The weird but wonderful house called Little Moreton

We woke to the very unusual sight of a perfect blue sky today. Jet streams were shooting across the sky in all directions. I took the kids first to Congleton, a town south of Wilmslow for a looksee. Very pretty market road. Then we moved onto the main event, Little Moreton Hall. This is another awesome National Trust Property. So pleased I became a Trust member which means our car parking and entry is free. The membership was paid for in two outings a few weeks ago. I still have about 5 properties on my list to get to around Cheshire and this is a just a fart in outer space (thanks Rich for this sweet proverb) when you see the hundreds of Nationals Parks open to the public around the UK. I cannot rave enough about this awesome resource available for all to enjoy. Anyway this particular hall is a Tudor house built in the 1500s. It is a funny place which has been described as 'highly irregular'. NB it is not my shoddy photo taking. The hall is quite strange with rooms leading you all over the place. Walking across the room in the upper story is like riding a wave the floor is so uneven.The house was owned by the Moreton's through until it was transferred to the National Trust in the 1930s. During the English civil war the family suffered and then started a decline in the well-being of the house. The Trust has restored it over the years. They catered well for children with I spy worksheets for the children to use to search for special features around the hall. They also do demonstrations of how things would have been in medieval times. It was such a stunning and warm YES warm 17degrees!!! day that we sat in the sunshine and had lunch. We soon were surrounded by ducks from the moat that circles the house and garden. Corey was not happy about this so picked up his lunch pack and went to sit elsewhere so the ducks couldn't bother him. However those dastardly ducks tracked him down and soon he was up again lunch in hand shooing them away. Very funny to observe. So he ended up eating on my lap. Quack!

Yep I have had my hair all chopped off too.

 

 

The remains of Norton Priory

On Sunday we got on the road again (we have a sense of limited time now as reach the halfway point of our adventure) so our weekends are about getting out rain or shine. This cold and damp day led us to Norton Priory which is the ruins of a 900 year old Priory. It is the most excavated site of its type in Europe. The museum holds many artifacts that were found during the excavation which Ella was fascinated by and displays of how the Priory once looked prior to King Henry VIII destruction of the monasteries. There is a magnificent statue of St Christopher carrying the child Jesus which was created for the Priory in the 1400s and has survived all the happenings since and has been restored and is brought to life through digital projection. Anyway enough history for you...The kids then enjoyed a Easter hunt (which are everywhere at the moment for the kids btw:-) around the ruins and through some of the woodlands. The sculpture trail was lovely and passed a canal too all before the cool weather sent us indoors for a meal in the tea rooms.

Blown away in Buxton

Rich was keen for a trip to the village of Buxton after seeing it online. So we ventured into the Peak District to this lovely town. The Pavilion Gardens was our perfect destination with an amazing playground in the most exquisite setting. The playground also had an 'Xerscape' which is workout equipment for adults to exercise on while the children play. Such a brilliant idea. There was also the all important miniature train running around the gardens which is all the boys think about once they found out it was there. Plus there was a market. Yes another awesome market with beautiful homemade goodies and treats. I have posted photos this time for my special friend who enjoys looking at scrummy kai. You will notice from the pictures it was very windy and so so cold this day. I think it was around 6-8 degrees in Buxton. We would have loved to stay longer but the cold got to me especially so we took refuge in our little Skoda and headed home.

 

 

 

Adventures of the GInger Nut Crew

"Quick Mum hide in that bush the enemy are coming. We will get them." says Ella.
"Onto our horses...gallop, gallop, gallop" shouts Jamie.
"Fire on my torches gone Mum" worries Corey.
"You are safe now Mum but watch out." reassures Ella.
"Those smaller yellow bushes are the enemy and only need 2-3 shots from my bow and arrow but the bigger enemy need about 25." explains Ella.
"Oh no here come more enemy from over there." yells Jamie.

On the move again through the woods. Safely surrounded by Knight Jamie, Knight Corey and Dame Ella.

Rainy days and Mondays..

sometimes get me down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This post is just to let you know that we have days like this. Blogs and Facebook are well-known for people only showing the best parts of their lives. Making those of us reading sometimes feel a little more wishful that our lives were more rainbows and butterflies too. So lets get real for a moment...We are having some good times and adventures on our UK trip but we also have days when we don't do much at all. Don't get me wrong I am so grateful for this experience which I did choose for us all and we know people who have very sad things happening in theirs lives so no need for any boohoos for me. I just felt compelled to say that yes we are having a wonderful time...some days... a quiet time...some days...a lonely time...some days...So don't be put off. KEEP READING MY BLOG. But in between my posts we have normal life going on and that's all there is to it.

 

Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you,

Nice to know somebody loves me.

 

 

Big Day Out in Manchester

On Saturday we took the kids to Manchester for a looksee. The train ride alone was exciting enough and Jamie hasn't stopped drawing trains since. We could have stayed on the train and just come home again and the 3 would have been very happy. But we got off the train and entered into the chaos that is Manchester. It was a wet day and their were people everywhere. We did a little shopping...once again this is not the most pleasurable pastime with our kids. I have to say though that I will be guttered if I don't get an opportunity to bring home some of the bargains around this place. The main event of the day was going on the Wheel of Manchester. Great view through the rain covered glass over the city. Sorry pics are not great this blog. Apparently most people visit Manchester for the music scene and the sport. The shopping is the other attraction. The architecture is very eclectic range of buildings but we didn't get to see much due to the weather. But it certainly isn't a city of high risers and sky scrapers. There is a lot of restoration and transformation going on and is evolving all the time I have heard.

Check out these amazing cupcakes I found in a cake shop in one of the Malls.

 

 

 

 

Sun, tea and me

This was a moment to savour. The kids were playing on the playground while I watched from my sunny spot and finished a perfect cuppa. Great little place named the 'Red House Farm'. Such a lovely waitress. People really do make the place. Thank you kind lady for your warm service and conversation.
PS there were mechanical tractors and diggers at this place which got shots of the kids having turns on but this post is all about me and my tea so if you want to see just comment and I will post them another time.
PPS You should be able to comment easily now as I have adjusted the settings. xo