eviedykes2018

New Year’s Eve London – 2023/4

London for New Years Eve has been on Grandma’s wish list for a good for years, so we decided to go.

For this trip to London, rather than our normal wandering and museums, we went full out and booked ‘experiences’.

Our first full day, a long one, was New Years Eve, so we set out in our sparkles for the full day.

First port of call, the Van Gogh immersive exhibition. The exhibition was interesting. And you could colour your own painting, which made for a nice change and relax.

But for a 5 year old the best part was the immersive room, where you are surrounded walls, floor and ceiling with Van Goghs paintings, except that they are alive.

We also did the Virtual Reality experience, but to my surprise Bean did not like this at all. So she sat on my knee whilst I enjoyed it.

Next stop was Back to the future musical – very fun.

Then onto dinner – in an Asian fusion restaurant ‘Inamo’. Chosen for reasonable value (given as it was NYE), something we all enjoy eating, and the tables….. they were made of screens and you could sit and play games on them – individually or as a group!

Great until the food comes – then time for serious eating.

After filling up on good food we headed in to the long queue for the fireworks (ticketed only).

And then began a long cold, but thankfully dry, wait. Worth the wait?? The wait lacked atmosphere, but the fireworks were amazing. Not sure that we will do it again though. Maybe a once in a lifetime…..

A late start after a seriously late night, after a quick quality coffee and hot chocolate stop, we headed for the BBC Earth Experience.

A 70 min rolling film footage, narrated by David Attenborough, covering the 7 continents, on enormous screens all around you – it was a phenomenal experience and I could have stayed all day.

There was a couple of smaller rooms too. A magical water room where you could ‘create’ bioluminescence and walls of bubbles.

Another room with micro-photography.

And of course a final message from the great man himself as you exited.

Leaving passing some crazy ‘live’ street art, via a few streets of Christmas lights and a quick trip to Hambleys toy shop, just to see it, we had tickets to the Sky Garden.

These are free, but you need to get them 3 weeks in advance when they are released.

They do some great cocktails amongst other normal drinks and with no rush, you can relax and take your time over them with a view over London. Unfortunately for us the weather had turned wet, so the outside balcony was closed.

Drinks finished, we toured the garden part of the Sky Garden.

Our final day was a trip to the Tom Hanks Moonwalker immersive film at the Light Room, an amazing building near King’s Cross in the newly developed Coal Drops yard. The area itself is well worth a visit.

The film was a little old for a 5 year old, but she remained entertained enough to sit still. And hopefully learnt something at the same time.

It was a busy few days, took a lot of organising, but was well worth the effort. Museums next time…. But now time to go home and start 2024.

Blasting the pump track – summer 2023

One the bean cracks something, she cracks it. And the pump track at Keswick has been cracked.

She was very chuffed to do so, and rightly so. It’s a great track but has some super steep slopes and banked berms.

Lack of protective gear as to do this had never been the plan on this given day…. Thankfully no spills.

Scafell Pike – 5th Sep 2023

Little Bean loves walking the fells, indeed it was her New Years Resolution (made at school, nothing to do with me) to walk up a mountain this year. And yet somehow we had got to September, done many amazing things, but not climbed many mountains. The weather was set to be great. Too good to be honest but also a great chance to get out. It was hot hot hot and we were so grateful of the streams on the way up and back down to throw cold water over ourselves and jump into by the end of the walk.

Walking with Grandma to, we started and finished our walk up Scafell Pike from the National Trust car park at Wasdale Head. Lots of sweets, treats and food snacks to make our way slowly to the top.

About half way up Bean said she was getting sore heels – and we had forgotten the compeeds…. Big packing error. Thankfully some incredibly kind lady on her way down (our way up) gave us two of hers and the walk was saved.

Made more interesting near the top by avoiding the path and instead going from rock scramble to rock scramble, we finally topped out. What a celebration on the top!

Glad to be carrying many litres of water, after about our 3rd lunch we started the long decent, singing songs and playing games to keep up amused until we reached the pools to lie in again.

A much deserved meal in the Wasdale Head Inn, a quick swim for mummy and grandma in Wasdale, before carefully starting the long drive home in the dark.

