Half Term Fun

We are just back from four nights of 'testing' down in Salisbury.  We bought a new tent ready for going to France over the summer and thought we'd better make sure that we can put it up, especially since the instructions are in Dutch!

We stayed at a campsite on the outskirts of Salisbury, just a stones throw from Jane's house (a good back up . . . ;)).  The site was great as a base to explore the area but not ideal for kids as there was very little for them to do.  

There was an enormous field next to the campsite but as you had to get to it through the main campsite gate, it was a little too far to let the kids go on their own (even though it was right over the hedge from our pitch).  However, Beth did get to fly her kite (you can just make her out on the left of the photo) and we set up Jane's slack line and had an impromptu picnic that was very pleasant.

We were very lucky to get two beautiful days (and one not so nice).  We walked into Salisbury a couple of times as there was a riverside path from the campsite and were lucky that our visit coincided with the Salisbury Arts Festival so there was plenty to look at.  Jane took Beth climbing - her birthday present - and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.  

We took Toby to look round the cathedral and to see the Magna Carta (doesn't every 5-year-old boy dream of such a morning out?).  The last time I visited the cathedral was before the kids were born, since then they have built a new font.  It's pretty impressive as the water is so still.  I'm amazed that Toby didn't give in to the urge to stick his hand in it.  Steve was interested in the clock at the cathedral as it's the oldest working clock in the world, made around 1386.

We managed a trip to Stonehenge; it was busy even though we got there first thing in the morning.  The kids weren't thrilled when we told them we were going to visit a pile of stones but they did like having the audio tour telephone thing!  Despite Old Sarum towering over the campsite (you can see it in the background of the photo of Beth flying her kite), we didn't go and look at it - think we'll leave that for when the kids are older.

On our last day, despite the rain, we drove to Beaulieu in the New Forest and walked the two miles from there to Buckler's Hard, a village known for shipbuilding (over 50 timber ships were built there for the Navy) stopping for a pint in the pub before puddle-jumping back to the car.

In all it was a pretty successful trip - the tent stayed up, it was great to see Jane and lovely to visit some of the attractions in the area.

Quick Update - May 2013

Beth switched from Rainbows to Brownies last month and last night she took her promise.  In previous situations when she had to speak in front of people she was so nervous she could hardly move.  It seems her confidence has grown quite a bit as she spoke clearly and was the only one of four to get the words correct on both the promise and the law. :)  I have to say that taking the promise has got a little less formal since I was a Brownie but it was still nice to be there.

Toby has been off school with norovirus for the first couple of days this week.  He was very good and hardly complained at all; he just shuts down, curls into a ball and watches tv until he feels better!  Here's a photo from yesterday when he was pretty much back to normal.  Let's hope he never hears about how he should act with man flu!!!!



This morning I thought it would be good to blow the cobwebs away and go for a march round Clumber Park lake.  It was extremely quiet but very beautiful with loads of animals, birds and insects appearing.  Also good to see the plants so green with lots of buds beginning to appear.  

Although nice, the photos don't do it justice and I also didn't go to my favourite parts of the park as they are a bit too far off the beaten track to go alone.  Now that the weather is (hopefully) getting a little bit warmer we should be able to get out biking.  Clumber has so many little paths and places to explore, the kids should love it!





On that topic, Toby has grown out of his bike and we have been on the hunt for a new one.  Last weekend we took him to pick a new one up.  As you can see it is a perfect match for Toby, being green, and despite being pretty big (20" wheels) he is a bit of a whizz on it.  Steve has 'ordered' him to stay on one gear or he disappears in a cloud of dust!  That reminds me, we must check our public liability insurance . . . 

In one last bit of news, the new pigs have arrived.  They are extremely cute (will that make them extremely tasty?) and have enormous ears.  Not sure if they will grow into their ears or if they will keep growing at the same rate as the rest of them.