Nativity 3, Dude Where's My Donkey

On Sunday we were so lucky to get the opportunity to watch the Nativity 3 Premier at The Odeon Cinema, at the Trafford Centre Manchester. The Premier supported The Save The Children Christmas Jumper Day, so off we went; I in my Christmas jumper ready to watch the film.

When new "teacher" Mr. Shepherd loses his memory in a nasty accident along with the nativity Donkey Archie, the students of St Bernadette's set off on a mission to save the day. Return Mr Shepherds memory, and attempt to get him to New York to marry his fiancée Sophie and make his daughters Christmas wish come true, by giving her a new mummy. And also discover the whereabouts of Archie.

This is definitely not a film for the serious logical adult, I don't mean that in a negative way; but the story breaks every rule of logic and normality. It really does require you to leave the serious adult side of you outside the cinema door. 

My Sunday Photo, The Beautiful Tower Bridge

The Hay Loft Coffee Shop, Higham

I just wanted to share a small post today about the Hay Loft at Roaming Roosters in Higham, Lancashire. I visited with my  friend Liane on Friday, and just had to share how lovely this little Coffee Shop is. I have been a few times before but never got photos so have been unable to post about it.   

           

It  is the cutest little coffee shop. What I love about it, is it  an intimate room that is part of Roaming Roosters, my favourite butchers/farm shop in the world. Yes, I know that is a big and very bold statement. But the meat is great and the butchers offer advice on the best cuts to buy, how to cook etc. You can also buy ready made fresh meals like salt and pepper chicken, spare ribs and tandoori chicken. These are perfect for mid week meals when you have been at work all day and just want a good quality meal that is ready to put in the oven. They also sell fruit and veg and the best pink fizz, along with a great little deli bar. 

The Natural History Museum London

Over the summer we took a trip to the Natural History Museum in London. We have taken the boys once before and they loved it and Joe was desperate to visit again. Luckily our great friends Ruth Darren and Finlay were visiting London at the same time so we all met up and visited together.

What absolutely amazes me is that is it free, I can't get over this as it must cost a fortune to maintain and run, and there is always something new to see. 

Joe and Fin loved the planet earth section and found going up the escalator into a red glowing planet really exciting, to be honest they whizzed around this section buzzing from one stand to another looking at the pictures, trying the interactive features. Whilst the rest of us took our time and read the notes attached to the exhibits. It was quite difficult to read and keep one eye on that pair buzzing excitedly around. They loved the earthquake simulator, and found the whole section around that very interesting.

But what they really wanted to see was the dinosaurs, last time we visited Joe was only 2 and found it really frightening, it was great that this time he really enjoyed it. And spent some time looking at all the species, marvelling at how huge they are. 

Visiting Shakespeare's Birth Place

When we visited Stratford-Upon-Avon this year I was desperate to visit Shakespeare's home, the house is so stunning from the outside and we never got to visit last time we were in Stratford. Its weird isn't it? Shakespeare is one of those names I cant ever remember not knowing, you are aware of him very early on in life, although I did not become aware of his works until high school.

The boys were not initially keen to visit but I insisted they give it a try as surely this is better way of leaning about William Shakespeare than reading it from a book of hearing from a teacher who no matter how enthused they are cannot recreate the feeling of being in the presence of his soul that you feel in his birthplace home. 

We visited two homes of the estate, although I wish we had time to visit them all. The first being Shakespeare birthplace the family home on Henley Street, he born on the 23rd April 1564 to John and Mary Arden Shakespeare. He grew up in this very house itself, it is fascinating to walk around the corridors of the home he would have played as a boy with his 7 brothers and sisters. He married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18 and continued to live here for a further 5 years.

My Sunday Photo, Sleeping Beauty's Castle

A Day on The Banks of the River Avon

We recently enjoyed an idyllic day on the banks of the River Avon. We had visited Stratford-Upon-Avon last year but had planned lots, and left no time to just chill. The banks of the river looked just amazing. So this year we decided to revisit and spend a day with a picnic by the river.

