A day at Loch Morlich

The girls watching the canoeists

We spent a fantastic day just down the road from where we are staying at Loch Morlich.  It's a beautiful lake which attracts many people to try out water sports as well as just relaxing by the water.

 We had a great day watching the canoeists, sailers etc and it got really hot, just t shirt weather.  We even had a couple of successful attempts at flying the kites we had bough and the kids fed the ducks including a couple of little baby ducklings who were being protected by their parents.

Tyler posing by the Loch

Family attempt to fly one of the kites

Hunting Nessie in Loch Ness

Is that Nessie we see?

We spent a day around the Loch Ness area searching for the most famous monster in the world, at one stage we thought we may have spotted him (see video below).

Tyler was unsure about looking for Nessie

Tyler was a little unsure about searching for the monster and took a little convincing that it was OK to be near the water.  

Well we searched and searched but didn't find any clues so instead we went to the Loch Ness Monster Exhibition.  A fascinating look at the different attempts through the years to prove or disprove the existence of a monster in the loch.  It also offers some ideas of what the many sightings through the years could have been.

After the exhibition we took a drive down to Urquhuart castle on the banks of the loch.  The old castle is probably one of the more famous castles in Scotland and has been used in many films / promotional videos etc.

Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness

This was the closest we got to spotting Nessie

After looking at the castle we drove to Plodda Falls to look at the waterfall.

It was quite a long drive along very windy and small roads that if two cars meet one had to give way to allow the vehicles to pass.

When we parked in the car park there was a short walk down a very steep hill we found the viewing platform, wow so high.  Then we had to walk back up the hill ughhh.

But it was worth the effort (at least after it was done it was anyway).

Family pic just before the falls

 
 

Spey Lodge

Loading up the cars getting ready for a trip

We arrived at our superb holiday location, Spey Lodge, a beautiful house surrounded by fantastic countryside and beautiful walks.

Dawn and the kids watching the cinema screen TV

 One of the things we like to do is to go for walks in te woods surrounding the lodge, a great fun time and the kids burn off massive amounts of energy.

A stop on one of the walks

Dawn and Martin beside one of the lakes near the lodge

 There's a fair amount of wildlife around the lodge, so far we have seen, a little mouse who's a regular visitor, grouse, pheasants and a huge hare.

Journey to Scotland

We found a piper in a carpark

We've all come to Scotland for a couple of weeks to see the sights and experience the highlands.  The journey was a complete wash out with continual heavy rain making our planned stops to look at various places pointless, we couldn't get out of the cars it was so wet.

We hadn't been driving long when the first mishap happened, Grandad, Nana and Rayna were driving in front with Martin, Mummy, Hannah and Tyler behind.  We got separated in traffic and somehow in the confusion we ended up following the wrong car!  It was only a few minutes but it did mean we took a detour of the A1 for a few minutes, lol.

Dawn wanting to jump the gun at Gretna Green

  We split the drive up to Aviemore over two days stopping over night in Dumfries.  We had a few stops on route that included the Wensleydale Cheese factory (home of Wallace and Gromit) and Gretna Green, where couples from England used to elope to get married across the border.

A day out in Maldon

On the front watching the Morris dancers

Tyler wasn't keen to meet the morris dancers

We took a trip to Maldon the other day and we were very happy to find a display by various different morris dancers when we got there.

Morris dancing is a very old tradition that dates back to the crusades.  We were told by one of the dancers that they think it may have originated as a fun way of keeping the troops fit.

Tyler wasn't overly impressed especially with the ones that had painted faces and feathers in their hats.  He called them wizards and said they were casting spells with their dances and stick hitting.  He really didn't want his picture taken with one of them even with his mums best efforts to encourage him.

The girls and Tyler joined in at the side and gave us their own version of the dances which was a lot of fun.  We then walked along the front and had a little snack and then discovered a huge play area where the kids spent a happy couple of hours.

Hannah helps Tyler climb aboard

You may have noticed that Tyler doesn't have the pot on his arm in these pics / videos.  That's because I messed up with the order, we went to Maldon before he broke it,   Ooops.

Tyler Breaks his Wrist

Tyler in A&E asking questions

So not everything goes to plan and as we all know accidents happen.  Tyler, Hannah, Rayna, mum and nan had all gone to the local park for the morning before they planned to go to shopping.   Tyler in his typical way got a little too brave and fell off a climbing frame and fell awkwardly.

Nan helps support Tylers arm

 Straight away it was apparent that he'd hurt himself and grandad was phoned to come and see what he thought (Martin was at work).  Grandad checked it out and decided to drive everyone to the Accident and Emergency ward in Chelmsford.   Within an hour Tyler had been looked at and X rayed (showing he'd broken two bones near his wrist).  A small pot was put on his arm to stop it from moving and another appointment made the next day so he could have a full cast put on after any swelling had gone down.

 

Mummy, Martin and Tyler all went back tot he hospital the next day where the Doctor looked again at Tylers arm.  They then took the old cast off and put on a new full cast (see the video) and then more X-rays.   The doctor was happy with everything he saw and told us the cast could be removed in about 4 weeks time (just before we fly back to Louisiana).

Has it slowed Tyler down any?  Nope not in the slightest.

 . 

