Author: 50themusical

A Weekend in York

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Last weekend we travelled to York for the weekend with my brother and sister in law. York is a beautiful city and is only about an hours drive for us, which makes it easily accessible.

We were later setting off than we intended, for a number of reasons, but we eventually arrived in York at around 8pm. It was a much needed break and we had been looking forward to it all week, but were a little bit stressed out and very tired by the time we arrived. Luckily, when we arrived my lovely sister in law presented us with freshly cooked pizzas which were very much needed after a long day. After eating and a good chat, putting the world to rights, we went off to bed.

We were staying at “Clearly Apartments” on Bootham Crescent, which is a short walk into the city. The apartment was a little surprising at first. It was smaller than I had expected (and how it appeared on the photos), with not much space for four adults to sit comfortably. There was a very small kitchen area, a dining table in the corner and a sofa and armchair. It was darkly decorated, which made it seem a little bit dreary. There were two bedrooms and two bathrooms which were all clean and tidy. The ensuite was a little bit of a squeeze, but over the weekend we got accustomed to the space and enjoyed our weekend together.

An Outdoor Treasure Hunt

Our daughter bought us a Mystery City Treasure Hunt for Christmas, as she knows we like escape rooms and quizzes. This was specifically for York and was based on the Gunpowder Plot. It was in a book rather than on phones, which worked really well. You could also use the QR code to get extra visual clues via your phone if you needed them. The hunt took us around many streets of York with clues outside buildings, pubs and places of interest. Some of the clues were really straight forward and some were a little more difficult to find and solve. It took us about 4 hours all together, including a lovely stop for coffee and cake in a little coffee shop. Luckily the weather was great and we walked over 12000 steps which was pretty good for just wandering around the city. I would recommend one of these city treasure hunts, as it helps you to learn about the city itself, gets you walking and thinking, as well as working together as a team.

A couple of highlights of the day were seeing the statue of Paddington on a bench in Minster Yard, which we had our photo taken with as our grandson is a huge Paddington Bear fan. The second was the coffee shop we called at, which was tucked out of the way in Coffee Yard, at Barley Hall. We probably would not have otherwise come across this place had it not been for the treasure hunt. I had cake, but the others had black pudding sausage roll, which was apparently amazing!

After finishing the hunt, we headed through the market and shops, before heading back to the apartment. We spent the rest of the afternoon watching the rugby, reading and just chilling out.

Great Food at The Churchill Hotel

On the way in to York on Friday night we passed The Churchill Hotel which had a lovely beer garden all lit up with fairy lights and braziers near the tables. Having had a quick look at the menu, we decided to book for our meal in the evening. What a great decision that turned out to be.

The hotel is stunning, obviously on a Churchill theme, with quirky furniture and decorations. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. The food was amazing! It was all clearly freshly cooked and although it took a while to arrive, we weren’t in any rush and it was lovely just to sit in the nice surroundings.

There was a set menu, with plenty of choice and you can choose to have two or three courses. We all chose to have mains and puddings. The main courses were hot and very tasty, with just the right amount of food to leave room for a desert. The Baked Alaska was one of the best deserts I have tasted for a long time, with a warm brownie topped with caramel ice cream and soft marshmallow meringue.

It was so good that on the Sunday afternoon, we returned for lunch as we struggled to find anywhere in the city centre which wasn’t packed. the food was great, although they got my brothers order wrong and he had to wait for it to be recooked. However the Baked Alaska was just as good the second time.

Castle Museum

On Sunday we headed to the Castle Museum. I haven’t been here for years, probably since i was a child. The entrance tickets allows you to return again anytime within the next 12 months, which is always good.

