More Non Camping

So Sunday we had a lazy day. We didn't really do much of anything I think.

Monday was a little bit more structured, a trip out to Bolton Abbey Railway Station for 'A Day Out with Thomas'. Here are Adam and the boys on the train journey to Embsay Station.


We didn't stay very long as there wasn't actually that much to do. A stall where the boys got the 'free' gift that comes with their ticket, a HUGE queue to stand in Thomas and blow his whistle, we passed on that, and a couple of vintage cars and buses to look at. Oh and of course the obligatory toy shops. This time Theo came away with...erm, can't remember, I'll have to ask him in the morning lol and Louis got 'Whiff' who I've never heard of but he seemed happy enough with that. :D

When we got home Theo's friends were playing out in the street so he stayed out and played. I had to drag him in for his dinner and he was straight back out once he'd eaten. That's what I like to see, outdoors fun. There have been occasions when his friends have called round for him and, for whatever reason, he has, usually grumpily, refused to go out to play! He did come home with an invitation to Charlie's birthday party on Saturday so that should be fun.

More resting on Tuesday. I was hoping to get some bits and pieces done, get to the opticians and the Drs but I couldn't get appointments 'til next week so I ended up drawing stuff and sticking bits and pieces to playing cards (see Apshoo). The boys watched telly, played with their toys and drew pictures with me whilst Adam played on the computer upstairs.

Wednesday didn't start too well. Theo didn't want to get dressed then Adam told him we were going shopping. Well he dissolved in a heap of tears. Shopping was boring then suddenly he was crying because he couldn't go to Charlie's birthday party! Where did that come from??

We drove to Drayton Manor so we could spend all day standing in queues! OK it wasn't as bad as all that, but put it this way. I'm glad it wasn't a sunny day otherwise I think we would only have managed a couple of rides.

Here's a picture of the boys queueing for Diesels Mayhem ride.

I know we are not noted for our patience, I think the wait for this ride was about 20 minutes. It didn't help that Theo had had Adam queue for the Bulgy the Bus ride for about 15 minutes before deciding he didn't want to go on after all.

Adam and I took it in turns to queue / ride with the boys. Fortunately for me, this one was Adam's turn. I didn't time it but I'm sure they queued for well over an hour for a 5 minute ride on Terence. At least Louis and I could wander around whilst we were waiting for them. If I had known how long it would take though, I would have wandered to a cafe for a latte :D But, being the loving mum I am, I waitied where I could see the rides so I could get this photo, and a few more.

Theo's favourite ride (although we did only 'do' Thomas Land) was the Jeremy the Jet ride. Despite how it looks in this photo, both Louis and Theo were in the jet with me, honest. It's just that I left Adam in charge of the camera and the control of the jet to Theo (you made it raise / lower using a button in the front) and they never quite got in the same place at the same time. lol

I know I complained about the queues but this was definitely one of the better theme parks I've been to with the boys. Most of the rides were suitable for both of them to go on so there was plenty to do. I had planned on going to the zoo there too but I forgot. By the time Adam reminded me it was 4.45 and I wasn't sure whether the park closed at 5 or 6 so we headed back to the car.

We stayed at the Premier Travel Inn in Burton-on-Trent, straaange lady on reception was very friendly and funny. A very nice dinner was had in the pub next door, diet is out the window this week anyway, just as well.

Today was a really good day too. No photos 'cause we were at Alton Towers Water Park and photos are not allowed. Heaven forbid! After an initial paddy from Louis because he didn't want to wear the floatation vest thingy we had a great time. Theo remembered having been there before and immediately went off to play. Louis had to be coaxed, so we sat in the shallow water and played with the bubbles but he quickly got braver and more adventurous. He liked playing in the water with the bubbles but after the first time I took him for a walk around the park, up the stairs, through puddles, accross bridges etc, he didn't want to sit and play in the water for more than 5 minutes or so before he was up and wanted to wander around again.

