Christmas Highlights (and a Happy New Year)

I'm leaving it rather late to post about our Christmas break but better late than never!  Thanks to Christy for the title - I nicked it from her blog as it's a good one to cover all the bits and bobs that we did. :)

We had quite a relaxed Christmas as Steve used the remainder of his holiday entitlement to take off the entire time from the Monday before Christmas until after new year.  I'm not sure how relaxing he found it as he spent the first few days finishing decorating the spare room ready for our visitors!


We started celebrations on Christmas Eve with our main Christmas lunch.  Both sets of grandparents were there along with Auntie Jane.  It was a surprisingly unstressful event though I'm not sure whether that was due to the abundance of booze in the vicinity or the lovely company (I'll go with the latter!).

Christmas Day was lovely and I'm pretty sure I can say that the kids loved all their presents though for Toby his favourite was the spy gear of a room alarm for his door and for Beth it was her Lego (seen here being put together with Auntie Jane).

Toby's alarm can just be seen behind his shoulder in this picture.  The outfit was also a present - he has always loved dressing up smartly so although Toby is usually a 'typical man' when he receives clothes (tears open the wrapping to exclaim "urgh, clothes"), he was very happy with these! 



The rest of us got a good stash of pressies, I had a couple of favourites; from Steve a Garmin watch for keeping track of my runs and from mum a beautiful rainbow blanket (knitted by hand, right up to Christmas, without my knowledge) and already bagsied by each family member every time we sit down for a bit of tv!

We had a repeat of last year and walked over to the pub in the next village after opening our presents.  We were the first through the door, but not for long.  A few friends joined us for a celebratory Christmas pint and I think word got out that your first round was on the house as it became bunged!  Despite not being able to move, it was a lovely atmosphere and a very pleasant place to spend a while chatting and generally enjoying the day.


On the evening of Boxing Day it started to snow so the next day we ventured out with the sledge and had some fun!  I think it's probably the first year with snow that Toby has been big enough to enjoy it and be moving enough not to get cold really quickly.

He wasn't quite as adventurous as Beth on the sledge (as you can see from the sitting vs. lying down) but despite the serious face I think he was laughing inside!

Things quietened down after Boxing Day but Auntie Jane stayed for a few more days and we had a mixture of lounging in front of the fire overindulging and trips out.  One of the trips we did was to Climbing Works over in Sheffield.  This is a climbing place dedicated to bouldering (climbing without ropes) and they have a separate building specially designed for children.

Beth has been climbing with Jane before for her birthday but this was Toby's first time and I think I can safely say he enjoyed it (though scarily he is rather competitive).  In the picture you can see Toby on the right, Beth on the left and Jane in the middle.  Steve and I had a go but did nothing that warranted a photo taken!

For New Year's Eve we debated options - the kids are just about getting to the age that they can last out till midnight (though the fallout from lack of sleep the next day is off-putting!).  When one of our friends invited us to celebrate with them we jumped at the chance as they're great company, the kids had friends to play with and it was just round the corner so easy to stumble back to after the gong.

Beth ended up staying over - you can probably tell by the pj's in the photo - much to Toby's annoyance as he's desperate for his first friend sleepover.  Unfortunately most of his friends are rather 'tied to the apron strings' (not so in Toby's case) and not at all ready for this step.  We did have a lovely evening and managed to stretch the celebrations well into the New Year.  The only downside is that the bar is now set for future New Year's Eve celebrations . . .

In the few days after New Year before we all went back to school and work we managed to fit in a couple of other outings.  We manned up to the challenge of ice skating.  Beth has been asking to go for months but the thought of it was a bit much!  However, it wasn't anywhere near as bad as feared and I can report that everyone enjoyed themselves - Beth especially and Toby only after he accepted the fact that he couldn't skate like a pro on his first go!  Beth now would like to have lessons; a good idea if it wasn't a 35 minute drive to the nearest ice rink!

Finally we went on our annual trip to the pantomime in Retford.  This year it was Jack and the Beanstalk.  The kids had a great time and hugely enjoyed it though Steve and I were a little weary as the jokes were identical to last year despite it being a different story.  I think we might try a different theatre next year - don't suppose the jokes will be any better but perhaps slightly different!

Anyway, Happy New Year to you all, I hope you have a wonderful 2015 - I'll leave you with a photo of the kids taken just before Christmas.

