Fresh air and exercise

What a wonderful day out! I love any opportunity to spend time with my brother Matt (or any of my siblings) and today we had planned to go out for a long walk down the beach and have lunch together. The only sad thing was that Andy couldn't join us, as he had a shift today.

We went down the cliff lift and then strolled or marched, depending on whether I was walking or riding, around the foreshore. It was so relaxing, just chatting and chilling together. We enjoyed fish and chips for lunch, before heading off around the Marine Drive.

The photo is one of those things you just have to do. You can't walk past this chap without stopping for a cuddle and a photo.

Having  walked all the way back through town, we descended back down to the beach and got the cliff lift back up to near my Mum's house, where we flopped in an exhausted heap. After all that fresh air and exercise, I can't stop yawning and feel sure of a good night's sleep.

Sunday afternoon drive

It's been a very pleasant weekend. Yesterday, we went down the beach and had a coffee and scone and a bit of a walk along the foreshore. Today, we've been for a drive over the moors. It was very pretty up there and we stopped in one of my favourite places for a walk but I'd forgotten how steep it was and I couldn't get down into the village. It was nice to stand at the top of the cliff and look up and down the coast.

I've succumbed!

It's no secret that I'm not a fan of Christmas. I know Christians are supposed to be all into the reason for the season but for a whole host of reasons, I just don't like Christmas.

Obviously at school I have to pretend to be into it for the kids. At home, mine are old enough to make their own decisions and I did ask whether they wanted to decorate the house but Josh didn't seem fussed either.

This afternoon, we had a lovely visit to Thornton-le-Dale and then went into Dalby Forest for a walk and a drive. That's when it happened...

Neil got all distracted by the real Christmas trees and suddenly wanted one. After discussions about pine needles in July, lack of space, etc, he pulled the line about making the house smell of Finland/forests and I fell for it.

Several hours later, with more pine needles in my hands than on the floor, it's up and decorated. I've failed in my Scroogism and will have to eat a double portion of bah humbugs.