We were so lucky with the weather it was just glorious, we walked into town and had a little mooch around the lovely shops and then headed to Sainsbury's to purchase our picnic. Once we found a spot under a tree, which was half in the sun and half in the shade we set up our little area. 

Keeping Kids Busy During Holidays, 5 Tips to Entertain Kids on A Day Out

Keeping the Boys busy in the summer holidays is not always easy when you have 2 children with a 5-year age gap; it never used to be a problem. But the gap seems bigger than ever now. Although one plus side is they argue ever so slightly less with Jack being older, thank goodness. The problem is, with this gap, they enjoy different things. We are finding they key is to get them both to learn to compromise and find things they both enjoy in one activity, or day out. 

Tip 1, Food. 

I take food wherever I go, if all else fails have a pit stop. When Jack is active he needs to keep refuelling and testing his sugar so that his sugar levels don't drop. He is getting very good at managing this now without overdoing it, which can result in high blood sugar. 

Joe would eat anything at any time, I just can’t fill him, and to be honest it drives me mad, as how can somebody be constantly hungry? But he is.  So the BN biscuits were a great little snack to have on us for our trip. Joe loved both flavours, and happily munched on them whenever dished out and Jack loved the Chocolate flavour, they were just enough carbs for him to have a snack, so that was great, and he really enjoyed them. 

Tip 2, Get the Train.

What is it about kids and trains? They find it so exciting. Getting on the train or tube is not a novelty to the Boys at all. They have travelled by train regularly throughout their lives, yet still this is their preferred mode of transport. On this trip we got the train into London and then spent all day hopping on and off the tube, they were in their element. I think people watching is a big part of it. 

They also enjoyed posing with their biscuits and pulling silly faces for this post, so that kept them busy for quite some time, they got some odd looks from other passengers, posing with biscuits, but I am sure this egged them on a bit. 

The Tower of London, So Much to See and Do.

Wow the Tower of London, forget the kids I learnt so much about London’s history here.  It is amazing!

We were not planning to visit the Tower last half term, but as we got the train from Upminster this was were we ended up. We had planned to go to the Natural History Museum. However when we came out of the station the Tower was there. So imposing, and impressive.

 

So after a quick family conference and bribing Joe £5.00 to put the Natural History Museum of until August, we decided to spend the day here. Now we were so lucky, have you ever noticed the booklets at the train and tube stations about days out in London, well next time you visit London pick one up as there is all sorts off offers to get in many of the London attractions, buy one get one free. I picked one up so was prepared; I also had a few spare vouchers in book, so handed them out to people in the queue too.  Inside the Tower grounds are huge, it is actually larger than my local village and people still live in the grounds.

Ladies Day Playing Golf

Yesterday we were so lucky that our college paid for us to have a golf lesson, yes in works time, its great isn’t it. It is part of an initiative called health and well being day. At the end of every academic year college hosts an event, where you can get involved in a host of activities. This year the offering was fantastic; I wanted to choose all of them, there was archery, climbing, golf, massages walking and running. They then round up the day with a staff BBQ and live music. We decided as a team to try golf. I have been to the driving range but was rubbish, and as Chris and Jack occasionally play I would like to improve so I can play when they play.

So off Lisa, Louse, Annette, Claire and myself went with 26 others from college to Marsden Park Golf Course. It was chaos at first; there was a mix of expert golfers right down to complete novices like myself. Then experience golfers met and went off on their own a bit sharpish, I think to save their street cred from all of us giddy novices. 

The Windows Bus

A couple of weeks ago whilst on a college trip, Claire, Annette and myself came across the Windows Bus. We had no idea what it was all about but were ushered on by some very enthusiastic staff that offered us an ice cream at the end of tour as a reward, ha ha I know; aren’t we cheap dates.

We were at Alton Towers and it was a red-hot day; it was a great pitch to get you on the bus, and the promise of earning toppings for our ice cream was tempting. But firstly I have to talk about the bus; it was just like it had been a project on George Clarke’s amazing spaces. A favorite program, in the Christie household. It was cleverly kitted out with a kitchen, lounge and office area. It was really creatively designed to make the most of the space. 

