Week two of our Hols...staycation

We go into town to get a present for a brthday and have lunch in the pub.

Another day..another pub lunch..well we are still on holiday. Some colouring and playing as we waited for our food.

Then much excitement as ready ourselves for Laser Quest. My clothes make me light up...not great when you want to be stealthy 😂

The team prepare for battle! GLadiators ready!!!!!!!!

Team Mum and Sam were the victors! Apparently, Owen and Blokeys guns 'weren't working properly'. 

We kicked their butts!! Being fitter and 5 stone lighter then when we did this last...I was far more able to KILL!YOU !ALL!

Sam and I high on victory and rather sweaty. After a drink, we payed in the arcade for a while before heading to the shop to buy a new tank for Owens ever growing giant snail and some how some tat as well.

 Us doing the victory salute after laser quest.

The boys have a lazy morning at home playing games (them)  and me making phone calls, appointments, cooking a roast lunch and doing chores ( doing adult is exhausting dontcha know).

After we scoffed the roast lunch, we headed over to Shugborough hall. The National Trust have now taken over the whole site and are making many changes. We noticed they have long horned cattle, rare breed sheep are being stocked and the pigs have gone. Apparently they are getting some Tamworth's in once work has finished round their new sties.

They had lots of pumpkins.

And some impressive seed heads.

We enjoyed the farm exhibition.

A new super hero?

Owen liked checking the animals bums to see how many babies they were carrying...

Understandably, Sam wouldn't partake..'GROSS'...so I can't see him having a career as a vet anytime soon.

The children spent quite a bit of time making the water wheel work.

And enjoyed looking all round the working processes of the mill.

An old cider press.

Blokey loved the firkin shed.

And we were impressed with the kitchen.

The clockwork spit roaster!

Then we walked round the grounds.

Up to Hadrian's Arch and admired the view.

Selfies

The Chinese house in the formal gardens,

And finding the follies and monuments.

Spotting squirrels, buzzards, ducks and some magnificent trees.

Reading about how the river was re routed.

We got caught in the rain on the walk back and got to the car at closing time. It had been great visiting when the place was quiet. They were filming a programme and we spotted Alan Titchmarsh and the film crew, they children were impressed with the crews drone and equiptment...Alan Titchmarsh less so.

At home we had a snacky meal and watched some anime and Penn and Teller ( a new favourite).

I went for an early walk and took my grown up camera with me.

We went to Hanley in the afternoon, as Owen wanted to go to Forbidden Planet, both boys found things to buy. Then we had an early dinner at Nandos, which they loved. 

We were up and out early for swimming the next day, then stopped at the charity shop for some bargains. This included some jigsaw puzzles. Sam got stuck in straight away.

There was playing at the park and more Penn and Teller Fool Us later.

Over the weekend the boys alternated between playing indoors with their friends and out at the park. We watched The Tick and some more Penn and Teller .

Scotland road trip.

I rise with the sun and go running. I have a lot in my mind. We want to go away but need to see if Piggle is well enough.

She goes for her check up and the vet thinks she will be well enough to travel in a could days.

I do a a long run the next day.

We watched the next in the series of Worlds busiest Cities. So far we have seen Mexico, Hong Kong and today Moscow.

PIggle is well and we head off Northeard in the camperbus to Scotland. First whistle stop is Harwick. Owen is determined not to smile.

Onwards to Loch St Mary and a great pitch up for the night all to ourselves on a farm by the Loch.

Phenomenal views but raining hard.

Undeterred the children find a zip wire and have much fun.

We enjoy walks around the area and lots of peace.

In the evening there is scrabble and food in the bus. Then an early night. The rain kept waking us but we were cozy and warm.

Here's my sarcastic smile Mum. On the road again.

A stop at Motherwell and visiting a friend.

Hitting the road again we head to Loch Lomond.

Another beautiful pitch and two very happy boys.

Glorious sunshine now.

So much to look at and the boys are happy to skim stones across the Loch for ages.

The sun sets and we eat and play games in the bus before reading in bed.

The next morning we have a walk and admire the views again.

Then head off to drive further North and through Glencoe. The weather changes and it's very misty when we reach the top.

The boys enjoy reading the map and plotting where we are as we travel.

We set up camp for the night in Glen Nevis and the base of Ben Nevis. Sam wanted me to take a picture of this tree ..'because it looks like it's sulking'.

More glorious vistas...

We go for a walk.

Sam..inspired by the climbers we can see going up Ben Nevis, decides he wants to climb a mountain. I could do that Mum ! Can we touch it ...later, if it stops raining!?'

We enjoyed a meal at a great restaurant with Ben Nevis in full view from the window. Back at the bus, we read and slept well.

The following morning we set off to Glennfinnan. Location of Harry Potter films and all round stunning place. We walked up my mate Bobs Path, to the viewing point..it was well worth it!

No Hogwarts Express today.

We went down to see the Monument close up and admire the Loch.

I love this one of Sam taking it all in.

Owen was admiring the view from a chair but caught me trying to take his picture..so is trying to leg it.

I had the last laugh because he looks like he is having a poo. We cracked up at this.

We then followed the nature walk through the forest area.

We spotted many dragonflies....huge amounts..I have never seen so many. We also found this little chappy and a mate.

Whilst Piggle slept in the van Shadow enjoyed walking with us and having his photo taken by Japanese  tourists.

From here we travelled Southward Blair Castle, then  to Pitlochry for the night. We walked across the bridge to the lovely town centre for a fish and chip supper and some cake and ice cream.

Stopping for a play in the park we discovered on the way.

The next day we headed home. We were sad to leave Scotland behind but also relishing having more space to chill out and our own beds...us we were running out of clothes. Piggle did well but we could see she was getting tired, so wanted to make sure we didn't let her over do things. She loves coming away with us but tends to push herself more despite her age.

The next day we headed into town and collected my wedding ring. I have had it made from some of my Nana's old gold jewellery ..we all agreed it was fab.

Back home I asked my friend and all round clever Scottish person Bob...yes of Bobs path fame..if he could identify the little blue flowers I had seen whilst we were away. Of course he named them straight away..in Latin but we refer to them as the Devils Blue Balls..because we are daft like that.

We are still on our holiday ( at home) so the boys catch up with friends, okay their fav games and read.

I do a huge amount of washing and Blokey clears the camperbus.