Sheffield :: Blackberry Cottage :: Weston Park Museum

On Friday 4th October we made a last minute trip to Sheffield to spend a few days with Sara.  We stayed at this place which although in the countryside was literally only fifteen minutes from the city centre and Sara's digs:

The view from our back door.

 

 

A kitchen you can eat in, yay!

 

 

View from the back of the house, it was actually warm enough on at least two days to sit outside and eat.

 

 

My knitting corner!

 

 

There was an interesting selection of books on the shelves, Dave read about "Bomber Command" and I loved the doors, even though the latch had been put on the wrong way round and the bathroom only locked from the outside!

 

 

The other side of the lounge ~ Pip found a Thomas railway in the cupboard upstairs and had great fun with it.

 

 

Two sinks!!!

 

 

Wet room area, I must admit I prefer a shower cubicle easier to clean and maintain.  I think there was a slight problem with the drainage and the water collected in pools and took a little while to drain away.

 

 

The main bedroom, which was big enough for Pip too, hence her trundle mattress leaning against the wardrobe.  Pip loved the rocking horse which you can just see in the foreground.

 

 

Benedict's room, which was at the front of the house and level with the road, even though it was upstairs in the house!

 

 

On the Saturday whilst Sara was on a training day we pottered around at home and I managed to catch up on her laundry!  She isn't lazy but it costs £2.50 per wash in halls but naturally the washer and dryer at the cottage were free!  Once she had finished for the day, we collected her from halls and she slept on the put you up in Benedict's room and in all stopped with us for three nights.

 

On the Sunday, Sara, Pip, Benedict and myself made a trip into the centre as she had to buy some equipment for a site survey to be conducted on the following day.  We had a welcome sit down and rest in Costa before then catching the super tram home.  The kids loved their tram ride and some kindly male students gave up their seats so that the four of us could sit down.  It was appreciated.

 

On Monday whilst Sara was in afternoon lectures the four of us visited Weston Park Museum.  There was loads to see and do and most importantly entry was FREE!  I did however put a donation in the box as we were so impressed with all they had to offer.  We arrived at half past two and stayed until closing time at five and still didn't manage to see everything.  Benedict and Pip were totally engaged the whole time:

 

 

Rock Art.

 

 

Instead of making their own rock art the kids decide to make houses instead!

 

 

Textured art depicting rock stratification and archaeological finds.

 

 

Pip dressing up as a Saxon...

 

 

... and  she insisted I dress up as a Scullery Maid, I know my place!

 

 

Snowy the bear in "The arctic zone."  Pip wasn't so sure of him as she turned a corner and he was there!  He certainly made her jump but she warmed to him at the end of the visit.

 

 

They both had fun building an igloo using irregular shaped pieces of moulded plastic.

 

 

Just as we entered this space the voice over the loud speaker announced that the museum would close in ten minutes, so we just had time to strike a pose in front of this guy:

 

 

A good reason to visit again don't you think?!

 

 

We bade farewell to Sara on the Tuesday morning and had a rather eventful journey home!  Despite having eaten breakfast and a mid morning snack, Pip had a major meltdown in the car and upon checking her bloods with b's monitor she was having a really bad hypo!!!  It certainly explains her exhaustion and constant hunger and thirst these past few weeks. 

 

 To have a diagnosis of diabetes she needs to be running high, so I'm hoping that her symptoms are due to a massive growth spurt and not the start of something more sinister.  I am grateful for the monitor, because without it I might have thought she was being very badly behaved and might have challenged her as a result.  It has also enabled me to flag up the problem with school, so that if she does exhibit any whacky behaviour to not assume the worst and instead give her a drink of orange juice and a snack.

 

 

In short life has certainly been more challenging than usual and it has taken its toll on my mental health yet again, hence my absence from this place!  I know that looking at life through a lens can sometimes give an impression of everything being rosy and so I do try to be true to what is going on around me.  However there are times with the situation is so bad that having to write it all down, just drags me further into the mire and for that reason it is easier to be MIA.