My creative addition- I made it ALL from card!

What happens when you take 6 kids aged from 2-14, and 4 slightly pensive adults to Legoland Discovery Centre in Trafford? Chaos? a modicum of fun or a completely fantastic time?

I have to admit, I was expecting more of the former & not so much of the latter.

Grab a few Lego bricks to play with, and read on!

ooh- do you think we can take the Lego tree home for Christmas?

We visited the attraction all thanks to the kind people at MoneySupermarket Days Out Discounts . The deal was simple; I got a family sized bunch of free tickets & in return I write a review. A good deal? Absolutely!

We’ve 5 kids aged 4 -15 but alas, even the lure of Krispy Kreme (fantastically within walking distance of Legoland) wasn’t enough to persuade the eldest to come. Undeterred, I invited friends and their little boys too.

We felt a little like royalty initially, ‘excuse me please, we’re on the guest list’! We collected tickets with no queueing, were given a Christmas themed treasure hunt to complete & went into Legoland. I was fully in review mode, hoping for an exciting adventure.

There were spells, smells and smiles.

The spells came from the 4D cinema. This was really superb. The ’4′ in 4D consisted of ‘wind, smoke, water and snow’. Brilliant, spellbinding & totally enthralled the adults ..ahem..I mean the kids! It’s the story of a battle of good vs evil. It’s worth noting it was a ‘PG’ particularly if your kids are easily scared (the sign stating ‘PG’ was small and we missed it the first time). We viewed another film; this time, the kids made a beeline for the front row to get the maximum soaking from the water spray! We were less enthusiastic having damp trousers but hey, it’s for the kids!

Just how wet can we get?

‘Kingdom Quest’ was a moving ‘shoot the bad guys’ with laser type guns ride. Our kids loved it. Surprisingly it brought out my competitve side. Is it wrong to say I loved beating their scores too?!

The main area boasts a soft play part, a workshop, Lego friends area (including karaoke!!), a create cars section, Lego village, cafe area and 2 other rides.

I checked out the ‘facilities’- spacious, very clean & I loved the fact that the sinks were at child height. I chatted to some of the staff. They weren’t your common garden variety theme park employees. They were a variety of ages and looked like they actually enjoyed their jobs (& liked children too!!!). Next we enjoyed ‘Merlin’s Apprentice’; a ‘hanging’ merry go round ride. The ‘cars’ went higher the more you pedalled.

If I act like I can’t pedal, Mum’s gonna have to do it all for me. Hehe!

Great.

Exercise & fun rolled into one?!!

Having Will (4) with me, who’s not the greatest pedaller meant it was all down to me.

A word to the wise. Leave your hips and your 2 inch heeled boots at home!

I’m not a large momma but this seat was snug, and trust me, frantically pedalling with high heels is a ridiculous combination! Their attention to safety was comforting- really checking that seat belts were correctly fitted. Falling out was not an option.

The ‘smells’ came courtesy of the plasticky aroma from the amassed bricks. It wore off quick- I sorta liked it!

‘Smiles’ were evident everywhere. Even my reluctant teenager (shoe-horned in there partly by the promise of visiting next doors Trafford Centre) smiled on several occasions. It was great seeing so many genuinely having fun.

Once a few hours were past, hungry tummies needed satisfying & we all sat down to our packed lunch. We weren’t escorted to a dark and dingy room nor were we made to feel second class. They are happy for you to bring your own food which is a massive plus point for Legoland. I clocked the food which seemed good quality. Factor in that if I’d bought 4 lunch boxes plus a panini and coffee for me and Steve- the bill would have totalled £28.60. You can therefore understand why we brought food from home. Granted, not everyone has such a large family but any fiscal help is really welcome.

This is one scary ‘time-out’ !

The highlight for my two boys was driving ‘just like Daddy’ in ‘Forest Pursuit- although they spent most of their time stuck, or waving so hard they then forgot to steer and ended up bashing into something. There were several episodes of ‘look no hands’. I think I need to be scared once they hit 17! This ride was the favourite- they went on it over and over again.

