On Thursday we went off to Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway to drop in a form for a new Residents card and so we could take a ride on the trains. Unfortunately they were'nt really open although we could have a look at the engine sheds, so we stopped for a picnicthere and then headed onto Fellfoot park. The kids spent a while paddling and playing in the bushes before we headed for the play park.
Friday was Science group, looking at Micro-Organisms. The kids all did a great job getting into groups and then doing presentations of what they had learnt about their chosen bit of the subject. There were much more interesting presentations than I ever remember from school (and more dramatic!)

Today we went off to Brockhole with our friends Kate, Dennis and Florence for a long play in the park and then onto a Jumble Sale at Troutbeck Village. It was great, I managed to pick up a couple of wool jumpers to felt and make things with and a pile of fabric for next to nothing as well as some tops! The kids each had some pennies to go and spend at their leisure and they managed to come out with lots of bits and pieces for next to nothing (I think they smiled sweetly at the man running the stall and he ended up giving them half the bits!!)

We have had four days of lovely sunshine and everyone seems to feel so much better for it. I really hope this year we will have much, much more of it!!

After deciding that today was going to be miserable because it was cloudy this morning we decided not to go for a walk and went off to the 'Best of Lakeland' show in Bowness. This was open to the public today and all the local businesses which have anything to do with the hospitality sector were there. The kids feasted on free samples of local sausages, cake, bread, two lots of ice-cream, meat, smoked fish etc etc...... they thoroughly enjoyed themselves!! I was very good and only had a free coffee. We also came out with pens, pencils and some lovely Derwent watercolour pencils. Fantastic! We sat outside and drank our drinks and they even got a go on a Segway, one of these motorised scooter type things (see the picture) and they had some gorgeous Alpacas there as well. I decided I wanted one but I don't think we would persuade Dave seeing as he won't even let us get a dog!!

After trawling around there we headed back down to the Lake for a bit of lunch (not that the kids needed it after all that!) and a paddle and play. It was beautifully sunny and it's always so relaxing sitting watching the sun glint of the water. A really nice day all round!!

Hurrah, I've lost my first stone!!!! Few more to go but heading in the right direction!

The kids spent all today playing in a friends garden, making 'cement' (sand, water, stones and mud!) and charging up and down on a trike seeing how many of them could stay on. This has become a weekly 'playday' with our friends which is really nice as they all get on brilliantly with each other and are usually worn out at the end (and filthy!!) The sun has been shining again today, long may it last!

We haven't really done a great deal recently, well I can't remember anyway!!

Dave was asked to help out at a wedding on Saturday, just to be there in case anyone needs anything and it was meant to take about an hour. Ha, ha.....after about four hours he arrived back home having dealt with a little flower girl who had managed to throw up just behind the bride (fortunately missing her!) and all the way down the aisle as she was quickly evacuated from the church!! The church was covered in confetti which was meant to have been let loose outside and then they decided at the last minute to serve coffee and cake while the photos were being done, so lots of squashed up cake in the carpet as well!! So much for the hour! He ended up going back with our aqua vac to clean up and hopefully get rid of sicky smells before the services on Sunday. What joy!!

Today we went off to Lancaster University where a new group has started going swimming and doing sports at the leisure centre there. Unfortunately the pool was closed so we decided to have a go at Aeroball and squash instead. There was a few adults and kids there and we had great fun. Aeroball is great! It's a trampoline surrounded by safety netting which is then divided into four quarters by more netting over seven feet tall where four people jump and the idea is to get a ball into each others 'goals' (little pocket in the netting really high up) whilst jumping up and down madly. It was hilarious, Ben was just in fits of laughter being bounced up and down on his back because he couldn't keep his balance for very long with everyone jumping at the same time! Brilliant, I may regret it tomorrow when my legs are killing but I haven't had so much fun for ages!

We were then invited to a Barbecue which was being held by the Chaplaincy of the University (one of our Home Ed friends is a Anglican Chaplain there). This was to be followed by a raft launch which had been made as a kind of art installation to represent the flooding crisis in Bangladesh. It was being launched into a pond on the university campus and then weighted down to stay put. What a laugh, the guys who had the job of launching it struggled for ever trying to get their boat out into the pond to get the raft in the right place, they seemed to be going around in circles at one point. Eventually it got sorted and is now looking beautiful in the pond, not quite sure how long it will last on a University Campus of several thousand students but we shall see!! It was a fun day and I always find the University Campus a bit bizarre, it's like a little town with everything on campus, shops, churches, sports centre, nursery school.......

Just a quick note to say we are still here!!!! Had a complaint that we hadn't written anything for ages so thought I had better put in an appearance!

Been a wierd month (as usual) and not really been up to writing much. The kids have been busy playing and surprising us with things they have learnt while we weren't looking! Dave has been busy trying to drum up some more work, putting lots of adverts out. He has had a few responses, with three quotes out at the moment and a few small jobs already done but not really anything right now so we'll keep trying. My little crafty business has done absolutely nothing so I'll just keep making bits here and there and will probably have to look for something else to do as well. I have got a possibility of some things being taken by a shop in Hawkeshead so I need to get labels and things and take some in to see what they think (scary!)

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.