Dick Whittington Farm Park

During the holidays we took a trip down the road to Little London to visit Dick Whittington Farm Park (formally known as the Mohair Centre)

It was packed (as we were expecting as it's school holidays) but luckily for us most of the visitors seemed happy to stay in the indoor playcenter with all it's climbing frames, big slides and ball pits rather than brave the freezing wind.

feeding the goats

hello!

Unfortunately we weren't able to bottle feed the lambs today (one of the reasons we went!) because they were having their inoculations but we did get a sneaky peak at them all huddled together in their warm and cosy stall...

There are plenty of other animals to see too including llamas, pigs, Shetland ponies, plenty of rare and unusual breeds of chickens and pheasants, even a huge turkey! They also have a couple of rescue owls and a reptile house with various lizards, tortoises, terrapins and fish and another small barn housing small furry creatures - guinea pigs, rabbits and rats.  I know they have animal 'discovery' sessions where various animals are brought out for children to handle or just get a closer look.

this little piggy...

amazing colours on this iguana

chickens

Roo in the reptile house admiring lizards

farm cat doing the most sensible thing on a cold day...

cute fluffy chicks!

As we headed back to the play barn so the kids could run around like loons while we drank coffee we were treated to this spectacle of a peacock showing off for the missus (who seemed pretty unimpressed to be fair) I was impressed though!

Hey lady Peahen! Look at me!

no, really, LOOK AT ME!

Has she gone? Oh. *tail down*

Even Roo was inspired to take a picture...

Roo. Doing what mummy does....

We spent another hour and a half inside - unusually for a tourist attraction like this they are quite happy for you to bring a packed lunch although there is a cafe selling hot food, sandwiches and drinks.

Dick Whittington Farm Park is all about the kids - it's the only place I have ever been too where the adult entry fee is less than the kids entry fee. Even better, until the end of June, every adult coming with a paying child gets in free!

If you are ever in the area I heartily recommend a visit - it's no major tourist attraction, all plastic and shiny, and a little off the beaten track but all the better for it!

#SilentSunday - 16/09/12

#SilentSunday 24/06/12

Woodland walk...

I know I have blogged this walk before but it's one of our favourites - a stroll to the end of our road, across the fields where the mares have foaled (although they were all tucked away out of view today), into the woods along the well used green lanes down to Nonny's house...

#SilentSunday 18/03/12

Snow lovely...

The past four winters we have been blessed (cursed) with LOTS of snow. It disrupted everything from food deliveries to public transport and emergency service response. We have had to abandon vehicles and walk home through the drifts when freak snowstorms have made it too dangerous to drive. Local supermarkets ran out of staples as everyone panic bought essentials in fear of the worst. Our business suffered badly as, for two winters running, the snowy conditions dragged on for weeks and nobody was coming into the shop. Assuming the OH could even get to the shop to open up.
So this winter's distinct lack of the white stuff has been a welcome relief. Yes we've had snow but it hasn't been enough to stop most day to day activities (at least in this neck of the woods) and it hasn't hung around for long enough to be a pain.

Yesterday it was doing it's damnedest to prove that, actually it can be rather beautiful...

When we woke up to this sight - a bright, slightly waning moon suspended in a pinky blue sky just before the sun rose - I knew we were in for a lovely day...

Snow covered black branches against a pale blue winter sky

In places where the sun doesn't reach the snow still lay thickly

A Hazy Shade of Winter

Temperatures have plummeted over night this past week or so, creating  a 'snow-thaw-freeze' cycle that has made for some gorgeous icicle formations...

 

Every twig has it's own little ice jacket...

Even the individual blades of grass have been treated to crystal coating!

Natures own tinsel and fairy lights - this tree actually glistened. Unfortunately I could not quite capture the sparkle of sunlight on the ice... Believe me, I tried.

 

The late afternoon sun on the rapidly melting ice was dazzling.

It's all gone now. With every day we are heading closer to Spring so I don't know if we'll get any more this Winter... If it means we can head out in the sunshine and witness this beauty again then I won't mind too much.  

But if it stops everyone from getting to where they need to go and means the corner shop runs out of coffee I might stamp my feet a bit...

#SilentSunday 20/11/11

#SilentSunday 02/10/11

Summer's final fling...

Thanks to an unexpected little block of high pressure, after a less than summery end to the Great British Summer we are now basking in what has to be the best weather we've had for months. So whilst all the magazines are touting Autumnal treats, presenting us with chunky winter woollies, tweed and boots and shops are starting to promote their Christmas deals, we are all slapping on the suncream, lighting the BBQ and filling up the paddling pool one last time.

We made the most of this good weather by taking a stroll around Soudley Ponds...

The sun is much lower in the sky at this time of year and the play of light through the leaves and across the water is very different to 'high summer'. I love it - it lends a very atmospheric, almost fairytale feel to the surroundings...

Paying attention to the undergrowth reminds us that actually it IS Autumn... (I think these ones are edible - I must go on a  'mushroom hunt' with an expert!)

The Forest of Dean is a popular tourist spot because it has all these wonderful places to visit. How lucky are we to actually live here?

...and finally, a beautiful end to a beautiful day...

Make the most of this glorious weather folks, we all know it won't last!

Do you know your onions?

Out here in darkest Gloucestershire we are rather partial to a street party. All the market towns and most of the villages of the Forest of Dean have some kind of carnival/festival/celebration during the year. Just up the road in Brockworth there's Cheese Rolling at Cooper's Hill - a manic event that involves hundreds of idiots people tumbling down a VERY steep hill after an 8lb wheel of Double Gloucester cheese (if you've never seen the carnage spectacle for yourself take a look here )

In Newent we have the rather more sedate Onion Fayre - a festival of food and drink with some good music and funfair frolics thrown in for good measure. We opened the second branch of BikerDean in Newent on Onion Fayre day two years ago so the day holds a particular kind of excitement for us. It may not be the best day for taking money off people but, with approx 15,000 visitors walking past the door it IS a good day for reaching potential new customers and making new contacts.

The shop was busy with browsers most of the day...

...and the Little Man's training in customer service continues ;-)

But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy so me and the Little Man went of for a wander around town.

There was plenty to entertain, both traditional...

And the not so traditional...

There were a lot of fair ground rides and the Little Man is getting bigger and no longer satisfied with a quick go on a merry-go-round. Oh no! He spotted a huge inflatable slide that he simply had to have a go on. I tried to steer him to the slightly less daunting bouncy play castle with smaller slidey bit (yes, that IS the technical term) but he was having none of it so - as there were no height or age restrictions - I agreed to let him have a go...

OMG he looks so small up there...and yes it really was as high as it looks, but judging by the look of pure joy on his face he loved it!!

Keeping with the high up theme the next ride he insisted on trying was the Ferris Wheel. 

Having never been on a big wheel I was quite excited to have a go too and as the OH 'doesn't do heights' I knew this was one experience he wouldn't mind missing out on!

The view was pretty good up there too! There's another shot of the street from the very top here.

The Little Man took it all n his stride, although he did go a bit quiet when the car we were in rocked at the top of the wheel in the wind while we waited for the passengers to get on down below...

But Onion Fayre is mostly about food!

And Onions. Obviously.

We had a lovely day, Little Man made some new friends and the rain even managed to hold off until the end of the day. Even then it left us with something to smile about!

Now then, anybody got a good onion soup recipe?