Obviously he is!!!

Dad was true to his word and in the afternoon...
...him and Frodo went up Pen-y-Ghent.
http://www.yorkshiredales.com/whernside.html



These are some special photos for people like Uncle Sneag, Auntie Ellen, Winty and Kimbo!!

This is what the top of Pen-y-Ghent looks like on a sunny day. I know you have never seen it like this. Dad said Frodo came first but only just!! Yeah right.

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Back Down To Earth

Well we made it back down to the pub all safe and sound.



Time for a well earned pint and a bag of crisps.



I'm sorry, did you just say you wanted to go and do Pen-y-Ghent now. Are you bonkers!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A Very Big Walk

So here we are, getting ready for another walk. And we are going up...

...there. Those of you who did the 3 peaks walk earlier this year will particularly remember this.

This is Whernside, the highest hill in Yorkshire. And we are going up it. Madness. MADNESS!!

http://www.yorkshire-dales.com/whernside.html

Well we had better get on with it then. At least i am a passenger for most of the way!!

Fortunately the way is well sign posted. Its really warm and sunny though.

Must be quite hard for dad. Shame!! You shouldn't drag me up these stupid things then should you!!

Here is mum putting her best foot forward. For once she's not at the back.

The views are pretty fantastic though. You can see for miles.

Are we there yet?

You don't see this very often. We were buzzed by a bomber, which is pretty strange as we were actually higher up than it!!

This is about half way up and it is pretty spectacular.

Are we there yet?

Now this is the bit where dad normally says 'we are near the top, just over that rise'.

And this is the bit where Auntie Ellen will tell you there are about 5 more tops before we get there!!

However, to be fair to dad it's not that much further and here we are at the top.

Right, time to find somewhere comfy for lunch.

What do you mean, did i pack the sandwiches!! You had better be kidding!!

And i don't know why you are looking so happy and proud of yourself - we stil have to get back down!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I got an Ice Cream...

And so did mum.

And so did Frodo.

Dad will tell you that he didn't have one, but that is a fib!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

And down we go again

So on we go and its time to head back to Ingleton.

Now they way down is a lot different than the way up.

It's a lot darker and gloomier. However there are some pretty spectacular gulleys as the river winds its way down to the village.

You certainly wouldn't want to fall in one of these. You wouldn't come up again in a hurry that's for sure!!

So I'm going to stay right here where it is safe until we get to the bottom.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Horsey, horsey...

...don't you stop!!

Imagine how annoying this gets after five miles!!!

Giddy up mule!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Waterfalls

As i said earlier, today we are doing the famous waterfalls walk at Ingleton!

http://www.ingletonwaterfallswalk.co.uk/

Dad says that he used to come and do this walk a long time ago when he used to come and stop with his Aunt Joan and Uncle Harry.

First things first, and of course the mutt has to go for his usual swim!!

And off we go. Now it is a very gentle and easy walk.

Well it is for me at least!!

The path winds up a vally alongside the river for a few miles, and there are several really impressive waterfalls...

Like this one,

and this one,

(Back up a minute i need to grab this leaf!)

and especially this one!! This is Thornton Force which is right at the top of the valley!!

From here we have to cut across to the other side of the valley and then follow another river down. There's not a lot to see, just farms and sheep, so i'll see you at the other side!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Money doesn't grow on trees, young girl!

Yes it does dad. Look at that over there.

Another day and another walk. We are doing the famous Ingleton Waterfalls Walk today (more later) and this is one of the unusual sights that you see - a money tree.

Actually it's the result of a tradition that saw people push coins into the bark of the tree. The whole of the tree is now covered in old coins. Pretty weird looking.
xxxxxxxxxxx

A very special place

Whilst we were on holiday, mum and dad brought me to a very special place for a picnic.

This is Aysgarth Falls

http://www.yorkshire-dales.com/aysgarth-falls.html

For those of you who don't know the story this is where dad, in a complete fit of madness, proposed to mum all those years ago. And mum, in an even bigger fit of madness, said yes!!!

Reins are definately needed here, and dad has been warned not to even think about doing anything silly!!

It looks a long way down there!! Right thats enough, lets get back to the car.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Special needs candidate?

Wellies - they really are difficult when you are less than two years old!!!

And it doesn't help when you are wearing a stupid hat!!

It would help if they had left and right painted on them like Grandad Pete's pit boots!!

Look is anyone going to give me a hand here?

Thanks mum.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Some nice snaps of me and mum

Hi everyone.

