Day 9 - Rain Rain Rain

Friday - A dreary day, heavy rain with no prospect of respite from the weather. The children reported the tent flooded again, on inspection, it appears the rubberised overseal on the inside of the stiched seams, has perished and come away, leaving the rain to filter through the stitching holes and enter the tent.
Nelly, Mr Fink and I went to Broughton to have our breakfast at The Square Cafe - delicious, recommended.

On our return, Mr fink and Bambino (the rest of the Glums had gone to explore Whitehaven) again mopped up the tent, covered the top with a 4 metre tarpaulin and secured same. the wind blew, the tarp rattled and cracked in the storm, but it held and the tent was mostly dry.
We watched films, walked the dog, observed the rain lashing down, the puddles getting wider and deeper.
Eventually we headed to bed, the storm still raging, the youngsters sent to bed with ear plugs to mask the sound of the tarp thrashing against the wind. All night it rained and rained, waking everyone up at some point during the evening.

Autumn? I'm not finished with Summer yet!

Well, autumn is officially here and the weather appears to have made it's mind up too. The summer holidays have been well spent ) and now we are ready to face the new school year, Little Fink looks amazingly grown up in her blazer (She will need a new name soon I fear).

Today I took Nanny to a metal detecting dig in the North of the county, she had a great time and even found a long cross hammered coin but I don't know how old as it still had the mud on, could be Elizabethan, or older.
While she was digging I sat in the car reading.... I'll explain why I wasn't digging in a moment...Mr Fink phoned me, "What should I use to clean exploded rhubarb wine off the kitchen ceiling?" Apparently Little Fink had been nearby when the airlock on the new rhubarb wine demijohn became blocked with fruit and blew the bung out - she said it scared her half to death!

I wasn't digging today as I can't put my boots on for another week or two, I had a tattoo inked onto the top of my foot last Monday and it must not rub while it is healing. It is of an Egyptian blue lotus flower (as shown above) a symbol of rebirth and enlightenment. It is a tribute to the memory of Astral, Mr Fink's mum who died last year. The lotus and the nine petals have a significant meaning in the religion she found comfort in.

Well the summer holidays are nearly over, this might be the last year that I spend more of it at home than at work as I'm guessing Little Fink won't need me here quite so much next year?

Spring break

We're back from 2 weeks in Cumbrian lake District , 'where the mountains meet the sea'.
Little Fink, Marsha and I spent a week of rain and yukky weather together in Aunty Joan's caravan by the sea. We met loads of family members at Aunty Joan's birthday party and Aunty Mary's family BBQ.
Then Mr Fink joined us and the weather turned all summery, we swam in the sea, went horseriding, kayaked on Coniston, sunbathed, read, painted, visited Whitehaven, Uncle John's farm on Corney fell (with chicks and lambs too) and had a hair raising trip to Gutterby. We were visited by cousin Brenda and Uncle John Bennett.
We slept a lot in the afternoon and the girls enjoyed great freedom.
The highlight of the trip? when Mr Fink, Little Fink and Marsha when kayaking on Consiton. The other families that landed their boats and canoes complained that their feet got wet during the 'dismount'. When the Fink Kayak landed, Mr Fink tried to get out and tipped the whole thing over, girls and all. Everyone on the bank thought it was very funny (me included!)

It's a Holi Holiday

This is the sight that greets me most mornings, Billie The Bunny waiting patiently for her treat. Yes, she is sitting on the skateboard. Stuff like this just seems normal here these days!
Well, we're almost packed and ready to go oop North for our week's holiday. Just the final bits and the packed lunch to sort out. We've invited Little Fink's pal Marsha (my surrogate daughter) to join us this year and the highlight of their trip is to go horseriding down the beach at Silecroft on Thursday. Hopefully it won't rain as hard as it did last year, but if it does - so what. We're not camping so I don't really mind! We'll be collecting Little Fink from Nanny and Shouty Grandad half way up the M6. Not at Sandbach services this time though, at a lay by chosen my Shouty Grandad. Why would he choose the layby instead of the services? I don't know, I can only think he is saving diesel and wear and tear on the camper van by avoiding the extra 16 miles, yes 16 miles, to turn the campervan round on the M6. Who knows?
Anyway, Haverigg here we come!

