September 6th 2015 - The grotto
No i've not gone mad and decorated my house and i'm not referring to Santa, i'm referring to "the grotto" at Cleator Moor in Cumbria attached to St Mary's Church where they hold the local pilgrimage.
I'm not a religious person, I never have been and I don't plan to start now. Yes I did go to a catholic school and I had the same respect at school and for those that are religious that I showed today. I was there as part of the St John Ambulance First Aid team that were requested to help with getting people off buses and into wheelchairs/down to the grotto area for the service.
There was a lot of people there but not as many as previous years apparently.
Showing posts with label cumbria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cumbria. Show all posts
Sunday, 6 September 2015
Friday, 4 September 2015
September 4th 2015 - The Beacon
September 4th 2015 - The Beacon
There are only a few days left before the boys go back to school, and despite the fact my knee is still really sore we took the boys to the local museum today - The Beacon.
There is lots of hands on touchy stuff for them to try and use which is great for kids of all ages. They really enjoyed the Sellafield exhibition as that had lots of things including big foam things to make a way to get rid of nuclear waste (balls). They spent ages trying to work together (very hard for my sons) to build a track.
There are only a few days left before the boys go back to school, and despite the fact my knee is still really sore we took the boys to the local museum today - The Beacon.
There is lots of hands on touchy stuff for them to try and use which is great for kids of all ages. They really enjoyed the Sellafield exhibition as that had lots of things including big foam things to make a way to get rid of nuclear waste (balls). They spent ages trying to work together (very hard for my sons) to build a track.
Thursday, 13 August 2015
August 12th 2015 - St Bees beach
August 12th 2015 - St Bees beach
As it turned out to be a hot afternoon we loaded the car and set off the 2 miles down the road to St Bees beach. It seemed that everyone else had the same idea as it was really busy down there.
However we found a spot big enough for us to put the shelter and wind breaks up and "make camp" for few hours. I laid sunbathing and reading and hubby sat in the shelter reading (he doesn't like the sun that much) and the boys played in the sea, the giant puddle left near the rocks on the beach and the beach. They built castles and had fun.
A family behind us had started to build a big castle with moat and when they left the boys took it upon themselves to fill the moat with water.
As it turned out to be a hot afternoon we loaded the car and set off the 2 miles down the road to St Bees beach. It seemed that everyone else had the same idea as it was really busy down there.
However we found a spot big enough for us to put the shelter and wind breaks up and "make camp" for few hours. I laid sunbathing and reading and hubby sat in the shelter reading (he doesn't like the sun that much) and the boys played in the sea, the giant puddle left near the rocks on the beach and the beach. They built castles and had fun.
A family behind us had started to build a big castle with moat and when they left the boys took it upon themselves to fill the moat with water.
Monday, 10 August 2015
August 10th 2015 - Rheged Centre
August 10th 2015 - Rheged Centre
The Rheged Centre is an hours drive from my house. Over the summer holidays they have a minecraft event on.
Today we took the boys, we hadn't told them where we going but they needed to get up, have breakfast and get dressed ready to go. Once we were all ready we set off. Sadly the weather was really naff and was raining all the way there. This isn't a problem in itself as the Rheged is indoors but would mean they couldnt play in the outdoor play area.
Upon arrival the boys saw the big minecraft signs outside the building and the older 2 were really excited. We went in and I took a few photos of them with the figures that were downstairs and they stood infront of the minecraft wall with minecraft heads on for pics.
It looked like it was going to be a really good event. We followed the signs up to where it was and still looked good. However looks are deceiving, we were there a total of 45mins! The boys looked around had a few photos taken, tried to make paper figures but the glue was too runny it made the paper wet and not keep shape. They were unable to play with the lego as it was really busy, so they coloured a minecraft figure and we left. You exit through the shop which was very expensive, items were more than what they are in the shops in town!
They did enjoy looking at the models and pictures but said its a shame there wasn't more to do. We came home and they played minecraft on their devices.
The Rheged Centre is an hours drive from my house. Over the summer holidays they have a minecraft event on.
Today we took the boys, we hadn't told them where we going but they needed to get up, have breakfast and get dressed ready to go. Once we were all ready we set off. Sadly the weather was really naff and was raining all the way there. This isn't a problem in itself as the Rheged is indoors but would mean they couldnt play in the outdoor play area.
Upon arrival the boys saw the big minecraft signs outside the building and the older 2 were really excited. We went in and I took a few photos of them with the figures that were downstairs and they stood infront of the minecraft wall with minecraft heads on for pics.
