Summer travels

York Summer hols, July 08
I was so looking forward to a holiday after a busy, stressful time at work and had planned to have a family holiday near York with mum, dad, Kate and her 2 kids for a week. We drove down in 2 cars- Kate and I with the boys and mum and dad in his new Audi which he is ‘breaking in’. As the kids are only 6 and 3 we needed to break up the journey for them so stopped twice on the way there, taking our time and letting them run around and use the play parks. One of the places, a farm shop and café had a trampoline in the grounds that was incredibly popular with all the kids who were there – we hadn’t realised it was wet so they all came off with soggy socks!

Holiday cottage near Claxton, York - Dad, Ruben & Mum

Dad had found a holiday cottage near Claxton about 6 miles from York in grounds with 12 cottages and a small indoor heated pool, outdoor tennis courts and a play park. The countryside around the cottages was flat fields which was strange to me after the hills I am now used to around Stirling. We had a nest of 5 baby swallows in the eaves outside the kitchen and dining room and spent time every day watching which chick was getting fed, whether any had perished (none did but one greddy one got very fat), and being amazed at how often and for how long the parents fed them- apparently it tots up to 7000 insects a day which they catch on the wing!


Video clip of swallow family taken by dad on his camera

We barely saw any of the other families staying there for the entire week and only once had to share the pool with another family- who got out pretty soon after we got in (one advantage of having small kids with you!). There was only 1 day when we didn’t use the pool as we were late home after visiting my mum’s sister Janet at the campsite she and Byron were staying on not far from us (they have got a spanking new campervan with all mod cons- I am jealous. Byron even tows his smart car behind it).

The Shambles in York- Mum & Dan by Chocolate shop

Although there were a few downpours we mostly had good and sunny weather and had a glorious hot day on Scarborough beach where I and my sisters had spent some happy childhood hols with mum, dad and our grandparents. It hasn’t changed and I have a memory from when I was only 3 of the steep hill going from the beach up to the hotel we stayed in – sadly the fountain where we used to wash the sand off our feet was no longer there but the hill was just the same as I remembered. Strange that you can have such clear memories from such a young age - it obviously left an impression on me!

Scarborough beach where we spent childhood holidays - it hasn't changed!

We tried to do things that would appeal to the kids- the Transport Museum and large ‘Ferris wheel’, the beach, a miniature steam railway ride and so on. They are easily amused anyway and loved the pool and the beach which is enormous and sandy with loads of sun-warmed rock pools to explore and sit in - many near the shore had anenomes in them.

The traditional British deck chairs - Mum with spa in background

On another day trip to Scarborough to Peasholm park (they were closing early to prepare for their annual naval battle re-enactment on the pond - I was worried about what would happen to all the ducks) and the railway, we were in fog all day- the ‘har’ - and it was quite cold although only 10 miles away from the coast was warm sun and no fog to be seen! The town centre was pretty much like Blackpool with amusement arcades, tourist shops, pubs and neon.

We went to York as well for a look around and looked at the wee, cobbled back streets, York Minster, the half-timbered houses and the nice park. On Friday morning I also took a bit of time out to do a bit of clothes shopping in the town- not very successfully, mind you. Evenings were spent playing yahtzee and drinking wine after the kids had gone to bed.

Shame that the return journey to Glasgow took around 8 hours due to an accident on the A66 and the need to stop to give the boys a break. But with only 1 minor squabble in a week (that's the adults - not the kids who squabbled every day), it was a success and a great distraction from work (only dreamt of focus groups once) and a nice change of scene. I didn't touch a computer all week - a miracle for me!