So today saw the second real wet day of the summer. We have been blessed with weeks of sunshine but all good things must come to an end. With Lyns not working, had the weather have been good we would have headed out somewhere, but with things as they were we decided to head into York. Nana and Grandad had offered to take us out for lunch so bonus. We were not due to meet them until around 12:30 so we got up early and headed in to go to the Castle Museum.
We were all up and going early and were at the park and ride for the second bus of the day, that must be record for us. We were halfway into York when Lyns remembered that in our rush, we had forgotten to let James go to the toilet! Disaster!! Luckily our little man has the world's biggest bladder, it did not stop me dreading him coming out with the infamous words, "Mummy, Daddy, need the toilet". As we were getting off the bus near the Yorkshire Museum and being York Museum Trust members, therefore free entry, we headed there first, under the pretext of seeing the dinosaurs.
We got there a couple of minutes before opening time, not that it mattered as it meant we were some of the first into the museum. After getting our tickets we headed straight to the toilets. Twenty minutes, yes you did read that correctly, later we headed out of there. Bless him, the little man had struggled a little. The comedy bit being that as it was so hot in the disabled toilet, we had left the door open. This meant that anyone walking up and down the corridor outside would have heard floating over the air,"I'm pushing daddy" or, "I'm squeezing really hard". I dread to think what people thought! Anyway after he was all done we headed back up tot he museum itself.
As we were on a tight schedule as the main aim of the day was to go to the Castle Museum, we just had a look round the dinosaur part of our unscheduled stop.
Fossil hunting
More exciting things to find
After we had explored the dinosaurs, which I am still a little disappointed with the display, we headed into the lashing rain and off to the Castle Museum. Again though, this was to be a flying visit. We just wanted to go to the Victorian street then it was off to lunch. Where had the morning gone? However, there was time for a coffee / hot chocolate and a piece of cake before we got into the serious business of exploring.
Walking through the exhibitions to get to the street, we took the opportunity to get James to stand behind the chimney sweep cut out. I would love to say he believed us when we told him he would be going up chimneys to clean them if he was not a good boy, however, in one ear and out the other, there is no sweeping needed there. Worth a try though.
What did these people do??
Lyns after telling James there were rats!
Do the prison cells offer a day care facility?
After we had had a quick wander round it was time to meet Nana and Grandad for lunch. They had booked a table at a favourite of theirs, La Vecchia Scuola. If you have not been, the restaurant is in the building on Petergate that was once a girl's school, such a lovely building. To make it even better, they have a lovely conservatory that you can sit in to eat. Absolutely stunning, even on a wet, miserable day like today. For once we arrived bang on time but as always, this face greeted us as we walked in...
The face of a man who knows that we will never arrive before him.
The food here is really tasty, we all ate off the set menu, £15.95 for a three course dinner. I had the steak and chips and it was cooked to perfection. All the food was stunning, definitely worth a visit. Lyns and I are now trying to work out how we can go back for an evening meal, just the two of us. James was seriously tired today and it showed as he was a stroppy little monster over lunch. He had no less than three time outs during the hour and a half or so we were there! However, by the time ice cream came around, he had cheered himself up.
Just making the ice cream melt mummy
Its milkshake now
Mmmmm
Trying not to laugh at the ice cream moustache
Wow, where has it all gone???
Come here mummy, give me a kiss!
After we had finished lunch, it was time for a walk round York. Lyns was looking for a present for here little sister's 21st birthday. We went in a few shops and Lyns has come away with a host of ideas. James by this point was more or less asleep on his feet. Luckily Grandad was on hand...
Suddenly not so tired once Grandad had picked him up
We headed back to the bus stop and home. The little man fell asleep in the car on the way back from the bus, yes we drove to the bus stop but in our defence the weather was horrendous, and had a good hours nap when we got home. The rest of us made the most of this and had a cup of coffee and a chat. All in all, a lovely day out!
One very tired little boy, ready to go home but enjoying being fussed over