Third week of the holidays

New car please

Saturday was a rainy day.  I was supposed to be providing the cricket tea for the cricket match.  I had made a banana cake, huge amount of flapjacks, sausage rolls and was about to start making sandwiches when it got rained off!  Oh hum, freezer is now full.  So, we had a day to fill.  We headed off west and ended up in Staveley at the rather lovely Hawkshead Brewery for lunch.  The rain was unrelenting so we decided that we would go into Kendal and see if we could find Tom a big boy bed (we've been promising him one for ages).  We found a bed shop so he tried out all the matresses and looked at all the beds and chose for himself what he wanted.  He has great taste as he went for exactly what I would have chosen.

Once the transaction was made, Matt and Tom went off for haircuts whilst I did a bit of shopping.  I quickly got bored, so joined them.  Then we headed to Costa for tea (coffee) and a bun before heading home.

Sunday was Car Fest.  This was held at Oulton Park near Chester, so we left quite early and got to the gates just as they opened.

Private Tom!

How's my position?

 We had a fab time. We saw a monster truck, the red barrows (very tongue in cheek), a couple of parades of cars.  I did some shopping (bought a skirt??!?!?!).  We had lunch in the big top watching a mini beast show (bumped into an old friend from Encounter Overland and her family so we were talking 10 to a dozen catching up).  There was an air show, lots of military vehicles to clamber on and over.  There were plenty car stands where Tom tried out various cars (he wants Matt to get an Aston Martin DBS next!) a motorbike stand where you got flung from side to side to understand some of what it is like to ride a race.  We had a go on the mini diggers (playing 10 pin bowling) and on the mini tanks (see here: http://youtu.be/0E5y2w4al_A).

Invading army

What a big head!

All in all it was a great day out, loads to do.  We didn't get round everything in the day we were there.  It was so well set up for children, that in a way it seemed it was more for them than us.  We had a dinner date in Manchester that evening, otherwise we would have stayed a little longer.  In the evening there were some big acts: Texas, Jools Holland and others I can't remember.  They provided some trailers with cushions for children, so if you wanted to see the acts, you could put your children to bed in the trailers and stay and watch them.  Great.  Something to remember for next time.

As I said we had a dinner date - with Karen, Adam, Leia and Rosa in Manchester.  Great dinner too - Adam makes a fab roast.  We had a lovely evening and the kids enjoyed themselves.  Sleep didn't happen for a while until Karen read them the riot act (you can see she is a teacher).  All went quiet and we were able to relax.

Rosa getting stuck in

On the beach

Monday was a gorgeous day - Karen suggested we go to St Anne's to the beach.  Her brother lives in St Anne's so we parked at his had tea and then headed to the beach.  It was perfect beach weather and the sand was perfect sandcastle making sand so the kids were happy.






We had a picnic, made some castles, destroyed some castles etc etc.  St Annes is a little like Weston Super Mare in that there is no sea (or you have to walk a long way to get to it)  As a consolation they have a great paddling pool on the sea front so we headed there, more to get the sand off them than anything else.

Sopping!

Building team

Concentration!

They had a great time.  Unfortunately we didn't have swimming costumes for them so they went in fully clothed and got drenched.  It was a joy to see them - pure enjoyment, the fun that hopefully gets etched on your brain as how good summer holidays used to be.   Luckily I had a spare pair of jeans and a jumper on me (you can never be too sure when you go to a beach in England) so he went commando and didn't freeze when he eventually came out.

We ended up coming home on Monday evening after dinner as Matt had been working on a particularly hard translation at their house during the day and needed to get back to his office with his equipment to get it finished.

Tuesday - sorry I can't remember what happened on Tuesday!

Wednesday was a grey, miserable day, raining, raining, raining.  I realised that this was our last proper free day before school starts so we went shopping for school shoes, uniform and pe kit.  (Ingleton Primary decided in their wisdom to have a pe kit next year).  It wasn't an amazing day, but it all got bought and now I don't need to worry about it.

Rory, Tom and Lewis

Thursday Neil & Sharon, Matt's friends from Dollar came to visit with their two sons Rory (8) and Lewis (6).  I haven't seen them since Rory was born, but Matt has at various reunions etc.  Rory and Lewis aren't the best of friends, meaning that Tom was Mr popular - a position he relished.  Matt took them out to do the Storr's Common Walk whilst I did some work on an anniversary cake I needed to deliver.  Then we had a bbq - and it was warm enough to eat it outside too which was ace.  Lewis and Rory slept with Tom in his room - a great idea, execpt they wouldn't settle, so Lewis (the chief trouble maker) was pulled out and all went quiet (Neil and Sharon are teachers, so have that tone of voice which works on Tom - maybe not Rory and Lewis).