The museum is good with a variety of exhibits on show, including a fashion exhibition, with clothing throughout the years. There are period rooms showing how homes have changed over the years. Each one has a story behind it, to help explain what was going on at the time. It was interesting to see how fashion has changed from minimalistic to having every surface full of nick knacks. Kirkgate is an area of reconstructed shops on cobbled streets, which are incredible and it was great to wander around the streets as they were dating back as far as Victorian times (or “back in the day” as referred to by my husband for most historical periods)

The 1960’s exhibition was fascinating having lots of the items we all recognised from our childhoods. There is also an exhibition about the First World War. This was interesting and moving in parts, following the stories of people who had lived through the war. It was also a real eye opener reading the cost both in finance terms and the lives that were lost and changed forever as a result of the war “to end all wars”(If only that were true)

One of my favourite parts of the museum was the prison exhibition. The Castle Museum had been a prison for many years and some of the cells and other rooms now form part of the exhibition. I find it fascinating how the views of crime and punishment have changed over the years. It added a little extra interest to read and hear the stories of the people in the felons cells, why they were there and what happened to them. People being imprisoned for debt was one of the saddest things to hear alongside hearing that a woman who killed her husband would be tried for treason. Seeing the conditions people were held in and how things have changed really interests me and I spent quite a while in this exhibition.

A Variety of Theatre Visits

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In August I was once again lucky enough to attend theatre productions on a number of occasions. Each event was brilliant, but they were also very varied. As you most likely know, my preferred choice is musical theatre, but recently have been fortunate to see some slightly different performances, which is always interesting and adds a new perspective to the world of theatre.

Fiddler on the Roof – Grand Theatre, Leeds

I have always loved this show, ever since seeing the film version when I was very young. I have seen a number of stage versions. This one was the same production I saw in Regent’s Park last year. I was interested to see how it would transfer to indoor theatre, as the outdoor theatre definitely makes an impact on productions.

I went with my friend who has never seen the show before. I have tried many times to get my husband to go and watch it, but although he likes the majority of the music, he finds the film too long and boring, so will not give the live version a go.

The production lived up to expectations. The singing and harmonies were beautiful. The dancing, particularly by the men was amazing and the set was pretty impressive and very close to how it had originally been staged at the outdoor theatre. I wasn’t sure what my friend would think, but at the interval she turned to me and just said “wow”, which told me everything I needed to know.

There has been some criticism of the use of regional accents rather than the traditional Jewish accents. For me it did spoil it at all and I would prefer actors using their own accents, or ones they know well rather than hearing disappointing attempts at an accent which then takes away from the enjoyment of the show.

I am so glad I got to see it again. It is an old story, but the themes of suspicion of others, rebellious children, culture clashes, politics, belief and tradition are all still relevant in todays society. The sad thing is that in many ways we don’t really seem to have moved forward.

The Tempest – Ascott House , Leighton Buzzard

I have not seen a lot of Shakespeare and generally stick to the well known ones (Romeo and Juliet, MacBeth), or the one I learned at O’Level (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). The main reason I saw this was because my daughter’s partner was in the production. This was an outdoor event, in the most beautiful surroundings on a beautiful sunny day, with very lovely snacks and in the company of friends, so what’s not to like?

The Tempest is a story of romance, magic, betrayal and forgiveness. In this production the majority of the actors play a number of characters. This works very well and the majority of the acting was entertaining and convincing. It had some very funny moments, involving people within the audience. There was a lot of action, running around the stage and out into the audience which gave it an energetic feel.

It was an excellent evening and a good way to see Shakespeare if you’re not sure whether you’ll like it or not. It certainly makes the plays more accessible to an audience who may have previously avoided Shakespeare.

Brigadoon – Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

I am a massive fan of this theatre and feel that it gives new life to shows that have not been seen for many years. The theatre itself has a lovely atmosphere, particularly at this time of year when you suddenly realise that it has become dark whilst you have been watching.

As always the set was imaginative and stunning. The show began with two pipers walking down the extremely steep steps to the stage, such a beautiful sound and sight which made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.

The story is about a village which only appears every one hundred years. There is love, laughter and jealousy amid some beautiful music and some of the most incredible dancing I have seen in a long time. The singing was breathtaking.

The costumes were a blend of traditional Scottish attire, muted colours and a modern twist, which worked really well and looked beautiful.

As always in newer productions some things had been altered from the original, but in this instance it did not feel that it interfered with the flow of the show and for me, actually added to the drama of the story. I enjoyed the evening and I would describe it as “nice”, which sounds a little bit flat, but it left you feeling warm and calm rather than elated or heartbroken.

Guys and Dolls – Wakefield Youth Theatre, Theatre Royal Wakefield

We have supported the Youth Theatre at Wakefield for many years and have never been disappointed with any of their productions. This year was no exception. Guys and Dolls is one of my husband’s favourite shows with his favourite number being “sit down you’re rocking the boat”.

