Ripon - The finale...

I forgot to mention that on the Tuesday night we walked into town to meet Alan and Emily (they had been off to the Park and a walk along the river) .At nine every night the Hornblower does his thing.

Pretending to be Gargoyles at the Market cross:-)

The Hornblower talking to the crowds and telling us the Story of this historic event.

It was very interesting and he was very good and entertaining.It was then that a couple of women who had had a little too much to drink decided it would be a good time to have a domestic!! Milly said it was a pity- because he was a good storyteller- but we couldn't hear all he said:-(

Thursday and the plan was that Alan would take the girls to Lightwater valley (Tesco Vouchers came in handy again to pay to go in) and I would take the opportunity to recoup! I put a towel on the grass and took my book out.I lay there from about 11- till they returned at 4.30 ish.The Cathedral bells came in handy as I just rotated every quarter of an hour so I was nicely cooked on all sides:-))

Milly had requested potato salad instead of sandwiches for her picnic lunch and I had made enough for two, so my lunch was all ready and took no time at all - Perfect !

 Milly loves theme parks but has never really wanted to go on the bigger rides.She went on a couple here and I think a thrill seeker has emerged :-))

A good day for all!

Friday was the day to travel home...We had had a fabulous time and had packed a lot in,I was very sad to leave.

We took some flowers to my Nana's grave and then headed to Fountains Abbey.I had taken out a years National Trust membership last June and thought it had expired at the beginning of the month - it just said June as the expiry date - so I had thought we would just go for a walk in the grounds of the Deer Park that were accessible free.Alan said I should check it out just in case.Twas a good job I listened to him on this occasion:-) The lady at the gate was lovely - although you are supposed to book ahead when you use the Home educators pass - she allowed us to go in.We had a lovely walk.

Lynn with a map!

Alan found this amusing considering how many times my navigational skills had let me down. Good job Millie had already checked out where we were going and I just had to follow ;-)

Posers... us ?

We sat and played around with my camera whilst the girls went of to investigate another Temple.

Then it was time to head back to the car for lunch before setting off home...

A fabulous holiday made possible by the generosity of my Aunt and Uncle allowing us to stay in their home while they were away.

Millie it was a pleasure to have you with us and we hope College won't mean this will be the last time:-)

Ripon - part two....

Next morning we headed out to York.A slight detour on the way to ensure all the sights were seen.
Ok,ok - I got us lost!!
 We really should invest in a sat nav:-)

We used the park and ride facility and got into the center in time to have lunch - I had used Tesco vouchers to pay for a meal at Pizza express.

I do find it funny when Milly calls places posh - as she did in this restaurant - it reminded me when we met up with Michelle, Marcus and Chloe and had afternoon tea and cake in a hotel in Cockermouth and she said that was posh too ;-)

Because Milly always found it quite hard to sit for any length of time and really didn't like waiting for food, we made a choice early on to go to places we would be more likely to get served quickly,where she would be more comfortable and able to wander around without annoying diners- usually pub grub or cafe type places.We felt it was better to do that than to set her up to fail in a more formal setting.

As the years have gone on and she has - slightly - more patience and is able to wait a little longer we have been able to move up to a new posh experience for her :-)
 The building we were in on Museum st was actually very impressive.

I had a lovely Mare E Monti Leggera pizza.I highly recommend it:-)

Then - slightly different scenery to the day before .

The girls were in and out of shops and I followed whilst Alan found a sunny spot to lean or sit and wait for us- he built up quite a nice tan that day :-) Milly had some gifts she wanted to buy for a friend using the last of her holiday money.Millie and I were keen to check out the charity shops to see what bargains we could find- both of us managed to score;-) I got a pair of brand new wedge espadrille for £3 and Millie got a skirt and a dress under £5 each!I managed to get Milly a skirt for a couple of pounds too.

We also managed to complete our operation beautiful mission.

Deb had posted about this on Face book and Milly and I just love the idea.Milly wrote it and then she wanted to wait and see who went in the stall after us and we waited in the store to see her face when she came out.Milly was keen to see if she looked happy:-)  

York was - as always - a joy to walk around.Street theatre and the fabulous architecture,adding to the sunshine.

A short stop off in the Minster grounds.Millie wrote out her postcards and Emily looked through her purchases.

Back to the car and another scenic detour on the way home.....

Wednesday was a more leisurely start and after an early lunch we called on my Uncle and Aunt before us girls headed off to the baths and Alan went back to watch the football. I had a sauna and alternated between that and the pool and the steam room.

Back home and Milly went to the bedroom to listen to her story tape - and ended up napping for a while -whilst Millie and I sat in the garden and chatted.

We had an early tea and set off to see my Cousin and his wife and their daughter -who we always call baby Emma - but who is in fact well into toddler hood now:-) Another opportunity to get lost taken with both hands:-/

Got there in the end and had a lovely visit.

Milly is so good with Emma and Emma appears to adore her.

