#SilentSunday

#CountryKids at Warwick Castle

As part of our single parent break we had a day at Warwick castle with three other families. We were lucky to get special £5 a head tickets to make it an affordable trip. First photo opportunity was the stocks:

It is an amazing sight with its medieval walls:

We decided to brave the rampart walk with its 530 steps. A bit of exercise and fresh air:

Worth it for the views:

Reasons to be Cheerful: Starting 2015 with a smile #R2BC

Thank you Jo for hosting the linky for this week as I was on holiday! Hopefully people will find plenty of reasons to be cheerful in this festive season! Let's try to carry on the positive thinking into 2015. I hope its a healthy and happy year for all the linkers:

1) Relaxed Christmas

We were with my parents and some other close family from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day and enjoyed good company, good food and lovely presents! I was dead chuffed with my first ever pavlova:

2) Single Parent break

We have just got back from a lovely single parent break at Stratford upon Avon Youth Hostel:

There were around 90 of us with exclusive use of the hostel for 2 nights which included day trips out and New Year's Eve party:

I will be writing about our days out separately!

3) Meeting family

Our family is quite a big one and we are good at staying in touch with lots of cousins. Today I introduced my children to my second cousin and her mum as we were passing close enough to their home to visit. They got to meet some of the gorgeous Rhodesian Ridgebacks that my cousin has (for my son's sake from behind a gate!):

Really hope we can see more of the family in 2015.

#SilentSunday

#CountryKids Boxing Day Run on The Helm

Both my children got new sports kit for Christmas and were keen to try it out today! My son got on his running hat and trousers and my daughter her new cycling kit this morning to drag the adults outside:

He and I headed up the hill to The Helm which runs behind Oxenholme. It's quite a steep ascent at first and was very muddy:

 My son was far more sure footed than me and sped up to the top: