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!

Day out with my babies!

We needed to keep the kids quiet…
Not an easy task, when its the summer holidays, and Hubby Dearest works from home, requiring quiet at times, while he takes calls…
So, I took em out for lunch and the afternoon!
Pizza Express… Yummy!

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And pudding!

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A stuffed me!

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Then we took a walk near the pond.

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Lily pads

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Duckies!

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Someone came to say hello too!
The kids went home full, with a carrier bag containing a toy they wanted, paid for by their pocket money, and even got 2 hours at the park thrown in too! Think it was a good day!

But I Smile Anyway...

Flash Fiction Foray #13 Waterloo Sunset

Matt has the Flash Fiction Foray going on again!
We’re at number 13 already, how’d that happen Matt??!! Still, I’m proud to say I have taken part in each one! 🙂
This time the prompt is Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks.
Read up on the challenge here!

London’s Very Own Cinderella

What a night! But she wasn’t meant to stay out so late! The drinks had been flowing, the music was pumping, and though she had promised herself that she would be back home by midnight, the pull of the beats was far too strong…

She slumped onto the small ledge of a seat in the shelter and looked around. