New Year

Hello again and a very happy New Year to you! We started off the new year yesterday
with a calm, quiet day at home. We had plans to go for a walk in Derbyshire but the rain
put paid to all that so apart from church and a quick stop at a local grocery store, it was
a home day for us. It was a good day to stay in. My husband made a delicious tomato
and bread soup for lunch. I sewed in all the ends of the little blanket I've been working
on over Christmas. We talked about possible holidays, looked things up online, prices,
dates, etc. Hopes, plans and dreams for the year ahead, exciting things to look
forward to.

Today was bright and crisp and we headed out to Derbyshire for the walk we
didn't have yesterday. As ever, it was beautiful. I think this was the most challenging
walk/hike we've ever had with the girls. It was icy underfoot with boggy patches here
and there and some tricky paths but we managed to cover a good distance and enjoyed
some wonderful views. We were all tired this afternoon but it was a great morning
to be outdoors and we really enjoyed it.

So that's how we've ended the holidays and started the new year - with a day at home
and then a bracing walk in the winter sunshine. I will not let the awful events of 2016
stifle my hopes and my outlook for the future. There's a bright year ahead and I am
ready to get going.

Camping: Take Two

These are photos from our camping trip two weekends ago. It was
our second time and we were back in the same campsite in the
 beautiful Derbyshire countryside. We even pitched our tent at the
same spot as last time. But lots of things were a bit different
this time round. For one, we packed better, just taking the things
we knew we'd use. Tent pitching was quicker and even just getting
to the campsite took less time. We had a better night's sleep too,
even though we still didn't have an air mattress. The camp wasn't
as busy so it was a lot quieter and having arrived earlier, we had
 more time for playing and exploring in nearby fields. We've learned
a lot from last time and it had made this an altogether better, even
more relaxing camping experience.

We had another gorgeous walk up Stanton Moor, and another
moment to marvel at the beautiful landscape. I don't think I'll
ever tire of that wonderful purple view up the moor. I'm ever so
glad we chose to camp nearby, or we wouldn't have known about
this amazing place at all.

I'm very glad too that we've had another go at camping. We're
loving it even more and who knows, we might manage to squeeze
in a third time before summer finally comes to a close. There's
still a week and a bit to go before school starts so if the weather
plays nice this weekend we'll definitely be out there again. And
hopefully next time with an air mattress, rather than without!

Hope you're all having a good start to the week.
See you soon!

Going Camping

We went camping for the first time this week. I wasn't sure
I'd like it much being so fond of my creature comforts. I was only
 giving it a go because my husband had convinced me that it's a nice thing to do as a family and that we'll all have a great time. And he was
right: it was great fun and we all really enjoyed it, myself included.

No one was more surprised than me, to be honest with you. I was
quite sure it's not really for me but I enjoyed it so much I couldn't
wait for us to go camping again. Yes, I know, I'm now one of those
camping converts, and a very happy one too.

I couldn't not like camping. We were in a lovely, family friendly
  campsite surrounded by beautiful Derbyshire countryside. We had
 fresh air, sunshine, a pitched tent and a lit barbecue. The girls were
 off playing with other kids, I was sitting in the sunshine with
 my crochet, the burgers and hotdogs were cooking. Later after
we'd put the girls to bed, we sat outside and watched the stars
come out. It was all simply glorious. It would have been very
churlish of me not to enjoy the experience.

And next morning after we've had our breakfast we walked up
Stanton Moor, a Peak District landmark very close to the campsite.
It was so gorgeous up there we were totally gobsmacked.

The only thing that wasn't fun was not sleeping on a proper mattress.
The girls slept well but we didn't so we've now decided to invest in
a good air mattress. That will surely improve things. And next time
 we'll be better and quicker at spotting the best place to pitch the tent and packing will be easier too.

Yes, we're already planning for our next camping trip. If we can
go before the summer holidays end and experience all that fun and freedom again, I'd say, yes, please. We're going camping!

Two in a Row

We've just had two lovely weekends in a row. The weather has been

 nice and summery and we've spent a lot of time outdoors making 

the most of these sunny days. On the first Saturday of the month 

we went strawberry picking. That was great fun. The following day
we went to  Abbeydale Miniature Railway for a friend's daughter's 

birthday picnic. 

Now, do you like little trains? Well, we do, especially small steam or
diesel ones that can whiz you round a track. There are several of these
there and we had the most fantastic time.

The miniature railway is run entirely by the Sheffield and District Society
for Model and Experimental Engineers and is open to the public two
Sundays a month at this time of year.

It is a real hidden gem set in ancient woodland not far from the city centre. It has two stations, two level crossings, two footbridges plus
 a scaled down signal box and of course, the miniature locomotives. There's also a small museum, cafe, fairground organ and a large green area that's perfect for picnics and watching all the little trains go by.

It's a really fantastic place both for kids and grown-ups. You don't
have to be a vintage transport enthusiast to have a great time here
and we feel very lucky to have something like this here in Sheffield.

Last Saturday was lovely and sunny again and we thought it was just
perfect for a picnic in Derbyshire. It's been awhile since we've been to
our favourite picnic spot in Castleton and that's where we decided to go.

