And learn about sundials.
Robert paddling in the River Dove, Beresford Dale.
Natural caves formed in the limestone cliffs at Wolfscote Dale
Home from home, our gelert tulsa 4 man tent, complete with camping gaz camping chef stove. The first time we've camped as a family and the first time I have ever camped. I loved it btw.
I've just got round to blogging again after a busy couple of weeks out and about. These pics are from our trip to the Whistlestop Centre at Matlock Bath - part of the Wildlife Trusts. We had the rare opportunity to see inside a bee hive and learn about bees in depth from a beekeeper.
Robert testing out a beekeepers hat - very itchy apparently.
Nell (left) from the Wildlife Trusts and Margaret the beekeeper showing us a how a smoker works.
Robert made a bee life-cycle wheel, identified which differently coloured pollen came from which plant, played a game, tasted different honey from around the world and made this beeswax candle.
Another meet up, this time with some South Yorkshire Home Edders. The location - Chatsworth Adventure Playground. In my opinion an inspired choice. The result one child perfectly happy all day long barely stopping for lunch. Here's the highlights.
Stroking Guinea Pigs. Awe how cute.
Sand and water play. Robert spent ages turning the giant Archimedes Screw.
Bouncing and running about.
Discovering and exploring secret tunnels.
Waiting for the bus home. The bus took us directly from matlock to the house itself. When I was Robert's age or thereabouts we had to walk from Baslow all the way up the long drive to the house. We must have been super fit kids. And just for the record I have walked up that hill to Riber Castle in Matlock aswell.
One very exhausted six year old.
Yesterday we took a bus out to South Normanton, Robert had a great time at the gaming group. He is so thrilled he could try different consoles. I only got lost once trying to find the community centre - we got off the bus a stop to late. I took this picture while waiting for the bus back in South Normanton, Robert is leaning against a sculpture which supports a clock. I had a moment of confusion where I wasn't at all sure if our Derbyshire Wayfarer was still OK to use on the bus back from South Normanton - am I in Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire? When I got home John confirmed I was indeed still in Derbyshire.
Later at home Robert made soft stuff cut outs and watched Jungle Run (his favourite programme at the moment.)
We are back from our annual holiday, this year we headed for the seaside. Paignton was chosen for its wide choice of clean beaches and visitor attractions. Although the train journey was a little arduous at five and a half hours due to Chesterfield station being closed for track maintenance, it was well worth it once we arrived.
The sun shone and the air was warm. I had heard about Torbay's micro climate but it was a remarkable experience to feel the rise in temperature.
Everything in paignton was ideally located, buses run frequently and on time connecting with other services perfectly. We hopped on two different steam trains, one from paignton to Kingswear with a ferry trip to dartmouth and the other train took us from Totnes to Buckfastleigh in order to visit Buckfast Abbey by a short vintage bus ride.
We visited Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts in Torquay. I was a bit put out at the joint entrance fee just to see the penguins at Living Coasts but John found a shop dedicated to Agatha Christie while we were in Torquay so that made the excursion more worthwhile.
We want to go back again to Paignton next year to see everything we missed because one week isn't long enough.
Yesterday we went to the Tramway Village at Crich. We have been before when Robert was three to see Thomas the Tank Engine. This time we just went to adore the trams....
Ride on trams...
Have a picnic...with my mum's old picnic bag which she passed on to me because it has Tardis qualities and I am sooo into vintage stuff at the moment. The bag has been to Crich before in the 70's.
Discover new and wonderful creatures....giddy up.
Puzzle over things...
Get lots of fresh air and exercise...up hill an down dale.
Study architecture...
Flop down exhausted....waiting for the bus home.
The good news...it may be fairly expensive to get into the museum (£24 for the three of us) but now because I gave them my details for Gift Aid I have FREE ADMISSION for the rest of the year (excluding Bank Holidays and Special Event Days.) Wow.
We stopped for lunch on the Thames Embankment, cheese and tomato sarnies and coffee in the fresh air you can't beat it.
We pointed out the OXO building, ST Pauls and I explained to Robert that this was where his Nana (my mum) walked to and from work and also where my dad courted her. That would have all happened in the 1940's.
The OXO Building
A relic of London's industrial past, the OXO Tower building has been inventively remodeled to engage with the busy cultural and commercial life of the city.
