Countryfile filming!

We spent a lovely week up at my parents' place in Cumbria the week before last. It felt like a real holiday, and Matilda had so much fun that a week later she is still asking to 'go back to Nanny's house'. One morning while we were there Mum and Dad were being filmed for an episode of Countryfile. The episode is about the North Pennines, with a small section about my parents' winemaking business, High Cup Wines. It was great fun to watch the filming and meet presenter Matt Baker, who seemed like a lovely bloke.

My Dad shows Matt how to make beetroot wine

Matt poses for a photo with Matilda, baby and I.

It should be broadcast on 4 September, 8pm on BBC2. Hopefully you'll see my parents' winemaking in action!

Resolutions

Well it's back to the blog after a busy December (more about this later). The photos are still downloading, but here's a taste - snowy Lake District mountains rising out of the Eden Valley mist.

We had a lovely Christmas and New Year up in Cumbria at my parents' place. Matilda had a great time with her Granny and Grandad and all her cousins, although I think she found all the noise and activity of Christmas Day a bit overwhelming! My mum had done a great job organising everything - it's my turn next year (yikes!), although it will be a much smaller affair at ours.

So aside from planning next Christmas, I've been having a think about things I'd like to achieve over the next year. Here's a list of resolutions for 2011 - who knows if I'll achieve all of them, but hopefully I'll find time for one or two!

1. Master the art of wet felting
2. Try freehand embroidery on the sewing machine
3. Further improve my sewing skills - particularly dressmaking/customising
4. Learn to knit
5. Start playing football again (or failing that, running or cycling)
6. Help get Mummade off the ground (more about this later)
7. Spend as little as possible
8. Buy as few new things as possible
9. Sort out spare room
10. Have another baby!

My little hiker

On our recent trip to Cumbria we went for a lovely walk above Ullswater in the Lake District. Sam and I really enjoy walking so it would be great if Matilda loves it too. Well, she seemed to enjoy her first Lake District hike - she slept in the sling for the first part, had fun roaming around during lunch, happily went back in the sling while we descended the steepest parts of the route, then strolled the last bit herself, even using Grandad's walking pole for some of it! So far, so good!

Holiday!

Last week we had a wonderful holiday visiting my parents in Cumbria. What a relaxing week! M had a lovely time with Granny and Grandad, and I enjoyed a week of lie-ins, cakes and home-cooked food. I could've stayed for a lot longer; even Sam was sad to say goodbye at the end of the week. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Watching the gibbons at Trotters' World of Animals...

A two-week old zebra and its mummy...

Walking with Daddy...

Feeding a friendly donkey...

A sunset, viewed from Granny and Grandad's house...

A burst of colour...

Meeting the locals...