January Weekends

Second Weekend

All tucked up

So, on January 11th, Tom and I went off on our little sleeper train adventure. The three of us drove to Lancaster after school on the Friday, where the boys hopped on an evening train to Glasgow. We were almost alone in a first class coach, and spent a couple of hours eating drinking and generally talking nonsense. Sir managed to wolf down a large game pie, crisps, chocolates etc., but still had enough room to go out for dinner when we arrived in Glasgow. We shared a chicken katsu curry in a very trendy modern restaurant before looking for a cozy pub to spend an hour or two before we could get on the sleeper train.

No such luck. No pubs in central Glasgow allow children after 8.00pm, meaning that we had to spend far too long just hanging around on benches on the station for court.
Fortunately, we were allowed into our sleeper cabin at 10.00 on the dot, so we dropped our belongings in there and retired to the lounge car for a very pleasant hour or so eating snacks and drinking squash/beer.

Our loco - a rare one for a passenger train

We were actually in our pyjamas and in bed when we left Glasgow Central (11.40). Tom was fast asleep by Motherwell, about 10 minutes down the line, and didn't even stir when the Edinburgh portion of the train was coupled to ours with an almighty bang. I almost fell out of the top bunk, but he was completely unaware. In fact, the next thing he knew was me waving a bacon sandwich under his nose as we passed through Harrow and Wealdstone. So much for thinking he'd be too excited to sleep. I did not too badly, but I was aware of us stopping at Carlisle and (I think) Preston. Still, all in all it was a fun experience and I think Tom really enjoyed it.

Tower Bridge selfie

We were actually kicked off the sleeper train at about 7.30am, and we already planned to go and watch some fast trains on the line out of Kings Cross, but it was still more or less pitch dark when we arrived at Hadley Wood station, so we retired to a local café and had a second breakfast.
We did watch trains for a bit, but it wasn't actually the best day to do it because the long-distance trains were being diverted and the cut the number of trains because of that.
So, we jumped on yet another train and headed down to Blackfriars, before walking along the south bank to Tower Bridge, where we did the museum experience, which comprises a trip around the pump room and then a walk to and fro across the top deck of the bridge, which was excellent. An interesting view of London, and there was an exhibition about famous bridges across the world. Plus, it was only £14 for the two of us, which I thought was good value considering how much you can pay for tourism in London.

Tom the tourist

As requested by Tom, we had lunch at a completely empty branch of Leon on Fleet Street, before whiling away our last couple of hours in London at the Japan Center, Hamley's (interesting people watching) and finally Starbucks to rest our aching feet.

We then staggered back to Euston on the tube and collapsed onto our Virgin train to Lancaster, where I had to summon all my energy to stay awake and not miss our stop.
Nik met us off the train, and we then headed home, stopping only at the Bridge Inn for tea.
A fun day out, if a bit manic.

Monday - another milestone - Tom walked home from school by himself for the first time ever.  He does Box Fit after school on a Monday and because he is in Year 5 he was given the option to walk home by himself afterwards.  He has said no up till this term when he asked to be allowed to do so.  We said yes, but we also said we might spy on him from time to time, so not to get lazy.  Matt couldn't wait for him...he went and met him half way - and of course he was fine.  The boy is growing up!!!!!

Third Weekend
It was a very cold start to the weekend - we had to be in Skipton at 9am for footie.  Poo.  It wasn't windy and it wasn't raining, but it was cold and by the end I was chilled to the core - don't think I warmed up properly for the rest of the weekend.  We went to Keelham directly after the footie for brunch and then headed via the high road back home.  The afternoon was spent doing lego and general house work.  We had a proper dinner - roast chicken etc in the hope that it would do everyone good - health wise and soul wise.

Sign of a good ride!

Sunday was a nicer day than we expected.  After exploring various options, Tom piped up that he wanted to go for a bike ride - so we did.  We loaded up the bike carrier and headed to Bull Beck.  We then cycled along the canal into Lancaster, had lunch at the Water Witch and then headed further along the canal along a very very muddy section to a bridge where we came away from the canal and then cycled down some very narrow country roads and came out on the Glasson Dock route so we continued back along that track back to Lancaster.  A quick stop at Crook o Lune for a drink before getting back to Bull Beck.  In all it was over 17 miles - all of us had tired legs, but it was a good tired.  We then headed back home, had a cupboard tea and then went to the OPO for their last ever day.  Very sad, but it is being taken over by a couple of retired police from Sussex who are keen (so they say) to keep it going as it is - although I'm sure they will change bits and pieces.

The following weekend Matt was away in London again.  Tom and I stayed at home.  Tom was ill with a virus - he was off school Thursday, Friday and Monday.  The worse virus he has ever had.  He had a temperature the first 3 days and then was lack lustre, full of snot and coughing etc etc, was in bed for 7pm most nights.  He went back to school on Tuesday, but didn't do any of his usual after school clubs that week.  He fell asleep in the back of the car the following weekend - a mark of how out of sorts he was.  No photos from the weekend - we only left the house once!