Well, what a fantastic weekend that was.

For a start, I love spending time in Yorkshire, particularly in the small villages that look like they haven't changed in years. While I think it would probably drive me mad over time living in one of those places, I love visiting friends who stay in them. The weather was typically Yorkshire, slightly overcast, sunny, windy, mild drizzle - almost like good Scottish weather really :-) Our friends live about 10 miles north of York, and it's a tiny little place that still manages to sustain two pubs - what more can you ask for! But I adore the pace of life they have and it's always with regret we part.

They've recently had a new baby, so the weekend was different from the usual ones we have with them as there was a new interloper. But she's a real bundle of joy, a giggly little thing who you just cannot not play with and enjoy being around. We headed to York for a bit in the afternoon on Saturday and let the girls go off shopping while the boys took the wee one to the pub (where else...) so we could keep an eye on football (I'll come back to football another day - it's a sore subject at the moment). However we were surrounded by tables of women, armed with Chardonnay, who thought the little one was adorable - she loves an audience and was loving the attention. All great fun anyway, with the day finishing with a superb pub meal in a neighboring village - I've never eaten so much in my life. They don't scrimp on portion size in Yorkshire that's for sure!

Went to Castle Howard yesterday, which is an amazing place. Stupidly, I'd forgotten to pack the camera, and the scenery there is stunning. The workmanship is incredible, you cannot help but admire the buildings, but what is perhaps more amazing is the shear scale of the place. The grounds are massive! Definitely worth a trip back sometime, but with camera this time...