Cool things to do

Posted on May 23, 2011 by admin

Finding things to do is easy. There are ALWAYS things to do, the question is are they cool? Emptying the dishwasher cannot really be defined as cool even though it’s some thing to do! The same goes to  putting away the laundry. Cool things to do are things that are fun, interesting and unusual that will make your friends think, hey I want to do that too!

There are thousands of way to kill time. In fact probably billions! The question is are they cool?  And it comes down to pretty much one thing – What defines cool for you?

  • Being with friends?
  • Doing something that gets you muddy?
  • Doing something that gets your heart racing?
  • Doing something that gets you relaxed?

For most of us in life, our idea of cool comes from the people around us, people we admire and respect. Who defines cool in your life? It is a friend? A family member? A TV Show? A celebrity? Or do you do your own cool?

And how do you know the difference? Obviously the best kind of cool is your own cool that  is defined by your own values.

So if you enjoy sewing, sew dammit. If you enjoy drawing, racing bikes, horse riding, cooking, repairing furniture or skate boarding – do it.

The only problem with cool is when it’s based on the wrong values and the wrong values are very often ‘borrowed’ form someone else. You go to night clubs, not because you enjoy doing but because the group of people you mix with enjoy it and you want to fit in and be ‘cool’ too.

So if you find yourself doing a lot of things you don’t really enjoy doing or that don’t make you feel proud, it would be an idea to look into finding a different set of friends and making different choices.

And of course finding cool things to do can mean finding cool things to do for the next hour or two or finding a cool thing to do with my life. Do very different kettles of fish!!

What is Cool?

Cool is something that’s quite hard to define and some people have it in spades and some people don’t. Can’t you copy it? No. Because by the very act of copying you are becoming less ‘cool’. You can be trendy by copying but not, by its definition be cool.

Can you emulate cool? Definitely. People have different ideas of what’s cool and very often it’s based in fashion. This is cool because Jennifer Anniston wore it and she looked amazing therefore I will wear it and look amazing too – er, sadly not.

The right kind of cool is based on YOUR values, the wrong kind of cool is copying someone else’s idea just because it’s cool not because you enjoy doing it or because you look great wearing it or because it’s healthy to do so. Be yourself, trust me, you’re pretty damn amazing.

Here’s a list of 10 things to do that are currently trending as ‘Cool’. Enjoy!

  1. Posh picnic
  2. Coke and mentoes games
  3. Meet up with friends
  4. Go to the cinema
  5. Go to a concert
  6. Indoor sky diving
  7. Zorbing/Orbing
  8. Ride a Segway
  9. Cooking (Learn to make something new like sushi or chocolate sculptures)
  10. Drive an amazing car
Posted in Fun things to do | 1 Comment

Bored in London

Posted on May 23, 2011 by admin

It’s impossible to be bored in London. London is the best city in the whole world with a unique buzz and glamour and style that is all its own and can never be copied.

London has things to do that will suit any budget and any mood. From free and to billionaires play time there is going to be something that inspires and interests you.

The beauty of London is that simply watching people is a fascinating past time as there is a never ending supply of wonderful, amazing and weird people to watch.

Challenge yourself – go to a park or a train station or a museum. Somewhere where lots of people mill around, occupied by their own thoughts. Now watch these people.

Have you ever done this before? Gone to watch people simply with the intention of doing just that?

Be utterly mindful as you watch a person (while being careful not to invade their space or offend them). Watch their expressions. What are they wearing. What are they doing. Are they happy. Who do you think they are. What do you feel is the highlight of their day. Where do they come from. Are they happy. Could you love them – yes, I know that sounds weird but the majority of religions and faiths say the path to happiness lies in one’s ability to care for others.

The ugly man yelling at his child, the screaming toddler, the sour faced old woman… could you love them? Could you be kind to them? Anyway I’ve digressed completely but people watching is an amazing way to spend a few hours in London. A challenge in personal growth and what better way to learn more about a city than by watching its people.

Of course there are literally thousands of things to do in London that don’t involve introspection. Simply walking down the Embankment offers a few dozen things to do. See big Ben, ride the London eye, visit the Tate modern, see St Pauls, visit the Golden Hind. Skateboard, rollerblade and ride BMX bikes. Ride the gallopers, find second hand books, watch the sandcastle builders, see the mime artists, eat an ice cream…. The list is endless. Bored in London? Impossible.

There are some great tips and tricks to help you keep London a little more affordable. Visit the time out website for great deals on tourist attractions and things to do in London. Living social also offer coupons and discount offers as do Groupon.

Another great website is the free London Listings which is certainly worth while visiting as they have some great listings.

Of course it’s not just the activities in London that can be expensive, simply grabbing a bit to eat can be fairly frightening and there are a couple of ways around this, apart from the obvious of taking your own food to eat!

If you fancy a coffee try avoid the Starbucks and Café Nero’s etc and try the pub chains like Wetherspoons and these can save a lot of money for sometimes very good coffee.

