Family
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 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 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 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 MoreBy the Saturday, the glorious weather from the week before had blown away and we were met with a wall of fog blowing in from the sea. I started the day with a ten mile run, running along the cliff top path to the next bay, Runswick Bay. It was a bitterly cold run but worth while as it was very scenic. Once I had got back and showered we headed off to Whitby.
Read MoreAfter countless times being asked how many sleeps until his birthday, James has turned four. To celebrate, we had a small gathering and a few friends over on the weekend. Our friends Lydia and Nige had come over on the Saturday eve so it was lovely for James to have someone to open his presents with.
The boys were in good form all morning and all the parents even managed to fit a run in before we headed out for a walk in the woods, which is what James had decided he would like to do.
James loving the book that turned into a fire engine!
After we had all showered after our runs and had some breakfast we headed out to Moorlands. We go here a lot as James really loves it. Here we met up with some more of James’ friends and they ran around and had a wail of a time.
We headed to the area with the tree house in it as it has a bit more of an open area for the kids to run around in and let off some steam. At one point, Gav decided that he could take on the children in a stick fight. Lord of the Flies ensued and Gav was left pummelled and bleeding on the floor, ok slight exaggeration, however he was not far off it.
This little man loved the tree house!
Unimpressed faces
After letting off steam we headed back to have some lunch and cake. James had chosen an Iron Man cake as he is his favourite super hero.
The little man had a fantastic day and was truest spoilt rotten. Thank you everyone for coming and also thank you for all those who got him a present, he was truly overwhelmed.
So the first couple of days of our holiday saw us visit Rosemarkie Beach on the Black Isle. We went by ourselves on the first day to explore and let both James and Jess run off all the energy they had built up after spending cooped up in the car the previous day.
What’s this Daddy?
We headed to the beach mid morning, looking to have lots of fun. Both James and Jess were full of excitement. Lyns had spent a large part of her childhood living on the Black Isle so it was really interesting having her point out where she had lived and hearing some of the stories about the mischief she had got up to and seeing where it had happened.
Although it had been raining earlier in the morning, when we arrived it had cleared up nicely so we were able to enjoy the beach without our waterproofs which was nice, even if James did manage to fill his wellies with water.
Really?? More photos?? Whatever poser!
James was in his element, finding shells everywhere. We came back with two whole bags full which took forever to wash, but that is no problem because his face was a picture every time he found a new type of shell. Also, it let me explain to him, albeit with my limited knowledge, about all the different types of shell and what lives in them and yes James, Grandad does eat the ones in mussel shells!!
We even found a dead crab which James thought was amazing. Especially as we could see how its claws worked. The last time I was this close to a crab we were crabbing in Northumberland and I picked it up ‘the right way so it could not get me with its claws’ and next thing I knew, I was yelping as it had grabbed me, much to James’ and Lyns’ amusement.
Yes James, Grandad eats those
No chance of getting nipped by this one
Whilst James was busy running around and collecting shells, Jess was running wild on the beach. Off the lead, she was into every rockpool, into the sea and digging huge holes. I think she enjoyed it more than James!
After we had had a good run on the beach, it was time for lunch. We headed to the Rosemarkie Beach Cafe for lunch. James and I had a very nice sausage sandwich, each made with sausages from the local butchers. They were pork, sweet chilli and Ironbru! Amazingly tasty, much to Lyns’ envy as she was tucking into a cheese and tomato sandwich. They were so nice in fact, that we hunted out the butcher’s they came from and bought some to have later in the week. After lunch and couple of quick selfies we headed back into Inverness where we were meeting Lyns’ family for some bowling.
Say cheese
All too much for someone!
It was James’ first experience of ten pin bowling and he loved it, although he did get bored about half way in, but nonetheless, it was lots of fun. I was too busy playing to take many pictures of the actual bowling.
The next day saw us head back to Rosemarkie beach to meet James’ cousins Lachlan and Madison. This was another opportunity for James to collect bags upon bags of shells! We will have to do a cull at some point.
Look, another shell
This is a good one
Lachlan turned out to be a little daredevil. He was climbing over all the rocks and nothing daunted him. Every time he fell over, he was back up again and scrambling over the next set of rocks.
Which rocks next?
Look at me
James showed Madison what to look for in the rock pools as she had never been rock pooling before. Unfortunately, we did not find any crabs but we did manage to see lots of shells and a couple of fishes to, much to her and James’ excitement.
Piggy back for her tired little brother
I’m the queen of the castle
It had been a lovely two days at the beach and, in the main, the rain had held off allowing us to have lots and lots of fun, although, it would not be a British beach holiday without a little rain. It is shaping up to be a lovely holiday.
Today saw us head away for our summer holiday. The last one we will be able to take in September for the foreseeable future as James starts school next year. We are heading up to Scotland to spend some time with Lyns’ family.
Due to the A66 being closed, we went via Edinburgh. I have not seen Lynsey so animated as the moment that she realised that we were going over the new Forth Road Bridge, that is until we drove onto the bridge!! After a good run, we made it to The House of Bruar where they do the best sausage sandwiches, or at least they used to. They were nice but no where near as good as they used to be and were very expensive. No rush to get there in the future.
Lyns enjoying her sausage sandwich
James with his short bread
Another hour and a half saw us in Inverness. After a quick trip to see grandad it was off to our holiday cottage. When we arrived we were slightly shocked as it was not what we were expecting. It will do a turn but I think we are both very much looking forward to the next cottage which is a five star luxury one.
After unloading the car, we headed out for a walk. One lovely thing about this cottage is that it right on the Moray Firth a little outside North Kessock. We walked a few hundred meters down the coast and back. James loved it, seeing what he could find on the shore line.
Just a wee paddle
Look what I found
Its going to eat you daddy
After our walk we were all ready for a little chill out time before dinner. This was a chance for James to catch up on his shows.
Such a cool dude!
After a little chill out time it was dinner bath and bed as the little man was exhausted. It had been a long day, up at 4 am and almost twelve hours of travelling, albeit with a few breaks thrown in. However, we are all settled and looking forward to what our holiday will bring.
