While we were away in Yorkshire we didn't have internet access, but I did write my blog. If you don't have time to read it all, the conclusion is that despite Simon being quite ill with a cough, cold and ear infection, we still had a good week away in a beautiful cottage! And if you do have time to read the long version, here it is...
27.03.09
Safely at the cottage after a longer-than-planned journey due to bad traffic. We managed not to get caught in it, but took another route which took us further afield.
The Tesco van arrived at about 8pm – though I say it myself it was an excellent idea to get our shopping delivered to the cottage. So much more convenient than having to either bring it all with us or brave an unknown supermarket with two boys tomorrow.
28.03.09
A typically April showery kind of day, despite us still being in March. The French would say it was the giboulés de mars which is of course more appropriate. Whatever you call it, I lost count of the number of wintery showers we had, interspersed with bright sunny moments.
What is great about this cottage is that it’s so comfortable and pleasant to live in that if it’s rainy we don’t mind being stuck indoors! When the weather clears, we have a beautiful view over a valley, and to the front we have woods. Inside, the cottage has flagstones and wooden-beamed ceilings, but new-looking furniture and a well-equipped kitchen. We have a double bedroom with en-suite downstairs, and upstairs Simon has a big bedroom and lovely bathroom (not bad for a 2 year old!).
We did venture as far as Pocklington today, between downpours. We found however that even when the sun was shining there was a chilly wind, so we just bought the newspaper and a Peppa Pig magazine for Simon.
29.03.09
Beautiful cold clear weather today, just right for admiring the countryside around our cottage and the walls of York surrounded by bright daffodils.
We drove into York this morning, down Hull Road and past the house I used to live in as a student, through the city and over to Acomb. We went to the morning service at The Gateway Church, the church I used to go to eleven years ago. They now own a beautifully refurbished building, and we very much enjoyed worshipping there. They definitely scored 10/10 for welcome. It’s too long ago for anyone to recognise me, but as first-timers we had five or six people stop to talk to us and ask whether it was our first visit. One man even offered to pray for us when he heard about our plans to move to Benin. We accepted of course!
Very child-friendly too, with a lobby/café where I could sit to breastfeed and still hear the service, and good baby changing facilities. The music was a bit too loud for Benjy (though fine in the lobby!) but Simon seemed to enjoy it, and during a “talky” bit he asked for more singing!
After the service I was glad to be able to chat to the pastor, John Wilson, who I'd known when I was there before, and to tell him about our plans. It was partly because of this church, and its emphasis on mission, that I got thinking more about mission when I was at university.
We stayed around for coffee afterwards, then drove over to the York University campus, where we ate our picnic in the car then had a wander around the campus. Simon particularly liked the ducks, the geese, the moorhens, the pigeons ... you get the idea! I was quite shocked to find that the building for the Department of Language and Linguistic Science had been replaced by an enormous wood-and-steel construction which is apparently going to host “The School of Humanities and Educative Science” ... or something like that! I think it is an exciting development for the university, but it was quite sad to find my own history wiped out like that!
My college, Derwent, hadn't changed very much. That Heslington Hall end is still the most attractive end of campus, and Simon enjoyed exploring.
All in all, a most agreeable walk down Memory Lane :o)
30.03.09
Bad night. We were woken three times by Benjy, who had reverted back to feeding every three hours, and twice by Simon, suffering from a nasty cough. During one night-time nappy change Benjy simultaneously produced a small fountain and a jet of projectile poo ... sometimes you just have to laugh or else you'd cry!
The day wasn't much fun either, as Simon was very unhappy, and every two minutes cried out in a strangled, panicky voice, “Tissue!” By the end of the day his face, particularly around his nose, was raw.
We did make it out to Bridlington, where Simon was singularly unimpressed with the sea ... but did become happier when offered squash and cake in a café.
31.03.09
Much better night – just woken once by Benjy! It's funny the difference a good sleep can make, I felt I could deal with everything the day could throw at me. Marc felt less positive as he seems to be coming down with the cold.
We went into York – Osbaldwick to be precise – to spend the day with an old university friend of mine, Becki, and her family (Gideon, 3, Imogen, 1, and Ant, age undisclosed) (actually Ant only when he got back from work at about 5pm). Simon was in Garden Toy Heaven, and having slept well last night was in a much better mood than yesterday. We had a lovely relaxed day, mainly in the garden, enjoying the warm sunshine!
When we got back to the cottage it was Simon's bedtime, and he was very ready for it, suddenly dissolving into tears and possibly running a temperature.
01.04.09
Another good night, and we had a bit of a lazy morning, as Benjy fell asleep in our bed after his 6.45am feed and Simon didn't wake up until nearly 8. Simon seemed much better most of today, and just went downhill again in the evening. Marc has been feeling under the weather, and Benjy and I both have a bit of a cold.
But we went to Burnby Hall, in Pocklington, for a picnic, and spent most of the afternoon there. It's a lovely place, with a beautiful lake and gardens. Simon enjoyed the playground.
02.04.09
Went into York today, driving to the Ring Road then taking the Park&Ride in. It was Simon's first ride on a bus, and he liked the idea, though the reality lasted longer than he would have chosen (“drive it, drive it!” ... “come out!”). When we arrived in the city centre, Benjy needed feeding, so we went and sat in the sunshine in the Earl Grey Tea Rooms courtyard. We didn't know it then, but that was the warmest part of the day!
Simon was bothered by his eyes, which had been weeping for a couple of days, and seemed to be getting worse. After our drinks we went to a chemist's to see if they could give us anything, and they suggested we go to the NHS Walk-In Clinic. We did, and it was a great service. The doctor we saw said his chest is clear, but he has an ear infection, and she prescribed him antibiotics and gave us some Disprol we could give him straight away.
Not long after taking the paracetamol Simon seemed to perk up, and he ate quite well at lunchtime. We had a picnic in the grounds of the Minster. By then it was pretty chilly, and we were glad to get inside the Minster afterwards. We'd got a free pass, which was good, as Simon walked all the way round it, but wouldn't have wanted to stay long enough for it to be worth paying to go in!
Afterwards we wandered round York a bit, got hot drinks to warm us up, visited another chemist for Simon's prescription and went to Lakeland to buy an oven thermometer and a knife sharpener (for Benin of course!). Then we took the bus back to the Park&Ride.
Simon is very up and down, but with the antibiotics he should be feeling much better soon. Benjy is quite snotty and a bit sleepier than usual, but otherwise seems fine.
I have enjoyed being back in York. In some ways it seems a long time since I graduated 11 years ago, but as I look around the historic buildings I realise that in the life of York, that really isn't much!
Last night in our lovely cottage :o(
03.04.09
Home safely!
