Easter Holidays

So, soon after Tom got back to school, he had to stop again for the Easter holidays.  He was a bit sad, as he said, he was just getting back into it all and now he has to stop again!  At least the restrictions are easing as of Monday meaning that either 6 from different households or unlimited from 2 households can meet up - this means that we can meet up with friends for a walk which is good.  Also junior sports can start up again which is fab - cricket is on the horizon...

We had a quiet weekend, the weather wasn't great.  We did get out to do the waffle walk on Saturday.  We went to say hello to our anscestors again and then headed to Edith's Wood and FINALLY got to see some deer.  Matt said he saw 8 altogether, he was a happy boy snapping away.  Tom took his drone for a flight but didn't see any that way.  We then walked back to Ingleton via Thornton Hall Farm (our ancestral home - it would do: plenty of out buildings to accommodate all our hobbies) and walked across 'our' land before heading home. 

Sunday we had an easy day, and then in the afternoon we did another curry off with Jude and Craig: Tom made lamb dupiaza, I made mutter paneer and Matt made naan bread.  So a whole family affair and all very tasty.  We are really enjoying doing this, it is social and we get curry at the end - what's not to like?

Monday, we went for a walk with the Mannings to Aspland Beck - the stream near Bentham Golf Course.  We were going to have a picnic and make a day of it, but Steph contacted us to say they were ready at 10am - very unusual for them as they are not early birds!  We went with the flow and had a good walk - although it was quite cold. Tom and Sierra really enjoyed digging by the stream, Sierra found some fossils, whilst Tom started to dig a grave.  In the end we had to pull them away as we were getting cold.  We finished the walk and then headed to Seasons to get some lunch.  We had an easy afternoon playing ticket to ride.  

Oh, Tom got some post from QES - a certificate saying how well he had done during home schooling - nice that he finally got some recognition!  Not sure if it is something everyone has got or not though.  I'm certainly not going to ask others, as there are many out there who would be very upset if they didn't get something.

Tuesday was a gorgeously sunny day and Tom's first trial for South Lakes at Netherfield.  I dropped him off (bumped into Jenny our ex next door neighbour, Sam is also doing it which is good).  I then headed off to the other side of Kendal to do a big shop: Aldi and Sainsburys, I am almost out of cake ingredients and the cupboards were bare.  Aldi was an ok experience, but they were missing quite a few items.  Sainsburys was lovely: I had each aisle just to  myself, shame I didn't know where anything was (was only my second time there!)  Tom had a good time, Sam was the only person he knew there and Tom the only person Sam knew, so they stuck together.  He came home happy, 2 hours of cricket - what's not to like?!

Wednesday saw Tom climbing on Storrs Common for 4 hours.  He went armed with a flask full of hot food.  All his Ingleton pals were doing it as well, so he was very happy. 

Thursday, Matt took Tom to cricket and I stayed at home and started my end of year accounts - well that was after I did the washing up, vacuumed, washed the floor etc (I hate accounts)  I did almost get them done... 

Friday, another day of cricket - but this time with Ingleton cricket club.  Was good to see it back again and also to see friends who we haven't seen in ages.  Had a good ole natter, but we had to leave early (boo!) because we had arranged to meet up with the Raddas for a walk around Chapel le Dale.  We had a very lovely walk, as is usual Tom and Rebecca talked 9 to the dozen from beginning to end, Katie and Matt paired off (they both like photography and trains) and Jon and I paired off (we can talk about things other than trains and photography!)  It is so nice just to be out with other people again - and to get to places we haven't seen since last year.  It felt quite strange to drive 'all' the way to Ribblehead!

Saturday, another glorious sunny day.  Today we did something we've been talking about for ages: go for a family bike ride.  We haven't been able to do this for ages because Matt and Tom go too fast for me, meaning that they have to stop and wait for me all the time and I don't get any rest and find the whole thing a bit of a trauma!  Matt had found out that there was an e-bike rental place in Dunsop Bridge and so he booked me in for a half day.  We had an early lunch and headed on down.  I got a quick run down on how the bike works and off we went.  Within about 10 meters we encountered a hill - I clicked twice on my display and whosh, suddenly I was zooming up it.  Wow!  I had a huge grin on my face, this was going to be fun.  It was fun, I have never had so much fun cycling ever before, I was giggling like a school girl.  Best of all was sailing past Matt and Tom on a hill whilst waving, giggling and then having to wait for them at the top!  Maybe not much fun for them, but so much fun for me!!!!

The area around Dunsop Bridge is very very picturesque area - hills, wide valleys, very green and so much sunshine.  We had a fab time.  We cycled down one valley, back again and then up a huge long hill (no bother for me) to a bridleway over the hills.  Unfortunately the top of it was bogged down in water, so we headed back.  It was the best family ride we have ever done and I was a happy bunny for the whole day.  I am sold! It is still a work out, my legs were aching by the end of the day (although my bum was hurting more) but it takes the pain out of the hills, meaning cycling becomes fun rather than painful!

