Trip to Manchester

On Tuesday we headed down South to Manchester to visit Karen, Leia and Rosa.  First stop was Ikea in Warrington as we need another shelving unit.  I treated Tom to meatballs, chips and jam as you have to when visiting and then we headed into the shop.  It was a bit of a trauma for Tom "Mummy we are never going to leave", "Mummy I need fresh air", "Mummy I think we are going around again!".  He wasn't impressed but I did try to go round as quickly as I could.  Typical, when we finally got to the place to pick up our shelves they were out of stock!  Not great, but Tom was happy to see the sky again!

In bed with a girl!

We then headed to Karen's and as usual when I drive to her, we got lost.  Not once, but twice, with the sat nav!  In the end she had to talk me in.  There are just too many roads in Manchester!!!!!  Anyway, we got there in one piece.  It was lovely to see them all - Rosa is as cute as ever, Leia has grown up loads and Karen was Karen - straight talking funny girl.

It took the children a little while to warm up to each other but within an hour they were playing together.  Karen had a roast dinner on so we were very well looked after.  Leia got a double bed for her birthday this year and asked if Tom could sleep with her.  We said yes as long as he was asleep within an hour (it was 8pm).  We sneaked up at 8.30 - both of them were pretending to be asleep.  At 9pm Tom was fast asleep and Leia pretending.  We left them to it.  So Tom has had his first night in bed with a girl!!!!!

Nurse singing to a soldier

On Wednesday we decided to go to Dunham Massey - a National Trust property just south of Manchester.  I followed Karen, so didn't get lost - hurray!  Dunham Massey was turned into a hospital during the first world war, and as it was the centenary last year, they have set it up again.

Solemn children

2 x broken arms!

Wow!  It was brilliant.  One of the rooms was a ward full of beds and quotes from soldiers diaries written on pillows, pyjamas, ties etc.  Each bed had a patient card at the end of it - telling you who the patient was and treatment he needed.

AND there were actors walking around.  When we walked in a nurse was singing Keep the Home Fires burning to a patient to help him sleep.

Then we saw two nurses talking about politics of the day - one used to be a maid in the big house, the other a lady of the big house, now both were nurses.  Then we saw two soldiers talking about how scared they were about going back to the front whilst playing chess.  It was really really well done.  I would happily have stayed there a couple of hours reading everything and enjoying the acting, but children don't allow you to do that!  However, to be fair Tom did understand quite a bit and he was very serious whilst in the ward - he knew it was a significant place and had a serious face on the whole time.

Rolling up the bandages

There was also a room set up with the nurses uniform to try on, bandages to wear and roll back up (did you know there was a machine that did that in 1917?).  Anyway we had fun and I think the children learnt something.

Running children

We had a quick look around the rest of the house, which was your usual National Trust house - full of four poster beds, paintings, silverware etc.  There was a room with records of all the soldiers that had passed through and made interesting reading - but once again the children only had limited concentration spans here.

Pregnant children?

We had a quick look around the kitchens which were huge and then gave in to the children and went to the restaurant for food.  The afternoon was then spent outside - the children running around.  In the grounds they had an area called the log pile which was full of things to play with, dens to find, trails to follow, trees to climb etc.  It was ace.  With Leia now being 8, we could let her and Tom run off to play.  Rosa decided to stay with us which was great and the sun came out.  We were in heaven.  Non stressful parenting where everyone is happy.  It was a shame when we finally had to return to the cars so we could head home.

I think it is the best National Trust place I've been to and hope to get there again before the WWI re-enactment ends in November this year.

Festival Family

Boys working hard

On Friday we picked Tom up from football and headed straight over to Battersby Park near Thirsk for our first festival.  We finally had run out of excuses not to use our tent - it was to be done, we were going to camp.  We got over there in good time, got ourselves a festival trolley and loaded it up with as much gear as possible.  We then walked to the campsite (about a mile away - no exaggeration) to find a pitch, then we panicked.  The campsite looked full.  We asked a lady where would be best to find a pitch and followed her suggestion.  We were just about to give up when we found a thin sliver of land which we thought might fit our tent.  It did - phew!  We unloaded the trolley and then I sprinted back with it (we were on a time limit), headed back to the car to pick up all the bits that didn't originally fit in the trolley and walked back to the site.  We then put the tent up - it went up pretty easily (we did a trial run in the field last week).  We then pumped up the air beds, got the sleeping bags out and made the tent feel homely.

Happy campers

By this time we were starving so we headed into the festival - the first thing we saw were a big collection of catering trucks making food from all around the world.  We were to discover that the food was exceedingly good and very reasonably priced, meaning we ate very very well (some might say too well) over the weekend.  We started off with half a roast chicken with chips which we all shared and which hardly touched the sides!

