David Currie

We were originally thinking about a day trip to the Isle of Wight today. We thought we’d leave the car at home and get the train and ferry which, with a railcard, is actually cheaper than just getting the ferry even before you factor in parking. Then we started to look at the logistics: the free bus from the train station to the ferry terminal seems to be perfectly timed to miss the incoming train and then to miss the ferry so you end up waiting around for an hour in Southampton. Then when you get to the island, you have to get to Newport before you can get the bus anywhere else. Before you know it there’s hardly any of the day left, and we just threw up our hands in despair and decided to go somewhere else instead!

We ended up at the National Trust’s Hinton Ampner which was hosting a ‘Family Fun Day’. On arrival we went straight over to the advertised tree climbing. Unfortunately Duncan was too young but Emma thoroughly enjoyed her rope climb up in the to branches of a massive oak tree. It was a shame that we had to wait so long and that it started to tip it down when she was half way up. I was just glad that I’d borrowed a helmet and was stood under the tree taking photos when the rain arrived!

It wasn’t long before the sun came out though and we had a lovely picnic in the grounds with an accompanying live band. Emma then wanted to go in search of the promised free face painting. Another long wait ensued and, as her departure time approached, the lady would no longer do full face patterns, but the effect was worth the wait (at least for Emma). We then did one of the trails where, as he filled out his quiz sheet, Duncan demonstrated that his writing is improving nicely just in time for school. He also demonstrated his ability to annoy Emma by somehow always getting the rubber stamper before she did! The children were suitably rewarded with plastic medals and, as Christine went off for a run, we picked up more medals on a quick tour of the house.

We finished up the day flying Emma’s pocket kite. It was nice to have had a trip to Hinton Ampner where we weren’t completely zonked after a night of orienteering (our previous two visits) and we spent just four pounds plus petrol money which certainly wouldn’t have got us to the Isle of Wight!

I was on child minding duty again on Friday and there was much debate on what we should do. Emma was insisting on Manor Farm and Duncan wanted to go to Winchester, probably just to be contrary as he couldn’t say what he actually wanted to do there! Emma was brought round to Winchester when she realised that it could involve a trip to a shoe shop!

We parked at the top of town and went up Westgate before heading over to the Great Hall. Emma then seemed keen on following the sign to the military museums. We went in search of the visitor’s centre to get some guidance on which of the five museums we should go to but the content of the visitor’s centre itself seemed sufficient to satisfy Emma. We sat and had our lunch amidst the (converted) barracks which is a lovely peaceful spot away from the crush of the High Street. It was also a good excuse to check out this area before November’s Urban Event!

It was then time to hit the shoe shops. Mercifully Clarks offered up school shoes for them both without too much pain but Emma is also angling for some late summer sandals which we failed to find. We then went to the Winchester City Museum which I’ve passed on numberous occasions but I don’t think I’ve ever been in before. Sadly I didn’t get to take much in as we had to race round looking for the faces on our clipboard as part of the children’s trail before dashing back before our parking expired.

Duncan must have found the whole experience pretty tiring as he then dropped off to sleep on the way to his swimming lesson (and was therefore particularly recalcitrant when trying to get him ready). Roll on the weekend and shared parenting duties!

Percy the Park Keeper Trail

A visit to Moors Valley Country Park was on our hit list for the summer. We decided to show some faith in the forecast and set off from home in the rain. It was still threatening when we arrived so we decided to leave the bikes for a bit and I took the children round the ‘Percy the Park Keeper’ trail whilst Christine went for a run. An hour and a half later we finished the trail which must have been all of a mile and a half long but had twenty stops on the way with questions to fill out. Duncan carefully filled out his answers as well (thing he needs some practice on his numbers!).

We had lunch in one of the playgrounds and were eventually available to drag them away with the promise of the play trail. The sun was out in full force by this point and it was a very pleasant stroll through the woods with the children enjoying each piece of the equipment immensely. Once we got back there was just time for an ice cream before returning home, the bikes not having left the car! Duncan later declared that he would have enjoyed the day had we been cycling!!

After having let our Hillier Gardens membership lapse for a few months we finally renewed it last weekend. We took a look at this year’s sculpture’s in the garden on a lovely sunny afternoon with an ice cream just to ensure that the children want to come back again soon! We went for the ‘Plus’ membership again which includes the Hants County Council ‘Culture-All’ pass so we can now once again resume our trips out to the various and varied locations it covers. This weekend the orienteering club’s summer series event was at Queen Elizabeth Country Park so free parking there is one we can tick off the list. Having arrived sufficiently late to miss the morning’s downpours, we were treated to yet another lovely sunny afternoon. The children enjoyed their yellow course, the various playgrounds, and yet another ice cream. It must be summer!

Emma’s birthday this year was a drawn out affair. Falling in half-term she had her party the weekend before. This was to have been a trip out to a cinema and restaurant with a few friends but, due to some confusion over cinema schedules (at one point it looked like Godzilla was going to be the only film on!), we actually ended up having those same few friends round to watch a film at our house which proved very easy for us. I donned black tie to serve lunch. Emma chose a selection of films from Google Play/Amazon Instant Video in advance and, after consulting her friends and tossing a coin for the tie-breaker, they ended up with the somewhat surprising choice of Charlotte’s Web, a film released before Emma was even born!

On the day itself, the weather forecast looked particularly poor. As a result, we deferred hunting for Fairy Doors at Furzey Gardens until later in the week and joined the crowds at Winchester Discovery Centre instead. I’m still not sure why Emma enjoys going there so much. The previous week she had declared that science was her favourite subject at school only to spoil things somewhat by adding that she particularly liked the bit where God made the world! Typically, of the presents she received, the small dressable dolls that Granny Sue had picked up in a charity shop appear to be the favourite, outlasting the novelty of the loom bands. She had to wait another week to move in to her main present from us: her own bedroom. In many ways it’s sad that we don’t get to listen to them chatting away to each other after we’ve said good night and, once Emma has a little more furniture, there will be the inevitable tears as they try to divide up the books and soft toys between them, but I think they will both appreciate having a little space that they can call their own.