Kendal Torchlight 2017

This Friday it was Kendal's annual Torchlight parade through the town. It is a chance for local schools, groups and charities to get together and show the rest of the town their fun side. This year the theme was Once Upon A Time.

My son had volunteered to be on his school's float and had helped (along with children from all the year groups) to make the props for the float. On Friday morning I was one a of team of volunteer parents who joined the organising TAs to put it altogether. The first thing I saw was this amazing wicker shoe (The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe):

We then set to with cable ties, staplers, string and duct tape to transform the lorry into a story book wonderland:

I impressed myself, as someone scared of heights, to go up a slightly shorter ladder than this one to help put the message on the back of the truck:

Kendal Torchlight 2014

A brief look at Kendal Torchlight 2014:

#CountryKids at Staveley Carnival 2014

This weekend was the biannual Staveley Carnival. The carnival celebrates creativity and reclaiming the streets from motorised vehicles. After weeks of preparation the day turned out to be hot and sunny as we arrived at the recreation ground which was full of 1000s of people there to celebrate and enjoy the atmosphere. 

With a tight budget after the weekend before my children were told to choose their one fairground ride with care. They both opted for the tiger inflatable and had a lot of fun for the 5 minutes allowed:

Into the tiger's mouth

Leaping through the ring

It was an energetic 5 minute and I think they chose wisely in the use of the money! Then it was time to take up position to watch the carnival parade which loops its way through the village. It first of all heads over the river Gowan:

Staveley Carnival 2012

It was our first Staveley Carnival this weekend and we really enjoyed the spectacle. Its amazing what the community can pull together to produce out of recycled material. This is a story best told in pictures.


My daughter in her flying ant outfit ready for the start:

A praying mantis:

The pre-procession warm up from one of the 4 bands in the carnival parade:

We then all started to parade by sections out of the Recreation ground:

Luckily someone has shared the sound of the carnival by posting on YouTube. You may even spot me and my family:








At the end of the village we looped back and passed the other sections with their own colour schemes:

After the parade there was entertainment, stalls and a fun fair on the recreation ground before the grand finale:

The biggest and best costumes paraded and danced around the arena:

Altogether an amazing spectacle and I can't wait for 2 years time for the next one (just hope that next time all 3 of us are in better health so we can fully appreciate it!)