Tom and Rory

Friday Tom had his swimming lesson so Matt took the others for the Ribblehead walk.  We caught up with them and then headed into Hawes for lunch.  We then went to the Dales life museum a little museum at the National Park Centre that we've not yet visited.  It was surprisingly good - there were eye spy nature sheets for the children to do and plenty of hands on exhibits to play with.  Not bad, especially as it was free for kids.  Before we knew it, it was almost closing time so we made our way home.  Tom, Rory and Lewis had a good time.  School has been great for Tom's confidence with other children, he made friends with Rory and Lewis in no time.  By the time they left, it was as if they had known each other for years.

Second week of the holidays

Monday we met up with Eli and Adam at RSPB Leighton Moss.  I had arranged this on purpose as Eli is so knowledgeable in nature, so thought I would pick her brains and learn something.  I did learn a bit, not so much with birds (although I now know that a 'squeaky bike' like tweet is a Moorhen) but more to do with bugs.  She had bought two bug collecting jars and 2 nets and the boys spent most of the day hunting bugs.  We didn't find a woodlouse (Tom's current favourite) but we did find lots and then we went pond dipping and found my old favourites - water boatman, pond skater, leeches etc.  It was good fun.

Can I do it...

yes I can!

They also had an inventive play area, including a place where you could 'walk the plank' and stack pieces of wood.  Tom and Adam stacked them up and invented a jumping game.  Tom was surprisingly good and managed to jump pretty high to avoid the tower of logs.  Fun was had by all, but at 3pm, once again the shutters went down on Tom.  We went to the cafe to try to revive him via food, but his behaviour deteriorated and in the end we had to leave.  Tom fell asleep within minutes of leaving in the car and slept all the way back.  Phew - at least his bad behaviour was tiredness not naughtiness!

Tuesday - sorry can't remember what we did!

Driver Tom

Wednesday was Matt's birthday so we celebrated with a trip on the Eskdale and Ravenglass Railway a cute little ex mining railway over to the west of the Lake District.  We had to go through some truly stunning scenery via some quite twisty and steep passes to get there, it was worth it, even in the grey and mist.  We got our day rover tickets (free via Tesco) and settled down to our ride.  It is a really lovely ride and the trains were very cute.  We went all the way down to the end of the railway and had a lunch in a pub and then set out again doing some half trips before ending up back at the start again.

The weather was pretty good to us with only a couple of spots of rain.  As predicted Tom fell asleep on the way home, so we waited for him to wake up before stopping for tea.  He slept a while as we got to Kirkby Lonsdale!  We were intrepid and tried a new venue - the Royal Hotel who do pizzas - very nice they were too, although we think on the whole Avanti's are better.

Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Anyway a good day was had by all and everyone went to bed happy.


Thursday, Tom and I spent the day with Kate and Finn.  We were going to go out for a walk but Kate had had a nasty accident on her mountain bike (ripped her elbow off!) and had a very fat arm and hand and really wasn't looking too great.  We stayed at theirs.  Tom distracted Finn for the day playing with him whilst I sat and chatted to Kate, she wasn't looking well and was in pain - yuck.  (Turned out she had an infection and ended up in hospital for a number of days undergoing more surgery - tough luck to happen at the start of the holidays!)

Skinny Herdy

Friday Tom had his swimming lesson at Ingleton Pool (he did quite well) and then spent the afternoon at Matthew's playing.  The day went in a whizz - before we knew it, it was tea time so we headed back so we could have our dinner out with Matt.

First week of the holidays - part 2

Thursday was yet another wonderfully sunny and hot day.  Grandpa wanted a 'day in the countryside' so we decided to take him for a walk in Austwick - what is becoming one of our favourite short walks, across some fields, up a hill through a wild flower haven to the top of a hill, down the otherside to a river and back to Austwick, where of course there is a lovely pub to relax and recuperate in.

Nice cool feet

It was a good walk although it was quite hot so a little harder than usual.  The wild flowers were still out including bluebells and orchids and the view from the top was as lovely as always.  We headed down to the river.  As it was so hot we very much looked forward to having a paddle in the river at the bottom.  Matt and I were straight in (it was delicious) but Tom was hesitant.  Surprisingly it only took a little persuasion to get him in and in the end he was splashing around as if it was exactly why he went there.  We also found a swing over the river, I said there was no way we would get Tom on there.  Of course Grandpa was with us so he had to prove us wrong - he sat on it and was quite content to swing over the water (wonders will never cease!).

After quite a bit of playing we walked on to the Game Cock and had a lovely lunch - I went for the Breton Gallette which really did take me back to France (their kitchen is run by a French chef).  We left with happy bellies and returned home to laze around inside - we had all had enough of the sun (it got up to about 28 degrees today)

Another good day.