You can also try http://www.londonrestaurantlive.co.uk/ as they have a range of Restaurant Vouchers and special offers which can be very helpful to the tight budget.

You can also try my voucher codes (http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/ ) for a range of mainstream restaurant chain discount vouchers. Over a two week stay in London, eating out daily this can save around £100 per person – worthwhile

Posted in Things to do in London | 2 Comments

Bored, bored, bored

Posted on May 21, 2011 by admin

We all know the feeling. Sometimes it doesn’t really matter how much there is to do, you still feel BORED!

You feel you should look to find some ideas for things to do to stop the boredom but somehow everything you look at, even amazing ideas, feel BORING.

You want to shout, ‘What’s wrong with me!!?’ Well you would if you could find the energy. Your whole body feels bored. But it’s got to the point where you’re fed up with the feeling now. You want to change, be inspired but a small part of you worries that nothing will ever inspire you again.

Stop worrying. Things will get better!

You might feel like this for a range of reasons but first, do you feel like this all the time? On a daily basis do you wake up and think, ‘Oh I just can’t be bothered?’ Feeling that really you’d prefer just to climb back into bed and sleep for the rest of the day.

There could be some minor underlying health problems – yes, I know boring… but worth getting checked out. You could be deficient in iron, particularly if you are a vegetarian. Sometimes all you need to do is take an iron supplement for a few weeks and make sure you eat a breakfast cereal that’s fortified with iron.

A quick way to check and see if this is a problem is to look at the colour of your gums or eyelids. Bare your teeth or pull down the skin just below your eye so you can see the pink bit where the tears come from. These should be a rich healthy pink but if your gums or eyelids are a very pale muted pink you may be anaemic. And if you are this can be likely why you feel bored bored bored!!

Another reason why you feel bored might be because you’re feeling a bit down or depressed. This again can be because you eat a lot of unhealthy food and not enough of the right stuff. It can also be because you don’t get enough exercise.

This is tricky because when you feel bored and heavy and the last thing you feel like doing is getting out there and actually doing something it’s very often the thing you need to do the most. Get your iPod and head out there for a walk.

A great way of motivating yourself to walk is to take a camera and plan on taking a photograph of something. Look around you, right now, where you are sitting reading this and find the first written words that you can.

The first words I’ve seen are Details. So go out and take a photo of something that is detailed. Anything you see that inspires the words detail in you.

When you come back home, having walked for 30 minutes or so, suddenly, with all those endorphins ambling round your system, natures natural feel good,  you won’t feel quite so bored anymore.

Good luck and enjoy!

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Ten ways to keep kids entertained on a picnic

Posted on February 23, 2011 by admin

Just because you feel like lounging on the picnic blanket listening to the river trickle by doesn’t mean your kids will feel the same. Chances are they’ll want to be entertained.

Here are a few ideas:

  1. Make hard boiled eggs for the picnic lunch and do an egg and spoon race with the kids
  2. Pooh sticks. Throw a twig into the river and see whose twig gets past a finishing line first
  3. Take a bucket and let the kids hunt for critters in the water
  4. See who can make the longest daisy chain
  5. Take a football or a frisby
  6. Take a swing and string it from a tree
  7. See who can find 6 different leaves
  8. See who can find four yellow objects
  9. Take a book along to identify the various birds (or trees)
  10. Lie back and make shapes out of the clouds

ENJOY YOURSELVES!

Posted in Fun things to do, Picnics | 2 Comments

Forty of the best picnic spots in Britain

Posted on August 19, 2010 by admin

best picnic spots in Britain For me there is something magical about having a picnic. My mum, bless her, loathed them with a passion but my dad and I would keep dragging her off into the African bush, telling her with enthusiasm  that she was actually having a good time. With good grace she’d agree but I knew she lied. Sitting out in the heat with the African sun beating down on her she’d tolerate the day until we could pack up and go.

But my dad and I were made of sterner stuff and even now I love a good picnic.

And a good picnic is made up of good food, not thrown together sticky sandwiches and crushed packets of crisps. A good picnic is being able to sit comfortably and eat off proper plates, not paper ones that fold in half the minute you put something slightly damp on them. And a good picnic is always somewhere where there is loads to do. Where the kids can climb trees, play pooh sticks, rummage in rock pools…

Britain, despite the weather has some truly fabulous picnic spots and many of them are often virtually deserted. Coming from Africa and knowing the huge crowds in Britain I can never understand where all the people are.

While you can just as easily pack up and have a picnic at your local park here are some of the top recommended picnic spots in Britain.

Alnwick Garden, Northumberland

There’s so much to explore at The Alnwick Garden, including acres of fascinating plants, water sculptures, the infamous Poison Garden and one of the world’s largest wooden tree houses, 364 days a year. This summer, you’ll find lots of chances for wet-play, from trickling rills, perfect for paddling, to the shooting jets of the Grand Cascade and the interactive water sculptures of the Serpent Garden.