Shouty Grandad and Nanny are currently in the air, probably somewhere over Saudi Arabia at the moment en route to Perth and Fremantle.

Mr Fink took them to Heathrow airport this morning at 7am for an 11am flight. At 8.30am I received a phone call from Uncle Stan in Fremantle, Nanny and Shouty Grandad are going to be staying with him and his wife, Shouty Grandad's sister, he had just returned from Perth airport to tell me mum and dad were not on the flight?

I had to report that they had not taken off from Heathrow yet and wouldn't arrive until tomorrow! OOps!

Bargain Hunter

This evening Nanny and Shouty Grandad brought Little Fink back from horse riding and stayed for a bit of dinner. Afterwards we checked the interwebs for information relating to their forthcoming trip to Australia to see his sister and her family.

We discussed baggage allowances, liquid allowances (yes, 100mls IS that small) and airplane legroom.

If you've read any of Shouty Grandad's adventures, you'll know he like to get something for nothing and when I mentioned to him the fabled 'free upgrade' his eyes lit up and a quest has begun. He has read all the hints and tips on how to make yourself the ideal candidate for a free seat upgrade.

Watch this space. 21 days and counting!

(I've asked Nanny to keep a diary for me!)

Snow Day

Hammond School is closed 6 Jan 2010.

All the Primary School websites in the area have been updated... and now show details for St Roses' Catholic Primary School.

LOOK OUT, THE CATHOLICS ARE COMING! taking over the planet, website by website!

Cumbria Part 3

The view from Haverigg, up the river Lazy with Black Combe in the background.

Ched and Doris went home on Monday and Nanny, Little Fink and I spent the rest of the time playing in the sand, metal detecting and generally relaxing. We also visited Dalton Zoo (South Lakes Wildlife Park), the gibbons and spider monkeys are so cool. We fed giraffes, penguins and lemurs.

All in all we had a lovely time and are fully relaxed and recuperated. We were so relaxed on Monday when we went back to school and work that I forgot to give Little Fink her lunch, PE kit and plimsolls!! Oops.

Cumbria part 2

View from the car when Nanny directed us half way up a mountain, only to realise it was a dead end and on the way down we met half of the county's sheep population coming the other way. the helpful elderly shepherdess asked, "Did you think I was standing int road fot good of me 'ealth?" so we just blamed Nanny and took pictures of the sheep like good little tourists!

The rest of our holiday was amazing, Doris and Little Fink went horse riding on a very rainy Saturday, they had a great time and I was 'proud mum' when I saw Little Fink on her pony, "Pinto" cantering up the beach.

We also took in the sights of St Bees - the wind had whipped the sea up into foam which was blowing all round the place - surreal.

We went to Ravenglass and saw the narrow gauge train, "L'al Ratty", we also visited the nearby Roman Baths (baths in Cumbria - they must have been mad brrr!). Then we headed up to Muncaster Castle and took in the castle, we waited patiently for the herons to come down to be fed on the battlements of the caste, Graham was beside himself but unfortunately the clocks had got back the night before and the birds had all been there an hour earlier. Graham was the only heron at the celebrated and widely advertised event! (During his whole day out with us, only one lady asked us why he was there. I told her Little Fink was 'special' and she would only be calm if she could bring Graham everywhere!! he he). Doris, Ched, Nanny, Little Fink and I went on a ghost walk (it being Halloween an all) round the dark grounds of the castle, we were led by a guide in Victorian costume telling us about the various murders and wrong doing that had gone on in the area, resulting in the ghosts and ghouls we were to see. As we passed a gazebo on our left a blood curdling scream resounded, Nanny shrieked in my left ear and Little Fink in my right. It was pretty scary. Then we headed up to the church, were led inside and given some background info, then walked back into the darkness outside. As the church door closed with a satisfying gothic thud, the church bells started to ring - THAT was spooky, church bells in the dark. brrrr. We rounded the corner listening to tales of Jenny Greenteeth who could just out of the water or hide under bridges, ready to trap unsuspecting children, when as we rounded the corner and passed a massive clump of gigantic bamboo, over 10 feet tall, the bamboo started to shake and rattle and a manic laugh came from within. Terrifying. As we rounded the final path and were told the tale of the poor woman drowned in the river Esk by 2 fellows, a shrieking woman figure in a white shroud ran up the path in front of us. We finished by walking down to the castle fire juggler. In some ways he was the scariest thing as his act was so bad!