It looked like it was going to be a really good event. We followed the signs up to where it was and still looked good. However looks are deceiving, we were there a total of 45mins! The boys looked around had a few photos taken, tried to make paper figures but the glue was too runny it made the paper wet and not keep shape. They were unable to play with the lego as it was really busy, so they coloured a minecraft figure and we left. You exit through the shop which was very expensive, items were more than what they are in the shops in town!
They did enjoy looking at the models and pictures but said its a shame there wasn't more to do. We came home and they played minecraft on their devices.
Friday, 7 August 2015
August 6th 2015 - Seascale
August 6th 2015 - Seascale
A few days ago a friend posted some pictures on facebook of her children at a park, it looked really good so I asked her where it was. She told me and I looked it up, I had heard of the area but wasn't sure where it was. Well google said it was half hrs drive from us up the coast.
We loaded into the car and set off up the road to Seascale. Upon arriving hubby took the money for parking and came back with it - the car park was free thanks to the "local residents". So the afternoon started well.
We went down onto the beach and the sea was quite away out. I told the boys they could go in it as long as they rolled up their trousers above the knee and didn't get wet as we had no spare clothes with us. Here are the 3 of them in the sea:
They also spent ages on the mini pier:
and were fascinated that some of the gaps in the pier were filled with rocks:
The tide came in really quickly and we had to leave the beach so they went to play in the park:
A nice afternoon was had by all.
A few days ago a friend posted some pictures on facebook of her children at a park, it looked really good so I asked her where it was. She told me and I looked it up, I had heard of the area but wasn't sure where it was. Well google said it was half hrs drive from us up the coast.
We loaded into the car and set off up the road to Seascale. Upon arriving hubby took the money for parking and came back with it - the car park was free thanks to the "local residents". So the afternoon started well.
We went down onto the beach and the sea was quite away out. I told the boys they could go in it as long as they rolled up their trousers above the knee and didn't get wet as we had no spare clothes with us. Here are the 3 of them in the sea:
They also spent ages on the mini pier:
and were fascinated that some of the gaps in the pier were filled with rocks:
The tide came in really quickly and we had to leave the beach so they went to play in the park:
Tuesday, 4 August 2015
August 4th 2015 - Mr Maker has nothing on Mummy!
august 4th 2015 - Mr Maker has nothing on Mummy!
Today the local food bank had a viking day. Lil man said he wanted to go dressed up. Now if you have followed my blog you will remember how I made a Viking Tunic from a bath mat for world book day for middle son and also a viking shield.
So we were half way there for today. I had hoped to use the knights helmet altered to make a viking helemt BUT we couldn't find it anywhere. So I looked on pinterest and found this hat that can be made from cardboard and duck tape......cue my next problem the recycling was taken by hubby first thing this morning and I have no silver duck tape! Ok not a problem, I sent the boys upstairs for the army hat, I started to cover it in white gaffa tape and then it came to me - tin foil!!!
This was my next yell at the kids, find me tin foil and sellotape. They found them and gave them to me. I covered the hat with tin foil and held in in place on the inside with selloptape. From here I managed to find a small box that I could cut horn shapes out of and I covered them in white gaffa tape and stuck to the sides.
From start finish was about 10minutes in making time, just before we charged out of the door!
Here is lil man as a viking:
and here is lil man, his brother who the viking at the food bank dressed up and the viking:
They had a really nice afternoon, it was very informative and they enjoyed being able to touch and look at things that the vikings would have had. Thank you North Lakes Food Bank, Cumbria for hosting this event.
Today the local food bank had a viking day. Lil man said he wanted to go dressed up. Now if you have followed my blog you will remember how I made a Viking Tunic from a bath mat for world book day for middle son and also a viking shield.
So we were half way there for today. I had hoped to use the knights helmet altered to make a viking helemt BUT we couldn't find it anywhere. So I looked on pinterest and found this hat that can be made from cardboard and duck tape......cue my next problem the recycling was taken by hubby first thing this morning and I have no silver duck tape! Ok not a problem, I sent the boys upstairs for the army hat, I started to cover it in white gaffa tape and then it came to me - tin foil!!!
This was my next yell at the kids, find me tin foil and sellotape. They found them and gave them to me. I covered the hat with tin foil and held in in place on the inside with selloptape. From here I managed to find a small box that I could cut horn shapes out of and I covered them in white gaffa tape and stuck to the sides.
