Let kids be kids

Twelve days of Christmas children's trail at Mottisfont

Where is the partridge??? Higher . . 

onward to the house, which was originally a priory.

No photo of the two turtle doves, but below are three French hens - you can tell that they are French because they are made from Le Monde, le Figaro and l'Équipe.

Where's the next one?

We could hear the beat of drums and had to investigate - at this point any idea of following the numbers was abandoned. Hazel was unimpressed and took me for a quiet walk among the fallen sycamore and oak leaves. The huge sycamore leaf I found was dismissed as "not as big as my oak leaf".  This legendary object seems to have been hidden and can only be seen by Hazel!

We followed the trail into the house . . .

A cake to conjure with? 

One of the costumes for "nine ladies dancing" - Carabosse, the wicked fairy from Sleeping Beauty.

Outside once more and we find a mosaic angel, designed by Maud Russell's lover, Boris Anrep.

Plenty of space to run around.

Ah, eight maids a milking . . 

and a real swan

but we need to find six geese a-laying. Luckily they lay bouncy rubber eggs that we can throw into their nest baskets . . .

and finally, we find the seven swans a-swimming.

A full afternoon, on a fine day, and not cold either.

Day out at Clumber Park

We met Dan, with Isaac and Rose, for a day at Clumber Park, in Nottinghamshire. The drive up was one of the wettest ever, torrential rain and loads of surface water on the A1. The Park is a huge estate owned by the National Trust, and was once the seat of the Dukes of Newcastle.

A mansion stood near the lake, and this year there is a series of outdoor "rooms" on the site. 

Antlers and a moustache and picture frames in one room, dining furniture, which serves as picnic tables, sofas and armchairs, 

a free-standing freplace and a front door!  Scope for silly games and role plays.  

The mansion was demolished in the 1930s. 

The Park has loads of space to walk or cycle, as well as the lake and the longest double avenue of lime trees (tilia) in Europe.

The church of St Mary the Virgin is a rather blocky Gothic Revival chapel, dating from 1886.  Interior of Red Runcorn stone, exterior Steetly ashlar with Red Runcorn dressings. I had to look that up!  We took the opportunity to sketch the church after Dan had left, giving ourselves half an hour.

As I was packing up, these greylag geese thought the carrier bag must contain food. Sorry, guys, nothing doing.

Footnote: We were last here in June 2012. Four years pass in a flash.

Esther and the Vitruvian

Just a note that Esther and the kids were here for the weekend of the Vitruvian middle distance triathlon at Rutland Water.  29 August 2015.


A few highlights -

Meeting Sarah and the kids at the playground and seeing them all playing.

Taking Joseph and Hazel out to meet Esther as she finished the race, knackered, she said, but she did pretty well.

Spending time at the local playground.

Seeing Joseph and Hazel watching Singing in the Rain on TV.

Helping Joseph build a Lego house.

Rainy day near Leeds

The rain pours down, as I take two grandchildren to holiday activities. Swish of windscreen wipers, and tyres on the wet road.

When we've dropped Rose off at a friend's house, I give Isaac the sat nav to follow, though he knows the way fine well. He gives me directions as we cut through the outskirts of Leeds, and the scenery changes from suburban chic to rural. 

He's looking forward to a day with ponies, learning all about how and what to feed them. Against my expectations, this lad turns out to be animal crazy. 

One wrong turn and Mrs SatNav puts us right in a trice. 

I deposit Isaac, don't embarrass him with a hug, and drive away. My first instinct is to head for the hills, but I don't have a decent map or my hiking boots. Ok, I'll make my way back, though the prospect of sitting in a wet house is less than appealing. 

On the way I pass the back entrance to Goldenacre Park. I stop at the car park, put my old trainers on, and my waterproof coat. 

Lots of free benches

Never mind the rain, I need air and exercise! And I know there's a café too.

As usual, dog walkers are out in all weathers, and smiling, greeting everyone, chatting. We're all glad to be outside. 

The trees glisten with moisture, and as I approach the flower gardens, the colours glow like fresh paint.  

I have no intention of resisting the cafe, and it's still raining. 

Ducks never mind the rain

 The rain eases off and I take a long route home via Eccup reservoir, where I get a glimpse of proper Yorkshire scenery, with stone walls, and misty hills.

Ragwort, out of the way of horses, feeds cinnabar moth caterpillars. 

Ducks and loads of martins looking for insects

martins swoop low
over rain-splashed water
seeking food
insects galore
this English summer

Allow me to whine . . .

February saw us in Leeds for superb performances of two short operas - Falla's La Vida Breve and Puccini's Gianni Schicchi. See Guardian review.

The next day we met Dan and family at the outdoor ice rink. Fool that I was, I decided to give it a go, for the first time in five years, since I broke my femur roller blading. This cartoon someone posted on facebook seems appropriate -

Alas, after twenty minutes of sheer enjoyment, I crashed down and fell on my right arm. Distal radius fracture, involving plaster cast, then brace, and I am still having difficulty with forming a fist - so not yet able to drive. Grrr!

