Going Bonkers at Conkers!

Today was a fun filled day again with Nani and Nanu, or Pops and Mum for me!

We went to a great place called Conkers, in Derbyshire. It’s an outdoor pursuits park in the middle of the National Forest there, and there are all sorts to do, from the nature trails, to a maze, or Labyrinth, and a Barefoot Walk, Science investigation areas inside, and ponds, and playgrounds… and High and Low Rope courses too!

Conkers!

Conkers!

A small map of the park

A small map of the park

Obligatory Family Shot... I was Photographer!

Obligatory Family Shot… I was Photographer!

The kids enjoyed a short trip on a little train, then we went to the Barefoot Walk… Lil Princess was the only one willing to take her shoes off… I would have, but I was busy taking pictures!!!

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First, the benefits of Barefoot Walking, as explained by Sebastian Kniepp… And I have to say, as we walked around, Pops was so happy, that all her pressure points would be being pushed, and she would be a very healthy girl today!

Lil Princess enjoying!

Lil Princess enjoying!

We went through a maze Labyrinth too, a Fairy Labyrinth, and there were plaques all around to show you which fairy you were born under, and characteristics…

Check mine out…

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Hornbeam Fairy -if you were born under the Hornbeam Fairy, you are practical, dependable and modest. You work hard and expect perfection from yourself and others, but also spend time worrying about things whoch make you restless.

Some truth there…! But I liked the Fairy Wish that was in my little description.

Smile!

Smile!

We ate lunch at an overpriced café, as we didn’t have time to get a picnic ready… more fool us! But the food was good though so I shan’t complain!

On to the adventure!

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A pretty high up load of ropes to slimb and swing along!

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That’s a mix of pictures of my two scaling a climbing wall… Lil Man got to the top ont he second attempt, and Lil Princess got about half way, but enjoyed dangling, and being lowered down the most!

And then you have the Low Rope Walk! Again, Lil Man surpassed himself, and completed the circuit, fearlessly, in 4 minutes. Lil Princess took a little longer, needed a bit of help at one stage, and some coaxing, but she finished it!

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Lots of ducks to see everywhere!

This family of Swans was great to see too, the cygnets obviously not newly hatched, but both parents sitting either side of them to protect them from any harm!

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It was a lovely day, the kids were absolutely knackered after, and fell asleep in the car too! It’s not free, but you know what, there is a lot to do there so if you are ever in the Derbyshire area, I do recommend it!

Leisurely Walk!

Leisurely Walk!

Review Time! Pixar’s Inside Out

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So, guess what this big lil girl went and watched today??!!

YUP Inside out!

Oh it was fantastic!

Riley, and her parents

Riley, and her parents

The story of a young girl, Riley, perfectly happy in her life, who, alongside her family, gets uprooted, and it’s a true exploration of the emotions one at such a vulnerable age, i.e. pre puberty, alongside others of all age groups, may go through.

joy

Joy

We meet Joy, the happy emotion in Riley’s life.  She brings happiness and wants to make sure that her little charge is always bursting with joy, and that nothing makes her sad… but through the film, she realises herself that happiness is not the only emotion that can cause life to go smoothly.

Sadness

Sadness

Then you get little blue Sadness, who seems to tinge everything she touches with the blues, and her actions appear to cause some real chaos in Riley’s life, but they all realise at the end that sometimes a little sadness, can help things along, and make a bond stronger.

Anger

Anger

Anger, now he’s a funny one! Lil Man’s favourite character, and boy, when he blows his top, well, I just hope that Lil Man doesn’t think it would be a great idea to copy him!  This character’s part in the movie shows that we all have that anger inside us, and sometimes those sour of the moment, heated decisions we make, are not always the best, though they do seem like it at the time!

Disgust

Disgust

Now we come to my Lil Princess’s favourite emotion…. Disgust! A sassy lil green ball of attitude, kinda like Lil Princess, though she isn’t really green!  She shows how you build up this emotion of what is acceptable, whether it is food, or even to do with how you react to others,  and that it is there in us all.

Fear

Fear

Aw now Fear was kinda cute! And we all have fear inside of us. It’s inherent. You need to have a little fear inside you, to stop you doing dangerous things as a child, and if cultivated correctly, that fear will stop you being irresponsible as you get older!

Go! Watch it!!!

Go! Watch it!!!

I don’t want to give too much away, but it’s safe to say that Inside Out is a film that both children and adults would like, and be able to relate to. It shows the interconnection of feelings, and how sometimes situations can actually make you feel that you have misplaced your emotions, almost, and that it’s often the case that there is a cycle of other emotions you have to go through, to recover the status quo in your mind.

Lava

Lava!

And if nothing else, you need to go see it to see the Pixar short ‘Lava’ at the beginning! Such a cute story/song of a lonely volcano looking for love! It was beautiful!

Well, I hope I may have influenced you to watch the move, seriously, I highly recommend it!

I believe the next one on our list will be Pixels!

Mother’s memories

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I’m home, with mum and dad, and the first thing mum did, after lunch, was to get her old sarees out, from her wedding… Beautiful silks, chiffons, embroidery and prints.

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“I’m not being morbid,” she says, “but let’s go through things, so I know what you like, and , you know, when the time comes, there’ll be a package of stuff for you, that means something!”
Sarees from her wedding, with stories behind many of them too…

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See that green embroidered one? She was taken to the shops by her in laws to choose something. She fell in love with that one. It cost 600 /= Kenyan shillings… About £6 in money now.
She was told it was too expensive, but, rumour has it, Pops was there and overheard the exchange…
Miraculously the Saree appeared in her gifts after the wedding.
She is convinced he went back and got it, and when I asked Pops today, he just smiled, and said I remember the conversation…
Romance isn’t dead, see!!!

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And then we found the top from her wedding outfit… It looks as sparkly as is it were new!

I’m not morbid, neither is my mum… Sharing the stories behind the outfits means when I get old, and want to pass them on to my daughter, there will be some meaning to everything!

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Then she pulled this one outta her box of tricks… A framed poem my parents had given me as I entered adulthood…
Another one to pass on to my little madam… When she grows!
I ❤ family 🙂

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And just needed to slip this one in too!
❤ you mum! 😘

But I Smile Anyway...

Mummy, what’s that creature???

Well, not the question you anticipate on the way to Brum, but yes, that’s what Lil Princess asked, as I’m speeding, responsibly up the M1…
Creature? What creature? I scanned the views… No farm animals, or wild animals… Then I realized she was looking at the foot well, inside the car…?!?!
Imaginary creature, obviously then!
Nope…
We had an illegal Kentish migrant stow away in the car, for our journey!

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A little cricket, me thinks! And boy did he jump, before being coaxed outta my vehicle!
Last time we drove to the Dirty Dancing sound track.
This time , a different beat!

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And I’m home now! For a few days, time to act childish myself!!! Have a good un folks!!!

But I Smile Anyway...

Tuesday Thoughts

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These truly are the 10 commandments of Motherhood!

Have a great Tuesday Peeps!

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