What a sportastic week last week was. Usain Bolt broke yet another world record (now that man can run!), England won The Ashes , excuse to open another beer! And Burnley F.C. the underdogs beat both Manchester Utd and Everton! After watching all those highlights in the comfort of my lounge, I feel like it’s time to get out and get some exercise as a family.

As we are all aware this weekend is the last bank holiday weekend of the year, time to campaign for one more around October, that aside tt also marks the countdown until the kids go back to school and so I’ve been thinking of what to do to ‘send the kids off in style’ while not spending an arm and a leg!

Now there are the normal ideas such as camping in the back garden, a trip to the swimming pool or a big family meal (using our Recipe of the week) but I want to do something a bit more fun. A few brainwaves came over me including:
- Building a tree house (don’t know if the Daddies will be up for this on their weekend off!)
- A boat trip down the Thames (if you live in London)
- A speed boat ride on the Wave Rider in Scarborough (£4 for adults, £3 for children)

The best last minute idea I came up with (which actually lasts a whole day) is to take them on safari!

knowsley-safari-park

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As I write this it’s absolutely tipping it down outside, I’m really beginning to wonder about that St Swithin’s day proverb i.e if it rains on St Swithin’s day it will rain for 40 days thereafter, so far so true!. How depressing. And writing about Alton Towers etc etc in my previous post has reminded me just how much everything costs, even after 2-4-1 vouchers! So to cheer myself up a bit I set myself another task – to find things to do that are actually FREEEEEE (excluding transport and food, of course, I’m not magic).

potato-printing

Rain, rain go away please come back another day…….is the first nursery rhyme my little boy is able to say, hmmm, I wonder why?  Smile in the face of adversity that’s the motto, so although the British weather is currently failing us and leaving us all miserable, I thought I’d try and remain optimistic and look ahead - with fingers crossed - to plan some Big Days Out (BDO from now on) for me and the family, and perhaps for you and yours! If you’ve got anything to add please leave me a comment!

 

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Despite Liz’s optimism in the previous post, I’m afraid that the rain is here to stay…..But, no worries, us hectic mum’s have learnt to cope with whatever life throws at us, and so we know we are probably going to have to kit the whole family out with rainwear to get us through the school holidays. But can we do it stylishly? Of course we can! (more…)

It looks like our Summer weather may be returning, so more hot sweaty sleepless nights preceded by great days out which end in really tired toddlers, result!  Sunny days can only mean one thing it’s picnic time in my household J

 

Picnics are the perfect way to spend some time together with minimal fuss, which is what I’m all about these days! You don’t need to spend a fortune either – make food, pack food, get in car, GO! I’ve jotted down a few notes which will hopefully help you have a great picnic.

 

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