October '14

WWI costume day at school - all handmade (including the hat) by Mum.

At the beach with my cousin.

At the park with Mum and Dad. Who's the bigger kid?

Last month we lost Grandpa. I didn't go to the funeral so to say goodbye we released balloons in his memory at one of our favourite places - Tantallon Castle. It was a special moment. We love and miss you loads, Grandpa.

Scarborough North Bay

After a bit of a chilly morning where Mum insisted we go to a local lavender farm (which was a bit disappointing) we headed back to Scarborough. But this time to the North Bay - this was more of our style!

We started off in Peasholm Park which was really nice and the weather had also improved greatly. We had a go in a dragon boat around the little lake, overtaking everyone we came across and scaring the swans!

After the park we headed to the North Bay beach and found an ice-cream shop on the way. We'd been really disappointed at the lack of a real ice-cream shop on the other side of the town but this one was fabulous and Mum says it was the best ice-cream she's ever had. That's high praise given we're regular customers of Luvian's in St Andrews and Portsoy Ice Cream in Portsoy!

After a bit of playing and paddling at the beach it was time to head on. We head home tomorrow...

Flamingo Land

Flamingo Land today! This was awesome fun, although it wasn't a good start when I wasn't tall enough to get on the first ride we tried :(. We soon found plenty rides that I was tall enough for. Quite early we went on the Pterodactyl - a really high and slowly spinning seat. Mum and I loved it and went straight back on when it was done but it broke Dad. He sat below looking very pale and recovering. He had to think twice before going on every ride after that and there were a few we had to leave him by the side for!

Castle Howard

Today we went to Castle Howard. It's not our usual kind of castle because it's not a ruin but it sure was a lot of fun. They've got fantastic grounds with a great park and lots of places to run and explore. The Castle itself is also very cool with amazing rooms and very helpful staff. There was a great mineral collection, some brilliant busts and we got to touch a Salvador Dali sculpture (don't tell anyone!).

Too much fun was had at the play park. I think we monopolised the spinney thing a bit!

The Helix

We went to The Helix in Falkirk today to see The Kelpies. They're really amazing - have to be seen in person to be fully appreciated. The whole setting is really nice and a really big park. Unfortunately the play park isn't finished yet so we couldn't go to play there - we'll definitely have to come back!

Spin Class

We went to the park today. There was a spinning theme...

Schwing!

Just for fun!

Just Hanging Around

The place we went for lunch today had a really cool climbing frame. I still felt the need to improvise something more radical though!

Riding a Lion

I love interactive art!

Vogrie Country Park

Today, after diving, we went to Vogrie Country Park. It was recommended to us by a friend of Dad's and it was great fun. They have some great art and we had a fab time playing on the big chairs.

They had a great park for kids where I set some great examples for my fellow cherubs!

And then on the way back to the car we came across a very cool bike!

Levitation's What You Need!

Auntie Vikki and Cousin Dylan came around today. The plan was to go swimming but we were a bit late and with it being the holidays the pool was too busy so we went to the park and for a walk in the woods instead. It was a lot of fun and I even did a wee bit of gymnastics on a tree stump. But Dad's favourite moment was when Auntie Vikki and Cousin Dylan went skipping ahead like something from a Disney movie! He captured a picture that makes it look like they're levitating through the woods!

I can't wait until they come back again and I really hope we get a chance to go swimming together.

The Park

Been to the park with Dad today. We took a long cycle to a park we've not been to for a while and then went out to where the new gymnastics studio is going to be. After the summer we won't be training in the college gym any more and will have our own gym for the first time. This means a properly sprung floor and apparatus permanently available - it's going to be so much better! It's also a little closer and I might be able to cycle there, it all depends on how much the new training time clash with my other activities! Doesn't help Dad any though, it's too far away from his work for him to meet Mum there when she drops me off - he'll need to start cycling to work himself!

Fishing at Beecraigs

I said we'd be back! It's been a really nice day today so we've come back to Beecraigs to do some fishing. That's another of the 50 things to do before you're 11 and 3/4 done!

There were plenty little fish to see but they are extremely difficult to catch. Luckily there was another young lad there who'd caught a few and was able to teach us the knack - you have to be extremely quick and just lunge the net straight in and under them. That technique took a lot of mastering and after Mum and Dad had managed to catch a fish or two each it was looking like I might not succeed. But then, just before we had to leave to come home, I caught one!

We also saw frogs and a couple of leeches while we were there. The other boy picked up the leech! Rather him than me. I got to have a frog in my hands which was really cool. I'm still not sure who had more fun there though - me or Mummy!