I just wanted to put these in because they are some really nice photos of me and my mum.

I also wanted to say that the ordnance survey maps are wrong! We stopped here after a nice long walk with the promise of a couple of pints and a packet of crisps.

However it is no longer a pub!!! Unless of course this is one of Kimbo's maps of legend!

xxxxxxxxxxxx

More Parklife

Just a few more photos from another day in the park.

And no dad didn't get stuck in the pipe Uncle Sneag, before you say it!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

GT look away now

Of course you didn't think i was going to get away with it did you? Dad was bound to try this.

This is the photo that will send the grandparents into a state of panic and have those close to me ringing social services!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Thats what wellies were made for!!!

This tranquil looking place (tranquil until we arrived mind you) is called Tarn Hawes in the Lakes. It is not far from where we were staying so off we popped for a day.

After a nice stroll round the lake on Dad's back (!) we stopped and had a picnic for lunch.

Frodo however had other things on his mind (with much encouragement from dad i might add).

Well i have my wellies on so lets give it a go.

Now i need a little bit of help from dad of course (always on the watch for a sneaky splash i might also add).

This is kind of fun, and i'm sure that i can catch dad with some of those splashes.

Cool wellies, Hey?

And so we head back. I've had a pretty hectic day so i'll just catch some zzzzzz's in the car.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Beer Monster

One of the good things about when we go away on holiday is that Dad is always trying to find the perfect pint of real bitter.

Now Yorkshire was going to be pretty good for this, and as some of you may remember from previous posts, i am never one to pass up on really good pint myself. So here goes.

Dad does not look very amused does he.

Good pint though. I seem to remember this was in a pub in Bedale if anyone fancies one!

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Parklife

Well here we go then.

This is way back in the mists of time. At the end of September last year we went on our family holiday to Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales.

Whilst we were there we found a pretty fabulous park where i had loads of fun.

I kept dragging mum and dad down here every day.

There will be more pictures to follow soon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi Everyone

I'm really sorry that i have been incredibly slack on the blogger.
Part of the reason has been that we have had problems logging into it since we made the switch in email names.
However thanks to the skill of a computer wizard (no not dad, uncle Ian of course) I can now log on and continue to do my little bits.
Now i have a long way to go back so it will take a little time. So keep watching this space and we are so, so sorry!
Zoe
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Well it's a week later...

...and we are camping again. Now mum did take a lot of photos but they are still at grandad's.

However the weather this weekend was really sunny and hot. So down to the beach it was.

Here is me with a very happy Linz, and a very happy Tash, and Kirsty!!

Now mum bought me a little suit to protect me and at first i though i would look a right fool.

However Linz very generously looked a bigger one to deflect the criticism.

Just one question though. Where is dad!

Well he is up here. This is a photo taken on top of England. Finally he managed to find the top of Scafell. I say found the top, though how you could see anyhting up there i do not know!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dib dib dib!!

Well not actually but it was another first.

We went camping in August. We went with Tash, Kirsty and Linz to a place in Derbyshire near to Ashbourne.

So we enjoyed things like eating al fresco,

and and i slept with linz in our own little bedroom.

However on saturday it pored it down and kept on into Sunday.

So we came home!! Better look next weekend as i go to Norfolk with Mum and Auntie Ellen's lot!

xxxxxxxx

More wedding photos!!

Basically its just me looking cute in the flower beds!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

More dressing up!!

And dad is wearing a dress this time too. Well a skirt actually.

It was Justin and Emma's wedding this month. They are the parents of my friend Lili-Mai, whom you may recall I was in the hospital with all those months ago.

Finally Justin has made an honest woman (yeah right of emma).

Also there was my friend Abigail, who was also in hospital with us.

And yes it is the same hat.

Its not that we are trend setters, its just that dad and Abi's mum are both tight and bought the same knocked down hat!!

Anyway the grub is coming out so i had better behave! Right what am i supposed to do witht his and why are there so many foks!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Does my bum look big in this?

No but i look like a massive big pink dollop of angel delight!!

However it was a surprise birthday party for Dan Morris this month so we all got dressed up in our finest.

He was 30, and he didn't have the faintest idea about it.

Lots of sun though and plenty of times for cute poses...

...with dad (not looking cool)

and with mum (not looking sober)

and even with grumpy graham (and if he pours that pint on my head i won't be happy)!!

At the end of the day though you just have to go rooting in the undergrowth and getting nice and dirty!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Here comes the sun!!

Finally, the sun is out.

