GOOD OLD FASHIONED FUN!

So the weekend just gone we went camping. A friend of ours, their father owns some land as he is a bee keeper. I know right?! An actual bee keeper. So cool. So we had wanted to test out camping with Stan for a while but didn't have the time or funds to commit to a big old affair. Anyway said friend invites us up to their father's field to have a fun night under the stars. Well it really was so much fun. The kids LOVED it - seriously, no little tikes plastic stuff anywhere yet they were as happy as larry making mud pies (or pesto pasta as my friends child insisted!) and stepping across cut logs before the 'crocodile' got them, catching insects in their nets, inspecting owl poo for bones, swinging on the tractor tyre swing and going for (slightly dicey, thanks Ben!) wheelbarrow rides!

The kids went to bed in the tents with not too much fuss and us grown ups went crazy (sat around for a while) drinking cider and chatting. The night itself was colder than I expected, (or maybe the last time I went camping was Glasto and therefore I had my beer jacket on...) but having Stan in with us was although uncomfortable as he totally took over the airbed (how do they do that?!) I felt better knowing he was cosy warm in with us! The next morning we had cups of tea and fried egg sandwiches and we took it turns playing hide and seek with the kids all trying desperately to get some rest by 'hiding' in the tents - no such luck!

We packed up before rain set in, bought some honey from my friend's dad and went home for a nice warm bath! We will definitely be doing it again before the Summer ends. It really was so lovely, and so damn simple.

BLUEBELL RAILWAY

We had a pretty wholesome time celebrating Stanley's second birthday. It is so nice having a small child around as it often means you wake up early (probably hangover free) and make the most of the whole day. We took the opportunity to go and visit the Bluebell Railway as his birthday treat as it was one of the things both myself and ben visited as children and it is so lovely to be able to re-visit and share childhood experiences we had with our own child. The day wasn't sunny as promised, but it was at least dry(ish) and we had such a fun time.

 

Stanley of course loved it, giant life sized 'Thomas' type trains....hey what is there not to love! The whole station is kept so well, thoughtful details like old posters which makes it all feel very real. There have a lovely little museum there too which we took a wander round. The only part I felt disappointed about was the restaurant. It looked really old fashioned british and not in a good way. Maybe like an early '90s Weatherspoons pub or something. I was surprised it hadn't been given a make-over in keeping with the rest of the place. I was hoping for an old fashioned tea room or cafe like in Brief Encounter, but alas no.

Our train called at two stations (where you can get off it you want to) then it takes about 20 minutes to move the front section of the train to take us back again. We saw lovely countryside, plenty of wildlife including a large herd of deer as well as some hunters out for, I assume,  pheasants. We were frightfully british (and on a budget) and took our own packed lunch, egg sandwiches and leftover birthday cake no less washed down with a cup of tea. I felt like we had fallen straight out of the Railway Children or a Famous Five book, either way I couldn't have been happier!

Here's to a happy 2013 exploring what Sussex, and maybe further afield in Britain has to offer.

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.

MIDDLE FARM

At the weekend we made it to Middle Farm for the afternoon. It is a lovely place just outside of Lewes with a restaurant, farm shop and working farm. We dressed up warm and soaked up the Autumn sunshine and pottered around the farm looking at all the animals and Stanley being scared by a few too! He 'boo-hooed' at the noisy cockerel that 'cock-a-doodled' a bit too near him!

We ate an amazing ploughmans cheese lunch which Stanley shared with us and bought a few bits from the farm shop. We saw cows being milked and played in the indoor hay bale barn. A really lovely afternoon, we will be back soon - and maybe next time for some cider tasting!

Update on the lovely Sarah Elwick. Her shop is OPEN and to celebrate she is running a 20% discount code (THAT'S HUGE!) and free shipping in the UK for one week! Use the code 'getyourkniton' at the checkout. Get your Christmas shopping done now! Wahooooooo!

AN AMAZING SUNNY WEEKEND

We recently enjoyed some pretty amazing weather down here in the south of england. Ben had a friday off so we took advantage and cycled to the beach near us nice and early to bag the best spot and beat the crowds. We enjoyed a lovely picnic, some sunbathing and a splash in the water. Stanley loved hanging out in his shady tent and even took a long nap in it.

On the Saturday we again headed off early to Cuckmere Haven to go for a walk and test out the backpack carrier we bought second hand. (It's a 'Vaude' by the way and I can recommend it after our walk!) It is such a glorious part of the Sussex countryside, somewhere I've been to a lot as a kid, but not visited recently as an adult. The weather was perfect and Stanley seemed to be happy up high enjoying his view. We went for a little explore in the rock pools, admired the beautiful Seven Sisters cliffs. and ate another picnic lunch before heading back before all the crowds descended on our little bit of peace and quiet. Stanley even managed a snooze in the backpack resting his weary head on the padded head rest!