Me and my "blue swan"

That's four months. To be fair it is improving- with the help and encouragement of the local hand therapy department. I can now open doors, carry cups and plates, play the keyboard and the recorder, and knit.
I'm very lucky that I have Harry to drive me about, and that my walking pals are happy to act as chauffeur, especially if I plan and lead the walks. At least the wrist hasn't interfered with that activity.

A bare-wristed me

OK, whining over for now!!

This is the life

We indulge in a lazy morning, as a few scraps of high cloud chalk their way across the constant blue.

We're running out of clothes so we put a wash on.  Harry goes out to buy a card adapter for his phone and comes back with large blueberry scones.

We have a leisurely coffee - with the scones, then we are off to meet the family at Heather Farm Pool in Walnut Creek. It's an easy journey by car, much shorter than our excursion by  bus and BART last Wednesday.

A good soaking is had by all, before Brian gathers the clan and they head for home.

Harry decides to get used to US driving again and we follow the Ygnacio Valley Way out of Walnut Creek, past Shadelands and into Concord, then over the hills to Pittsburg, which must be one of the ugliest places around - full of wind turbines, a power plant, and a neighbourhood of grotty looking houses. OK, maybe I exaggerate a little.

At all events we elect not to stop for lunch here. We find our way  back to the correct road, then join the Ca 24 which brings us back to Lafayette.

A large cup of tea later, we head out in search of easy eating, and after a stroll to test the taste of the main street we end up at an American diner with veg and polenta and fried egg. With fries on the side. The veg seems to be rather coarse kale, but the waiter is very friendly and we're  hungry.

We swill it all down with a coffee, pay the bill and walk back through the balmy streets. It feels rather like Spain on a late summer evening.

Lots of outdoor socialising and dining, adults and children, all pretty relaxed.

Swanage and Durlston - June 16 2014

The road from Bridport to Dorchester has fine views of the coast, and the rolling hills. Between Wareham and Swanage you pass Corfe Castle, with its unbelievable setting. I don't think I've ever seen castle ruins looking so castle-like.

Swanage itself has the familiar air of English seaside towns - a cool breeze, people paddling with shorts on or skirts lifted delicately over the knee,  apart from the odd brave person in a swimsuit. Then we have ice-cream stalls, cafés and of course the dreaded amusement arcades.

Vivid memories - the blissful expression on Hazel's face as she went round in the teapots, and Joseph's was nearly as good.

Others: Joseph's mega meltdown when he couldn't keep losing more money on the twopence machines, and the feel of seawater and sand between my toes. Seems all the boy wanted was the lollipop he didn't win. . .

I went to buy goodies for lunch, bread from a bakery, the rest from Budgens supermarket.

Then it was back to the cars, and we decided to visit Durlston Castle Country Park. Easy peasy, the signs are there until we reach the town centre, when suddenly the powers that be expect you to know the way. We do a quick extra circuit of the town centre, then make a false turn before choosing the correct route. After a mile or so, there's another sign. Brilliant labelling, Swanage!

We're hungry now, so we eat, then make our way to the castle - built between 1887 and 1891 by George Burt, owner of Durlston Estate. He hoped to develop the estate as a spa, and he was one of those enterprising Victorians with a fascination for science and learning, as a walk round soon shows.

Picture by HH

Joseph's fascination with stairs distracts us from our original objective of the coffee shop, and leads us through an exhibition of original artwork by local artist Joe Colquhoun for the comic strip, Charley's war, and out to the Great Globe, a 4 ton Portland Stone construction with a sea view. Plenty of opportunities for him to use his new mini binoculars to peruse the boats on the sea, and a helicopter which flies over. And lots of scrambling up and down on steep grass.

by HH

The Great Globe (HH)

The Southwest Coast Path runs through the Estate, and we follow it past a tree which demands to be climbed, and then Tilly Whim Caves - too dangerous for humans now because of rockfalls, but all the better for bats and birds.

(HH)

Joseph is very keen to run on towards the lighthouse.  I go with him and Harry Esther and Hazel follow with the pushchair.  The wall stops and we have a rougher track down and up. Hand holding is enforced.The Lighthouse is now holiday cottages.  

(HH)

(HH)

Alas, you can't visit the light, the old one is wrapped and out of use - they use LEDs now. No we can't get in - not even to meet Sky High and Huggy*, whoever they are. (Even though they texted us to say we should meet them there - a grandmotherly ploy to keep us moving). We'll have to rearrange the meeting with them at the car park.

On the way back we find ourselves falling behind the others - no tempting objective in view, but distractions all the way. 'I'm just building a nest for my binoculars.'   'That's a Joseph path' - one I've marked out as safe for a hands free few yards.  'I need to climb the tree.'  I parcel out two or three minute permissions until it's close enough to tempt him with the café. But the others - no, not Sky High and Huggy - send a text that they're in the car park. A carton of juice and a piggyback later, we rejoin them.

*Fly high and huggy from a Cbeebies game!

I should have a few more photos to add. Taken by Harry.