Once lined with grime encrusted warehouses, London's South Bank has gradually evolved into a modern cultural and commercial riverside strip. The stalwart functionalism of industry has given way to a heterogeneous assortment of buildings baying across the River Thames. Just east of the beton brut grandeur of the National Theatre and the execrable King's Reach Tower lies the Oxo building, preserved like an archaeological specimen as the sole reminder of the area's past life. Originally constructed at the turn of the century as a Post Office generating station, it was extensively remodeled as a meat warehouse between 1928 and 1930, acquiring, in the process, its famous Art Deco tower. Punctuated by a trio of glazed apertures that might look like innocuous noughts and crosses, they actually spell out 'OXO', the name of the British meat products company. Designed by A. W. Moore, this brazen appendage cunningly circumvented restrictions on advertising along the river and has now assumed the status of minor London landmark.
After a long period of uncertainty, the original building has now been inventively remodeled for mixed residential and commercial use. Five intermediate floors provide 78 flats for Coin Street Secondary Housing Association (occupied by people who either live or work in the local borough), while the lower three storeys have been refurbished to house designer studios and small speciality shops. On the second floor overlooking the dramatic sweep of the river from St Paul's Cathedral to Charing Cross Station, is a cheerfully demotic cafe designed by Apicella Associates.
You may never see another photo like this...
A quick snap before the train arrived. We boarded the train and within two minutes a train announcer told us flash photography was forbidden. It was really weird too being told off like that, made me feel paranoid in a big brother is watching you kind of way.
Heres why, the full article on the London Underground on wikipedia explains.
Photography for personal use is permitted in public areas of the Underground, but the use of tripods and other supports is forbidden as it poses a danger in the often cramped spaces and crowds found underground. Flash photography is also forbidden as it may distract drivers and disrupt fire-detection equipment. For the same reason bright auto-focus assist lights should be switched off or covered when photographing in the Underground. Due to the recent heightened security situation any persons taking photos of any kind on the London underground network are liable to be stopped and questioned by police under anti-terrorism laws, it is vital to speak to the station supervisor before using any photographic equipment. You can contact the LU film unit to purchase a photographic pass. A student permit for a month costs £25.00.
Oops.
Yesterday we hopped on a train to London. Robert wanted to go on the tube and see the lines featured in Underground Ernie Although I have visited London before a trip on the underground was a first for me too.
Our route: Piccadilly Line to Leicester Square. Change to the Northern Line for the Embankment where we had lunch. Back on the tube, Circle line to St James' Park. Circle Line to South Kensington for the Science Museum. Return to St. Pancras via the Circle Line, this time taking the longer route through Paddington to pass through as many different stations as we could.
The first train was very crowded and hot, standing room only. Robert wasn't too happy but the journey was short and quick. The next trains had seats available from time to time and weren't crowded at all. We had fun trying to 'beat' the ticket barriers. Robert's travel on the tube was free so he had to go through the automatic barriers in front of me. I got as close to the barrier as I could, reaching back for the ticket as it popped up. This meant that I invariably got my bottom trapped in the closing barrier as I tried to get through it. Some stations had an attendant to swipe the barrier to let kids through but most didn't. The day rover tickets John and I used were good value for money at £10.50 for both, giving us unlimited travel in Zone 1.
John helped Robert with the escalators, they are faster than those at home and I learned that you have to stand on the right to let people in a hurry overtake. I have never climbed so many stairs before. My legs are still aching as I type.
Off we trekked to York again, yesterday. Quick look round the NRM and caught their road train to York Minster. We relaxed for an hour on the park examining gargoyles and trees.
Got completely lost looking for the castle, which turned out to be little more than a tower and a very expensive museum. A bonus however while we meandered aimlessly through York center was the excellent find of a remainder bookshop, we picked up some more reading material for Robert before heading off again. When we found the castle we climbed the steps up to Clifford's Tower, I realised how unfit I am when my legs nearly gave way at the top. Robert loved the tower, exploring the nooks and looking out through the arrow slits. John climbed higher still onto the ramparts (my ever increasing vertigo meant I stayed put) Robert has no such fear of heights and couldn't get enough of the view!
We hiked back to the train station with Robert on John's shoulders most of the way as he tried to doze off. Our train was cancelled due to 'signal failure' and with no sign of any more trains for the foreseeable so Robert got an hour's sleep at the station while we decided what to do. John's an old hand at rail travel and figured out an alternative root home catching two trains and a bus, and the challenge cheered him up no end. Amazingly ther homeward journey took the same time as the outward journey.
I've sussed getting more one photo onto blogger, hurray! There will be no stopping me now.
I've also noticed the date stamp on my camera is wrong....in years to come I will be wondering how did we manage such a sunny day in York in November???!!!