Avebury Stone Circle, Wiltshire

In the 1930s, the pretty village of Avebury, partially encompassed by the stone circle of this World Heritage site, was witness to the excavations of archaeologist Alexander Keiller. In re-erecting many of the stones, Keiller uncovered the true wonder of one of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe. The fascinating finds from his excavations are on display in the 17th-century threshing barn and stables galleries of the Alexander Keiller Museum, where interactive displays and activities for children bring the landscape to life. The 16th-century dovecote also displays a variety of alternating interpretations throughout the year. Don’t miss * Walk to the Bronze Age burial mounds at Windmill Hill. * Visit the Lansdowne Monument and Iron Age earthwork of Oldbury. * Discover Avebury’s buried past secrets in the museum.


Bamburgh Beach, Northumberland

Bamburgh is situated on the North Northumberland Coast and is a very popular tourist destination. The village is dominated by Bamburgh Castle, one of Northumberlands most prominent landmarks and one of England’s finest castles. Situated on a rocky outcrop between the North Sea and the village, the castle can be seen from miles around in all directions. Bamburgh is also the resting place of Grace Darling, the Northumbrian Heroine who risked stormy and freezing seas to rescue shipwrecked sailors off the nearby coast. She is buried in St. Aidans Church in Bamburgh Village.

Bosherston Beach

Beautiful and varied stretch of coastline, famous for sandy beaches, wooded valleys and lily ponds. Bosherston can be found on the southern tip of Pembrokeshire, South West Wales. It is popular with visitors to the area because of its beach, Broad Haven South. The beach is particularly popular with families and is ideal for surfing and swimming. Just behind the beach are the Bosherston Pools, a group of beautiful lily ponds which are now in the hands of the National Trust. The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path also passes through Bosherston, travelling to Poppit Sands in one direction and Amroth in the other.

Chiddingstone CastleSet in 35 acres of grounds including a lake open to fishermen, a rose garden, and magnificent woodland. During the summer months the courtyard rose garden is home to an abundance of sweet smelling roses, whilst the waterfall by the lake is a wonderful place to relax. Visitors can enjoy a picnic anywhere in the grounds, which are ideal for children who want to burn off some steam while exploring.

Cragside, Rothbury, Northumberland

Built on a rocky crag high above the Debdon Burn, Cragside is crammed with ingenious gadgets and was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity. Surrounding the house on all sides is one of the largest rock gardens in Europe. Across the iron bridge, in the formal garden, is the Orchard House, which still produces fresh fruit. The lakeside walks, adventure play area and labyrinth are all good reasons for children to visit Cragside again and again.

Cwmcarn Forest Drive and Visitor Centre, Cwmcarn, Wales

An enchanting forest where visitors can stop off at 7 differant car parks to enjoy cycling and walks with spectacular views. The newly opened visitor centre has a gife shop, information area and relaxing cafe with impressive outdoor seating area.

Derwentwater, Keswick, Lake District, Cumbria.

One of the popular ways to enjoy the beauty of the lake, besides walking the lakeshore paths, is to take one of the launches which operate on a regular timetable around the lake. Not only is it possible to make the complete circuit of Derwentwater, lasting about 50 minutes, but a little planning allows passengers to leave the launch at any one of the regular stops for a walk and picnic and then catch another launch at the same or different jetty. Rowing boats can also be hired and canoes and kayaks are a common sight on the lake. There are two marinas and several launching spots around the lake.

Devil’s Dyke, East Sussex

An historic beauty spot on the South Downs Way, named after the huge dry valley that carves its way through ridges of rolling chalk grassland. Don’t miss * Stunning views north to the Weald and south to the English Channel * Great for bike rides, walking and flying a kite * From hill forts to funfairs, mysterious lumps and bumps reveal an unexpected past * Rare and colourful wildlife like butterflies and orchids

Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells

Once a private landscaped garden, Dunorlan Park is now an historically important and much-loved public park. Dunorlan is spacious and elegant with wide grassy slopes and magnificent views across the lake to the Weald. Dunorlan Park Tree Trail Details of the trail with a map to download showing the locations of 12 species of special interest. When you have been round the trail there is a quiz for you to check your knowledge of the trees.

Eynsford, Kent

Set in the Darent Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the North West of Kent, the picture postcard village of Eynsford has roots dating back to Saxon times. With a thriving community life, there is plenty to do and see for both residents and visitors to the village. Kids are drawn to the river to paddle and fish in it (it’s not deep enough to swim). For somewhere more peaceful, head to the ruins of the Norman Lullingstone castle, set in leafy grounds leading down to the river.

Garsons Pick Your Own, Esher, Surrey

A picnic with a difference in that you can pick and eat part of your picnic lunch there and then! Garson Farm at Esher is the biggest Pick Your Own farm in the country, with 35 different fruit, vegetable and flower crops bursting with freshness.

Gibside, Newcastle upon Tyne

Spanning 182 hectares (450 acres), Gibside is a ‘grand design’ of spectacular vistas, winding paths and grassy open spaces. At key points there are decorative garden buildings, including the Palladian chapel, Georgian stables, greenhouse and ruins of a bathhouse and hall. There is a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere, and visitors will feel close to nature. Much is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and wildlife, such as red kites, can be seen Don’t miss * Walk in the 182-hectare (450-acre) landscape garden. * Watch the skies for red kites. * Discover hidden views and vistas.

