The first week home

This evening marks seven days since Mark first got back to the UK.  I won’t pretend that the past week hasn’t seen its fair share of emotions as we remember what it is to be a family, but for the most part the emotions on display have been smiles and laughter so all good in family Beebe.

Showing some real enthusiasm for proper family time this weekend has seen not one, but two family outings.  Yesterday started early with the family heading to Doncaster before making our way back up the M1 for a walk around the Sculpture Park before heading back home. 

Yes indeed, the day started with a trip to Doncaster.  Why?  Why indeed.  To test drive, and shortly thereafter buy, a new car – something which Mark has been intent upon for the past few months.  I can now announce that we are the owners of a very sensible VW Passat.  As it turns out owning an estate car has led me to feeling far more of a grown up than either getting married or becoming a parent did.  Odd the difference engine size and leg room can have to my identity! 

Mark did a huge amount of research before we worked out our final choices and can no doubt provide a long list of specifics which will no doubt awe and surprise you.  I am no such petrol head.  It is black, has leather seats and beeps when I reverse.  It’s an ex-company car so has been kept in very good condition and being a diesel is practical for our long journeys up and down the country.  A push button start and a push button handbrake are demanding a little bit of attention from me, but other than that it’s all good.

From running around the Car Shop (no really, that was it’s name) we headed to Wakefield for a bit of culture at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.  My artist friend had highlighted the park to me and I’m incredibly glad she did.  500 acres of land in a beautiful setting (think rolling hills and huge lake) with huge sculptures dotted all around, many of which you can prod, poke and clamber over.  In addition to the park land there are a number of galleries also on the park but as we had Percy with us we kept to the dog friendly zones, which proved plenty to see and explore.

Shortly before flipping over the pole and landing with a smile.  Though the next time he crawled under it!

Who goes there?

Harmless bit of log climbing / bench running

One of my favourite sculptures

The Family of Man (apparently)

Percy auditioning for the fourth plinth

From Wetherby to Ripon, the family outings continued today with a trip to Studley Royal Deer Park.  The Studley Royal estate is linked to Fountains Abbey and whilst we have been to the latter many times before, lack of road signs and a certain degree of unnecessary secrecy by the Nation Trust meant the entrance to the Deer Park was, until today, a mystery to us.  With a map in hand Mark showed nothing short of true grit in his determination to find the entrance to the park and after driving up the same stretch of road several times (with a few false moves here and there) success was finally ours. 

Whilst the house originally on the estate was burnt down in 1945 (thank you Wikipedia) a church remains in a far corner of the medieval park land.  Being a non-religious type I wasn’t too fussed about seeing visiting the church having decided when I was about 12 that really once you’ve seen inside one church you’ve seen inside them all, however Mark was keen to explore and I’m incredibly pleased he insisted as St Mary’s Church was absolutely stunning.  From ornate carved birds in the seats to beautiful stained glass windows running its length to an incredible mosaic floor in the chancel which we were only allowed to stand on if wearing the compulsory plastic blue shoe covers, it had been kept in tip top condition and really was worth all the frustrations to get to the place.  

Tired out by daddy

Once back home, Mark took on his position as Alby carer whilst I handled some work nonsense that had sadly fallen on my lap.  Rather than be annoyed by the unexpected and unwanted work distraction, it allowed an extra hour or so of daddy and son bonding time and that is an all too precious thing at the moment.  Twice now Mark has been the one to put Alby to bed – something I didn’t think would happen for a month or so.  They’ve napped on the sofa, shared meals, run around the entire house at least a hundred times, wrestled, giggled and cuddled a bulldog en masse.  Whilst it may be taking me a bit of time to work out my place in the shifting dynamics of the house, my boys have had no trouble at all working out their place with each other and to be honest, next to that, nothing else is important.