Gingatopia

Thursday, 02 September 2010 - 12:22

SCHOOL YEAR TWO - Day One

It's Evelyn's first day back at school, today, after the summer break. As I put her to bed, last night, Evie told me how she was looking forward to returning to school, and she was obviously very excited that she was going back to YEAR TWO. Unfortunately, things don't seem quite so rosy this morning!

As Evie ate her breakfast she began sobbing, telling Jilly and I that she didn't want to go to school because everything was going to be different. Obviously, we tried to assure Evie that school would be very much as she'd left it six weeks ago, but she continued crying.

"No it won't be the same", she told Jilly and I, "there are no toys in Year Two!"

There was nothing we could say to that!

After she'd dropped Evelyn off at school, and arrived at work, Jilly sent me the following e-mail.

"Evie was a little subdued as we set off for school but soon perked up when we got there and she saw all her friends. Big hugs as I left her at classroom door and she whispered in my ear that she loved me and would miss me today."

Saturday, 28 August 2010 - 21:34

Atlantic Reach (Summer Holidays 2a)

Saturday, 21 August 2010

Jilly and I woke at 04:20 this morning and packed the car ready for waking Evelyn to leave the house. Obviously trying to let Evelyn sleep until we left, we tried to make as little noise as possible, but we must have disturbed her. As I was taking the last of the bags downstairs, I heard strange noises coming from Evelyn's room.

To the untrained ear, what Evelyn was doing would have made no sense at all.

"Nerrr, neeerrr, neeerrrrrrrrr", Evelyn 'nerrred' as she slept. She was obviously dreaming about the Big Babies episode, 'The Race', in which the babies (Rocco and Brooks) use ner-power to boost the speed of their buggy to beat 'The Gonch' in a race around the park.

Anyway, having waited until Evelyn had finished her race, I woke her as gently as possible and bundled her into the car, and we were on our way at 04.50.

Wednesday, 11 August 2010 - 23:31

Staying at Nanna and Poppee's

Evelyn is staying at Nanna and Poppee's for the next couple of days. Like the parents of many school-age children, Jilly and I are trying to use leave only when absolutely necessary, and Nanna and Poppee have been good enough to offer to look after Evie for us (naive fools, muh-ha-ha-ha!). Thinking that Evie ought to have a little spending money with her, Jilly gave Evie two five pound notes to give to Nanna for safe keeping.

"This money is no good!", Evelyn told Jilly."I want heavy money, not this paper rubbish!"

What was she thinking of?

Sunday, 08 August 2010 - 08:17

Of course, it was only a matter of time...

After collecting Evelyn from Nanna and Poppee this morning, Jilly, Evelyn and I drove to Kempy's to help her choose tiles for her new bathroom.

As we drove there, Jilly and I talked about the possibility of my taking Evelyn to the park while Jilly and Kempy discussed the bathroom. As I spelled 'P...A...R...K...' during the conversation, little ears were obviously wagging in the back of the car!

"Did you just say 'PUH...AH...RUH...KUH...'?", Evelyn asked me, "That spells PARK doesn't it, Daddy?"

"CURSE YOU, EXCELLENT PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION!", I exclaimed, waving my fist in mock frustration as Evelyn laughed in the back of the car! Really? What was I thinking?

Next time, I'll try 'E...X...T...E...R...N...A...L...M...U...N...I...C...I...P...A...L...
R...E...C...R...E...A...T...I...O...N...A...L...F...A...C...I...L...I...T...Y...'

Er...or perhaps not!

Thursday, 29 July 2010 - 21:17

YHA - Wastwater (Summer Holidays 1b)

Almost literally as we walked through the door on our return from YHA Whitby at the end of April, Jim Harris (the Wassock-meister himself) was on the phone to us telling us about a fantastic money-saving dealee at YHA Wastwater. Reputedly one of the most beautiful of 'the lakes', Wastwater hosts a lovely Youth Hostel Association building on it's shores. Jim had received an e-mail about reduced rates for the hostel in July and thought that Jilly and I might like to go during our summer holidays; and he was correct to think that.

We made several stops on the drive to Wastwater, including one at Fell Foot Park, where we stopped for a little lunch and a run around the grounds. We also stopped at the Roman Bath House in Ravenglass. Jilly and I agreed that it would be a shame to miss seeing what's left of the building, as we were in the neighborhood, and it made a very pleasant detour away from the drive.

As we walked around the remains, it struck me as absolutely astonishing that they were still there after nearly 1900 years and, as they were, just at the side of a country lane. As we left the Bath House, we stopped in at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Station for well deserved cuppa and a cake...deeee-lish!

During our stay at the hostel, we didn't take on any of the Wainwrights around Wastwater as I might have liked ('tuts', and looks to the ceiling), but we did have a wander through Low Wood at the southern end of the water and enjoyed a game a Pooh Sticks off Lund Bridge. As I was never going to keep Jilly and Evelyn away from the seaside (as we were so close to the coast), we drove to St. Bees for a walk on the beach and a fly of the kite, before driving on to Whitehaven (an altogether more picturesque harbour town than it's name has ever suggested to me).

Evelyn made friends with a lovely girl - Molly - a few years older than her, and I made friends with many of the staff (most notably those responsible for preparing the lovely food we ate).

I will be recommending YHA Wastwater to the friends of Gingatopia, especially those likely to want to go Wainwright-bagging in the area.

Sunday, 25 July 2010 - 21:44

Reighton Sands, Haven (Summer Holidays 1a)

The first part of our luxurious three centre summer holiday was spent at Reighton Sands this weekend. As I've recorded - many times - in my Gingatopian Chronicles, Jilly and Evelyn love caravan holidays and (in the absence of a MASSIVE Lotto win) I'm beginning to see the benefits of them.

We drove to Reighton Sands after work on Friday afternoon, calling in at Flamborough Head on the way as the weather was lovely.

Jilly was thrilled - on our arrival at the Haven site - to discover that our accommodation had been upgraded (which was nice). The caravans are always well equipment and nice and clean, but this one seemed much bigger than the caravans we'd stayed in previously, had a view of the sea, and even had a king size bed and an en-suite toilet (if you don't mind!)

We made our way into Scarborough on Saturday, where Evelyn nagged me to take her on The Twister again. Fortunately, I left the ride with all my internal organs occupying the same space they were in when I got on the ride (this time). Astonishingly, while I spent most of my time on the ride absolutely petrified, Evelyn spent her time with both her hands above her head, screaming to go faster...I despair!

The weather was lovely most of the time we were in Reighton. Not exactly 'cracking the flags', the sun stayed out long enough for Evelyn to get in the sea (where she seems most content). Evie spent long enough in the sea to convince Jilly and I that we need to buy her a new wetsuit as she's grown out of the one that she had in May.