Boys Away

Ben Bouldering

Tom, Ben and I are in the UK for a few days, having a boys away time.  At the moment we are at Sally's in Derbyshire and have been doing many activities. One of my plans whilst here was to catch up with some blog posts but we've just been too busy playing.  So expect a blog blast soon.

The weather was very hot last week which did slow us down a little but here, although still very warm, the weekend was cloudy. We arrived Tuesday lunch time and after a little rest we were off on our first adventure.  This was bouldering at Robin Hood Stride.  It was great fun clambering  over the rocks.

Wednesday we went into Matlock.  The temperature was over 30 Degrees.  Ben went to play on his skateboard and was doing quite well but the heat was too much and he soon gave up.  He hasn't had much opportunity to use his board at home so cannot get the practise in (with his accident record a relief to any parent).  Tom, somewhat sensibly, went and played in the kids water play park.  Ben soon joined him.  I read my book in the shade and two hours later, with dripping wet boys, we got back to Sally's

Tom - at the top

Thursday we had our annual visit to Alton Towers water park.  Great fun in the middle of a heat wave but very busy.  I would hate to go now the summer holidays are in full swing. On Friday we had plans to do a few activities but the weather was very hot and so we had a couple of hours at the indoor climbing wall at Wirksworth - where we spent quite a lot of time last year due to the bad weather.  This year we were there due to the hot weather!  Both boys did really well and had a great time.  Tom did especially well as he got over his fear of heights and gained loads of confidence. We then had a BBQ in the evening.

Ben on the rock wall

Over the weekend we hired bikes and cycled around Carsington Water.  It was much cooler and a very pleasant ride.  We then went on to a camp site near Monyash and had a night camping.  On the Sunday morning it looked like rain so we packed up quickly and headed back to Sally's before going back to the climbing wall for the afternoon, at the request of the boys.

We are now off South to see a couple of Mum's old friends and then camping (maybe near Petersfield, Sussex) for a couple of nights before heading back home again.