This production had everything you could hope for, colourful costumes, amazing singing, excellent acting and precise, energetic dancing. All the leads were flawless and the ensemble gave their all to each and every number.

My husband’s favourite number was performed to absolute perfection and we left the theatre feeling impressed and with our moods lifted, ready for the rest of the weekend.

A Work In Progress

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For any of you reading my blog over the last few years, you will be aware I have had a constant battle with my weight. I have always been a yoyo dieter, with an all or nothing attitude. I am either sticking to a diet 100% or I am completely off it, consuming everything and anything that I think I shouldn’t be eating. I have tried all the usual avenues of slimming clubs, weight loss shakes and online diets. Each time I have lost weight, but always put it all back on, each time becoming heavier

A Diabetes Diagnosis

During the earlier summer of 2024, I started to feel generally unwell. My eating was out of control as I was craving sugary foods all the time and eating far too many processed foods. I was constantly tired, my joints were aching, I was irritable and had tummy upsets most of the time and had started with a pain in the right hand side of my stomach. After going away on holiday a couple of times and feeling unwell i decided that I need to see the doctor. I presumed that it was my IBS that was flaring up, particularly due to my bad eating habits.

At the end of September I went to see my GP, who listened to all my symptoms and carried out a number of tests to check for anything serious. Luckily all the tests came back without any major concerns, apart from my blood sugar being very high and my liver function being poor. The tests for these were completed again four weeks later. At that point my liver function had improved, but my blood sugar had increased (HbA1c test) and was now at 68. It was at this point I was informed that when I had been for a wellness check 2 years prior to this, my blood sugar was slightly high at 48 and I was considered diabetic at that point. Unfortunately no one had ever given me these results and my blood sugar had slowly been increasing over two years.

I was prescribed metformin to try and reduce my blood sugar and was referred to the diabetic nurse for further advice and other health checks which I now needed. The appointment with the diabetic nurse was at the beginning of December. Prior to the appointment I tried to cut down on the amount of sugary and processed foods I was eating. I had just read Ultra Processed People by Chris van Tulleken, which was a real eye opener regarding the ingredients in processed food and the reasons why it was so difficult to stop eating them.

A change in direction

After my appointment with the diabetic nurse, I was ready to start a drastic change in my eating habits. Luckily I had no issues with my feet when they had been checked, but was advised to be really careful with my feet, particularly as I love walking around in bare feet, even outside. I was also referred for an eye screening, which again came back clear.

Once I had made the decision to change my eating habits, I found it exciting exploring what I should avoid eating and the types of foods that I could actually eat, which I had avoided whilst on “low fat diets”. I was advised to eat lots of protein, full fat dairy products, lots of vegetables and not as much fruit. I found it easier to fill up and stay full, without snacking all the time. I thought avoiding rice, pasta, bread and potatoes as the basis for my meals, but once I got going I really started to enjoy it. It was the first time in most of my adult life that I wasn’t concentrating on eating to lose weight. I was now concentrating on eating healthily, keeping full and reducing my blood sugar.

I started to really read the ingredients on packages of food and avoiding anything that had a lot of ingredients in them, particularly ones that I did not recognise the names of. I started really thinking about anything that I might have as a treat and asking myself if it would be worth it rather than just eating mindlessly. I did have a few setbacks along the way and occasionally slip back into bad habits of eating things like cereal for breakfast, toast and sandwiches for lunch, or having a day where I really just want to eat cakes and biscuits.

The really exciting thing about all this was that I started to lose weight steadily but each week my weight was dropping. I was not counting calories, points or sins and I wasn’t starving myself. I was eating good healthy foods, healthy fats, nuts, eggs, dairy produce and adding a small amount of carbs to some of my meals.

Reintroducing Exercise

Once I had lost a little bit of weight I decided that I needed to start introducing some proper exercise again. Although I love walking, I knew that in order to tone up and keep the weight off I would have to do something more than just going out for a walk. My daughter Izzy had just completed her training to become a personal trainer and wanted to specialise in women’s fitness, particularly around pregnancy, post natal and menopause.

