The 590 miles round trip.... part one.

There are, of course, advantages and drawbacks to things, usually, but not always, in equal measure.  For instance.  This half-term week-end my husband was competing in 'The Original Mountain Marathon' - a 24 hours yomp in the Brecon Beacons in Wales.  He claims he's not having a mid-life crisis, but I'm not too sure myself.

Anyway, I decided to get away with the children.  The opportunity was there to have a couple of days in the caravan at Carnforth, then drop in on my parents, 'Grandma and Grandad' in Blackburn, stay a night with my sister in Southport, and then pop down to Bristol so that Tom could have a sleep-over with his friend Isaac....

Sounds good when you say it like that.  Not so good to be the sole driver of fractious children holed up in a small (economical) car for 200+ miles in one go.  Actually, we stopped at 100 miles (M6 Toll Services), as I'm a sensible driver, and we needed the 'facilities'.  I don't do much distance driving, and consequently I'm always amazed at the sheer volume of traffic on the motorways, and less impressed at the poor quality of the driving on display there.

Nerves suitably jangled from the stresses of being sole driver/parent for the few days we arrived at the caravan 5.30pm in time to make supper and set everything up.

Actually it wasn't that bad at all. We were blessed with lovely weather, and my teenage daughter's reluctance to rise early meant I had opportunity to experiment with my camera's settings.  I've been meaning to remember to do this for a while now, and I'm quite pleased with the results.  Much clearer sharper close-ups...

Ferns in October sunlight

Close-up fallen oak-leaf

Local sheep

Experimenting with movement in the stream

Looking towards Morecambe from the bay/beach

When the weather is kind this part of the south Lake District can be very lovely.  We spent part of the morning in Carnforth at the Railway Heritage Centre - which is where they filmed 'Brief Encounter'.  A nostalgia trip for the steam fans and film fans alike, this attraction had plenty for young and old alike.  

After lunch we went to Morecambe and the children burned off some energy at the Happy Mount Park Adventure Ground - larger sturdy wooden based climbing frames, zip wire, tyre swings etc - free to all, and obviously well used.  If it gets kids outside and active, then I'm all for it.

As the tide was ebbing we went onto the pebbly beach for a bit of stone skimming and for me a rare opportunity to watch the birds.  Sadly, I've never enough time to indulge properly in this, but I applied my camera's zoom to try and capture the action...

Oyster catchers on Morecambe Bay

Fish and chips on the way home, as tradition dictates, and we slept well until the rain woke me at 4.45am.  We tidied and left by mid-day to go and visit my parents.  And I'll write more about that next time...

Night night y'all,  Kat  :)

Driving a bus

Well, not actually a bus, but that's what it feels like.

So we finally got my little Skoda Roomster car's rear bumper fixed (see post:  Friday the 13th).

not my car, but my (basic) model, and colour :)

The insurance people said they'd give me a 'like for like' to keep me mobile during the period my car was in the body repair garage.  OK I thought.

The actual logistics were a little time-consuming, but hey-ho. So on Friday at around 10.30am, my car was collected from my driveway by the repairing garage man, and he drove it away, up to Bicester... which is the insurer's approved agent for this area.  Not as local as I'd have liked, but then it was out of my hands.

At 11.30am, the car hire people arrived at my house to collect me and take me to their distribution hub on the Botley Road in Oxford.  Arrived, went through the paperwork, gave a £1 deposit on my debit card, even though the car hire is being paid for by the insurers.

I was then presented with my 'like for like' vehicle - a Hyundai i800.  err.... Excuse me???

Like-for-like???  In what way is this like-for-like?  Well, it appeared it was this... or an executive saloon, which had no option for fitting the dog... so I've been pootling round in this monster vehicle since Friday.  I felt like the Wantage mafia, what with its tinted windows!

The children, however, loved it. They were in the back row (it's got a back row!) like a shot, and I properly felt like a chauffeur.  Great.  It drinks diesel like the CRV we had used to drink petrol, so that's a lesson, still, as least I'd something to drive.

Things got worse on Sunday, however, when we'd arranged to go dog-walking with friends.  It was raining. Heavily. No problem, we're English, a bit of rain doesn't put us off.  Raincoats, wellies, and everything in the back, and PLENTY of space.

I didn't even feel guilty about putting the dog in the back because I'd got an old duvet which I'd put aside as dog bedding, so that came into good use to line the ample bootspace, and protect the interior.

Just as well I did.  The faffing around which it took to get everyone togged up was too much for Roly to bear, the excitement was all too much, the idea we'd forgotten him had him whining, and by the time we let him out... he'd pee'd in the car.  Luckily the duvet took the brunt and soaked it up well and good.

