A Winter's Day On The Beach

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It feels like weeks since the weather has been anywhere near pleasant enough to enjoy when out and about, indeed it was last year for us! The last day of 2013 saw The Boy and I pop down to the beach for a scoot and cycle. As we curved around the hillside road leading down to the beach, I saw that the tide was at its lowest for quite some time, and so we drove home again to pick up my wellies as I didn't feel that my trainers would survive the beach.

I was right.

A Winter's Day On The Beach 1

After a quick cycle on the pier, where The Boy discovered why cycling down a ramp at speed into a pole isn't a good idea, we picked our way across the smooth, round, grey pebbles and over the swathe of sand. I thought that we'd be stopping to examine the rock pools which are visible at low tide, but the lure of the squelchy mud at the water's edge was too much for a four year old boy to bear.

A Winter's Day On The Beach 2

And that's when it happened.

In the one second when I didn't have my camera trained on him, he went and did the winning Candid Camera moment.

A Winter's Day On The Beach 3

Thank God I'd put his waterproof trousers on him!

And it didn't just happen once, he seemed to have balance issues that day and he fell over another three times.

A Winter's Day On The Beach 4

After a joyous two hours on the beach, it was time to squelch our way back to the car for the big clean-up operation. But look how much fun we had!

A Winter's Day On The Beach

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Linking up to Flashback Friday, Country Kids and The Outdoor Play Party

Fun With Friends On The Farm

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Today we met up in Somerset with Jenny, Burton and Jenson from Mummy Mishaps. We'd both really wanted to go to the Warner Bros event earlier in the week but were unable to make it, so we decided to meet at Puxton Park, just off junction 21 of the M5.

The weather was typical April with brilliant sunshine one minute and lashing rain the next. However it didn't deter us from having fun both indoors in the massive soft play, and outdoors in the digging sand pit, adventure park, climbing fort and having a quick look at the animals before the deluge.

[slickr-flickr tag='Funwithfriends']

The boys had a great time together, and even though the weather cut our time short I suspect we'll be meeting the Mummy Mishaps mob again there. Worth a visit!

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I've added this to Coombe Mill's Country Kids

Holiday Activities

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I had such high hopes for this Easter holidays; we were going to play in the garden, plant seeds, garden, water and sand play, walk to the beach through the parks and generally enjoy the glorious sunshine that has been typical during April for the past few years.

And it's raining. A lot.

I don't know why I'm so surprised, the well known term is April showers after all. Sat on the M4 for several hours more than was necessary on bank holiday Monday, with the windscreen wipers on full and the demister creating a mini-sauna, I started to come up with some ideas for the next week and a half.

  • Indoor dens: I've waited a long time for The Boy to be old enough to appreciate a good solid den. I used to make them with the dining table, chairs in a long line for crawling through as a tunnel, create another tent between the sofa and the radiator and I'd be set 'til tea-time when the family of six suddenly needed to eat. Damn rude that they needed the table cloth and chairs I think. Unfortunately our dining table has cross over legs at the base (Swedish designers didn't think that one through!) and so I might have to rig up something using a clothes horse and the piano.
  • Craft: We're still working our way through the bargains that I bought in the Baker Ross Christmas sale, and the main things we have left are human body sponges for painting. Mix and match arms, legs, heads and bodies, plus facial features. I think I might tape down a big roll of paper on the kitchen floor and The Boy can go mad with some paint.
  • Soft-play: When hell freezes over. Forget it until April 23rd.
  • Taking the children to the cinema: Yes I have one child, I know this. However, this happens every holiday when my mum ends up looking after my niece and nephew too, she gets a little tired and I usually step forward to help out in some way. After all three children and two adults is far more friendly than the alternative. I reckon The Boy could sit through an animated movie, especially if we picked one of those screenings that was family friendly (not so dark, chatter allowed, etc).
  • Doing a rain-dance: We might just don wellies and raincoats and go splashing in puddles. Because at the end of the day, when you have a two year old, you can let your inner child out every so often!

