The BIGGEST spider in the world!

Well, I could be exaggerating.  But today I caught the biggest spider I've ever seen.  Except I was so totally freaked out by this freak of nature, which I had trapped in a large glass with a slip of card, that instead of just throwing the spider out of the door, I threw the whole glass!

B was also in a state of being freaked out and spent the whole episode stood on a chair!

Oops

I admit I screamed as I released the glass, goodness knows what the neighbours thought we were up to, haha

Segways

A friend of ours gave us some tickets for the girls to have LOTS of fun learning how to ride Segways at Tatton Park.

They had so much fun and it is such a beautiful setting.

So proud!

Our beautiful B has done absolutely fantastic in her GCSEs.  We are so unbelievably proud of her!

So we had to go out and celebrate with a lovely meal together.

Happy birthday Miss B

My beautiful girl is 16 today.

I can't believe it! She's growing up way too fast for me, it only seems like yesterday that she was a baby in arms.

She's fascinated by astro-physics and so we surprised her with a very special present.

I think she might be pleased! haha

Pics from our holiday in North Yorkshire

L is a cow whisperer, they were fascinated by her, haha

The cottage we stayed in was lovely, and surrounded by farmland, but the furnishings were not very practical...no wardrobes and very little drawer space!

Filey beach - the North sea is a little chilly for me!

A mysterious fire at Yorkshire airfield, not on the airfield.  We were all fascinated.  I think it was a pile of tyres that had caught alight.

Friday the 13th - Halifax bomber

Some info about this bomber, if you're interested: Friday 13th

View from the top of York Cathedral

It was quite a climb to the roof of one of the towers of York Cathedral.  I found it quite claustrophobic climbing the seemingly endless spiral staircase to the top. 

John Rylands Library

Today Hubs and I visited John Rylands Library.  What a beautiful and interesting place!

"The John Rylands Library was founded by Enriqueta Rylands in memory of her husband John Rylands. In 1889 the architect Basil Champneys designed the striking gothic building, which took ten years to build and was opened to public readers on 1 January 1900.

The library became part of The University of Manchester in 1972 and currently holds the Special Collections of The University of Manchester Library. Mrs Rylands' memorial to her husband is now part of the third largest academic library in the United Kingdom, and the Deansgate building houses over 250,000 printed volumes, and well over a million manuscripts and archival items."  John Rylands Library

They just don't make buildings like this any more!

Beautiful high ceilings

Spot the peeping dragon!

The main hall of books

Cat heaven

We visited a local animal sanctuary today.  We love to visit the dogs, cats, guinea pigs, goats, donkeys and other animals.

My favourite place was the building that houses the older cats.

It's like cat-lovers' heaven.