The Heights Of Abraham

Last weekend we ventured out to the The Heights Of Abraham at Matlock Bath. We drove through here last year but couldn't get parked up as the place was overrun with bikers. No problems parking this year though and we had a fantastic day out exploring the underground lead mining caverns.

We were out at a party on Saturday night then on Sunday we were up at the crack of dawn on the lookout for heather and shrubs. We got loads loaded into the car and spent a couple of hours getting everything planted in the newly cleared border. It looks great now and Debbie wants to do the same on the other side.

By then we were completely knackered and didn't have the energy to go back out and take any pictures, we'll nip out soon and get some snaps.

Paul

Otters & Owls

Last weekend we had an afternoon out at the Chestnut Centre which is not too far from Castleton in the Peak District. It's an animal sanctuary mainly for otters and owls. It was a much bigger place than we were expecting, walking through the field with sheep and deer was great and reaching the bottom you walk along a stream surrounded by trees. It's lovely and dark for the owls of which there a are loads but the pictures we took aren't too cleaver.

Following the winding through the trees, we came across another family of otters and more owls round every corner. The otters were great, loads of different kinds from small noisy little monkeys to a giant otter that loved to throw stones about.

We had a great time there despite the battling with the camera against the dark conditions and the mesh cages.

Paul

Wentworth Castle Gardens

While we were on holiday a few weeks ago, we visited Wentworth Castle Gardens in Stainborugh, Barnsley.

It was on BBC's Restoration in 2003 but failed to win. The restoration of the gardens is going well anyway, still a long way to go though. The glass house is in danger of collapsing and they're currently having a big fund raising push to try and save it.

The gardens are lovely and will look fantastic when their finished. The main building is Wentworth Castle and at the other end of the gardens is Stainborough Castle.

We've been back at work two weeks now and Debbie's not been having a great time. A week ago on Friday she started with a pain in her legs and by Sunday morning Debbie was in agony with her back and legs plus a thumping headache on top of that.

No better on Monday, Debbie stayed at home and on Tuesday went to the Doctors who prescribed antibiotics which we think ended up making her sick. Debbie was violently sick on Wednesday morning and I popped home to see how she was at lunch time. I called the doctors and was promised a call back within the hour. The hour came and went and after I chased them up I had to get back to work.

When I got home, there had still been no call so I called again only to be directed to after hours care who couldn't help because they didn't take over until 6pm and our surgery shouldn't have switched off their lines until then.

I called back after 6pm and we got an appointment at the hospital where we managed to get to see a doctor but he couldn't pinpoint the problem. His best guess would be a very bad migraine and he prescribed stronger pain killers. Debbie took two in Asda car park and by the time we got home she was feeling much better.

Debbie went back to work on Thursday, feeling better but still not brilliant. The pain killers seems to be keeping on top of whatever the problem is and we're now enjoying a nice chilled weekend!

Paul

Robin Hoods Bay To Ravenscar

Yesterday we headed off to Robin Hoods Bay, the weather forecast wasn't brilliant but we didn't see any rain on the way there and when we arrived the sun was breaking through.

Having remembered to check the tide times, we arrive just in time to make out of the main bay and along the beach to Ravenscar. About half way we came across a cave in the cliffs, probably used by smugglers in days gone by.

Debbie found a rock in a pool, of which there are thousands, but this one was sporting a wonderful design made by the water in the sand.

Venturing further afield than before, we came across fossil imprints in the rocks and even found a couple of whole ammonites that we brought home with us.

As we entered the bay next to Ravenscare, Debbie found this waterfall, it was amazing to see the water cascading over the cliffs.

When we got to Ravenscar, we turned round and could barely see Robin Hoods Bay in the distance.

We spent over four hours walking on the beach and weather held off the whole time, then just after we left it started chucking it down with rain!

Paul

Dad's Back On The Road

We took Dad to the hospital this morning for a checkup with the eye specialist. After a month of not being able to get behind the wheel, he's been given the all clear to hit the road again which is great news.

We've been out for a walk round Newmillerdam this afternoon. About half way round we came across a bloke and a teenage boy running out from the trees and then loitering on the path. We walked round them but Lucy was reluctant to pass by and took some coaxing. A bit suspicious and the camera's were back in their cases faster than you can say "leg it back to the car, we've got a couple of fruitcakes here".

Paul

Perfect DIY Weather

I've been on holiday since Monday and it's been raining much of the time which has been great news. If it had been hot sunshine, I'd have been dischuffed hat having to get a few jobs done over the last 3 days. With the lovely cooler weather I've managed to get all the edging down over the laminate floor and made a wooden bath panel. Still loads to do but that's it for now, I'm on strike!

Debbie finishes work today and then we're both off until a week on Tuesday! I think we'll be getting out and about more than we managed during our May holiday. I'm not sure Mablethorpe will be on the cards, even though we've not been for a whole week!

Paul

And The Moral Of This Story Is....

I ran the facebook phenonemon by Debbie earlier today and got the green light to add a profile for each of us, Yorkshire Snowman and Buttercup.

Second rule of the land in these parts is never sign up for anything when your drunk. So, I passed the first rule, ask Debbie first, and then fragrantly pooed the second rule, nver sgnien up when your drunk.

It's like playing Mr & Mrs for live, except when on telly, the contestans weren't usualy 2 bottles short of colapsng on stage.

So I've signed us both up, just waiting for the sober realisation of tomorrow...

Paul

A Bit Of A Scare

Dad's been for more tests following the double vision episode the other week. It turns out that he's suffered a mini stroke, not good news at all and really not what we were expecting.

He's got more tests over the next few weeks including a brain scan. He really does need to slow down a bit, he's on the go more now he's retired than he was when he was working!

The pressure of all that rushing about, Grandma passing away, clearing and selling her house has obviously taken it's toll.

Time for more days by the riverbank me thinks.

Paul

Drawn Back To Mablethorpe

Well, we battled through the traffic past Ingoldmells and Skegness last Saturday, it took us over 3 hours to get to Gibraltar Point. We got there to find a visitor centre, a beach that Lucy wasn't allowed anywhere near and a shed in a field. So, we headed back up the coast to Chapel St. Leonards only to find that they were holding their summer gala so instead of a quaint, quiet village, it was the busiest place on earth!

After over 4 hours in the car, we arrived back in Mablethorpe which itself was pretty busy with the glorious weather and the summer holidays but it was still nowhere near as busy as the other seaside resorts. We spent the afternoon walking along the beach past Sutton on Sea and back again.

On the way back home we called in at Saltfleet to see what was there, I was all for having a walk amongst the sand dunes, however Debbie was rather put off by the MOD warning sign about unexploded bombs littering the area.

Paul.

Shiny New Bathroom

The carpet has been laid in the bathroom and it looks totally different, no pictures as yet as we've still go a few jobs to do such as building a new bath panel.

We had a ride out to Cannon Hall on Saturday afternoon, taking advantage of the nice sunny weather, it was almost like summer!

We took Dad shopping on Sunday, he's still unable to drive since having the double vision scare a couple of weeks ago. His vision is getting better and he spent the afternoon pottering about in our garden tidying up the jungle. I hoovered the lawn and Debbie climbed on top of the sheds and took the chainsaw to some overhanging tree branches.

We're in tidying mode this week, I've done some virtual organizing on our Flickr page but I think Debbie is more interested in the real world, getting our house gleaming so we can start putting down the edging for the laminate floor downstairs and use the remaining carpet to cover the stairs. I've been virtually been getting around to that edging every day for the last two years!

Paul.