  We saw a dinosaur autopsy (it died from bird flu - the Dr found a huge lump of snot in its nostrils), went to the hatchery where we saw some baby dinosaurs.   Then to some caged animals -  including a baby Triceratops being hand fed, where had the T-Rex hatchlings got to and what was the dinosaur in the wooden crate doing?  It almost got out!!!!!

DINOSAURS!

We then went to the top platform where there was a viewing room - we could see North, South, East and West.  There was plenty going on - dinosaurs were everywhere, there were fights, dinosaurs bashing trees down, dinosaurs being eaten.  Then an armoured car came with more guests, but it got stuck and set on fire and the crew had to go out to help them (they made it in one piece thankfully) but then some T-rexs came up to the building (apparently it was very unusual to see them here) they spotted us and started attacking so we all had to escape via the escape pods and the freight time-transporter.

It was all done really really well, the actors were great and the time flew.  We all really enjoyed it (except Jessica at the end who was worried about the crew left behind at the station and in tears.  In the end she had to have it explained to her that it was all fake!)  Very well done and very enjoyable.

We then met up with Sara and James and went for tea together in The Trafford Centre.  The place was still full, but we managed to find ourselves a table in a restaurant called Tampopo which served South-East Asian and Japanese food.

Oh - forgot to mention we collected dozens of bottles of homemade cider which Matt and Cameron made together quite a few years ago.  We had all forgotten about it, but when the Watsons emptied their house prior to their move to China they found them all and handed them over to Sara and Ian so they could give them to us.  Expect to be force fed cider when  you come to visit.  It's not that bad - so long as you like dry cider!

Not a bad turn out for a small village - all impeccably behaved as well.

Nice and solemn, our boy did good!

Sunday morning saw us at church.  It was the Rememberance Day Service and Tom was in the wreath party.  It takes place at St Mary's Church in Ingleton - it seemed as if the whole village was crammed in the church - must be their busiest day of the year.  All the usual people were there (it is always the same families that take part in village life, whether it be school, scouts, football etc).  All the children were impeccably behaved.  Tom did his bit with the wreath (stood with a scout who laid a wreath on behalf of all the scouts).  It was a beautiful day but freezing cold, but no-one complained - the children dressed in scouting uniform didn't wear coats - we are tough up north don't you know!

Scalebar Force

Once finished, we headed home, got changed into more comfortable gear and headed out.  Tom had a birthday party at Settle pool, so Matt and I went to Watershed Mill for lunch.  We then went for a short walk to Scalebar Force.  This is on the Malham road, by the Highland Cows, we have driven past it many times not realising it was there.  A fantastic waterfalls, definitely need to go back to play in it during the summer.  We then went on a Highland Cow hunt and were rewarded by 4 who came over to see us.

MOO!

Then back home and tea.  Matt and Tom then went up towards Ribblehead to do some star gazing with a local expert.  A fun packed weekend I think you'll agree!