I loooooooooooooove....

Scarborough.

Yes I know I said that for the next few posts I would be talking about PEOPLE that I love but I changed my mind slightly (as is a woman's perogative.. and I am a woman after all and I choose to exercise my right to change my mind at will.. so there. Ha.)

So.. Scarborough.. if ever it were possible to fall in love with a place then this place would be a the one for me.

That might seem a bit weird to some people, I mean.. its the East coast of the North of England ffs.. its hardly the Great Barrier Reef or the Grand Canyon.. the foothills of the Himalayas perhaps?  No, not me..I'm a Yorkshire lass.. Scarborough is the place for me!!!!! lol

Of course there are many beautiful places on this planet and I'm not denying there are many places in the world I would love to see (those listed above included!!) but Scarborough is a place that I love, that I feel is a huge part of my life..maybe I'm a bit puddled, ok..ok I know, there is no doubt I am a smidge bonkers occasionally but still.. what of it?

Lets go back a few years whilst I make an attempt to explain...

 This is me, in 1976 I believe (eep!), I'm about a year old and sitting on my Grandpa Jack's knee, to my right is my Grandma Mary and in the green my Mum... These are my Dad's parents, I think he must have taken the photo cos he's the only one not in the pic.. although thats not necessarily the case cos I dont see my older brother Simon anywhere..

Anyway, this is taken on Scarborough beach and as Grandpa Jack died in November 1976 I assume this must have been one of the last holidays he had.

I know I got me some new red shoes that year.. and all because I cried when they put me on the sand.. haha I was smart even then ;)

So.. Scarborugh = happy times with the relly's AND new red shoes..hmmm..

Continuing with reasons to love Scarborough, here I am still sitting on Grandpa Jack's knee.. in my red shoes..

only this time.. someone gave me ice cream!!!

Well whats not to love right??

So..

Scarborough = sunshiney fun with the rellys.. new shiny red shoes AND Ice cream..

ANNNNNNNNNND still no sign of the evil curly haired one known as Simon..so, I'm winning here. lol

You can see why I love the place now right? lol


I think we returned a couple of times post Grandpa Jack although I don't remember them well if we did to be honest, I know I have vague memories of my Dad commenting on how Scarborough was a much nicer place that Blackpool (obviously.. that would be the Yorkshireman in him lol) and when I told him I was takinga day-trip to Blackpool when I was heavily pregnant with the boy child I remember him giving the strict instructions to get back across the border should anything happen but I also remember being asked why I wanted to go to Blackpool in any case as Scarborough is the best coastal resort in the country.. which just so happens to be in Yorkshire too.. its a win/win situation lol..(Definite Dad logic there for you).  But I digress lol..Anyway... I got older and discovered boys and the pub.. and Scarborough became a happy childhood memory for a while.

Rich and I once took his daughters to Scarborough with Grandma Liz and Grandad Derek (his Mum and Step Dad) in the back of Dereks big old red Sherpa van.. thats an experience none of us will forget.. lol I think I might have been pregnant at the time wtih Jake (although I'm not sure so don't quote me), it was a long day but we paddled in the sea and we had so much fun.. I wonder if they remember it too.  There are photos of this trip but I think they're in the attic and would require scanning (I'll get around to it!).. it was a good day..

Ok.. lets jump forward a few years to 2008 which, as we are all aware, wasn't the best year I ever had.. I would have crawled into a hole to hide that summer but the children wouldn't have it and the need to escape from the pain and grief was strong so a place to hide was found in a new area of an old haunt..and new memories were made as well as revisiting some old ones.. 

 There were many pics for this too but then some twat burgled my house and stole my laptop.. in the days before I used to back up..lol) I found a couple though.. here's my hubby and the kids building sandcastles on the beach.. what? as my friend so kindly pointed out at the time.. even rockstars love building sandcastles!!!