In any case, I recommend a trip to the castle after dark. they also light up some of the trees in different colours, well worth a visit imho.

The View from the North

Life in Cumbria is great this week.

We travelled up on Wednesday, met my Auntie who owns the static caravan we are staying in, when we got to the caravan the lights wouldn't turn on. I checked the fuse box, outside fuses and plugs. I phoned Auntie, she phoned her sister and the cavalry were sent to our aid. Before they turned up the lights all came on! When the second Auntie, cousin, cousin's wife, son and girlfriend turned up it appears it must have been a power cut DOH! Cue embarrassment and cups of tea!

Thursday we attended the funeral of a dear Uncle, a sad occasion but mixed with happiness at seeing relatives from my mum's side of the family (Nanny). For a little light relief after the funeral we went to Morecambe. What a beautiful place. It is clean and fresh with loads to look at, loads of mazes, sculptures, mottoes and scenery. The monument to Eric Morecambe on it's own is worth the trip and as you can see, Graham really enjoyed it!

Friday, Nanny and i went metal detecting on Haverigg beach, found loads of bullets (!), Little Fink found 2 silver sixpences and assorted dross! In the evening Ched and Doris arrived, we had fish and chips and played Doris-style tiddlywinks - this is very dangerous as Doris plays to win. In the end Little Fink took to wearing swimming goggles to protect her eyes from Doris's wayward winks! Very funny.

More news soon - I love Wifi!

Look out North, here I come!

Nanny, Little Fink and I are off to Cumbria for half term. We'll set off on Wednesday at about 10 and head off up the motorway. Mr Fink has been offered several gifts of dinners by well meaning friends - how come I don't get these offers when he goes away?

I bet he gets fed well with The Foggs when he visits them too!

I'm in a quandary as to what things to go and see while we are away. Little Fink and Doris are going horse riding along the beach on Saturday morning. I'm considering going to Muncaster Castle for the Halloween celebrations - they also have a heron feeding event at 4.30pm, I bet Graham will enjoy that! I'm also considering going to the roman fort by Hardknott Pass (imagine a two way traffic, single track road with a 1 in 3 gradient and no passing places), but I think we'll just play it by ear and go with the flow.

I'll be back in 10 days with tales of adventures with metal detecting, Nanny, Little Fink, Doris and Ched. ta ra!

Graham lands in Wales

Graham has landed in Wales on his holidays with The Glums.

Here is the first picture of Graham enjoying his vantage point from the Glums caravan in the foothills of Snowdon.

I'm glad to see he has arrived safely as Bambi (Mr Glum) did say Graham was not welcome on their holiday and something him being an endangered species and breaking him (or was it me) into small bits...or something. However, If I'm not mistaken, Graham's plumage looks a little 'dull'. Like someone has picked all the colour off him?

How very dare you? Poor Graham.

A Brilliant Holiday

We had a wonderful time on holiday, thank you for all your sun dances, they worked, we had 3-4 days of glorious weather.

Obviously, "What goes on tour, stays on tour" but here's a brief glimpse into what we (Mr Fink, Little Fink, Me, Abu Dhabi, Big Mac and 'Fries'- Big Mac's special friend!)

As you know we went to Cornwall, camping in a tent, we were on a little farm just outside Luxulyan, near the Eden Project and St Austell (where Mr Fink and I were married in 2001).

Saturday - Got up at 6 to pack the car. trailer and packed lunch, set off at 8am and arrived at 2.30pm. when Big Mac arrived she realised after setting up camp that she had accidentally set the cool box with the weeks supplies in to 'warm' rather than 'cool' so everything inside had a general 'sweaty' appearance. euw. The giggle point of the night was....What's the difference between a Madras and a Chicken Tarka? The Tarka is a little Otter!!

