End of Summer...

So Roo went back to school today.

Part of me let out a huge sigh of relief. Getting anything constructive done over the last six weeks has been hit and miss at best of times. I have managed to keep on top of the bike shop paperwork (well the important bits anyway...) but Forest Flower and this blog have suffered from a lack of attention. Now my little monster darling is back at school I can get my working routine back in place.

I have so many plans for the next few months. Business plans, home plans, bloggy plans and I am itching to get on with them!

But a big part of me feels sad too.

That's another summer done and dusted.

At least it was a good one. Somehow the prospect of cold and dark days ahead doesn't seem quite so depressing now we have had a long overdue reminder of how good a continuous spell of warm sunny days actually feels like!

We didn't do all the things I wanted to do through the holidays - mostly because this summer Roo discovered Lego Indiana Jones on daddy's xbox and, as is his way, became totally obsessed! He also discovered fake tattoos, but that's another story...

We went on some lovely days out. We walked in the woods; we went swimming; we played in the park; we ate lots of ice cream. We ate lots of homegrown rasberries too!  We went to the seaside and the zoo. We even managed a trip to the cinema - to see Monsters University - and it didn't end in either leaving early coz Roo wouldn't keep quiet (Kung Fu Panda 2) or Roo missing film completely coz he snoozed all the way through (Ice Age 4).

what we did in the summer hols!

 Another summer has come and gone.

Roo is back at school and this year he has moved up from reception to year 1.

My little boy is growing up.

*sigh*



This post has been linked up to @clairejustineo's Welcome to the Weekend bloghop. You are welcome to add your own favourite post of the week to the list and don't forget to hop around and visit some new blogs while you're here!

A little jaunt down to Devon...

The Other Half's parents are very lucky to have friends who own a holiday lodge on a campsite down in North Devon, about 10 minutes drive from Ilfracombe. Last year we went with them for a few days away and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. This year they let us go on our own!  It is the first time just the three of us - Roo, daddy and me - have been away together on holiday and although four days may not seem like much if you are used to two weeks in the sun every year, to us it was enough of a break away from the normal routine to return feeling refreshed and (almost) ready to get back to work...

The weather wasn't too unkind - hot sunshine the first day, warm and breezy on Friday and Saturday and then non-stop, pretty epic rain on Sunday (and Monday when we were trying to pack up the car!).
I couldn't get a decent wi-fi signal on my laptop and mobile signal was a bit touch and go too so, apart from a couple of checking in phone calls to the OH's mum who was looking after the shop, we did actually manage to stay away from work for the whole time we were away (no mean feat when you are self employed!).

Here are a few photos of our holiday. It's a beautiful area to stay. I just wish we could stay a little longer...

Ilfracombe Tunnels Beach and Harbour

Tunnels Beach, Ilfracombe

paddling

surfs up!

Back through the tunnels...

Ilfracombe harbour

Verity

The controversial Damien Hirst sculpture 'Verity' stands guard at the entrance of Ilfracombe Harbour. Viewed from the landward side she is a very naked, very pregnant woman, standing on a pile of legal tomes with sword aloft in her left hand and scales of justice held in her right. On the seaward side her skin is pared back to reveal the anatomical details - including baby in womb. She is said to represent truth and justice. There was quite an uproar when the statue was first installed (as there usually is surrounding most of Hirst's work). Whilst I'm not too sure about the anatomical side I think from this angle she is quite stunning...

Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park

Wallaby welcoming committee

dinosaur walk through suitably primeval forest...

Spider monkey - so cute!

'you lookin' at me?' Marmoset with attitude...

raccoon feeding time!

 

beautiful Hudson Bay white wolf

Bundle!!!

grey wolf enclosure

One of the bonus attractions...

Roo particularly enjoyed the Dinosaur Show exhibit where an enclosure of life size dinosaur models, including a fearsome T-rex, comes to life every hour, on the hour. Right next door was a very clever parrot that is also a master mimic. He happily chirped, wolf whistled, did mobile phone ring tones and the most convincing seagull impression for his audience.

The highlight for me, apart from the wolves, which were simply magnificent, were the otters.
When we first arrived at their enclosure we could only see two of them on the far side of the river but they quickly spotted us watching them and trotted over, joined by the rest of the clan, and entertained us with their playfulness and adorable squeaks and cat-like meows for a good 15 mins while I took pictures...

Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park was a great day out* with plenty to see (although we didn't see the lions as they were sleeping at the far side of their enclosure) and do. The park was recently taking under new management and the new owners are working on updating attractions and enclosures. They also hold regular talks and displays throughout the day - don't forget to check out the notice board near the entrance. We will definitely head back next time we stay in the area - if only so I can get some film of the adorable otter family!!

*here's a tip - whether you are staying on a campsite or hotel check out all the leaflets of local attractions usually found in the foyer/reception area. We found one that entitled us to one free child entry to the park with two paying adults, perfect for our family - it saved us a tenner!  The park also offered a deal whereby full paying entrants get 50% off a return visit.

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!

#TheGallery - A Picture Postcard

It's been a while since I have done a Gallery post but this week is special. This week Tara is celebrating the 100th Gallery. As The Gallery was one of the first memes I got involved in when I started blogging in earnest just over a year ago, I thought it would be rude not to join in!


So the theme for the 100th Gallery is  Picture Postcard. we've been lucky enough to visit some beautiful parts of the UK over the past couple of years. Last year we went to Yorkshire, the year before it was North Wales. Not to mention that we live in one of the most picturesque places in the UK - The Forest of Dean.  But the holiday we went on this year (two weeks ago, in fact) was special. We went to Windermere in the Lake District - an area I know and love because my nan (Lancashire born) has spent the last few decades there. We used to visit every couple of years or so when we were little but the last time I made the trip up there I was 21! That's *cough* 17 years ago *cough*.  The weather was pretty atrocious but we had one lovely day on the Lake...

So here is my little postcard from Windermere.

Bet you wish you were here.....


Why not pop along to Tara's blog and see all the other lovely postcards....

We went on holiday...

You may have noticed (or not) that I haven't been around much this week. That's because me and the Little Man galavanted off to the Lake District with all my immediate family to visit my Nan, Little Man's Great-Grandma, who lives in Windermere.  As you would expect with any big 'family' holiday some days were better than others, and with the weather doing it's best to put a dampner (and on one day at least, an 8 hour torrential downpour) on things it wasn't exactly the relaxing, chilled out week we had hoped for.

#SilentSunday 13/05/12

Getting away...

There has been a lot of talk on the ol' internerd this past week or so of holidays. Must be the reappearance of the sun that has got everyone thinking of beaches and pool side loungers...

Me and the Little Man are heading up north to Windermere in 5 weeks time with the rest of the family (my parents, siblings and assorted littlies...) We are going to visit my nan (LM's great-grandma) who is in her 80's and convinced she's not going to be around much longer (her mum lived til she was 99 so we suspect she has a few years in her yet!)  We are renting a house in the town and will all be staying together for a whole week...

I am looking forward to it, obviously, but I really can't think of it as a holiday.