we had a pre-melrose weekend at hadrians wall, staying in once brewed youth hostel with the deep enders. we all had a bit of a problem finding it, so arrived pretty much simultaneously after texting to and fro from laybys and pub carparks! children joyously and noisily enthusuastic to be on hols, a lovely hostel with nice wardens. in fact especially nice wardens considering i set off the fire alarm cooking pasta [oops!]. i think we will use it as a base again for a holiday.
early nights for all, as i was very very migrainous.
next day we upped and breakfasted [and i took bucketfuls of tablets and my new nasal things which seemed no better]. The Babs texted an ETA so we went to Hadrians wall whilst waiting – a rather bracing walk given the windiness! the children did scampering, katy and i chatted ans handed out restorative chocs as we walked back. Obviously we were out of signal, as the Babs had already got to vindolanda [and lost husband en route] so we quickly piled there.
gloriously sunny so we all said hello, children again joyous and enthusiastic to see each other, and a packed lunch eaten. As soon as we paid and got in it tipped it down! so we looked at the covered courtyard and watched the introductory video whilst rain settled.
children scampered about – and since it was muddy itwas not a positive experience for all… lots of pointing out and imagining. the hypocaust for the baths and the mock fort towers were ‘the best’ and also the recreated rooms. SB had a very thorough look at the museum with Beth and then me, and we saw the tiny ‘postcards’.
copybooks blotted by some raucous child behaviour from SB amongst others engendering a telling off from one of the staff. [and then SB got a very full telling off from me too, so was crying and sulking - great]
off to melrose, noticed our front number plate had half fallen of so fixed that. then after about 20 mins stopped for a weird tapping noise on roof – the camera!!!
otherwise a very straightforward drive to melrose . both girls disappeared with friends v quickly.
to be continued…
