Two Country Houses

Just a quick entry. On Saturday evening we went to Brodsworth Hall and Gardens for their annual Enchanted Gardens. We were a bit concerned as we thought it perhaps would be spooks jumping out from behind bushes, etc. but were reassured that it was not particularly connected to Halloween.

It was a bit breezy but not too cold. As we walked around the gardens, trees and buildings had been lit up with beautiful colours (that kept changing). It was lovely and there was a nice atmosphere. We stopped off at the tearoom for a slice of cake and a drink - a big treat since it was after bedtime. With the clocks going back we thought it was a perfect opportunity to do something special and together and keep the kids up later in hope they wouldn't be up at 4am the next day!

The pictures of the house and gardens were courtesy of t'internet as mine were pretty awful. I think the kids enjoyed it though Beth didn't like 'the lady singing in the bushes' (dvd of an opera singer) and I'm sure Toby had no clue what was happening. All good fun.

Yesterday we made the most of it being half term and met gran and grandad at Nostell Priory and Parklands. It certainly had an autumnal feel to it and it was all I could do to stop myself jumping in the huge piles of leaves the staff were collecting up. Toby loved it - last year he looked longingly at Beth jumping and kicking the leaves so was very happy to join in this year.

Happy Halloween to everyone - I'm sure I'll have some sort of posting on that topic after the weekend.

Our Northumbrian Holiday

We're just back from spending a lovely week in Bamburgh with gran and grandad. The house we rented had a fantastic view of the castle and we could also just make out a lighthouse and the sea. The photo is the view from our bedroom - can't do much better than that!

The weather wasn't too bad (though could have been a bit better) so we only got to spend one morning at the beach. It started off a little damp with a bit of rain but cleared up nicely. Beth was more than happy to collect shells and stone (most of which are now piled up in our back garden) and wasn't particularly interested in the sea. On the other hand Toby was VERY interested in the water. I took him down for a little paddle (it was chilly) but that did not satisfy him and Steve took him down for something that ended up resembling a swim! I think the waves surprised them both so after a quick snack, we had to head back for baths all round.

On Sunday cousins Adam and William came to visit us for the day so we wandered down the road to the castle. It's pretty impressive and dominates the village. You can just make out the figures of Beth and Adam heading up the hill. The interior was impressive too but we didn't have time to fully appreciate it as we whipped round it at a fair rate of knots. The kids did however sit still long enough to devour ice cream at the tearoom after.

We managed to pack loads of visits into the week making it to Alnwick and the famous Barter Books bookshop. I would have been happy to spend the day browsing but two little souls prevented that! We also made it to Berwick Upon Tweed but only for a wander and short explore.

Our next big adventure was to a National Trust property, Cragside House and Gardens, the first house in the world to be lit using hydroelectric power. Steve's been wanting to visit for years - he went when he was younger and before it was of as much interest to him. I think him and grandad could have spent days exploring inside the house but again a couple of little souls prevented it. The gardens were equally as impressive with a bridge, rockeries, a formal garden and lots of space. I'm afraid much of the technical information related to the house was totally lost on me but it was still interesting and the gardens were lovely.

Thursday we indulged Toby and went to the Ford & Etal Estates where we got to ride on a (miniature) steam train. Amazingly we got to see a barn owl poking it's head out of a tree along with lots of cows, sheep and herons. After lunch at a very picturesque pub (thatched roof and all), we headed back on the train.

Our last trip was to the fishing village of Craster where we parked and walked along the coast to Dunstanburgh Castle. The sun was out and it would have been a beautiful walk except for the wind that nearly lifted Toby off the ground. It made it quite tiring but we all enjoyed it and Toby slept for ages after (I'll have to rent a wind tunnel to tire them out in future!!!).

It was a lovely week and Beth was very upset to be leaving, she did not want to go back to her house at all. Steve probably felt the same with work looming tomorrow but he was very restrained and didn't say so. :)

100th Post!

I can't believe I've posted 100 ramblings on here since starting it in January 2008. I'm quite impressed with myself to work out that's 88 weeks, so over a post a week. Who knew I had so much to say!

Anyway, this one will be a bit of a mish mash of outings and happenings. Last weekend we went to visit grandma and grandpa and made the most of one of the last days of summer. The weather was beautiful so both the sandpit and the paddling pool came out.

Both kids are such water babies had to eventually be physically removed from the pool - blue lips and all. Beth received a fab dress for her dressing up box from G&G, brought back from their holiday in Spain. Here she is posing in it and holding the maracas given to Toby.

Next week we're off on holiday to Northumbria to play on the beaches and look at the castles (fingers crossed for good weather). In preparation Steve bought a roof box for the car in hope we might actually have room for all the necessary equipment! It came in a huge box that was quickly fashioned (by talented daddy) into a (rather un-aerodynamic) car, windscreen, boot and doors included. It's been a enormous hit and is still dominating the living room. I'm sure there'll be great dismay tomorrow morning when it 'disappears' into the recycling.

This morning we took a picnic over to Clumber Park. Apart from a bit of wind it was a perfect day. We had a lovely walk through the woods and by the lake. The leaves are starting to fall so much time was spent waist deep in rotting foliage! It was pretty busy with loads of dog-walkers and cyclists; they obviously don't realise it's our park and we'd like a bit of space please . . .

Had to include this last picture. We planted our sunflower seeds back in May and it has taken until this week for the flowers to come out. They do look pretty good and you can see them over the fence from the street (much to Beth's delight).