Things to consider. 1. Do dress your kids in something distinguishable- there are a lot of littlies running around. Legoland staff members will give you wrist bands so you can write your mobile number on; well worth it if you’ve a crowd to keep track of.

2. Save up- It was fab having free tickets; our larger than average family brings many blessings, but financial savings aren’t one of them! Entrance for 6 of us would have been £72- with online saver prices (under 2′s are free). If money is less tight- a yearly pass might be worth purchasing.

You leave the Discovery centre via the shop- I challenge you to leave without buying anything! I indulged in a Star Wars keyring (being an original Star Wars fan!)

Mum’s new keying may be a little large for her bag!

In short, a brick-tastic morning out particularly for my two Lego mad boys! If you want a good few hours when the weather is inclement (or sunny!) then Legoland is ideal. If you’ve under 10′s you may well stay longer.

Would I go again? Definitely- once I’ve saved up some pennies!

I wonder how much this set costs?

This is what we have planned for you up to the  middle of April

Saturday February  23rd at 12 Noon  - End at 4 pm

FIND IT, PICK IT, COOK IT, EAT IT!

1st Foraging Workshop of 2013 . We will lead you on a dazzling food for free adventure deep into the woods to discover dainty salad leaves, wild garlic, emerging edible shoots and lots, lots more.

Workshop suitable for for wild food enthusiasts, foragers and lovers of the great outdoors.

Price €45 which includes  refreshments at  the start and a delicious Afternoon Tea after our forage.

******************************************************************************************

Saturday March 2nd at 12 Noon – End at 4 pm

WATCHING OUR WOODS WAKE UP

A  leisurely stroll through beautiful broadleaf woods watching for the signs of Spring, leaf shoots, buds, bird song, animal activity  mosses, lichens and lots lots more.

Price €45 which includes refreshments at the start and a delicious Afternoon Tea after our walk.

Suitable for children. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome. Children €5.

***********************************************************************************************

Saturday March 16th at 12 Noon – End 4pm

GET TO KNOW YOUR IRISH BIRDS

We will take you on a stroll through the foothills of the Blackstairs showing you where our Irish birds nest, their song and habitat.

This walk suitable for  all interested in the environment, primary schoolteachers and visitors to our area.

Price €45 which includes refreshments at the start and a delicious Afternoon Tea after our walk. Children €5

Saturday 30th March at 12 Noon – End 4 pm

FIND IT PICK IT, COOK IT EAT IT!

2nd Foraging Workshop. On this walk we will discover lots of edible plants, leaves and delicacies as Spring advances though the Blackstairs and the Barrow Valley area. We will pick what we can , bring all back to Killedmond, cook it up and then eat it. Delicious!

This workshop suitable for foodies, primary school teachers, survive in the wild enthusiasts and  all who are interested in food for free.

Price €45 which includes refreshments at the start and a delicious afternoon tea after our walk.

****************************************************************************************************************

Saturday April 6th at 12 Noon – End 4 pm

Survive in the Wild! Family Day out!

On our walk we will teach you how to survive in the wild by eating safe wild food. Delicious greens, garlic,  salads and lots more. Suitable for a family day out, children over 8 , primary school teachers and wannabe Crocodile Dundees!

Price €45 which includes refreshments at the start and a delicious afternoon tea after our walk. Children €5.

***************************************************************************************************************

Saturday April 13th at 12 Noon – End 4pm

Celtic Trees – Lore and Mythology

We will show you some magnificent ancient Irish trees, talk about our indigenous species, their lore and mythology. We will  talk about the Celtic Tree Alphabet and learn more about the myths of trees in Irish History.

This walk suitable for lovers of trees, woods and their lore. Also for primary school teachers, visitors and all interested in our Celtic past.

Price €45 which includes refreshments at the start and a delicious afternoon tea after our walk.

Suitable for children. Children €5

**************************************************************************************************************

Our regular walks   every Monday, Wednesday and Saturdays( outside the above date)s all €35. Includes Afternoon Tea at end of all walks.

Well behaved dogs on leads welcome.

