Today Darren brought me down to the seafront and we parked up for a couple of hours so he came into the apartment for a bit and then we went for breakfast at the Watermark cafe and then onto the beach for a look at the rock pools as the tide was out.

After Darren had gone back home Isobel did of course head to the water and got wet, and so before long she was quite cold as there was a keen wind today.

A Lot of fun on the beach though.

After we had warmed up and Isobel had changed her clothes we had ice cream at Peaches and Cream and then came back through the park on the way to Woodall Avenue. I did not go up these steps, just watched the younger, fitter ones!

We called in and had a drink with Darren while Isobel spent some more time with Blue.

We walked back down and Darren joined us for a take away, film and when Isobel was in bed a game, so a very nice evening. The sky over the castle looks good in the evening, hopefully it will be a good sunrise tomorrow.

I made the sandwiches for Not Home Alone this morning then got ready and took a slow walk down to the sea front. Walking down I saw this tree with fungi.

It was actually quite warm this morning and the front was busy with people making the most of the good half term weather.

It was misty looking towards the cliffs and castle.

When I got home I sat and coloured a couple of cards while I waited for Anya and Isobel to arrive, It was a bit before three o clock when they got here and came in for tea and cake. Then I went with them to check in at the lovely apartment in The Sands, the building down on the sea front. Isobel really loved the bacony, well we all did really.

We enjoyed a cuppa, but Anya wasn't too keen on being projected out in the air and it was a bit chilly.

We had a game with one of Isobel's new birthday presents and then we went down onto the beach for a while.

A sit on the wall before we went to have a meal in Blue Crush.

They dropped me home and have now gone back to the apartment. Probably be a longer stay on the beach tomorrow.

Got a lift into town with Tina to get the phone checked out. Of course, this morning it wasn't dropping off 100% charge! Lovely guy said I had new apps and was very patient with me! Thought the Doro was a really good phone though. Had a little wander and caught the bus home, so wasn't late back. Charlie's preferred drink is from a dripping tap, but give him tap water in a bowl and he goes nowhere near it! Considering he weights almost seven kilos he is remarkably nimble!

When I visited the elderly ladies a few weeks ago I joined them in a 'knit and natter' group and knitted a square, just 30 stitches then garter stitch until it is square. The instructor said that then you do a running stitch across the centre the like a child's house picture roof above one side. Then pull it up and you have the makings of a little bunny. Just had to try it last night, it still needs eyes, poor thing, and I used big needles as it was only a trial, but it does work!

The houses along York place, by the bus stop, are so elegant, lovely bay windows.

I have had a pack of 'colour your own' greetings cards for a while, coloured one in today using just the six pens supplied with it, so not a great variety of colours. Then I wrote that one and a couple of other letters as well.

I went down the road to post the letters and noticed this car, they had a row of knitted flowers along the dashboard, very unusual.

I made a few little fairy cakes this afternoon as Anya and Isobel will be around tomorrow and Anya was not impressed when I hadn't made cake last time she came!

As I was having a crafty moment printed off a picture of hippos so that I could start another one of the plaques. Drew it out on the wrong side first, not the best of starts. Have only really outlined it so far but think they will be recognisable.

Not planning to do much this evening, feet up and watch tv or an episode of House.

I didn't rush to get up this morning and when I did surface spent a couple of hours finishing off the crochet lap blanket. I have used it today and it is nice and warm.

I was quite pleased with the edging which I just made up to finish it off.

You may remember a few weeks back I had a disaster whilst repotting the begonias. Haven't moved the dead one as you never know. That is in the front and the other one the other end of the shelf.

Looking closely today I noticed that the 'dead' one has a new shoot!

After we had dinner Tina took me out for a little ride round as I was in a bit of pain today and didn't fancy a walk. We went in country to a forest area and admired the autumn colours, the we stopped in Hackness to have a look at the church. The road there had an open water channel, like a gully, but I am sure it has a proper name.

Attractive little church that is kept open during the day which was a bonus.

There was this fairly modern stained glass window.

And some more traditional ones.

The font cover was fantastic, old and beautiful workmanship, the font itself was lovely to with relief carvings on it.

It is chilly today, haven't done much since we got back, watched something on catch up and used my newly finished lap blanket! Strictly results tonight, who will it be?

A bright day today, even if pretty cold, so I thought I would try and have a short walk to the glen and see if the autumn colours were more in evidence here is Scarborough. The tree by the entrance of the park is still looking lovely.

I didn't walk through park on the way, I walked up the hill and took the path down straight into the glen. These silvery leaves were glistening in the sunshine, the photo doesn't do them justice.

The lake in the glen is always attractive, whatever the season.

I walked a good way up, not to the bridge, but getting towards it. With the leaves fallen this made for a picture in yellow.

I love the sunlight through the trees.

Heading back down and still snapping away!

Loved this little colourful tree.

I had a cup of tea at the cafe and spotted this interloper on the lake, not sure what it is!!

This afternoon I have done quite a bit of the crochet and watched some House. Then went downstairs and made a lamb lasagne and a veggie lasagne. There will be enough left over from both to put a few more meals in the freezer. Almost time for Strictly, the standard is fantastic, so looking forward to it.

Tina was going out this morning so Darren and I had a lift into the Brunswick Centre. I had some money off vouchers for Debenhams so got some moisturiser and then went to look at the bags that were on sale. I usually take a rucksack when I go to see the family in America, I never take usual cabin luggage, just a light bag I can push under the seat in front of me. I was looking at large hand bags as getting the rucksack on and off  a bit of a pain. I saw a bag that looked a very similar colour to my case, marked at £49 original price but reduced to £34.50. When I got to the till it came up as £24.50 and I had a £10 off voucher so a real bargain!

As I walked around town and then had a sit on a bench for a bit I couldn't decide if there was someone sleeping under this bedding or not!

I caught the bus home and apart from putting a few bits away, watching an episode of house and ordering a batch of photos for the scrapbook, I have had a restful afternoon. Did go with Tina a while ago to get some food shopping for the weekend. Then we had fish and chips for tea, so an easy evening too.
Yesterday there was a Works and I managed to get another one of the test tube jigsaws and also one with the same sized pieces but in a box and it has 234 pieces, I know, glutton for punishment.

In Paperchase yesterday I bought the lovely scrapbook, I just love anything to do with Beatrix Potter.

The inside pages are all like the ones open, and the girl in the shop pointed out the Beatrix Potter stickers to me as well.

Back to the crochet and Have I Got News For You later.

All packed up and we set off at 9.30 am, after breakfast, to the Metro Centre, which the driver said was the largest in Europe. We were there before a lot of the stores opened so quiet, but not for that long. The place is divided into different coloured areas and after a while I did manage to get a map so that I could find my way around. This area was called The Village.

This appropriate statue was near one of the entrances.

I have seen poppy arrangements in many different places, they really are in vogue.

I took the next photo in a bit of a rush as we were leaving and I was trying to manage bags and the stick. The lifts were called 'travel boxes' and looked very novel.

A couple of vaguely autumnal shots in the car park.

And one of the changing weather and a strange shaped hill from the coach on the way home.

Was home before 5 pm and it has been a good first experience of National Holidays. Lovely hotel, good food, a pleasant group of people and some interesting places visited. Will be looking to go on them again.