Days 53 – 60 of Project 365

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Days 53-60 of Project 365

53. Partners in Crime (This is one I had hoped to add by the time the post went live last week, but I had no chance so have added it into this week's batch. We went away to Coombe Mill for a few days with my brother and his family, and this is The Boy and Fiery Cousin – from Wild Family Fun – exploring the grounds.)

54. Simple Things (It doesn't matter what time of year it is, give children a spade and sand and they can ask for nothing more to make them happy! While the adults were making a fire and cooking hot chocolate, the children started digging to Australia.)

55. In Training (The Boy adores driving the tractor with Farmer Nick, and as we were the only people there this week he had plenty of opportunity.)

56. Natural Childhood (He couldn't be happier than one of the pigs in the muck behind him in this photo; he just needs the outdoors and freedom to explore and he is content beyond all measure.)

57. The Wonders of Nature (On the last day of our holiday we called into Boscastle for a few hours before the drive home. It's a beautiful little village, but the plaques showing the flood damage are shocking. We walked up to the point on the edge overlooking the harbour, climbed over the crest and saw one of the most amazing natural sights I've ever viewed. More in tomorrow's My Sunday Photo.)

58. Heston and Jamie (The Boy's friend from school came over to play and have tea, they decided to have fun with his play kitchen. Not sure who was more disbelieving; The Boy's friend or his mum; free play with baking powder, vinegar, shaving foam, flour, lemon juice, alka seltzer, lentils, etc.)

59. Just Chillin' (A busy day rushing around trying to find somewhere, anywhere, that we could get The Boy's holiday photos printed out for school resulted in a fraught mummy. We descended on the park for a calming ten minutes grounding and relaxation.)

60. Dough (The only time we've tried to make pizza in the past ended up in a rush and me not having enough time for it to prove, the result was a gelatinous mess which just wouldn't cook properly. Today The Boy and Mr. TBaM made the dough this morning, kneaded it good and proper, and we left it to prove for an afternoon. I don't think we're going to be buying pizzas again!)

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Butlin's Term-Time Breaks: 'Just For Tots'

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I hate January.

And February.

Although that last one isn't completely true, once we get to half-term then I can see a light at the end of the tunnel, with the approach of Spring and the warmer and brighter weather. However until then, everything is that bit more gloomy and grey. The bright lights of Christmas seem months ago instead of only a matter of days, and the promise of Summer is too far in the distance to even contemplate.

Obviously I am not the only one who thinks this as there are a plethora of holidays being booked at the moment; many families looking abroad to book some sunshine, etc.

However, as far as I'm concerned, you'd be hard pushed to find a better resort-style holiday than the Butlin's resort in Bognor Regis. I don't just say this because I am an ambassador for them, I genuinely feel that they are an excellent provision for good family fun. And the resort in Bognor Regis is set in the sunniest place in Britain, why go abroad and struggle with flights when you don't need to?!

We first started going two years ago and experienced the wonders of the Winter Wonderland, we were fortunate to return twice last year, once on our review break and once for an ambassadors' weekend. We actually weren't intending to go to the ambassadors' weekend, but had such a great time that we booked it on the way home in the car!

Butlin's has a wonderful mix of self-catering accommodation and hotels, entertainment for all ages of the family, and restaurants to suit all tastes. They are also very clever to offer breaks for specific types of groups, for example you won't find stag or hen parties on a dedicated family weekend, likewise families can't book on adult-only weekends. Every effort is made to ensure that both types of parties can relax in the appropriate environment.

New to the Butlin's packages this year are the 'Just for Tots’ little breaks. These are breaks held during term-time, to ensure families of pre-schoolers can escape the holiday rush, without older children dominating the facilities. These breaks provide little ones the perfect environment to show Mum and Dad just what they can do; everything from the accommodation and food right through to the entertainment and activities have been designed solely with younger children in mind. Stars such as Thomas & Friends™ and Angelina Ballerina™ will be part of a ‘free-to-play’ entertainment schedule where shows are repeated throughout your break with timings to suit early-risers and early bedtimes.

Some of the facilities available are standard during Butlin's breaks anyway, particularly the bespoke meals by Annabel Karmel which are available in the restaurant. However added to that are 'Pushchair Porters' to help parents transport their toddlers and belongings from the car to the room with minimum fuss, and nap-time buggy walks (customised quiet route maps to help little ones drift off through the landscaped gardens and out along the beautiful beaches that neighbour the resorts).

