Summer's almost over - it's actually rather nice today despite a rather heavy fog this morning but I suspect that won't last too long. It's already dark by 7pm and I've had to dig out my reflective vest for the early morning runs.
We've managed to stuff quite a lot in since coming back from holiday, a few trips to National Trust properties and a couple of 'events'.
We picked a fantastic day to go and explore the new playground at Belton House in Grantham (top left photo). The kids are just old enough that we can actually go inside some of these properties without fear that we'll be ejected for our rambunctious behaviour!! I wasn't really sure if they would enjoy it - lots of rooms with four-poster beds, bizarre pictures and big staircases, but they loved it. Beth particularly liked the 16-foot tall bed and I suspect was a little disappointed when I pointed out that the ceiling in her bedroom would not withstand such an item of furniture.
Toby enjoyed it too but I think he prefers to be outside. A day or two later we had equally good weather for our trip to Clumber Park near Worksop (top right photo). We go there quite often especially Beth and I as we like the Saturday morning Parkrun event. My favourite part is the walled garden as there are so many ideas you can nick for your own garden and lots of fruits and veg to inspire you get growing.
Steve took a day off work and we met up with grandma and grandpa in the Peak District. We met at Longshaw Estate and walked from the car park, through the estate to a pub and back a different way. The views were amazing and we managed most of the day dodging the rain. The second photos on each side are from Longshaw.
A week or so after getting back from France, Beth and I flew over to Belfast to visit Great Grandma Ruth. Toby absolutely loved visiting earlier in the year and Beth didn't want to miss out on her trip!
We were very lucky with the weather and Beth managed to get a paddle in the sea and did pretty well with skimming stones. We spent time in GG's garden and I even got to have a run along the shore one morning.
It was a pretty relaxing couple of days though I don't think I'll try taking both the kids together (and in November I'm sneaking over by myself for a night or two).
August Bank Holiday was nice weather so we walked to the next village to the annual 'Working Weekend'. There were a lot of tractors, shire horses, ploughing matches and various competitions of a farming nature.
We wandered round looking at the different machinery and the kids got to mess around on some of the tractors. I thought Beth looked quite at home in the driving seat. I'm rather hopeful that the kids will keep friends with the many kids that live on farms so they can 'help' with grass cutting and other tasks!
On the final day of the holidays we took a trip to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park with some friends. Poor Toby was again the only boy though contrary to the photo, he did have a good time!
The animals all seemed to be on their best behaviour and were awake and visible. My favourite were the giraffes. I think the kids rather liked the polar bears and the lemurs. Again we were lucky with the weather and it was beautiful until we were walking out the exit and it lashed it down.
To round the summer off, last weekend, we took Toby to his first concert. Since Beth went to her first in June, Toby has been desperate to go to one. His request was for either ACDC or Madness. Thankfully, they were both touring this year and when he hadn't forgotten by the middle of September, we managed to get tickets for Madness at Durham County Cricket Club.
I'm very glad it was outdoors - I suspect they'd be totally put off with a sticky, smelly indoor venue.
It was a fantastic atmosphere with a eclectic mix of people - all ages and looks but more pairs of Dr Martins than I've ever seen in one place along with every type of hat and braces (suspenders)! There were certainly some interesting sights and the kids rather enjoyed people watching.
The actual concert was great as they played all the classics and the kids could sing along to much of it. I think we'll be looking to see what summer concerts are on next year as it was a lovely family night out.
Just a few odds and ends to finish off . . .
My new job is going well though is rather hectic. It's an interesting building with a lot to look at just walking into my office. Hopefully, in time, I'll have a bit of a clue about the history and workings of all the clocks and regulators but at the moment they're just pretty to look at!
Our sunflowers have continued to grow and are now rather tall (tallest one just measured at 9'2")! A couple that were ahead of the rest are now almost ready to be stripped and the seeds roasted, yum!
And last of all, a picture of curly Beth after coming back from the hairdressers.
No Surprise this year in that we decided to go camping in France again. The last couple of years we have camped in progressively larger sites and last year there were over 60 pitches and around 20 camping/cottage-type things to rent. It felt a bit too big and as the kids like the freedom to roam we searched for a smaller one this year.
