Thursday 20th August 09

Last night I was reading 'Real Bridlington' magazine and I saw that there was a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Sewerby Park, and I fancied going as I don't think I've ever seen it. Gill rang and found out it was at 2pm in the grounds of the Park, and was for anyone who paid to get into the Park.

However, the family conference that decided the outcome of the day meant that I didn't get to see A Midsummer Night's Dream, as the boys were enthusiastic about visiting the lighthouse and didn't want to see any Shakespeare.

So, the boys and I got the bus to North Landing, bearing sandwiches and bottles of juice, and then walked quite leisurely along the cliff tops to Flamborough Head and the modern lighthouse. This took an hour, and we had a really good 'nature walk' including finding ladybirds, a large spider, an empty cocoon, cinnabar moth caterpillars on ragwort, spotted orchids with unripe seeds, other interesting plants and more.

When we eventually got to the lighthouse, I bought 3 tickets for the 1pm tour, and then we sat in the lee of the restaurant building to get out of the wind and ate our sandwiches. The lighthouse tour was really good, especially the views from the top. Owned and run by Trinity House, the 'new' Flamborough Lighthouse was built in 1806 after a spate of wrecks on the rocks around the headland. Originally, the rotating optics were run by clockwork, with a lead weight descending the centre of the tower and needing rewinding every 45 minutes, but nowadays everything is motorised and automatic. Well worth the visit.

After this, we made our way down to the beach. The tide was right out... revealing several coves to the North of the beach with caves and arches... quite a treat.

We didn't spend a long time there, and the boys wanted to go home after this, as quickly as possible.. but the only 'quick' way was to walk back to Flamborough and get the bus from the village back to Sewerby. I was the slow walker this time... collecting blackberries from the hedges in a found ice-cream tub.

The bus didn't take long to arrive and we were home just a few minutes later. But Gill wasn't in and was still at Sewerby Park, so I started making tea. Gill came back having very much enjoyed the play... by Quantum Theatre, with just 5 players doing mega-quick costume changes and being very entertaining. Gill came back full of it... she'd had a lovely day. And so had we...

I cooked a meal with rice, potato and carrot in one pan, onions, mushroom, sweetcorn and green beans in another, and a red-lentil dahl flavoured with some spicy tomato chutney. I was very happy that everybody enjoyed this... especially the poppadoms which Gill had bought to go with it. I had a small bottle of Lambrini perry.