From start finish was about 10minutes in making time, just before we charged out of the door!
Here is lil man as a viking:
and here is lil man, his brother who the viking at the food bank dressed up and the viking:
They had a really nice afternoon, it was very informative and they enjoyed being able to touch and look at things that the vikings would have had. Thank you North Lakes Food Bank, Cumbria for hosting this event.
Saturday, 25 July 2015
July 25th 2015 - Parton
July 25th 2015 - Parton
I was on a mission today, I needed 60 smooth, small pale coloured rocks for a kids craft activity linked to Badger Day Camp. They are going to make noughts & crosses games from lolly sticks and small stones of which they can decorate, they will then be going into a fabric pencil case that they can also decorate. There is no way I am paying for rocks!
10mins drive down the road is Parton Beach, it is 98% rocks and rock pools and 2% sand. Now you would think with this information that I would be able to find what I was looking for very easily - errrr no! There are rocks every where but trying to find those that matched my criteria was not easy.
Hubby and the 3 boys went off to the rock pools and the edge of the sea and were trying to see what they could find - a few dead crabs, a dead seagull (decomposing), a pair of mens trousers, some shrimps and a few fish! And they left me collecting rocks and shells.
Whilst I was looking for the smooth rocks I found some that had lots of shiny/sparkly bits in that seem to be a type of crystal, there was a lot of this as well, in various shapes, sizes and colours. I brought a few pieces home with me, the only 1 I can identify is the red cornelian.
My youngest son decided that he wanted to bring a rock home and turn it into a rock pet, we are going to glue eyes on it.
I was on a mission today, I needed 60 smooth, small pale coloured rocks for a kids craft activity linked to Badger Day Camp. They are going to make noughts & crosses games from lolly sticks and small stones of which they can decorate, they will then be going into a fabric pencil case that they can also decorate. There is no way I am paying for rocks!
10mins drive down the road is Parton Beach, it is 98% rocks and rock pools and 2% sand. Now you would think with this information that I would be able to find what I was looking for very easily - errrr no! There are rocks every where but trying to find those that matched my criteria was not easy.
Hubby and the 3 boys went off to the rock pools and the edge of the sea and were trying to see what they could find - a few dead crabs, a dead seagull (decomposing), a pair of mens trousers, some shrimps and a few fish! And they left me collecting rocks and shells.
Whilst I was looking for the smooth rocks I found some that had lots of shiny/sparkly bits in that seem to be a type of crystal, there was a lot of this as well, in various shapes, sizes and colours. I brought a few pieces home with me, the only 1 I can identify is the red cornelian.
My youngest son decided that he wanted to bring a rock home and turn it into a rock pet, we are going to glue eyes on it.
Thursday, 18 June 2015
June 18th 2015 - Cockermouth
June 18th 2015 - Cockermouth
Today me and hubby went to Cockermouth. We have been saying for ages we will go and have a look around as we've been through it and been to a pub there years ago. Well we went, we walked round, we came home.
Safe to say I won't be rushing back there as found very little in the way of shops! I would actually go as far as saying there are better shops here where I live! So bit of a disappointment really.
Today me and hubby went to Cockermouth. We have been saying for ages we will go and have a look around as we've been through it and been to a pub there years ago. Well we went, we walked round, we came home.
Safe to say I won't be rushing back there as found very little in the way of shops! I would actually go as far as saying there are better shops here where I live! So bit of a disappointment really.
Saturday, 28 March 2015
March 28th 2015 - Family Walk
March 28th 2015 - Family Walk
This morning the weather was really bad, it was cold, wet and really dull and overcast. I thought this was going to stop us going on a family walk, however, after lunch it brightened up and stopped raining so we stuck shoes and coats on and we headed off in the car.
Yes I no I said family walk and we went in the car, but we were heading 10mins up the road to a nature reserve we had found on the net that looked really good. We found the turning in the road and went up it and parked the car in a lay by just down from Harrington Nature Reserve.
First impressions as you walk by the big fenced off area to where the gate is situated is "there's not much water here and it looks like waste land". Not a good start. Before we went through the gate we looked at the map and it looks like there is quite a lot here. We went down the path and onto a bridge and the kids played pooh sticks - they love this simple game!
We followed the path round to the right and the river just stops as it goes under the road, so we followed the very wet and muddy path round a piece of grassland and came back to the main "rezzer" which again had very little water in it, only a few ducks and lots of dead trees and plants and rubbish! I don't mean drink bottles and crisp packets but tires and road cones and broken things.