Just hanging around...

Friday Tom had his first summer swimming lesson at Ingleton Pool.  It went surprisingly well.  I had asked for Tom to be in the class where they don't wear swimming aids (he will be lazy if he can).  He was put in a class mainly with people from year 1 (Strangely most of his class mates were in the class above that?!).  He did pretty much everything he was asked and even tried to swim at the end of it (he managed about 1/3 of a width).  I'm hoping Vicky (the teacher) might finally get him on his way - surely it has got to click soon????

Saturday morning we headed to Clapham for their street fair.  We had a good play in their lovely park and then had a browse around the stalls set up in the village after enjoying the Batala drum band again (the same one as was in Ingleton last week).  Problem was that most of the stalls belonged to churches and I feel quite uncomfortable giving my money to organised religion (I've never been a fan and since living in Israel have become even less of a fan).  There were the odd charities, but one tried to give me a guilt trip about Tom and the fact that he could have a brain tumour at any time which would be incurable (why oh why do they then think I would turn round and give them some money after saying that to me???!!!!!) However, the Cave and Mountain Rescue were there with some rather lovely looking cakes, so we sat down, ate cake and happily gave them some money.

A walk in the wheat

Matt then enjoyed a rather lovely looking bacon butty before we headed back.  Matt to play cricket, Tom and I to have lunch and then decide what to do for the rest of the day.  Tom wanted to go to the swimming pool to show me how he can now swim.  We went along but it was a lovely sunny day so it was rammed full.  Tom didn't seem to mind, but it meant there really wasn't enough room for him to try to swim.  Nevermind we had fun, until suddenly he went quiet on me.  We got out and went home.  He was tired.  We had a 5pm tea.  Tom was in bed by 6.30 and sound asleep by 6.45!  I guess it has been a busy week.

Sunday we headed over to Crooklands as we had heard you could get a free narrow boat trip down the canal there.  We turned up and yes, we could, although we couldn't get on the first boat, so went for a little walk and played catch with a pine cone before boarding.  It was a lovely, peaceful ride, we didn't go very far or for very long, but it was a lovely, relaxing ride.  There were 4 dogs on board with us - Tom didn't mind at all and they were all well behaved.  Once back, we headed to Plumgarths for lunch (very nice too - homemade quiche for me, meat sandwiches for the boys), then to Lakeland in Windermere for a browse (good for ideas - but too expensive to buy).  We then headed up the Kirkstone Pass to the Kirkstone Pass Inn for a quick drink before heading back home.  Tom fell asleep within minutes and remained so all the way home - is he really 5 going on 6?!  I don't think his classmates run out of steam so quickly?!

The Fellsman

Big day today. Grandpa turned 70 earlier this year, and we all thought he'd like a steam train ride to celebrate it. Fortunately, The Fellsman runs every Wednesday during the summer over the Settle and Carlisle line. Very handy.

Today was another very hot and sunny day, and we were apparently fortunate to be hauled by a steam locomotive - in prolonged dry spells, they have to switch to Diesel engines because of the risk of fire.

Anyway, Grandpa, Tom, Auntie Jude and yours truly drove the 10 miles or so to Long Preston, the last pick-up point before the train heads into the Dales. The platform was pretty crowded with travellers - it is a very popular activity.

Appleby

The train arrived bang on time, a class 8F freight locomotive pulling 12 coaches, with a class 37 Diesel engine on the back providing electricity. We had seats in coach E, about 2 steps walk to the buffet counter. It felt a bit odd pounding through Settle at speed, as regular trains always stop there. The Dales looked wonderful in the blazing sunshine, with photographers sporting expensive cameras and tripods in almost every field as we sped north through Horton, Ribblehead, Dent, Garsdale... Just south of Garsdale, we spotted a field of highland cattle, all of whom studiously ignored the sight of a steam train at full chat. Mind you, most of the sheep we saw fled in terror.

Seemingly in no time, we were at Appleby, where the train stopped for about 15 minutes to take on water. Some passengers got off here, to take a trip on a vintage charabanc followed by a cruise on Ullswater, which I'm sure was equally pleasant today. There was a guy selling ice creams on the platform, and he must have done a roaring trade today. The temperature was close to 30°C, almost unheard for this part of the world. A certain young man took something of a shine to the peach & mango flavour, and demolished almost a whole tub by himself.

Carlisle

Once the water tank was full, we set off again for the pleasant roll through the Eden Valley to Carlisle, where we arrived a good 10 minutes early. The long train and steep gradients seemed to prove no trouble at all for the engine (or was the diesel at the back giving us a sneaky push?).

