Finding Nemo.....

and sharks and sting rays etc! We had a trip to the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth. It really was excellent. E loved it and B and her boyfriend did too judging by the photos they took. Sadly last year most of the species in one of the big tanks died after I think some sort of electrical failure. That exhibit is still closed. The rest were open and there was plenty to see. Colourful fish and spiky crabs, lobsters and big stingrays, sharks and seahorses- all these held E's attention and he was mesmerised by the many jellyfish some were bright red and glowed as if lit up from within- truly beautiful.
Having been such a hit, it was great to know that for the completion of one form and attaching some photos, we can return free of charge for the next 12 months! Result!!

Lunch down on the marina was nice too even if the service was a little slow.

On the way home I managed to quickly stop off at Dunelm Mill- oh dear- this was a bad move!! What a treasure trove of things awaited me! Friends had talked of Dunelm Mill  but I had never visited1 I left the kids in the car and had a quick gander!  Fabulous fabrics, beautiful bedding, wonderful pictures and frames all much cheaper than elsewhere! Reminded me of Bed Bath and Beyond in the US- much missed since we returned to the UK!  Better not tell S or he will ban me from ever going there again!! I shall have to make trips by stealth!

The Best Bestest Play.

That was what we took E to see yesterday  at the Northcott Theatre.  "Charlie and Lola's Best Bestest Play" was wonderful . E is a HUGE charlie and Lola fan and I must admit to liking the show- cute stories, short enough to hold E's attention and usually with a good message somewhere in there.

Of course our plans to be nice and early and not rush there went out the window because, 5 mins down the road and I had forgotten the biscuits we were dropping at Church for the Sunday Club kids to ice. Quick u turn and we drop them off and head off- again.
Dropped B&G in town to shop while we went to the theatre. Dashed to the theatre and discovered there is very little parking- we were now late. I secretly worried we wouldn't get in but fear not- obviously expecting an audience of parents and pre-schoolers to include some harassed latecomers like us, the theatre did not shut its doors to us and we found our seats and had only missed the theme tune and 2 mins of the show- phew!!!

The Watershed theatre company put on the production and hats off to them it was excellent- held my 4 yr old's attention for the entire show.
My dear hubby found it hard to follow- he is not subjected to the same dearth of Charlie and Lola episodes on iPlayer that I am! But he did like Bat Cat!! In fact he liked it so much we are now all permanently singing the Bat cat song around the house- until told very firmly to "stop singing' by E!!

"Bat Cat-  a super cat, I really am a super duper super cat. Bat Cat- hero cat!!!" (Just in case you wanted the lyrics!!!)

There were tears when it finished but a quick trip to the merchandise stall cured that- one Charlie and Lola book later and everyone was happy and ready for home!

The play is touring theatres throughout the UK and I thoroughly recommend it to any Charlie and Lola fans!

And so it begins.....

Half term that is. You can tell because my teenagers, who have long since grasped the concept of the 'lie in"-  have perfected the art of lying in until rumbling stomachs or (more often) me bellowing up the stairs"Are you getting up AT ALL today?" raises them from their dream-filled slumbers. My 4 year old however is completely unaware of the idea of the lie in and therefore anything past 7am start is considered, by me, a massive result!

When you have teenagers and a pre-schooler, half term activities are a funny mix of shopping, movies- Disney for me and 4 yr old and something suitably scary or full of suitably vulgar teen humour for the teens-  playdough, taxi-service, playdates and arguments over whether MacDonalds (4 yr old's choice) or Strada (teens choice) is the most suitable for lunch out!

I have had many lovely plans of trips to the Zoo with all 3 kids, or a fun afternoon ice-skating or swimming together- However these are usually dashed by my teenagers looking at me like I have obviously quite lost my marbles by even suggesting that the zoo or swimming WITH MUM, is a suitable activity for half term - and I understand this, but a Mum can dream! The Waltons we are not!

My husband won't feature much in our half term activities- work calls him away again this week- nothing unusual there and in some ways it means at least there is one less opinion to consider when deciding on activities!