Sunday - Spent the day in Looe, the girls and Mr Fink went crabbing. The Finks later went to Torpoint and Rame Head (coastguards are really funny there). The lanes got smaller and more scary with names like Donkey Lane and Cliff Lane. when we arrived back at camp, has a little drinky with the grown-ups, went to bed amid howling rain and fierce wind - and that was just Big Mac!! Giggle Point - Little Fink, "It's raining cats and frogs!"

Monday - Rained for most of the day but the radio held out hope of good weather to come. We had lunch in a pub which the Addams Family would have felt at home in. We went to The Lizard, what a top place, highly recommended, so wild and fresh, where we met up with Big Mac and Fries and AbuDhabi. we checked out the lighthouse then The Finks went off road again. we encountered 2 hares at close quarters, one of which jumped 4-5 feet in to the hedge next to the car. amazing! During our safari, Mr Fink realised we were very low on petrol and were in lanes nowhere near civilisation. I opened up the sat nav and directed up to a Jet petrol station. As we turned the corner, there was no Jet, only the back yard of a deserted farm. Mr Fink was very worried. We managed to find an Asda petrol station just in time. We also went to Goonhilly, which was rubbish! Giggle Point - Blue portaloo at the side of the road, will forever be known as Doctor Poo and The Turdis!

Tuesday - Went to St Ives, too busy for me so I stayed on the beach! The girls enjoyed playing in the sea and shopping. We saw a seal in the harbour too. Giggle Point - On the way home we saw Hell's Hole, a place we had visited on our honeymoon. Who said Mr Fink isn't romantic?

Wednesday - Sunny! Took the girl's to Watergate Bay - so beautiful and wild. Big Mac and Fries went to the Eden project (she is a square allotment head!) Boogie boards were purchased and waves conquered! we saw someone had made a sofa out of sand, complete with a cushion! Next time we go to the beach, i would like a sand chair please. Big Mac and Fries cooked a lovely BBQ, yum yum. We enjoyed a few ciders around the warm BBQ and Big Mac and I had a giggling fit! Giggle Point - I'm not giving fashion tips to Al anymore!

Thursday - Sunny/Cloudy. We spent the morning on camp mooching about, in the afternoon we went to Mevagissy. This is now one of my favourite places! We enjoyed the shops, beach, crabbing, seafood and aquarium (tiny) where we saw the largest lobster in Cornwall and the largest oyster in Britain, called Shelley! a brilliant day. Giggle Point - Mr Fink calls it Megavissy!

Friday - Back to Watergate Bay. the Finks were chatting in the car on the way there and we missed the turning, much confusion later and puzzled looks from the others following in their car! We had a relaxing time on the beach and in the waves. a local artist did a sketch of Mr Fink reading the paper with out him knowing. AbuDhabi, Big Mac and Fries left to pack up their tent and go home. we headed off to Padstow which was also a beautiful place, pity there is so much Rick Stein all over the shops. I really liked it there and can't wait to go back. Giggle Point - the girls getting knocked over by the waves!

Saturday we packed up the kit, squeezed it back into the car and trailer and headed home 11am - 6.30pm. Since then I have mostly been washing, and washing and washing ready for Little Fink's next trip away with Nanny and Shouty Grandad in the camper van ON TUESDAY!

A big thank you to AbuDhabi, Big Mac and Fries for making our holiday perfect. x

Goodbye, cruel world.

Right, this could be the 'last post'.

We are off camping in Cornwall. The weather reports have been terrible over the last few days and for the next few days to come.

We are stoical about it and going anyway!

The only problem is....

We can't find the green string. Everyone knows you should always have string when you are camping. Shouty Grandad calls it 'Farmers Friend@ Go figure????

See you in a week, be good. xxx

Look out Cornwall, here we come

Next week, Big Mac, AbuDhabi, Mr Fink, Little Fink, LMI, Pisky and Mr Pisky will be in Cornwall for our annual week of fun in the sun. Did I say sun? Silly me, last year we had 70mph winds, bent tent poles and abandoned tents all around us.

I've checked the weather report and it says there will be rain and showers with the possibility of GALES.

OH COME ON, GIVE ME A BREAK!

Also, I was checking the local news. See the picture, do you know what it is? It's a Portuguese Man Of War. A stinging jellyfish type thing. Some were found 20 miles from where we will be staying, on Monday. Luckily, next week when we are there, it will be so flipping cold, none of will be going any where NEAR the sea!!!