Solden Snow Trip 2024

Jan 2024; having asked Bean of her preference of a hot holiday or a ski trip, and the fact that in Europe the snow was falling heavily, we cancelled a holiday of hot sunshine and booked one for snow in Solden and, we hoped, cold sunshine!! And we got lucky.

We are off – day one and this girl can’t wait to get up that mountain.

Tickets collected – it’s so easy now. Pay online, go to the machine and out they pop. Even better – for a 5 year old it is only 2 Euros a day!

First mountain image as we head up the mountain on day one.

Mummy, daddy and Bean about to head down.

Day one ski down

The difference between last year at Mayrhofen and this year at Solden was that only ‘full’ days were offered for ski school – 10am – 3pm in Solden. Both we and Bean felt that this was too long for a 5 year old. We all missed skiing together as a family in the afternoons. And by the time she was done the slopes were all cut up and we were all ready to finish for the day.

You can do night skiing at Obergurgl, Solden and Hochgurgl, on 3 different evenings each week. This was really fabulous fun and something about it made the Bean fly. By the second night it was official – I can no longer keep up with the Bean!

The slopes at Hochgurgl were great, wide and cruisy, so we ended up going back twice even though we stayed in Solden.

On a good day from the top cafe you can see over the border dropping dramatically into Italy.

Cheeky top cafe drinks looking down into Italy. Stunning.

There were some great fun slopes At Hochgurgl to.

Tunnels to go through, hands to high five and even a car to jump over!

Tobogganing was something else that we did. Great fun as Grandma could join in, and also a great activity for keeping the smiles on faces the morning when there was a complete white out.

A visit to the Motor Cycle museum at the top of the Timmelsjoch pass is a must if you are up at Hochgurgl. And you don’t need to drive there – you can ski in! it has an awesome cafe to.

The other place that is a must is the James Bond installation, built into the mountainside at 3080m (the very top).

The building for one of the scenes in James Bond – Spectre (the cafe!)

After a visit to the installation there’s nothing for it but for a drink in the cafe after (which has remarkably similar prices to the other mountain restaurants).

Time for our final descent. Was an icy last one, but Bean took it in her stride, and we got from the very top of the mountain back down to Solden in one long run.

What a holiday it was. We found as a family the runs at Hochgurgl better than those based out of Solden (wider and shallower, better fun slopes), but the extent of the lift passes it was hard to get everywhere in a week, especially taking ski school into the equation. We also had a pass to the local pool in Solden which was a great pool.

We had a break in the beautiful old city of Heidelberg on the way home, to visit the castle there and see the enormous wine barrels.

The castle houses the biggest wine barrel in the world. It has the capacity for 219,000 litres of wine!!! you can even walk on top of it.

There’s a splendid view over the city from the castles balcony.

There’s also a museum of pharmacists and, randomly, a huge Playmobil exhibition!

A small part of the Playmobil exhibition, which took up many large rooms.

Thankfully we stayed just late enough to catch this spectacular sunset before continuing the long drive back to Amsterdam.

Amsterdam

Due to catching the ferry from Ijmuiden, our trips often end with a day in Amsterdam. We enjoyed a boat tour on the canals, and then a visit to the Mouse Mansion- nothing short of a feat in craft, the the most intricate enormous dolls house for toy mice. it never fails to blow my mind.

After all that walking we had a late pancake lunch, which was delicious. Then time to board the ferry – early – due to an anticipated rough journey.

And rough it was – this trip ended with a ferry journey in Gale Force 9 winds and not much sleep!

Overall a fabulous holiday.

High Pike – 7th Nov 2020

A cold but sunny day, we stay local and head for a family walk up High Pike for some views.

There were some spectacular clouds in the sky, but glad we had all the warm kit in the bag and a good packed lunch, including hard boiled eggs and bonfire biscuits to give us the energy to descend!

Hallin Fell – 25th October 2020

A wet and windy October day but needing some air without anything too epic, Hallin Fell ticks the boxes.

This is a Fell special to mummy and daddy, the Fell they went up on their wedding day. One of dramatic views no matter what the weather.

