Oh, don't you just love the holidays? No alarm clock dragging you from the land of nod at some unearthly hour; no bleary-eyed breakfasts; no counting down the hours 'till bedtime. What? Who am I kidding? The trouble with not 'working' (in the going-out-of-the-door at eight and coming-back-at-five sense) is that the 'holidays' are pretty much the same as all the other days. Same old, same old - apart from not waving Sarah off in the morning, and no school run. Seriously, when you're a stay-at-home you've got to make a real effort to make the holidays seem like, well - a holiday. And if it's bucketing down outside, that can be rather difficult. Still, we managed one day out this week. At first sight Belton House might not seem everything a boisterous 18-month-old and his older sister need, but... It's got a secret:
For a start, there's nobody at home....
.... second, there's one of these:
And third, there's an excellent adventure playground full of things like this:
Only another five weeks to go!
Hello, I got here through another blog, can't remember which though. I've read a few of your posts and enjoyed them so if it's okay with you I'll come back for more.
ReplyDeleteOoops, apparently I already follow! Going back to hide my head.
ReplyDeleteYup, the early morning routine during the holidays is exactly the same as during work time - kids awake and up at 6 am and therefore I'm awake too.
ReplyDeleteStill, not having to go into the office is a real smile maker - even if I am just as tired.
Absolutely, Valerie. You've very welcome!
ReplyDeleteJust as, Steve, or 'more'?
I remember those care-free days when 'What are we going to today?' was the last question you wanted to hear. Now I have to juggle cars, make sure there's enough food the fridge, try not to get fed up when kitchen is a constant food factory and looks like one. My kids may be independent but boy can they still make a mess when at home.
ReplyDelete5 weeks to go... is it really that much?! Good on you for doing all of that already. We have been 'At Home'... Youngest had what looked like chicken pox. Turns out it isnt. Good luck with the rest! x
ReplyDeleteHolidays? What are those?! I'm looking forward to my husband taking some time off work in August so we can have some days out as a family. Enjoy the next five weeks :-)
ReplyDeleteA train and playground is all you need! I've got an award for you over at my blog xx
ReplyDeleteSo it just gets worse, does it Helena? Oh, Law...
ReplyDeleteOuch - close shave eh, LBW? Still, if it isn't chicken-pox...
We'll do our best Sandy. Thanks!
Wow - how exciting Clarey. I'm popping over there right now...
happy holidays? You old American you!
ReplyDeleteYes, its very different when you're not going out to work - holidays are not the same. Used to be like golddust when i was out there in the jungle!
xxx
Looks like a great day out - i know exactly what you mean as Fridays used to be the pinacle of my week awaiting to get sloshed and dance the weekend away - now though i have to wait for Gmtv to tell me what day it is as they all blurr into the next - everyday is groundhog day in the bold house! Holidays well i'm working on it :)
ReplyDeleteHey, as they get older, they sleep in more, I've been looking forward to that happening for years!! Hope you enjoy the rest of you holidays:)
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of making myself desperately unpopular, I love holidays because Flea is such a late sleeper - left to her own devices she's rarely awake before 9.30, so I can get a real lie in at the moment - am making the most of it before school starts!
ReplyDeleteAh, Dot, you showed us the carriages of the kiddy train but not the locomotive pulling them - shame on you!
ReplyDeleteAmerican? Moi? You cannot be serious, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI knew there had to be a point to GMTV, WoB!
Still waiting eh, Sub? It's a design fault, all this sleep un-synchronicity. (Is that a word? It is now...)
I'd keep very quiet about that if I were you WtM! Very, very quiet...
No, it's there Gadjo - it's the one in green!
Glad you're filling the time, we seem to spend half our time in the garden and the other half running back in because its raining! Have managed to write precisely zip, except blog, 3 against 1! Hoping for better garden weather so I can tire them out a bit more!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the rest of the holidays.
And there I was hoping it would be a picture of you coming down the slide...
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea taking your kids to Belton House. I love it! Being a great Jane Austen's fan I've been everywhere JA's inspired movies were set and Belton House was the location of Lady Catherine De Bourgh's Rosings in the BBC's P&P adaptation. When my son was more or less Charlie's age we started having the National Trust's membership so we could go and visit all those beautiful houses and parks withoug feeling gulty as almost all of them have got a little children's park as well. Have you ever taken Charlie to the York National Railways Museum (good for bad weather)? All the kids (young and old) love it. Ciao. A.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Mel, the weather hasn't helped. It could be a very long 'summer' if this rain keeps up.
ReplyDeleteI did have a go, NB. But alas, there is no photographic record! Probably for the best...
We've actually had 'issues' with the NT and their membership dept, Antonella. Thankfully, facilities at the actual properties are - as you say - much better!
Yes, the holidays aren't all they seem, no lie ins here, just the usual alarm clock ringing first thing in the morning. If it's not a child, it's dogs. And lots of 'em!
ReplyDeleteCJ xx
You're so much more dedicated than me, I have yet to do one day out, oh dear! BTW I went out for drinks with a relative of yours: Kate. She got me absolutely hammered.
ReplyDeleteAh...a blessed holiday.....since I homeschool my wee ones the line gets very blurred around here! Love the photos!
ReplyDeleteMy husband's taking the week off this week, and while we did go away for the last 4 days, we spent today our first day home again, all 4 of us, doing absolutely nothing!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a fabulous slide!
There is an award for you over at mine and a tag if you have the inclination for such things!
ReplyDeleteI can't find a reason why the feed won't work, I did change the blog name a while back, maybe that has thrown it out? Will have to get MR T to investigate.