Author Archives: Lyndsey

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About Lyndsey

Mum of 3. Book Lover

Happy 7th Birthday to Our Big Boy Oliver!

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A very happy 7th birthday to our wonderful, mischievous boy, Oliver! You make Mummy and Daddy so proud every single day. You’ve brought so much laughter and joy into our lives, and even though you’re the cheeky one, we love you more than words can say.

The day started with a flurry of excitement as Oliver opened all of his presents, but the big one—the one he had been waiting for—was his new bike. He couldn’t wait to open it, but had to hold out until David got home from work. His face when he saw it was priceless!

For dinner, Oliver had the choice of going out to celebrate or staying in for pizza and a movie. Naturally, pizza won the vote! We opted for Domino’s (Oliver’s favourite), and settled in for a cosy night with Captain Underpants as the chosen film. It was the perfect way to round off a day full of excitement, fun, and love.

Here’s to many more birthdays, and to watching you grow into the amazing young person you’re becoming. Happy Birthday, Oliver!

Welcome to the World, Baby Sophie!

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My little niece, Sophie, was born yesterday and she is absolutely gorgeous! I can’t wait for all the snuggles and to watch her grow. The boys are so excited to meet their little cousin and can’t wait to spoil her with all their love and attention.

Huge congratulations to my sister Jennifer and Stuart on their beautiful bundle of joy! Your family just got even more perfect, and we’re all so thrilled for you. Welcome to the world, Sophie – we can’t wait to see what adventures you’ll bring!

Sunday Lunch with the Jullien’s

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Today, we had a lovely catch-up with the Jullien family over a delicious Sunday lunch at The White Elephant. It’s always great to spend time with friends, and the boys had an absolute blast together, making memories and having fun.

The food was fantastic, and the company even better – such a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Looking forward to our next get-together already!

A Great Afternoon with Family

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We had such a lovely afternoon today, spending time with family and meeting Laura’s brother for the first time! It was great to finally put a face to the name and get to know him. We also had the pleasure of seeing mum Beatriz again, which was wonderful.

The kids had a blast and it was just a nice, relaxed time with lots of laughs, catching up, and making new memories. Can’t wait for more days like this!

Celebrating Blair and Campbell’s 4th Birthday!

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What a lovely afternoon we had today, celebrating the 4th birthday of these two gorgeous little ones – Blair and Campbell!

It was such a fun and joyful time, watching them open presents, play with friends, and enjoy their special day. The energy and excitement from these two were contagious, and it was heartwarming to be part of their celebration.

Here’s to many more happy birthdays and wonderful memories ahead!

Afternoon Tea at Brewhemia to Celebrate Our Birthdays!

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What a wonderful afternoon I had today, celebrating all of our birthdays with Joanne and Lesley-Ann!

We gathered at Brewhemia for a gorgeous afternoon tea – the perfect spot to relax, chat, and indulge in delicious treats. From delicate finger sandwiches to perfectly crafted cakes and scones, everything was absolutely scrumptious. The atmosphere was cosy and festive, and we couldn’t have asked for a better way to mark the occasion.

Such a lovely time spent with amazing friends – here’s to many more celebrations and sweet moments together!

New Year’s Eve Celebrations!

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Tonight was one of our favorite traditions – David and I had our usual curry at the Ashoka, followed by a few drinks at The Bank. The food was, as always, delicious, and the company was even better.

This year was extra special, though, as it was the first time Alexander stayed up to see the bells!  It felt like a big moment for him, and the excitement in the air was contagious as we counted down to the New Year together.

A perfect way to end the year, surrounded by great food, drinks, and family. Here’s to many more memories in the year ahead!

Panto Time! Oh Yes It Is! – Peter Pan

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It’s that time of year again… Panto season! This year, we headed out to enjoy the classic tale of Peter Pan, and what a fantastic time we had. From the very first “Oh no it isn’t!” to the final applause, it was full of laughs, songs, and all the usual panto magic.

The boys were on the edge of their seats. The interaction with the audience was brilliant, and the kids couldn’t stop joining in with the shout-outs. The whole cast really brought the story to life.

By the end, we were all singing the songs and talking about the fun we’d had. Panto really is a Christmas tradition that brings so much joy – can’t wait to see what next year brings!

Return to York: Exploring Clifford Tower, the Army Museum & the National Railway Museum

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Today, we made our return to the beautiful city of York! We had originally planned to visit the Viking Museum, but we didn’t realise that you needed to book tickets in advance. So, a little change of plans, and we decided to finally check out Clifford Tower, which we had spotted during our visit last week but didn’t get a chance to explore.

Clifford Tower is the keep of York Castle, and it’s such an impressive building! The climb to the top is definitely worth it, as the views from the top are absolutely amazing – you can see all over the city from every angle. After taking in the breath-taking views, we had a lovely lunch at the bottom of the steps, enjoying some well-earned food after our mini adventure.

Just on the other side of the tower is the York Army Museum, so we popped in for a visit. It was a fantastic experience! The museum had some incredible relics on display, and the boys had an absolute blast trying on army uniforms – definitely a highlight for them. Afterward, we enjoyed a wander around and even treated ourselves to a cheeky McFlurry, which was just the perfect way to finish off our museum visit.