Additional features of the 'Just for Tots' breaks are:

  • Drop-in style activity sessions and shows that are repeated throughout the break – so it doesn’t matter how long your little ones take to get their shoes on or finish their breakfast.
  • Butlins will be offering “learn-to sessions” so everyone can see their little ones achieve big things like learning to swim and ride a bike.
  • Wake-up activities every morning for early risers and bedtime stories with favourite characters to end the day.
  • A pool party for pre-schoolers in Splash Waterworld with the big rides switched off and replaced with water toys to create a calmer atmosphere for your ‘water babies’.
  • All their favourite TV heroes under one roof to cuddle and watch in specially designed shows that are shorter in length (perfect for easily distracted toddlers)

The first ‘Just for Tots’ short breaks will take place from April 28th at Butlins Bognor Regis and Skegness, with 4-night Monday to Friday breaks running across all resorts (Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness) until September this year.

For more information visit www.butlins.com.

AMBASSADORS LOGO 2013_LARGE

Days 216-222 of Project 365

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216-222 of 365

10th August 2013 (Saturday)

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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Raft Races On The River Camel! (Country Kids)

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Sometimes an idea for an activity pops into my head and I don't realise how much fun it is going to be until it evolves organically.

And this one definitely evolved organically!

Several months ago I read on Coombe Mill about the Easter raft race that some of the guests had organised. Knowing that we had a break coming up in August, I filed the idea somewhere in the depths of my mind, and it was jolted out when I bought a book about sticks a few weeks back. All of a sudden, the one activity that we had to do when we arrived was build a small wooden raft.

I packed lolly sticks and natural string just in case, ever prepared for all eventualities!

At 5pm, we tootled over to have a ride on the train and I was joined by Fiona to watch her little boy drive my little one around the lawn. We chatted about our day and I explained that at some point I wanted to make a raft to sail on the river. A few minutes later and distracted by a climbing child who wanted to go in the castle, I found myself joined by the lady herself who wanted to have a go at making a raft. Bang went the theory of using string, as Fiona suggested we use grass reeds to join the sticks. This is the raft that I made.

However, we were also joined by Mr. TBaM who was determined to make one as well. His first raft was smothered in mud and he was instructed by The Boy to leave it in the sun to dry. As it had rained for two days, that was never going to happen, so he ditched that raft and they joined forces, deserting me!

Making a stick raft

Then once we'd made our rafts, we went back to the lodge to change; swimshorts and beach shoes for the boys as they were going to wade in to release the rafts. The river had been rather swollen so The Boy stood on the side holding my hand while Mr. TBaM valiantly ventured into the murky, freezing depths to release the rapid-riders!

Making a stick raft

Much hilarity ensued as we competed for the best raft. Despite mine being the most beautiful and well put together, his actually sailed the best down the river. We climbed back up the banks, running alongside it to see how well they were both doing, where we were rejoined by Fiona and Clio who wanted to see our rafts in action, and another couple of guests who were curious as to what was going on. Needless to say, my beautiful raft became caught in the overhanging growth, while Mr. TBaM's sailed merrily under the bridge, once he'd set it straight again.

And because my darling husband loves me, he waded back up the river to find my raft and saved it from overhanging branches not once, but twice, sending it on its way to join its companion over the rapids of the River Camel!

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Learning for Life

Pecorama: Train Heaven (Country Kids)

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Our holiday to our beloved Lyme Bay in Dorset during half-term saw us return to many of our favourite places; West Bay, Bridport, Abbotsbury Swannery, Lyme Regis and a recent addition; Pecorama.

Pecorama is a beautiful place set high on the hillside above Beer, on the western side of Lyme Bay in Devon. Commanding wonderful views over the coastline that quite frankly could compete with the views from the Terrace of Infinity in Ravello, the cultivated gardens and play areas are also home to one of the best miniature steam railways we've been on.

We first went there two years ago when The Boy was just two years old and he loved it then, but various parts were of minimal interest then due to his age. This time around however he couldn't get enough of the different garden rooms (including the shell grotto in the moon room), the many play areas and of course the very detailed railway known as the Beer Heights Light Railway.

The key thing is that the railway is not just a track laid down around the gardens; there is a long and winding tunnel, there are stations with platforms and picket fences, bridges, sidings, signal and control boxes with amusing names, and all the employees really take on the roles well. It's a truly magical experience.