We found it in the form of Aux Memes located inland about an hour from Toulouse in one direction and an hour from the Pyrenees in the other.
To get across we booked the tunnel and set off super early (3:00am) on Saturday 25th July to catch our train. Despite the journey only taking 3.5 hours, we still missed our 8:06am train as the police had stopped all traffic into the port due to 'migrants' trying to storm the tunnel in Calais along with them finding a body on top of a train arriving into Folkestone. Not the best start but we were quite lucky and managed to arrive in Calais with only just over an hours delay.
The rest of the day wasn't much better as we managed to choose the slowest lane at every toll and got stuck behind every Sunday driver on the road! Thankfully when we arrived at our hotel near Poitier 14 hours after leaving home, the pool was open, the sun shining and the room
perfect for a one-night stop.
Sunday was polar opposite as the traffic behaved and we made it to the campsite by about 2:00pm. Handily, the two families of holiday friends we were meeting up with had arrived the previous day and whisked the kids straight off to the pool so we could unpack and pitch the tent. The pool was lovely when we were done and a welcome barbecue finished the day off nicely.
We stayed at the campsite for 13 nights and I can't believe how quickly they flew by. Despite being small there was plenty to do at the campsite and nearby. We went in the pool at least once a day and the kids made a gang of friends to explore with. The photo shows Toby with his friends Alex and Dylan.
On days when it wasn't too hazy, we could see the mountains from our pitch and we spent a couple of days exploring them. On the first visit, Steve rode up Col d'Aspin - one of the Tour de France climbs (Steve rode it from Arreau). The views were pretty amazing at the top and it was an impressive achievement for Steve as he did the 12km climb (and it was ALL uphill) in just over an hour (the photo with the falling down fence is taken from the top).
On the second trip he had hoped to ride another climb - Col du Tourmalet but it was over 30° at the start of the climb so it was a little too hot to contemplate. Instead we drove up much of the climb and stopped at one of the ski villages (La Mongie) and rode the Pic du Midi cable car that took us to one of the highest points in the mountains. I can safely say the views couldn't be beaten. Toby was very taken by the cable car and the girls (Beth's friend Alannah, from home, had popped to the campsite for a few days to visit on their travels) were pretty taken with it all despite the altitude making them sleepy!! We had hoped to eat in the restaurant or cafe at the top but we left it a bit late and they had run out of child-friendly options. Instead we snacked while looking at the views and took the opportunity to take lots of photos.
On the way down the mountain we stopped at a lake and the kids couldn't wait long enough to get their cossies on so jumped straight in in their clothes! The pictures make it look quite dark and cloudy by the lake but it was 32° and very pleasant watching them (though we hung on till we got back to the campsite to take a dip).
Although we spent a lot of time around the campsite, we did have quite a few days out. The first was to the town of Auch (pronounced Osh) on market day. We were pleasantly surprised that the market wasn't all tat and there were lots of good stalls with breads, pastries, fruit, veg, honey and even beer. After mooching round for a bit, we decided to try and make ourselves a little more cultured with a trip to the cathedral. It didn't look much from the front but inside it was pretty impressive and might have taken an hour or two to explore if not for the slightly less willing members of our party! They were more interested in a trip to the local hypermarche to see what toys were available with their holiday money.
On one of the days when the weather was 'changeable' one of the dads took on the task of setting and leading a bike route for us. We went from the campsite and looped around the area, past fields of sunflowers and hay bails. Unfortunately the weather didn't hold out and we got rather wet and muddy (thanks to a slight detour) though thankfully it wasn't cold. No one seemed to mind too much especially as we found ourselves at the end of the 10-mile ride in the local village bar with beer, hot chocolate and ice creams!
Apart from the little trips out to get food and look at local markets, the only other day out was to a local water park. The title is probably a bit grand for what it was but it suited us. There was a pool with a few slides, a lazy river and a waterfall along with a cafe, play
area and massive sandpits where you could play football or volleyball. Toby has never been a great one for going swimming and generally prefers to stay on the edge and join in from there. However, he had no hesitation in 'diving' straight in and spent a couple of hours up and down the slides.