What activities are you up to this holiday?

One Last Fling With Summer

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Just as soon as I'd packed away The Boy's shorts and sunsuit, the sun comes out with temperatures in the mid twenties, azure blue skies and Mother Nature beckoning us outside for one last frolic.

So we did, we've spent much of the weekend outdoors. Yesterday we went to a beautiful Victorian park in Cardiff, then went and played on our town's beach. The Boy's never been on a pebbly beach before, I had been waiting until he was more stable on his feet and then I kept forgetting to take him down. Which is ridiculous because it's our beach! He and Mr. TheBoyandMe had a good old play while I ordered the take-out pizza and chips, then we went and sat on the pier and scoffed a veritable feast!

Today we took advantage of the fabulous weather and went 'down the Island'. The tide was just going out as we arrived so we set up on the slightly damp sand and set to building a moat and castle. Several hours later, picnic consumed and moats built we tottered home for showers and sleep.

We've just finished the weekend up with a lovely light meal of asparagus risotto and a glass of white zinfandel. Bye-bye Summer, I'll see you again in March!

Flexibath (Review)

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When we went on holiday at the beginning of August, I wrongly assumed that the family-friendly self-catering apartment we were staying in would have a bath in one of the two 'bath'rooms. More fool me! We ended up having to buy a big plastic tub from a supermarket for him to bathe in; it was neither practical nor comfortable.

When we were given the opportunity to review a Flexibath a few weeks later, I almost jumped for joy because we were due to spend the weekend in a chain hotel which I knew didn't have a bath. I cannot even begin to tell you how much of a stress-saver the Flexibath was! It fitted perfectly into the shower cubicle, filled up within two minutes and was compact. The accompanying bath toys were perfect to keep The Boy amused and entertained. It folded flat and stored easily in the car, taking up minimal space amongst the vast array of other items that such a small being needs!

Since that weekend a month ago, the Flexibath continues to be The Boy's bath of choice. He has a bath every other night and we used to fill the 'big' bath up with six inches of water; enough to cover his legs etc. and keep him warm but not too much to waste water. However, The Boy now chooses to have the 'little' bath 90% of the time. He has had no more than two baths in the 'big' bath in the past month.

For my inner eco-warrior, this is excellent news. We've measured and calculated the water. We fill the Flexibath up with 15 litres of water for The Boy, which provides the same depth of coverage as in the normal bath. The normal bath requires 60 litres of water for this!

So can you do the Maths? Over the past month, we have saved 630 litres of water!

The reasons why we love the Flexibath:

  • it folds flat and is stored easily
  • it uses a fraction of the water normally needed to bath a child
  • it has a non-slip base
  • there is a very-snug fitting plug to empty the water out (although we tend to scoop it out & water the house plants!)
  • it's bright and attractive
  • it is an essential for holidays!

As I've mentioned, Flexibath have introduced a set of bath toys to accompany the bath. These consist of a clear plastic shelf with suction cups for adhesion, a coffee/tea making set with colourful cups, jugs and a funnel. The toys which are soft and fun to play with, are made from the soft plastic used in the bath. They also work as probably some of the best bath toys that he's played with in the 'big' bath.

At only £29.95 for the Flexibath, and £13.95 for the bath toy-set I think these are essential additions for any trip, or eco-warrior who is conscious of the amount of water used at bath-times.

I was sent these items for review. My opinions are honest and unbiased.

Oreo Lick Race Challenge!

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One of the favourite snacks of children everywhere is cookies and milk. To make it even better why not vamp it up a little and use the rather scrummy Oreo cookies which taste divine with a cold glass of milk. Well the lovely folk at Oreo are encouraging you to break the rules that your mum set you, by not only licking the cookie but also dunking it in your glass of milk! It's great fun though and they sent us this fantastic kit to try it out.