Grizedale Forest Park and Visitor Centre, near Hawkshead, Cumbria

Grizedale Forest Park in the heart of the world famous Lake District National Park. From the all access Ridding Wood trail to the demanding Silurian Way, from the Go Ape to The North Face Trail, amazing sculptures to great food, Grizedale Forest Park offers an unrivalled day out for everyone.

Hardcastle Crags, W Yorkshire

A deep, rocky ravine with tumbling streams and thick woods, the Crags is a great place for a walk and an exciting venue for a picnic. The easiest thing is to take the path down to the stream from the car park, and eat at one of the picnic tables there before you walk. After lunch you can set off to explore the woods and to investigate Gibson Mill, a 19th-century cotton mill in the wood that’s been renovated by the National Trust. Don’t miss * More than 30 miles of walking routes. * Seasonal variations, with the autumn colours being particularly stunning. * Spectacular springtime bluebells.

Hardcourt Arboretum, near Oxford

There are no walls, glasshouses or straight lines at the Arboretum – it is almost as if it were designed to be the antidote to the formality of the Botanic Garden in central Oxford. In May and June the Arboretum is ablaze with azaleas and rhododendrons and in October the Japanese maples can brighten even the dullest day. But there is more. In spring there is a quintessentially English 10-acre woodland and in summer a 37-acre meadow full of wild flowers. The Arboretum is a magical place to spend a day at any time of year.

Hatchet Pond, New Forest

Hatchet Pond is the largest body of water in the New Forest. Created in the 18th Centuary to provide power for an iron mill, the pond today provides valuable habitats for wildlife as well as being a scenic backdrop for a picnic. This is also a good place to head for to watch the sun go down. Just across the road form the entrance to the car park the cycle network starts and can be followed through to Lyndhurst or Brockenhurst.

Haysden Country Park

For the last three years Haysden Country Park has been a Green Flag Award winning park. The Park has two lakes to relax by and a stretch of the River Medway running through it. The water features add to the Park’s individuality and result in a variety of wildlife throughout the year, including an array of colourful dragonflies. To add further interest, throughout the Park there is a large variety of wildflowers to be enjoyed, particularly in summer when many of them are in full bloom. In the park visitors can enjoy a mix of activities, including sailing and fishing and children will love exploring the adventure park with plenty of swings and slides. There are a number of events which take place in the park throughout the year.

High Force, Upper Teesdale

Discover the force of nature at High Force, one of the most spectacular waterfalls in England, located at Forest-in-Teesdale, Co. Durham. The sight is breathtaking as the water suddenly plummets 50ft into a plunge pool below. The Hanging Shaw picnic site and car park is a good place to take a break, before continuing the footpath on to Dale Cottage and Middle Moor Riggs farm.


Holkham National Nature Reserve

HOLKHAM is the most extensive, diverse and dramatic nature reserve on a coastline famous for nature reserves. Windswept tidelines, a maze of creeks and saltings, miles of dunes and sandspits, shady pinewoods, green pastures and marshes: the mix of habitats and the blend of wildlife unite Holkham’s National Nature Reserve a unique place, somewhere to catch your breath in a busy world. A wonderful spot for a picnic as there is so much to do.

Picnic in Hyde park, London

There is something very special about Hyde Park. An oasis of green in the rush of London. Simply walking in the park recharges your batteries and it’s a wonderful cultural spot to visit. Having a picnic near Diana’s memorial fountain is a wonderful way to spend a hot summers day as there is much to see and do and the wonderful race gives a special background noise to the day.

John Muir Country Park, East Lothian

John Muir Country Park covers some of the most spectacular East Lothian coastline and is a haven for wildlife and people too. From the Castle Ruins in Dunbar, to the Peffer Burn six kilometres to the north, the Park includes the Cliff Top Trail, with fine views of the sea and the historic Bass Rock; the long sandy sweep of Belhaven Bay; the River Tyne estuary; and extensive areas of grassland, salt-marsh and woodland

Jurassic Coast, Devon and Dorset

The Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site is England’s first natural World Heritage Site – it is known as The Jurassic Coast. It covers 95 miles of truly stunning coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks recording 185 million years of the Earth’s history. With loads to keep kids entertained you can also set challenges to find fossils and evidence of it’s incredibly visible history.

Kelmscott, Gloucestershire

This is a particularly good picnic spot for a really hot day because it’s easy to take a dip in the Thames. The banks of the Thames are muddy so bring plenty of towels and perhaps wet shoes or old trainers for the sqeamish. A distinctly pastoral setting, an open grassy area with shady trees on one side and the river on the other, it is where William Morris used to go rowing. You can also visit the Kelmscott manor, William Morris’ summer home. Although there is an entrance fee here

Langdon Bay

Langdon Bay is a bay in east Kent, England. It is two miles east of the town of Dover, and is named after the nearby villages of Langdon, East Langdon and West Langdon. The area above the cliffs is now a chalk downland nature reserve owned by the National Trust, looking down on Dover Harbour and the Channel, and centred around the ‘Gateway to the White Cliffs’ Visitor Centre. Large parts of this reserve, and of this section of clif ftop in general, is an SSSI, AONB and Heritage Coast. Another nearby historic site is the South Foreland Lighthouse, also an NT property.