No worries, it's only August!!

However now it is here, at last i can have fun in the garden.

You may have noticed that dad has increased the size of the swing for me now. I can just save a little time by swinging on this bar though. Which dad is not happy about at all.

Here is me and Frodo. He never gets a moments rest these days. I follow him everywhere and the only time he stops is when i go down for a nap!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A Bundle of Trouble

Yes it's the thing of grandparents nightmares.

Here is a picture of me and my cousin Millie together.

Grandma and Grandad brought her over one day whilst she was off school.

Im not quite sure this chair will take the combined weight though!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Fun on the Farm

Well the bad weather can't put us of having fun.

This weekend Mum and I went to meet up with some of mums old friends at a fun farm park near Southwell.

This is me with Rosemary who brought her two daughters Elizabeth and Courtney,

and we also met up with Estelle and Samuel. You may remember that i went to Samuel's christening last year.

Anyway there were loads of animals like goats...

...and chicks.

And then we had a great time on the swings.

Before a bit of Massey Tractor racing (i'm in the lead - dad would be so jealous)

And then it was off to the ball pit for a bit of fun.

As you can see Samuel was having fun too.

And they had a huge soft play. I went right to the top, under the watchful gaze of my two new friends of course.

In fact the only bad thing was when i had to come down and leave

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Warning - Men At Work!!

Dad has made a huge list of things to do round the house to get it looking finished.

Ambitious you may think, knowing my dad!

However with a personal assistant like me, we should have no problems.

Here are a few shots of me helping Dad to paint the kitchen.

As you can see i am under the watchful gaze of clerk of works Frodo!

I'm not sure dad has put any paint on this brush!!

Come on dad you don't have time for taking photos - get a shove on!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Summer Sunshine

Hi everyone.

Well the summer is here. Not very good is it!

Still we did manage to grab a bit of a party one day. Here are the photos to prove it.

Here are Linz and Rosie helping me round the garden on my bike.

I started out all lovely in a pretty dress.

However a tub of garlic and chives dip later and i was back to normal.

xxxxx

Daisy, Daisy!!

Well its not quite made for two but it has been adapted.

This weekend mum and dad decide to get some extra transport for me.

Now you can't see it butmy dad is grumbling because he looses out in two ways.

Firstly he now is going to have to do twice the work as i hang on for dear life.

And seconldly the seat will not fit his bike so he will have to use mum's!!

It's really cool though.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jammed in like sardines!!

Well it certainly got a little cramped towards the last few days.

First Uncle Ian came down to spend a few days with us.

And then we were joined by GT (Grandad Taylor).

We went to quite a few places including walks to the beach again.

And then we went to a spooky place. This is Uncle Ian and Mum at the Beer Quarry Caves.

http://www.beerquarrycaves.fsnet.co.uk/BEERQU~1/Beer_Quarry_Cx.html

It was quite dark and cold but we had a great tour by a funny Welsh person (not Auntie Annie)!What was really amazing however was that if you looked really, really carefully you could see some bats!!

So there you have it. We had a really lovely time on holiday and thank you to Annie and Grumpy for the caravan.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

More ice cream fun!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Just to prove it!!

These couple of photographs are in just to prove that it is not always my dad who carries me around.

As you can see mum does her fair share.

Although dad would argue whether mum doing downhill and dad doing uphill is fair share!!!

xxxxxxxxx

Delaney had a donkey!!

And so do I!

I'm not sure how many people know this but for my birthday and Christmas last year, Annie and Grumpy got me two donkeys.

The first was Eric which i'm sure you have all seen the photos of.

And the second was one called Daniel P which lives at the Donkey Sanctuary in Branscombe http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/site/2/EST_Sidmouth.html.

Well i don't really own it but i have adopted it for a year.

So whilst we were down here we decided to go and visit. It is a really nice place and well worth a visit. They have around 300 donkeys in all there centres, but we only saw a few of them.

And then it was time to go and meet Daniel P. Unfortunately it was a really hot day and he was so warm so he didn't stay out too long. As you can see he is quite big!! But he is really lovely too.

However as it was so hot i got to have a treat. Now this is the before it gets too messy picture. Ther will be one of me later in the holiday where i look a real tramp!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Devon knows...

... how they make it so creamy!!!

Hi everyone. Well last month saw us Amblers go on holiday. We borrowed Aunti Annie and Grumpy Graham's static down at Branscombe.

We drove down on a night tuesday, leaving at quarter past seven at night. Mum and dad thought that i would sleep on the way down and they could just shove me in bed.

