Back in the hood. . .

Alfie's having trouble with his hood again!

Home again home again. . .

Jiggety jig . . On our way back from the shops. It's cowboy casserole for tea tonight.

Daddy and Alfie

Lily, Roro and Alfie

On board.

The boat.

Grandma and grandad's boat is the 2nd one along.

Grandma and grandad's boat.

The girls are off out with grandma, grandad and cousins today, so we took them to the marina and dropped them off.

Last view

Last lingering view of the heather and the dales.

Going home

Bye bye Swaledale

Off home again tomorrow.

Gabi

In the medieval garden outside the castle.

Swaledale

Swaledale

Alfie and I

Outside the castle.

Bolton castle

View from castle bolton

Weather nicer than predicted. Considering staying here to the end of the hols!

Playing in the garden,

Easter afternoon.

We all had a lovely afternoon in the garden, with some richmond ale, and easter choc. Alfie particularly enjoyed the freedom of no Nappy, and a big safe place to explore. Lily and Roro went over the fence to climb trees and play. Lots of lovely sunshine. The drain was eventually unblocked by the 2nd professional of the day to tackle the job. He came with a big truck and jet hose. Turns out a birds nest had fallen into the pipe, also an old piece of ceramic pipe had come away and partially blocked the drain.

Alfie's breakfast

The avid weaner's easter breakfast. Shreddies and chocolate buttons!

Any more in here?

Rowanne hoping for more!

Meanwhile. . .

The children enjoy easter goodies . . . With the faint nif of dung from the blocked drain wafting through the house. . .

Easter sunday 2009

In typical bank holiday style, the drain has blocked at grandma joys. This is not the chocolate surprise we were hoping for. (This post will help all would-be dieters! )

Outside "The Water Rat" Ripon.

Jeremy smokin' a fag on our riverside walk.

Grandma Joy and Gabi.

By the river in Ripon.

Ripon cathedral.

Bryan Tunstall's grave

A quirky epitaph on one of the graves at Ripon cathedral!

Visiting Ripon.

Today as part of our visit to north yorkshire we went to Ripon. We enjoyed a walk around the town past the cathedral and down by the river.

A nice spring day!

Alfie enjoyed a bit of sunshine sitting in his pram - he's reached that age where he likes to throw the toys out - then yell until someone comes and hands them back!

Lily was still not feeling very well (she's still not better yet after having flu, then an ear infection resulting in a burst eardrum - because its not the policy for the dr to give antibiotics for childrens ear infections any more.....), but she did sit at the table to play with the playdough - which is always theraputic!

Gabi gave the ferrets a much needed spring clean!

We were able to dust off the rotary airer and hang some washing out for a change - giving the tumble dryer a rest (and saving us using the expensive electricity!).

Yummy!

Pancakes, beans, cheese.

Under the canopy!

He's happy now he has new batteries in his platypus.

Sun's out!

It's a beautiful spring day. Poor lily at school on her birthday!

Quick "Alfred" update!

The little boy is changing so quickly now he's reached 8 months old. Just this weekend - he has got his first tooth and also learned how to stand up at the cot bars!

He is now crawling, and can sit himself up from laying down too.

Farm visit!

What better to do on the first Sunday in March - but visit a farm - and not a little lamb was there in sight! Still - there were pleanty of goats - and some fun things to do.

The children enjoyed milking some wooden cows (really!), and riding on some big go-karts.

If only i could join in!

Alfie has become a lot more mobile in the last week and can now sit up, and almost crawl on hands and knees. He can go backwards already, so it won't be long before he's away! He's also trying to pull himself up on the furniture. We've had to put his cot base down to the lowest level to make sure he can't climb out. He is 8m old now.

Climbing trees!

Doesn't matter what toy's you have, there's not much in life that's more fun than climbing trees!

Wheely Bad Trouble!

We've had a right old "to do" with the pram this week - the front wheels started to be noisy - not just a "squeak squeak" but a sort of squealing noise - rather like the sound you get when you dip a finger in a wine glass and run it around the rim - but on a larger scale - quite awful!

I greased and oiled the wheels - but the sound continued.

I consulted some pram restorers (found online) - who thought the "bushes" needed replacing. The bushes arrived today - and would not fit!!! It turned out the pram wheels were not the original "silver cross" brand - but some foreign ones. The upshot is - the pram needs new wheels (even though they don't look rusty!), because I cannot get new bushes for them.

Thankfully, a lovely lady named "Alison" of http://www.simplyprams.co.uk/ was able to help - she is supplying me with "new" reclaimed "vintage" genuine silver cross wheels - so all should be well by about wednesday (after the post has been!). PHEW!

(I say phew - because brand new wheels would have cost £120 from silvercross - which is more than the pram cost me!).

HUGE thanks to Alison for saving our pram!!! x

Rowanne's 5th Birthday Pictures

Journey to school today.

At least Gabi is off school to help with the sledge!