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle, set on two islands on the River Len in the heart of Kent in England, has been fortified for more than 900 years. Open all year round, its special blend of heritage and history, glorious gardens, attractions, programme of events, and licensed restaurant make it the perfect choice for a day out.

Lundy Island

Lundy lies off the coast of North Devon, where the Atlantic ocean meets the Bristol Channel, a granite outcrop, three and a half miles long and half a mile wide. In the hubbub of the modern world it is a place apart, peaceful and unspoilt. Take the boat out to the island and spend the day exploring and enjoying a picnic knowing there is nothing between you and America

Manor Park Country Park

Once part of an 18th century estate, created by Thomas Douce, Manor Park is an attractive location with plenty for the whole family to enjoy. Located just a short walk south of West Malling town centre, Manor Park has a large, open green space and an attractive lake, perfect for a family day out! Manor Park is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest with a variety of native trees, providing habitats for many creatures. Squirrels, woodpeckers, nuthatches, blue tits and robins are all found in the park. The lake and the surrounding copses support an abundance of wildlife, including swans, coot, moorhen, mallard and dabchicks.

Mugdock Country Park, near Milngavie, Glasgow

Pack up your picnic and head to Mugdock park. There are lots of things to see and do – there is something to suit everyone! Walking, cycling, horse riding, archery, orienteering, trails, children’s play area – you can even enjoy a barbeque!

Padley Gorge, Derbyshire

Padley Gorge is one of the finest remaining examples of oak and birch woodland that once covered many Dark Peak valleys. Down below, Burbage Brook – the largest water course running through the Longshaw estate – tumbles over the massive boulders beneath. This is a popular spot for walkers, picnickers and families in all seasons but beware! – it is also a prized habitat for many small creatures from rare birds to hairy ants which have contributed to its designation as a site of special scientific interest.

Porthcurno Beach, Cornwall

Get to the bottom of the hit-and-miss path to Porthcurno, and you’ll feel as though you’ve stumbled into the Mediterranean – steeply shelving powder-fine sand, an almost luminous blue sea and cliffs sheltering you from the sea breezes. This is a stunningly beautiful beach. It isn’t right for surfers, and shelves deeply. (There is a lifeguard in summer, during the day) Perfect for a picnic on a warm summer’s evening.

Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire

Ragley Hall, Park and Gardens, Warwickshire’s leading sustainable country estate. Ragley has something for everyone. Adventure playground for the kids, stunning gardens, lakes and of course the Jerwood Sculpture collection. Well worth spending a very happy day exploring this beautiful estate and stately home.

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Arundel, West Sussex

Arundel Wetland Centre has 26 hectares of naturalised landscapes and wetland habitats, home to kingfishers, water voles and many hundreds of wildfowl. Attractions for young visitors include our pond skaters adventure and tree creeper play area. Set in ancient woodlands in the middle of the South Downs; adjacent to the River Arun; overlooked by the historic Arundel Castle skyline the centre also attracts many wild birds to the lakes, reed beds and woodland areas on the site. Free Safaris on quiet, electric boats are offered everyday weather permitting. Gliding along the waterways of the new Wetlands Discovery area you can discover the joys of seeing wild flora & fauna in their natural environment. Due to the high child to adult ratio this attraction is not offered to school groups.

Winkworth Arboretum, Surrey

Established in the 20th century, this hillside arboretum now contains more than 1,000 different shrubs and trees, many of them rare. The most impressive displays are in spring, with magnolias, bluebells and azaleas, and autumn, when the colour of the foliage is stunning. In the summer it is an ideal place for family days out and picnics.

The Angel of the North, Gateshead

One of the most impressive sculptures in Europe and what a cool place to picnic. In the shade of wingspan greater than a 757. Over 90’000 people zoom past it everyday but very few take the time to really look at it. Over 20 metres tall (taller then 4 double decker buses stacked on top of each other) and able to withstand winds in excess of 100mph. It is believed to be the largest angel sculpture in the world

The Naze, Essex

The Naze Tower is dramatically situated on cliffs at the Naze, an attractive natural headland stretching northwards from the seaside town of Walton-on-the-Naze into the North Sea. Derived from the old English word ‘naes’ meaning promontory or, more literally, nose, the Naze is a hidden gem where land meets sea. It is well known for the historic Naze Tower, its ancient fossils, the wildlife and its ongoing battle against the sea. They are popular with fossil hunters as they are rich in fossils that are up to 55 million years old, such as pyritised wood, sharks’ teeth and shells. The Naze is a popular ‘public open space’ which is well used for recreation and learning. There is also the John Weston Nature Reserve and numerous walking options on the cliff top, the beach, out to Stone Point and on the public footpath along the sea wall around to Walton Backwaters. This large area of tidal creeks, islands and salt marsh behind the Naze is a National Nature Reserve and a RAMSAR site, internationally important as a wetland for birds. Check the Walton Tide Timetable for your visit