Christmas is Coming

We seem to have been quite busy in the lead up to Christmas.  Last Tuesday it was the Christingle service at the church.  Usually I'm not that keen on this service as it's so busy, you can't see anything and can't hear anything so it's an hour sat shivering in a freezing church.


This year we managed to get seats nearer the front and off to one side.  Beth and her friend Georgina were playing a couple of tunes on their flutes and we could see them perfectly.  Although they only started learning at the end of September, they did really well and it sounded beautiful.

Of course they were all given Christingles, they look beautiful when the lights go off but I sometimes wonder about the wisdom of giving 120 young, jumpy children lit candles!!!  Anyway, no ones hair got singed so all was well.  Neither of the kids were in the Christmas play this year but Beth did sing in the choir.  I'm not sure why Toby isn't in the choir as he sings at every chance he gets - I suspect it's because Beth is in it and he doesn't want to be 'connected' to her!


On Saturday we went to Beamish to meet Grandma and Grandad along with Auntie Anne and Uncle Dave.  There was a chilly wind but thankfully no rain.  It's years since we were last at Bemish, I think we took Beth on a trip back when we still lived in CA.  I'd forgotten how lovely and interesting it is.


We had a walk around the pit village, the engine rooms and the town.  There were Christmas stalls and attractions and Toby went on the steam carousel - you can just about make him out in this picture.  You could visit Santa but the queue was so long that we decided to give that a miss. I was quite thankful as I suspect he would have been told some entirely different presents for their wish lists!

In other news, Toby is steadily catching up to Beth with loosing his teeth.  He's just lost his second front top tooth - he was quite amused to listen to the Christmas song pertaining to his situation . . . (All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth!).

Finally, here's a picture of our Christmas tree.  I was quite impressed with myself as I went and chose it, put it up and put on the lights (and it hasn't fallen down yet!).  My little helpers decorated it and did a great job.  I think we're just about ready for the big Ho Ho Ho!  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. x

Bits & Bobs - Autumn 2014

Thought I'd sneak in a quick post before things get festive around here (I know, still over a month away but it comes round quickly!).

Apple Day was way back in October and was a lovely day - I think one of my favourite days of the year.  Think this is probably because it centres round food and drink and is very relaxed.

The kids both entered the art competition again, the topic this year was 'Apples Galore' (last year it was 'Apples Around the World').  Beth's picture is on the right and Toby's on the left.  As with last year Beth won first place in the age 6-8 category, Toby missed out this year after his third place last year but he wasn't bothered.

Halloween fell at the end of half term so there wasn't the usual formal party in the village.  Instead one of our friends was very brave and invited most of Beth's class and some of Toby's to a 'gathering' at her house.  

Thankfully the weather was fantastic (warmest Halloween on record) so the kids all played outside scaring each other and the trick or treaters who popped by.   

After, we headed out for a bit of trick or treating around the village - there were a lot of people about and it was quite a festive atmosphere.  Beth went as a zombie school girl and Toby as a skeleton.  The pumpkin is one that Toby carved with grandma and grandpa.

Earlier in the day we met up with one of my school friends, Sarah, and her kids at Bradgate Park.  We were quite ambitious and did lots of loops around the park stopping off at every fallen tree, rock or hollow tree for a bit of climbing.

We were very lucky that loads of deer seemed to be about and happy to be seen.  They're quite difficult to spot in one of the photos as the Autumn leaves camouflage them rather well!

Amazingly we managed 3.7 miles with very few moans - not bad going for a three-year-old, two six-year-olds and an eight-year-old!

Just two last photos; the first of the kids getting into the Christmas spirit a bit early with lollies from Auntie Anne and Uncle Dave - they're so big it will probably take them till Christmas to finish them!

The second is a get well soon letter Toby wrote at school for the headteacher Mr Bingham.  As an avid motorbike rider we assumed he broke his arm falling off his bike but no, it was while walking his dog. We thought Toby was very kind in his offer. ;)

Half Term in Holme-by-the-Sea

Half term again and the year is flying by; hate to say it but we've already started thinking about Christmas!
The kids and I are just back from four nights in Norfolk, we went over with a couple of other families.  We went last year also, (this post) this time there was three adults and five children - a nice little gang though, as last year, Toby was the only boy.

We were extremely lucky with the weather, it tanked down on the way over but after that there was no rain and although a bit chilly one day, on another day it was 20°C.

On the first full day we decided to walk down to the beach at Holme.  It takes about 30 minutes but is very pleasant since the village is very quiet and then it's through some fields, over a stream and onto the boardwalk above the sand dunes.It was a little windy but the kids didn't seem to notice - what with the cow pats to jump in, the dead (massive) jelly fish to poke and crab parts and shells to collect they were happily occupied!