Once we finished the meal we went for a look around the festival site.  We didn't get too far as there was a small fun fair and a certain little boy wanted a go on the helter skelter.  We then found the bar (very important find), we were just about to indulge ourselves, when Tom piped up that his tummy was feeling funny!  It transpired that he was still very hungry and needed more food - so we got a bag of mini donuts.  Just as we were tucking in we heard from our friends (Rachael, Graham and Isabella) who had got there in the morning - they directed us towards them and we ended up spending the evening with them.  It was fantastic for Tom as he and Isabella get on very well with each other.  They spent the evening running, running and running - playing chase and other games.  Also in the crowd were another family Yvonne, Sam and Ciara - Ciara is 10 - a little older, but not too old to not to play.  They also got some fantastic bubble wands that make huge bubbles and spent a lot of time making them and chasing them.  It was a good night.

Eye on the ball?

Can't say we had a good night's sleep!  The music on the stage didn't finish until 1.30am, then there were lots of drunk people walking past not being quiet, and then - and this was the biggest problem, there was getting used to sleeping in a sleeping bag again!  You are so constricted - no where for arms or legs to go.  As we usually sleep in a king size bed, it was very difficult to get used to.  I was also overheating as I was in the sleeping bag I used in the Himalayas that goes down to -20 degrees.  Matt was having similar problems (but not overheating as he was in my sleeping bag from India - much thinner), however, Tom was fine.  He went happily to bed and straight to sleep!  We were pleased but jealous.  However, he woke up at 2.30 needing a wee, so we had to go for a long walk - toilets were miles away (we found closer ones the following morning)  I was quite pleased, gave me something to do!

Samsam Bubbleman

We did finally get to sleep, but I was awake by 6am and Matt and Tom were awake at 7, as was everyone around us.  The sun was shining, so we got up, queued to go to the toilet, had breakfast and then headed back to the festival (Matt needed his coffee fix and we didn't take any cooking equipment with us knowing everything we needed would be in the festival).  First stop was a story telling tent with an author explaining about life in Georgian times, then a quick game or two of swingball before heading to the Big Top to see a show by SamSam BubbleMan who is a whizz with bubbles - a great show, lots of fun, plus Tom managed to squeeze his way to the top which meant he had the best view.

The axeman

By then we were in need of sustenance so we stopped off at a crepe van and got ourselves one.

We then headed to the science tent where we (Tom) made a paperclip helicopter which was partially successful.  We then went to the paper aeroplane making area which was run by a world champion paper aeroplane maker.  Tom (and Matt) made one to his specifications and then climbed up a stage to fly it - it was amazing - flew straight and strong.  Think they must have flown it about 20 times as it was so good.  In fact I could collect it and fly it back to them with minimal problems.  Matt was so impressed he took a photo of the instructions so he could remake it at home.

We then headed to the children's workshops where Tom decided to make a guitar - this involved painting and gluing - neither or which are his fortes, but he concentrated and saw it through!  I was amazed but pleased.  He decided on making a yellow guitar because he wanted to play yellow submarine on it.  He finished it off with some sparkle - I was impressed.

The arena

By now we were hungry again, so we looked in search of lunch and had some stuffed flat breads.   We then decided to head back to the tent for an afternoon nap as Tom was looking tired and both Matt and I were tired.  It was lovely to lie down, but Tom was too excited to nap.  We told him to read a book - so he read it out loud (very cute) and then he was fidgeting, fidgeting, fidgeting!  In the end the sun put an end to it as it came out and the tent heated up so hot that we couldn't stay inside it any longer.

Best of friends

We went back to the festival and had a second lunch - churros and chocolate for Matt and Tom and chickpea curry for me.  It then started to rain so we headed back to the tent for shelter.  At about 7pm we headed out with our chairs ready for dinner and to listen to the music and catch up with the others.  It wasn't the best time to head out as when I was queueing up for my rather lovely Thai Chicken Curry the heavens opened and we got more than damp.  Oops.  Once it was lovely and sunny again the others caught up with us and we had the evening together.  Once again Tom and Isabella had a great time, there were lots of bubbles, I took them both on the swings ride, there was a lot running a giggling, it was a joy to see.

After the rain it was very cold and by the time we got back to the tent we were shivering.  We were so cold that I couldn't stop shivering, even in my sleeping bag which goes down to -20 degrees!  I ended up having to get up for a walk to warm up and then get back into my sleeping bag.

Spark out!

I was fine after that and got to sleep as did Matt, but Tom woke up needing a wee!  He couldn't wait a moment so we had a fountain go off in his part of the tent and then an argument about wet socks.  His socks were soaking wet, but he wouldn't take them off as he thought they were dry!  I had to negotiate for a good 20 minutes to get them off him, get him changed into dry warm clothes and back into bed and asleep again.  He of course went straight back to sleep, but of course I was freezing cold again!  Oh hum.  I did get back to sleep eventually.  Need to work out what to do when we go to France to avoid that again.

Daddy's not a natural camper!

Sunday morning dawned lovely and sunny.  Tom didn't wake up until after 9am - that was because once again the tent heated up big time.  The forecast was for a lovely morning and rainy afternoon so we decided to have a lazy morning and then pack up the tent whilst it was still dry.  So it was malt loaf for breakfast and then we packed up, got a trolley and packed up the car (the car was miles away of course - a result of being so late to get there).

