Reasons to be Cheerful: The End is Nigh! #R2BC

I don't mean the end of the world but the end of term! Here in Cumbria Friday afternoon sees us breaking up for the holidays and I can't wait. No wonder it hasn't taken much to make me happy this week:

1) Tea in the park

Last Friday it was so hot I treated us all to fish and chips in the park it really was bliss to chill out in the sun at the end of a busy week:

Hoping we get more days like this in the holidays!

2) Family Bike Ride

It had been too long since we went out cycling so I took the offer of another adult willing to come with us to get us all out on our bikes. The second half of the bike ride had me smiling once my son got his confidence back:

3) Staveley Carnival

This is such an amazing event for the whole family. I've written a long post about it already but here is a taster:

Shame we have to wait 2 years for the next one!

4) Operation House

It's nice to feel at the end of the week that progress has been made in sorting the house out a bit. There are little areas that look so much better to me though its still very much a work in progress to be be completed over the summer. I even cajoled the children into starting to tidy their rooms and I am managing to slowly increase the number of chores they each do. Not a smooth ride but hopefully it will be worth it in the end..

5) Positive body image

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#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!)