Reasons to be Cheerful: Appreciation, Lake District and gardening #R2BC

Is it Thursday already? Doesn't seem like 2 minutes since the last link up! I will have to be more organised next week when I am back in charge.... Here are my reasons to be cheerful this week:
1) Feeling appreciated
Whilst its sad my contract came to an end at the lovely school I have been at since December it was lovely to be shown how much the children and staff appreciated me:

2) A still and sunny Fell Foot

After the previous week's wind and snow it was heavenly running at our parkrun this week:

3) Gardening

#CountryKids Fell Running Association Junior Championships Todd Cragg

This Sunday saw the opening race for this year's Fell Running Association Junior Championships at Ambleside. My son hadn't taken part in previous years so he decided to give it a go this year. All the races had to cross the historic Miller Bridge from Rothay Park:

There were 6 different age categories and each route was well marked and marshalled. My son and I walked his route so he knew where he was going and I could choose from filming locations.  The under 9 race (for 6 years and over) was just for 1 km and they went up the tarmac hill and back down again:

I captured their race from a few 100 metres below their turn. There were some scary speeds as they raced back down past me:

Reasons to be Cheerful: Proud Mum, Geekiness and Simple Things #R2BC

Its hard to believe how quickly March is disappearing! Here in Cumbria we only have one week left of term before the Easter break. I have to say I am looking forward to relaxing a bit with no school rush or juggling all my work commitments. That said there has been plenty to smile about this week:
1) Drama Queen
My daughter was in her school's drama showcase. First of all she was the Mad Hatter in a scene performed by the year 7-9 students. Then she was part of the GCSE drama group who put on Teechers in which they all played multiple roles:

2) Geek Heaven

Someone in parenting group shared a link to The Institution of Engineering and Technology where you could order engineering posters for secondary or primary level. Having a son who loves this kind of thing I ordered both packs... He is in heaven having his bed surrounded by the posters with complex mathematical equations above his pillow:

3) The Simple Things

A rare sight occurred this week (something to do with not much work!) as I discovered that my laundry basket does indeed have a bottom:

So short and sweet this week but its kept us all smiling! I will be joining in the Michelle and linking up.

Kendal Fun Day #HappyKendal

Our local leisure centre and community groups laid on a free Family Fun Day this Sunday. There were all sorts of activities for both body and mind. Coincidentally there were some martial arts experts visiting from Switzerland so we got a nunchuck demonstration before my son had a go at table tennis:

He was at his happiest practising his football skills with some friends from school:

Then for a different challenge they tried some basketball (but using the football):

There were also crafting and music making activities but these didn't appeal to him... He nearly went on the bouncy slide but in the end decided against it.

Hopefully the event was such a success that it will be repeated next year. Then we hope that there won't be snow and there will be more taking place on the field outside too...

#CountryKids Sledging in Kendal

Kendal was right on the edge of the Beast from the East part 2 and we just about got some snow on Saturday night:

On Sunday morning the fell race he should have been running in was cancelled as there was too much snow and very strong winds in the hills. So he decided he wanted to go sledging instead. As his had died during the last snow:

Oops this is now an ex sledge!

A post shared by Becky Willoughby (@lakessinglemum) on Mar 1, 2018 at 10:37am PST

I had to rummage in the shed for the unused inflatable sledge we had been sent as a back up to a review 6 years ago: