For one night only, welcome to the life of a VIP

A month or so ago I had an email from Virgin Holidays which told me about a 'Mojovator' they had whereby you tweeted them the thing that gave you mojo and prizes could be won.  I did a tweet.  Just the one. I forgot all about it.

A few weeks ago I noticed Virgin Holidays were following me on Twitter.  Well, I am a very interesting person of course.  I then noticed I had a direct message from them.  I opened it.  It said I had won a prize on their Mojovator of a VIP box at the O2 Comedy Gala for me and.....19 of my friends!  Wow.  I was absolutely gobsmacked.  To be fair, I have only ever won one other competition and for that I got a rubber chicken - don't ask!

I could not believe it.  I replied as required by the message and within a day heard back from their Advertising folk confirming my prize.  Details would be sent to me.  I began to phone family and friends inviting peeps to come with me.

Still having no idea what I had really won, I heard last week that as well as the VIP box (which alone would have been totally amazing), we also had food and drink available.  Fantastic.

The big night arrived.  We made our way up to the O2 with one set of friends and met up with everyone else there.  I was determined to grab a London geocache (well, why miss the opportunity?) so lead my hubby and two friends on a wild cache-chase around the O2 only to discover we couldn't get anywhere near it from within the complex grounds and clearly needed to be on the other side of the fencing. I did contemplate climbing over the barriers but being arrested before a night out isn't a great start I'm sure you'll agree.

It was a bit touch and go for a few friends as due to a football match at Wembley, their train company decided to cancel all trains as they were waiting on the station.  A very middle class protest started with people using strong words and threatening well written complaint letters. Our friends then headed home, jumped into their car and drove down, still managing to arrive at 6.45pm which was pretty impressive.

Our hosts for the night - Sophie and Ed - found us and gave us our VIP tickets so while they went and ensured the box was all ready for us, we made our way to the VIP bar and waiting area and got ourselves a drink.  We could get used to this. After a good chat and a half hour enjoying the facilities, we went up to the box.

We really didn't expect what was waiting for us. A fabulous suite with a lady taking our coats and serving us drinks.  The most incredible nibbles on the table in front of comfy sofas and, at 7pm, the most delicious selections of hot food as well.  We were totally spoiled.

The show was about to start so we took our seats looking straight at the stage.  Brilliant.

The whole show kicked off with the dance group Diversity doing their thing.  Alan Carr joined them and then complained that their name implied the dancers should indeed be more diverse.  In came Warwick Davis who did his piece with them. Not diverse enough yet.  In came Miranda Hart to sort out the problem.  This really was a diverse dance troupe now.  Brilliant fun.

Michael McIntyre brought the first half to a close and did a fantastic set, very much appreciated by the audience.  His 'Scottish accented, naked, burglar encounter' had me almost in tears.  Lee Evans was the highlight of the second half and again had the entire arena laughing with him.

Comedian after comedian came to the stage.  All bar a couple were extremely good and had the whole arena in stitches.  Keith Lemon's skit (pre-recorded) was absolutely dire and met with silence.  No surprise there then.  The list of stars was huge - Nina Conti, Jonathan Ross, Russel Brand (can't stand him), Jo Brand (surprisingly awful), Jack Dee, Jason Byrne, Rhod Gilbert, Paul Chowdhry (cringe-worthy material), Kevin Bridges and Jon Richardson to name but a few.

The show finished around 11pm and we headed off saying our goodbyes.

Six of us were going in the same direction so we debated whether to get on the tube with what seemed like 100,000 other people or to just jump in a taxi. As we shuffled our way towards the tube station/taxi rank, we noticed the taxi queue, whilst not too long, seemed to have a total lack of taxis arriving and departing.  The tube it was then.  We shuffled our way around the top of the station and onto the escalators and onto the platform which was...almost empty!  Where the heck had everyone gone?  One minute we are surrounded by people, the next we're on a tube - with space around us - heading for Waterloo.  I am assuming everyone was going the other way or this tube arrived totally empty and just filled up with us all.  Off at Waterloo and we'd just missed the first fast train back to our station but got on the next one that was waiting, grabbed a set of 6 seats together and chatted until the train pulled away 10 minutes later. We were home by 12.30am.

