Here we go, the last of our holiday. As with any holiday though, far too quickly it came to an end. WIth some good weather forecast, we had a lazy morning then headed to the beach. Not much more to say really, having barely moved the car for a week we had had the most amazing time.
A lot of photos taken reflecting how much fun we had. We will be back!
After a sit down and a bite to eat, it was time to get exploring. James was in his element as there was mud everywhere!!
Read MoreA short interlude in the holiday posts today. James has started to really enjoy his baking, and the eating that goes along with it. With Lyns being at work on Sunday, James and I decided to make some chocolate chip muffins. He is starting to get really good at weighing the ingredients and when it comes to mixing, he loves using the stand mixer. He even managed to crack an egg for the first time.
Now, the thing is, when it comes to cooking, James is the chief taste tester. This time it was checking the chocolate chips were suitable to go in the muffins. He must have had to try a dozen, purely for quality control purposes you understand, before they were allowed to go into the batter.
With the batter made, here came the messy but fun bit. He concentrated so hard to fill the muffin cases, making sure that each one was filled up to the top. As it turned out, we might have over filled them.
Ok, so not the best shaped muffins in the world, but who cares, they tasted amazing. We had made six but only four managed to sit on the side for more than a few minutes, they were super tasty whilst still warm and the chocolate all gooey mmmmm.
Wow, what weather! With lockdown eased and a new tier system looming, we headed to meet some friends at Castle Howard. What started as a nice day, ended up bitterly cold and windy.
We arrived a little early so did as we usually do and went and had a cup of tea. James was on top form, supping away on his hot chocolate like a real little man.
It was not long before our friends arrived and we headed into the Castle Howard estate. The weather started nice, however, over the course of the day, that was too change. However, we headed in, sunglasses on a spring in our step.
We headed into the woods first to try and tire the little men out before lunch and the play park. It was a great idea as we spent a good couple of hours exploring.
The look of disappointment!
Before too long though it was time for lunch. we managed to bag ourselves a table by the lake. By this time, the wind was blowing a gale and it was bitterly cold. We huddle up with a cup of tea and shivered our way through lunch.
Once we had scoffed lunch, we unleashed the little ones on the play park. Despite the kids throwing themselves all over the climbing equipment, the only casualty was Lyns as she brained herself on a beam while trying to take a photo.
Before too long though, it was time to start thinking about head back. We, of course, took the scenic route via the pond and the walled garden. The kids got absolutely drenched as the wind was whipping the fountain water through the air like a hose.
Even though the wind tried to blow us away and we got drenched through, covered in mud and freezing cold, we all had an amazing day, as usual!!
The people sat round the pond ended up being the cheering crowd. It was like what I imagine the Colosseum would have been like. Ok, Ok, maybe not quite, but you get the idea.
Read MoreAnother belated holiday write up, although, as a warning, there will be a few of these.
Day two saw us wake up to mist, mist and more mist. So much so that standing at the bottom of Bamburgh castle you could not see the top of the ramparts, absolutely crazy weather. Apart from the misty damp, it was dry.
Having popped out into the town early to explore and see what was about, I came back home with an arm full of breakfast materials from the local butchers. It was amazing and featured the famous Bamburgh Banger, a very tasty sausage.
Having filled our faces with sausages, bacon, black pudding and the trimmings, we headed out for a walk on the beach. It was such an eerie walk, with people appearing out of, and disappearing into, the mist, as if from nowhere. Lyns’ nose however did not fail as she managed to sniff out a coffee shack in the gloom.
We had a lovely walk along the beech whilst enjoying our drinks, just what the doctor ordered to keep the conditions at bay. Jess and James loved it, running in and out of the sea and generally causing chaos.
We must have walked a good few miles up and down the beach, making the most of the peace and quiet that seemed to settle on you in the mist. You could certainly see the magic of the place. However, it did not last long as James and Lyns spent a good few minutes racing up and down the dunes to use up the last of the little man’s energy before we headed back to the house.
We headed home for dinner and to put the little man to bed. Once he was tucked up and Lyns was snuggled under the blanket in front of the TV, I headed back out for an hour or so as the mist had finally cleared. There was no spectacular sunset but it was nice to be out to enjoy the last of the days light.
A lovely first full day for our holiday, we did not let the weather get us down and absolutely made the most of being at the seaside.