Off we go again

Big sloppy kisses to all, we're off on our hols. 

Mr Fink, Little Fink, Marsha and I are all off to Benalmadena, Costa Del Sol, Espana to visit the in-laws (how cool is that, my mother and father in law live in Spain and play a mean game of Texas Hold 'Em!).

Little Fink arrived back from Cub Camp last night - they had a GPS tacker in one of the convoy vehicles so the parents were able to track the young people home - brilliant, see Scouts can be geeks too! more tales of cub camp on our return.

Last night was a frenzy of washing as 150 families chucked their childrens' muddy kit in the washer and open up the take away boxes, we had fish and chips.

I got most of it dry and only threw away one T-shirt and 1 pair of socks, which even after soaking in hot Vanish and nitric acid failed to come clean and were put in a biohazard sack and left out for the decontamination team to deal with.

I'm still washing, we leave for the airport in 4 hours so I better get on.

Yesterday Mr Fink was trying to renew the tax on his car when, horrors, he realised his MOT ran out in March - eek. So he has gone to try and get an MOT so that he can get the tax. Fingers crossed. We came to an agreement that I would let go the reins and he would pack Little Fink's stuff with her...as long as I promised not to interfere. It's 4 hours to go, he is down the town buying vest tops and I am getting twitchy as I feel out of control but don't want to poke my nose in. Hey ho, we'll be back on Saturday so xxxxxx till then.

Hasta manana me amigos.

Hope, Cheese and Mountains

The Fink's weekend away started with a long drive North, we arrived at a proper English pub with oak beams, roaring fire, lovely food (See Sunday's Observer if you don't believe me), lots of laughter and loads and loads of hikers, bikers and locals. The Cheshire Cheese Inn at Hope in Derbyshire was a delight, the publicans were friendly and accomodating, the room (had it's own sitting room) was charming and had old fashioned uneven floors. We loved it.

After dumping our gear and having a couple of drinks, he went to explore, there was a river running the other side of the road from the pub which was also over looked by Lose Hill and Win Hill, we walked into the village of Hope and had a drink at the Old Hall pub. It was big and modern and had little soul so we headed back to the charismatic 'Cheese'. As we were heading back up the road, 2 people in a car stopped and asked us for directions! We must have looked like locals rather than the very prevalent hikers! We enjoyed a smashing meal and another few drinks and headed off to bed.

After a huge breakfast the next day we headed off on our travels up to Lady Bower Resevoir and Snake Pass, up to Glossop and down to Chapel En Le Frith (how did the French get up here?), back across to Hathersage and up to Mam Tor. I was quite happy with the view from the car park but Mr Fink, having been couped up in the car all day was like and excitable spaniel and was dying to climb the hill. I KNOW I can do with the exercise so off we went. This was my kind of mountain climbing, large flagstones all the way up. I was still huffing and puffing though when I got to the top. The views were fantastic and I felt a real sense of achievement. All thanks to Mr Fink for being patient with me! On the way back we dropped into the village of Castleton which is overlooked by Peverill Castle, had a mooch round, there is also a pub called Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese!! We headed back to our Cheese had a fab dinner and bed.

On Sunday we headed off to Surprise View just outside Hathersage. We set off walking to the viewpoint which was beautiful, then headed across the moor towards some massive boulders that stood out against the skyline. We made it to them and Mr Fink had a climb! Reminded him of Pulpit Rock on Portland. We made our way down across the moors and rocks back to the car, another mountain conquered! Later on that day, while i was having an afternoon siesta, Mr fink went for a walk into Castleton, apparently as he was crossing a field full of ewes and their new lambs, they started to gang up on him and tried to chase him out of the field!