An incredible evening and fantastic experience for us all. Unfortunately, we have all now been spoiled and to go to the O2 again and sit in 'the cheap seats' would be a come-down.  I wonder how much we could buy a box for....

Thank you so much Virgin Holidays for giving us this wonderful experience, to Virgin Atlantic for the use of their fabulous box and to Sophie and Ed for being such great hosts.

Do trout play football?

We wanted to head out somewhere different today and have a nice walk so I did a search on the Geocaching maps and found a place called Albury (near Shere) which had a little ring that would be ideal for us to stretch our legs before the weather folded again in the afternoon (as the forecasters had predicted).  We parked up at the cricket pitch car park which had just a couple of cars in it and by the pavilion there seemed to be a few gazebos going up. A team of young footballers were at play so perhaps it was match day.

We were going to do the Trout Trail ring today.  As you go round you need to pick up clues at each cache for a final puzzle one (#8) so we headed off to our first cache on the narrow road by the side of the cricket ground.  Trout Trail #1 was a quick spot for us. Log signed, puzzle info written down and we carried on down the road.

Trout Trail #2 was up quite a slope so we decided to send in hubby for the retrieve.  He did a good job without slipping down the bank and it was soon in hand. I decided to drop off Fynn-Oles Geocoin here as I'd had it for a little while.  Second one of puzzle retrieved.

Trout Trail #3 was by the railway bridge.  The GPS was pointing to one side of the road but nettles were high there.  Hubby decided to look the opposite side and made the find.  Sadly the log was very damp but we managed to sign it. However, no puzzle info.  Oh no.  Gutted. Does this mean #8 will elude us unless we can guess a number?  Hubby and teen thought that perhaps this was someone elses old cache so went for a hunt around the side the GPS was pointing to but alas, nothing else.  Some horses came past us down the hill, meeting some cyclists going up. As the cyclists went past, one shouted out "Hello geocachers" and we laughed saying "Are we that obvious" and he called back "I know where it is".  Note to self - work on stealth!

Fishy, fishy, fishy

Around we went to Trout Trail #4 and this is where we actually spotted the trout farm.  The girls were fascinated by the fish popping out of the water.  I went for the find here and was glad of my wellies as the nettles were high and a branch had fallen down which I had to scramble over.  Job done and cache in hand.  J had taken a different approach then realised she couldn't get through and was shouting help to me as a couple went past with their dog. They looked at me in a puzzled fashion, clearly decided I was mad and carried on their way.

We weren't quite sure whether to follow the bridleway here or carry on around the road.  Hubby suggested the bridleway so we went through the kissing gate and then the GPS map showed the road was correct so back we went through again.  A snack was in order at this point.

Snack-attack

A nice walk up towards a railway crossing was just around the corner.

We're coming

It's not often that you see unmanned pedestrian crossings anymore so it was a good talking point for the girls as we also explained to them how careful you must be around trains and railways.  I know they are too young to understand at the moment but it's never too early to start imparting some essential information.

Stop, look, listen

On up the hill after watching a train pass a few minutes after we'd reached the other side to Trout Trail #5 which was quite an obvious location.  Making the retrieve wasn't so easy.  S decided she was going in to get the cache and off she went (we'd checked all was fine first). She was very proud of herself getting it and putting it back while J was jumping around saying "there might be a spider in there".

Inside

Passing some more dog walkers, riders and ramblers, we made our way across the lovely green field (barley or wheat planted?) to Trout Trail #6 but prior to going over the stile, the girls had a little sit on the logs while hubby and I took some photos of the beautiful bluebell field.

Off we went to find this next one and as it was an easy spot, we let N go in and do the retrieve on her own which she was delighted about.  There is a bit of a constant argument between the two youngest of "it's my turn", "no, it's my turn" when finding caches is required but they both get their chances.

N, there's a monster on your back!

Final one next, Trout Trail #7 and the hiding place was quite obvious from the clue.  Quick spot by J.

Spot the cache

The log was full and soaking wet. Fortunately I had a small log with me and did a replace, remembering to put the clue back onto it too!  