Playing Yellow Submarine on his new guitar

The only way to travel

We then headed to the festival for lunch (fish finger sandwiches for Tom and I and Thai curry for Matt).  I was made to go on the big wheel with Tom which gave a great view.  At 2pm just as the weather men said the rain came,  and it was going to stay with us, so we decided to head home.

Must say we thought the festival was very well arranged, lots of happy people everywhere.  So much for children to do, even the toilets stayed clean and in toilet roll for the whole weekend!


It was a great weekend.  Notes for next time:

+ Arrive as early as possible
+ Ignore marshalls and park in the glamping bit - their car park is much nearer
+ Take potty / other toilet thing for Tom to use in an emergency
+ Don't need to take any food - everything is available on site
+ Take a blanket each for the evenings outside
+ Take plenty of cash
+ Tom's bedding was a sleeping bag and duvet - that was just right.
+ Don't bother with towels - there were only 4 showers for 1,000s of people!  Just have to go greasy!

Soccer School and Meet up with Lindsey & Josh

Lindsey and Josh

Tom spent the first week of the holidays on the Community field playing football - being coached by Morecambe FC.  He started off pretty bad (even picking the ball up during play????!) but finished up a bit more accomplished.  It was 5 hours of football a day so he was pretty exhausted by the end of the week.

On Wednesday I headed down to St Alban's to meet up with Lindsey who was over from Australia, so I finally met her baby Josh who is 15 months.  What a good baby he is: happy, sleeps really really well (we all shared a hotel room - he hardly made a sound when asleep and he slept through) AND he ATE unlike any other baby I have known.  He ate an adult portion of food when in a restaurant and a full round of supermarket sandwiches in the evening.

Very happy baby

Lindsey and I nattered all day and evening, whispering in the hotel room when Josh was asleep - it wasn't ideal, but it worked. We, of course, clicked straight back into our friendship.  Lindsey had found it strange coming back - as no one other than us and her close family had visited her in Oz, and her accent is as English as it was when she left, so she felt almost like Oz was a dream.  All her friends were living in the same place, with the same job etc etc, just a little older (it has been 3 years).    She said she felt like wearing a T-shirt saying "I live in Australia!" I can understand where she was coming from - I had similar feelings on my returns from travels.

On Thursday we headed to a beautiful park by the cathedral for a walk and lunch.  Once again Josh was very happy, bonnie baby who ate up his lunch like a pro.  Time went way too fast, before we knew it it was time to say goodbye and head back home.  Hopefully we will meet again in Oz before too long.

Last Day of School, Ingleton Gala and Visit from Grannie & Grandpa

Matthew, Finn, Fred & Tom on the last day of school

So the last day of school arrived.  It's been a good year, Tom's teacher Ms Swindlehurst has been ace and he has flourished.

At the start of the year he could just about read 3 word sentences, he can now read children's books quite easily and is exceeding expectations for his age range.

He is now writing at the right level for his age (it goes up and down depending on how he is feeling at the time).

Smoked salmon goes down in one!

He is exceeding expectations for his age with maths (not surprising as he is always asking about numbers) and is at the right level with science.

His lack of arty skill is not a problem anymore as year 1 has been more academic.  He has really enjoyed the year, winning certificates and other rewards.  He never once said he didn't want to go to school.  I was almost tearful when we said goodbye to Ms Swindlehurst!!!!

We celebrated the end of the school year with tea at the Old Post Office.  Tom decided on the fish platter and demolished the lot!  When he got home he demanded pudding as he was STARVING - this boy is going to cost us a fortune in food!

First day of the holidays and it was Ingleton Gala.  The Gala Queen and her attendants are picked from Ingleton School (I don't know how - but have a feeling it isn't left to chance!)  There is only one boy from Year 1.  Apparently Finn and Tom both volunteered, and Finn was chosen.  Kate wasn't too happy as they were supposed to be in Skye!

Oh hum, here is their float passing our house - I was on car park duty, making sure no cars tried to escape during the procession.  There were two girls from Tom's class in the float too.

Cool Finn - security guard for all the girlies

The rest of the day was spent in the Gala field, bumping into people, playing on the various rides and watching the shows. It was pretty amateur - but good fun.

We got back home in good time for Grannie and Grandpa - they were staying with us at the weekend as they had arranged a week's house hunting in the area.  It wasn't long before Matt got back either as once again they had been thrashed at cricket!  We all had dinner together - Matt suddenly finding an appetite once he smelt the casserole on offer!

Sunday Pat wasn't feeling very well, so she stayed at home all day.  Tom did his cricket in the morning and then we headed to Carnforth for lunch at the Close Encounters tea room.  We then popped into Aldi quickly (mainly to get a certain someone some smoked salmon for sandwiches next week!) and then headed back home - stopping at the PYO fruit farm to pick a couple of pounds of strawberries.   The afternoon was then spent making jam and a big roast for dinner.