We returned in July 2009 to do it all again but this time we stayed a little longer than our usual week and opted for 2 (living on the edge as usual ;) LOL)

July that year was the best fun we'd had in ages.. still reeling from the rawness of the first year without someone, we'd headed off full of excitement and longing for the sunshine.  We'd looked forward to it all year long and the kids had a fantastic time revisiting things and places from the year before and enjoying them all over again, it was fun.. and fun had been in short supply in the House of Savage for a while..

As we stepped off the train that day the laughter filled the air along with squeals of excitement.. so much so that we decided there and then that we'd be returning for as long as the children wanted to.

And so we did.  The next time in August 2010 cos Rich couldnt get July off work and to a different area, closer to the beach.. and we were closer to the beach.. a walk down the street, down the cliff lift and there it was..away from the crowds of the main beach we sat on the sands beneath the Spa, in the quiet where the rock pools are.  Kids building castles, finding hermit crabs called Sebastian and feeling inexplicably at home in a town where I've never lived or even stayed longer than a couple of weeks..

I'll probably never know what it is about the place that draws us to it year after year but I know we'll be there again this summer for another smile-filled fortnight or sandcastles and sunshine (hopefully!!).

I think we might have actually run out of things to do and places to visit as Richard managed to make sure that last time we did EVERYTHING there was to do including football on the beach ;) lol well ok.. technically you're not supposed to play footbal with your face but still..
We had Nana Sue having a whole host of new experiences such as "walking", "taking the bus" and "shopping in a pound store" and my personal fave "the rain hat of doom" that day that the heavens opened lol, although to be fair.. she did that herself..lol

But whether its sunny (YES) or raining (NOOOOOOO!!) we still have the most fun.. the looks on the faces of the kids as we see that beach for the first time is priceless and they spend hours and hours just digging and building and digging and building.. It's great.

So, Scarborough.. well Scarborough = sunshiney fun with the rellys.. new shiny red shoes AND Ice cream.. Nana Sue in a variety of uncomfortable scenarios, Richard getting shit on (always a winner) or hit in the face with a football.. the kids happy and smiling and giggling, Sandcastles, rain hats,

ANNNNNNNNNND still no sign of the evil curly haired one known as Simon.... whats NOT to love?

I think we should move there and live happily ever after.. lol don't joke, I'm not kidding ;) xx

2009..another year of blogging...

Well it was better than 2008 but lets face it.. anything would have been better than 2008 really wouldn't it?

So quick run down and a few pics maybe of the year..Oooh fun!!

January.

January, if I remember correctly... was cold. Meh nothin 'New' about that.. it's always cold.. and boring... I can't even remember what happened in January.. Oh wait!! Yep, they announced that my beloved David Tennant would be killed off (ok ok regenerated...a mere technicality) into this lil dude..


who is not nearly as gorgeous as mah Dave and I'm just not happy about it in the slightest..

So.. that was January and it SUCKED.

February.

In February we all got the lurgy, tangled with this bunch of cowboys over a sofa, but still founds reasons to be cheerful with this lil one... *le sigh*

March.

Let's not eh?

April.

April brought the most beautiful boy... who provides such joy and incredibly lovely pictures that I wish I could share with you but can't for I have not discussed with his lovely Ma and Pa. Needless to say he is as cute as a button and has cheeks you want to squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!!!!!!!! love him love him love him love him .. i do i do i do i do i dooo ooooo!! LOL

Yes Albie Callan Peter Smith arrived on 11th April and brought with him some much needed joy and at a perfect time too.. just as we were gearing up for that first anniversary of grief and I think he eased the pain slightly for all of us. I know Dad would have been proud and would have adored him as much as he adored all his other grandchildren.. he would of course never have allowed Simon and Sarah to forget however that he was born across the border and down there with the 'southern softies' no less.. still it could have been worse.. he could have been born on the wrong side of the pennines.. (shhhh.. mustn't say the "L" word!!).. so yes. April was a very good month... long may that continue.

May.

May brings birthdays and busy times and blackness these days... I wont pretend it's fun. May used to bring Bankruptcy (almost.. lol) as virtually the whole family has a birthday or at least one member or more of each little family gets a year older in those 4 weeks.. (I think there's something like 13 birthdays.. its ridiculous!!) but now all any of us seem to think about is he who is not here.