Luckily, it was lunchtime, so we headed straight to Eaten By Monsters, a quirky American style diner that we'd been to (and enjoyed) on a previous visit. It didn't disappoint this time either, and we all enjoyed a good meal. We had a bit of time to kill before the return journey, so we had a stroll round Carlisle's (rather disappointing and formulaic) shops before heading back to the station. Someone enjoyed 20 minutes or so of watching the wide variety of trains that pass through Carlisle (Pendolinos, Voyagers, blue trains, purple trains, freight trains ...), before our train rolled into the platform. There was a brief delay while they couldn't get the steam engine coupled to the coaches. They got it sorted fairly quickly, though, and a violent lurch signified that we were on our way.

Garsdale

I think the train must have been sitting out in the sun, as it was absolutely roasting on board. We opened all the windows, bought bottles of water from the buffet, and more peach & mango ice cream from the guy at Appleby, but we still sat there and boiled all the way to Long Preston. We got yakking to the people in the seats opposite ours, a nice couple of couples from Dorset, who'd picked absolutely the right week to have a holiday in Yorkshire, having been enticed to visit it by Le Tour de France.

We waved goodbye to the train at Long Preston, where the platform wasn't even close to long enough to accommodate such a large train, and then headed back to Ingleton, to regale Mummy with tales of our adventure. It was a grand day out, and I hope it did justice to Grandpa's milestone.

First week of the holidays

So it's a busy week for Tom.  Monday and Tuesday were spent on Ingleton playing field with the crew from Craven Wanderers Football Team learning to play football from 10am to 3pm.  He enjoyed himself, and did well considering it was hot, hot, hot - 30 degrees in the sun!

Two trophies Tom!

Monday afternoon we went to the pool ready for his lesson on Friday.  I want him to be comfortable with the pool before he gets in with the teacher (last year he spent the whole of the first lesson clinging in fear to the teacher!).  He did much better than I thought, but still thinks he can't swim and won't listen to any instructions I give him to help him (eg to kick his legs!)  I expect at some stage it will click, not sure when it will happen though?!

Tuesday I collected him from football by which time Grandpa had arrived.  So he had a play with Grandpa before heading to Bentham for yet more football (bit of an overlap with lessons not sure why?).  This was a good session though as they had some mini games (Tom as clueless as usual - but to be fair he had already spent 5 hours in the sun playing football!) after that it was trophy presentation time.  Tom didn't get just one trophy (for turning up) but two!!!!  He came third in the American Penalty shoot out a couple of weeks ago.  Typical this happened during a week I wasn't there, but he genuinely did come 3rd.  Tom was mega excited to win the trophies, very very proud of himself (think his head expanded big time).

When we got home Auntie Jude arrived, so more playing and showing off before dinner and eventually getting to bed around 8.30!  He has a busy day tomorrow playing on steam trains with Matt, Jude and Grandpa.

Gala and Trains

So after a glorious week, Saturday the weather broke and it rained.  Poo!!!!  Why?  Because today is the Village Gala and I had helped with the float for Nursery and Reception.  Our float is celebrating 80 years of Ingleton Swimming Pool and was very home made with the nursery kids doing quite a bit of the painting.  This was all organised by Rachael (of Neptis) of course - the best organiser in town and although people weren't forthcoming to help initially, once the ball was rolling, suddenly people came out of the woodwork to help.

Front of the float - hummm, very home made!

We did a couple of sessions up at the school designing and painting - the weather was glorious each time, meaning we were basically sunbathing whilst painting which was good fun and I got to meet a lot more mums.  On Friday night we all came together to put everything on the truck.  Most people brought their children with them - it was a really good atmosphere, the children all got on with each other with hardly any tears (and any tears were due to heat / tiredness it was the last day of school after all!).  It came together really well.  We got back home around 7pm, then Tom went to bed and I headed over to Janine's for her birthday do.  A busy day but good fun.

The finished float

As I said earlier Saturday dawned grey and rainy.  It wasn't cold, but it was raining.  Oh hum. At noon, which is when we met at the school the train did clear for a while and the heavy rain did hold off until we were done.  The route took us around Burnmoor Crescent, up Back Gate, down the high street the wrong way and into the sports field.  We armed the kids with water pistols and they had loads of fun squirting people as they went round.  We refilled the buckets at our house (I slopped water over Tom's feet as I ran with the bucket back to the truck and for my effort got a screaming, crying Tom!!!!!)  Great Tom, do I tend to him or go back and lock the house up again, which ever I did it was bound to be wrong - he does choose his moments!!!!!  He calmed down after a while and continued on.  I think he had fun - it was all a bit strange for him I think so he wasn't completely relaxed.