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas..

Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park, London

Winter Wonderland has been coming to London’s Hyde Park for a few years now but this was the first time we’d visited.

The avenues are lined on both sides with dozens of log cabin style stalls selling crepes and potato pancakes topped with sour cream and herbs, as well as Christmas decorations, marzipan, candy canes and crafts. I felt like I was in one of those European Christmas markets in Sweden or Denmark that I’m always craving to go to. They were doing a roaring trade in charcoal handwarmers and snoods.

Then it opens out into a huge warren of attractions (you’ll need the map provided) complete with an ice skating rink, Zippo’s circus, a giant Observation wheel, zip wire and heaps of rollercoasters, carousels and waltzers. Santa was there in his grotto which was free but the queue was hideous.

Entry into the park is totally free but some (although not many) of the attractions need pre-booked tickets. We had timed entry tickets into the Magical Ice Kingdom which turned out unanimously to be the favourite thing of the day . The temperature was set to a distinctly chilly -8 degrees. There were beautifully carved ice sculptures of foxes and wolves, deer and owls. There were carriages and thrones you could sit on, unicorns and dragons.  I always wanted ice sculptures at my own winter wedding. There was a turreted castle with an ice slide which my chidren must have gone on a dozen times. They were all cold noses and rosy cheeked but full of wonder.

All the rides operate on tokens which you buy from booths dotted around the park. You could easily fritter away a lot of money so we resolutely stuck to an amount and they could choose a few each. My daughter went for a sedate old fashioned double carousel and a gentle reindeer ride, my son went for the highest and fastest ones. That’s him in the middle of this picture. I could only look long enough to take this shot.

There are lots of food stalls – some undercover with roaring fires and a whole Bavarian themed village. I wanted to try Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts stall and chose a roasted pork and smashed apple and sage bap (which came with a side of crackling) and a cup of his famous hot chocolate with marshmallows infused with peppermint which was perhaps the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had.  It wasn’t cheap but I was glad none of the stalls were corporate chains.  The children went for plain hot dogs and fries and I took drinks and snacks to cut down on expenditure.

As we left, hundreds of people were flocking in and all the lights from the attractions looked beautiful in the darkness.

Winter Wonderland is open every day, apart from Christmas Day, until January 6th 2013. To find out more, visit here.

Last Christmas, my sister very generously bought us a Family Falconry Experience at Coniston Estate. It was her way of saying thank you for all the baby equipment and clothes we passed on. Both my boys love animals, especially Noah, who definitely takes after his namesake!

After a year of waiting for Noah to grow a bit (he turned two in September), I finally booked a date for us to go - the first weekend in December 2012. I’m glad I held off, as some of the eagles there are big enough to eat little Noah for a snack, and Finnian would be the main course! Needless to say, we didn’t fly any of them!

We had a beautiful day for it. Even though the temperature was a very cold -4, the sun was out to warm us up slightly. We flew three birds, all owls, starting with a friendly little barn owl, aptly named Barney.

Then came a slightly bigger bird – the Bengal Eagle owl! He was quite a greedy one and gobbled quite a lot of the dead chicks – which didn’t phase the boys at all. This was definitely my favourite. I just love the colours and markings on the feathers. Beautiful.

After looking at, and being told about, some of the other birds at the centre, we flew a rather large eagle owl inside the barn. It was about the same size as Noah, but surprisingly light for its size. Apparently owls become somewhat dim-witted as they grow in size, so he was a bit slow to realise when food was being offered. Another beautiful bird none-the-less.

Afterwards we went back to the restaurant, where we all warmed up and had fish and chips which was included in our experience package. A FANTASTIC day out, and one that we will definitely remember for years to come! Thanks big sis!

During the October school half term we  stayed in a lovely Cotswold cottage and visited Westonbirt, The National Arboretum.  With over 17 miles of forest walks, glorious colour from 16,000 trees (2,500 different species) it is a lovely day out even on a cooler day.

Find out more about the National Arboretum.

