Legoland Trip - Part One (the park)

As someone who generally speaking would rather stick pins in her eyes that go anywhere crowded, loud and  generally 'full on' I have to say Legoland was a a pleasant surprise.  We've done other theme parks in the past, but I tend to do them under sufferance as the children like them.    This time I enjoyed it too.

When we have gone to other parks some of the rides have been too big or too scary for our children but all of the rides were suitable here.  It's a real family place as opposed to a hang out for thrill seekers.

There were quite a few water rides and the general consensus here is that the water rides are wetter than at other places.  Unlike Alton Towers for example, the driers just don't do it here - you get a real good drenching on many of the rides.

There were even chooks and ducks!

I loved this fire engine ride.  Families each had an engine and had to pump it with a lever to make it move towards the burning buildings.

They then had to jump out and put the fire out before racing back.  Great fun!

Dino safari had lots of fabulous models.

The Atlantis Submarine was good.  I hadn't really known what to expect and was delighted when I realised we were actually going to be going in a 'real' submarine.  It was cleverly done - the children were quite sure we were below water.

Looking out at a spectacular aquarium of fish, sting rays, sharks and Lego models.

Having been on the submarine the children could crawl into bubbles to look inside some large tanks.

Driving school - they both passed their test!

Boating school - not sure Hermione passed this one although she blamed Craig's steering.

Many of our favorite rides were in the castle area.  This was the home to Miles' favorite roller coaster which at one point we rode four times straight off.

I didn't expect much from the show.  The ones we had seen at other places were dire.  This was a great surprise; we all thoroughly enjoyed it.  The stunts were fab - they dove off the top of the big tower into the pool, somersaulting on the way down and doing all kinds of fancy moves.

We spent two days in the park and realise now we still didn't see everything or do all that we wanted to do.   I would certainly do it again.

Back soon to tell you all about the hotel - which was equally amazing in my view.

Little Mell Fell - a dalliance with family fell walking

So here we are, a sunny afternoon in September, we set off to climb Little Mell Fell, woefully unprepared, wearing crocs or sandals and carrying only a packet of fig rolls.
Ah, my eyes lit up when I saw this sign.  I envisaged a pleasant roam in a setting like home from home.  Alas, we saw no ducks.

However, it wasn't long till we spotted an eagle and Miles had his binoculars at the ready.

The gentle slope soon changed into  a steep face of mossy tufts and bracken.

For fear of toppling off the earth I found it necessary to clamber this part on all fours.  This little guy below jumped out and almost splatted me in the face.  How I didn't topple off the earth at that moment I don't know!

We were nearing the top and the view was looking good.

At this point I had a rare patriotic urge and couldn't help but belt out Jerusalem.  here's hoping I had climbed high enough to be out of ear shot of people living below.

This was the most attractive sheep we saw on our journey.  She was beautiful and we named her Babara - not very original I know.

Some people had no fear of toppling off the earth and roamed on ahead to hide in bracken and jump out at those who were rather more doddery.

Past beautiful flowers.

Through woodland.

Babbling brooks.

So, would I do it again?  Yes, but in future I would be better prepared and not be mislead by names such as Little.  The fell was beautiful and dramatic - but certainly not little!

Wendy - pictures from her maiden voyage!

We have just returned from another fabulous trip with friends to The Quiet Site in the Lake District.  I love this site and to be able to go with friends, in my Wendy Van, was just amazing!

It's been interesting getting to know her better and finding out the highs and lows of Wendy Life.  Thankfully she made it to our destination without trouble; somehow that in itself felt like an achievement considering her age (she's in her mid thirties) - older than a couple of the mums who were holidaying with us!

Chugging along at a very maximum speed of 55mph, with no computerised dash displaying the time and estimated time of arrival, life took on a wholly different pace.  She's so chunky, and I found it so odd sitting on what felt to me to be the wrong side of the cab (she's left hand drive), I was often blissfully unaware of the chaos she appeared to be causing behind us.  Sheesh, I bet we were well and truly cursed by boy racers this weekend!

The whole space worked much better than I imagined it could.  There seemed to be plenty of space for everyone to do their thing - providing of course their thing wasn't wildly physical.  The sleeping area above the cab was so really comfortable and cocoon like; I loved it despite my initial reservations and a slight ladder mishap which saw me almost splat onto an unsuspecting sleeping Miles below.  Thankfully my ladder descent technique improved after that incident and I have made a note to wear more suitable ladder climbing attire in future.

Last night there was a storm but we heard nothing warm and cosy in Wendy.  It had been bad; it had broken a friend's awning, but we knew nothing.

