A swim, a train ride and a cup of tea in Hawarth

Tuesday 30 May 2017

It was a struggle to wake up this morning but eventually I managed to get up and we all breakfasted. Yesterday, the forecast for today was good, but this morning, the Met Office had changed its mind and we were promised rain, which arrived. Ian stayed at the barn and the rest of us went into Skipton for a swim. The pool was quite nice and fairly warm. The boys had a lovely time, particularly with “sinkies” – small weights with neoprene tails for diving for.

Ali and Arthur went up to a tennis court for Arthur to try out his tennis racquet, while Laura, Fred and I went to the Keelham Farm Shop for bread and cheese, it having been recommended by Andy and Jan. It’s a lovely shop – full of really interesting foods and drink – we might make it back, at some point.  We picked up the others and drove back to the barn for the lunch that Ian had made.

The boys had expended a considerable amount of energy, so this afternoon, we decided that today would be the day for a train ride. Surprisingly to us, Arthur was not interested in going on a train – he’s getting a bit old for it, but we told him that the alternative would be a visit to a museum.

It took a while to get to Oxenhope station because or traffic in Silsden and Keighley, but we arrived in time to catch the planned train and Laura and I drove back to Hawarth, where we parked up and walked into the old Bronte village. It was reminiscent of  Hawkshead – even less of a real place, just full of gift shops and tea shops. We went into the church and then mooched down and up the main street before stopping for a cup of tea.

Down to Hawarth to find the chaps at a playground – they had got off the train early to walk the last station back to Howarth. A shorter drive back, avoiding the traffic and tea at the barn. Boys a bit bonkers after bathtime, but they are probably over-tired.