Nature and History - catch up #2

On Monday morning my brother, Uncle M, came round and we had a good catch up with him.  Last time we were at my parents', I very cruelly didn't let K & M go paddling in the river (we weren't there for long and didn't have enough clothing!).  I did, however, say that they would definitely be able to on this trip, so on Monday, they wore their crocs and appropriate clothing (either shorts or leggings that could be rolled up) and after lunch we returned.  They had a great time!

First they made their way to the 'island', over the stepping stones and log.

Then they started exploring a bit further...

...and tested out just how far they could go!

Standing underneath the bridge that I used to do my best to avoid running over & under in cross country!

 While K & M were busy getting wet, A & I went for a little wander and then while he rejoined them, I took the camera and went off on my own.

We then headed back to Granny's for the girls to watch another of the Harry Potter films, a number of which were on telly over the Easter weekend.  Later we started a new book, which had been both recommended and lent to us by friends, the first of the Ruby Redfort series; Ruby Redfort - Look Into My Eyes by Lauren Child.

A took an extra day off on Tuesday, so that we could have a family day out at The Black Country Museum, where K & M got in free with their Blue Peter badges.  The girls and I had been before, a couple of years ago with Uncle M, but it was A's first time.  We started off with a walk down the drift mine, which the girls and I didn't do last time.  K was particularly keen to see everything, even if only briefly and I think we did just about manage it. 

The Blue Peter badge in the canal tunnel of the limestone mine.

The limestone tunnels are now famous for fossils.

Playing with hoop and stick - she was fast!

K was doing really well at it after a while too.

Watching the chain maker at work.

There are two main areas, one with a small row of 1930s shops and a bigger one with shops, houses and more from around 1910, which isn't that long before the great grandparents we had seen a couple of days earlier were born.  The vast majority, if not all, of the people who work at the Black Country Museum have got quite strong Black Country accents.  In the bakery, where they still bake bread for display in the shop (although due to hygiene rules they aren't allowed to sell it), the man, who was telling visitors what it would have been like for a baker's boy, to us and another family, had a particularly strong accent.  When he mentioned that the local words for 'girl and boy' were 'wench and bloke', the very well spoken mother of the family didn't catch what he'd said and then realised and said 'Oh, bloke!' with such a cut-glass accent that it really made me chuckle.  After a really good day, we parted ways and A left to catch the train back home and the girls and I drove back to Granny's house.

By the time we got back, my brother, Uncle S, sister-in-law, Aunty P and their dog, the girls' canine cousin, Megan had arrived.  S was meeting up with an old school friend, but P, Granny, M & I had a game of Scrabble.  It was the first time that M has played in a proper game and not only did she hold her own, but with only a little bit of help on the last round, she came second.