Pecorama isn't just about the railway for children though, there is a huge play area (with picnic benches nearby) which facilitates children from toddling to around eight years of age, then there is a pirate ship play area, and an older children play zone with monkey bars, climbing walls and a zip wire. The Boy refuses to ignore age guidelines though, especially if there is a zip wire involved!

Beer Heights Light Railway

And to finish off, no trip to Pecorama would be complete without examining and playing with the interactive exhibition of model railways!

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country kids

Alternative Holiday Destinations (Featured Post)

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Before we had The Boy, we would regularly throughout the year spend long weekends visiting European cities and experiencing all the wonderful culture and history that makes up the patchwork quilt of mankind. Barcelona and Prague were our favourites and we visited those three times each, and at the time of falling pregnant we were investigating Copenhagen or Madrid. However, since having The Boy we've yet to make it abroad, and when we finally do get on a plane to have a holiday in warmer climes, our budget is going to be vastly different to previous trips.

With the financial issues that Britain has been experiencing for the past few years, many travellers are experiencing unfavourable deals on the Euro, Dollar and Pound Sterling; whereas Sterling used to actually be worth quite a bit in another currency, British travellers are really having to expand their budgets to experience anything like the holiday they would have five or even ten years ago.

With that in mind, the Post Office have put together a comparative guide: the Travel Money Worldwide Holiday Costs Barometer. This barometer compares eight key lifestyle expenditures that travellers will often encounter while on their holiday, before applying this formula to 42 separate places across the globe. These costs were include things like the price of a cup of coffee, a bottle of beer, and a three course meal for two adults, and make perfect sense to me. It's good to find out the different costs per country for exactly the same items. It seems Spain and Sri Lanka are two of the best places to visit to get the best value for your money (£36 for the eight items) while Australia was the worst, costing £145! Maybe I should point that out to my brother who is about to emigrate there?

Other countries which scored well on this barometer were the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Portugal, Hungary and Turkey. Having been to Bulgaria five years ago and witnessed the cost of living out there, it doesn't surprise me that it comes out so favourably as an alternative holiday destination; it has all the culture of any other European city, but is relatively untainted by tourism. Veliko Tarnovo remains one of the most beautiful places I've been to.

Teletext Holidays have created a guide to alternative (and cheaper) places to visit to ensure your travel budget isn't blown just getting to the destination, let alone eating or enjoying the touristy bits while there. Many of the popular European cities (including Barcelona) are now ridiculously expensive to visit. The first time we went to Prague we had a bowl of gnocchi, two pizzas and two steins of beer for £8 in total. The last time we went, the equivalent meal would have cost us nearly £30.

Therefore instead of visiting:

  • Florence, try Pisa! It's one hour from Florence via train, cheaper to fly into and the accommodation is cheaper. And what's not to love about the tower?
  • Paris, try Lille! One hour's drive from Calais and home to a UNESCO-protected cathedral.
  • Vienna, try Sibiu! The Romanian city is deep in the heart of Transylvannia, at the foot of the Carpathian mountains, with pastel-coloured buildings and cobbled streets.
  • Barcelona, try Lisbon! The Portugese city is a much cheaper alternative to Barcelona, yet with identical geographical features and attractions.

The weather is warming up in the UK at the moment, but if the need for warmth creeps back in in a week's time, maybe it's time to investigate a lesser known European city with value for money?

Featured post.

Days 146-152 of Project 365

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Project 365

146. Manipulation (We took The Boy over to Techniquest in Cardiff Bay as we'd recently bought a yearly pass, there's so much to explore there and he loves it. Transferring the cargo from the quayside to the ship proved quite tricky, but he managed it!)

147. Pondlife (It was Nana's birthday today and so we took her over to Dyffryn Gardens as she hasn't been there in a decade or two. I surprised her by meeting my sister there with my niece and nephew, and the three children had great fun racing around the grounds, much to mum's delight. The ponds have wonderful examples of pond-skaters, water boatmen and newts there so we got to cross off another of our 50 Things!)

148. Splosh! (A tiresome day today with many things which needed doing before packing to come away on holiday, a tired little boy and a crotchety mummy. By the time Mr. TBaM came in, I handed The Boy over to him for half an hour's splashing fun/peace and quiet.)

