A Week in the New Forest (more Theme Parks)

We stayed near Ringwood for a few days, handily close to a couple of non-Merlin Theme Parks, which are of course compulsory visits for us.

Paultons Park has long been a favourite, with loads of rides for little ones, and now it has got even better with the addition of Peppa Pig World. It is just like being inside the TV programme and Mummy and George got very excited.

Not quite so exciting, but cute and fun is "Adventures in Wonderland" where George got to meet Peanuts the Guinea Pig and we watched a magic show.

Dressing Up

This time Ruby really excelled herself, even providing George with fake breasts!

Camping at Nantcol

The Royal Wedding Bank Holiday Weekend, and we took ourselves off camping to the North West Wales coast, near to Shell Island. A secluded campsite with lots of fun things for George to explore.

The view from our tent.

(Unfortunately it was an extremely windy weekend and our tent coped bravely until about 3am on the last night, when poles starting bending and the whole thing fell down around our ears - literally in George's case as he was still asleep inside while Mummy and Daddy were doing their best to keep it upright. Needless to say we got him out quickly when it became clear that it was a lost cause, and we all spent the rest of the night in the car before shoving all the bits into the car and heading home.)

London Marathon

A very long run for Daddy, and a trek around London for Mummy and George and Nanny Nette.

We spotted Daddy at three separate places en route, and George's reward for all that walking was an hour or so in the play area at St James's Park.

Bromley Fun Run

Since we have been supporting Daddy at various runs for the past few years, we thought it was about time we joined in. A 2K "fun run" seemed like a good start. George was excited about it, but some of the excitement wore off when the run was late starting, and he moaned most of the way round, especially when he managed to fall over and graze his knee.

But he was quite pleased to get his medal at the end.

Butlins Minehead

A whole week at Butlins (for a bargain price) and we found plenty to amuse ourselves. Lots of shows (Bob the Builder, Thomas the Tank Engine, Pingu, etc), some arts and crafts, plenty of climbing in the play areas, putting 2ps into machines, eating pancakes and hotdogs, and a trip to the beach. George particularly enjoyed spending an evening at the nursery, although he was upset that he got out-voted on his choice of video.

Three Days, Three Theme Parks

All the Theme Parks re-opened this week for the season, so Daddy and George couldn't wait to re-acquaint themselves with our closest three - Chessington, Thorpe Park and Legoland. Funnily enough, on weekdays in March, they weren't very busy.

Queen Convention

George's second year at the Queen Convention in Great Yarmouth - the highlight of which for him is the zip wire in the playground. But there was also the machines on the Pier, a game of ten-pin bowling, and a night at the Dogs.

Derby Kilomarathon

Another run for Daddy, another supporter's club outing for Mummy and George. But we got to stay in a nice hotel, so we weren't complaining. Except that George woke up with a crick in his neck which was very distressing for a couple of hours, but got a little better when we found the Disney Store.

Brighton Half Marathon

A trip to the seaside to cheer Daddy on as he ran past. Although George was frankly more interested in the sandpit and the prospect of lunch. And there don't seem to be any photos

Blackberry Wood Bus

We've had our eye on Blackberry Wood for a while - it's on the "cool campsites" list and always booked up about a year in advance for summer holidays and weekends. The camping pitches are little glades among the trees, and each comes with its own firepit (a rarity in camping circles these days, and probably one of the things that makes it so popular.)



But the thing that I really liked the look of was the converted double-decker bus which you can stay in. So when we happened to spot a free weekend on the website, we went for it. George, unsurprisingly, was extremely excited when we told him we were going to sleep on a bus. And here it is:

Inside, the downstairs is the kitchen/dining room. Upstairs is the bedroom

and lounge area. It was surprisingly cosy, considering the time of year.

It was a very windy weekend - not great when you are trying to sleep on the top deck of a double decker bus, but perfect for flying the Spiderman kite Daddy got in his work's Secret Santa.

For some reason Daddy felt the need to have a fire in front of the bus. George and Mummy watched from the kitchen, with the electric heater on full.

Just Another Day in Space.

George has new pyjamas - Buzz Lightyear pyjamas. At the moment they are his clear favourites and he hates it when they are in the wash and he can't wear them. And here he is doing something that would be alien to most Space Rangers (geddit?) He's making his own bath bombs. Just to prove that he is still very much in touch with his feminine side. And because he likes it when they fizz.

The Best Birthday Party in the World Ever!

The children of North Wales don't know how lucky they are. In Mold there is a sweet shop which also has what in London would be called a Ceramics Cafe. And they do Birthday Parties! I can't imagine anything better (but maybe that says more about me than anything else.)

Nanny Nette and Grandad Ron very kindly arranged for George to have his 4th Birthday Party here, and even found children to invite - Mold not being particularly local for anyone George knows in London. And a good time was had by all.

This is only part one of the fun-packed afternoon: painting personalised glass jars with glass paints. Then it's off to the sweet shop to fill up your jar with whatever you fancy from the groaning shelves. More painting follows - this time, something wooden. Then it's all about the food - a slushie drink, a pancake, and ice cream. Plus of course the birthday cake moment:

At the end of the party all the children have a go on a pin ball machine where you get to keep the ball. And as if that wasn't enough, when the party bags came out they were each accompanied by a big bag of candy floss and a little bag of popcorn.

Now if only it was a bit closer to home, I'd have my next birthday party there.

Birth Minute Photo!

Isn't he lovely?