With all the problems at Calais, we were quite relieved not to be going back the same way. Instead, we left the campsite on Saturday 8th August and drove down through the Pyrenees into Spain and caught the ferry from Santander to Portsmouth. Santander has some lovely parts and the port is right in the centre so we had time to explore a little before sailing.
The ferry takes a total of about 25 hours and we weren't sure if it would ruin the holiday or make it more relaxed. It was actually quite enjoyable. We boarded around 8:00pm and dropped our bags off in the cabin before heading for some food. We weren't overly enthusiastic about the thought of ferry fodder but were surprised with one of the nicest meals we've had out in a long time. We all slept pretty well though got confused with the time difference as the ship works on British time from the moment it leaves Spain so we were an hour early for everything!
We were lucky to get cinema tickets to see Minions in the morning so spent an enjoyable hour or so relaxing watching that. After lunch the kids had their faces painted and balloon shapes made for them (though they lost interest when the disco started). There was a small outdoor swimming pool onboard that was pretty well used but the kids didn't push us to go in and we didn't mention it either - I was too keen on how the waves smashed against the sides when the ferry was rolling! It was all well setup and not too laborious though I'm not sure if we'll do it again.
Now we're home again it's time to start hunting for a location for next year; any ideas?!?
This really is going to be bits and bobs as I've been meaning to post for ages so things have just queued up ready to go on!
I'll start with the recent as I can remember that slightly better . . .
Last night Beth, along with her friend Alannah, went to their first concert. It was outside at Sherwood Pines and there were four bands on through the evening.
It was a perfect introduction for them as there was plenty of room for cartwheels and we could take a picnic and drinks to help pass the evening in relaxed civilisation! She was very happy as we also bumped into another friend while there.
The bands playing were Hometown, Union J, The Tide and The Vamps. I'm afraid I was not knowledgeable about any of the bands beforehand (and not much better after) but they were all fairly inoffensive boy bands and I suspect many of the parents there could be forgiven for thinking they had watched the same group all night as the dress code and sound was pretty generic!
The atmosphere was great and very family-friendly and easy going so I think Beth might get a shock when she goes to another gig inside (with sticky floors and no chance of doing cartwheels!).
I'm not sure if she's ventured into the world of selfies before but I think these can be classed as some of her early attempts. :)
On Friday it was school sports day and for once the weather was fine. Usually each child gets to do three races and it's very long winded and rather hard work for everyone. This year I think they decided that it was just as easy to let every child do every race - generally there's only a maximum of about 10 girls and 10 boys in each year as the school has only just over 100 students.
Toby had a rather uneventful afternoon as he seemed to potter through all his races and I don't think he even took his jacket off. He was happy enough to chat with friends and to get a well done sticker for his effort. Beth was rather more interested and managed a first, two seconds and a third. She was most annoyed for tripping during the 100m and I think a bit embarrassed as she spent about 20m trying not to fall over with all the spectators willing her to regain her balance - quite amusing to listen to!
Sticking with sport, on June 7 Beth ran her first race for her club, Retford Athletics. It was at a school/leisure centre about half an hour away in Bingham. She had to choose three events to do along with the relay. She did the 80m, the 600m and the howler javelin.
I think she surprised herself as she wasn't looking forward to the 600m as she says she doesn't like longer races. However, she came 6th out of 19 in that and 13th out of 43 in the 80m. I have no idea how she did in the javelin or relay but she enjoyed the experience and can't wait for the next one on July 12. In the photo, Beth is fourth, just at the back of the front group.
The other photo is of Beth with her coach, Helen, who she has trained with since starting. Unfortunately when Beth turned nine she had to move to the next group. She still gets to see her and is happy with her next group as she has made some new friends but I don't think she gets quite the attention with her new coach!
Going back a bit now to April when we had the honour of being invited to the 95th birthday party for Great Gran Ess. It was at Wynyard Hall near to Steve's parents. It was a suitably grand location for the event and all the great grand kids had a great time running around the grounds (probably a little too close to the lake for our liking!).
