PYO

 

The other week I met up with a friend and her little one to go strawberry picking. It was at a lovely little farm just 10 minutes away. They only have strawberries, but as it was Stan's first PYO (and mine for such a long time) it was easy to do. Their crop was already running low I think due to the amazing 3 weeks of glorious sunshine, but what they did have left was gloriously plump and red. They ask you not to eat before you pay, which is just about easy enough for me to manage, but for the toddlers it was too much temptation!

sneaking in a strawberry

We managed a pretty good haul and celebrated with a picnic in the field nearby. A really nice morning. Most of the strawberries we ate with meringues and cream, but I blended the rest up with a mango to make the most intense ice lolly mixture. So good. Makes a real difference when you pick your own and don't buy shop ones. Even the best supermarket strawberries are never red all the way through!

WOODLAND WALKS

Since we've had some not too bad weather for a British Summer. (Seriously Summer where the FLIPPING HECK are you?) Me and Stan have been enjoying our extrememly precious one day a week together. We have been getting out and about as much as possible. Stan has developed quite a nice love for the outdoors. I think having a green fingered daddy helps a lot. Ben spends Mondays with him so I can have an extra day working and they seem to spend most of going out in the backpack (we bought a similar one to this off ebay) or hanging out in the garden planting up vegetables. I'm keen to encourage this nature loving side in S in the vain hope he'll still be into that at 15 rather than all the naughty girls at school. A mother can hope right? Right? Who I'm kidding I know who his dad is....

Anyway most recently we have explored the Arundel Wetlands Centre and fed (thrown) bird seed for all the new ducklings around.

The Friston Forest at Cuckmere was lovely. And a nice change from our normal route of wondering down the river valley to the sea to go rock pooling.

We had an impromptu day at Woods Mill near Small Dole recently. That was great - free parking and a lovely dipping pond which contained SO MANY tadpoles! We are going back this Friday to see if they have legs next. Stan love the book 'Tadpoles Promise' so is really interested to see them grow into frogs! We also spotted a great many damselflies and dragon flies and had the place to ourselves. I want to go back soon with Ben and the backpack so we can explore further....little toddler legs can only go so far!

It is amazing really what is so close to us. I feel very lucky to live in such a glorious part of the UK with the sea and the Sussex Downs just 5 minutes in the car in either direction. Need to make the most of it while we still have a little bit of the precious summer months left!

As you can see, Stanley's exploring outfit of choice is these mega comfy red trousers from Boys&Girls (he requests them A LOT!) and a grey hoodie from H&M he's lived in since he was about 9 months old!

Any of you in Sussex? Any top outdoor tips you'd recommend? I'd love to know if you are local!

A CHRISTMAS WALK

Which started pretty well but ended not so great! Ben got given a pub walks book for his birthday and keen to test it out with friends we set of the other day around half 2. We set out from the Half Moon pub in plumpton. The weather was beautiful - a low, warmish sun and pretty winter light. All was well with the babies snuggled and warm in their backpacks.

Yes it is true - we have matching backpacks we both bought off eBay! (Vaude, if you are interested...) the walk was only 3 miles long, and although it was uphill for a bit of it, it was totally worth it for these views.

Everything was fine until right after I took these photos of the cows. Then both kiddos decided they'd had enough at exactly the same time and without any real warning just decided enough was enough with the walk and they started to cry. Pretty loudly, and would not be comforted or bribed with snacks. Both myself and and my friend had to remove babies from back packs and wobble downhill carrying them in our arms with cries of "mummy mummy" still coming from them!

To add insult to injury the pub kitchen closed 10 mins before we got there. Still, what we learnt from this experience was to go a little earlier in the day when it was warmer, no further than 2 miles, and always check pub kitchen timings! At least we enjoyed a swift ale and some warming up time by the open fire before heading home. I now more than ever though want to move to the country. Around where we walked is ideal, such beautiful countryside, nice pubs and lovely little villages. Money is stopping us move for now, so the farm dreams will just have to wait a while. At least it is only a few minutes drive from our house at the moment to experience this stunning countryside....and I can keep dreaming of course ;)

ARUNDEL WETLAND CENTRE

So this glorious sunday just gone we took ourselves of to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust nearby at Arundel. It was a beautiful day and all the trees were a stunning range of shades of yellows, reds and browns, and I'd managed to put Stanley in the perfect Autumnal jumper! The place itself was great - we'd not been before but decided to become members, much like you do the National Trust etc. If we go 3 times a year we get our monies worth, and after Sunday's visit I know we'll go back. There was just the right amount to walk around and it wasn't too busy at all despite the amazing weather. Stanley really enjoyed seeing all the birds, and ducks and there were a few park areas, but not too many to detract from the main event, and all sensitively thought out with the surroundings in mind. It really bothers me when you pay a hefty entrance fee and there are so many play areas and all the kids obviously want to play instead of looking at whatever the heck it is you've paid for!

We had a good explore and there were lots of people walking around with binoculars and fancy long lens cameras and bird spotter books. I decided I'd be quite happy if Stanley was into birds, not that sort of course, I want him to be a mummies boy (I jest). But I'd quite like it if he was sensitive and quiet and into nature....ahhh I can but hope.

We even got to go on a boat, but we didn't see any water voles, just lots more ducks. It was a beautiful journey though, still and peaceful, and all in the foot of Arundel Castle. We can't wait to go back.