Getting out more (but staying in bed longer)

It was half term, but due to sickness in my mum's place in London, we decided to stay at home for the week. Two things happened, almost by chance. First, we started having lay ins. Cat and I arranged the breakfast cereals in 'easy to get at' ways. Milk in jugs, spoons at the ready. We were finally able to send the early rising kids off our bed when they came to disturb at 7.30ish (actually, its just Angela). Clara can operate the TV now, leaving parenting completely redundant. We slept, and read, and cuddled.

The guilt set in, so at about 11am each day we decided to get the kids out and about - swimming and walking. We took the bus at the end of the road one day and it took us to a unexpectedly good reservoir (Doe Park) with great views and muddy stepping stones. The walk ended with the abandoned church in Denholm, with its many wonderful stone faces peering down from high. Another day was spent in York, scaling the city walls (not much else to do due to a power cut closing much of the city!) The final stop today was a trip to the St Ives Estate in Bingley, a gem if a woodland - with witches and dragons - and a top children's play area consisting of giant glockenspiel's and zip wires! What an ace holiday!