I joined the gym and she helped me to build a programme around the areas I wanted to improve. As I was losing more weight, I was unhappy with the tone of my skin and the flabbiness around the areas where the fat had gone. Izzy helped me with some weight training to help build muscle around where I was looking a bit floppy and also concentrated on “functional fitness”, which will help me keep flexible and mobile as I get older.

The exercise and healthy eating has really made a difference. Izzy took photos of me in January and again in April, as its quite often hard to see the changes in yourself. I was really pleased with the changes I had made and when I went on holiday this year and throughout the warm weather through the summer I have felt more confident wearing shorts and other outfits that I would not normally wear.

Just keep going

By March, my blood sugars had come down to 48 and I had lost over two stones in weight. By June, this had dropped to 42 and another half a stone in weight. I was taken off the metformin and was no longer classed as diabetic. I still need to lose some more weight, but I still need to concentrate on keeping healthy, avoiding the sugar and the processed foods. I am still being monitored and remain under the supervision of the diabetic nurse.

I have slipped back into some old habits over the summer months, particularly cold fizzy drinks, ice creams and picnic foods, which are all high in sugar and processed ingredients, However I still eat really healthy meals and try wherever possible to keep within the guidelines. I know that this is not a quick fix, or losing weight for a special occasion, this will be a lifelong journey and in order to keep as fit and healthy as possible I need to just keep going.

Izzy is really great at motivating me, both with healthy eating, exercise and just the general encouragement whenever I need it.

If you are looking for some help with a fitness plan I have copied Izzy’s link below.

https://www.instagram.com/improvewithiz/

A Sunshine break in Gran Canaria

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It’s been a little while since we had a relaxing holiday in the sun, so it was great to be able to get away to Gran Canaria for a week. Me and my husband, Andrew travelled with our eldest daughter Meg and her partner Ed, and our youngest daughter Izzy and grandson Walter. We had booked all-inclusive at the Tui Blue resort Orquedia at Bahia Feliz. This is the first time we have been all-inclusive and it was definitely a good choice.

First plane journey with a toddler

We took a mini bus to Manchester airport from our home address, which meant that we could all travel together. The booking in process and security all went smoothly, with everyone being friendly and helpful. The flight was delayed for around an hour, but once aboard, our grandson was allowed to go sit in the cockpit and have his photo taken. All the air crew were amazing, assisting all the young families onboard. Our grandson Walter was really settled through most of the flight and when he did become tired and upset at one point, the cabin crew took him and my daughter to sit in the crew area so that she could calm him down, which was reassuring. He didn’t fall asleep at all on the plane, but nodded off when we got on the transfer coach.

Hotel Orquedia

The hotel had everything you needed for a great week away. The rooms were spotless, as was the rest of the hotel. The grounds were picturesque, with plenty of areas of shade or sun, whichever you prefer. There were a number of swimming pools, including a splash area for toddlers, a shaded shallow pool for babies, a shallow pool with a slide for children, a deeper pool for inflatable and a larger pool for swimming and the daily activities. There were a couple of playgrounds and a number of buildings where children could go and play, which were in addition to the paid children’s clubs. My grandson loved going to the stay and play which was in a lovely air conditioned building with lots of tubs of toys.

The restaurant was light and airy, with a seating area outside. The food was excellent, with plenty of choice for each meal. There was also a snack bar and drinks by the pool. We all enjoyed the food throughout the week, eating a variety of fresh healthy foods, fruit salads, vegetables, as well as lots of desserts. It was great that we were all able to eat different foods and try things which we might not normally eat.

All the staff were friendly and ensured everyone was having a great time. We couldn’t have asked for anything better from a hotel.

Enjoying family time

The week away gave us a lot of time to spend together as a family. The first couple of days were spent by the pool, relaxing and enjoying the surroundings. We were in and out of the pool and the playgrounds. We took it in turns to keep an eye on Walter or to take him for a walk through the grounds when he was tired. In the evening, we all got together to go down to the restaurant, and then afterwards into the pool bar for the evening entertainment. Each night there was a children’s disco. There was then a quiz, which we joined in most nights. We often came second or third, but never won! This was then followed by a show by the entertainment team, which were good fun.