Tower Hill Tea Gardens, Kent

This is a lovely relax/ sit down area, where the little tea hut sells cakes, biscuits, sandwiches and drinks, this is a great place for a family picnic. The tea gardens themselves are well maintained with beautiful flowering bushes. There is a great variety of seating with a larger grassed area to one side, which is great for picnic blankets and for children to run around. Based just up the hill from the sea and opposite Whitstable Castle. Really nice spot to chill an watch the boats doing their thing. Nice gardens with tables an chairs scattered about.

Wellington Country Park, Riseley, BerkshireCheck opening times – As a destination for a picnic, BBQ or just some fun in the fresh air, Wellington Country Park offers a safe, open air venue for all the family. Be it for a day or for just a few hours, with free parking, Wellington Country Park is the place to visit!! Set in 350 acres of beautiful parklands surrounding a 35 acre lake, there are numerous activities to keep the kids happy:- Adventure play area, toddler’s area, sand pits, water play, slides, miniature railway, enchanted forest, nature trail maze, 9 holes of crazy golf, plus an assortment of play equipment to climb in and on, will all ensure a fun filled day for all! Within our woodlands, there are four nature trails to follow taking in sights of our vast array of wildlife in their natural habitat.

If you liked this article, please share it on del.icio.us or on Digg. I’d appreciate it. :)

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Why do alarms go off rather than on?

Posted on August 8, 2010 by admin

Origin of the term Born with a Silver Spoon
Sometimes, as parents we do things we really don’t want to do. And then we rope the kids into doing it too, despite the fact that they don’t want to do it either.

‘It’s fun!!’ we cry, trying to stimulate a tiny glimmer of enthusiasm.The fact that, when we were kids the act of traipsing around a museum was tantamount to torture doesn’t stop us putting our own kids through it.

So there I was on Friday dragging my kids to a museum that none of us wanted to see. I loathe museums. Boring dusty places that you walk through as quick as possible then try and escape past the overpriced gift shop without the kids seeing something they just HAD to have.

And not only was I at a museumyfied place I was having to pay, heavily, for the privilege of being there!

But! It just goes to show you – constant optimism has it’s place. We had a wonderful time. We learned loads, the kids were old enough to dismiss the tat in the gift shop, we stayed out of the rain and we came away inspired.

Anne Hathaway’s little cottage. Anne Hathway?

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Travelling with kids

Posted on July 28, 2010 by admin
Raise money for schools

For my fortieth, in all my wisdom I decided to take the kids (then aged 9 and 11) out of school and travel around the world.

We travelled about 10′ooo miles overland through Southern Africa, Singapore and Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, the Cook Islands and the United States.

We got some serious miles under our belts and the children learned, pretty quickly, that saying ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ simply wasn’t going to work!
‘Are we nearly there yet?’ was, to begin with, five months away.

We travelled on coaches, buses, trains, planes. We hired cars, four wheel drives, bicycles and campervans and we learned to travel.

This article is some useful tips on how to stave off boredom on a long distance trip.

Take a Break

Don’t push them – or yourself. Take frequent breaks. It’s an important opportunity for everyone in the car to use the restroom, stretch their legs, and get a little exercise. Breaks in your drive will give everyone the opportunity to re energize and press on.

Feeling Sleepy

If you can’t take a break immediately (there were places in Africa where I felt that stopping could be potentially life threatening and in Australia where long roads didn’t offer safe stops.)

  • Listen to loud music and sing along despite what the children say.
  • Open the windows wide
  • Eat something

Along the way we learned many tricks and games to make the time go faster.

(Suggestion If you have a good list of games print them out and keep them in easy reach in the car – So often we’d say – ‘let’s play something fun’ then immediately have our minds go totally blank despite actually having a list.)

Games for the kids alone:

Electronic games (both girls had Game boys)

DVD’s – Some of the families we met up with let their kids watch dvd’s on the way but that seemed to defeat the object of seeing a new country as far as I was concerned

the girls played card games and top trumps across the back seat

They drew on each others backs and guessed what the other was drawing

Travelling with kids

Bicycle hire in Key West, Florida

And to keep mum awake

We sang endlessly (and badly) along to the radio, the Ipod, Christmas Carols and made up our own songs

We played eye spy (nearly sent me to sleep every time so not my strong favourite!)

We loved the Alphabet Game where you had to find a name for every letter of the alphabet. For example girls names, Alex, Belinda, Clara, Diana, Lisa ….

One of our favourites was the memory game. The first person would start, ‘I went to the woods and I saw a witch,’. The second person would carry on, ‘I went to the woods and I saw a witch and a carrot,’. The next person would see a witch, a carrot and an umbrella and so it would go on. The most we ever remembered was over 50 items.

