Heading for a challenge

The boys were late to bed but slept till 7.45. After breakfast we headed off to Cragside for opening time. I hadn’t realised the carriage drive was closed till 11 so instead of driving up to the trim trail we had to walk. Thomas quickly looked at the map and worked out the quickest way. This involved a lot of steep steps for the last quarter of the way but I coped. Mr C is getting his B12 on Monday and found he really needs it as he was as slow as me.

The boys really challenged themselves on the first trim trail section we reached which is normally the last one when we go from the car park. They have to skip through tyres, go along 4 sets of balance bars each one higher than the last, go along a wire with a rope above, then a round log which can spin round and tip you off if you aren’t careful though there is a chain above to hold. After that it’s the rope ladders you climb before launching yourself over the top and down the other side. Next is a set of monkey bars and finally some logs. I have no photos as I had to time them. They were doing it is around 45 seconds. Gradually we moved on to the easier sections till we ended up at the car park where they got ice cream for their efforts.

On the way back they were talking about on-line safety. Thomas said a girl he didn’t know asked him for his SnapChat number. He hadn’t got one but didn’t say that - just said she couldn’t have it. James says “I’d have told her I have a girlfriend and she’s hotter than you”.

We had to rush back for lunch as they needed to be home by 2 to get to the North Shields ferry for their overnight journey to Amsterdam. Lunch could have been fraught. James said he didn’t like courgettes so I made him scrambled eggs on toast. (We try not to make an issue about food as he can refuse to eat anything and gets hangry). I was glad he had some protein at least. He asked what was in the fritters when he’d eaten his eggs. I told him it was snot, badger poo and ice cream. “Yuk Granny. Just tell me it’s cucumber, lettuce and ham - something I like then I’d eat it”. “But that would be a lie James”. “White lies don’t count!” Anyway he did have half of one and said it was ok.

(Last night I gave them the remainder of the raspberry Bombe Ella and Nathaniel had. James ate half of his portion. I asked if it was ok. “mmmh - there’s room for improvement” he replied with a cheeky grin).

Mr C drove them back to Whitley Bay then had to take the car to a tyre place as there’s a nail in one of the new one.

I’m going to chill out now with my book but I’m reluctant to finish The Corner that Held them as it’s so amusing.