It was a bit of a squeeze to fit everyone on

We came second in the float competition - sounds good doesn't it?  There were only 3 floats!!!!  Didn't matter, we had fun.  We then hung around the gala field for a good couple of hours watching some displays (bike skills, gymnastics, sheep dogs chasing ducks etc etc)  we enjoyed it and didn't get too wet in the rain.  It was such a shame though for organisers, the only wet day in ages, the field wasn't at all busy!!!!!

If you were wondering where Matt was in all this - he was helping to marshall the fell race and volunteered to climb to the top of Ingleborough to do so (what a hero!) - he got wetter and colder than us!  Tom and I went to meet him on his way down and we decided a pizza at the Italian was the way to go for dinner - we all deserved it!

Tom and Evie on the train

Isaac, Evie and Tom

Sunday of course it dawned bright and sunny - typical!!!!!  We decided to head to Cinderbarrow (near Burton in Kendal) where on a Sunday there is a garden railway to ride.  This is a smaller scale than Miller Beck, but still quite impressive and all run by donation.  We had a ride on a diesel and a mini steam train and then who should turn up but Evie (one of the girl's in Tom's class who is soft on Tom) so he went on again with Evie.  I wasn't on the train this time, but apparently there was a lot of giggling going on.

We left to go for lunch at Ireby Farm Shop - fantastic quality as always and then came home.  Matt went for a bike ride with Rob whilst Tom and I did some chores and then headed over to Caroline's for a afternoon with Fred and Frank.  We all had a good time - a good outdoors day with everyone in good humour.

Midsummer Medley and School Report

Pirates

On Monday Tom had his Midsummer Medley performance at school.  All the infant school children dressed up as pirates (thankfully one costume I can do) and

And more pirates

performed their pieces.  The eldest class had made up rhymes, recited poems and did a dance.  The middle class told jokes and did a action rhyme and Tom's class did 3 action poems.  It was all very lovely, the jokes were terrible.  Some kids really shone - Finn being one of them reciting a poem beautifully.  Tom was at the back, not really concentrating.  At one point he and Freya who were sitting together (never a great idea) were playing with a piece of paper and getting stern looks from one of the other teachers!!!! However, he joined in and even managed to do one poem pretty much perfect which is an improvement on past performances, although I wouldn't say he added any volume to it and he still spent a lot of time looking behind him.

He also got his school report on Monday.  It was pretty much what we expected after parents' evening.  Thankfully he is now socialising well within the class and joining in with other children, actively playing with them and talking to them etc which is a relief.  However, although his concentration and listening has improved since his op, he still isn't great and isn't hitting expected levels.  His writing is also behind, not letter formation - but writing unaided.  Children his age should be wanting to write things unaided using their knowledge of phonics.  However, he doesn't.  He doesn't because he's scared of making mistakes, when he's at home he's the same, not wanting to write anything unless he's sure of the spelling.  Is it so wrong to be sure of spelling before writing?  He also doesn't lead any play, doesn't come up with any ideas, but is happy to be told what to do and join in.  He has always been this way (it's the reason the girls like him because they can boss him around!)  Sometimes he will take an age to complete tasks which really shouldn't take too long, I think this frustrates Mrs P!!!  He is on track with his reading, drawing (really - his drawing is awful compared to most in his class!), maths, technology use, p.e, music, etc etc.  He likes construction toys (lego etc) playing outside and the role play area the most but will do another activity if asked too.  He won't do craft unless he has to.  It also said that he is well behaved in class and shares nicely etc so that's good.

On Wednesday, the school had an open evening where we got to see all the work they have completed during the year.  I was pleased to see that he has been writing, and has been doing sums quite well.  Some drawings were surprisingly good.  We had a chat with Mrs P about his report she said that she's not worried about him and is confident that everything will click in place soon, we just need to keep building on his confidence.  I felt quite reassured by what she said.  We brought a lot of pictures home with us - I think the fridge is about to get a change of clothes.

Miller Beck and Gummers How

No visitors this weekend believe it or not, we weren't sure what to do with ourselves!  Saturday Matt was playing cricket at Silverdale so we all headed over that way.  We stopped off at the PYO and spent an hour collecting raspberries, gooseberries and black currants ready for jamming (if I can find any jam sugar in the shops!)  We then drove to the RSPB place at Leighton Moss and it's cafe for lunch.  It was at this point that Matt suddenly realised he didn't have his cricket whites with him, so he gulped his lunch down in seconds and headed back home on his motorbike, whilst Tom and I had a more relaxing lunch.

