Wycoller

We're nearing the end of October now and a glorious morning meant only one thing: picnic lunch at Wycoller, just over the border into Lancashire.

Tine on the old packhorse bridge (experts undecided if it dates from the 13th or 15th century, Tine definitely from the 20th)

The old village from the packhorse bridge. Fewer than 100 people live here now.

Wycoller Hall from the late 16th century, now in ruins

The 'Clam Bridge'...

...made from one block of gritstone, nearly 12 feet (4m) long.

It's hard to believe this area was a part of the industrial revolution

Picnic lunch = hungry ducks...

...with a beautiful pond to swim in.

Taking off or landing, I can't remember!

Merry Christmas

Here is your legendary Christmas post (sorry Radio Times for stealing your punchline)!

Our perfect 'sapin de noel', seen from indoors...

...and outdoors.

La Tranche has installed lights along the town centre roads

Outside le mairie (town hall)

The market square

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this giant inflatable Father Christmas near Matt & Cynthia's old house...

...complete with a seemingly drunken version on the side of the house!

Even the cow at the town butchers is dressed for the festivities

Cynthia's Slice Café has some beautiful Christmas decorations...

...but Matt has a festive boot glass at the Starfish!

Never far from our thoughts especially at this time of year, Mum & Dad with their Christmas wreath and plants. Thanks Kate & Silv.

Ingleton Waterfalls Trail

Another visit we hadn't done for years was the Ingleton Falls walk, a staple destination for all our visitors in our previous life.

I'm not sure when the tradition of encrusting coins in trees started, but this example at Ingleton has been there for years

It had rained so much the previous few days that we suspected we'd be in for a treat

We were!

Our party leader in front of Thornton Force, the most dramatic of the waterfalls

The photo doesn't give any sense of scale: in  calmer conditions you can walk right behind the falls.

There are even extra-terrestrial woods at the top of the first valley...

...before dropping back down to Ingleton town.

Two hours well spent I'd say, no matter what the weather!

Alfie's 4th birthday bash

Our extended stay meant we could join Nadine, Simon & friends to celebrate Alfie's 4th birthday (but also meant we missed Sacha's 3rd, just four days before).

It was a great idea to hire a soft-play area, giving the adults plenty of time to chat!

Alfie having fun in the ballpool...

...Louis & Matilda too.

Dragon birthday cake, anyone?

Well-behaved party people

Alfie coped with us singing Happy Birthday before he blew his candles out: he burst into tears last year.

Next day, his actual birthday and his very own camera!

A photo that should have gone with the Illuminate Bradford post: Alfie & Tine waiting for the train in Bingley

Flashing sword from the previous night at the festival!

And finally

Bradford City Hall under menacing skies. I'm proud of this photo!

More northern adventures

Nine weeks away from home, but we did a fair bit of travelling in that time. 

Mid-October we visited Silv in Alsager, and of course my parents' grave in Sandbach.

With beautiful weather we wandered around Sandbach, walking past my old school. This is the 'quadrangle' where we used to catch the bus back to Congleton, now a staff carpark it would seem.

The Anglo-Saxon crosses in the market place are as impressive as I remembered

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandbach_Crosses)

The Black Bear Inn, dated 1634!

A couple of days later on a far duller day we walked around the Bolton Abbey estate

Next day, good mate Mo invited us to accompany his walking group from Bingley to Oxenhope...

...past the waterfall at Goit Stock, Harden...

...and finishing at the steam train sheds at Oxenhope for the beer festival (Mo & Tine to the left).

This isn't even all the selection available!

Cheers, Robert & Ian!