Having a decent nap during the day meant that Walter could stay up later and enjoy the entertainment, although he often prepared to go out into the grounds and the playground to run around. When he went to bed on an evening, it gave me and Andrew chance to spend time with Meg and Ed.

Throughout the rest of the week we had more time to relax, as well as join in with some of the activities. It was a lovely balance of spending time altogether, people doing their own thing. I took Walter to a couple of the organised activities for toddlers. Our two daughters spent a morning together. Meg and Ed went off to spend some time on their own. Me and the girls enjoyed a few of the exercise classes including aqua aerobics, yoga and the very adventurous yoga and Hit classes on a paddle board in the pool.

We got to meet some nice families and it’s always great to see how easily little children make friends. On an afternoon, we would often see the same families walking around pushing prams trying to get their toddlers to sleep.

On a couple of the afternoons the bar was open for “happy hour” where there was a cocktail of the day, snacks and a musician playing. It was so relaxing sitting under the shade outside listening to music in such lovely surroundings.

Palmitos Park

We had a trip to Palmitos Park one day, travelling there by bus, which took around 45 minutes. It was an extremely hot day, but the zoo was not too busy and there was plenty of shade. Walter enjoyed seeing all the animals and liked the lizards and crocodiles more than any of the bright coloured birds or furry animals. During the day there was a dolphin show, which was very entertaining and also educational. Although it was a really good day out, I am always in two minds how I feel about animals in captivity. It gives children a chance to see animals up close, which they otherwise may not have chance to do. The zoo promotes the rescue and protection of the animals, but I much prefer to see the animals out in their natural habitat.

Overall we had a great holiday. We all came home with a suntan, relaxed and having enjoyed some quality time together. What more could you want from a holiday?

The Good, The Bad and The Phenomenal

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It’s been theatre time again over the last few weeks. Sometimes we don’t seem to go see a show for ages and then suddenly we are going numerous times. One was good (well better than good, but I saved phenomenal for later), one was bad (It probably sounds a bit harsh, but it was awful) and the final one was phenomenal.

I’ll start with the “Good”

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

I have not seen many ballets compared to other types of shows and have generally seen ones where I am already familiar with the story. When I was given the opportunity to see Swan Lake, I jumped at the chance, as I know Matthew Bourne’s work is very different to the classic ballets. I went with my eldest daughter to Bradford Alhambra when the show was touring a couple of weeks ago.

I certainly wasn’t disappointed! The music alone is beautiful to listen to, but coupled with the amazing dancing it was magnificent. From the moment it started, I was entranced. There was so much to look at on the stage throughout the whole performance. I just couldn’t take my eyes off the stage. The style of dancing was unusual and quirky in parts, but so satisfying to watch. The swans were such powerful dancers, graceful and strong and sometimes a little bit scary. The costumes were impressive and unexpected, from long flowing gowns, sparkly mini dresses and pyjamas There was not a traditional tutu in sight.

There were some very dark moments in the story, which were projected so well through the dancing, but there is also a lot of lighter moments which made the audience laugh out loud. I would definitely like to see some more of Bourne’s work, as it gives a completely different slant to ballet which I really enjoyed

Bat out of Hell

I was looking forward to this as I had never seen it before, but sadly I was very disappointed. It was bad! I didn’t read the synopsis before I went, but then I very rarely do, as I hope that the show itself would tell the story for me. Unfortunately it didn’t. It was a very weird mixed-up story with characters that didn’t seem to know who they were or what they were portraying.

Some of the singing was good, but a lot of it wasn’t. At first I thought they were having issues with technology, as they were passing hand held microphones between the cast whilst singing, which apparently is meant to appear more like a rock concert, but just made it look a bit amateurish. The acting from most of the cast was lack-lustre and at times downright annoying.

There were some scenes when I wasn’t sure whether it was trying to be a parody, a comedy or whether the performances were meant to be serious. There were a couple of moments in it where it was just downright cringey. The cameraman videoing for the screen throughout was distracting. It also felt like there were too many people on stage. It reminded me of a school performance where everyone is given something to do, which is fine on those occasions, but not in a full on professional production.

At the interval my friend asked me “Is he meant to be dead” and my reply was “I don’t know and I really don’t care”. It is the first time I have been to a show where I considered leaving at the interval.