Tom was complaining of tiredness so we got back in the car and headed home - he fell asleep and was out for a good half hour as I drove to Settle (I needed to get some numeral cake tins for a cake I'm making this week) we then did our errands and headed home.  As soon as we got home Joel from next door came round - dressed as a pirate ready for the Midsummer Medley on Monday.  Tom was excited to see him and went completely loopy - over excited some might say!  They ended up going to Joel's house and I suddenly felt very alone in a very quiet house.

I made some tea and then went to get Tom from next door.  Big mistake - he was very unhappy that I had collected him and screamed the place down.  Joel's house was obviously much better than ours and the prospect of tea in my company didn't enthral him at all - I was public enemy No 1.  It took quite a while to calm him down.

He came home and cheered up enough to eat dinner.  Joel then came round to make sure he was alright.  Tom immediately went nuts again, jumping around, not listening to me or Joel - talk about over-excitement.  Is it really that bad to be at home with us.  He was completely uncontrollable to the extent that even Joel was wondering why he had bothered coming round as Tom wasn't playing with him at all, just jumping up and down and yelling?!.  Paula (Joel's mum) came round for a chat and to say not to feel compelled to keep Joel here, especially if he is being a pain.  We had a nice chat, I got to know a bit more about them.

Finally Joel left after stubbing his toe on a chair in the kitchen, and I put Tom to bed just before Matt turned up from cricket (they lost again).

Steam Train

Bouncing

On Sunday we headed to Miller Beck as they were open for a Teddy Bear's Picnic.  Totoro got an outing.  We arrived just as it opened and had the trains to ourselves.  First we all tried out an electric train, then Tom and I had a ride on a steam train and then Matt and Tom had a ride on another steam train.  There was also a bouncy castle which Tom managed to get for himself.  It was a pleasant morning - all the volunteers were lovely.  Tom was offered a sit on the engine of the steam train, but he refused, suddenly going all shy (silly boy).

Climbing up the cliff

Made it to the top in fierce wind

Our tummies were rumbling so we decided to go on a pub hunt.  We found a good one: The Masons Arms in Cartmel Fell.  A really lovely pub serving great food (serving the residents of Millionaire's Row judging by the cars and fashion)  We had a bigger than average lunch so decided to head back to Gummers How for a walk.  It was a great walk, not a long one, but a steep one with which you are rewarded with fantastic 360 views of Windermere and the Lake District Hills on one side and Ingleborough and the Dales on the other.  We could even see the Bay and Blackpool Tower.  It was very very windy on top, at first Tom didn't want to go to the top, but after a sit down he suddenly got some courage and agreed to try it.  He was a star, it was mega windy on top and he didn't whimper!  We are getting there with the wind - yahooo!

We got home, Tom slept again on the way home - he must be tired from school, and he missed 2 weeks of it this half term!  He was grumpy when he got up so it was tea, bath and bed.

Tour de Yorkshire and the 1940s

So the Smyths said goodbye on Friday morning (we were very sad to see them go) and then I did a quick spot of laundry and had the bedclothes clean ready for our next visitor, Craig who was coming up for the Tour de France which was having its Grand Depart in Yorkshire.  The region has been gearing up for this for over a year with yellow sheep all over the place last year and all the villages prettying themselves up with yellow bikes, red dots etc this year.  They really put a lot of effort into it - we saw this for ourselves in Hawes last week.

Anyway, Craig came with his bike and cycled up to Buttertubs (the other side of Hawes - one of the mountain climbs).  I looked into going somewhere to spectate, but the general theme in the information on the internet said arrive at 4am or park miles away and cycle in.  Neither being great with a 5 year old.  Also we needed to be in Lancaster at 5pm to pick up Jude, so we gave up and decided to watch it on the telly instead.  The crowds certainly did turn out, as did the sunshine so the Yorkshire landscape looked fantastic.  On speaking to people it wasn't so bad to go and view - so if there is next time we will try to go.

As we had the day free and needed to end up in Lancaster we decided to head to Glasson Dock for the day (where Matt's Gran was born).  We found a greasy spoon so had lunch (Tom ended up with the biggest - how did that happen?)  We then headed out for a circular walk, however, we were thwarted by some very frisky cows in a field we had to cross.  They insisted on standing between us and the fence we needed to get to.  I was scared, Tom was scared and I think Matt was quite nervous too, so we gave up and headed back to the town.  My hay fever had set in by then so I was quite pleased to be heading back.  We stopped off at a smokehouse for a browse and then headed inside a pub for some cider to try to revive me.  Tom was looking sleepy by now, but couldn't settle to sleep in the pub (even though there was a very comfy sofa to stretch out on) so we headed to the car, and drove to the industrial estate to look at single beds for Tom.  Tom fell asleep within minutes, we ended up sat in the car park for a while whilst he snored away, then went for a look at beds and rejected all of them (will he ever get a new bed?).  Problem is that we are looking for a particular bed which doesn't seem to exist.