Mummy and Tom Weekend

Looking for specimens

Tom and I spent the weekend together as Matt was leading a translator's walk on Saturday (we were a little too nervous to take him to the open countryside so soon after his episode, especially as Matt was in charge and therefore unable to help if anything happened.  On Sunday he was playing cricket, so we were left to our devices.  We had a lovely quiet weekend - just what we needed after last week!

A newt?

On Saturday we joined up with the Bickerstaffs and went pond dipping up at Ingleborough Nature Reserve (we didn't even know the Reserve existed until Janine told us about it).  So armed with a net and tupperware we headed up there.  We had a great time, we found 3 ponds and a waterfall and river.

Dipping

One pond was full to bursting with tadpoles - some were big and fat, some had legs.  Many were caught and prodded and poked.  We then went to look at the waterfall and did more dipping. We found lots of larvae and slug type things.  Craig found a small frog, a big frog and a newt (he was doing so well at finding the big things, we half expected him to find a crocodile!)

We then found some more ponds complete with lily pads and fish.  A fab way to spend a couple of hours.

Just as we were about to leave I noticed my fitbit was missing.  I was devastated.  The Bickerstaffs had to leave, so Tom and I stayed and spent an hour going over our footsteps trying to find it - but to no avail, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack!

Lillies

We decided to carry on to Hawes for a circuit of the cheese tasting room and tea and a bun.  Matt then called to say he had finished his walk and was heading to Ribblehead to watch a steam train cross the viaduct.  We thought this would be a good idea so headed over there as well.  We waited a good amount of time but it didn't come.  Then Matt spotted us and came over, apparently it was still in Appleby and not moving - so we headed home.

Sunday, Tom went to his cricket practise in the morning (he did really well too - was named best bowler).  We then headed off to the Lake District (Matt stayed at home as he was playing cricket) - the plan being to go for lunch at the Motor Museum and then go to Miller Beck.  However, just as we drove past the Bickerstaff's house I got a call from Janine: Jack had been in an accident and she was away from home in the car.  I did a U-turn and headed to her house to find Jack on the sofa with a small cut to his nose - Craig had managed to hit him with a spade as he was digging the pond.  He had told Jack to stand back many times, but of course he was too curious to heed the warning.

Splashing in the Beck

On the Boggy Bottom Light Railway Train

It wasn't a bad cut, but it was deep.  Craig wanted to take him to A&E, so I got on the phone to Matt so he could find out where A&E was (Lancaster) and we all piled into the car and headed off.  (Tom was upset that he wouldn't be going to Miller Beck but understood that Jack needed the Dr more than he needed Miller Beck!).  We had an uneventful trip there, dropped them off (Janine was meeting them there - as she was in Blackpool) and then we headed to Miller Beck after picking up some sandwiches from a garage to eat in the car on the way over.

Exlploring

We got to Miller Beck around 2pm - the sun was out and all was well.  We had 3 train trips all together - two on steam trains and one diesel.  There was a Thomas story time and of course the beck to play in.  Luckily I had packed Tom's river shoes, so he was straight in and very wet very quickly.  So it ended up a good day in the end.

We headed back home and found Matt already back - having won at cricket - first Ingleton win that he's been involved in this year!

Hospital Stay

So we've had an interesting weekend...

On Friday Tom wasn't feeling well.  He had developed a bad cough on Thursday and it stayed with him through the night.  In the morning he got ready for school, but then I think he either pulled a muscle or got a stitch in his side as he screamed with pain (he has never been able to cope with pain).  He got into such a state that there was no possible way I could take him to school, so we called them to say he wouldn't be in and then called the Dr for advice.  The Dr asked us to pop in so we did.  He gave us the all clear and said he was happy with him - it was OK to go away for the weekend, there was nothing wrong with him other than a cough.

So, we got ready to go away for the weekend, quite pleased with ourselves as Tom not being at school meant that we could leave earlier.  This weekend was Dad's birthday weekend - our present to him was a weekend together with his family all in one place.  His birthday was in February - it had taken this amount of time to find a weekend when we were all free and when we could find a holiday let big enough sort of midway between us all and which was free and not over-priced.  We thought he would like that.  I had found a place on the Staffordshire / Shropshire border quite close to Telford.  A converted barn that sleeps 9.  I was on dinner duty for the night so made up a huge lasagna, to go together with lots of garlic bread and salad, and packed that up with loads of other stuff.  We were on our way at 2.30 feeling pretty smug.

It didn't last long, the traffic slowed down as soon as we hit the outskirts of Manchester.  The motorway signs were saying long delays, so in the end we decided to leave the motorway and wind our way through the local roads.  This was a big mistake, the local roads were jammed too and of course there were traffic lights, roundabouts, junctions etc that we had to struggle through unlike the motorway.  I think we were managing about 10 miles an hour at one point!  Oh hum, there was no way back, so we just had to deal with it.  Tom was unaware of it at the start as he fell asleep in the car.  In fact he fell asleep within the first 5 minutes of getting into the car, which is pretty unusual.