Carry me

Logging that one I thought it was a shame we had missed the one clue out but noticed that to find Trout Trail #8 you needed to read what to do on that cache page.  I had a look and to my delight, the cache owner had realised one of the clues was missing and had added it to the page. All numbers in hand, I worked out the coordinates and away we went.

Fun in the leaves

As we approached GZ, we started to wonder how hard this was going to be to find.  Do you see the problem?

Cache in a log pile

The GPS was adamant it was in one particular area so we began to search.  A few clue objects were around so we rummaged around them.  Oh dear, nothing appearing.  The previous log as a DNF so perhaps it wasn't here or was very well hidden.  J had an idea. Ignoring the GPS she went to the opposite side and had the cache in hand immediately.  Well done!  Fabulous walk around.  Now for another snack.

"Come and have tea in my log pile house"

Back to the car after telling the girls all about the rings on tree trunks which they then tried to count.

How old am I?

Of course we would have to get Cricket Pitch Micro before we got into the car so we headed back toward the car park.  J decided to take her own route (I'm saying nothing).

How to make walking difficult....

Arriving back at the car, the area was full to overflowing. It seems we have picked the day of a big football tournament and fete.  What luck that we arrived so early this morning!  We wandered over and collected the final cache, huddling around the edge of the pitch trying not to look conspicuous.  Ice creams all round and then back to the car to pick up just one more cache before we left the area.

Heading up to Albury Park, we were off to see the Albury Saxon Church and grab the micro that was here too.  The cache location was quite obvious although we did go to the wrong one first!  What a magnificent tree.

It was completely hollow.  Amazing it is still standing.  S loves churches so we went into the Saxon Church to have a look around.

Albury Saxon Church

From here it was time to head home having had a lovely walk around and explored yet another new area.  I wonder where our next adventure will be?

Caching between the downpours

I found the kiss

We fancied picking up a couple of caches today but the weather has been quite iffy.  One minute sunshine, the next rain.

Teen didn't want to be parted from Facebook so the rest of us jumped into the car and off to a couple of local caches that we needed.  We parked up and headed off.  Expecting mud (after the weird weather we've had the last couple of days) we were sensibly in our wellies but they were almost not needed.

We were around the back of the Priory Hospital - a famous chain known for treating celebs.

Our first cache was The Dead Half and the GPS was jumping around a bit under the coverage.  As we know these COs style, we knew what to look for (nice clues in the titles) and soon spotted a likely suspect.  Hubby climbed the ridge to check and made the spot but S went in for the find and retrieve, logging herself another cache in the process. She has 138 now. Not bad for a 4 year old.

What you don't know is that hubby and I are often no more than referees when we go out now.  The two little ones argue like crazy about who is allowed to find the cache when they are both in the mood to hunt for them.  Quite a lot of the time they just enjoy the walk but sometimes a small fight can erupt about who finds and who puts back and it gets quite heated.  Who'd have thought they would argue over Tupperware?

Back we headed to pick up Waiting for a Kiss at the Gate halfway across a field by a little stream/run-off.  Being a bit too keen I marched past GZ and went to look where I suspected the find may be. I was wrong. We all looked the wrong side for a while then hubby and N went back through and quickly hubby spotted it. He stood back and carefully directed N who was delighted to make the find as you can see from the picture.  Another one logged for her which makes 11 finds.

Between two caches

The couple we wanted done, we headed back to the car and just got in as the heavens opened again.  I'm now sitting her looking out of the window at glorious sunshine.

Mr Tongue helps a Lisp

Here's Mr Tongue (and static hair!)

S has a lisp.  We began to notice it around a year ago and it became more audible after she hit her mouth (here).  However, as her vocabulary is improving, so her lisp is more prominent.

I raised it with the nursery school at the end of last year but they said it often corrects itself and they wouldn't do anything about it at that point but would monitor it.  When she returned to school in January, they immediately informed me that they had spoken to their SENCO to arrange for some exercises for her to do to help correct it.

She now is enjoying Mr Tongue exercises which she has huge fun with.  This is a gentle way her nursery teachers help her with her lisp without pointing it out to much to her.  She is fully aware though that she struggles with some words and we all giggle about it at times.  She's not hung up about it at all.