Doesn't this look amazing? This is the northern end of Cavedale,
a dry limestone valley that stretches from here to open pasture land
outside of Castleton. The valley sides at this end is so steep they're almost perpendicular. Peveril Castle stands at the top while the
Peak Caverns runs underneath.

We love it here because it's quiet and a bit secluded even though
we're not many steps away from the middle of the village. And of
course there's also that spectacular view.

After lunch we had a little wander along the stream up to the cavern
 entrance. We stopped at the Carlton Emporium but unfortunately,
 or fortunately, I didn't find anything interesting though I did buy a
paperback novel for 50p from a roadside book stall.

On Sunday we were back again in Derbyshire for the annual pilgrimage
 to Padley. We attended an open air mass with my in-laws and it was
another lovely day.

So- two great weekends in a row. This doesn't happen very often and
we've really appreciated and enjoyed these wonderful days. Hopefully
the coming weekends will be just as sunny and full of summer fun
with maybe some adventures too.


Wishing you a good week. See you soon!

Five and Three

Making spring rolls

My girls turned five and three last weekend. We had two full days of
birthday celebrating with a trip to a toy shop, Happy Meals (their first
ever), spring rolls and their favourite pasta dishes, cakes, ice cream
plus lots of cards and presents. They were both in birthday heaven
 and it was wonderful to see them so happy.

Amongst their presents were some lovely books and my two favourites
are an old copy of The Children's Illustrated Dictionary and A First Book
of Nature by Nicola Davies and Mark Hearld. The dictionary once
belonged to a girl called Anna Marie Veazay. It was a Christmas
present from her dad back in 1965. It's all handwritten inside
the front cover. I think it's brilliant that this book that was owned
 and  (hopefully)  enjoyed by a girl fifty years ago has found its way
to our home and to our girls. It will be a useful book for them
 for many years and we'll make sure we'll look after it just as
 well as all its previous owner(s).

On Sunday, Lulu's birthday, we had to cancel a picnic in Chatsworth
because of the awful weather. The birthday girl didn't really mind and
we went instead to David Mellor visitor centre, also in Derbyshire.
The cakes at the cafe there are top notch and we sampled a few. If
you're ever in the area, we highly recommend a visit. David Mellor
is a renowned cutlery maker and designer and you can see all his
various designs on display there from cutlery sets to post boxes and
traffic lights. The cutlery factory is a circular building and there are
free guided tours for the public every weekend. What we always like to
do whenever we stop by is have a look around the shop. We don't often
 buy anything but just love looking at all the beautifully designed kitchen things on display. So if you happen to be around this side of Yorkshire
and Derbyshire this place just outside Hatherasage is well worth a stop.

At the end of the weekend we were tired out from all the birthday
celebrations. The girls spent much of Sunday afternoon napping and
 then watching Toy Story. As soon as they'd gone to bed I put my
feet up, had a cup of tea and some macaroons. We've had a busy
couple of days, busy but also happy. I'm so pleased and proud of
both girls. At the toy shop there wasn't any crying or whingeing.
They were genuinely happy and content with the toys they'd chosen
as well as the gifts that they'd received from everyone else. It's been
truly lovely celebrating their birthdays and they'd both been really
wonderful birthday girls. They make me so happy and as always,
very, very proud.

Blue skies, freedom and a birthday

Hello. How was your week? I hope it's been a good one. Ours had
been slow and quiet but very nice. We spent most of it at home,
pottering about, taking it easy. I enjoyed not having the usual school
day morning rush and I really loved having both girls at home with me.
On Monday we went for a walk in Derbyshire and on Tuesday we
 all went on the bus to town and did some window shopping. We didn't
really have much planned for this week and just as well, I think, with
all the rain that we've had. It wasn't only wet most days, it was also
cold and windy. I didn't mind it so much though because we were just
staying at home and when it did stop raining, there were blue skies
with lovely fluffy clouds. They are always an uplifting sight, the blue
skies especially, and more so after another wet and gloomy morning.

On Wednesday the girls had a sleepover at Nanny and GrandDad's.
That meant an afternoon and the following morning all to myself to
spend as I liked. Freedom! Yay! 

I don't get many free time like this and so of course I relished it.

I read magazines, listened to the radio, watched a bit of telly but mostly

I crocheted. 

I worked on my shawl, hooking away happily uninterrupted for 

a hours. It was bliss!

It was my birthday on Friday. As per usual this week, the day started off
cloudy and rainy. But in the early afternoon, just as we were setting
off for Derbyshire, the rain finally stopped. The skies cleared and
the sun came out, making our walk around Chatsworth sunny,
beautiful and very happy.

Chatsworth in the sunshine, with my little family plus cakes and lots
of cards and sweet presents. This birthday was a good one.

And I don't mind being forty one. I'm happier now than I was ten

years ago, I can genuinely say this. So older, but happier-- I don't

mind forty one at all.

So that was our week. Before I go I'd like to say thanks for all your

kind and lovely comments especially on the things I've made lately.

They're very much appreciated. Thank you! 

Wishing you a good start to the coming week. See you soon.