30th December - we are off on our little mini break to Masham - still North Yorkshire - so the same Covid regulations as Ingleton, but far enough away from Ingleton to feel different. Our main Christmas present to each other this year was a mini break in a cabin with a hot tub (I've had some fixation about hot tubs recently. I tried to rent one for home but was too late, everyone I tried was fully booked up). Anyway, we were hoping that it would actually go ahead first time (unlike everything else this year), however, infection rates have been rising significantly over the last month - especially in the south east and it felt like the country was on the cusp of another lockdown. The government were due to announce changes to the tier system today. We were currently in tier 2. We looked up the regulations for tier 3. Holiday accommodation has to shut, however, if you are in your accommodation when the tiers change, you can stay to the end of your booking. So, we made our way over, booked in, hooked up to the wifi and discovered that the tiers were changing at midnight - we were going into tier 3. This also means that all cafes, pubs and restaurants are closed but everything else is pretty much the same. Talk about getting in by the skin of our teeth. We are here now so we might as well enjoy it.
Our accommodation is lovely, a much bigger cabin than we were expecting, 3 big bedrooms huge kitchen lounge area and a MUCH bigger hot tub than we thought we would have. We quickly got unpacked, plugged in our stew and rice cooker, unpacked - properly unpacked which is unusual for us. Had tea, played Uno and then went for a dip in the hot tub - it was lovely. It was freezing outside but the tub was lovely and warm and the skies clear so we could watch the stars and planets. We were in the tub for over an hour!
31st December, another wonderful and crispy cold and clear day.
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| Inside the Cathedral |
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| Statue in Ripon Cathedral |
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| Beautiful window |
After breakfast and a soak in the hot tub watching all types of birdies flitting around, we went into Ripon for the day - was a really lovely day. Never been to Ripon before - it is a city as it has a cathedral - but only 17.000 population so very small. Had a really lovely atmosphere to it.
Nearly everyone we passed said hello to us, the architecture was lovely on the eye, and the weather amazing so it was looking its best. First stop was the cathedral which was big and welcoming. Went inside for a wander and didn't feel as uncomfortable as I normally do in religious buildings. It was huge and empty, which meant we could wander around without getting in anyone's way. Then we went for a walk alongside the canal - it was half frozen, frost was standing upwards on the fencing and, well, it was a pleasant stroll. Got back to the town and found an independent sandwich shop open so got a take away and sat by the cathedral to eat it. We then went for a walk around the town, ended up buying a feeding station for the birds at home, and a number of feeders to hang on it. A Christmas present for our birds at home.
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| Standing up frost |
Then to Sainsburys to buy some more food - we had prepared to cook some meals, but were hoping to go to a pub or two for some dinners or lunches.
When we got back to the cabin we decided to put some of the birdie feeders out as we have trees and bushes by the hot tub and saw so many birdies this morning, We did that and then had another dip in our hot tub to revive our aching limbs - all very lovely. Then some quiet time which involved watching Paddington which we all love.
We had a late tea and then went back into the hot tub for half an hour. Then back to the cabin for a mammoth game of 'Wonders of the World' where we actually got through all the cards for the first time ever. Then, back into the hot tub in time for midnight. We all had a glass of fizz and counted down to 2021 and star gazed. A very quiet new year, but it was always going to be so. Was nice to be in the hot tub.
Tom then went straight to bed, exhausted, Matt and I stayed up for an hour or so, watching Jools Holland and then headed to bed. I wonder what 2021 will bring - surely it should end better than this year?
Good things about 2020:
+ Cornvale - we are eating much better than ever before. In fact I haven't bought any meat from a supermarket since about May. Not only is their meat really good, it is all from local farms, as is their fruit / veg / sauces etc etc where possible. So not only does it taste good, but it is helping local businesses. PLUS you can ask them for anything and they will do their best to provide it for you - so we have managed to have some sukiyaki with thinly sliced beef, hand of pork etc. They also come up with cuts of meat that I've never heard of eg porchetta which was the best ever roast we have ever had and I don't like fennel! Plus they do free delivery to us. Down side is I am a bit fatter for it!
+ Tom's friendship with Florrie! We knew they liked 'annoying' each other in the playground at primary school, but didn't realise just how close they were until lockdown and 1-3 hour regular video calls. She was a godsend, because by Year 6 it was obvious that Tom wasn't ever going to be a long-term friend of any of the boys in his year - during lockdown not one of them got in touch with him - although to be fair he didn't get in touch with them either. His chats with Florrie always put him in a good mood, which of course rubbed off on us. As a result we have become good friends with Nicky and Paul, her parents. We knew Nicky from school as she was a TA there, but only to nod to. Found out we have very similar views on parenting which is good (we have discovered that your style of parenting can have a huge effect on friendships). Anyway, it is a good thing. Florrie is off to Settle College in September, but I don't think that will have too much of an effect.
+ Birds. We have become bird spotters during lockdown. After remembering that Tom had a camera trap we set it up during lockdown and started putting down lots of seed / crumbs / left overs to attract birds. We then had to get ourselves a book of birds so we could identify them. It has been a project all 3 of us have enjoyed. In fact we bought a whole load of new feeders as a New Years' present for us. Can't wait to get them home.
+ Lockdown has confirmed that as a family of 3 we bumble along quite well. We might not be the funniest people in the world, but we do love each other, enjoy each other's company and are able to get along. Very much helped by the surroundings we live in.
+ Lockdown has forced us to slow down our lives considerably. We were used to dashing around like maniacs, trying to fit in so much stuff. School, after school clubs, sports, friends, adventures, visiting friends around the country etc etc. All of that has gone out of the window and we have spent more time than ever in the house - before lockdown we barely spent any time in the house except to work and sleep. It isn't so bad being stuck at home. We are incredibly lucky in that we live in a lovely part of the country, although we could do with a bigger garden, trying to keep fit in such a small garden is hard especially during isolations when you can't leave the house!
+ Tom has had as good a start to QES as we could have hoped for. He has lots of new friends, comes home happy each day and has been praised by the school for great effort. We can't ask for more than that in the current circumstances (no idea what the standard of teaching is though?!).
1st January
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| The River Ure at West Tanfield |
2nd January
We forfeited our morning dip this morning and instead, made up a picnic and headed to Studley Royal (the part of Fountains Abbey which is open to non NT members). There is a herd of deer here and we went looking for them. In the snow. Oh yes, it started to snow and when I mean snow I meant big fat flakes raining down on us.
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| Snowy bobbles |
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| Cyril (part of) |
3rd January
We had to be out of the cabin by 9am, so we were up at 8am, packed the car, had a quick breakfast and headed on our way. The plan was to go to the Druid's Temple, but it was chucking it down with rain and misty. Not great for exploring the outdoors, especially when you have to pay for parking, so we decided to give it a miss and go straight home. We were home by 10.30am! We experienced every sort of weather on the way home: rain, sleet, snow, ice and in Ingleton, sunshine. We unpacked, put up our new birdie dining station and put the washing machine on before wondering what to eat for lunch. Then a short walk before collapsing on the sofas. It's a hard life being in a hot tub all the time - means you feel floppy all the time!
Anyway, it was a good break, if not a little weird being holiday makers in a tier 3 area. However, we probably interacted with fewer people whilst at the cabin than we would when in Ingleton. It did feel good to be back home though.
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