A steep little Fell, your little legs at just over 2&1/2 years old do so well to get up to these cairns with great views.

One of your best phrases …. ‘What a view’!!

Walla Crag – 17 Oct 2020

It was fancy dress walking up Walla Crag with buddy Oliver today. Very sweet as they set off with their bags and poles.

You keep the poles a surprisingly long time but then realise that it is easier to run free so they get dropped and mummy has to go back and find them…

Multiple games of hide and seek, dragon chasing, tigers in the woods, we made it to the top for a picnic. Not that Evie and Oliver ever really sit down!

Oliver gets down on one knee….. a bit young yet, but they do like a kissing gate!

Acorns, scrambles and bridges. Finally back at the car, a full but lovely day put up Walla and it’s amazing view.

Evie gets pedalling. 12th Sep 2020

Evie has learned to turn the pedals unsupported on her pink Isla pedal bike age 2&1/2.

Her first couple of facilitated attempts were on the newly surfaced Keswick to Threlkeld old railway.

And then suddenly the next morning before mummy had to go to work she announced she wanted to go biking…. and on a glorious September morning bike she did just this about the small roads of Bampton with Omi nearby as well. What a fabulous morning that was – big smiles for all involved.

For a while there was no stopping her, practicing whenever she could, with mummy having to run faster and faster to keep up. Around Keswick park and along Mosedale were two favourites.

What fabulous places to learn your first pedal strokes.

Summer 2020 – coming out of lockdown 1.

Continuing with lockdown, but starting to be allowed to meet with one other person, life started to be a little bit more fun for all of us.

A distanced bike ride with Evie on her balance bike and Omi riding close by

The first catch up with one of her besties Oliver at Buttermere for some hair colouring, biking and kayaking

More summer fun meeting some friends, including Evan, Oliver, Sam and Willow in various local spots nearby.

Meeting up with Cousin Sam and Auntie Imo at Beacon Fell Country Park

A camping trip to Coniston in July 2020 with the Penrith Crew . This was lots of fun jumping in the lake, kayaking, a bike ride riding shotgun with the mummies, playing with the older kids, hiding under a big bucket…. And then you both got into trouble as Oliver and you took yourselves off independently for a bike ride along the lake, at age 2!!!

A holiday to Dumfriesshire with Claire and Oliver, biking, beach fun and kite flying, as well as some games and dancing in our little holiday house.

More summer joy… walks, bikes, kayaks (you ha e your first go on your own), Berry picking, Lowther….

A lovely day out with your Omi and mummy visiting Ashgill Force near Garrigil. A decent walk for a two year old to do, with an impressive waterfall to walk behind at the end, some beautiful river pools to throw stones in and for mummy to dip in. Your mummy’s highlight was the gorge near the beginning/ end of the walk – which in the right water levels, was swimmable and magical. You enjoyed waving from the bridge above.

A trip to Rydal Hall Mount waterfalls, picking beans from a friends allotment, more river adventures, an evening paddle board and catching a sunset over Blencathra – simply stunning.

Cousin time with your cousin Sam, having lots of fun – at the trampoline park, visiting the big moon in Ulverston, playing in Coniston, and a wet time on the Gruffalo trail at Whinlatter with Sam and Oliver. What a blast of a few days.

A trip to Swansea, stopping off for a quick trip to see see your cousins a Joseph & Finley, before going on to start for a few night holiday with daddy and mummy. We had a lovely couple of days visiting Rhossili Beach and the Worms Head, the Three Cliffs Beach, catching up with mummy’s old university friends, building sandcastles and getting almost blown away in the wind! Then a nice stop off with GrandadGranny on the way home.

