October

John McGuinness mural

Apologies for lack of postings for October.  I managed to get a horrible cold that carried on and on and on.  After 3 weeks I was very tired and very miserable and barely able to function.  Problem with running a cake business and being ill - you can't delay any of your orders, they have to be done, but mistakes happen easily and everything takes longer, meaning that I was exhausted at the end of every day!

The only way I got rid of it was by immersing myself in a spa whilst Tom went on residential in Edinburgh.  It was a very welcome break, much needed and it broke the cold - phew.  It left its mark though - I even struggled to get around the Ribblehead circuit which is a very easy walk.  Oh hum - will have to build up my fitness yet again.

So, what did we get up to in October:

Eric Morecambe mosaic

First weekend in October is when I went down with the cold.  Matt also had a cold, so we didn't do much - probably watched a film, went out for lunch etc.  On the Sunday we headed out to Morecambe for the day as we were needing a change in scenery.  We had a really nice day - lovely walk along the prom, not too windy and clear.  We had tea and a bun on the stone jetty and then to the amusements.  Next we searched out the McGuinness mural which we found along with some wonderful looking mosaics of Eric Morecambe.  We also walked past a pub, The Crown Hotel, which looked like it did good food and decided to head in for Sunday lunch and it was a really really good Sunday lunch with really good service in Morecambe!  We weren't expecting that but we were very happy.  A great way to spend a day when we were both feeling miserable.

Tom with 37108

Second weekend in October I was feeling rubbish so the boys decided to head to Crewe Heritage Centre for the day.  I stayed at home, had a long hot bath, read a book and generally did nothing - just what I needed!  I believe the boys had a good time, they did say that I wouldn't have enjoyed it, so just as well I stayed at home.

The third weekend in October we got visited by two sets of Matt's friends.  One planned, the other not.  Gwen, Hugh, Joshua and Polka the dog were the first to arrive.  Gwen is a Japanese translator, hence the connection to Matt.  They live in London, and had booked a holiday house in Cold Cotes for the week.  They came to visit on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.  Also Lynne (another Japan friend) popped in - she was here for a walking weekend.  She hadn't told us she was coming, she just popped in for a brew, but it was nice to see her.

Tom had been invited to three birthday parties this weekend, so Matt spent some time with Gwen and family (they did the waterfalls trail together) whilst I ferried Tom to and fro parties. One party was an all family invite party to Grandma Jan's to celebrate Lottie's 8th birthday. I didn't go as I was not feeling at all sociable and lay on the sofa to watch An Officer and a Gentleman instead.  It was a shame as it would have been a good one, but no point as I was miserable.  Oh, this week Gingerbugs opened up in the village.  This is a shop that Steph and an artist friend of hers has set up.  It showcases crafts from micro-businesses just like me who don't sell through mainstream shops etc.  They asked me to do some choccies and biscuits for them and after lots of deliberation I decided to give it a go.  It is a risk as I pay £22 a month shelf rent and then they take a 15% commission, so I have to sell a significant amount for it to be profitable.  Also I have to label all my goods with all ingredients which is really hard work - getting it all right and legal.  However, if I don't try, I'll never know so figure I have to give it a go and I wanted to support Steph too.  Think we will be taking all our visitors there now.

Edinburgh Trip

Ghost Walk

We had excitement in the house for the last week of October as it meant it was time for Tom's second residential at school.  This time he was going to Edinburgh for two nights.  They had a full itinerary including: Dynamic Earth, a ghost walk, The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, souvineer shopping on Princes Street, a performance of The King and I and a visit to Royal Yacht Britannia.  Not bad for a 2 night visit. They got the 8.20 train from Oxenholme and we were all told to be there at 7.45 so we had to get up mega early!

By all accounts they had a great time, what's not to like spending time with your friends, sleeping in bunk beds etc.  They all came back very very tired - Tom requested an early night and was asleep before his head hit his pillow.  Had to wake him up in the morning too.

At the Castle

Autumn!

Whilst Tom was in Edinburgh, Matt and I took advantage of his absence and headed out for 2 nights too.  We didn't book anything until the last minute so we could take stock of the weather etc.  As it was, I was still ill, so we decided to go to a spa hotel to try to rid the bug from my system.  We both did a google search and found a spa hotel in Appleby - somewhere I hadn't been, so we booked in.  The hotel was an ex residence of a lawyer and very much came across as a country retreat for posh people.  We felt very old.  However, the spa had been recently refurbed and was wonderful.  We had a package which gave us unlimited access to it.  On arrival, we dumped our bags and headed straight in.  It was absolutely lovely - just what the doctor ordered.  We sweated, relaxed, soaked and steamed ourselves in the various rooms.  I got to breathe again for the first time in ages and immediately felt a whole load better.  After a couple of hours, we extracted ourselves and collapsed on our bed.  Feeling we had to do some exercise, we headed out down to Appleby for a look around.  It is a nice looking town - obviously fallen on harder times recently, but was once grand.

We frequented one of the local establishments to try out their drinks and then headed back to the hotel as we were due a 4 course dinner.  Dinner was very lovely, the surroundings were a bit stuffy for us, but the food was very very good and although the portions small, it obviously built up because when we stood up to go to bed, we were feeling very very full.

Posh dinner in Appleby

The next day we went for a walk in the morning around the countryside.  It was very very pretty, but after 4 miles, I was exhausted, so on our return to the hotel we headed back to the spa to re-energise ourselves.  It worked.  We then headed back into Appleby for the evening for tea in a pub and then to watch Chelsea vs Ajax.  It was a lovely and relaxed evening - I didn't mind watching the footie - was in a happy place.

Ullswater from Airy Crag

The next day we headed into the spa first thing for our final soak, we then left the hotel and headed to the Lake District and Ullswater, where we climbed Craig Crag as part of a circular walk that took in Aria Force.  This was a hilly walk and I did it with out too much trouble - so I guess the spa worked.  In fact my cold had pretty much left by the end of our visit - just need to build up fitness again (always a pain!).  We then headed into Lancaster so we could pick up our very very tired and happy boy from the station.

Tom just had one day left at school before half term.  Not sure anything productive happened, the kids were all exhausted from Edinburgh.

Tom and Annabel

On Saturday, Annabel came round for a DVD (Harry Potter 5) and tea, and some games, and, well she might just as well stay for the night now.  She's such a great guest - it is always fun having her around.  Funny, Tom hasn't had any of the boys from school for a sleep over, only girls. I guess that shows he doesn't connect quite as well with the boys as he does with some of the girls.

Oh, and we decided on QES for Tom next year.  We couldn't choose between the schools, but decided on QES because he is now playing cricket for Cumbria - training sessions take place during Cumbrian holidays which are different to N. Yorkshire holidays.  Also more of his friends from older years have gone to QES and also the commute to QES is shorter. Most of his class are heading to Settle only 3 of the girls: Annabel, Caitlin and another girl Kiera are going to QES and 4 of the boys.  Let's hope it is the right decision...