Word Association was great too as we really didn’t have to think hard, all we had to say was what we associated with the previous word. For example: Boat = sail = water = dolphin. This could be really funny too.

Just a minute was good value too. Where you have to speak for a minute without repeating yourself, hesitating or saying er or um. Another variation of this was not saying the word yes or no.

The Number Plate Game: Take the nearest number plate for the first group of three letters. The first letter is the initial of the person’s name; the second is where they work, and the third where they live. The same idea worked well with numbers too in that we’d see a number plate like GHT 256 K. Gina works in hotel and lives in Tokyo and she is 32.
How did I get 32? And the girls would work out what I timesed, added, divided etc to reach that number

Scavenger Hunt for Road Trips
We’d all have a list of things to watch for while we drove and the first to tick all the boxes was the winner
We’d watch for things like:
Church, Kangaroo, Silo, Traffic lights, ambulance, possum, caravan, picket fence, fir tree, oak tree etc etc. This can be as challenging as you want.

Educational (not exactly riveting but meant we were doing homework as we travelled so we had less to do when we reached our destination)

Each of the children took turns to be the navigator while I proceeded to get hopelessly lost under their direction their map reading did improve.

They worked out how far it was to our destination by road, by river or as the crow flew

We listened to our French and German lessons on the Ipod broadcast through the car speakers

We did times tables, division, square roots

We played word association and spelling

We played thesaurus. Another word for judge – sagacious, another word for argue – debate, another word for lessen – diminish and so on and so forth

We played dictionary – striations – those rocks ahead have striations what does this mean and how in geographic terms did this happen?

The kids worked out how much petrol we used, worked out how long it would take to get somewhere at our current speed, they guessed how much it would cost to fill up at the next petrol station and would tell me how much it would have been in Sterling, Singapore dollars, Malaysian Ringats, Australia etc

Story Books

We also loaded a number of children’s audio books onto the Ipod. This made the hours whizz by and even I found myself laughing, in fact so hysterically at Jacqueline Wilson’s Cat Mummy that at one point that I had to pull over.
We got these books free from the library and it was a great way of making time flow on the long drives.

Extracted from the website GrownUpGapYear

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Boredom – a definition

Posted on July 27, 2010 by admin

Free things to do

Boredom, in itself, is actually a lot less boring than we might think. It’s also worth reading this article because if you or your friends or family suffer easily from boredom you might find some useful tips on beating it. And beat it you should or else it might affect your long term health and happiness.

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Boredom is the way you feel when you’re not doing much or when you’re not interested in any of the opportunities around you.

Why is Boredom a problem?

People are afraid of boredom. It can demotivate them, leave them uninspired and pull them down into depression. Without stimulation a person can feel swamped with nothingness. Feel that life is meaningless; a pointless exercise. Willpower is lost.

Boredom diminishes the quality of life and is very bad for morale. It’s thought to be one of the main reasons why all the smart kids flunk at school. Insufficient stimulus causes them to give up.

Science investigations suggest that health problems can be lain at the door of boredom as it can weaken the immune defense system, and is also bad for your mental state of health. It may be the first step towards depression.

Physically boredom can cause drowsiness, irritability and everything seems to be an effort.

Who is more likely to get bored?

People without hobbies or interests. People who aren’t able to entertain themselves. (This is a learned skill.)

A pessimist is more likely to feel bored than an optimist, as the optimist is less demanding and more likely to find things with which to occupy his/her mind.

What causes boredom?

  • The need to concentrate on a single subject for a long period of time.
  • Waiting for things (trains, buses, planes, late people, delayed appointments and being stuck in queues).
  • A total lack of interest in the things that surround you.
  • Being in the company of ‘boring’ people. People whose interests aren’t in anyway similar to yours and/or are poor communicators.

By changing the way you do routine things you allow a new person to grow inside of you. – Paulo Coehlo

6 good cures for boredom

1. Check and see if you are bored.You might not be aware that what you are suffering from is boredom. If you are feeling a little depressed, sleepy, a little grumpy the you are very possibly bored. But instead of immediately rushing out and doing something that will in itself become boring in time sit with your boredom. Understand it. Know it. Learn it and when you resume your activities you will have a greater consciousness of your patterns of behaviour and be more sympathetic to them. Which is a much better place to be.

2. Like attracts like. If you are prone to boredom, don’t surround yourself with people who are, to you, boring. Mix with people who are part of your solution, not your problem.

3. Participate as well as observe. Many many people when they are bored will open a book, watch a game, eat something. The trick is, while it’s fine to read, great to watch your favourite sport, okay to eat, you need to put the shoe on the other foot too. Read – but also write – just as you read, write with passion. Watch – but just as you watch also play with energy and commitment. Consume – but also manufacture; bake that towering three tier cake, create that perfect menu. Get the brain juices flowing.

