Inbetween bit

Friday was cricket day: Tom had a session from 10.30 till 2pm which is way longer than normal but great.  It was a miserable rainy day, so he got loads of exercise and small person time which was fab. All the usual suspects were there which is grand, looks like there is now a 'cricket crowd' which is generally made up of all really lovely children, always a bonus.


I dropped Tom off, then bounced into Booths for a couple of bits, Matt, Mum and Dad went early to watch the match at the end and pick him up.

Then a lazy afternoon watching telly and a healthy tea.

Saturday was our last day with Mum and Dad, we decided to give Tom to them for the day without us pesky parents.  They seemed happy to do so, but it wasn't the best weather day so I suggested they went up to Hawes.  Dad was very happy with that as he was hoping for another visit to the creamery.

Cheese Press Stone

We took advantage of old people free time to go for a proper walk and headed to Kingsdale for a romp around the cheese press stones.  It was mega windy on top, but it was good to blow the cobwebs and get the old lungs going again.

We did a quick 4.5 loop and then headed to Dent for lunch where we went to The Sun for lunch: really really tasty chicken wings for me and quiche for Matt - we ended up sharing as they were both so good.  We got home about 15 mins before Mum and Dad.  They had had a good time and bought just the one block of cheese.  They came back and slumped for the rest of the day, before tucking into a huge pot of Christmas beef stew.

Sunday, Mum and Dad packed up and left, we did the same and headed to Manchester for a night with the Komorovskis - it had been a while, they were supposed to come up over summer but it didn't happen for one reason or another.  We decided that it would be a good idea to head to a pub on the runway at Manchester Airport for lunch (instead of our usual Chinese).  We didn't tell him as we weren't sure if the airport was even going to be open as we drove down to it in thick thick fog.  We were lucky...the fog cleared about 5 mins before we got there.  We were expecting a very average pub as reviews hadn't been that great.  We were nicely surprised.  You have to pay for parking which is understandable as otherwise people would stay all day and the pub not get any customers as there is literally no-where else to park.  Inside the decor was very tasteful - with tables made from what looked like engine outers.  But the big story was outside.  Literally as we turned up we saw a Cathay Pacific Tail, Tom ran out to see the A350 engage engines and take off.  We then went into the pub, the boys decided on their lunch choices and then left me to head out into the garden.  The garden was right at the end of the runway, where the planes turn and start on their way along the runway.

Plane coming in...

Tom was bouncing up and down and Matt was pretty pleased too.  They both spent as much time as possible in the garden - luckily it wasn't too cold, not raining and not windy.  Food was good - it was American Diner style, but more than adequate.  I haven't seen Tom eat a hot dog quite as fast though - he was desperate to be out watching planes rather than being inside.

When I finished my lunch (I seemed to be alone) I settled out and joined the boys outside.  I was lucky as the A380 Emirates was just about to leave (the only A380 that goes to Manchester).  It was ENORMOUS, the wings insanely massive (almost going over our heads) the pilot waved to us, and we were literally blown away when the engines came by.  Tom was very happy.  We did good.

What a spread...

After 2 hours, we had to leave (our carpark ticket was up) but we will be back.  We then headed to Salford and the Komorovskis.  They were all well and Leia - wow, when did she become a teenager?!  Last time we saw her (a year ago) she was a primary school child and now she is a fully flung teenager - going to high school really does age you!  We all settled in, Tom watching the footie with Adam on the lazy chairs.  He fits in well in their house.

In the evening we went in to town to the Manchester Bundobust where we decided to get the Bundo Combo which is one of every dish on the menu.  OMG - it was 17 dishes and there were only 4 adults and 3 children, two of whom pretty much didn't eat anything.  Ouch.  We tried our best and we did finish quite a few of them but there was a bit left over and we were all absolutely stuffed...we were all in pain...so much for being good over Christmas, we over ate big big time and we all suffered for it.  All 4 of us got back and lay on the sofas groaning for the rest of the night!

Christmas!

Belties!

Saturday was spent doing errands: Matt and Tom went to Settle to deliver treats to G&G and pick up  the pork pie we ordered from Lay of the Land.  We then dropped Tom off at the Holmans (he has a sleepover tonight, but today they were having a lego day so he was invited early), went to Ireby for a quick lunch before we headed to Kirkby to pick up the beef and get last minute bits from Booths.  Then back home in time for 3pm and our Asda delivery.  We were stocked up and ready for Christmas - lets hope Mum and Dad bring their appetites with them.

Tarn Hows

We had a lazy afternoon before meeting up with the Holmans at the OPO around 7.30 for a drink prior to dinner at the tapas.  We were all child free (Dave's parents were babysitting Tom, Owen and Annabel).  Dinner was good and then we did a bit of a pub crawl: bypassing the 3 Horse Shoes of course.  We then went to the Heifer and played darts - Matt won and then the big mistake of the evening: we went to the Top Club where I had very nasty wine and Matt had a pint of sour beer.  Neither of us could finish what we ordered so we moved on to the Masons.  By then Matt was feeling a bit ill from the bad pint and I couldn't face anymore wine and had a gin instead.  We didn't stay too long after that - a shame, must remember not to go to the Top or Bottom Club if we want a good night out!

Beautiful Day

We headed to Meadow Falls after breakfast in the morning to pick up Tom (not sure he wanted to be picked up - hey ho!) and as we were both a little hungover, we headed to Bernies for lunch.  We met the new owners who were nice and we had a breakfast bap each which were perfectly good - need to go back for something bigger at some point.  They seemed keen though and very much wanted to make a good impression.