149. Fountains (On the way down to Bridport on holiday, we called into Montacute House, a National Trust place in Dorset. Beautiful venue and stately grounds were in abundance, unfortunately there wasn't a huge amount there for children, despite the advertised adventure playground. It gave us a chance to stretch our legs though.)

150. Engine Driver (We returned to Pecorama, a place we'd first been two years ago, to explore the gardens, play areas and most importantly the miniature steam railway. The Boy was very intrigued with how it all worked.)

151. Snappy Dresser! (A morning walk down to West Bay beach at 10am and a straw hat was already a necessity with the blazing sunlight, long may it continue. Maybe The Boy is actually surveying the cliffs at Broadchurch?)

152. From Where We Stand (Or should that be sit? A rare photo of the three of us, even if it is only my feet. No trip to Dorset is complete without a few hours on the imported sandy beach at Lyme Regis! We built sandcastles and ate fish and chips on the beach, followed by an ice-cream on the promenade. The perfect end to our holiday.)

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Days 111-117 of Project 365

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117-123 of 365

111. Too busy! (Today was a stay-at-home day and The Boy's cousins came over to play in the morning and stayed for lunch. We spent hours in the garden, them playing, mum supervising and us gardening. The day was so busy that I forgot to take any photos until the evening when we were playing a calming Orchard Toys game before bed.)

112. Bubble Jedi (At 9.05am The Boy requested we go in the garden. And because I wasn't at all awake (although I was dressed, I agreed. I know. We then proceeded to spend two and a half hours in the garden; me pegging out the washing and pottering about with titbits of gardening, him making up games, blowing bubbles and making dams in the water 'future' (feature). We only went in to decide on what to eat for lunch, which was enjoyed al fresco! I love Spring.)

113. #30 (After a very good day together; playing in the garden, making cakes and chilling out nicely, we had a gargantuam parenting fail/threenager situation in the evening. Basically, The Boy took ages to eat his dinner and we both got cross because we were waiting to take him to the park to feed the swans and have a run around before bed. After a temper tantrum from him when he had the audacity to say I was taking ages (!), I put my foot down and said he could feel the swans (I needed the fresh air) but would not be allowed to go to the park. Being a parent is tough sometimes!)

114. Bottoms Up! (A play in the garden after I'd finished school and The Boy has found a new use for the non-slidey slide; it's a part climbing frame and then head first down after the rolling hoops!)

115. Flying Boy (This is his new way of going on the swing, he likes the way it makes him feel like he's flying! We took mum down the beach for an ice-cream after school but she was feeling her age today and didn't want to go for a walk and so we nipped to the park instead.)

116. Back Again! (I know this is a very similar photograph to one I recently had up but there are subtle differences; mainly the lack of coat and a great deal more sunshine. We've come back to Butlin's for the Butlin's Ambassadors weekend with many of the other ambassadors. Keeping my fingers crossed for dry weather and sunshine.)

117. Even Higher! (That was what he called to the attendant on the bungee trampoline he tried out earlier today! He screamed that he didn't want to go on it, and then I couldn't get him off.)

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"Are We Nearly There Yet?" (Guest Post)

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It seems highly appropriate that I publish this guest-post on my blog, as right at this moment in time, Mr. TBaM is shoving our luggage into the boot of the car as we head off to Butlin's for a short break! In this stress-free family car travel advertorial, Isabelle from Passsmart.com (the UK service for learner drivers) presents a variety of ideas to minimise the anxiety of getting there. I'm off to pack some fruit and ditch the chocolate!

Long car journeys can be stressful at the best of times, but when you've got the children in the back and they're asking "Are we nearly there yet?" every half a mile, it doesn't get any easier! In this article we're going to take a look at some tips to keep the children happy and occupied in the car, and, no matter how many little ones you've got to keep entertained, it's sure to help make the ride a little smoother.

Classic travel games

Remember the travel games you used to pay as a child? Well, they work just as well these days! Classic travel games like the 'Number Plate Game' (where you make up sentences using number plate letters) and 'I Spy' are all fantastic ways to make the journey pass a little quicker. Best of all, they won't cost you a thing!

Don't forget to pack the fun stuff

Make sure you've packed some games and activities which will allow you to get some quiet time in. Whilst games like I Spy are great for keeping the children entertained in the car, they're also pretty noisy! Taking some activity books or a portable games console will help you get a bit of quiet time during the journey, and will also make sure you're able to keep your concentration on the road instead of what's going on in the back.