The Mr Tongue exercises are nice in that they introduce her to her tongue (sticking it out and in), his house (her mouth) and his windows (her teeth) and where he should be when she's saying certain sounds.  She gets to have one-to-one time quietly with one of the nursery teachers and colour in the picture for each weeks exercises.  She said to me that she is the only girl who has a Mr Tongue book and she is very proud of this fact.

It is always a tricky thing when you notice your child has a lisp. You don't want to point it out to them too much but, at the same time, you do want to help them correct their pronunciation.  After all, we don't want her to turn into Ceaser from Life of Brian do we.

The type of things S struggles with are:

TR - this becomes P ('trick' sounds like 'prick')
TH - this becomes F ('think' sounds like 'fink')
S - this, ironically, can become TH ('sister' sounds like 'thister')

It seems that she pushes her tongue in front of her teeth a lot of the time when she speaks, creating this mispronunciation.  A strange but true trick for the S is to get her to do the biggest smile and while smiling, say the S word.  That way she does indeed say 'sister'.  So, it's all about learning how to control that tongue and keeping it where it should be.

I have read some utterly ridiculous statements that having a dummy or sucking their thumb can cause a lisp.  Rubbish is my conclusion. My eldest daughter sucked her thumb up until she was about 8 years old and she doesn't lisp.

Obviously some lisps are caused by malformations in the mouth or 'tongue tie' but this isn't the case for us.  Whatever type of lisp it is, it's a functional speech disorder that (a) many children will naturally grow out of or (b) will need a little assistance along the way with some level of speech therapy.  Apparently, it's never too late to correct a lisp too so that's encouraging.  If Sir Winston Churchill can have a lisp and make all the speeches he did, there's not too much to worry about now is there.

I will keep you posted as to how S gets along.  I have already spoken to her new school to inform them of her lisp so they will continue working with her when she starts in September.

Is it in the tree? Behind the sign? Or somewhere else?

Coo-eee, I'm up here

On Monday we finished off the Pirbright ring that we started Sunday.

It was quicker going around this circuit this time than it was 1 1/2 years ago with the girls (see here).

We parked up and started at #24, working our way backwards for this leg of the circuit.  A quick spot with the aid of the clue but I did wonder if we were heading into someone's driveway at one point.

The sun was out so this was going to be another nice stroll around.

Off to find #23 in the woods.  The GPS waved us off the path to our left and away we went to explore.  Having a quick look around, hubby and I spotted the container quite quickly.  What a super one too.  Can you just imagine the squeals of delight when the girls saw this swinging in the breeze?

They both tried to retrieve it with daddy's lifting help but it was on a little 'seatbelt' type tensioner and they were trying to tug it down.  Hubby gentle lowered it and the log was signed.  A definite favourite from me, if for nothing else than the girls delight at finding it!

Left right, quick march

Another short stroll through the woods to #22.  It was great to just be walking along and listening to nothing but bird song.  A small bridge appeared and it was clear we were off over it to the next prize.  As hubby lifted S over, he spotted the cache immediately.   I hope it lasts as it's a fun place to put it but despite the camo on the container, it was easy to see.  Girls were disappointed it did not detach from the post.

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to cache we go

As we crossed the field a very scary beast ran over to us from a nearby house.  Grey fur flying in the breeze, it bounded through a gap in the fence, did the most endearing 'meow' and rubbed around my legs.  Hello kitty!  Unfortunately for this poor cat, she was clearly an object for abstract terror for N who hates almost everything that walks, flies or swims at the moment.  Daddy had to pick her up when she realised our furry friend was coming for a bit of a stroll with us. I think N's squeals and protests were too much to bear though so she gave up and wandered off at the other side of the stile.

Fear me

Away from the terror that had stalked us, we headed up the pathway and across a cattle grid to continue on the footpath to our next find.  The field next to us had horses and Shetland ponies in it which N calls "little horses" (quite right too).  #21 was up on us and it was spotted quickly by me.  Unfortunately, the minor altercation between the girls as to whose turn it was to get the next cache was put to bed due to the fact that neither of their arms could reach it so hubby made the grab.  Unfortunately today I'd forgotten all of my swappables but there wasn't much to take anyway, unlike yesterday.  The girls were happy to see what was inside and then put the items back.