Just after we got home Mum and Dad arrived.  Yay.  They hadn't experienced bad traffic on the way which seems amazing.  We didn't do much for the rest of the day: chat, eat, drink.

Christmas Eve dawned a beautiful clear and sunny day.  We decided to head to Tarn Howes for the day - always a winner as it is such a picturesque place.  We drove to Hawkshead and found ourselves in a nice cafe for lunch (Poppies - I think?!) and then on to Tarn Howes, where Mum and Dad got us free car parking which was fab.

We wore them out!

Wow, the place looked absolutely amazing, as I said it was very sunny, but it was also very still and warm, meaning that the water was giving off fantastic reflections.  Everyone was very happy, we couldn't have asked for better weather.  We all walked round in a good pace.  We were hoping to get Mallard on the way home, but it was closed, so we drove through Ambleside / Windermere etc and didn't get held up in traffic which was a first.

Yummy platters

The evening saw us at The Old Post Office for platters and drinks.  It was empty to start with but got busier as we munched on.  A nice atmosphere, and lovely to eat platters again.  Then back home where we thought we saw Rudolph in the sky as we could see a red light tracking across the very clear night sky.  When we got home Tom wrote a lovely long letter to Santa and left him a mince pie, carrot and whisky (Longmorn this year) before going to bed.

Christmas Selfie

Christmas - Santa had been and Tom managed not to come in to see us until 7.30 which was brill.  He was very excited and got an Eddie Stobart truck and a stocking full of gifts from Santa - he was very happy with what we got.  We had our usual smoked salmon and scrambled egg for breakfast and then everyone got ready whilst I prepared lunch.

Sillies

We then all sat down to open our presents, as usual, everyone had been very generous, lots of smiles all round.  Uncle Martin, as usual, came up trumps and got Tom  MASSIVE technic lego set - it is going to take him and Matt an age to put that together.  I had 2 bottles of gin and tickets to see Muse alongside lots of other wonderful gifts.

At 3 we sat down for dinner: roast beef with all the trimmings and it went down well.  Matt and I didn't think the beef was up to standard, but Mum and Dad thought it was as good if not better than 2 years ago, so the jury is out.  Anyway I was pleased with the yorkies and roast spuds and gravy.  Oh this time we soaked the beef in a full bottle of red wine before cooking it (see Xmas 2017 which is in January 2018 blog for instructions) which certainly helped with the gravy making if nothing else.  However, think the cooking time may have been a little too long, especially as the rib was much cheaper this year (so we think a bit smaller than previous years).

Tom's getting tall!

The evening was spent lounging on the sofa and watching Paddington 2 which was as lovely as I remember it.  A good day.

Boxing Day, not a beautiful day, and after much deliberation we decided to go to Morecambe for a walk.  As we couldn't be sure anywhere would be open, we decided to have a big breakfast.  I got some bacon out of the freezer and we had plenty of eggs and scottish black pudding, but didn't have any sundries.  I knew the co-op was open, so asked Tom if he would be good enough to go to the Co-op by himself to pick up some mushrooms and tomatoes.  He was told to cross the road properly and given money, he wrote a list, took a bag, put on his new flat cap and off he went, happily by himself to purchase them.  A nervous time for us, but of course he was fine and he bought exactly the right things so we had a fab big breakfast.

Boxing Day Buffet

We then piled into the car and headed to Morecambe.  We parked on the front by the new apartments and then walked to the stone jetty.  It was supposed to be a grey day, but we got some blue sky and it was still and warm again which was great.  We did find one coffee shop open, so we headed in for a brew, then went to the amusements (bit rubbish should only go to the big ones in Morecambe I think) and walked back.

Pat and Bob were due to come for Boxing Day buffet, but unfortunately Pat wasn't up to it, so it was just Bob.  He came with presents, so we had another mini Christmas day, and once again we were all very happy with what we received - thank you.  Then to the buffet.  I do love a Boxing Day buffet - cold cuts and pickles.  We broke open the pork pie from lay of the land which was lovely and I had every type of pickle going as well as salad, spuds, and the gooiest brie you have ever seen.  I didn't over eat on Christmas Day but I did on Boxing Day, it was worth it.

Thursday - Panto Day

Panto!

Today we had booked in for the Panto in Bradford.  This one is a bigger more expensive production than the Leeds one, and had Christopher Biggins starring as the panto dame.  First stop though was Settle to see Pat and Bob's house (they were keen for Mum and Dad to see what was new).  Then to Keelham for lunch (they were in chaos with not enough staff to man the restaurant so we all ended up with a scone instead).  We parked in Cononley and got the direct train to Bradford.

The Alhambra was looking good (it's been in scaffolding for a while) and the show was brill.  Panto this year was Aladdin and Billy Pearce stole the show as usual. It had a good mix of slap stick, silliness, singing / dancing etc.  There was a 3d movie bit as well, which was fantastic (although Tom and Granma both were scared!)  Plenty of opportunity for shouting out and joining in.  We were only a couple of rows back, so had a great view of everything going on and it meant that we were first in the queue for ice cream which was great as we were all hungry by then.

After the panto we headed to the Kashmir for curry.  The service was as surly as ever, but the food was good and even though the prices had gone up, it was still very cheap.  We then headed back home.  Another good day.