The second half wasn’t any better and I spent the last half an hour just waiting for it to be over. I feel for the performers involved, as I don’t think this show did some of them justice. My husband quite rightly pointed out that the band were amazing and he had spent most of the show watching them rather than the performers on stage. They definitely put in 100% effort. There were lots of people in the audience who absolutely loved it and I have heard and read rave reviews, but this was definitely not for me.

Kinky Boots

This is one of my favourite shows and I was very excited to see Joahnnes Radebe taking the part of Lola. I have never heard him sing and there are some big numbers in this production, but he hit every note and his portrayal of Lola was funny, moving and uplifting.

The whole cast were exceptional in all aspects of singing, dancing and acting. It is hard to pick people out of such a great cast, but the characterisation of Lauren was one of the best I have seen and had me in stitches at times. The choreography was wonderful and it just filled me with joy to watch the dancing with Johannes at the centre.

There have been a few changes since I last saw it. The set has been altered slightly, but gives more room for the superb dance numbers. There are quite a few different costumes to previous production, but I thought they worked really well. The other difference is that the Angels are more diverse looking which is more in keeping with the shows ethos of being yourself and accepting people for who they are.

This was an absolutely wonderful night out and I left the theatre feeling elated and singing along to the songs for the rest of the week. It was so good in fact that we went back to see it again later in the week and it was just as good!

A Trio of Theatre Visits

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Just recently I have been lucky enough to enjoy three trips to the theatre. All of them were to shows I’ve not seen live before. I’ve done a little review on each one

Hamilton

Bradford Alhambra was the location for the touring production of Hamilton. I have seen the Broadway version which was filmed and shown on the Disney channel, but was looking forward to seeing the live version in person.

Firstly I have to say that it was much better for seeing live, as most things are. When the show first came to the UK several years ago, there was a lot of hype surrounding it.

Although the music isn’t generally the type of music I would listen to, I enjoyed the score. I would say that there are a couple of really good songs, which do stick in your mind, but on the whole, it’s not one of those where I travelled home unable to stop singing. The production was amazing, as was the choreography. I was able to hear more clearly the words of the songs than when I watched it on TV.

In my opinion, I think the cast did a great job. I really enjoyed the production and I can understand all the hype when it was first produced. It was great to see something I had not seen before, but it isn’t one I would be rushing back to see.

Only Fools and Horses

I wasn’t really sure what to expect with this one. It was a TV comedy I grew up with and I always found it funny, but wasn’t sure how it would lend itself to being a musical. It was on tour and we saw it at Leeds Grand Theatre.

The show is built around the upcoming wedding of Rodney. There were all the usual jokes, bad French phrases and physical comedy you would expect. The cast were excellent, bringing the characters to life on stage. The singing and music were good. There were no real memorable musical numbers, other than the theme tune, which was used at the beginning and then during scene changes.

All in all it was a really good night. There were lots of laughs out loud moments and great characterisation. It worked really well as an entertaining piece of theatre, appealing to fans of the show.

Calamity Jane

This was one I was really looking forward to. It was a firm favourite with my family when we were young. My children always loved watching the film when they were little and my husband was in the school production when he was younger. The touring production was at Leeds Grand Theatre.

The show was excellent, with everything you would expect from a traditional musical. The ensemble were incredible, playing musical instruments alongside singing, dancing and acting. They put their heart and soul into
all the big musical numbers, with some excellent choreography and great singing.

However, I know this is likely to be an unpopular opinion, but I wasn’t a huge fan of Carrie Hope Fletcher’s portrayal of Calamity. She was good, but there were times, particularly in the first act when I couldn’t hear what she was singing. She also appeared a bit laboured in some of the dance numbers. I know she is seen as a big ticket seller and has a massive following, but I have seen other less well known performers over the years, who could have done a better job.

This did not spoil it though as the whole show was fast paced and left you uplifted and singing your head off on the way home, which is just what you need from a night at the theatre

Reflections For A New Year

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Thoughts on Being a Grandparent

In July 2023 my husband and I became grandparents to a gorgeous little boy called Walter. I hadn’t mentioned this on my blog before for a number of reasons, but as it is new year, it is a good time to reflect on this huge change in our lives. There aren’t any photographs on the blog as my daughter made the decision (very wise, in my opinion) not to have his photo on any social media. My youngest daughter, Isobel, really wanted to be a mum and after moving in with her partner to their new house, they announced in December 2023 that they were having a baby.