The day was lovely as we got to catch up with lots of the family and had a very delicious meal while doing so.
To finish off, here's a picture of Toby being Mary Poppins!!!
It's a bit scary to think that Beth will be into double figures next year - where did that go?! However, for the time being we are celebrating her turning nine, Happy Birthday Beth!
After Toby's big party I thought she may canvas for a big shindig too but thankfully she just wanted to do something with her bff Alannah. She decided that Alton Towers was what she wanted and that seemed like a perfect plan until we looked at the price . . . £200 ($310) for the five of us for a single day. It seemed a little excessive, especially since when we went to Disneyland Paris last Christmas, neither of them like the roller coasters. We could easily spend the day with them refusing to go on anything!
Steve suggested that we try and persuade her that Lightwater Valley would be just as much fun. I'm happy to say that she was fine with that, especially as it is closer to home.
Alannah came for a sleepover the night before and was part of the present opening in the morning. I think Beth's favourite present was a princess dressing up costume (and there I was thinking we had got past that stage!) but she was pretty happy with everything.
After getting everything open, chocolates eaten and costumes tried on, we headed out.
We were very lucky that the weather was good on her birthday and the theme park was pretty quiet (though not quiet enough for the kids who thought it was shocking to have to wait longer than a couple of minutes to get on a ride).
The first thing we went on was the Skyrider (flying chairs), Toby and Steve didn't partake but I went on. I have to say that I think I've lost my love of roller coasters and all related rides since having kids. My mind has turned a little analytical - "if the chain attached to my chair broke now, where would I land . . . ", the kids had no such thoughts and went on the Skyrider at least another three times during the day.
It was a really good day - a nice mixture of rides, wildlife (falconry centre) and just playing around. I think next time we'll take our own picnic as the food was a little dire and cost rather a lot but other than that a fab time was had.
When we got home, we still had Beth's cake. She chose her own this year - a pinata cake and one of the Brownie leaders with a birthday the same day as Beth gave her a special flower candle for on the top. It was a mixture of tacky and fabulous at the same time and probably matched the cake pretty well!
Summer's almost over - it's actually rather nice today despite a rather heavy fog this morning but I suspect that won't last too long. It's already dark by 7pm and I've had to dig out my reflective vest for the early morning runs.
A week or so after getting back from France, Beth and I flew over to Belfast to visit Great Grandma Ruth. Toby absolutely loved visiting earlier in the year and Beth didn't want to miss out on her trip!
We were very lucky with the weather and Beth managed to get a paddle in the sea and did pretty well with skimming stones. We spent time in GG's garden and I even got to have a run along the shore one morning.
August Bank Holiday was nice weather so we walked to the next village to the annual 'Working Weekend'. There were a lot of tractors, shire horses, ploughing matches and various competitions of a farming nature.
We wandered round looking at the different machinery and the kids got to mess around on some of the tractors. I thought Beth looked quite at home in the driving seat. I'm rather hopeful that the kids will keep friends with the many kids that live on farms so they can 'help' with grass cutting and other tasks!
On the final day of the holidays we took a trip to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park with some friends. Poor Toby was again the only boy though contrary to the photo, he did have a good time!
The animals all seemed to be on their best behaviour and were awake and visible. My favourite were the giraffes. I think the kids rather liked the polar bears and the lemurs. Again we were lucky with the weather and it was beautiful until we were walking out the exit and it lashed it down.
To round the summer off, last weekend, we took Toby to his first concert. Since Beth went to her first in June, Toby has been desperate to go to one. His request was for either ACDC or Madness. Thankfully, they were both touring this year and when he hadn't forgotten by the middle of September, we managed to get tickets for Madness at Durham County Cricket Club.
It was a fantastic atmosphere with a eclectic mix of people - all ages and looks but more pairs of Dr Martins than I've ever seen in one place along with every type of hat and braces (suspenders)! There were certainly some interesting sights and the kids rather enjoyed people watching.
My new job is going well though is rather hectic. It's an interesting building with a lot to look at just walking into my office. Hopefully, in time, I'll have a bit of a clue about the history and workings of all the clocks and regulators but at the moment they're just pretty to look at!