Be careful with the sweet treats

We all know the best part of a long car journey is having a big bag of sweets to munch your way through, but children, sweets and sitting still don't really mix. Instead of bringing sweets and chocolates for the journey, pack some healthy snacks like trail mix, raisins and fruit salad. OK, they'll probably be less enthusiastic about their in-car snacks, but at least you won't have to deal with a sugar high mid-journey.

You don't have to cut out the sweet things completely, though. If you do let them have a few treats, make sure it's just before you stop off for lunch or a toilet break, to ensure they have some time to burn the excess energy off before they get back in the car.

Stretch your legs

It's important that you take plenty of breaks when going on a long car trip. Not only will the children need a chance to run around, but you'll also need a break from being behind the wheel. Take plenty of chances to stop off and refuel (the car and you!), because although it may take you a little longer to get there, you won't arrive feeling cramped and grumpy!

Take a comfy change of clothes

We all know children can get through clean clothes at an alarming rate, so make sure you pack some easily-accessible spares. It's also a good idea to pack a fresh pair of pyjamas to make things a little comfier when it comes to nap time too.

It's essential to make sure the little ones are comfy as well as entertained, because sitting uncomfortably for that amount of time can make even the most grown up of us irritable!

2013-04-26 13.28.29

Days 83-89 of Project 365

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83-89 of 365

30th march 2013

83. Look Mummy! (We left for our Butlin's Ambassadors' holidays a day early to break up the journey, and called into Westonbirt Arboretum on the way – more on that in another post. It's an amazing Forestry Commission site, but dear God it was cold. We braved -3°C to explore the play area and some of the old arboretum, and The Boy really showed his growing ability and confidence at tree climbing!)

84. View (Checking into our hotel room in The Ocean Hotel, we discovered that we had a gorgeous view from the fourth floor over the resort. The Boy has been out on the balcony at any and every opportunity this week to catch a glimpse of his beloved helter-skelter.)

85. Plopping (A day trip to Brighton, which was an opportunity that I couldn't let pass when down this way. I've wanted to visit the West Pier for a long time and I find the condition of it so very sad. How it's been allowed to lapse into such a terrible state of disrepair over the past thirty years, is beyond me. Our seaside heritage is one of the things that makes Britain special, to see such a beautiful example of Victorian architecture destroyed is shocking. The remaining pier was a let-down, and so we spent a good amount of time 'plopping' on the beach, having already enjoyed the wonders of the Royal Pavilion.)

86. Round and round (We had passed a walled park several times this week, peeking over the top was a zip-wire and wooden climbing frame. A quick Google showed it to be Hotham Park, which we visited on Wednesday afternoon. The park was amazing, and for most of the hour or so we were there, we had it to ourselves. I even had a go on the zip-wire myself; a first! The Boy found a very different swing to those we are used to, and really enjoyed spinning around watching the sky swirling.)

87. I Can Cook! (This is one of the shows that we've been looking forward to all week. The Boy is completely captivated by Katy's antics on CBeebies and, even though this show wasn't presented by her, he couldn't wait to see today's show. I had to sit him at the front with all the other children, and then join the adults at the back. That was until I heard a frantic 'mummy!' being screamed from the front when the character 'Naughty Salt' was being chased by 'Lucy' around the audience. The Boy hates naughtiness of any description, and it really upset him. Another frantic 'MUMMY!!!' and I'd managed to scoop up his little sobbing body. Apologies to the three parents whose fingers I stood on en route.)

88. By the seaside (Today's photo had to be one that summed up our Butlins Ambassadors break in Bognor Regis; sunshine, deckchairs, cheerful smiles but biting winds. Hats and gloves, long johns and rosy cheeks were the order of the week, but dear God we had fun!)

89. Which ride first? (I won a competition for us to visit Legoland for the launch of the Lego Hero Factory, Build and Test Area. We've never been there with The Boy before, the only other time was actually ten years ago, well before children were thought of, and we commented on the time that it was a pointless place without them. Today we got to try many of the rides that we'd seen then, and how they had expanded the park. Freezing conditions meant that we lasted from 9.30-4.00 but gave up early to head home after a tiring week. The Boy adored the park and the rides were a good length for him to enjoy them, he loved looking over the park map to see where he'd been or which he was going on.)

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