Shush...I'm hiding

Along the footpath we headed and past another lovely house and around the corner.  Boy, I want to live around this area.  We would never know these places existed if it wasn't for our hobby.

#20 was marginally elusive as there were lots of options and the GPS decided to have a bounce around but having walked up and down a few metres, we spotted it.

#19 was next on the hit list.  A dog barking behind a large fence made the girls (and us) jump but we carried on our way.  Hubby made the spot as we approached, despite the stickoflague.  Another one bagged.  I now remembered where we were. This was the area we'd walked around before and made a wrong turn and ended up the other end of Pirbright to our car.

Hide me again then

The area around here was quite marshy and so very heavy with settled water so I'm glad we all had our wellies/boots on again today.  Bit of slipping and sliding down the path and me then taking us the wrong way for a few metres before realising the 'path' we were following suddenly stopped. Hubby had said we needed to cross the bridge a bit further up but I was sure we could go another way round. I'm not going to live this down am I - especially as I had the map!

Has N swallowed a bee?

The girls enjoyed clambering over the bridge and we explained to S and N that it had the piece in the middle to stop horses going over.  S suggested they could just go through the water which is a point I suppose.

Back to terrafirma and off to #18.  We spotted what was an obvious choice but nothing was there. The GPS then swung around to say it was behind us and the suspect was spotted. I do wonder sometimes if people realise what is lurking behind their house names or road signs?

What's lurking behind your house name?

I'm developing green-eyed-house-envy around here.  Goodness me there are some fantastic houses. What do all these people do? They can't all be merchant bankers (in the real sense of the word) can they?  Come on Lottery, do your thing!

Tummies were beginning to rumble now so we said we'd stop the other side of the alleyway.  In the meantime we had #17 to find.  It was a quick spot and my nimble fingers retrieved it. I'm glad all the logs are coming out of the containers easily as I'd forgotten my tweezers (again!).

Off to #16 which was where we would rest our legs for a moment and have a nice ham roll (today's menu plus the usual fruit of course).  The end of the alleyway was a mud bath and very slippery but fortunately on the opposite side of the quiet road was a big puddle and we took the opportunity to splash through (yes, all of us) and clean our boots, much to the amusement of the man eating lunch in his van parked up. Yep, right opposite the cache.

We stopped to grab our food and I made the retrieve from behind the girls, pretending to rummage around in the rucksack that was on the ground.

Lunch and a cache - super

Food eaten and we headed off to our next area along the footpath by a rather busy road. We don't enjoy any kind of 'road caching' as a family but knew there wasn't much for us to stroll along here.  #15 was fairly obvious but my GPS was saying the side we were on. Unless I was around 7' tall that just wasn't going to happen and sitting on hubby's shoulders at a roadside would have looked, well, odd!  Leaving the girls with him working their way through apple slices, I dashed across the road and spotted the cache immediately.  Quick sign (pardon the pun) and we were on our way.

Fascinated by a bee

#14 was back on green land and we remembered this from last time and made the spot quickly. The girls both wanted to try and make the retrieve but they couldn't grasp it. While hubby was hunting for a geostick to help, I plucked it from its hiding place and signed.

Snug as a cache

Up another footpath between some houses (and made to jump by another dog in the garden) and we were at our final cache of the day, #13.  Hubby had walked straight past it but I spotted where it was. I was worried about dropping it and almost did!  Fortunately I held on and got it signed safely and back in place.

You've come too far.  It's back that way

The girls and hubby had walked a little further around the corner and been greeted by this fellow who wandered what we were doing wandering around by his field.

Back we went and, naturally, no day caching around Pirbright is complete without a visit to the playground before heading home.

It's a bit Muddy (Duck)

Pretty lane

We noticed that a new ring has appeared in Pirbright.  Actually, that's not quite true. It's almost the same ring as the previous one which seems to have been archived, but a new owner has placed some of the caches in different areas so it's another lovely walk around the area to pick up 25 'High and Low' caches again.

