It’s that time of year when I scroll through my favourite photos from last year before changing my screensaver. I really enjoyed looking back at all the things got up to in 2023. From days out and trips to the theatre to holidays and steampunking we made a lot of memories.
We started the year with a trip to the bowling alley for Lil’s birthday.
February saw us meeting up with Bozzie in Manchester for The Rocky Horror Show
Once again March saw Amanda and I heading off on our now annual Birthday Bimble, this time to the Welsh Borders. Despite an inauspicious start we had a good week, even meeting up with our cousin for a pleasant afternoon round Powys Castle. We also had a fun day dressed in our steampunk finery and taking photos round Blist’s Hill on our way home.
April was also our first full month of events. Netti, the boys and I began with a cold day out at the Crich Tramway Wartime Weekend where Harry and Joey tried to see how many times they could ride on the trams and Joey got to sit with the driver for a short distance.
A week later I took the boys over to the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port for their Steampunk Day. This time the boys decided to dress up and they looked fabulous as we wandered around the museum and the dock area in the pouring rain.
Our next steampunk outing was the Rufford Rumble, a picnic at Rufford Abbey organised by the Newark Steampunk Society. It was yet another rainy day but we were not to be deterred. We purchased some umbrellas and made the best of it. A group photo was taken before we all wandered off in different directions. Joey started a trend when he hung his umbrella from the branches of an espalier hedge along a walkway where we stopped to take some photos. The next thing we knew there was a whole gang of folk joining in with the fun.
May was a busy month with Thomas and Myles joining us for a fun filled week starting with the Doncaster Steampunk Day where we all thoroughly enjoyed scoffing cake and hot chocolate (Prosecco for the grown-ups), taking part in the tea-duelling and parasol-duelling; for which Harry won the trophy; basking in the sunshine watching The Old Time Sailors and Joey met Chico the steampunk chihuahua for the first time.
We had glorious weather for the next two days so Netti and I took the boys out for a couple of picnics. We were joined by Amanda and Kate for the Thoresby Wartime weekend on the Sunday and on Monday we let them run wild round Sherwood Pines.
Then came our Big Day Out. We were up and off mega early to catch the train to London and the Natural History Museum. We ended the day with a quick hop on the tube to Buckingham Palace for Myles.
We ended the month with another posh picnic at the Newark Steampunk Festival.
June was a glorious month with plenty of sunshine.
We had a picnic and walk in the Peak District
Went steampunking at The National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield.
Towards the end of the month we were joined by Amanda and friends from America, Rob, Brenda and little Audrey, for a fabulous family day out round the Emergency Services Museum and Kelham Island in Sheffield. Whilst looking for somewhere to have lunch we discovered The Fat Cat pub; to be recommended for good honest pub grub at affordable prices and some nice craft ales.
When Netti was given an unexpected week’s annual leave at the beginning of July the kids asked for a return to the Lake District. Since they are now refusing to go on camping holidays we found a late booking for a cottage and off we went for a fabulous week of lazing around, exploring and swimming.
We ended the month with a trip to the cinema at Joey’s request.
August was a month of Pirates, Punknics………
……and three whole days of steampunking fun with Harry and Joey, aka The Steambetweeners at; supposedly; the biggest steampunk event in the world; The Lincoln Asylum.
September began with a short heatwave which called for a walk along the River Don. Obviously the boys got wet and we had to recover with a cream tea.
Another trip to Crich, this time for the steampunk event and posh picnic.
After living only 10 miles away for over 40 years I have finally seen the actual St Leger race courtesy of Amanda winning two tickets in a competition.
Although I have lived “oop North” far longer than I lived in Nottingham there is still a smidge of the Nottingham girl left. I still root for Nottingham Forest and the Nottingham Panthers and, for me, the first weekend in October can only mean one thing. Goose Fair. And as I love fairgrounds so much I got to do it twice!
October also meant two more Steampunk events
Haworth
Hulloween
A pleasant November afternoon round Conisbrough Castle with Bozzie and the boys whilst Jim was off playing with his drone.
December’s run up to Christmas turned out to be quite busy. We started with a trip into Sheffield to the Kelham Island Victorian Market. And of course us steampunkers were dressed for the occasion. Joey was brill dressed as the Nutcracker.
And wrapping up the year was the Newark Steampunk Dickensian Market and Ball.