Anyhow at 5pm Jude arrived so we went to the train station to meet her - she got a long running hug - always a nice greeting.  We headed home where we found Craig and all sat down to a Japanese curry.

Spitfire in the car park

Sergeant Major

On Sunday Matt played cricket, so Jude, Craig, Tom and I stayed in the village to enjoy the 1940s weekend.  We went for a walk around, watched a pipe band and then headed into a cafe for a drink.  We then saw the parade of military vehicles - guess who we see: Rob and Caroline and the boys - with a truck, a jeep and the tank.  We headed up to find them.

In the jeep

How many children can you fit on a lap?

Dakota flypast

Tom managed to get himself a seat in the jeep and then on top of the tank.  We watched the 'troops' be inspected by a fantastic looking sergeant major, and Winston Churchill and then some dancing.  There was then a battle in the park between the Germans and French - this didn't go down well with Tom - he cried as the sub-machine gun started up and that was it - I had to remove him.  Oh hum!  We then went to a pub for a drink, saw a Dakota fly overhead - it did 3 fly passes which was great, and then met up with the Atkinsons again for another play on the vehicles before heading back.   Craig and Jude then went home, Tom and I had a mushroom based tea, Tom went to bed and Matt came home from cricket very stiff after bowling 6 overs and making 79 - his best performance to date.

The Smyths Visit

On Monday the Smyths arrived.  They had been over from Australia for a week, so were without jet lag.  They drove from Trowbridge to Heathrow, picked up Vanessa (arriving from Finland after a family reunion there) and then drove up here (that's dedication for you).  They arrived 10 minutes before pick up time for Tom, so we said hello and then went en masse to the school to pick Tom up (it's not extreme is it for 6 people to pick up one child?!).  It was a gorgeous day so we all went to the park (with Fred and Frank) for a play before heading home.

Mia and Martin going native!

Everyone was looking very good, Martin has lost a lot of weight, Ben has stretched (next time we see him, he'll be taller than me!) and Mia and Vanessa were as slim as ever.  They were all happy and the house was full of fun in no time at all, all helped by the fact they just made themselves at home meaning we could all relax and enjoy ourselves.

On Tuesday we gave them our usual local tour: to Ribblehead, the circular walk around Ribblehead to give them an idea of the scenery, then to Hawes.  We were going to take them to the creamery, but when we got there it was full.  This is the first time ever that we have gone there and found a full car park, we circled around and then headed to the National Park car park the other side of town where luckily there were some spaces.  Unknown to us it was also market day today so the town was extra busy, plus Le Tour de France is this weekend, so there were extra tourists around.  The place looked good though with lots of bunting and spots everywhere - they have certainly taken it to heart here.  I wonder if they have done as good a job in London?  Literally every shop had something in it.  

Eye on the ball

We had lunch in the Wensleydale Pantry (old fashioned tea rooms with the biggest menu in the world) and then walked round the market, where Matt and I found a surprising number of things we needed (we always shop better when we haven't planned to).  I then headed back to Ingleton to be back in time to pick up Tom whilst the others went home the scenic way - to take in more of the scenery.  Tom has football practise on a Tuesday evening, so Martin, Matt and Ben took him along.  Now football practise is normally quite funny.  Tom enjoys it but I wouldn't say he's good at it (he still hasn't got the concept that you work in a team to score goals, if he is near a ball he will kick it in whatever direction he is facing!  However, this week he did really well.  There was some sort of competition to do with dribbling and shooting a goal and he came 3rd!!!!!!!  Then when they played some games he was on the winning team a couple of times and even managed to save some goals when playing in goal.  I'm sorry I missed it!

On the way up Ingleborough

On Wednesday the Smyths and Matt walked up Ingleborough.  I wimped out.  My hay fever this year seems to have moved into my lungs, meaning I am struggling this week big time.  I struggled walking around Ribblehead on Tuesday and I struggle walking up the stairs.  I know I am fitter than that, but my hay fever has been really bad with no relent meaning I have got run down and I guess it has attacked my chest.  Matt says I was like this last year (I can't remember, I think I tend to block out how bad it is each year - hence why I'm writing it down this year).

The runner

Anyway, I sorted them out with picnics and said goodbye before heading to the swimming pool for a swim and steam in the sauna in an attempt to feel better.