Our home for the weekend

We finally got to the barn 4 hours after leaving Ingleton - it should have been a 2 hour journey!!!!  However, the barn was lovely.  Set in a very tranquil location, on a working farm.  The cottage was very well set up - and very very child friendly: with John Deere ride on tractors, trampoline, a games room stuffed full of toys, scooters, footballs and goals - everything children could need.  Fantastic.  Tom went straight for the tractors and had a good pedal whilst we unloaded.  He then came in to the cottage, looked around and collapsed on the sofa.  In fact he fell asleep again on the sofa? He hasn't done that since he was a baby!!!!!  When he woke up, he was feeling sorry for himself and said he wanted an early tea and to go to bed, so I made him his tea, he had a bath and went to bed.  The plan was for Jake, Amber and Tom to share a room together, but Tom didn't even want to do that, he wanted to sleep with us, so we put him to bed and he fell asleep almost immediately.

The view from the house

About 10 minutes after Tom fell asleep, Simon, Clare, Jake and Amber turned up.  They had had a 4 hour journey too.  It was a bad day on the roads.  I got dinner on the go and we ate up.  It was all quite jolly, just Tom was missing.  Jake and Amber went to bed pretty soon after dinner, we weren't too far behind them - being quite tired after the long journey.

We went up to bed - Tom was asleep but breathing very strangely - he was breathing very quickly and quite deeply.  Certainly I had never seen him breathe like that before.  He kept stirring and was obviously struggling to sleep properly.  In the end I got into bed with him to see if I could relax him and calm him down, but to no avail, he kept on breathing deeply and quickly.  We then swapped round so Tom and I were in the double bed and Matt in the single bed, but once again to no avail.  At this point there was a huge thunderstorm going on outside and it was hot and muggy in our room, so we took him downstairs where it was cooler.  Unfortunately he was coughing more and more and we could now see his stomach going in and out in a very severe fashion we timed his breathing and counted a rate of 43 times a minute - surely that was too fast?  We were both worried and convinced something wasn't right.  Although when we asked him if he felt alright / if he thought he was breathing too hard he said no, he felt fine!  We looked up the emergency number which is 111.  I had to go for a walk around the courtyard to find a phone signal and then called it.  I was told that lines were busy and to call back later.  I tried at least 10 times and got the same message every time.  Now what to do?  Call 999 or take him to hospital ourselves, or leave him?

Tom's elephant impression

We decided he needed to be looked at so we took him to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.  We got there to an empty A&E department.  We were seen by the triage nurse who told us 43 breaths per minute was normal for a 6 year old, I wasn't convinced, I had never seen him breath so quickly (I've since looked it up and 20 is normal!).  Anyway, she admitted him to a room to be seen by a Dr.  We had to wait ages, Tom fell asleep draped across the two of us.  Finally after about 1.5 hours we were finally seen by a Dr (they were busy dealing with an emergency).  She agreed that he wasn't right and was working too hard to breath.  She gave him steroid medicine, antibiotics and put him on oxygen.  He then went for a chest x-ray.   Tom perked up big time with this - especially as he got to ride on a bed to the x-ray dept - he thought that was fantastic, so much so that he started singing!!!!!

He was then transferred to the children's assessment unit by wheelchair.  There he was examined by two Drs and we were questioned about everything and anything.  I even had to go through his birth with them, although curiously they never asked how he was fed as a baby.  They told us he was going to be admitted to the children's ward, so Matt decided to go home for a sleep and let everyone know what was happening and left me with him.  He was put on a nebuliser and oxygen whilst in the assessment centre during which he fell asleep so he was left to sleep whilst they debated his condition.  What they came up with was that he was suffering with asthma due to a massive overload of allergies on his system.  Apparently thunderstorms bring down pollen from the upper atmosphere (we had a huge thunderstorm on Wednesday night and of course there was one going on on Friday night), the field at the back of the house had been mown on Thursday, and he had a cough.  All of these put together caused a massive attack on his system, the result of which was breathing problems.  His oxygen saturation was dipping below 90% (anything below 93% is cause for concern) and he was breathing way too hard.

On oxygen

When he woke up we were both given some breakfast and then he was transferred to the children's ward in his bed (another cool ride!).  In the children's ward he was given nebuliser treatments and when he wasn't doing those, he was on oxygen.  The deposits on his chest were causing him trouble, after a cough his oxygen levels would go up to 97% but then they would steadily decline again down to 90% until he coughed again.  We went round and round in circles with it.  However, the care was very good, his nurse, Debby was brilliant.  Whenever anyone asked him how he felt, he always said 'Much better thank you!"  He took all his treatments without any grumbling - a model patient.