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

I thought I would share Our Edinburgh Tattoo experience today; I booked the tattoo under extreme duress, I just wasn't sure if it was really my cup of tea. However the boys adore the army, soldiers and castles so we knew they would absolutely love it. But wow, how wrong could I be, the whole event is just breath taking.

We were so lucky that the weather was glorious when we arrived in Edinburgh so we headed to TGI Fridays for a quick lunch had a wander on Princess Street. Then spent the afternoon sunbathing in the gorgeous park that surrounded the castle, it was so cosmopolitan, I had never visited Edinburgh before, I don't know what I expected but it wasn't this sunny, trendy, city with the most amazing atmosphere. 

We were fortunate that the Edinburgh fringe festival was just about to start so there were street entertainers on most corners, as we  meandered up to the castle, we visited the occasional wine bar and stopped to watch the odd street performer. If our day had stopped there is would have been a fantastic day.

Harry Potter Studios, Part 4

Now for my final Harry Potter post, wow this was my absolute favourite part. We were half way through our tour when we turned a corner and there it was Diagon Alley. I must say I was a bit over giddy, if fact the boys were again rolling their eyes at me.

It was THE Diagon Alley and it was amazing. We spent ages looking in all the shop windows; it must have been fantastic to be part of the crew and working here every day. 

 

I particularly loved Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. It looked so exciting, the sort of shop Jack would love. It was surreal seeing Flourish and Blotts Booksellers with professor Professor Gilderoy Lockharts photo in the window.

Brit Mums Live, Wow

This weekend I went to Brit Mums Live, an amazing blogging conference in London. I was so lucky that as I have set up an educational blog at work, my college supported me and paid for me to go the event. I was so excited, but very nervous about the event. Being a very new blogger I had no idea what to expect. Would all the bloggers all be as lovely as they seem on their blogs? Would I be totally out of my depth?

I need not have worried. I went with my friend and colleague Lisa and we were made to feel so welcome. It was like being a child in a sweet shop, lots of amazing seminars to suit every bloggers taste, expert experienced bloggers on hand to give tips and advice.

Brit Mums Live, Getting To Manchester

When we booked our train to London to visit Brit Mums, Lisa confided to me that she was slightly concerned about traveling around London. I reassured her that traveling in London was not an issue, having lived in Essex and worked in London I am more that competent at finding me way around. 

No what concerned me was getting to Manchester train station in one piece, she looked at me like I was stark raving mad. Yes I love Manchester City for shopping, and nights out but I never drive there!! I drive to Trafford Centre but not Manchester.

Support from Chris Hmmm, I wasn't driving the train.

My concerns were correct; in fact Lisa may never travel in a car with me again. I took the wrong turning from the motorway. Well it wasn't wrong, just not a way I knew, poor Lisa was furiously reading the map to keep us on track.

Harry Potter Part 3, The Creatures.

For part 3 of my Harry Potter tour, I wanted to share some pictures of the creatures. I must say this room was fantastic, jammed pack full, and showed some real behind the scenes goodies; it gave away secrets of how things were done. I won't ruin it and share those secrets; you need to visit to feel the full magic. But the pictures are great to see never the less.

The model of Griphook was so realistic, there were many Goblin heads on show, all equally realistic. I felt  like I was being watched when I looked at it. Like he would blink or speak at any time.

100 Happy Days, Day 85, Wohoo Packing for Brit Mums

For today I have chosen my suitcase, I have decided what to wear from Brit Mums Live and started packing today.  I am so lucky that my College is supporting me to attend, I have developed a blog for my students so am going in a professional capacity. It is my first visit as a newby blogger, I am sooooo excited, and a little nervous. 

Warwick Castle, The Beauty of the Castle Grounds.

For today's post I wanted to share some pictures to show the pure beauty of Warwick castle. This Castle was originally built in 1068 and then rebuilt in the 12th Century. Since then it has had many rebuilds and additions. And has seen events of huge historical importance unfold within the walls. 

The Castle sits on the River Avon and sets the most beautiful backdrop against the sky.