Alton Towers

With grateful thanks to my Dad, who collected tokens for free tickets (from a newspaper that I wouldn't bother reading even if I had the time!) Madi and I spent today at Alton Towers. The tickets were intended for JK and a friend, but unfortunately we had no say in the date, and the new term started yesterday- just another downside to school education. But an upside to Madi and I, as the park was not that busy and we were able to go on everything we wanted, several times over!

blue slushie on the way to the Grand Canyon ride

learning to drive (again!)

outside the Wonka factory

Mummy just couldn't stomach Submission!

Sonic Spinball was Madi's favourite ride, mine was 13

Sadly, after the Galleries of Justice and Warwick Castle Dungeons, Hex proved just too much for Little Miss No Fear, and we had to leave by the fire exit! In spite of this, and the tiring miles we must have walked, we had an amazing day and hope we can go back again next year when Madi is tall enough for Oblivion, Air and Rita.

OPAL Water Survey at Duke's Wood

Although it was quite an early start today, we were very much looking forward to catching up with HE friends that we have neglected over the school summer break, and also to taking part in another of the OPAL surveys. This was also to be our first visit to Dukes Wood, a Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust reserve, at the site of the UK's first oilfield.

The small museum was opened up specially for our group, and we were lucky to have one of the engineers that worked the site to answer any questions we had.

We then headed in to the woods in search of a pond...

Given the weather we had this summer, we were more than a little surprised to discover that the first pond had actually dried up! Fortunately, there was another, albeit a little muddy...

...and we discovered a rams horn snail, pond snail, leech, water beetles, waterlice, water shrimps and a common newt.

I was also fascinated to find out that this plant is angelica, that used to appear crystallized on desserts of the 1970s, very much a part of my childhood!

Whereas Madi preferred being in charge of the clipboard and recording our results...

...then submitting them to the OPAL website when we got home.

Birthday Gift: living!

And after allowing them some time to settle in so they weren't too alarmed by the camera flash, please allow me to introduce the two new additions to our family....

Cookie...

...and Muffin.

They are still both very skittish (particularly Muffin) but are definitely much easier for Madi to handle and awake more often when she is than the hamsters we have cared for whilst friends are on holiday.

Madi has read several books from the library (all with conflicting advice!) and talked to other guinea pig owners in preparation, and is a very proud new mum!

Big Top Heroes at The Hill

It is hard to believe it is already a whole year since Madi first went to The Hill Methodist Church, for their summer playscheme. She has been back again each morning this week, where she was introduced to the Bible stories of Daniel, Jonah and Samson through a circus theme, with lots of singing, dancing, colouring and craft, jokes and custard pies!

snorkelling

trying out snorkelling at a school holiday session at Calverton Leisure Centre...

Junk4Funk

Today we met up with my brother and his elder daughter at a craft session organised by Gedling Borough Council. The session, recycling our 'rubbish' to make musical instruments was hosted by Victor Scott of Junk4Funk with his slogan 'My music is rubbish'.

Unfortunately we did find his constant self-congratulation and his emphasis on reassuring us that our children had now achieved one of their national curriculum targets quite irritating.



However it was lovely to spend time with Jonno and Mila, and the girls both enjoyed making their pizza box guitars and playing samba with yogurt pot shakers, so all in all a good day :0)

jestering and drumming

We are lucky to live not far from Sherwood Forest and regularly attended the NNSHEEP home ed meets there; and it was at the Robin Hood festival 2 years ago that Madi, having just appeared on stage as Maid Marian, announced her desire to take up archery.

This year however, we decided to take a break from crowds, or even company, and spent the day before the festival at Sherwood Forest, just the two of us together. It was not too busy, but things were already getting underway, and we spent a long while attempting to learn to juggle, diablo and spin plates...



...before looking around the visitor centre for the first time in many, many visits. We come here so often it's easy to overlook the exhibits, especially out with friends, so we pretended to be tourists and had some fun looking round and testing each other on the quiz questions...



..which made us think we'd give the trail with clues around the main routes through the forest, taking in information about the flora and fauna a go too...



...before an amazing afternoon session drumming.

peas peas cauliflower cheese and peas