And this is me having a look round after staying awake all the way! Best laid plans!

However i did eventually go to sleep and got up lovely and early for breakfast. Now after making sure that everything was all fine we went for a walk down to the beach.

We were a little unsure of what we were going to find. Branscombe is where that big ship Napoli got grounded at Christmas. Dad was hoping for a BMW bike.

And there it is. this was really starnge as it was about a 1/4 of a mile to the cliff path from out static and it's just there!!

However we need not have worried. The beach is lovely and clean. Frodo and i had great fun playing on it.

Right up to the bit where dad decided to take me for a paddle. It was soooooooo cold! Notice if you will how dad keeps his walking boots on so he doesn't get his feet wet!!

One of the good things however is the lovely pub at the bottom of the hill which sells its own real ale. Strange how they always managed to tire me out by this point!!

xxxxxx

1st school photo

Hi everyone.

Just thought i would share this with you all.

Its my first ever school photo.

Now, i was the only one who managed half a smile for the camera. Everyone else just cried.

Hope you like it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Yes it is that tent!!!

For those of you not in the know let me explain.

At christmas i got a lovely tent from Auntie Gillian and Uncle Keith. Unfortunately it did not want to fold back down once it had gone up. Dad ended up loosing his rag with it and it has been in a box.

However the sun is out and so is the tent. I think the only reason it is out is because a) Auntie Ellen gave me another tent and a tunnel and b) dad just puts it away in the shed and he says that is how it is staying until Winter.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Here we go

Well the moment has finally arrived.

The one that dad and Frodo were fearing.

I CAN WALK!!!

Here are some shots of me toddling up the garden. It only took a few weeks from me getting my balance, walking around the sofa's to being off all over the place. No place is sacred anymore. We have had a couple fo mishaps on the way. last weekend we went to see Jo and Steve in Wolverghampton and i ran head first into the front door. Lots of tears but it doesn't seem to work on mum and dad. They just put me back on my feet and continue what they were doing.

xxxxxxx

Well Done

Hi everyone.

Now i just want to say a big well done to mum and dad and their friends.

As you know they were doing a charity walk to help raise money for teh hospital unit where i was.
Well they all managed the 25 mile round trip. This is them on top of the highest peak, Whernside.
All the money is on its way in, and mum thinks that they have all raised over £2000 which is pretty amazing.
So thank you to all those people who sponsored them. We had a huge response. It was amazing, including the really touching comment that someone put on the blog site about their family. Please check it out - it goes to show how this is more common than people believe.
Thank you them to:-
Mum, Dad, Uncle Sneag, Auntie Ellen, Uncle Graham, Uncle Stu, Uncle Kimbo, John, Uncle Dave, Mag, Tash and Luke.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Down with Sheep again

It has been a while since i did the blog.

I am really sorry. There is so much that i have not shown you.

I now have got eight teeth which are causing me some grief i will tell you. Luckily we are keeping Boots in business in teething powders.

My hair is growing at an alarming rate, unlike my dads which is rapidly decreasing. Also mine is blonde which dad says just adds weight to his theory. I don't know what that means but i will let you work it out!!

I am a lot more active these days which means i am burning more energy. The good thing is that i am still a little piggy so i get lots of fuel for my activities. I am up over 21lbs now and well on the way to catching up.

My words now include no, Frodo, dad, sit down, NO, cup of tea, mummy, tash,kiki and anything else people say to me!!

And finally as Grandad T says, I'm becoming a little cheeky thing, although looking at this you wouldn't think butter would melt in my mouth.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Zoe Does Comic Relief

Hi everyone.

Last night mum was voted out of the house by me, Frodo, Jess and Dad for her awful rendition of Rehab.

Have a good old laugh today!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Special Announcement

Hi everyone.

Now earlier I said i had some special news. Some of you may remember that a few years ago, mum and dad and dad and their friends did a 100 mile walk for charity to help a very special little girl.

Well the fools have all decided to do another one to help lots of special little girls and boys.

As you know I was in hospital for two months after i was born, and the only reason i am here now is because of the hard work and dedication of the nurses and doctors at the Kings Mill Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit.

The Fellspotters are going to be doing a walk in April to help raise money for this special care unit. They are planning to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks. The Yorkshire Three Peaks Walk is a very demanding but rewarding walk, which takes in the summits of Pen-y-ghent (694 metres - 2,276 feet), Whernside (736 metres - 2,415 feet) and Ingleborough (723 metres 2,372 feet) all in one circular route. The walk is 24.5 miles (39.2km) long and takes in over 5,000 feet (1,600 metres) of climbing.