So here we are, another summer and another summer holiday, although what a difference to any other year. Covid is still gripping the country, although no where near as badly has it had done so we booked a last minute trip to Northumberland to get a break away and spend some time on the beach. As it turned out, we only moved the car once and come rain or shine, we went to the beach, much to James’ delight.
Read MoreWe arrived early and sat down and had a coffee. I am so glad we did get their early as, although apparently the site was operating on ‘reduced numbers’, by the end of the day, it was as busy as we had ever seen it.
Read MoreWith the lock down being lifted a little and good weather being forecasted, we decided to head to the coast to let us all run off a little steam. We expected the coast to be busy so we got there for just before 8am and were on our way home by 10. Just as well really as the cars were streaming in by this point and social distancing was, well, non existent.
Read MoreIt is amazing what a difference seven days makes. On two consecutive weekends wee had gone to Fountains Abbey. The circumstances could not have been any different. The first weekend was the same as any other weekend, with a distant background rumbling of this illness coming fast from the other side of the world. Seven days later strict social distancing was in place, a day after that, the country was in lock down, something none of us had seen coming a week earlier.
Read MoreWe jumped off the bus and right in front of us was Sponge Bob Square Pants, much to the little man’s delight. We were in early but already the hoards were massing so we prepared ourselves for what would be a busy day!
Read MoreFor the second time in two weeks, James decided he wanted to go to the railway museum, albeit, this time with mummy as well.
Read MoreThis allowed James to get really close to the cows, eye level in fact, without being in any danger from them. He was a little apprehensive at first, but once he realised he was safe, he was intrigued by being able to get so close to them.
Read MoreOur annual outing to see Santa started early on a damp weekend morning. The year before we had taken a later train and had struggled to find somewhere nice to eat afterwards. This year we were on the 11am train, much to Lorna’s disgust as both her and Paul had been out the night before, and we arrived bright and early with plenty off time to get a hot chocolate and mince pie before. Pretty certain that certain members of our party were just topping up from the night before with the Bailey’s in the chocolate but less said about that the better.
Read MoreSo… how far behind can I get on my blog posts??? As it turns out, a fair way behind. Life has a way of taking over and not giving you a spare moment, and with any spare moments you have, you have to choose wisely what you spend them on. Do something and I guarantee that you will miss out on something else. So, posting has taken a back seat.
Tonight though, James is at a sleep over and Lynsey is fast asleep having had Elvis tire her out. I have been for a run, and now showered and relaxed, am not ready to sleep. Music and catch up on my blog is the order of the hour.
Read MoreThe end of November saw Lyns and I have a long awaiting catch up with our friends Lydia and Nigel. The girls had planned to head to the Christmas Fair at the York Race Course, however, I did not fancy this so we had to make other plans. First things first though, dinner and a few drinks. After the little ones had run off all their energy in the house we put them to bed. Apart from a couple of trips to calm them down, they settled very well. This meant that us adults could get on with dinner and a few glasses of wine.
Read MoreHaving visited Beamish last year for Grandad’s birthday, we still had our annual tickets. Before they ran out, we decided we should try and use them. To this extent, the end of September saw us head up to County Durham for a visit. It was also a last hurrah before I started my new job.
Read MoreWeek two of our holiday saw us heading to a very small Island in the Outer Hebrides, namely the Isle of Eriskay. Situated at the very southern tip of South Uist and only joined to Uist by a causeway in 2001 it is an absolutely stunning Island. The cottage we had booked was right on the beach, by the ferry port to Barra. We had several rush hours during the day, sometimes even seeing a dozen cars in one go! Other than that and one coach trip, we more or less had the place to ourselves.
Read MoreWe were getting the ferry at 9am on the Saturday morning from Skye which meant leaving home around 11pm the night before. Lyns drove the first couple of hours and then I took over and drove through the night. It was an epic drive through the dark of night in the rain, especially once we arrived in Loch Lomond and it became single track roads. Luckily, by the time the sun was coming up we were driving into beautiful weather, such a shame that was one of the few days we got sunshine throughout the holiday. Not that it mattered.
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago Lyns and I finally made our way to Castle Howard. Having lived in York for about fifteen years, it is one place we have never been. We had been told that the adventure playground had been redone so even more reason to visit. We had friends to stay the night before and had a few drinks so it was a leisurely start to the day. We got the Castle Howard about midday and of course first things first, lunch.
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