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!

A bit of a blast!

This is my other car - I don't keep it at home in case the neighbours get the wrong idea .... just kidding!

Thanks to the generosity of a lovely couple, Tara and Jonathan, whose marriage I officiated at in April, I today took a spin - 5 spins actually - around the Teesside motorsport circuit in nothing less than a Lamborghini!  What a motor!  I didn't dare take my eyes off the road to look at the speedo, but down that back stretch, with the engine roaring and the instructor urging me to keep my foot down until the corner seemed to be just under the bonnet, it seemed fast - very fast.
It almost seems indecent to throw such a  beautiful car around such a small circuit so fast.  I bet on the open road it is even more of a pleasure to drive.  Now if I could just borrow one for half a day to trip across to a redundant airfield ... !   Tara and Jonathan - thank you very much.