I must admit that my initial reaction wasn’t what I thought it would be. I was really pleased for them, but not sure I was ready to be a grandparent. I also felt anxious about her and the baby and worried that something would happen along the way. When I was pregnant all those years ago, I never felt any of these fears, but for some reason with her, these stayed with me throughout the whole pregnancy. It was something I only voiced to a few people, as it was a difficult thing to explain.

I was very excited about a baby in the family and felt an enormous relief when he arrived safely. The moment of joy on seeing him for the first time was indescribable. Anyone who is a grandparent will know this instant feeling of love towards a child who isn’t your own, but is the closest thing to it. Over the next few weeks it became clear that Isobel was an amazing mum and it was incredible seeing Walter changing each time we saw him. It was wonderful to spend time with him and be part of his little world.

In November 2023 we had a shock when Isobel and her partner split up. It was a difficult time for all of us, but we adjusted and supported her as much as we could. In June 2024 when she was due to return to work, she moved back in with us. Over time we have made adjustments to the house to accommodate her and Walter.

He is now almost 18 months old and is so funny and clever. Watching him learn new things almost every day is just astounding. He has a cheeky little personality and keeps us all on our toes. Seeing things through a child’s eyes makes everything seem much brighter somehow. His eagerness and wonder at seeing things for the fist time makes those things exciting again. The major milestones such as sitting up, crawling and walking are some of the greatest moments. You can’t help but smile when you hear him chattering as soon as he wakes up on a morning, even though we don’t always know what he says. Him waving and saying “hiya” when you come through the door after work is delightful. Seeing him fast asleep after a busy day is heart warming.

I sometimes worry that I have become one of those people who talks about their grandchild all the time. Am I at risk of becoming a baby bore? I probably am and quite frankly I don’t really care. Many of our friends and family have grandchildren too and they are always the first thing we chat about when we meet up.

At times it has been exhausting having broken sleep or running around after him all day. There have been difficult and frustrating moments. Having 3 adults and a child living under one roof again can sometimes be stressful. We very rarely have the house to ourselves and it is even rarer that our house is spotlessly clean and tidy. It wasn’t what we planned for this time in our lives, but being able to spend so much time with our grandson whilst he is so young is wonderful. We have developed such a bond with him and we really miss him when we don’t see him for a few days. We know that he won’t be little for ever and these moments are so precious.

In the future we hope that he will remember this as a very happy time in his life and the bonds we have built now will remain strong throughout his life.

A Scotland Getaway (4)

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Bone Caves

Thursday morning was misty and drizzly, but the forecast promised dry and warm weather for the afternoon. We had a late breakfast and a drive into Lochinver to buy pies for tea from the Lochinver Larder.
Around 2pm we made our way to the car park for the walk to Bone Caves. We had seen lots of deer rutting here on a previous visit and some of us were not keen to encounter them on this occasion. However, there were no deer in sight, so we were able to set off on our walk.
The walk follows the river up the valley, passing a waterfall and lots of underground springs. Crossing a dry river bed, we then started the climb up the stone steps towards the caves. It is quite steep and rocky underfoot, but worth the climb, as you are soon able to see the caves at the top.
The caves are small, but you can go inside each one and almost stand up. The caves were excavated in 1889 by the geologists Peach and Horne. They found the remains of animals which once roamed the Highlands including lynx, polar bear, arctic fox and lemmings. It is believed that the caves may have once sheltered these animals and also the humans who hunted them.
There is a slightly different path setting off down from the caves, but it soon meets the original path back into the car park. There were a few deer to see on the hillside on the walk down, but luckily none that we had to come into close contact with.

The Old Man of Stoer

Today the weather was good in the morning, although a little blustery. We decided to set of earlier and walk in the morning before the storm came in which was forecast for the afternoon.
The walk began at Stoer Lighthouse and is mostly a sheep track which is tricky underfoot due to the rocks and the boggy grass and mud. Very soon we were treated to some gorgeous views of the rugged coast and eventually the Old Man of Stoer. This impressive stack reaches out of the sea at 70 metres high.