I think they both enjoyed it far more as they could read all the signs and were a bit more independent choosing what they wanted to see.  They also had a quiz to do as you went round and they loved that.

We also took a picnic down to munch but had it on the hoof as it was just that little too chilly to sit in one place.

On the way home we had to pass the village pub, with the sun shining and the play area shouting to the kids, we thought it would be rude not to pop in for a pint.

In between activities the kids occupied themselves with reading, puzzles, games and playing with Bonnie the dog in the garden.  It was lovely to be somewhere with no internet at all (though we did have a phone signal at times) as the kids couldn't go on computers and actually were not interested in the tv either as there was so much else to do. :)

The Sea Life Santuary in Hunstanton only re-opened last week after storms flooded it in December last year.  I think I've been once before as a teen but the kids had never been - I think the last aquarium-like place they went was back in 2011 when we went to the aquarium over in Northern Ireland (this post).  

Beth's favourite bit was holding a starfish though I think I enjoyed walking through the under-tank bit and seeing Ernie the turtle!  

We also got to see the seals, otters and penguins being fed though it's nothing like Sea World in San Diego - there's not tricks beyond them playing with their food as they would in the wild.

Of all the days we were there, our favourites were Monday and Tuesday as we went to the beach in Old Hunstanton. 

The sun was out and it wasn't too windy (though windy enough to fly a kite). On Tuesday it was warm enough for the kids to break out their cossies and go in the sea!

Toby spent a lot of his time digging tunnels and making ball runs in the dunes. Beth enjoyed playing with Bonnie, building boats in the sand and doing handstand flips off the dunes.I even put my toes in the water and they didn't drop off and got a few minutes peace to read my book - indicators of a great holiday!

France 2014

After two years camping in the Dordogne, we wanted to try a different area of France. Steve fancied somewhere with slightly more dramatic scenery and the kids weren't bothered as long as the campsite had a pool and people to play with. The photo to the right shows the campsite in the foreground and the village of Chamalieres sur Loire in the background.

It took a lot of hunting around, reading reviews and trawling on the Internet to find an area and a campsite that matched what we wanted. Eventually we booked a pitch at the Cosy Camp campsite in Chamalieres sur Loire in the Auvergne region of France (near to Le Puy en Velay).

It was quite a bit bigger than last years site (80ish sites vs. 40ish) but the reviews were good and it still seemed small enough to be friendly. Pictures on both sides show our tent with views each way.

I think we made a pretty good choice. Despite the campsite only opening last year, most things are pretty spot on, the scenery is stunning, the facilities great (food is lovely in the area despite lentils being the specialty ;)) and the owners really friendly and helpful. 

We were a little spoiled this year as we met up with three other families that we'd met last year so the kids had instant friends (as did we) and it made for a very relaxing couple of weeks. 

We had hoped to spend a lot of time in the Loire River which ran alongside the campsite, but due to the weather it was churned up and didn't look too inviting - it was also pretty high and fast moving. 


It didn't matter too much as the pool was lovely Beth managed to perfect her diving whilst Toby sped back and forth with his new flippers (I think he amazed himself at how fast he could go, especially under water!). 

We had a few trips out when we could drag the kids away. I think all of our favourite was the day we hired bikes and rode along an old railway line cycle path. The kids loved going through the tunnels (some over a kilometre in length) and I think the adults liked the scenery and beer at the halfway point!

The town of Le Puy en Velay is quite stunning as it has two 'mounts', one with a statue on top and the other with a monastery on top, both can be seen from quite a long way away.



We did get to the market there but unfortunately didn't get to see an awful lot of it as it started to rain so we went to a museum about the area instead.


On one of our last days we visited the medieval village of Chalencon.  It was very picturesque with some beautiful views over the valley.  The two photos of 'old buildings' are both taken in Chalencon.

As a treat after all our friends had left the campsite, we rented out the campsite's indoor pool for a private swim.  Although it was small, it was very nice to have a pool all to ourselves and as an added bonus the water was lovely and warm!

The photo above and to the right is of the cafe and family room at the campsite.  They had a couple of ponds around the campsite and herbs, vegetables and fruit growing all over the place which you were welcome to pick.  Much of the food in the cafe came from the gardens.

It was a fab holiday but over way to quickly.  I think I'll have to get the maps out soon and start planning for next year . . .