~That was the week that was~

This week qualifies as one of those crazy weeks that have passed in a flash - back to school/college, back to work (despite still up to my knees in L's Leeds Fest smelly washing) and son J had minor surgery on Monday too...
Last weekend's trip to the trade fair was great - so much pretty loveliness to see and gawp at! Here are a few images I managed to take (surreptitiously) ...

I found a lovely supplier of handmade soap that I am hoping to stock in the very near future...
We had a lovely meal (Fish and Chips) in a pub next door to the hotel, called the Little Owl, which was one of the Vintage Inn chain - these are cosy and quaint food pubs-  new buildings, but done quaintly and decorated in a traditional country style with a twist.  I loved it - reasonable prices and excellent service and we sat out in the last of the evening sun in a lovely beer garden with comfy chairs and red geraniums in terracotta pots (and a glass of wine).
I'm busy tonight with preserves - piccalilli, apple and rosemary jelly, plum jam...more of that Autumn fun this weekend ...
I'd just like to say many, many  thanks for reading my blog - I noticed with amazement that I have had nearly  30 thousand pageviews; which is fantastic, yet humbling too x x Thankyou xx

~Caravan Trip to Castle Howard~

We had a lovely few days away in 'Chateau H' at Castle Howard...despite the rain, the copious amounts of duck and goose poop and the mosquitos... All was cosy in Chateau H though with homemade chilli and chocolate brownies...

There was absolutely no mobile signal - not good when your daughter is at Leeds Fest and you're a nervous wreck!    Saturday night and early morning we had torrential rain and lightning, and I felt sick with worry thinking about poor L. in a tent and no way to contact her.

Next day we went into Malton and rang L - who was fine of course, but we do take our mobiles for granted I think...I was happier then and felt up to a Charity Shop reccie in malton and came away with this BHS lamp from the Hospice Shop (PAT tested and good to go for £3)

I think a table lamp is a cosy essential in a caravan.  With every trip we think of something that we need - this time it was a decent breadknife, a measuring jug and some insect repellant...
Lakeside Holiday Park is literally at the side of the Great Lake, so of course you'll get mozzy bites and woken up by the ducks at early o'clock, but it was beautiful.  This is the view when you ascend the banking of the lake and look across...

Photo borrowed from Mark Denton Photographic (www.markdentonphotographic.co.uk)

A lovely walk at dusk, lots of ducks and ducklings, moorhen and geese... Dogs weren't allowed around the immediate lake, though quite a few people ignored this, which is annoying. The touring site has a forest feel, which was a bit dark in places and our pitch was a bit waterlogged in the awning space. I think it teaches you to be a bit more assertive when booking - next trip I will ask for a sunny pitch that's not near a pedestrian thoroughfare.

We were opposite the shower block, which was modern and ok cleanliness wise, our only gripe was there is no shop on site, but there is a farm shop, deli and bakery up at Castle Howard itself.  A nice touch was when the ice-cream van came round, and also the delicious fish and chips from Pickering in a mobile van on Saturday night...

 We got reduced tickets into Castle Howard which had a family day with archery, cycling, climbing etc.
OH and J had a go on a 7-person conference bicycle up and down the drive at great speed, past the Atlas Fountain and the house itself...

Photo from internet 

My camera ran out of charge or I would have taken loads more piccies.

Lakeside Holiday Park
Coneysthorpe, York
www.castlehoward.co.uk

~Caravan News!~

We've just returned from a sunshine and showery few days in my Mum's caravan at Skipsea, near Hornsea.  We're replete with both fresh air and Yorkshire coast Fish & Chips - eaten both in Sullivan's restaurant on the prom in Hornsea...


...and outside in the rain in Bridlington harbour!
Exciting news is that we went and had a look at some tourers at Yorkshire Coast Caravans in Carnaby.
We found this 4 berth caravan, a Lunar Chateau- a little gem and very smart considering it's 11 years old...

It will be known from now on as 'Chateau H' ...
...Sunny yellow curtains and blue and yellow upholstery - just crying out for a bit of bunting, some polka dots and comfy blankets!
Many thanks for all your recent comments - we are still struggling with the PC.  Hope you are all well and I hope to have a bloggy catch-up this weekend x