So I expect my half term will consist of B and G hanging out with boyfriend/friends/each other and join E and me if there is a) food or b) shopping on offer- and that's ok: at nearly 17 (gulp!) and 14 they SHOULD be hanging out with their friends and doing their own thing- but a Mum likes to imagine we will all be swanning around together a la the Von Trapp kids up the mountain with Julie Andrews! I do draw the line at making outfits out of my curtains though!

Sunny Scotland!

Yes I know Sun and Scotland are not 2 words you often think of in the same sentence however we just returned from a long weekend trip to Dunfermline and were blessed with good weather on the whole!

This was Eli's first trip to Scotland and he went to his first footie game with Steve, Beccy, and Grandpa Scotland! The Pars v ICT- a 1-0 defeat for the Parts and Eli slept through the entire 2nd half and missed the goal!! Not sure what that says about the standard of the game....!

We visited Strathclyde Country Park and Grace was very disappointed to find none of us were brave enough to accompany her on "Speed"- upside down, 360' turns at 83 MPH- Grace you are a brave MAD girl!! She made do with rollercoatsers, chair swings, water ride -which soaked us all! Eli had a blast on all the little rides- cars, caterpillar, pirate ships and I think will have Grace's fearlessness when he gets bigger- he cried cos he was too small for rollercoasters! They can partner up in a few years on all the BIG rides!

We also went to St Andrews where the weather alternated between roasting sun and short sharp heavy showers!!! Showed the girls the Quad, The Pier, where Steve lived etc etc- they loved it! Fish and chips at Peter Michaels were the business!!! (even though Peter Michaels is now called Fritto's!).

Monday night saw Steve, Beccy and Grace catch the overnight bus to London and Eli and I drove home on Tuesday! Steve and the girls have been shopping and then to see Billy Elliot. Today (Weds) they are seeing Buck Palace, and the V&A before catching the train home tonight!

Just wish our time in Scotland had been longer really but you never know we may head up again before too long!

Thailand, France and Pony rides!

I tell you, when I was a teenager I went camping in someone's garden with Girl guides or a field, holidays were in a caravan in Cornwall or North Devon and I didn't fly until I was 18 and yet both my girls will travel away with the school this year. In fact as I type this Beccy is in Pattaya in Thailand enjoying the beach after spending the last 9 days in Bangkok on a school exchange program! The photo is one of Beccy and her friend Anna waiting for the coach to Heathrow at the beginning of their trip! Its a far cry for the School French trip to Rennes from my schooldays!! She has had: an elephant ride, a a fish foot massage(sounded gross but am assured it was amazing!), a Thai Massage, shopping shopping and more shopping in the night markets, a tuk tuk ride, had a full head of hair extensions put in and her nails done with crystal insets and today been to a "Lady -boy" Beauty contest!!!!!!!!! She has dealt with being ill and nosebleeds and homesickness and to the greater extent taken it all in her stride! The students have learnt Thai dance and put on a show for the school in Bangkok- thats 4000 students- all girls! They dressed in traditional Thai costume and walked to The Great temple in heat and humidity and she didn't whine once!!!!

Beccy has admitted she feels she has really grown up and while she will always be our baby, this has been a great opportunity for her and I hope gives her a real taste for travel!

Grace is off to France for the last week of school- not nearly as far as they are only going to Normandy but still I shall really miss her as I have done Beccy. No doubt the texts will tell me she is having a great time and hardly missing us!

Eli, you will be pleased to know, has NOT been travelling overseas but he has had his 1st Pony ride which he loved and showed no fear- even when wobbling precariously to one side whilst waving rather enthusiastically at Nanny and Pumpa!!! The highlight for him however was getting to help "groom" a pony- I use the term loosely as I am not sure how much contact the brush had with the pony but Eli thought he was the business so thats the main thing!

No doubt in a few years Eli will be off on some wild adventure but for now I remain happy in the knowledge that the furthest adventure he wants is at the Miniature Pony Centre!