Day 7 Swimming lessons and Beeston Castle

Great sleep, except for the few times Amelia woke me up, but we both settled back quickly. Up at the usual 6 am. When Sarah returned, from dropping off Tim, we walked down the street. I stopped at the watch shop and got a new watch band -£12 and Sarah only had to get a few items from the supermarket. We stopped at the Yellow Pig for take a way coffees and walked back home. Sarah made lunches and it was time to go to swimming lessons.

The pool was at a local hotel/motel. One of the most unusual parts was having to put hospital style over shoes on top of any shoes? I sat and watched Lachie’s, then Amelia’s lessons. I managed a few rows of knitting between photographs. Dried, dressed and back in the car to eat lunch as we drove along to Beeston Castle.

The drive was circuitous. One of the “major” roads was closed, but the small rural roads were so pretty. We met large tractors three times and at one time had to reverse to allow another car to pass. Once again there were many bike riders on the narrow roads.

The castle cost £8 for adults. The way up was a steep incline, but views from the top were spectacular. Well worth the climb (107 M above the plains) and once at the top it was a 360 view of the surrounding plains, like a patchwork quilt of farms below the hill on the Cheshire Plains. You could see as far as Liverpool.

Beeston has a long 4000 year history going back to a settlement in the Bronze Age complete with fortified walls. It became an Iron Age hill fort. Then in 1220 Ranulf built the castle on the hill. Family ownership of the castle was short lived, as it was seized by King Henry 111 in 1237. There was also a battle here in the Civil War, after which the castle was slighted by the Parliamentarians. (destroyed)

After our visit up the hill to the castle, we walked along to see the caves at the base, which had been used as storage and stables. 

I bought in the washing and did another load. Lachie watched a movie while Sarah had a rest. Then she took the kids to pick up Tim. After washing my hair, I sat down to edit today’s photos and to do some online tutoring. Sarah cooked a delicious chicken and mushroom risotto for dinner. Dishes, then time diary, while the kids had their bath and bedtime activities.

8 pm and it is still very light.