A holiday of two parts in late August 2020. The first couple of days were spent around Lake Bala with Omi & mummy. The highlights were the amazing reflections that we got on Lake Bala and both sunset and early morning- made extra special by the fact we nearly didn’t go out due to being tired from a long journey. And the other was the special steam train journey on the Bala Lake Railway. The second part of this holiday was meeting up with cousin Sam and Auntie Imo on Anglesey. We got very lucky with our first day of weather and walked to the peak of Holyhead mountain, with spectacular views, beautiful gorse and blue seas below. The rest of the holiday was spent enjoying playing digging in the sand, a touch of kayaking on the wavy sea, eating ice cream and walking down to the Porth Wen Brickworks which was near where we were staying. There were some amazing rocks and more delightful scenery. But best of all – family to play with. What a lovely holiday and we all agreed it would be amazing to return there soon.

Evie’s lockdown 2020

Where to start? We had just returned home from our holiday to Austria, had one week of normality and then on 16th March 2020 the UK went into lockdown due to COVID-19. We were about to be in each other’s company full time for the next few months and discover a new kind of work – how to amuse a young child day in day out from home without friends.

Biking close to home Being allowed an hour of exercise a day, we did a decent bike ride most days. We had got Evie a new bike seat – a Shotgun- so that she could sit upfront. Although she did keep falling to sleep so quite often for the longer rides we still used the back seat.

Painting faces Early on in lockdown I bought some craft items – sensing that we may be needing them. I think the face paints were the most used to begin with as Evie really liked to be a ‘tiger’. She likes baby to be a tiger to!!

Camping in the garden Having just bought a new tent we decided to put it up. Mainly for something else to play with in the garden, ‘sleeping’, having tea parties, but also to have some nighttime adventures sleeping in the garden. It sometimes felt like being at a festival the next morning!!

Learning to ride the balance bike Early on in lockdown we spent a lot of time on the ‘bumpy track’ where Evie got the hang of lifting her feet up and learning to do big ‘weeeeeee’s’. It was a great time to learn, when no-one was driving their cars, especially the time when she continued out of the bumpy track and straight down the middle of the road!! As we were allowed to start visiting places in the car Evie’s bike rides got more adventurous…. and so they continue.

Local walks like everyone, there were lots of local walks to be had near where we live, with daffodils to smell, rocks to climb on a puddles to jump in. The walks got a lot more exciting and pretty once we could drive or cycle to nearby places. We especially enjoyed the forests of wild garlic and bluebells and seeing the lake again so that Evie could throw stones in.

Building dens The den building spaces at home are not brilliant- but it didn’t stop Evie enjoying those that she did build with her daddy!

Doing art We spent quite a bit of time painting various things to make cards to send to people that we couldn’t see. Although the projects often started and finished well, there was often a painted Evie as a consequence as well! Thankfully only once a painted house to! Evie remains very proud of her rainbow!

Evie’s 2nd birthday Fitting with the general theme of 2020, Evie had her birthday just with us and her party was via zoom. Thankfully at age two, I don’t think she really got it and therefore nothing was missed by her. It was lovely how much her little friends made an effort – even though today of all days Evie refuses to get her face painted!

Easter Although just the three of us we tried to make Easter special. We had had a delivery of eggs from Evie’s Omi with foresight and stuck to my family tradition of painting our boiled eggs at breakfast. After breakfast we set out on an Easter egg hunt that I and a friend had set up earlier in the morning, which Evie and Oliver could then both do separately – good job we had good clues!!

VE Day Maybe not as spectacular as some places, but the villages nearby were definitely worth a bike around to see the efforts that had been made for VE Day. I don’t think many will have surpassed the collection that one of the gentleman had collected throughout the years and was kindly displaying for everyone’s interest, including a babies gas suit amongst many other items.

Digging, wheelbarrows and doing the back garden. Make way for Beans Lodge! We knew that Evie would love her own little playhouse and she had this as a present, but that meant turning the back garden from a winter quagmire into a useable space. Thankfully the local timber yard and suppliers of gravel stayed open through lockdown, so we got some supplies and got digging, wheelbarrowing, sawing, banging and finally painting! Evie got a house and a fence made from pallets, daddy made a golf tee out of pallets and mummy made a table and benches from pallets. Although it took many weeks to complete, it has been well worth the effort.

Helping mummy to cook Evie has her own special knife and is always keen to help with cooking and baking. Learning her vegetables as she chops and especially enjoying putting sprinkles on cakes (that she can then eat immediately)!