4. Be spontaneous – irrational. As a parent I am all too aware of the constant round of activity parents seem to put into place for their children. And the children learn to be rationalized into activity. School finishes at x, then there’s football practice, tea, guitar, and finally maths tuition and then bed – because that’s how it fits, how it works best … and the same all over again tomorrow. There is no room to train the brain to act spontaneously, to educate to learn itself out of boredom. Time is rationlised into neat compartments – and that very rationalization becomes mindlessly boring in itself.

5. Catch up. Make the effort to contact old friends and catch up with them. Be sure to try and find out about THEM and their lives. It’s not about your past 12 weeks, 12 months, 12 years. Get the mind focused on them rather than yourself and you’ll be lifted out of boredom so fast you’ll be dizzy. Conversation – not gossip – but conversation, a sharing of ideas is a sacred connection between all people. Celebrate it.

6. Analysis cause paralysis – stop thinking about it and DO it. The more time you think and plan and analyse it is less time spent doing it. While certain plans need to put in place. You can just push away form your desk and start your trek to the north pole without consequence. But if the consequences aren’t hugely important to you recognise this and do it. Things have a way of working out.

You drown not by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it. - Paulo Coelho

Psychology of Boredom

Boredom has been defined by C. D. Fisher in terms of its central psychological processes: “an unpleasant, transient affective state in which the individual feels a pervasive lack of interest in and difficulty concentrating on the current activity.”

Or in other words, when you just can’t be bothered. With anything. And given half a chance you’d be happy just to sleep.

Philosophy of Boredom

Boredom is a what happens when you believe that your surroundings are dull, tedious and don’t offer stimulation. This can be because you have too much time on your hands and a lack of interests and hobbies.

Heidegger puts this concept across nicely: “Profound boredom, drifting here and there in the abysses of our existence like a muffling fog, removes all things and men and oneself along with it into a remarkable indifference. This boredom reveals being as a whole.”

Arthur Schopenhauer used the existence of boredom in an attempt to prove the vanity of human existence, stating, “…for if life, in the desire for which our essence and existence consists, possessed in itself a positive value and real content, there would be no such thing as boredom: mere existence would fulfill and satisfy us.

More facts about boredom

The first record of the word boredom is in the novel Bleak House by Charles Dickens, written in 1852. Previous to that the expression to be a bore had been used in the sense of “to be tiresome or dull” since 1768.

Battling boredom

When boredom has become so entrenched and you need to escape to activity, find fun things to do visit the website find-fun.co.uk with over 1000 activities and growing

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Dealing with boredom

Posted on July 26, 2010 by admin

BoredomI caved and took my youngest bouldering (climbing) in Blackpool. I swore blind I wasn’t going to be a taxi these summer holidays yet not 24 hours later I was once more acting taxi not to mention mobile cash machine.

What went wrong??

Well she arranged the whole thing which took initiative. She made the phone calls, found out how much it cost, where it was, times etc. She also arranged a friend to go with her. AND she arranged a lift home.

So when it comes to telling them that these holidays are the holidays where things are strictly up to them – they have to entertain themselves and not to look to me for inspiration where does the above fall?

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Free things to do in the UK

Posted on July 25, 2010 by admin

Free things to do
24 interesting things to do that are free or very nearly free. It’s just up to you get there!

From Dolphin spotting to free cinema, from Wild Ponies to Steam trains – all these and more. You can find all of these listed on Find-fun with map pointing and images.

1 -  Spinningfields, Manchester
Spinningfields is a large business, retail and residential development in Manchester.  A great family friendly place to visit with loads of free options and great things to see and do. Screenfields is Manchester’s first outdoor cinema, the screenings are completely free, you don’t need a ticket, simply turn up and enjoy! Deckchairs and picnic blankets can be hired on a first come first serve basis or you can bring your own. Alcohol cannot be brought into the venue, but drinks can be purchased from The Giraffe bar. Picnics, popcorn and a barbecue are all available if you’re feeling peckish. Family films will be screened on Saturdays during the summer holidays and are completely free to enter.

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Bored kids. Who’s responsible?

Posted on July 24, 2010 by admin

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I have two kids. I love them very much and I would imagine I tend to spoil them although I try not to. Their father and I are not together and last night he said something that made me think. Every time the kids are with them they apparently harp on and on about being bored. Unable to entertain themselves.

I wonder how much of that is my fault. At home they have a thousand things to entertain themselves with. Wii’s, Television. DVD’s (endless), books, games,  arts, crafts, hobbies and when all else fails there’s me. And they come to me with whiny voices, Mum, I’m bored!!!

It’s my belief that children should entertain themselves (up to a certain point). So here we are, at the start of the summer holidays and I’ve made a vow, to myself and the kids that this holiday isn’t going to have heaps of money thrown at it. It isn’t going to mean endless hours acting as mom’s taxi and it isn’t going to mean a stream of other people’s bored kids coming to our door! (Which isn’t to say they’re not allowed to have friends around. The point is how many!)

The children will entertain themselves. Come up with their own ideas for activities and these activities must be free or nearly free.

We’re fighting boredom at grass roots level.  Watch this space.

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