First few weeks back

Three kids on a stone

So, we got back from Japan and then boom - it was the school camp out.  Took me over a week to recover from that and now I'm mega behind with the blog.  Oh hum.

Hanging on 

Sheltering in the hospice

So we enjoyed our last couple of days of the school holidays.  On the last day we had a day out with the Mannings which was fun.  We went for a walk up by Grange Over Sands - got to the top of a hill and found something called the Hospice - a shelter from the wind and rain.  Then down to the prom and a late cafe lunch whilst watching trains shoot past.  It was a really fun day out - they are such good company that family - so glad they moved to Ingleton.

Then Tom started school - so we were back to the routine which took some getting used to.  Second week back we were into after school clubs as well and back to manic weekdays - not being able to think further than two days ahead as so much is going on.

Snug in a pod

Also the campout was on the second weekend so all that week was spent preparing for it and then on Friday - boom it was the campout.

Alice and Richard

Toasting marshmallows

What can I say about the camp out...not sure really.  It was A LOT of work.  The same number of people came this year that came last year so all our marketing and extra events we put on didn't bring anymore people along.  We found it very difficult to find people to help out with the BBQ and bouncy castles, if I could clone myself 10 times I would have done so I could do it all myself.  It struck me just how un-community minded some people are.  It surprises me and saddens me.  This event was put on for the benefit of their family and their school and all people worried about was themselves.  Parents were sneaking off the site, leaving their kids behind to go to the pub (we had craft beer and gin in the marquee) we got excuse after excuse of why they couldn't help out etc etc.  Don't get me wrong, plenty of people did help and were brilliant, but you always remember the negative conversations more don't you?!

Festival umbrellas

Me and Lucy 

We raised £1,300 which was disappointing, it should have been much more.  Liz ended up in tears that night, I ended up in tears on the Tuesday (delayed reaction) we put in far too much effort.  Not one person from the school bothered to turn up during the day so that added to our dismay.

Bentham Fire Crew taking a car apart in a RTA demo

Anyway, I'm not willing to do another one.  If Liz does another one, it will have a different format and the school won't be the main beneficiary.  Guess what: after closing her camp site down for the weekend and therefore loosing income, then working extremely hard all weekend for the school to raise £1,300 they are now fining her for taking Annabel out of school so she can have a holiday (obviously they can't go on holiday during the summer and Owen and Annabel have completely different half term weeks as Owen goes to QES).

It took a week to recover from the camp out and to settle into our new weekly routine.  Tom has been tired since going back to school so he has had plenty of early nights - as have we.

I have also been attacking the house - trying to get rid of stuff.  I started well, but then cakes got in the way and now we have piles of stuff everywhere.  Oh hum, one day this place will be tidy.

Climbing Cat Bells

Oh, almost forgot, last weekend we headed to the Lake District - and climbed Cat Bells which is on Derwent Water quite close to Keswick.  Was a very lovely walk, and we had fab weather, meaning the views were amazing.  We are all a little out of shape at the moment - for various reasons, but we are all trying to get fit again so we can enjoy more of these walks.  I was huffing and puffing too much, but if you don't exercise you don't get fitter.  Need to drop a half stone too, so it should all help.