A Picture Catch Up

Here I am trying to blog again, let's see if I actually succeed this time :-)

 Ben passed his driving test in March on a first attempt.  It was a nerve wracking few days before the test and on the big day but he nailed it.

We finally made it over to the North East, our first visit back since that dratted covid infection in December 2022.  We stayed at the Alnwick Youth Hostel and visited all of our old favourites Hexham Abbey, Lindisfarne, Seahouses, Barter Books and a new addition The Aln Valley Railway.

 Stained Glass Window at Hexham Abbey.

Seahouses for Fish and Chips.

Pip feeding the 'spuggies' at Pilgrim's Coffee House on Holy Island, Lindisfarne.

A lunch time treat at Barter Books.  Shock horror, I only came away with one book!  I've just recently had a big clear out of the book case so was determined to be very intentional with any purchase.

A lovely train ride on the Aln Valley Railway.  It wasn't a long journey but it was an enjoyable steam ride.

Pip received her exam results in late August.  She gained really good marks in her Maths and Geography but the English paper was an unmitigated disaster thanks to the Exam board, who failed to mark her second paper!!  As a result this cost her a place on her level three aeronautical engineering course.  By the time we challenged the result and she was given a remark (which although just eight marks shy of a pass would have been enough for her to study the level three alongside a resit), it was too late to attend the course :-(  Needless to say she was pretty devastated and this past month has been very difficult for us all. 

 We are now homeschooling for Year 12 which comprises of an English Language resit following a different examination board, AS Level Maths and a beginners course in pottery amongst any other short courses that come along.  We have designated Fridays as a field trip day, so here are some pictures from a recent trip to the British Commercial Transport Museum in Leyland:

This ambulance is very reminiscent of episodes from the lovely drama, 'Call the Midwife.'  Poor Pip had a quick run down on the best positions for labour and lying flat on your back was not on that list ;-)  She was very tolerant of her old ma!

The back of the Popemobile used to transport St John Paul Second when he visited the Uk in 1980.

I still find screens and cognitive stuff still a bit of a nightmare but I've missed sharing over here and connecting with lovely blogging friends, so I'm hopeful I can make it work this time around.  

Thanks for reading xx