Sunday arrived.  The sun was out, my bronchitis was much better now (as in I'm finally human sounding again as I was a bit more Dalek before) and we fancied some fresh air.  We parked up by the playground so we had some good bribery material to use to get the girls back to the car if their legs grew tired.  Fortunately, said ploy was not needed as they had a fab walk around.

#1 was in the same location as the original ring so was a quick pick up for us.  I'm pleased that I insisted that the girls wore wellies and I had my old boots on as there was a bit of mud as we headed off down the path.  We encountered a couple of ladies who informed us the mud got a little worse up ahead but we decided to go for it.  They were holding a GPS.  I wonder what they were doing?

Bridge to a big private house

We loved this little bridge that lead to the back of a huge garden area (more like a field) of a private house.  Come on Lottery win!  We carried on down the path. The stream that was running on one side was all copper coloured and I have to say not too pleasant to inhale near.  The mud wasn't too bad but I wouldn't want to fall in it.  In places it was almost dry to walk as you can see.

What mud?

Our next cache (#2) was in a new part of the path and almost had us stumped. There were a couple of 'cachers tracks' going to two different trees.  Hubby went up the bank to check the first out but the compass wasn't settling down there and started jumping around.  I moved away a bit and it settled a bit further on.  Up I went to look, poking around the ivy (not my favourite thing in the world) when I noticed that there was a football match on a field away and I was being watched.  I hopped off the bank and hubby went up to try and look more discrete (not sure how really) and as I stepped back, I noticed the cache.  A good hide and a lucky spot.  Signed and away we went.

#3 was a quick spot by me.  The youngest cachers wanted to make the retrieve but there was some twisty wire near the top and a very spikey bush behind the post so we said not this one. It's surprising what you wouldn't normally even consider when you're on your own as adults, but suddenly have to give great thought to when the little 'uns are around.  Signed and off we went.

We're watching ewe (get it?)

There was a little bit of walking along the pavement being watched by some sheep and lambs, before we veered off down another road - more of a track really. This area was where we'd stopped for our picnic last time and we decided to do the same again but first we'd get #4.  The location itself was nice and obvious but I completely overlooked the actual hiding place.  I can't believe it was that obvious and I didn't think about searching there first.  Hubby was shouting the location at me but I just said "no, it wouldn't be there".  He said to check and yep, he was right (I'll never live that down will I).  That got a favourite point from me but I won't spoil the fun here.  We spread our little picnic blanket out on the grass and had some sandwiches and fruit before carrying on our journey.

Snack time

There was a gorgeous farmhouse opposite where we were sitting.  They had a bench seat and super patch of green grass just behind their fence. Do you think they'd have noticed if we'd set our picnic up there instead?  I've decided if I win the Lottery, I'd like to buy the farmhouse (and all surrounding land of course).

Got to pick the right numbers!

The girls had started collecting some 'Angry Birds' toys that had been put into the caches so they were eager to see what was in #5.  We were so busy looking at the houses and chatting away that we walked straight past the area and had to back-track to pick up the cache.  A nice easy find for the little ones and another Angry Bird toy swapped out.  Glad they have one each now or there would be a fight soon.

#6 I remembered where it was originally and it was indeed in the same spot. I dashed across the road to do the retrieve, catching my rucksack handbag on a branch going in and out of the location.  Another Angry Bird swapped and now we had a bit of road to walk along.  Fortunately the footpath was only just around the corner and we were back off-road very quickly.

#7 was in the same place as last time too so I sent hubby in for the retrieve. Of course our memory wasn't *that* good.  The girls really liked the bridge.

Oops, wrong side

Now we had to cross over some fields.  Last time we were here the horses were very interested in us but this time they weren't bothered, which was good as S was worrying about them!  They grazed. We strolled through.  #8 was quite an obvious spot with the clue of 'lightning tree' as I'm sure you will agree.