On our last morning, after another enormous breakfast, we thanked our hosts and made our way to Lady Bower, Derwent and Howden Reservoirs. Derwent Reservoir was used by pilots of 617 Dambuster Squadron as practice with their Barnes Wallace bouncing bombs as the dams closely resembled the targets in Germany. The area is beautiful and breathtaking, my advice, if you choose to visit, go early and beat the rush! We left Derbyshire via some of the villages that have cropped up in my family history research of Mr Fink's paternal line. Riber = only saw the outskirts but very quiet and tucked away. Holloway = Beautiful, scenic, pictuesque, small, old. Tansley - old, quiet, only saw the outskirts and Crich = not as pretty as the others but set in beautiful countryside. All in all a lovely trip and great to spend some time alone with Mr Fink. (Little Fink is on adventures with Nanny and Shouty Grandad at the moment, somewhere between Ironbridge and Tewkesbury! More of that later, when she returns!)

Half Term in the Western Lakes of Cumbria

Wastwater looking towards Wasdale Head with Yewbarrow, Great Gable and Lingmell (Sca Fell and Sca Fell Pike are hidden behind Lingmell).

What a week! Let's go away for half term I said. What about Cumbria Big Mac said. I've got a caravan you can stay in, Aunty Joan said. And so begins such adventures! You've got to be spontaneous - otherwise what is the point?

Saturday

Little Fink and I wave bye bye to Mr Fink and pick up Big Mac (watch this space for a name update in the future?!) and AbuDhabi, along with the fourteen blankets, twelve bags and assorted Tupperware. We head North through broken bridges on the M6 and terrible rain, the like of which I haven't seen in years. Big Mac and I play a modified version of the Yellow Car Game (due to my 'flu jab', I can't be punched all the way to Cumbria!). Every time a yellow car comes into view, Big Mac and I squawk, "KA" in the stylee of Micheal Palin's 'Ken' in a "Fish Called Wanda" with his hands tied and chips up his nose. The standing water on the motorway was dreadful and the rain and spray was everywhere. We made it off the M6 (J36) onto the A590. the rain was still bombing down and the wind must have been gale force (found out later that it was the worst October weather in living memory. 1000 fell runners and hikers were starting a 2-day, 2-marathon hike across the fells as we were travelling, 700 of them went missing on the fells overnight due to the terrible weather). As we passed the Lakeland and Haverthwaite Railway, there is a short length of dual carriage way, I got into position to overtake a slower moving vehicle and started to accelerate past. (Big Mac was texting on her phone) BLAM I hit a massive puddle of water, it hit the windscreen and made the wipers stand still. Big Mac looked up from her phone, saw a wall of water only previously seen on the log flume at Chessington and swore. (Boy, can she swear). It seemed like 2-3 minutes before the wipers kicked in and we realised we weren't dead. Everything was where it was before we hit the water and life continued. Big Mac was a little shaken but only for a short time. We arrived in Haverigg about 6 hours (280 miles) after we set off. We saw Aunty Joan (static caravan owner) and Aunty Mary and various other Fink rellies. We settled in and I buggered off to a family party that was being held in the next village. the weather was still totally terrible and I stayed till 11.30pm - my dad (shouty granddad) was there and was very embarrassed to buy me a drink when I kept asking for a mug of tea!

Sunday

Went out for a bit of an explore, the rain had stopped but the wind was unbelievable, so strong. We walked along Haverigg beach towards Silecroft, it felt wonderful to be out in the sea air, we saw some cocklers then went for a walk along the sea wall. We got about a third of the way along then the kids moaned like hell so we came back! After lunch we drove out to Silecroft beach, just up the coast. The wind was so strong that it could turn your eyelids inside out! We got there just in time to see shire horses and Clydesdales being ridden through the surf and up the beach towards us. I was beside myself - so powerful - so majestic. Beautiful. Against the backdrop of the fells they looked stunning. (brought a tear to my eye and a lump to my throat.)

Monday

We went to Wastwater. Oh wow, how beautiful. So many colours. After numerous photos we drove to the end of the lake, stopping only for Big Mac to harangue a local National Trust chap to find out where he had hidden Sca Fell and Sca Fell Pike, we popped into the Wasdale Head Inn, home of the 'Biggest Liar' competition. Wasdale is known for "The highest mountain, (Sca Fell Pike), the deepest lake, (Wastwater), the smallest church, (St Olaf's at the foot of the fell) and the biggest liar (competition at the pub). after our repast we went for a walk, we were looking for a waterfall for Big Mac to photograph. We made our way through a farm and over some boggy ground towards a raging river (Lingmell Beck). As we approached the bridge, Big Mac said, "Oh dear, that sheep appears to be caught in the fence." Famous last words. Understatement of the year.