The only big downside was that our fridge was a bit hit and miss.  Fruit and veg was fine but after the first day we couldn't use perishables.  That's something we need to look at before using her again.  Also, the shower was a refreshing dribble as opposed to cleansing blast.  I guess that's part and parcel of RV showers but the shower hose was leaking badly, no doubt due to the fact that it looked like an original (ancient) fitting.  Much water was lost straight down the plug.  The only other minor irritation was that were we to have guests, I would have to advise anyone over 5ft 6 that in order to sit on the toilet they would need to wrap their knees around their ears - or alternatively leave the bathroom door open.

Daddy put the kettle on - or perhaps I should say daddy put your head in the oven?

First family dinner in the dining area.

Ever so quirky Appletiser salt and pepper shakers given to us by friends.  We also received beautiful rose fairy lights and 'welcome' bunting as Wendy warming gifts.

A beautiful view over the fells.

Sitting outside with friends late evening, enjoying a bottle of cider and a piece of cheesecake in the candlelit glow!

No maiden voyage would be complete without bubbly.

It has to have been one of the cosiest spaces we have ever slept in.  Miles is sleeping soundly in the duvet mountain below.

Space for me to drink coffee and natter on the door step, Miles to have friends round to play games and Hermione to chill with a book.

I'l be back soon to tell you about our first family foray into mountainous fell walking.

Big plans and Wendy sneaky peeks

Well, it's that time of year again; were the children to attend school they would most likely be returning from their summer break this week.  Why that affects me as a home educator I don't know - it's not as if we adhere to school holidays schedules.  I guess it's a kind of psychological thing - a time to buy new pens and rulers, draw a line in the sand and move on to a higher level of learning....hmmm....or something like that ..

We do seem to be moving to a new level right now.  I'm not yet sure if I would define it as 'moving up a notch' but we're certainly aiming to have a bit more structure and routine.  I think this is just happening naturally as the children get older and some of their needs are best met outside of the house, with the expert input of others.

Hermione is starting a regular cookery class which is amazing as it means that we get wholesome cooked food now and then without me having to do anything, yay, bring it on!  We have dipped in and out of this before but have only now found a suitable slot that fits in with everything else.

This week we had a very tasty pasta salad with feta, followed by delicious spiced hazelnut cookies.  The lady she works with is a retired home economics teacher and she's lovely.

Other things that I need to be sorting are Miles' weekly French and Five In A Row sessions with friends, plus Hermione's weekly Science Sessions (with a wonderful mama who has the knowledge and equipment to help make science interesting).

We also need to be make a decision soon as to whether Hermione would like to start the Silver Arts Award this term.

I'm having lots of thoughts about 'work' but not much is transpiring into action.  I had hoped to have fully read and prepped Blood Pressure by Alan Gibbons which is the next text I would like Hermione and I to study together.  The plan is to take it in it's widest form - not just looking at the writing style, literary devices etc - also looking at the area where it is set, issues it raises etc.

I'm also having thoughts about a war re enactment for a couple of days.  I know there are some local home edders who have re enacted war time conditions with rations, time in the air raid shelter (under the stairs), black out curtains etc.  I'm thinking and psyching myself up.

Although my mid is a whirl with thoughts and ideas, I'm cutting myself a bit of slack and pinning high hopes on a special Family Goal Planning Day which I am having with a friend later this month.  The plan is to  squirrel ourselves away for the day, and together, come up with a way forward, a workable plan to transform our family life.

Currently, there are so many issues I feel I need to tackle that I worry a day may not be enough!  I really want to look at creating and ring fencing family time, time for the children to be out and about with just one parent, time for 'date nights' (!!) - with Craig I hasten to add,  ensuring the children are receiving an adequate/quality education, family nutrition, the importance of eating as a family, responsibility for chores around the house...and more...

I've not managed to do all I hoped with Wendy this weekend.  My little man is terrible for grinding his teeth.  He has managed to grind and break a slack baby tooth in his gum.  It's all rather horrid although I think he may now be looking up.  So, what with trips to the dentist, much chopping of food into tiny pieces, never ending snuggles (by day and night), Wendy is not looking quite as well dressed as I hoped as yet.  Ho hum, needs must.

Bunting almost ready to rock.

Remember the horrid dark brown cupboards with awful yellow patterned perspex in them?  Check them out now, all luscious lemon with cheeky oil cloth print.

Crochet curtain pelmets.

Brand spanking new ceiling!  This will be of most significance to friends close by who had the misfortune to encounter the ceiling as it was before - rot, mould and all!

Ah, the sun is shining, the garden is calling, got to go my lovelies xx