Sadly this walk was a big disappointment to us as the Harrington Nature Reserve website makes it look so much better than it actually is. I would like to think that it is in the process of being tidied up the fact trees have been cut etc, it is a great site and has the potential to be a very nice place to visit.
Here are a few pics that I did take there.
After we left here we headed 2mins up the road to the Salterbeck "rezzer" which again didn't have much so we took a short walk up to the sea - most of the cliff top didn't seem very safe and you could see where a lot of it had collapsed down to the beach. I'm not sure if it used to be a coal pit/mine or something else but it was definately buildings of some sort.
We nipped to Harrington Marina on the way home and some of the waves were huge, not as big as I have seen but big considering its not very strong winds.
The kids did enjoy being out of the house for a bit, just a shame the initial place we went wasn't as good as it looks on the net. But never mind.
This morning the weather was really bad, it was cold, wet and really dull and overcast. I thought this was going to stop us going on a family walk, however, after lunch it brightened up and stopped raining so we stuck shoes and coats on and we headed off in the car.
Yes I no I said family walk and we went in the car, but we were heading 10mins up the road to a nature reserve we had found on the net that looked really good. We found the turning in the road and went up it and parked the car in a lay by just down from Harrington Nature Reserve.
First impressions as you walk by the big fenced off area to where the gate is situated is "there's not much water here and it looks like waste land". Not a good start. Before we went through the gate we looked at the map and it looks like there is quite a lot here. We went down the path and onto a bridge and the kids played pooh sticks - they love this simple game!
We followed the path round to the right and the river just stops as it goes under the road, so we followed the very wet and muddy path round a piece of grassland and came back to the main "rezzer" which again had very little water in it, only a few ducks and lots of dead trees and plants and rubbish! I don't mean drink bottles and crisp packets but tires and road cones and broken things.
Sadly this walk was a big disappointment to us as the Harrington Nature Reserve website makes it look so much better than it actually is. I would like to think that it is in the process of being tidied up the fact trees have been cut etc, it is a great site and has the potential to be a very nice place to visit.
Here are a few pics that I did take there.
After we left here we headed 2mins up the road to the Salterbeck "rezzer" which again didn't have much so we took a short walk up to the sea - most of the cliff top didn't seem very safe and you could see where a lot of it had collapsed down to the beach. I'm not sure if it used to be a coal pit/mine or something else but it was definately buildings of some sort.
We nipped to Harrington Marina on the way home and some of the waves were huge, not as big as I have seen but big considering its not very strong winds.
The kids did enjoy being out of the house for a bit, just a shame the initial place we went wasn't as good as it looks on the net. But never mind.
Saturday, 21 March 2015
March 21st 2015 - Carlisle Cathedral and bell tower tour
March 21st 2015 - Carlisle Cathedral and bell tower tour
A few days ago I received an email from a competition I had entered saying I had won a pair of tickets to go on a tour of the Cathedral bell tower, I was really pleased and hoped it would be during the week so hubby could come as well. Then I got another email from the gentleman who would be doing the tour stating it was today - 1pm or 2pm. This was too short notice to get someone to look after the boys so hubby said he would stay with them and I could go on my own. So I emailed asking to go on 1pm tour due to train times.
The train to Carlisle was mad - a very loud hen party that started drinking on the train, a stag do that were equally loud, a group of teenage girls with 3" thick make up and heels of the same height they could only just walk in and loads of football fans heading to the match. The train filled up and there was about 15-20 people standing in the aisle it was that busy and the noise was going right through my head. I don't know how anyone could hear their own conversations. I was so glad to get off the train!!!
I was in Carlisle over an hour earlier but the next train wouldn't have got me there on time. So I went and grabbed some lunch from Tesco, and once I had eaten it (whilst walking through the town) I made my way to the Cathedral. I paid the lady so that I could take photos and went on my way around it as I had 45minutes until the start of the tour. I took loads of pics of the inside downstairs, here are some of them:
I headed back to the main entrance to wait for the people doing the tour of the bell tower, at the time I was the only person there. They said we had to wait a few minutes. The only other person to turn up was the local news reporter/photographer! So I have ended up with lots of pics being taken on the tour and am going to be in the paper.
The 3 people doing the tour were all from the Cathedral Bell Ringers, they explained things as went including a big plaque on the wall after one of the old clergy who left money to the Cathedral but on the condition that the bells are rung on his birthday!
