216. Swing Low (The zip wire at Coombe Mill is one of the big draws for children, and I can't begin to tell you how many times he's been on it this week. Sunday was an incredibly rainy day, and I'm so glad that we brought his red all-in-one waterproof, it was very much needed on the feed run and for outdoor play. This was also the last photo taken on my much-loved Canon EOS 300D before it died; one of the mirrors inside broke and every photo was black from a third of the way down. Having just been presented with a brand new 55-250mm lens by Mr. TBaM as an early birthday present, and so I could photograph the wonderful location we were staying in, I was left with little choice but to order a new one and await Tuesday morning's delivery eagerly.)
217. Sodden (I rarely include photos of Mr. TBaM but I want to illustrate exactly how wet it was: we had to peel our clothes off after the feed run and wring them out; The Boy even cried because he was so wet and fed up. Luckily, by mid afternoon the skies brightened and we were able to indulge in a stroll around the farm.)
218. Hero ("Ah, there you are Guy!" was one of the most heard phrases of the week. The Boy adores Guy, one of the Coombe Mill triplets, and was keen to chatter to him about anything he could. We found him in the goat enclosure and he spent a great twenty minutes with us, accompanying us up to see the deer before continuing his game of 'Manhunt' with his friends while The Boy looked on wistfully! Oh and my new camera came: this was taken with it and my new lens.)
219. Farmer The Boy (Need I say anymore? He adores driving the tractor with Farmer Nick!)
220. Wrong Way (We ventured off site today to visit Lappa Valley Steam Railway. I will confess that I wasn't overly impressed with it for the price, but The Boy's eyes lit up when he saw the crazy golf course. Looking at the sky, it's hard to believe the monsoon that plagued us on Monday!)
221. Country Kids Go Rafting (Earlier in the week, we had made stick rafts and Fiona was very taken with the idea of having a competition at the end of the week for organic rafts. It was great seeing people gathering their sticks together on the Thursday and walking along the main path, there was a vast array of designs waiting on the patio tables outside the lodges. It warmed my heart to think that a simple activity I'd done on Tuesday with The Boy, sparked such comradery and good-natured competition. Even Fiona's children made rafts, and families waded down the river watching their rafts from the wooden bridge to the stone bridge.)
222. Birthday (36 today! Driving 5 hours back from Coombe Mill was not the best way to spend my birthday; a) because I had to leave Coombe Mill, and b) because my numpty of a husband forgot to look up directions until after we'd driven past the right road, and then sent me off on country A or B roads, which were little more than lanes, for 40 miles. 40 miles which took 90 minutes. I was pretty cross! Nonetheless, we finally made it to my parents' house for my family birthday tea! )
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Tori and The Boy have the same rain suit 😀
The Boy looks so happy on the tractor – love that shot!
Beautiful pictures, looks like you had an amazing week at Coombe Mill, a place I think I (and the family) would really enjoy.
Happy Birthday!!
Wow wow wow it looks so lovely! What a brilliant set of photos, you obviously had an amazing time
I hope we get to go to Coombe Mill soon. I'd love to go in spring!
Looks like you had a wonderful week 🙂
Looks like a brilliant trip. I'd love to go there one day. RIp your camera, it looks like it went out on a high 🙂
It looks like you have had an amazing time ….. massive happy birthday!!
Glad you are having such an amazing time. We need to find a time to go and stay properly as loved it x
what a shame about your camera, thank goodness for special deliveries. He does not seem to bothered with the rain on Sunday. We won Fionas comp for the wet suit so Bob will have one shortly.
What a great week you have all had, a holiday is a great family bonding time.
Lovely to see every day of your week relived here on 365. What a wonderful week it was.
Looks like you've had a fab time 🙂 I'm loving the new lens, gorgeous depth of field – I'm green…
love the boy on the tractor!
Hard to pick a favourite out of such a delightful bunch. What a great week. What is it with men and directions, I ask you?
I want to go to Coombe Mill even more now! Hope you had a lovely birthday depsite the detour xx
Coombe mill looks like so much fun! I want a go on the zip wire!
Happy Belated Birthday!
happy birthday for yesterday and apologies that your card is in my car *ahem*
well done on still getting out in the rain and the photo of the Boy on the tractor is lovely – his smile just says it all about how much he is loving that. x
Fabulous pictures – looks like you have had a great week!
Looks like the best of weeks until that journey home. Hope you enjoyed the bit of your birthday that wasn't spent driving.
What lovely lovely photos. I know that you had an amazing time and its so lovely to see evidence of that!
xxx
Has it birthday sweetie and shame about the drive. Love the Coombemill pics xx
What a wonderful selection of photos!!
Looks like another amazing week at Coombe mill and Happy Birthday, hope it was a good day xxx
It looks like you've had an amazing time.
My favourite of the week is The Boy driving the tractor, he looks a natural
I love the photo on the tractor 🙂
Hope you had a nice birthday (well apart from the travelling
Looks like you had a lovely time at Coombe Mill. Sorry you had to spend your birthday driving but I hope you had a lovely birthday dinner!
Oh my…..what gorgeous photos and his face driving that tractor…….so proud of himself!!
Love the photo on the zip wire and The Boys face while driving the tractor! Looks like you had a wonderful week at Coombe Mill 🙂
Beautiful photos, what a wonderful week. Sorry about your camera but huzzah for a new lens and a new body to play with. My favourite shot is Farmer The Boy, the joy on his face is gorgeous.
Love all the kids (and grown-ups) with their rafts – what a fab idea.
You had a good time at Coombe Mill despite the weather.
I like the one of the Boy on the tractor.
Glad you eventually got home to enjoy your birthday!
I want to go to Coombe Mill. Your photos make it look amazing!
It looks like you had a fantastic time at Coombe Mill, he looks so happy driving the tractor and I love the first photo – great action shot!