I handed my bike back and then we went to a cafe takeaway got some drinks and cakes and took them down to the river to eat - it felt like a 'proper' day out!

Sunday was a bit of a gloomy day, but it was made better by the fact I got a call from a friend saying that the vaccination centre in Ingleton had excess jabs, and to go down to get one.  Yay!  We went down together, felt a bit of a fraud and explained that I didn't meet any criteria but if they were going to waste - please put it in my arm.  It was ok - they were taking anyone.  I was through the system in no time at all.  A boy who looked about 10 years old put the jab in and then I had to wait 10 mins because I am allergic to penicillin.  Was a relief to get it as we have been lead to understand that the over 40s were going to have to wait until May to get ours.  Well done to Raj of the pharmacy that set it all up.  Apparently people have been coming from as far as Carlisle and Lancaster to get their jabs here.  At the end of the session they still had some jabs left so someone ran out to the high street and nabbed the first people they saw who hadn't had a jab.  

After lunch we headed out to Knight's Stainforth to meet with the Fosters for a walk and to do some egg rolling. We were going to do a short walk, but we all got talking and weren't really taking much notice of where we were and before we knew it we had done 5 miles!  We even stopped at Elaine's at Feizor and had a coffee and hot chocolate (not me obviously!).  At the end we did some egg rolling - never done that before, but basically hard boil some eggs and then roll them down the hill - the one who gets their egg to go the furthest wins.  They go a surprising distance and take quite a bit of punishment before they disintegrate, in fact I ended up throwing mine high up in the air just to smash it up as it just kept going and going.  Lauren got her's the furthest, Tom's lasted the longest.  It was good fun.  I hope sheep like to eat hard boiled eggs as we left quite a bit for them to eat!

So after feeling fine all day, in the evening I had the severe shakes - ended up getting under the duvet, and having a paracetamol, which worked.  Of course, in the middle of the night, I then woke up drenched in sweat!  Another paracetamol and I fell back asleep, felt fine in the morning.

Monday, Matt took Tom for cricket in Kendal, whilst I stayed behind to do some chocolate work and house work, When the boys returned we togged up in walking clothes and then headed back out to Aspbland Beck but this time with the Ellershaws.  They didn't know it.  We got there, the kids went off playing in the stream and the adults drank beer.  I didn't - figured it wasn't a good idea, having had the jab yesterday and having had a reaction.  We stayed there for about 2 hours and walked straight back as it was getting pretty late.   Was a nice way to spend the late afternoon.

Tuesday - hummmm, none of us can remember what we did on Tuesday.  We did watch Dr No at one point during the holidays, so maybe we did it then?!

Wednesday - Tom played cricket in the morning with his friends and then we had a chilled afternoon.

Thursday - Tom should have had his last cricket training session, but it was a horrible weather day, so it was cancelled and we had another quiet day - probably had a film, but not sure what.

Friday, we had a quiet morning, lunch and then we headed out to the Wilkinsons and did a walk with them across to the Big Stone which looks out over Bentham.  The walk was easy enough, across moorland, somewhere we haven't been before and we had company yay!  Florrie and Tom ran ahead and us adults chatted and walked across, was a nice walk and finally I got to see Big Stone.  We returned to the Wilkinsons and got treated to cakes and drinks in the garden.  A very pleasant afternoon, we only left when we got cold.  The evening was spent on the Community Field whilst Tom played cricket yet again!

Saturday, we decided to head to Morecambe to see the sea again.  It was lovely.  Clear blue skies and clear views across to the Lake District mountains. We walked along the prom to the Stone Jetty, got ourselves some lunch from the cafe there (chips for Matt, sausage bun for Tom and a slice of cake for me) and then carried on along the prom and then back one road in to find more treasures.  Every time we go to Morecambe we find something interesting that we have missed before.  This time it was a new mural.  We popped into Aldi and then headed back home again, happy to have got some salt air.  Tom spent the afternoon....playing cricket again!

Sunday saw the most bonkers weather!  The morning was glorious, sunshine and blue skies.  We had an early lunch and then headed to Settle to go and see Pat and Bob in their garden for a brew.  It started out fine, but then it started to snow, then it stopped, then it started again and then it stopped.  We went with thick coats and bobble hats, but after an hour we were too cold to stay any longer.  We drove home, about 10 minutes after we arrived home, the snow came thickly down.  It didn't settle, but it was thick.  It was mental!  

So, not the most scintillating of holidays, but we bumbled along together well and we got to spend some time with other people which was fab.  Restrictions ease again tomorrow - shops are opening and pubs opening outside only...