Matt came back to the hospital just before lunchtime - he came with Dad who then transported me home (went wrong twice on the way home - I was so tired, I couldn't remember the way!).  During his time with Matt, he was taken off the nebuliser and started using an inhaler as treatment.  It was all going very well.  I went back to the barn, just missed out on seeing Clare, Simon, Jake and Amber who had headed to Shugborough Hall.  I made myself a sandwich, had a shower and went to bed.  I got about 2 hours sleep, but woke up in a huge sweat, so had another shower.  Mum and Dad had been out to Norbury Junction for a walk along the canal and lunch but were back.  We spent some time chatting and then we all headed back to the hospital.  Mum and Dad sat with Tom whilst Matt and I went for coffee to chat.  It had been a rather emotional day.  The nursing staff had tried Tom with oxygen through the nose - but he didn't like it so he reverted back to a mask.

Matt then went back to the barn with Mum and Dad and went to the pub with everyone for dinner whilst I stayed with Tom.  I thought being in a children's ward, they would make sure everyone went to bed quite early, but no it was past 10pm before beds were pulled out for the parents and lights dimmed.  I was beside myself with tiredness!

It wasn't a relaxing night.  Tom fell asleep and almost immediately his oxygen levels dropped below 90%.  Apparently this is normal for children.  The first Dr was going to leave him until the morning, but his boss overrode him and put him back on a programme of nebulisers and oxygen.  It was a busy night.  He started off on 1 hourly nebulisers, then 2 hourly and then by 4am he was on 3 hourly.  He had soooooo many visits from Drs and nurses, there was hardly a time when he (we) we by ourselves.  Luckily, Tom was so knackered he stayed asleep for most of the treatments.  He only woke once, and he cried - not surprising, being attached to a nebuliser and people stood all around him.  However, he got back to sleep and was blissfully unaware of any more treatments.  Cathy, his nurse was absolutely amazing, treating him with so much respect.  She was rushed off her feet, but was always cheerful, helpful and respectful.  She held the mask to his face, whilst I stroked his arm - to stop him automatically pulling the mask off.  We allowed him one rub of the nose and then he was OK.  Unfortunately the drugs in the nebuliser made me sneeze - so I was holding his arm down with one hand and desperately trying to blow my nose with the other hand (have you ever tried to blow your nose with one hand - it is really hard to do!)  I probably kept the other mum in the ward awake with it all but there was nothing I could do!

Finally at 4am, I was able to lie down and get some sleep.  I got a full 2 hours before the Drs visited again with another and last nebuliser.  By this time Tom was a bit shaky, this was normal as he had inhaled a lot of drugs.  Matt arrived at the hospital around 7.30 so I got up.  We then had to wait an AGE for the Dr.  Having had way too many visits during the night, they now disappeared.  It was almost noon before one turned up.  Prognosis - Tom has to stay in for another night to prove he can sleep without oxygen levels going down.  Poo!  I was hoping for him to escape in time for the BBQ.

So, I left Matt at the hospital and headed back to the barn for the BBQ lunch.  It was a very lovely lunch.  We ate outside in the sunshine, the kids were OK, we all got along fine.  Then the rain came down big time and we ran inside.

Bloke doing BBQ!

Nice BBQ - shame two people are missing

Jake and Amber smiling at the same time!

Impossible to get them all to look at the camera at the same time!

S, C, J & A got packed up and followed me to the hospital so they could at last meet with Tom.  Tom was doing fine, he was back on his inhaler again and looking quite perky.  He was pleased to see Jake and Amber and they were happy to sit and play iPad games with him on his bed.  Not exactly what we had planned for the weekend, but they were happy enough and we did get some photos of the three of them together.  Matt headed home for tea, a rest and a shower and after an hour or so, the others left on their way to Aylesbury.

Tom and I were left together for the rest of the afternoon.  I had to fight sleep for a while and was relieved to see Matt arrive, knowing that I would be able to lie down soon.  I left them together and drove to the barn.

Together for a few minutes

After a tea of posh cheese and biscuits (this was a Branch outing after all!) I had another shower and thankfully lay down in bed.  I was asleep in seconds and was out cold until 6.30.  I went out to find a signal for my phone and asked Matt how they got on.  Tom went 9 hours with no inhaler - hurray - surely he will be released today!  Matt managed to get some sleep - the other girl in the ward didn't wake up, so it was as quiet as can be for a hospital.

Finally sleeping peacefully

I drove in after breakfast and packing the car, Mum and Dad followed so they could say goodbye.  We then had to wait an age for the Dr again.  As it was a weekday there was a lot more going on in the unit.  There was a playroom but Tom hadn't shown much interest before.  A Playleader came round to see him and suggested he come over to play with the Lego, which we did once we had flooded the bathroom whilst having a shower.  (I figured Tom should have one.  The ward was only 6 months old - so everything is spanking brand new including the bathrooms, but they forgot to put in sloping floors in the bathroom, so when you have a shower, you flood the whole thing out.  I had to apologise and warn everyone else on the ward and then find a cleaner to get a mop.  The cleaner came happily enough to help but grumbling about bad design!)  We then headed to the playroom and found the Lego (it was hidden behind lock and key)  We spent a pleasant hour playing with it and then table football before Matt came to get us as the Dr was about to arrive.  We saw the Dr and yes we were allowed to leave - HURRRRAY!  We then had to wait for medicine, Asthma plan document and the very important letter for the GP and we were on our way.   It was almost 2pm but we were happy.

