Days Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-one, Twenty-two and Twenty-three: School holidays

On Day Nineteen of the school holidays it was a Friday. We took it easy, the boys and I and headed off to the library and then the Freetown playground. The boys were very pleased at yet another library visit and we left with me staggering under an immense weight of books. On Day Twenty the boys and I bolted out the door like hounds fleeing the confines of hell to walk up to the swimming pools for Cameron's 9am lesson, followed by Kieran's lesson at 9:30. It went swimmingly. Both boys flung themselves into the lesson with an unholy glee that had to be seen to be believed and nearly wept as I dragged them from the water and dressed them for the long trudge back home. Once home we watched as the weather went to pot and stayed snug indoors.Well, I popped out for a couple of walks by myself. On Day Twenty-one aka Sunday Mum and Mike were greeted to some of Glossop's glorious weather. Torrential rain battered the town and made strolling about the local sights a bit of a nightmare. On Day Twenty-two Chris had taken the day off work and we met up at Manor Park. Thrillingly, the weather had cleared somewhat and we experienced a happy mix of sun and cloud...though the sunny morning was eclipsed by a dark and drizzly afternoon, with the evening delivering  sprightly rainshowers stunning in their ferocity and duration. We did however have a lovely time at Manor Park, Old Glossop and had a quick look about the town centre before we went our seperate ways homewards - and were drowned by sudden squalls. We headed over the Rowan Cottage in Old Glossop later (once dry) and had a lovely evening playing Articulate with Mum and Mike...'star performer' and  'dull, uncomprehending eyes' have left their mark. Today, rather excitingly, dawned without rain and I even dared hang out the washing before Mum and Mike arrived before we explored the Peak District. We headed out up Snake Pass where the heather was just stunning on the moors. Once we dragged ourselves away from the violet vistas we headed off to Derwent Valley where we had a stroll through the woods by the Ladybower reservoir. Here Kieran came into his own, hunting out every pine cone that ever fell from the trees. I must have left the woods carrying a couple of kg's of coniferous products, which we will paint gold and silver and hang on our christmas tree. After this excitement we stopped in Foolow where we investigated a little church, and some lovely white ducks. Then we went to Eyam - the birthplace of the black plague in England - and whistled through Ashford (beautiful little village), and Bakewell - which was delightful and bustling. After that we headed past Chatsworth and inspected Chatsworth Farm, then headed back to Ladybower reservoir, and then home via Sheffield with rainbows to brighten the rather rainy journey home. A good time was had by all, and the boys are eagerly anticipating tomorrow's adventures.