All Good Things Must Come To An End

We've all had a lovely week. The family arrived home safe and sound a week last Friday and though Eleanor had to go back to university on the Monday, she was back home again on Thursday.

Daniel and his girlfriend enjoyed some days out in Leeds and York, catching up with people they'd met there at university and visiting old haunts, and with Mick having the week off work we also managed some nice days out despite the weather not being too good.

We had another trip to Lotherton, somewhere we visit regularly, but this time we got to see Arthur the tapir out and about in his enclosure, which he shares with the capybaras.

The flamingos have now arrived at Lotherton too, along with some Visayan Warty Pigs, an animal I've never heard of before, probably because they're one of the rarest pigs in the world. It's believed that only 200 remain in the wild.

Haworth, known for its association with the Bronte sisters, is another regular haunt, though I've never seen it as quiet there as it was this time. It was a drizzly day and many of the shops which line the steep cobbled hill were closed and I realised that we've never really visited out of season before. It did make such a difference.

Oakworth Station, just outside Haworth, shot to fame in the 1970s when it was used in the film The Railway Children. The station is still much as it was in the early twentieth century and still lit by gas lights both inside the buildings and on the platform.

We were silly to trust the decent weather forecast when we set off for Whitby, it started to rain as soon as we arrived and got steadily worse throughout the day. We still managed to have a wander round though, ducking into little shops as and when the rain got worse.

Along with the days out we spent plenty of time together at home chatting, playing games and generally enjoying each others company. It's not very often that we're all together these days so it's extra special when we are.

Mick's now on his way down to Surrey taking Daniel and his girlfriend home before turning round and coming all the way back to Leeds again, it's going to be a long day for him, though I'm hoping that the traffic isn't too bad with it being Easter Sunday. It's always sad to wave either of my children off but Eleanor's home from university now for the Easter holidays so we've still got her here for another fortnight.

Wishing you all a very happy Easter.