Finally pictures and time to show them!!

Was it really 10 days ago that I got up early to write a new blog and found that the camera had been left at Beckys? What is happening to time?
But back to the blog that didn't happen 10 days ago. We did what we have done for the last 2 years at the end of January - taken the caravan to Bridlington for my birthday (I have somewhere in mind which is a little more exciting next year). We set off a day late to avoid towing in high winds and arrived to blue skies and sun on the Thursday morning. A quick 'set up' and we were off and out to follow the 'Town trail' around Old Bridlington which also happens to be where the new Dad's Army film has been filmed. We downloaded this

and followed it all round the old town. To be honest we didn't get very far in the beginning as we got talking to the owner of the Pack Horse pub in Market Street and made a mental note to go back for a drink at the end of our trail - (and in fact the smell of food was too hard to ignore when we went back that we had a late lunch there)

There are some lovely buildings 

The red and cream building on the left below was The Marigold Tea Rooms in the film

looking like this inside

but in reality was just a very dismal office!

If you look carefully under the Royal Oak Inn sign you'll see a Warmington on Sea brewery sign

 This shop (still with it's Jones butcher's sign)

  looked like this in the film

and the black fronted shop became

this

but I digress, back to some of the other lovely buildings

We had a laugh at this one

behind the boards some serious renovations were taking place.

There was just time whilst the sun was still out to go and park by the harbour and have a quick walk along the North front

and back to look at the boats

The rain and wind forecasted happened during the night and by breakfast on Friday the sun was out again. Deciding to go further afield we made our way up to Whitby and to the Abbey.

 what views we had. 

Making our way down we went up and down alley ways

till we found this

Sanders yard 

Here is the entrance on Church Street

Coffee and a scone was most welcome.

Leaving Whitby we travelled further north to Sandsend - a place I had holidayed as a child. The sun was still shining so we worked our way down to the beach and walked along.

Lots of lovely cottages were holiday lets, and we photographed several with the idea that we might hire one at some point

We took note of the cafes

 and pub/restaurant

It really is a delightful place.

But we'd not finished for the day, from Sandsend we went to Falling Foss.  (Link to a circular walk is here)

I had a very vivid memory as a late teenager of a house - un-lived in, that was in a wood and near Little Beck or May Beck called Midge Hall. As we walked down to Falling Foss I could see a house which I thought could be it. The more I thought the surer I was and yes, a sign back up at the car park indicated it was indeed, Midge Hall

otherwise known as Falling Foss tea garden, unfortunately closed for the winter but I had found it!

By this time it was getting dark and cold so we retreated back to the van. 

Saturday was my birthday and we had blue skies again so after breakfast we had a long walk on the south beach at Bridlington and returned to the Pack Horse for a very good lunch. To end the day we had a bitterly and I mean BITTERLY cold but very brief walk from the car park at Flamborough Head to the headland

A piece of cake and a Bailey's coffee was in order once back at the caravan!!

We were incredibly lucky with the weather, especially after what it had been like the previous days. So the van is put away but not for long as we are off to LONDON in it. My birthday present from my lovely children is afternoon tea at the Bluebird Restaurant, Chelsea - I can't wait xxxx

Socks, cakes and decorating

Goodness another 2 weeks disappeared in a flash and what have I got to show for it - well as the blog title says 'socks, cakes and decorating'.
First the socks - I had this from Christmas from Nina

Sock wool and a round needle (which arrived later). I fancied trying my hand at sock knitting and by using a 70% wool yarn hopefully they might keep my feet warm!! My starting point was here - Winwick Mum's sockalong, which has very clear instructions for people like me who are beginners, and I'm not doing too bad. I'm over half way through the first one and am pleased with it. I hope to get more done when we go away in the caravan later this week (pictures when I finish!)

Cakes - a lovely Saturday morning baking

  toffee chocolate brownies and treacle and walnut cake

Paul Hollywood's scones

Cappuccino squares - (well they will be once they are cut up!)

 and cheats sourdough

All very yummy! and just in case you were worried about how much cake David and I eat - I froze nearly all of it in small portions to be eaten as and when.

Decorating - well that's not really me doing that but I have been making new curtains

As always I end up cutting out on the lounge floor, but with very few seams to sew I have finished them apart from the hems, which I'll do once the curtain rail goes back up and I can measure the length. The result of the decorating will mean that with a bed move out of Charlotte's bedroom and into the newly decorated bedroom (which belonged to Jonathan) I can at last, have a proper sewing room!!! I CAN'T WAIT. I have had my Gran's old pine kitchen table for at least 30 years, waiting in the garage for a point at which I could use it, and that time has at last come. So watch this space ......

Back to normal

Finally I feel we are back to normal - I guess you probably feel the same. We have had a lovely Christmas down in Cornwall with a lovely lunch in The Basement, Padstow.

Followed by a walk on Harlyn beach, not forgetting to send a message to the member of the family who was not with us

Christmas morning and a baby under the tree

A visit to the Cornish Arms before lunch

More walks this time on cliff tops on Boxing day 

Ending up at Treyarnon Youth Hostel for a hot drink.
The following day another windy walk from Treyarnon to Constantine Bay and back

Home and work for 2 days and off in the caravan to Cambridge for New Year.

Having never been to Cambridge I was looking forward to visiting it and wasn't disappointed

Cobbled streets and beautiful buildings - we never got to the colleges or the river, running out of time.

New Years Day saw us in Thetford - the village made famous by the filming of 'Dad's Army'. As David is a Dad's army fan he was keen to find the bronze statue of Captain Mainwaring, which I have to say took some finding, but find it we did.

A solitary figure on the riverside.

From Thetford we went over to Ely, which was lovely despite the cold dull day.

A walk down to the canal took us through Jubilee Gardens

and then along the canal side

I have to say that although I enjoyed the walk I was glad to get back to the warmer car!

And now after a week at home the caravan is back in storage, the washing is done, food is in the fridge, I've finally finished Nina's cardigan,

 and things are back to normal!