Quick, before the ramblers spot us

N was lifted up by daddy to do the retrieve and S replaced (much to N's disgust).  As we were signing the log, we noticed four ramblers approaching. We had been so engrossed in chatting to the girls about what had happened to the tree and getting the cache that we never thought to look behind us!  They were moving at a fair pace and were out of sight very quickly.  I grabbed a lovely geocoin here but it hadn't been logged in the cache. I wondered if it had just been dropped off (we were seeing other names for today on each cache so were following some people around). When I got home it turned out that we had indeed grabbed it before it was logged as in there so I did a 'dip' for it for mileage.

Up the hill and through another stile, then between electric fences we walked to the next area.  The clue said 'Three in a row' and there were a couple of suspects for #9.  However, despite a false start in the correct location, moving some leaves with a geostick (yep, stick used for geocaching) turned up the cache.

I found it!

Despite the fact that S had made the find, it seemed that N was sure there was something else hidden here and was still busy searching while we signed the log and put a little swap in.

I'm sure there's another one here

Off through the woods we walked and down the hill to join a small road.  A riding muggle had unloaded his horse from the trailer and said hello as we passed.  Darn, he's near where #10 is.  Small people can be a great use for distraction though and we went to explore the lovely ivy covered tree.  Hubby made the spot and lifted N up to do the retrieve but it was then he realised it was attached and had to do it himeself (horse man had disappeared riding into the woods at this point).  There are another few houses here we'd like with the Lottery win.  We bumped into the ladies again. They were amazed to see the little ones still happily walking along with us and warned us of deep mud in the back half of the ring.  We were only doing half today so I'll make sure I have my wellies on too for that bit.  We had a bit of a chat and went on our opposite ways.

A bit more road walking now as there are a distinct lack of pavements around this bit.  Hubby stopped at a suspect for #11 and was scouting around it until I told him it was another 35m to go.  Duly found, S was lifted for the retrieve.  It was then that I realised I had nothing to get the log out.  Deft crafting of a miniature geostick did the job and the log was in hand.  S was lifted for the replace.  Food was now required as little legs were getting a bit achy.  Mini gingerbread men did the job (and for hubby and I too).

Around the corner we went, scrambling up the bank when cars were heard approaching. We don't enjoy road walking at the best of times but with little cachers it always feesls a bit more risky, although hands are very tightly held - they look after us, their parents, you know.

Our final one of the day was near the Mill House. I just adore the sound of rushing water (although I'd no doubt be up and down to the toilet all night if I lived there).  The road was quite bendy at this point so we didn't hang around.  As we reached a bit of safety at the entrance to the house, I realised we'd dashed past the final cache. Hubby sorted the girls out and I went back to disturb the resident to sign the log.

Oi! I was having a nap here

Little legs were very tired now so we said that was a jolly good walk and decided to head back to the car now. First a trip to the White Hart for a lemonade in the garden in the last of the sunshine (it was starting to cloud over a bit) and a bowl of the biggest chips I have seen - which were fantastic.  Then one final cache (well it would be rude not to) as we walked past it.  #25 was just around the corner from the pub. I spotted it quite quickly and made the retrieve. However, I was about to put it back without noticing that two muggles were approaching from the pub car park, another had pulled up on his bike and was talking to a third.  I'd never make a spy!  A bit of fumbling and trying to look non-suspicious and it was back in place.  That was my 420th cache.

The grass around the pond was very boggy and the ducks didn't seem to appreciate the cheese sandwich that N was throwing to them.  Fussy lot.

Giddy up

A detour to the playground for a well earned swing and ride on the see-saw (we let the girls have a go too *grin*) and back to the car.  First half done. If it's sunny tomorrow, we'll be back for a reverse walk to do the next half.

Bunnies and streams

Yesterday my best friend and I met up for lunch and a spot of geocaching in Amersham Old Town.  The reason we picked this area was that is was a nice mid-way point between us and we hadn't explored it before.

We managed to arrive almost at the same time which was great and decided to grab a cache or two before having out lunch, which was booked for 1pm in a pub called The Swann.

Walking along the lovely houses, we spotted a little pathway with a stone bridge crossing the stream, leading on to fields and the back of houses that each had their own little 'bridge' to their back gate. I wouldn't want to negotiate some of those after one or two glasses of wine.  Absolutely gorgeous though with the tiniest little strips of garden we had ever seen. Almost chocolate box picturesque.