May brought the anniversary and a trip up to the 'Top of the world' as we affectionately call it, it's more commonly known as Holme Moss in Huddersfield and its where we scattered Dad.

May is a tough one thats for sure... doesn't look like it'll get much easier in future either...

In other May news I went back to school and had a tangle with a white van driver... yeah May sucked too.. bring on June!!!!!!

June.

I got older.. again!!

June SUCKED!!! NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



(* edit.. on a positive note to June I completed 12 months smoke free..yeah I can't believe it either!!)

July.

Aahhhhh lovely July...

Scarborough.. 'nuff said.

August.

August was BUSY!!!

There was a visit from the tooth fairy for this mucky lil pup..
Look at the colour of him!!

Then someone (namely me..) had the bright idea that it might be fun to try trace the family tree.. with a maiden name of Smith it's not easy but we're getting there.. albeit slowly.. very slowly!! LOL

The boy finally got off his butt and learned to ride the bike.. which took approx 3 seconds to do and he hasnt touched it since either btw..lol

More cute babies (so glad they're not mine..lol) in the shape of Harry born to my old sis-in-law Vicki and her husband Scott.

Kids hid the phone for 4 days so no one could call us, then they broke the living room door.. trapping us upstairs and running round the side of the house in our pj's to get back in... fun.

Rich had the last birthday in his 30's... cant wait until August!!

September.

September was all about "Big School", yes my babies started school and how cute do they all look in their uniforms?



Another baby came, another boy too!!! My bezzie mate Donna's daughter Cate brought little Riley into the world on my Dad's birthday no less.. obviously a star in the making and a cutie he is too.. bless him.

There was another birthday this month.. my girls turned 5. Seems like yesterday since i was buried under a pile of nappies and baby stuff but in a blink they're little supermodels in waiting..lol



October.

It's still birthday season in October at our house and this time it's Jake's turn.. this year he was 8 which is perfectly old enough now.. can we go back a few years and stop being such a tweenager now please?



November.

The end of October brought much happiness and joy but in a split second it turned to November and another month tinged with sadness as we tried to deal with another tragedy and comfort our loved ones that suffered so much pain as Jess and Luke lost their much wanted baby daughter Bella less than a day after her birth. I know only too well how unfair life is and how harsh it can be. They have been truly dignified and united in their grief and are still holding each other close, we're incredibly proud of them and their strength is humbling to us all. I truly hope 2010 is kinder to them... no doubt we will never forget but nor would we want to. God bless precious girl xx.


December.

Well... if you want a quick over view December brought presents... a 'fluffed' driving test (bring on January!!), an arc-angel Gabriel in the shape of Heather and lots of excited children.. it also brought turkey and ham and chocolate and a dose of the flu (swine maybe? not sure) for Grandad and Daddy.. you'll be pleased to know I'm fine..lol yeah I prolly just jinxed myself huh?

and this takes us up to now.. so thats it...2009 all done and reet quick too!!! In case I missed anything you can always read back by hitting the month tags down the right side of the main page, feel free.

I'm leaving you with this...



Happy New Year. May 2010 bring only happiness and joy please... we've had enough sadness and tears now ok?

Seriously though.. I dunno what's coming our way but it better be good..lol xx

Lazytown came to Scarborough..

I decided the other day that I ought to transfer all the stuff from my mobile phone to the computer, I do this quite regularly now cos I always have my phone to hand and it records some of our families most precious moments and I've lost phones or broken them and lost the memories with them before so now I upload to the computer so it wont happen again.

Anyway..I've found lots of stuff on it this time that I'd forgotten about (so there'll be lots of blogging over the next few days) but this one here is a particular favourite..it still makes me giggle like crazy - you'll hear me in the back ground..lol
A few days before we left for our summer holiday the kids (yes that includes Richard) had been watching Lazytown, they were having their usual sporting fun and enjoying a game of baseball... Stephanie has to prepare by... well Angie does it perfectly.. and apparently thats what baseball is. Enjoy.