I looked up the steep fell and saw in the distance a greyish white blog standing close to a wire fence half-way up a mountain. "It will be fine, come on, let's find this waterfall." I said.

"We can't leave it up there, I'll phone the farmer." Anyway. We have the two things you need to alert the farmer that his sheep is stuck, the number and a signal, so up the fell we went.

We asked the children to wait at the bottom, in case the sheep was in a bad way and it upset them. (No matter that it was upsetting me though!) We got up there on adrenaline. I broke 2 nails just trying to push the sheep back up the fell to relieve the pressure on it's garroted leg. It had tried to jump the wire fence and it's back leg had caught the top wire, twisted it over the top with it's hoof and become snared. The harder it pulled, the faster it was caught. Big Mac and I swapped places, she pushed (it was like having a baby all over again) and I squeezed the wire. Eventually she pushed it's hoof through the wire and it was free. we let it go and it hobbled across the fell on three legs. I recon it must have had the worst case of pins and needles in the world! Anyhoo, we named the ungrateful sheep Nelson (in honour of Nelson Mandela who was also freed) and addressed the fright of just how high and steep we were. The kids were obviously concerned for our welfare as they 'spelunked' rocks into the river with worry! NOT. We made it down slowly and without incident. We continued out search for the waterfall - found it! and headed back. then I slipped on a rock and fell in a bog. Bugger. Sore right shin, no permanent damage - that will bruise up nicely and I'll have a war wound to show - i thought).

Tuesday

Big mac and i woke with matching aches and pains, damn you Nelson!

I smelled a funny smell in the sitting room area and realised the rug had travelled too near the gas fire. Big mac and I pulled it back. I checked the hot bit of the rug for damage....then ran into the kitchen screaming...the carpet had melted onto my fingers. what a way to wake up. No lasting damage, thankfully. (still no bruise on my leg either). We went up Corney Fell to see Nanny (metal detecting) and Shouty Granddad (digging holes) at Aunty Una's house. we also saw Aunty Hannah (collecting twigs for a Halloween broomstick) while we were there!

Later we walked along Haverigg beach to watch the sunset, then Big Mac realised we were standing on a dark beach at night, with no torches! Doh.

Wednesday

We visited the Ravenglass narrow gauge railway also know locally as Lal Ratty, which runs to Eskdale. We then decided to head to Coniston. the most direct route would have been over Hardknott Pass and Wrynose Pass (the steepest roads in Britain) which I declined to travel due to lack of fuel, freezing temperatures and mist on the fells. We took the A roads and arrived in one piece. Consiton was beautiful, shame it was a little misty and wet. We checked out Hawkshead and Tarn Haws - again beautiful colours.

Thursday

We tidied up the van, had a mooch round Millom and looked forward to coming home to our loved ones who had been enjoying snow while we were away!

Friday

We drove home via the butchers at Bootle (Big Mac bought 5 feet of sausage) and the pie shop at Millom (I bought 4 meat and tater pies YUM). It took about 7 hours and we were shattered!

A brilliant time had by all with lots of adventures. Thank you Big Mac, AbuDhabi and Little Fink - I had a ball.

The Joy of Work

Oh brother what a day.

Six weeks of calm, enjoyable relaxation swept away in the space of 20 minutes.

I spent this morning catching up on 6 weeks of email, post, documents, meetings correspondence and meeting requests. Four and a half hours of hard work, head down and getting on with it.

Then my boss comes in with 30 minutes to go before I set off home and started asking questions I don't know the answers to. I could have cried. I'm now tense, aching and tearful, what happened to those 6 weeks?

Oh well - only 25 years to go til I retire. I'm going to be healthy, to enjoy my retirement, if it kills me!?

Little Fink, Sand Snorkling at Weymouth

(This takes about 30 seconds to load - depending on your connection.)

She started off over to my left, crawled/swam round behind me, I only noticed her as she came round past Big Mac, which is when I grabbed my camera.

Oh my word, this is the funniest thing I have seen in ages! Even the guy from the next family over from us was laughing his head off at her!