A stream by your back garden

Our first cache was Top Down (Old New) 3 Riverside and despite the GPS pointing us to an area where we would have to either wade in the stream or invade someone's garden, we had a good rummage around.  I suddenly spotted the cache quite exposed in it's hiding place.  We signed the log and G left a beautiful geocoin to continue it's journey.  A short wait for a couple of dog walking muggles to pass and we were on our way.

Do we cross?

We walked back over the little bridge and down to the end of the High Street to collect the aptly named Leaving Old Amersham micro.  Nattering away we spotted the cache quickly but had to wait for a passing muggle (who seemed to smile knowingly) and some cars to move along before we made the retrieve.  It was a longer wait to put the cache back as the traffic flow was a priority system and a small queue had formed. I'm sure the drivers wandered what these two women were doing standing by a village sign staring at their phones.

At this point we walked back to the pub and took our table in the window to have lunch and a jolly good natter - putting the world to right as we do when we meet up.  Delicious lunch and dessert over, we headed off down a small road near the pub to our next area.

Cherry Pie proved to be a quick spot for G and I got this lovely photo of her with the cache.  We both decided that the lane was a lovely area to live.

'Cherry Pie'

We carried on up to the end and followed the footpath into a field. The sun was shining and it finally felt like Summer was on it's way.  Hard to believe last weekend it was pouring with rain and very cold indeed.

Friends about to spot rabbits

The field seemed to have an abundance of rabbits bobbing in and out of the hedgerow.  G also spotted a gorgeous pair or woodpeckers near the end by the trees.  Greater Spotted we think they were.  Having reached the corner of the field, we realised that we were in the wrong corner.  That's what nattering away will do to your caching game you see.  The trees were busting with buds and as we approached the right area, a man popped up out of nowhere with his dog and headed to where we wanted to be.  We hung back chatting and admiring the trees and fields and he disappeared, but within minutes he was back, went past us and down a bank into a car park.  No sign of a poop bag so we'll watch our step!

We got to Bunny Field and began to look around while another dog walking muggle went past. She was a bit more suspicious and seemed to hang around and keep looking back at us. I do wonder what some muggles think when they see people lurking around staring at phones/GPS devices and then diving off into the undergrowth.  The cache was quickly spotted in it's hiding place but I did wonder for a moment how to get it as barbed wire blocked the obvious route.  It turned out that my arm was long enough to reach around the tree and snag the prize.

Off down the next piece of footpath which took us along the back of a set of new flats.  How funny to be walking along looking in the 3rd floor windows.  A tree had fallen across the path recently (leaves were just dying on it) and we had to kind of duck/crawl underneath.  It's all part of the fun.  I did get my rucksack handbag slightly caught but managed a quick escape.

We both quite fancied owning this house

Our next target was Amersham to Little Missenden Memorial Garden.  Lots of muggles around on this sunny  day so we checked the clue.  The two of us did a bit of stealth gazing around and G went in for the retrieve.  We aimed for a bench to sit on.  It was grabbed by some old ladies.  Darn. Foiled.  We went for another. A chap standing next to it looked at us and sat down as we approached. Foiled again.  Third time lucky and the cache was signed.  Putting it back, G dropped it but we had the failed drop covered with an "I dropped my money, hold on" and she made the replace.  I wonder if anyone noticed?

We then took a walk through the cemetery with some very unusual shaped graves.  Over another gorgeous stone bridge to where a lot of people were enjoying the grass by the stream in the sunshine.  We headed up the path to Top Down (Old New) 4 Don't fall in and had a guess where the cache would be.  G was in sensible flat boots and I had ones with heels, therefore when she checked the place we both suspected and found nothing, I was trying to convince her to head further down towards the stream to look (note I sent her down while I waited!) but she spotted something higher up that looked promising.  She was correct and we made the retrieve.

Back to the pub we headed but first noticed a duck and her duckling...or two...or three battling the current of the stream being whisked away. G managed to get this quick shot.

Wait for me mum!

We had a nice walk up the old High Street again, nosing into the interesting shop windows and finally taking a seat in the beer garden of The Swann for a cooling drink before we headed home.  A great 5 hours chatting and caching together.