So, today, Monday they've delivered my car back to my driveway this afternoon while I was at work. They were going to post the keys through the letterbox, but luckily Phoebe's at home on half-term, so no problem, and I've to return the hire vehicle tomorrow.

After that it's Tom's school Halloween disco, and then we're off on a mini-break 'up North', 2 nights in the caravan in Carnforth again, and then a night with my parents, and a night with my sister in Southport, and possibly a night with Isaac's family in Bristol, and then Tom's staying in Bristol for a sleepover, and I'm back to work on Monday.

I'll need a holiday to recover after all that.

Be seeing you!  Kat  :)

Did you miss me?

Ah me. The (dis)advantage/joy of having children in private education is the extended holidays they enjoy. There must be some discrepancy there in paying for our children to go to school for less time than the state sector... No, actually, they're taught a longer day, so in the end I'm sure it all adds up, but it does make things difficult when it comes to childcare.

So our two have already had a week off school - most of the (state) schools round here finished yesterday (Maundy Thursday).  I'd hung onto my leave, and have managed to only spend around £100 on childcare for  Tom this Easter. So to make the most of the opportunity we went to the caravan in Carnforth.

Of course.  My parents' static caravan is now the 'family' caravan, administered/organised by my sister and brother, and we took advantage of the early week to go and explore the South Lake District.  When I say we, I mean the children and myself.  Simon's financial year end meant he couldn't take the time off yet - Easter is early this year, hence we left him behind and went by ourselves.

I drive when I have to.  I take care and do my best, but I do find travelling stressful, especially packing the car, dog, children, food, sleeping bags, toys, luggage, and the rest.  Luckily my Mum said they'd have the dog, so we had a 3 night stay without Roly.  Quality time for me and Phoebe and Tom.

Quality time?  You're having a joke. I am aware of the 'idea' of quality time.  I understand the concept. The question I have is whose quality time are we talking about?  I'm pulling your leg.  I'm tired, and entertaining my children has worn me out.  (I write this from my sick bed. no joke.)  Quality time as a concept is for parents who work so much they never spend any time with their children and buy them too many toys/gadgets/whatever to compensate.

I could go on, but that would be complaining.  In a nutshell, we went away, we did too much, I got sick.

Carnforth is a good base for exploring the Lake District. Monday we went to the National Trust property 'Sizergh Hall' and learned a lot about the Strickland Family history, 700 years of the Hall, and lots about Tudor panelling.  Actually we played it quite well. Got there in time for 12.20pm tour, so Hall opened to the public at 1pm as our tour was ending.  Had sandwiches in the car, went back to the Hall to finish the quizzes for the children, then went to teashop for cake.

Lovely gardens (as you'd expect with NT), hens, bees, walks, but all too cold to spend a longer time there.

After the cake, we popped into Kendal itself to do a bit of window/charity shopping.  Again, too cold to stay  too long, so home to the caravan by 5ish.  Got into habit of playing boggle after supper.  Tom now age where he can really play himself, and a good time was had by all... :)

Tuesday we decided to go to Hilltop - the National Trust property which was Beatrix Potter's home in the Lake District. It's located near Sawrey, on the West side of Lake Windermere.  Left the caravan at 9.45am. Got the car ferry at Bowness at 10.30am (no waiting!). Got timed entrance to Hilltop at 11am.

Hilltop is presented as Beatrix Potter left it.  She didn't believe/trust in electricity, so although it was installed after her death, they've kept the lighting dim, so very atmospheric. She loved collecting items from farm sales, so there are quirky items, like the doorknocker on the internal door, and the Chinese chest.  There are also large oil paintings which she inherited from her childhood home in London, and which seemed a little incongrueous to my mind.  There was a guide available in each room, but you wandered round as you liked.
This didn't take much time, and we were done by 11.45am.

Outside Hilltop - Beatrix Potter's home

Mr McGregor's Garden (from Peter Rabbit) in the snow...

My energy levels were starting to flag, so we stopped for lunch at Low Sizergh Barn - Farm Shop and Tea Rooms. Very good. Would go again and recommend you to try if you're in the area.

After lunch we thought we'd try Morecambe.  However, the cold wind and early 'season' meant not much to do.  That didn't stop the children from burning off some energy on the promenade and the beach and pier.

the weather's lovely!  

Back to the caravan by 5pm again and then spent Wednesday at Grandma and Grandad's before returning to Wantage on Thursday.  Went downhill with heavy cold, cough, headache, earache, and generally feeling unwell. Difficult to manage children, so put myself to bed on arrival, and haven't felt like getting up since.

Hope to be in better spirits next time I write.

time for a nap.  Kat.