Did I mention that my ipod is poorly? A couple of days ago I tried to switch it on but it wouldn't play. I had a look on the Aplle website and followed the instructions for rebooting it. It turned on but there was just a white screen, no menus or anything. Anyway, as we were coming home up the M1 anyway we called into Meadowhall so I could take it to the Apple shop for a nice man to fix it. As it turns out he couldn't. Apparently the LCD screen is dead and they do not replace those. I could trade it in and get 10% off a new one, or they could take the hard drive out of mine and put it in a new case but that would cost almost as much as a new one and I'd loose the engraving on the back of the case.

I discovered today that a new LCD screen to fit my ipod would set me back a whole £15 on ebay, and that includes the tool I'd need to open the case. Adam found a 'how to' video on the internet so I could replace the screen myself for £15. Not too sure I'm going to attempt to do it myself though. You have to disconnect the battery, remove the hard drive and a few other bits and pieces to do it, it looks complicated. I have found a place in Bradford who do Ipod repairs though so I'm going to phone them tomorrow and see if they can fix it and if so how much they charge.

Anyway, this is a mammoth post and it's late now, I need my bed, so I'm off. There are plans for more fun stuff this week so I will be back with more photos soon.

Take care

Picnic in the Park

Fed up of spending the days in the house watching Ben 10, I thought I'd drag the boys out to the park. Theo objected as we pulled up at the carpark (yes, I know, driving to the park!) because the weather wasn't looking too fabulous but we ventured out anyway.

What Theo didn't know was that I had phoned the mum of one of his nursery friends so we were meetin Ezra and Seth there. Once we were out and playing everybody had a good time, even Theo, especially when his friends arrived :D

Louis at the top of the slide

Theo and his friends on the tyre swing.

The weather even held off so we had our picnic, sitting on picnic blankets on the wet grass :D

Sports Day

We did have a busy weekend this weekend, nursery sports day, Cleckheaton Folk Festival, Bradford Mela, clearing the garden of the 5 foot weeds and some client work too.

As it turned out the nursery sports day was cancelled. We didn't know that until after we turned up at the rec and found no-one there except a couple of other parents & children looking a bit lost. I texted a neighbour whose children also go to the same nursery to ask if she'd heard anything on Friday (Theo only goes Monday & Tuesday) and it turns out it had been cancelled due to the weather, but she only knew because she'd asked, they hadn't volunteered the information. Grr

Anyway, the weather was actually quite nice and we hadn't told Theo where we were going so he just thought we'd gone to the rec to play, they have swings and a slide and stuff there, so we stayed and had a play.

Louis watched on as Adam and Theo played on the swing

When we got home Theo called for the little boy next door and they played out front for a bit. Charlie came out of his house with what looked like his mums exercise equipment, an exercise ball and a trampoline. Not sure mum would have been too impressed if she'd seen but the boys were happy playing with them.

I think Theo knows me too well. He was playing out and I was stood in the doorway messing around with my camera. I called his name, planning on telling him to stay off the road and he just turned around, grinned at me and said 'cheeese'

Well so much for the busy weekend anyway. Adam cleared the garden but the sports day and the Mela have both been cancelled due to the weather and after looking at the timetable for the Cleckheaton Folk Festival, we should have gone today as there's nothing on that we want to see or do tomorrow. Well at least the client work will get done. And if the weather holds off Adam seems to think we can have a play at putting the tent up inthe now clear garden, although I still don't think it'll fit. I'm going to get him to measure the garden before we even take the tent out of the bag me thinks.

Car Jacking

After I picked Theo up from nursery today I took him to Peel Park for a play.
He was very funny 'cause I didn't tell him where we were going so he spent the entire drive (about 20 mins 'cause I drove round and round looking for a car park (there isn't one)) asking where we were going.

When we got there we threw waterbird food to the ducks then went on for a walk to the play area. I have to admit the playthings weren't exactly suited to a 2 year old, there was a baby swing and a few wooden seat things on springs but the slide was very large and involved some complicated climbing to get to the top, no straightforward steps.
Anyway, while we were playing a young boy and his dad came in with Lightening McQueen (above). The boy left the car and went to play and Theo made a beeline for the car. I was in the process of stopping him but the man said he was fine to play so I let him climb in and I took a couple of photos. He figured out how to make it go and drove it into the climbing frame No damage though, phew