After posing for a few pics for the paper we went through the little door at the back of the Cathedral and down a little corridor to the spiral stair case - some were steep, others not so, some were big others small, there was over 120 in total to get the bell room. I took a picture of them as I was coming down after the tour:
This picture was what I took when the photographer took s pic of me taking a pic:
I actually like the pic alot as it doesn't have the whole of the window or the wall in it. I took a few others from up on this corridor as well.
From the corridor we went up even more spiral stairs and went round the edge of the whole tower, some lovely views. We then went into the ringing room, where all the bell cords hang. They explained what they were and they worked, and showed me how they do it (they were using the bell sensors via the computer so as not to actually ring the bells. The photographer asked for a pic of me posing pulling the bell. I so wish I hadn't been ill as i'm sure I am going to look like death warmed up the pics, oh well not much I can do now. lol!
We then continued the tour and went up to the bells, where they talked to me about them all, and the real old one in the corner called Maria that has been there since the 1400s. I have to say that the bells are much bigger than I thought they would be I did think they would be big but not as big as they are. They had 1 of the team ring one of the bells so I could see how it all works from upstairs - although it didn't "ring" as it had its safety buffer thing in (they did tell me the name but I can't remember).
I had a really nice time and it was very interesting, and not something that many members of the public actually get to see. Thanks to Cumbria Live for hosting the competition and picking me as 1 of the winners.
A few days ago I received an email from a competition I had entered saying I had won a pair of tickets to go on a tour of the Cathedral bell tower, I was really pleased and hoped it would be during the week so hubby could come as well. Then I got another email from the gentleman who would be doing the tour stating it was today - 1pm or 2pm. This was too short notice to get someone to look after the boys so hubby said he would stay with them and I could go on my own. So I emailed asking to go on 1pm tour due to train times.
The train to Carlisle was mad - a very loud hen party that started drinking on the train, a stag do that were equally loud, a group of teenage girls with 3" thick make up and heels of the same height they could only just walk in and loads of football fans heading to the match. The train filled up and there was about 15-20 people standing in the aisle it was that busy and the noise was going right through my head. I don't know how anyone could hear their own conversations. I was so glad to get off the train!!!
I was in Carlisle over an hour earlier but the next train wouldn't have got me there on time. So I went and grabbed some lunch from Tesco, and once I had eaten it (whilst walking through the town) I made my way to the Cathedral. I paid the lady so that I could take photos and went on my way around it as I had 45minutes until the start of the tour. I took loads of pics of the inside downstairs, here are some of them:
I headed back to the main entrance to wait for the people doing the tour of the bell tower, at the time I was the only person there. They said we had to wait a few minutes. The only other person to turn up was the local news reporter/photographer! So I have ended up with lots of pics being taken on the tour and am going to be in the paper.
The 3 people doing the tour were all from the Cathedral Bell Ringers, they explained things as went including a big plaque on the wall after one of the old clergy who left money to the Cathedral but on the condition that the bells are rung on his birthday!
After posing for a few pics for the paper we went through the little door at the back of the Cathedral and down a little corridor to the spiral stair case - some were steep, others not so, some were big others small, there was over 120 in total to get the bell room. I took a picture of them as I was coming down after the tour:
The spiral stairs are broken up by a long narrow corridor that runs about half way up the Cathedral, the next pic shows the same corridor over the other side of the Cathedral. Again there were more posed pics for the paper including some of me taking photos. I remember doing this type of thing with my friends at school - didn't realise it was something that professionals did as well.
I actually like the pic alot as it doesn't have the whole of the window or the wall in it. I took a few others from up on this corridor as well.
From the corridor we went up even more spiral stairs and went round the edge of the whole tower, some lovely views. We then went into the ringing room, where all the bell cords hang. They explained what they were and they worked, and showed me how they do it (they were using the bell sensors via the computer so as not to actually ring the bells. The photographer asked for a pic of me posing pulling the bell. I so wish I hadn't been ill as i'm sure I am going to look like death warmed up the pics, oh well not much I can do now. lol!
We then continued the tour and went up to the bells, where they talked to me about them all, and the real old one in the corner called Maria that has been there since the 1400s. I have to say that the bells are much bigger than I thought they would be I did think they would be big but not as big as they are. They had 1 of the team ring one of the bells so I could see how it all works from upstairs - although it didn't "ring" as it had its safety buffer thing in (they did tell me the name but I can't remember).
I had a really nice time and it was very interesting, and not something that many members of the public actually get to see. Thanks to Cumbria Live for hosting the competition and picking me as 1 of the winners.
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