Next on the agenda was the National Railway Museum, which was where Alexander had really wanted to go. And boy, did he love it! All the boys had an incredible time, but Lewis especially couldn’t get enough of the trains. The museum is fantastic, featuring iconic trains, including those that Queen Victoria, Prince Edward, and Queen Mary had travelled on. It’s such an interesting place to visit, and what makes it even better is that it’s completely free to enter! You can make a donation, though, if you wish, but it’s an experience that doesn’t cost a penny to enjoy.

Overall, it was a wonderful day in York, filled with history, culture, and lots of fun for the boys. We would highly recommend the National Railway Museum to anyone with young kids – it’s definitely a must-see!

Total steps: 11,000

A Fun-Filled Day with Cricket, History, and Ice Cream

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The day started with the boys having a blast in the garden, and then we all gathered for a family game of cricket. Let’s just say I’m not the most skilled player, but I did manage to catch the ball and get David out—ha, victory for me! After our cricket fun, we headed to Jervaulx Abbey, which was only a mile away from the cottage. The Abbey is a beautiful ruin, and it was amazing to see the remaining fragments of the monastic buildings. It had such an impressive atmosphere, and we made sure to soak it all in.

Once we’d explored the Abbey, we found a perfect spot to have a picnic on the grounds. It was the ideal setting to relax and enjoy our lunch surrounded by history and beautiful scenery.

After our peaceful picnic, we headed to Brymor Ice Cream Parlour, which was just around the corner. The ice cream was made on-site, and let me tell you, it was incredibly tasty! I highly recommend the ginger ice cream—it was absolutely delicious. While there, we also visited the viewing platform to see the calves, and the boys had a great time playing in the outdoor and indoor play areas. It was a great stop and definitely one we’d recommend to everyone.

All in all, a perfect day spent with a mix of outdoor fun, history, and, of course, some of the best ice cream around!

A Lovely Day in Pateley Bridge

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Today’s adventure took us to Pateley Bridge, a charming little village nestled on the River Nidd, not far from Harrogate. We arrived around lunchtime and managed to snag some incredibly cheap parking at just £1.20 for 4 hours—what a bargain! The River was right there, so we grabbed our picnic lunch and a blanket, then headed off to find the perfect spot to relax. We stumbled upon a lovely area beside the Riverside Caravan Park, which turned out to be ideal for a peaceful lunch by the water.

After lunch, we went for a stroll along the river, and it was glorious! The scenery was beautiful, and we would have loved to walk further, but we hadn’t brought enough water with us and it was scorching hot, so we decided to save that for another day.

On our way back, we discovered a fantastic little park where the boys (and us) had a blast playing for a while. It helped burn off some energy (and left them a bit more tired—bonus!). We then wandered around the village and came across the Nidderdale Museum, which is housed in an old workhouse. The museum had loads of interesting local memorabilia, and for just £2 per adult, it was a bargain! We spent about an hour there, and I particularly enjoyed the coal mine tunnel exhibit. It was fascinating to see how life used to be in the area.

Before heading back to the cottage, we made a quick stop in Ripon for some shopping, and then the boys had even more fun playing in the garden back at the cottage.

All in all, a lovely day exploring a beautiful village, learning a bit of local history, and making some great memories!

A Day Trip to York

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We were up bright and early today for a day trip to York by train from Northallerton. This is a place I’ve always wanted to visit, and I was really looking forward to it. York is absolutely stunning, with its beautiful buildings and surroundings, but York Minster Cathedral definitely stole the show—its beauty is just incredible. Unfortunately, we didn’t go inside, as the boys weren’t in the mood to be quiet and calm, so we opted to walk around Dean Park Gardens instead.

From there, we tried to get our bearings, though I don’t think I ever quite figured out the layout of York (I was hopelessly lost most of the day!). We wandered down The Shambles, which reminded me of Diagon Alley from Harry Potter and the Ramblas in Barcelona. We couldn’t resist stopping by the Harry Potter shop, and Alexander was in absolute heaven there.

For lunch, we grabbed some sandwiches from Tesco and headed back to Dean Park for a picnic under a tree—half in the shade, half in the sun. It was the perfect spot to relax and enjoy some food.

After lunch, we explored a little more and came across a garden behind the museum that had an “edible wood,” with lots of plants that can either be eaten raw or cooked. It was such a cool discovery! We spent some time at the York Museum next, which kept us entertained for a few hours. The museum had a great collection of Roman and medieval artefacts, and the boys had a blast with the dressing-up station (David even joined in!). Lewis was especially excited to see the dinosaur display, and there was an excavation exhibit where the kids got to try their hand at digging—such a fun experience for them.

Afterward, we headed back out into the sunshine for a snack on the grass and a leisurely walk along the River Ouse. Of course, no day trip is complete without a sneaky McFlurry, which we grabbed along the way. We finished our visit with a McDonald’s dinner before heading back to the train station.

Travel Tip: We parked at Applegarth Long Stay Car Park, which was just a 10-minute walk from Northallerton Train Station. It was only £3.20 for the whole day, which was a great deal.

All in all, it was a fantastic day exploring the beautiful city of York, with a mix of history, sunshine, and a little bit of magic!