It feels like we have had a busy week this week although we've been at home a couple of days the rest of the time we have been out and about with friends. It's been a nice week!!

On Saturday (Valentines Day) we went off to my favourite place, Farfield Mill which is an old mill been converted to craft and art studios and workshops with loads of people exhibiting their work. A great place for some inspiration! We had a good look around and had some lunch out.

As it's half term this week this means that the kids friends Dennis and Florence were at home so we went to see them for the afternoon on Monday. We all went in search of a brilliant rope swing Kate knew about, so a short walk and a long play!









On Tuesday, our other friend Chas rang up saying he was going to take the kids to some woods where he and his two boys had been busy building a woodland hut so that Dawn (Chas' wife) and I could 'do' lunch. Fantastic!! I can't remember the last time I went out to lunch with a friend without any kids, we had a really good time chatting and enjoying the peace! The kids had a great time weaving seats in the hut and having a picnic and Chas says we can do it all again next week (brave man!!)

Today we had a day at the beach at Bardsea. Our friend Kate (with Dennis and Florence) gets to use her mum and dads camper van sometimes so we all clambered in and set off. We stopped off at Ulverston for a quick wander around the shops then headed for the beach. The kids disappeared off with their buckets and spades and we enjoyed proper coffee in the warmth and comfort of their little van. I WANT ONE FOR MY BIRTHDAY!! It was lovely! The beach at Bardsea is pebbly with patches of muddy sand and we couldn't actually see the sea but it was really nice to wander around picking up pebbles and Ben enjoyed jumping around on the little grassy hillocks. When it started getting chilly and the girls had enough of freezing their feet in the water we headed onto a big play park in Barrow for the rest of the time, then home. We would love to have a camper van again and the freedom it gives you to be able to enjoy it for days out and holidays.......one day............

Well, it didn't all go according to plan, no-one had booked the snow but it decided to turn up anyway. We woke up to this on the morning we were leaving with weather warnings and roads closed aaaahhgg!









We set off reasonably early to make sure we got there and actually all the roads were clear until we got to the last road up to the site which was decidedly hairy (well snowy and icy actually!) but we made it!! While we drank lovely coffee in the reception area we nervously waited to see if anyone else would make it through. Eventually everyone made it safely and the holiday began in earnest!









The rest is probably best said in pictures, but it was a lovely few days, we didn't actually do much as people were too nervous to attempt to get off the site once there and after a night freeze. The kids spent most of their time playing in the snow, sledging, building igloo, going to each others cabins and playing and generally having a great time. This left the adults to drink coffee, chat and hibernate with the occasional walk through the woods thrown in!









The lodges were gorgeous and it was so much more relaxing than going camping, we could get the kids in and have a bit of family time in the evenings and get them into bed at reasonable hours (most nights anyway!). There are already plans for the next one in Scotland, maybe at the end of the year!

Eilidh had a bit of a cold, sore throat and funny tummy for the first few days which I then got but she seemed to manage to play with her friends still. I just went to bed on the last but one day for a few hours and felt a bit better afterwards.