Find a Cotswold cottage break

We are not born ice skaters, in fact we barely strap a skate on of any sort during the year, but come November we find ourselves heading to London for an ice skating session on the outdoor temporaryy rink.  It’s great fun and what better backdrop to your efforts than one of London’s most impressive buildings.

Of course the ice skating is great fun but it also forms part of a fun winters day out. Once the skating is over there is plenty of time to take in the museum, which is absolutely free, or visit some of the other great museums near by – the interactive Science Museum is always popular with children.

Once you are exhausted there are plenty of great places to eat near by or simply travel short distance on the Underground to popular eating places around Covent Garden, Leicester Square and China Town.

More Info

The Natural History Museum Ice Rink, supported by Starbucks, opens next Friday (2nd Nov – 6 Jan) promising a season of fantastic skating.

The first ice rink to open in London

Be among the first to enjoy a magical skate on one of London’s largest ice rinks, and celebrate the launch of Starbucks’ Red Cups with a hot drink in our fabulous café bar, open to skaters and non-skaters alike.

Something for the whole family

Bring friends and family along for a fun active day out. Next to the main rink we have a smaller rink and penguin skate aids for the little ones. And, don’t miss a spin on our beautiful fairground carousel, open throughout the day.

If you want to enjoy the splendour and beauty of an English Autumn day then it’s time to check out Exbury Gardens in the New Forest, Hampshire on the south coast

At this time of Exbury Gardens are full of resplendent and spectacular fiery seasonal colours from maples, dogwoods and deciduous azaleas to the stunning National Collection of Nyssa and Oxydendrum. You can also enjoy a 45 minute self-guided trail leading you to the best of the colour in Yard Wood, with descriptions of over 23 trees associated with the season, and discover arguably the country’s finest display of Nerine sarniensis (the jewel lily) in the Five Arrows Gallery displayed alongside Peter Thwaites inspiring ‘Wild Autumn Art.’

It is a great family day out with over 20 miles of pathways, three woods and parkland to explore. Even the wet cannot spoil the fun – simply put on your waterproof and see a new side to Exbury! In the Gardens children can discover plants that existed before dinosaurs roamed the earth; plants dinosaurs liked to eat; a Chinese Coffin Tree and even the Devil’s Walking Stick!

Exbury is also home to a Steam Railway that runs every day the Gardens are open and a special Halloween ghost train runs during late October.

Find out more about Exbury Gardens including website details and opening times.

If you liked this, check out….

• Official…It’s Now Autumn in Britain and Ireland
• Autumn break in the UK and Ireland

We love a good bonfire and spectacular fireworks displays which is why we love the British tradition of Bonfire Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Night, each November.

Traditionally held on the 5th November each year, Bonfire Night is an annual commemoration of way back in 1605 when Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot, was arrested while guarding the explosives that the Plotters had put beneath the British Government’s House of Lords. The failure of the Plot to kill the King James I was initially celebrated with the lighting of bonfires each year and even became an enforced day of thanksgiving!  In these early years the day had many religious overtones but towards the end of the 18th Century Guy Fawkes Day had become an established date in the diary, as had the customer of children collecting (begging) for money for the Guy – an effigy of Guy that was usually put on top of the bonfire.

In recent times, Bonfire and Guy Fawkes Night are less about its history and more about a Winter’s night of celebration. It remains a hugely popular night across the UK and you will find many well organised family focussed bonfire and extravagant firework displays taking place across the UK.

Bonfire and Firework Displays 2012

• Battel Bonfire Boyes. Saturday 3rd November 2012.
• Chatsworth House, Bakewell, Derbyshire. Breathtaking firework display, a huge bonfire in the garden, and some fantastic live entertainment which will be bigger and better than ever before.3rd and 4th November 2012.
• Shoreham Beach Bonfire and Fireworks. A family focussed procession, bonfire and firework display.  In 2012 the Shoreham Bonfire is on the 10th November.
• Lewes Bonfire. Monday 5th November 2012
• Rye Bonfire Society. Rye in East Sussex on Saturday 10th November 2012.

If you would like to add your display to our list, please let us know.