Yesterday was the kind of Saturday that could fill my life and i’d be perfectly and completely happy. We had a garden day, with 2 BBQ’s and a whole heap of people i love milling around. First of all BIL and SIl with their girls, then the Clarkes with their brood and a bit of Portico added in. Just delicious. Wish we’d got the photo of the 10 children shunning the sunshine and adults, all grouped around the gamecube. 😀
In fact the only moment that went astray was Ammi managing to knock a glass off a table, which promptly shattered around her feet, splashing red wine up her legs. Absolutely terrified her but luckily Sarah was perfectly placed to whisk her out of danger and no harm was done. I took her off and changed her socks so she could see it wasn’t bloody and she recovered. Poor girl; i think she has a glass phobia firmly in place now 🙄
Girls are so happy to have Max back among us; made me laugh yesterday morning when Ammi came and climbed in with us, very grumpy, first thing and was utterly unimpressed to see Max there. Then she suddenly woke up and went mental. Girls have all been all over him all weekend 😀
Today has been just heavenly. We made an early start and headed out to Dartmoor, which is the home of my heart really. We’ve got so much history there, Max grew up there, we spent out first few holidays together out there too. So from him i have his memories and i can remember feeling like i was properly getting to know him as he showed me his beautiful childhood landscape, we’ve got memories together, of holidays, walks, thunderstorms, climbing and camping and now we are beginning to overlay these with memories of bringing our children. Its an incredibly special place to us both.
Started out at Chagford, which delighted Fran as it has Civil War history. Chagford declared for the King, Mortonhampsted for parliament and there was a battle at Chagford. (There is a cottage in the square called Kings Arms Cottage) and Chagford had its own battle/skirmish. A soldier died in the pub (he may have been the only one who did actually) and is supposed to haunt it. Max’s Gran used to live in Chagford and he and i took her to some re-enactment once, girls loved hearing about that. Kids do love “pre-kids” stories about parents don’t they?!
After that we drove up to Kestor, home of the great Max-and-Merry-lost-in-fog-and-in-a-ten-hour-thunderstorm story. More tales for the girls and an excellent scramble about on the Tor looking for letterboxes. Found 2, kids completely hooked on this as an occupation and had a complete ball. Maddy took Dave with her so we have various photos of Dave finding letterboxes!
Picnicked among gorse bushes and then a drive across the moors, while the kids laughed at sheep on bridges. I’ve got some lovely photos; lovely as in good snaps as opposed to brilliant in the Chris Portico style of course 😉 Also saw a buzzard and two woodpeckers – they are so beautiful :)We finished off the day by finding a couple more boxes up at Hound Tor and then dinner in Chagford. Fran had the look on her face at being taken into a pub for dinner that i apparently get if Max makes me go in a bookies.
*Sigh* I love Scotland, I love Dartmoor, i love Yorkshire. I can’t help feeling Peterborough isn’t the place for me ….
Oh – and i was right, Max distinctly recalls being in that park as a dissolute teen drinking sherry out of a brown paper bag. I think i felt his presence!
