Travelling South- Beamish

 Was very interesting travelling south- it felt like we had left Scotland about 2 hours before we actually did- although lowlands/borders are 'scotland' they never feel like it to me! Leisurely trip back stopping in Northumberland. My birthday treat was a trip to Beamish- always a favourite. SJ is really starting to 'get' these live enactment places- whereas they are still slightly beyond the little two yet. It is probably fair to say that they all enjoyed the sweetmaking demonstration - particularly the free samples! The mine tour was also another hit as was the carriage ride that we had- for a treat -around the whole site

Waggonway ride OK- but they insisted on going in the covered green carriage- which they then couldn't see out of- as the windows were too high!
Then a lovely night at Boroughbridge- with cake and play.....and then home....and back to daily routine...

Scotland- the Far north....

 Following Mull, we decided to drive around the top of Scotland- so passed through Loch Ness (actually I probably mean 'around'!!) and travelled up over the Moray Firth to Wick and beyond. We wild camped near a Broch a couple of miles from John O Groats and then the following day we went over to Orkney. We actually did a bus trip- which was interesting- the kids loved it! So we went to the Churchill Barriers and around Scapa Flow (SJ loved all the WWI & II references) and the Royal Oak memorial site. We then went on to Kirkwall and Stromness....

 ...and onto Skara Brae. Skara Brae is one of those childhood dream moments come true for me- I remember seeing pictures of the place in a textbook in second year senior school (Yr8??) and hoping to visit them one day.... It was spectacular and to have the sun out for us was amazing. The site is absolutely wonderful- better than imagined- the real thing still looks as good as the mock up they have done for people to walk through. Just imagine finding something like that in the middle of a field!! There is a rather lovely Manor House next door (Skaiil House) which is a part of the joint ticket.

And then onto the Ring of Brodegar- which I had never heard of before- but I really do think may be more amazing than Stonehenge- certainly the surroundings are more peaceful than the A303!! And you can actually move around and through the stones and see the fascinating lichens and marks from lightening strikes and even hug a stone...

We also visited the Italian Chapel (built by WWII POWs) built from two Nissan Huts and all hand decorated.

Orkney was wonderful- I think we will go back and for longer (M even lookd at jobs for Kirkwall!!!)- I might miss the trees though..........

Soul recharging

 Well- what have we been up too???

A lengthy absence in the beauty that is Northern Scotland- ohhh sooo not to have come back again....
This may be a multi post..... firstly a week in Mull- gorgeous, spectacular, brooding, wildlife, peace, uncrowded......
We spent a couple of days in Ffionphort (opposite Iona)- where we found a lovely campsite overlooking silvery beaches with crystal clear water- where we could watch the children play and rockpool and RUN!! We stopped at a mussel farm on the way through Mull- where we picked up 4kgs of fresh mussels which were indulgently devoured with bread and butter (is there any other way? simple = best)

 A day trip over to Iona - well what else do you do for a young lady whose middle name is Iona?? Walked the width- TP fell in a rockpool and had to be carried back wrapped in Ms fleece- with Mummy flapping his little boxer shorts in the breeze to dry them! Finding a little RNLI charity book stall where I picked up a few months worth of reading matter (supporting a good cause of course!)

Visiting Tobermory and looking for signs of Balamory- including finding Edie McCredie bus hidden away in the south of the island.

Wild camping by Calgary Beach and spotting Sea Otters swimming in the bay.

Freshly caught Mackerel on a charcoal Barbecue.

Visiting Fingals Cave on Staffa and hearing the Hebridean Overture there.

Sunnie parked at John o Groats.....next instalment......

Following my reduce toys theme...

Why buy toys or crafting items when you can send the children out in the rain and have them 'mud modelling'...

These are lovingly crafted dinosaur models- shaped out of front garden clay and carefully placed under the overhang of the house to dry... then handpainted (in sparkly glitter paint of course) and then the detail added today.....

Toys who needs them??? (Need to declutter more!!)

What a weekend- otherwise known as the Busmans' Holiday...

 A weekend away in the motorhome.....

Arrival at campsite...children playing in the puddles.....scream.... shout of "Mummy theres blood everywhere".....TP comes around the corner pouring blood from the mouth and with a ripped lip through the lip border (not good!!)....hmmm......DH grabs child and takes to local A&E department...arrives back three hours later...no childrens facilities there thus won't treat however we have to take to the large regional unit an hour in the wrong direction by 7am next morning......beg campsite lady to let us out- even though the gates dont open till 7:30......drive to hospital and find he is listed for the surgical list..... general anaesthetic (superstar!!)......recovery room......ate a heap of food.....got crochety...... discharge.....drive to new campsite....

From general anaesthetic to sandpit in 6 hours......

DH spent weekend staring at each other- was it all real??  PS The head and nose injuries were pre-existing (TP versus car park the previous day) but the Plastic Reg gave them a scrub whilst in Theatre.... 2 for the price of 1 etc....

Birthday presents??

 Why oh why am I spending my precious brain space contemplating what to get each child for the upcoming run of birthdays (July, Aug, Sep)- thinking about that carefully chosen piece of perfection that is going to be cherished, loved and will sucessfully amuse.......when you can get them balloons that get turned into airships as well as screeches of laughter and cooperative play as they bat it around the house for hours.....

 When trees and logs provide over an hour of den making.....

And when (he'll hate me for putting this on one day) your sisters fairy outfit and handbag turns you into Tinkerbell complete with pixie dust pouch- such that you spend an afternoon flying around the house.....

My head is screeching declutter.... I still have a box of nappies to rehome, two scooters in the garage to ebay, a pair of tap shoes.....

Camping in Yorkshire

 Firstly I can reveal my felted cake stand- I hope the Gper reciepient liked it- I enjoyed doing it and the children have asked for some goodies for home play too....

We tested out the new motorhome this weekend and we like!! Very roomy and open feeling- the children loved that they could colour at the table whilst we were driving- enough to make us tentatively consider a more touring holiday around Scotland this summer??
We visited Eden Camp in Yorkshire- for a certain WWII mad young man- slightly more tired looking than our last visit but they still loved the more visual displays- the Blitz, U-Boats, the Post war Prefab etc- unfortunately a fair amount is display case reading- which doesn't capture ours yet- but the novelty of being able to return to the Motorhome and prepare lunch rather than having to make up sandwiches first thing was nice!