We headed to Sam's Cafe (an old haunt) for bacon sandwiches and then continued up North back home.  We got home around 4.30, very very happy.  What a weekend!

Not exactly what we had planned and we never managed to have everyone in one place - so Dad's birthday present didn't exactly work out - sorry!  However, I think we made the most of what time we had.   If we do this again, maybe we should do it in the Winter?

Fun Run

Running for fun

It was the hottest day of the year (over 30 degrees) and the day of the School Fun Run.  It went ahead but with huge buckets of water for the children to dip their heads into.  This made the run fun and they merrily ran and ran and ran.  Tom did 14 laps - not as many as last year, but it was about 10 degrees hotter.  Well done him!

Tom Falls

At the falls

Sunday we had a lazy morning, and then headed to Hawkshead Brewery for lunch.  It was a miserable and grey day when we got up but by the time we had finished our lunch it had cheered up.  As we are now National Trust members, we decided to head to Tarn Hows for a little walk.  Instead of doing the usual circuit, we decided to head off in search of Tom Gill Falls.  We headed into a green valley and headed down it until we found the waterfalls.  We had to stop to throw stones (of course).  It was very pretty.  We then carried on down and found more falls and even more.  Each time we had to stop to throw stones.

Herdwick lamb

When we got to the bottom we found another track to take us back up again.  It wasn't a long walk (only 3.5 miles) but a very pleasant one. 

Summer Fair

Saturday it dawned sunny.  A good thing because it was the school Summer Fair.  The first one in many years (I'm beginning to have an affect on the PTA I think).  Tom, Matt and I headed off to the school for 10am to set up.  We had to drag every table out of the school onto the playground to make a cafe, then help sort the food out, set up the stalls etc etc.

I had been baking loads: gingerbread biscuits for the cake stall & for the raffle, chocolate cherry cake and scones.  As always it was difficult to know what to do as there is no paperwork anywhere from previous fairs, so we started from zero.

I somehow managed to get put in charge of the PTA stall which started off as 'Hook a Duck', then became 'Net a Duck' and finally 'Grab a Duck' - because every time you put the net into the paddling pool all the ducks overturned revealing their numbers - not great.

I was then stood in the sun for the whole fair doing the stall which proved quite popular, in fact it brought in the most of all the activity stalls which means I must have been doing something right.   Mainly it was toddlers drawn to the water.

Matt was playing cricket in Heysham today so he headed off early and then Tom was left to his own devices whilst I set up and manned the stall.  He was brilliant.  He entertained himself really really well, hanging out with the other PTA children and then when his friends started appearing playing with them.  He came to check on me from time to time and ran errands for me (drinks and food), he decided which stalls he wanted to have a go on, found out how much money he needed and sorted himself out.  All very good.  I was very proud of him, he displayed a lot of confidence.

After the fair we, of course, had to put everything back, so we didn't leave until 4pm.  Basically Tom was outside playing for 6 solid hours.  Once we got back, he collapsed on the sofa and asked to watch telly - I didn't refuse, I was tired too!

Anyway a good but tiring day in the sun.  We made £840 which apparently is good going for the thrifty folk of Ingleton

(Sorry I didn't have time to take any photos!)

10 month old visitor

On Thursday and Friday we had more visitors (from the conference) - Doug (American), Akemi (Japanese) and their 10 month old baby Dominic.  I was busy with cakes and School Fair preparations, so Matt went to meet them from the train and then did the Ribblehead walk with them and took them to Hawes to the creamery.  They arrived home just as Tom and I arrived back from school.  Dominic was a fantastically happy, bouncing baby.  He was very happy to be in a house full of toys to explore.  I managed to find some baby friendly toys and he was away.

I made a huge roast dinner for them all with Yorkies, parsnips (a rarity for Japanese) as this was Doug's first time in the UK and he hadn't had any home-cooked food to date.  It went down well as he and Akemi said it was the best food they had had since they arrived (yahoo!).

Dominic ate everything he was given too, in fact I think we would have kept going until he exploded!    He then went to bed and slept for 12 hours straight through!  What a star.

On Friday they did the Waterfalls trail with Matt whilst I did my Cobra fit (last ever session so I had to go to wind up Jordan - which we did well!)  I then headed on to the waterfall trail but in the opposite direction so I would bump into them.  They were dawdling as I hadn't bumped into them by the time I got to Thorton Force, but as it had just started raining, I decided to shelter under a tree and wait for them.

They did finally turn up - Dominic as always bright as a button, smiling away.  Apparently if he likes something he points to it - so we tried him out on a couple of things and got quite good feedback.  We  ended up at the start and decided to have lunch at the cafe there.  Dom was pleased to be released from his carrier and ate up everything he was given (except raw tomatoes which he spat out - which only endeared us even further!)