Most nights by the time we got home and had food we were all worn out.No matter how tired she was Emily always wanted to go with Alan on their evening walk to play on the park and then along the canal.Millie and I would chat and when they got back- around 9.30 - we would put a film on.

During our stay we watched Dorian Grey,  Hairspray and Mean girls... 

We were staying in my Aunts house - while they are on holiday - and it is within sight of the Cathedral.This also means the bells that peel every quarter of an hour are very loud! You do get used to them after a while during the day but tend to notice them more at night. The girls were in the front room but said they were so tired when they went up to bed,that after listening to MP3's for a short while they went to sleep very quickly and weren't bothered by them.

Ripon trip - part one...

Lots of loving for the animals before taking them to the Kennels...

We set off on Monday morning around 9.30.

We made very good time to our usual pit stop at Camel cafe - or as it is officially known Mainsgill Farm : ) Milkshake was not to Milly's ( my Milly with the y at the end ) taste but Millie ( best friend with ie at the end ) stepped in and polished it off;-) A quick bounce on the trampoline and then onwards and made it to Ripon in time to have lunch before heading out to Knaresborough.The plan was to visit Mother shiptons cave .There was a lovely walk along the river bank...

A play park to keep Milly and I happy ;-)

Information about the Petrifying Well.

Before seeing the objects turned to stone!

Making a wish...

On to the small museum to learn some more about Mother Shipton-oh and of course to check out the gift shop:-)

 

Famous articles that had been petrified....

Magnums to eat and gifts purchased - including a love potion for Emily to use - we went in search of the boats we had seen being rowed along the river.

 

Found them in a fantastically scenic spot.

Off they went...

I sat talking to the owner of the boats and when he was busy I just watched the world go by.What a fab way to spend an afternoon.

{This moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember...


Soulemama

Millyisms

We were having a tickle fight - I had Milly's hand flat in between my two flat hands and I said that's like a Mummy and Milly sandwich - she answered yes,you're the bread and I'm the filling in your sandwich.She sure is ! I am empty without her.What a great metaphor for her importance to me,she is now affectionately known as the filling in my sandwich:-)

At the pool on Thursday ... Milly got in the pool but had left her goggles in the locker.I offered to go and get them for her.On my return I saw the pool manager - who was on lifeguard duty poolside - was leaning over chatting to her.As I got back to the table she finished her conversation and came out to get her goggles and have a drink of water.She was keen to tell me word for word what had been said :-) He had asked her where her friend was that she normally came with (he sees us every week) Milly explained she was still in the changing rooms and was with her Mum and brother.He then asked why she wasn't in school and Milly said she didn't go to school -  she was home educated...May not seem like a big deal - quite a normal conversation.It was a big thing for Milly - she is a chatterbox but only in situations she feels comfortable in -she would normally look to me to answer for her.

As we sat in the car eating our lunch afterwards I said I had thought about her conversation with the lifeguard and how brave she had been and wondered how she had felt.She said she had been a bit nervous but it was OK.One of the reasons she tends to look to me to answer when people ask about home ed is that they often want to know what she learns and how it works - she finds it difficult to come up with an answer in the moment. We have talked about this before and have worked out some things she could answer with so she would feel more confident .I reminded her of this and said that if she is in that situation again and is asked how it works she might say something like we don't do lessons but I follow my interests and learn things that way.

She said or I could just say it works perfectly fine thank you :-)

Park day...

We had made plans last night and today was to include a much needed clean up in Milly's room this morning...

The sun came out and I quickly changed them.Milly had a long lie in this morning and when she got up I suggested we go out instead of tidying her room.She didn't need persuading :-)

We went out to the park and took the new Stephanie Meyer book The short second life of Bree Tanner so we could walk along the river and sit on a bench and read.

Milly had a ball at the park...
First need to get sorted - hang your jacket and bag:-)

Then put in your earphones and make sure you have the song you want on.I love the fact that at 11 she still enjoys the park so much and yet is listening and dancing to Ellie Goulding and Kesha as she plays..

Hang like a bat for a while...

Check if that pesky woman is still flitting around with her phone taking pics.

Before you hang and swing some more.

Sit quietly for a while listening and thinking.

On to climb your favourite tree.

Used to have hair here - getting used to a new shorter hairdo:-)

Trying to take a picture together - Mum not smiling lets try again...

Giggle so much when we seperate to reposition and come back in for the shot, then the wind blows our hair all over and stops us getting the pose we wanted! I am really not keen on this unflattering shot of me but Milly loves it and I love it because of the memory it evokes...

Sit and watch in the sunshine whilst Milly does what she always does at this spot..

This time she paddled but she resisted sitting in the water and found a boulder to sit in instead:-)

A fab afternoon.She wanted to go to the park again but there were a whole load of primary school children - must have been brought from a neighbouring school for their afternoon break- so she decided to leave it as she wouldn't have been able to get on the equipment.Dad was more than happy to go out when he got in from work and the three of them ( beauty went too) were gone for over two hours as they fitted in a very long walk aswell... 

This Moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember...



SouleMama