We continued to walk along the coastal path, reaching the Point of Stoer, giving stunning views in all directions. We sheltered out of the wind whilst we ate our lunch.
The path back to the lighthouse is a little less wet and rugged and eventually leads onto a track which is much steadier underfoot.
Once back at the car, we made our way back to the lodge for a final dip in the hot tub and packing ready to begin our journey home.


A Scotland Getaway (3)

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The Drumbeg Loop & Scourie

On Tuesday the sun was shining brightly and the sky was clear blue. We decided to go out for a drive, heading off towards the beach at Scourie.

It’s a very scenic drive from Lochinver, with some winding roads. The beach at Scourie is beautiful, with lots of pebbles and shells. After a hit chocolate from the food van, we had a lovely stroll on the beach, taking in the scenery and the fresh air.

We then drove around the Drimbeg loop, another scenic route, taking us back to the lodge.
In the evening, after cooking chilli for tea, we lit the fire pit and sat outside toasting marshmallows. It was quite a windy evening, so we didn’t stay out too long, but it was a lovely way to spend the evening outdoors.

River Inver and Glencanisp Circuit

On Wednesday the rain was lashing down, but the forecast said it would blow over and we would have a fine afternoon. In anticipation we packed sandwiches, ready for a walk when the weather changed.

As promised the rain blew over and the afternoon was fine and unseasonably warm. We walked from the lodge down into Lochinver then followed the circuit which takes you along the River Inver then over the glen, past Canisp Lodge and back into Lochinver.
The first part of the walk is by the fast flowing river, but you are soon climbing with the river below you. Further up you drop again to the side of the river, which is more sedate and there are areas set for anglers. Eventually you leave the river and head upwards across the glen, giving great views. Due to the rain, it was muddy in parts, but it was a great walk. We stopped off near the lodge and it was warm enough to sit without jackets whilst we ate our sandwiches.
Once back down in Lochinver, we made the steady climb back to the lodge and into the hot tub and a restful evening.

A Scotland Getaway (2)

~ 50themusical ~ Leave a comment

On our first day at Waterloo Lodge, it was a little bit overcast with a watery sun trying to break through. We had a lovely brunch (it should have been breakfast, but eggs had been missed from our shopping, so someone had to go and pick up eggs before we could start!) of poached eggs on toast, with potato cakes made with leftover mash from the previous evening.

Culag Woods

We set off from the lodge and headed off down towards the harbour at Lochinver. We were surprised to see, what was once a busy working port, now looking abandoned, almost as if everyone had left in a hurry.
Once past the harbour we turned left into the woods on “Billy’s Path”. The walk is extremely pretty, with plenty to see along the way, including a wishing tree, sculptures of dragon flies and a beautiful pebble beach. There are also lots of viewpoints. It is undulating and a bit slippy in parts. I managed to slip on the boardwalk, hitting my face on my husband’s knee as he reached it to stop me, banging my nose. I recovered quickly and other than a slight bloody nose, I was relatively unscathed. Everyone made sure I was okay before bursting into fits of laughter.
The trees in the woods are covered in lichen, which indicates good air quality. It definitely felt you were breathing in clear air and despite being near the harbour it felt like you were in the middle of nowhere, especially as we saw very few people along the way.


The walk took a couple of hours, as we took time to enjoy the views and scenery. We then walked back up the hill to the lodge.

We had a restful afternoon and evening, cooking curry for tea and then relaxing watching a film.

Achmelvic Beach Coastal Walk

On Monday it was a fine, but blustery day. After breakfast we set off towards Achmelvic beach to walk along the coast.

This is another area of outstanding coastal views and stunning beaches. The walk is fairly easy, with an undulating path, but fairly well marked paths. Near the end of the walk, before returning, there is an old mill ruin, which you get to by crossing stepping stones through the stream. However, there has been so much rain the steps were covered in water which was running really fast, so we decided not to cross.
Our return took us almost the same route, stopping at a couple of beaches on the way.
Returning to the lodge, we had an afternoon of chilling in the hot tub and sauna, leaving us feeling relaxed at the end of a great day.