hello! hello! hello!

Its good to be back! Not that we didn't enjoy our holiday - we had a great time - but we arrived home yesterday morning to glorious sunshine, and it felt like the right place to be :o)

Bit of a quick photo catch up then:

Our lodge and all our bikes at Centre Parcs (Whinfell Forest)

First time at CP - loved it! Loads for us all to do, and although it was the busiest time of the year it didn't feel too crowded. Not cheap though!!

The kids did loads of activities, some together and some not, here are a few that A enjoyed:

Pony trekking

Archery

CSI (!)

We also did roller blading, badminton and pottery painting, and the boys got up to some more daring stuff like laser quest and quad biking. I enjoyed a bit of nordic walking, and a spa evening with my Mum - loved those steam rooms. And of course, there was plenty of swimming, unfortunately this resulted in A's blue streaks turning a weird kind of purpley-grey colour, but she wasn't too bothered. All in all, a fantastic week, AND we were all still talking to each other by the end of it!

>After that it was on down to my brother's for a bit of chill out time, and visiting a few relatives. I did a lot of reading, got through Robert Harris's Rome books - Imperium and Lustrum, and also finally got round to reading The_Wasp_Factory by Iain Banks. It was recommended to me years ago by a friend who said "its definitely your kind of book", not sure how to take that now I've read it, but I suppose she was right, as I did enjoy it.

>Next up was the big family wedding that A had been preparing for for about the last six months, very exciting! It was a fab day, and I felt surprisingly moved seeing my little cousin get hitched.

False nails were required for the occasion - very grown up

A having a boogie with the bride

Then after a few more days with my brother and his family, we boarded the Caledonian Sleeper and came home. First thing we did was head down to the beach and have a paddle :o))

Pampering day

I got up yesterday to find posters around the house announcing 'Pampering Day' - with the promise of "a posh drink and a pampering" and "a time to relax and enjoy life". This was my menu:

I was allowed two drinks, so went for 'WOW water' and 'exotic passion' (!) The first was very refreshing, and seemed to be iced water with a hint of apple, the second was more citrusy, presented in a champagne glass with a straw.
I then had a shoulder massage; a lip makeover; a relaxing story; and made some scented hand cream.
A has provided this sort of treat a few times - for her Grannies and various visitors - and she is SO good at it. She is so giving, and really great with people. It makes me very proud and thankful that I have this person in my life :0)

A had a lovely time with her cousins last week, the time seemed to go so fast though. She only sees them once or twice a year, and we probably wont see them again til next June now, so it was a bit sad saying goodbye.

The climbing wall at Landmark

bouncing fun in Granny's garden

We attended Tilda's film festival again - this year it was a pilgrimage across Scotland, taking the Screen_Machine moblie cinema to different small towns and villages along the way. I took A and her friends to see A_Bag_of_Rice, a wonderful Iranian film about a little girl and her elderly neighbour going on a journey to collect (45kg!!!) of rice. I also went (without A) to see Night_of_the_Hunter , a beautiful, if scary film about two children on the run from a murderous preacher. Robert Mitchum is wonderfully sinister as the psychotic killer, particularly loved his hymn singing - very effective. I'd seen the film years ago and it stuck in my memory, so was really pleased to catch it again.

I hope this is going to continue as an annual festival, its fantastic to have the opportunity to see these obscure, unusual films, and the atmosphere is so warm and friendly - a real community feel. Nobody is disapproving of young children being around ( I was sat next to a woman breastfeeding her tiny baby at 'Night of the Hunter') in fact quite the opposite - all ages are welcomed and encouraged and the choice of films reflects this. At the Bag of Rice showing we went to home baking was passed round to everyone in the queue, and at all showings there is music and dancing before the film, and everyone applauds at the end of the film - now you don't get that at Vue or Odeon cimemas!!