The reason for this is the Double-Stuff Oreo Lick-Race competition that is running until the 31st July 2011. Simply do the following simple instructions with another member of your family, upload it to the Oreo website and you could win a fantastic VIP holiday to Florida. There are additional prizes of a Nintendo Wii to be won.

And what's even better is that for every video Lick Race video uploaded to the website, the kind folk at Oreo will donate £1 to the children’s charity KidsOut. All you need to do is upload your video attempts of a Lick Race to www.oreolickrace.co.uk.

"There are two different ways in which to enter to win Lick Race prizes – you can either ‘watch to win’ or ‘race to win’. If you choose to watch the Double Stuff Lick Race, there are opportunities to win a Nintendo Wii every day. If you choose to take part in the Lick Race, the stakes are raised and you will be in with the chance to win the grand prize of a VIP trip to Florida; there are also opportunities to win a Nintendo Wii every week of the promotional period in a weekly prize draw of all valid video entries received."

Seems easy enough to me, and therefore here is our entry (which I've speeded up in places because it took 4 minutes and 29 seconds!)


I'd like to point out that it was the 36 yr old daddy and not the 2 yr old toddler that spilt his milk everywhere! This was the first time he'd ever drunk out of an open cup and he didn't spill a single drop. Daddy on the other hand!

I was provided with this kit in order to complete and promote the Oreo Race. However, my opinions are my own, and as always, honest.

COMPETITION

If you'd like to win an Oreo Lick-Race Kit (like the one that I was sent above) in order to help you enter the race on the Oreo site, then you just need to do the following things:

I've entered to win an Oreo Race Kit with @TheBoyandMe's blog https://www.theboyandme.co.uk/?p=3977

  • Leave one comment below to tell me that you've done this!

T&C

As the closing date for the Oreo Lick-Race is 31st July 2011, this is a really short deadline competition in order to allow the winner to get their prize, film and submit their entry. Therefore the closing date is Tuesday 26th July 2011 at 1pm. One winner will be drawn at random and contacted immediately. I will need their postal address returned by 4.30pm in order to get their prize despatched as soon as possible.

Please do not enter if you can't be contacted tomorrow afternoon!

 THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED

The winner is @Mcai7td3! Congratulations to all who entered.

A Coloured World

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When I was little I often wondered what it would be like to be inside a bouncy castle. Not when people are jumping on it you understand; I'm not a complete fruitloop. I was curious to think about what it would be like to wander around inside the inflatable walls and passages.

Next week, I will ponder this great mystery of life no more because I will be able to do so, but in a far more arty and grown-up manner!

Starting today (and running until the end of the month) there is an amazing attraction in the Forest of Dean that, if you live within an hour's drive, I thoroughly recommend you visit. I am not sure that there are that many phenomenums like it in the world and I can't wait to experience it, knowing that The Boy is going to have a brilliant time.

For we are going to experience a Luminarium!

Doesn't it look amazing?

The rather clever people behind the Luminarium are the Architects of Air build who build these monumental inflatable structures "designed to generate a sense of wonder at the beauty of light and colour." These amazing luminaria have for the past twenty years been exhibited over 500 times in 37 countries, from Berlin to Brooklyn, Hong Kong to Hawaii, Taipei to Tel Aviv, Sao Paulo to the Sydney Opera House. And now Lydney, Forest of Dean!

The Boy and I have been invited to visit the Luminarium, unfortunately due to work I couldn't make it to today's launch day, however we are going next Thursday (and meeting up with a couple of other lovely bloggers). I am extremely excited to be going to this amazing event and experiencing the wonderful colours as the light floods through the coloured panels in the inflatable walls. I thoroughly recommend that you pop along to investigate the Luminarium as well.

The Luminarium is at Taurus Crafts, Lydney from the 22nd July – 31 July 2011.

I have not been asked to blog about this, I wanted to. We are being provided with free entry tickets but my opinions are my own and honest.
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Linked up to the fabulous Thinly Spread

Thinly Spread

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