Grandads Retirement Dinner

Having Dinner at Fowlers Farm

Grandad retired from work recently so we all got together for a surprise dinner.  Nan had arranged without grandad knowing for us all to meet up at Fowlers farm.  As well as Aaron, Clare, Kelly, Deb, Col we were joined by Auntie Margeret and Uncle Ivan.

A really good meal with some fun friends.

Saying goodbye outside the restaurant

 

A Surprise Visitor

Rayna on the Pony

Tyler on the Pony

Hannah on The Pony

We were all visiting with Uncle Terry and Auntie Anne when Kara came riding her pony and gave the kids a special surprise.  They were all really lucky and were allowed to sit on the pony which they loved, especially Tyler who wanted to ride off into the distance.

An afternoon at the Ladybower Reservoir

Dawn and Martin Posing by the Labybower Dam

One of the things we stopped and looked at during our drive around the Peak District was the Ladybower reservoir.  The kids had a great run around and we even made friends with some local ducks who fed from our hands (see the video).

 

The Speedwell Cavern

Grandad leads the way down the mine

The boat at the bottom of the stairs

Whilst we were all in Derbyshire Hannah, Rayna, Tyler, Martin and Grandad took a trip down the speedwell cavern which is an old tin mine.

After a long walk down many steps at the bottom awaited a large boat.  We were lucky enough to be right at the front so the kids got a fantastic view as the boat travelled along the mine.

The guide told stories about the history of the mine and how it was a financial disaster as a tin mine costing thousands whilst only having a few hundred pounds worth of tin found.

The miners flooded the mine to make it easier to move rocks and rubble but it makes a great trip for tourists.

The guide pushes the boat along the route

Tyler, Hannah and Rayna deep underground

The halfway point where you have to get out and swap boats

A day at Chatsworth House

Chatsworth House

We all spent a day at Chatsworth House, Unfortunately the day we had chosen to visit turned out to be one of the wettest so far.  We had a really interesting look around the beautiful house and the stables, we had planned on looking around the gardens but the continual down pour put paid to that unfortunately.

Dawn checks out some of the fantastic ceilings inside the house

Still we had a good time looking at everything indoors.   The house has been used in many movies and TV series so may look familiar.   We even met one of the people we recognised from the recent BBC series all about Chatsworth House.

Treasure Hunt In Robin Hoods Sherwood Forest

Walking towards the Great Oak in Sherwood Forest

We all headed up to Derbyshire for a few days in and around the peak district.  One of the things we went to see was Sherwood Forest.  The home of the legendary Robin Hood, where he and his merry men hid from the Sherrif of Nottingham.

As a special surprise Auntie Tamsin, Uncle nick and Charlotte had hidden some treasure in the woods and left video tape clues which we all watched on Raynas, notebook before dashing off into the woods to find the hidden treasures.

Hannah, Tyler and Rayna watching the first clue to find the hidden treasures

 We didn't do too bad and only needed slight hints occasionally from Uncle Viv who was helping us on our quest.  You can see some of the searching in the video above.

Heading off in search of the treasures

We had to stop regularly to keep checking the clues

Tyler in one of his many Dens in the forest

Young Robin hides in a tree and tests his archery skills

 An excellent days fun, so special thanks to Uncle Nick, Auntie Tamsin and Charlotte for organising the treasure hunt and Auntie Anne and Uncle Viv for meeting us all in the woods and giving us the occasional hint and point in the right direction when needed.

Warner Bros Studio Tour London, Harry Potter

Waiting to go inside the Harry Potter Studio

So we decided to do something cool and visit the Harry Potter Studio in London.  Since the movies have finished being made the location of many of the sets where they were actually filmed has been opened recently to the public.  If you're in England and want to visit the details are here, Harry Potter Studio Tour London.

As you can see from the video and pictures a great time was had by all.  Although Tyler was a little unsure about the magic book with the eyes and teeth, especially when it started moving.

Inside the Great Hall in Hogwarts

Riding on Hagrids motorbike and sidecar

Enjoying a Butterbeer on a rest

A day at the Discovery Centre, Braintree

Hannah and Rayna on one of the climbing frames

While the weather was hot we all took a day out and went to the Discovery centre (English spelling again). Nan, Grandad, Mum, Martin and Kelly as well as Tyler, Hannah and Rayna.

 The Discovery centre is a large piece of land full of exciting climbing frames and swings to be discovered.

As you can see in the video Rayna took and unscheduled departure from one of the swings but after a quick cuddle was soon up and running around again.

Grandad and Nan enjoying the sun

Long Walks in the British Summer

The view we normally get as we walk along

Water is just so irresistible

So it's been a long time since the blog was updated (Dawn has been to busy and not much has happened hmmm).  We've been apart for 5 months due to lack of funds and paperwork needing to be completed for my (Martins) USA Visa.  Anyway we're all back in the UK now and have so much to add I figured if i don't start soon we'd be forgetting stuff.

We're here for 2 months and then we fly back to Louisiana and get married!

One of our favourite (English spelling) things to do when we can is to go for our family adventure walks, normally a couple of miles and we have some great fun.  

We walk through tall grass and up and down steep hills and sometimes (depending how hot it is) we may even go for a little dip in the river (see video).

It's surprising how few arguments there are  when there's a lot of running around to be done and it certainly helps everyone getting to sleep at night.  Which is one of the reasons we do it :0)

The kids always find a more adventurous route