We got back home, when I was called to the school - Tom needed his eye drops - so I ran off to administer them and ran back just in time to say goodbye to our guests.  It was a flying visit - but lovely.  Unfortunately we didn't take any photos?!  So I'm awaiting some from Doug - he just needs to get over his jet lag etc first.

100m Swimmer and Sports Day

On the charge

Wednesday was Sports Day at school.  Tom was only in 2 races (they get to do more as they get older)  He did well - came second in the boys running race (from 7) and second in the scuttle race so not bad.  His team (blue) came second over all.

Tom also had badges at swimming today.  Now he hasn't been that great at swimming recently, having gone backwards since he went up a class.  He has been having trouble doing a width recently, putting his feet down 2 or 3 times each time he does it!  We were really worried he wouldn't get a badge as he already has his 10m badge - so much so that we bribed him and said he would get a new engine for his railway if he got a badge.  The rest of his class did 100m in pairs, Tom waited until last and Jill took him into the pool on a 1:1 basis.  We couldn't quite believe our eyes, Tom motored around the pool with Jill encouraging him.  He didn't show any wish to put his feet down or grab the side and didn't even look like he was tiring.

Tired

He ended up swimming around the pool twice with no problem at all.  We were made up - couldn't quite believe our eyes, and Jill, his teacher was really pleased too.  In fact he did the 100m easier than some of his classmates (some of whom did put their feet down and grab onto the side!)  Just goes to show what we already knew, he is capable when he wants to be!!!!!

Cricket

On Sunday Tom played cricket on the community field on Sunday morning.  I then asked him where he wanted to go for lunch to which he announced Ireby Farm, so we headed over there and managed to get the last table (it was Father's Day) and enjoyed lunch out.  Ireby doesn't do a children's menu - just smaller versions of the adults menu which is how I wish it always is.  Tom being Tom he went for the most decadent of sandwiches - smoked salmon.  Can't imagine too many children order that!

We then headed into Kirkby Lonsdale to do a quick shop in Booths and then headed home.  Somehow, it was past 3pm by the time we got home and raining, so we decided to stay in for the rest of the day.  Not the most exciting of days, but Tom had fun - especially with his cricket in the morning.

Scorton Steam Festival

This weekend was a Mummy weekend as Matt was away at the translator's conference in York.  The weather wasn't great, but we ignored it and soldered on.

More silliness

Saturday we decided to go to Scorton Steam Fair.  We went last year the day after we got back from Japan so went round in a Jet Lagged haze (well I did anyway).  This time we were up for having a good time and with Tom being a year older, he got a lot out of it.

Pyramid of Purple Helmets

First stop was the lawnmower racing which was very loud and very muddy as it was raining - clots of mud flying here and there. Then we went for a look around the craft and food tent and then we inspected the trucks.  Being a girl - I still don't get oogling at trucks, but Tom was enjoying himself, plus we bumped into a friend from Ingleton which helped.  By now it was raining, so we headed over to the refreshments tent and got ourselves lunch (sausage roll for Tom and a tuna bun for me).  The good thing about the weather being so rubbish was that the fair was relatively empty of people, meaning we didn't have to queue for anything and we were able to get shelter inside tents when we needed to.

At 1pm we were sat by the show ring ready to see the Purple Helmets.  We have heard of these as they are a big attraction at the Isle of Man TT - we didn't see them, but we have heard they are fun - lots of men being silly on motorbikes.  Tom and I really enjoyed the show - it was full of silly antics: a pyramid of men on motorbikes, some of them doing the splits whilst a monkey bike went under them, lots of innuendo from the commentator - all of which went right over Tom's head.  There was roll over man - who tried to roll his bike over on a cage - but had quite a bit of trouble because the grass was so wet and slippy.  A naked man playing a piano whilst being ridden round on a motorbike, shattering plates with a blunder bust, wheelie bin races - lots of silliness with plenty for adults as well as children.  We did get quite wet watching it but it didn't matter, we were enjoying ourselves.

Driving carefully!

Very wet on the swings!

We also saw a parade of stock cars, (once again very noisy) a parade of vintage cars, there were birds of prey where children were encouraged to take part in the show (Tom only got his courage up right at the end for this).  All the usual things for a 'show'.

Tom had a couple of goes on the fun fair.  He said he wanted a go on the swing carousel, which he did.  Unfortunately he decided to go on the outer ring of swings and as it started going round the rain water that had collected on the roof rush down over him.  He got absolutely drenched!  He saw the funny side though and didn't mind being wet.  Although it was a rainy day, it was warm.

We had a look around some more vehicles, had tea and a bun and then discovered that it was time for the Purple Helmets again, so we found ourselves a seat and watched them again.

We then headed home, just as the sun came out - typical!!!!!

Fruit Cake

Tom has been very very keen to make a fruit cake these last couple of weeks, constantly badgering me about it.  This week we finally got round to it.  Here are some pics.  It was a rather lovely fruit cake - he'll make a good apprentice!

Big appetite

Look at the concentration!