A special occasion

We never intended to make a huge fuss of it but our 25th Wedding Anniversary could not go totally unmarked so we took the kids out for a silver-service meal at the Rose and Crown in Romaldskirk.  Being a high-end restaurant the taking photos had to be discrete  - and apologies to Aidan who only had his hands in view while he was doing something, though I cannot remember what, with the cruet!  That said the girls did brush up very well for the occasion.





The rest of the celebration was in the form of a Mediterranean cruise which Helena and Arthur went on in Oct/Nov, and the photos for that are too numerous to share here, so if your would like to see them you may have to come and visit us!










Of course, dressing up for dinner on the boat was obligatory!

Mission accomplished - 3 out of 3!

While the rest of the UK was suffering a heat-wave, the west coast of Scotland was thankfully only just very hot!

The selection of the day on which to attempt our ascent of Ben Nevis - the third of the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales - was a military operation,  not so much as to avoid the rain and cloud but to find a day which might not be too hot!  Everything was arranged, even down to the early morning start o that as much of the climb could be made before the full heat of the day set in.  

The trouble with such a peak is that the whole world seems to want to climb it and folk of, so it seemed,  every nation under the sun where out to conquer it to day.  Even as we headed upwards there were those who were clearly doing the 'all three peaks in 24 hours challenge' were heading down, though with the cloud cap they cannot have got any views.

Just after 2 pm all three of us were at the top of this monster of a hill, very hot and tired.  Unusually for such a major peak this was the first time for us all, Arthur having only got about half-way up when he was a kid, perhaps only 6 years old.  The views were tremendous despite the heat and worth all the effort expended.

The decent was equally hot especially as we descended into the valley where the heat rose and there was no real shade, but what was most alarming was the number of people who were clearly setting off and climbing in the full heat of the day and many with very little equipment - is it any wonder that there are accidents and injuries on the mountains?

Helena and Tess were chilling at the car on our return with much apprecaited sustenance.

In search of the Lambton Worm

The National Trust, owners of Penshaw Monument, arrange evenings when small parties can ascend the small spiral staircase to take the view from the top of the surrounding area.  Needless to say, Helena looked after the dog at the bottom but all had a good walk on a balmy summer evening after those with a head for heights did the climb.

Once bitten .... got the bug!

Thanks to Tesco Clubcard and the generosity of a family at one of my churches whose relative I conducted the funeral service for a few months back I was able to pay a return visit to Croft this afternoon, not this time to drive racing cars but super cars.

But which was the best?

A

the Porsche Cayman - well, it is a nice car and the third time I've driven one so I was really beginning to feel comfortable in it.  You feel part of it - held securely - so confidant to push it to it's limit which is faster than the other red car -  Helena's - which I drive now and then (Skoda Fabia!)

B

                               
The Lamborghini Gallardo!

After the shock of an electric seat adjustment you then have to get used to the paddle gear-shift - terribly jolty as it changes up under power, and greater the power the greater the jolt which my neck did not appreciate!  That said, it has some power in it, but I never really "settled" and felt comfortable driving it but quick glances at the speedo on the back straight revealed just how fast it can go in a short time.


or C

The Ferrari 430

Another car with paddle gear-shift but a so much smoother change.  This car you feel part of as well as able to admire the sheer extravagance.  With now sufficient knowledge of the course it felt so much easier to open it up and push it so the limit, cornering confidently and braking smoothly (reverse order of course!).




So which would I want to take home?  Well, the Cayman would be nice - as the back up - but it has to be the 430.  That said, with even used cars priced at around £80,000 I fear it will have to remain a dream.

 Another great afternoon in some super cars.  The trouble is, it is not now if but when I head down to Croft again!

Yet another Gold Award

Gymnastics has seen a good number of gold awards for both kids, but today marked a very significant achievement - the presentation of Emily's Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award at St James Palace in London.  Alas, only one parent was allowed to attend and since Helena is not fond of London or the Underground Arthur had done the trip south.

The presentation award event was understandably long and drawn out, but it was good to be part of the day and Emily joined her fellow awardees from Trinity Academy in Thorne.  Of course, Emily probably had least distance to travel of all of her friends as she is studying in Hatfield!  Despite the drizzle it was a great day and good to be in the same room as the Duke of Edinburgh who seemed to have made a good recovery from previous ill health.  

Scafell Pike conquered - two down, one to go!

Lunch on Scafell Pike

Having conquered Snowdon when they were much smaller, Emily and Aidan were determined to complete Scarfell Pike before hopefully completing the trio next year in Scotland.
Setting off from the head of Borrowdale on the best day so far we were thankfully sheltered from the worst heat of the sun most of the way up to Styhead and then by the Corridor route by mist.  Though the top had cleared while we were half an hour from reaching it the cloud swirled in as we approached the summit.  It was like a regular party with probably no less than 50 people there at any one time while we ate lunch and glimpsed the views as the cloud cover varied.  We returned by Sprinkling Tarn to add a bit of variety, and were held in awe as a shepherd controlled four dogs to select out the unshorn sheep from those which had been on both sides of the valley and drove them on downwards ahead of us.
Despite the strenuousness of the day three happy but weary walkers returned down in just under six hours.

Biking at Whinlatter

"Can I go mountain biking?" came the request from Aidan.  Well, it's not as though he hasn't done it before, having taken himself around most of the red route at Dalby Forest a couple or so years ago.
Having obtained our bikes, Aidan and Dad set out while Emily and Mum went off Tess-walking.  The blue route was the first we attemped, a gentle and enjoyable wander through the woods.  Well, it was a bit more than a Sunday afternoon strole!  We got back after about an hour and decided it was lunch-time so attacked the food left in the car, only just in time to avoid a torrential downpour.
We then decided to try the shorter red route, the southern one.  Now this one was very different with far more steep slopes to climb.  After a good slog through the forest and open hillside we arrived at a choice - continue up to the viewpoint and technical downhill stretch or return back down by a shorter and more enjoyable run - we went for the latter, though even it had some fun bits - like cycling down stone steps as demontrated by Aidan.
Aidan then decided that a coffee and cake sounded more fun than joining Dad on a return trip to the viewpoint above Keswick!
Going by the sleepy Tess in the evening I think she had a good walk with Mum and Emily!