In the afternoon Tom had his fun run at school.  An hour of running around the school field in laps.  Now the school field is not at all small, I would say a good 300 meters all the way round.  Tom and his class are fit little buddies as they ran and ran and ran and ran.  In all Tom did 16 laps, the highest in his class being 18!  They all did exceptionally well.  I'm just glad he didn't ask me to do it with him (as was happening with some mums).  He was supposed to have a swimming lesson this evening, but we let him off - thinking it would take him over the edge.  Oh - we had a bbq this evening which I did - I was very pleased with it - the charcoal got super hot.  This hasn't happened in the past - why?  Because Matt has put the charcoal directly on the bottom of the bbq and not on the grate.  Note to selves: always put the charcoal on the grate - it burns hotter that way.

Cobweb at Yordas Cave

Ben and Mia - both were really good with Tom

Thursday wasn't a very nice day - very cloudy and damp so we decided to explore some caves.  We first took them to Yordas cave (which you can walk in and explore by yourself) and then went to Clapham to Ingleborough Show Cave - where we were lead round by a really enthusiastic tour guide, we really enjoyed it and were all surprised to find we had been in the cave for an hour when we exited.  Next stop was Clapham Reading Room for lunch - very good it was too.   When we got back Vanessa headed out to do the Waterfalls Trail while the boys went to collect Tom.  They then headed up to Ribblehead to watch some trains cross the viaduct: they were lucky they saw a steam engine cross it (a bonus they weren't expecting).

A group photo (we hadn't been drinking - honest!

Playing ball

We had promised Tom that he could stay up late tonight as it was the Smyths' last night.  We were true to our word and he was up, playing until 8.30.  

Tom and his 'Odd Father'!

Needless to say he was tired and grumpy this morning!  He soon cheered up when all 6 of us took him to school this morning.  It was hugs all round until the whistle went.  We then returned home, had a fry up before seeing them off on their way to Cambridge.  It was a lovely 5 days, it was really really good to see them.  If only they lived nearer!  (Although we have seen more of them than other friends who live in the UK over the last couple of years)

Quiet Weekend

Looking for the red ones

What a beauty!

We had a quiet weekend in preparation for the Smyths arriving on Monday.  Saturday morning we headed to Over Kellet to the pyo farm.  We spent about 40 minutes picking some lovely looking strawberries ready for processing into jam.  When we first arrived, we thought that we would struggle to find enough, but once we got into the swing of things we found lots and lots of lovely huge red juicy berries.  I trained Tom to recognise the good ones and before we knew it we had 4 punnets crammed of them.  I took photos for Tom's Wow Wednesday - we need it finished before the Smyths arrive.

One punnet filled

Feeling quite pleased with ourselves we then headed to Archer's Cafe for lunch (one for the parents - next time you are up please ask us to take you here - really good quality farm fresh food) once we were satisfied, we decided to see how far it was to walk to Hest Bank.  It turned out not too far away so we walked there, had a drink, watched the trains and then came back.  I unfortunately got an attack of hay fever and felt pretty terrible all day (it really does seem bad this year).  I was glad to get back to the car and rest.

Sunday Tom requested a bike ride so we drove to Caton and cycled to Lancaster.  We found ourselves a new pub by the canal (The White Cross) which was very lovely, we sat outside in the sun, had a good feed before heading back.  A journey of 10 miles all together which was good going.  On our return I found the going really hard and seriously couldn't keep up with Tom??!  I know I have hay fever, but really????  I played with the gears, to no avail, so pumped away with my legs, really feeling it.  I came down a steep hill and still seemed to be going slowly.  Finally I got off the bike for a good look..the back break was jammed on.  PHEW!!!!  I was getting really worried for a while.  Matt sorted it out for me and I was a much happier (and faster) cyclist the rest of the way back.

Enjoying the sunshine

We thought Tom might fall asleep on the way home, but no.  We stopped off at Escape Bike Shop on the way home to get Tom's bike fixed (his chain was loose and scuffing along the guard).  Whilst we were there we asked about getting our bikes serviced, and left them behind to get sorted.  I certainly don't want to be cycling with a jammed back break again.  Lo and behold we bumped into Kate, Josh and Finn at the shop (not particularly surprising) Finn was fast asleep, so we had a natter and then returned home.

Tom was in bed early both nights - it's going to be an exciting week this week.

Oh and yes we made lots of strawberry jam and none of it set particularly well!  We used jam sugar and pectin and lemon and I even got the jam to wrinkle but it still didn't set very well.  Oh well it tastes good.  We will try again next year!

Daddy!

So on Monday after a frantic day of tidying, cleaning and cooking I picked Tom up from school and suffered excited verbal diarrhoea all the way to Manchester airport.  Matt's plane arrived on time and he walked into arrivals looking quite fresh.  We then both suffered Tom's verbal diarrhoea all the way home.  But anyway, he is back safe and sound.