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 ;)

A BIRTHDAY WALK

My birthday is actually tomorrow, Monday, but seeing that it is a Monday and actually I and Ben have to work we decided to do a little something nice over the weekend instead. We were due to go camping with friends but their little one was poorly so we decided a cold night in a tent would be no fun at all.... So last minute we decided just to take a drive 5 minutes to Devils Dyke for a walk. We are super lucky that where we live we have the sea below us and the Sussex Downs behind us, all within a very short reach. The weather was perfect for a walk, not too hot and no rain. Stanley enjoys being in his back pack so off we set with the promise of a cream tea at Saddlescombe Farm!

the start to our walk 

beautiful wild flowers

hiker's rest

amazing cream tea for two

friendly chickens

sleepy sheep

Stanley's first cupcake all to himself (although he didn't want much more than the frosting!)

on our way back

perfect english countryside

countryside catalogue poses!!!

So then Monday I turn 34. THIRTY FOUR!!! How did I get to be so old?! This birthday has come round so quickly. I also feel that I don't need to celebrate it so much anymore, maybe a baby does that to you. I'm sure Christmas this year will be the same. I'm excited about Christmas for Stanley, not for me. Anyway we have good friends popping in for cake this afternoon, and that will be enough for me. Maybe I'll feel different when I hit the grand old age of 40, I think I'll want a huge party then! But for now, tea and cake and friends suits me just fine.

Hope you all had lovely weekends.
S & s

PS Sorry for the picture quality, I only had my iphone with me, not my fancy pants camera.

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!