Half Term

This half term started on Friday with the Blezards arriving after a week at Center Parcs in Warminster.  Was half the price of the Penrith one being far away from Scotland!  They arrived 5 minutes after we got home from the climbing club meet up.  We had make your own pizza and then the boys then played back to back pool whilst we sat in the kitchen and drank copious amounts of alcohol.  Didn't get to bed till late and we were all a little hung over in the morning.

Saturday was a truly awful day with storm Dennis bringing rain and wind.  We went to Wensleydale for lunch and a cheese shop and then returned home.  Matt and Neil went out to see Thorton Force, the boys played countless numbers of games of pool whilst Sharon and I sat and chatted about nothing in particular.  We then went and did a lap of the village (whilst leaving the boys playing pool), a quick beer in the OPO and then back home for a lamb stew, more pool for the boys and then early to bed as we were all tired after our over indulgence on Friday night.  Typical Sunday, although windy was a nice day, but they had to go home for school tomorrow, so we waved them off and then headed to the Station Inn at Ribblehead for lunch and onwards to Horton to walk to Hull Pot to see if there was a waterfall there - there was.

Then back home, a cuddle up on the sofa whilst watching James Bond and then early to bed all round.

Monday - Tom went for a mini adventure on the bus with Sierra and Emily to Settle.  Steph and John were keen for Sierra to get the bus but with someone.  Half term is the easiest time to do it.  At the last minute one of Sierra's friends wanted to go too, so we waved the three of them off from Ingleton on the 11 o'clock bus with enough money for lunch.  So good to give them freedom, but you do worry!  They had a good time, went to The Folly for lunch: Mrs Jeffery, a TA from school works there and greeted Tom as he walked in.  Emily's cousin also works there, so they were in good hands. They went shopping around the town (Tom bought a really annoying voice changer - oh joy!) before returning home.  Sierra and Emily got off the bus at Austwick as they went to Emily's house for the afternoon whilst Tom came home.  We then went to Caitlin's to deliver her a birthday card - she was in, so we ended up spending a couple of hours there, playing a very silly game: Throw Throw Burrito which Tom won (his throwing skills coming into play against Rich!).

Tuesday - we headed to Manchester for the day.  The plan was to go to the Chinese Consulate to get our visas - but that obviously isn't happening now!  We had booked train tickets to Manchester, so we decided to go anyway for a day out.  The trains were on time, arrived around 11am, did some shopping - very successful: new trousers and a bargain cheap winter coat for Tom, a T-shirt for Matt and a new file for me (rock and roll hey!).  We then headed to Northern Soul for lunch (as recommended by Rich yesterday).  They do grilled cheese sandwiches and macaroni cheese.  The boys went for Mac cheese, I went for a grilled goats' cheese sandwich.  Mine was good, but the mac cheese was out of this world! We then decided to walk the mile or so to the Museum of Science and Industry to try to get our digestion going - not sure it did, but it was good to get some exercise.  We discovered a new hall full of airplanes which Tom enjoyed (sadly the red arrows simulator was out of action - only £3 a go which is very reasonable).  We then watched a science show and stopped in a cafe for a drink.  At this point I heard from Karen who was heading to the museum, so we met up for an hour or so which was good.  Then back to the station and home.  Soup for Matt and I (the cheese was still sitting in our tummies!) and a pasta ready meal for Tom (pig!)

Wednesday we played host to Ellis for most of the day.  He came round at 10am, he and Tom went to the pump track together for an hour or so, then played pool and scalextric before we all headed to Inglesport for lunch (soup for me and curry for Matt and Tom, however there were mushrooms in the curry, so I had curry and Matt had soup!).  We came back home for a game of Ticket to Ride (did I mention the weather was atrocious - went, grey and cold!), then Craig came to pick up Ellis and we settled down for a film.

Thursday, guess what, it rained again.  So much so that we were worried we might get cut off.  Tom was due to go to Dallam for cricket with Luca and Ethan but the roads were filling up and we were beginning to worry whether our Civic would make it.  Luckily Luca's parents have a tall 4x4 so they offered to take them.  It was a good job that they did as even they had trouble getting through the floods and had to detour a number of times.  Matt and I stayed at home, I worked on building up my chocolate stock whilst Matt did some translating.  Matt then left early to pick them up.  Luckily the rain had stopped and around here the floods tend to disappear almost immediately the rain stops, so he got there in good time.  He got them all back no problems.

Friday, guess what...it rained all day!  We gave up - didn't even try to leave the house.  We pottered around, played plenty of pool and then snuggled down in the afternoon to watch Yesterday.  Tom was in bed nice and early as he and Matt were due to have a long day out tomorrow.