Training is already well under way, and as you can see Uncle Kimbo is really taxing the fools. This is a shot that was taken at Stoney Middleton in Derbyshire, just hours before the river broke!!! Serious stuff.

I know that there are lots of demands on people to help charity work out but i think you will all agree this is one situation where you can definately see the benefits of your support.

So if anyone would like to sponsor either mum and dad, your support will be gratefully appreciated. Just drop them a text or email.

I personally will not be doing the walk as i am not stupid!! I will be running riot with Grandad GT, and Grandma and Grandad!

Thank you so much for whatever support you can give.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Don't look down Auntie Ellen!!!

In february, i went somewhere very special.

Me, Grandad GT, Mum and Dad went down to Southampton where Uncle Ian lives and had a weekend with him.

On the saturday we went into Sounthampton. Now Uncle Ian lives near the New Forrest which is across the water. So we got a boat, which was really great but really chilly.

And then on the Sunday we went to nearby Portsmouth as Uncle Ian wanted to show us the Spinnaker Tower.

Soaring up to 170m, the Spinnaker Tower is a new landmark for Portsmouth and the south coast of England.
Visible from miles around the Spinnaker Tower has already changed the skyline forever. It is the UK’s tallest publicly-accessible building outside London, offering thousands of visitors stunning views for its three decks at 100, 105 and 110m.

http://www.spinnakertower.co.uk/home.html

What is really good though is that the tower has a glass floor!!. You have to take your shoes and socks off but you can crawl around it for ages.

And i wasn't scared by it at all. However i wouldn't advise Auntie Ellen to have a go. Its a long way down!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Happy Birthday to you!

As well as it being grandma and grumpdad's wedding anniversary, 5th March is also special because it is my cousin Millie's birthday.

And this year she had a big party with lots of frinds that i was asked to. Now it was a Princess themed party, so there were lots of pretty dresses, mostly pink. Those of you who know me really well will realise pink and frilly dresses are not my thing.

However Grandma made me this really pretty party dress. Dad wanted me to go in stripy socks and take Jess so i could be Alice (except Jessie never grins) but mum would not let him.

Anyway there was a magician and face painting and we played party games.

All the little girls got their faces painted and mum did not want me to miss out so i got my face painted like a cat.

Finally it was time to sing happy birthday to Millie and to have some cake.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

99 Luftballons

Auf ihrem Weg zum HorizontHielt
man fuer UFOs aus dem All Darum schickte ein GeneralEine Fliegerstaffel hinterher Alarm zu geben,
wenn es so warDabei war da am Horizont Nur 99 Luftballons

99 Duesenjaeger Jeder war ein grosser Krieger Hielten sich fuer Captain Kirk
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

'Ey up me duck'

That is what they actually do say in Derbyshire!!!

Anyway this is me and mum in Bakewell. We all went for a lovely day out.

I am now getting really good at standing and walking with a little help from people.

Now these ducks are all really fat, which is probably why they are not in the pictures.

They eat so much, even more than me and dad, that they just cant be bothered to come.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Frodo will be sooooooooo jealous!

Mind you he is off having a great time with mum and dad walking in the countryside.


So whilst they were out i went to stop with Auntie Sue and Rosie, and their dog Bee.
And as you can see she is just as stupid as my dog.

Now i have some important information about all this so i will fill you all in later.
xxxxxxxxx

Och aye the noo!

This year Dad cooked a very special Burns Night Supper. He invited Uncle Sneag and Auntie Lynn, and Uncle Graham and Auntie Ellen.

Now Scottsih wear was essential so here are me and dad in our kilts. Nice legs dad!!

And this is me and mum. Mum kind of got into the swing of it and this is me wearing Uncle Graham's stupid hat. Unfortunately, despite me eating everything that is put before me, I missed out on the haggis!!

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Hard at Work

Hi everyone.

I'm really sorry that i have not been in touch for a while. Things here have been so hectic and i have hardly had a spare minute.

Anyway i am back and i have lots to show you about what i have been doing since Christmas.

Now i'm sure you all know how much i am enjoying going to nursery every Friday. I have a great time and i have learnt so many new things.

And to get Dad in the swing of things, here i am at home sat at my new desk. I have my protective smock on just in case I go to wild but this is really cool.

Fortunately I take after my dad's artistic side rather than mums.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx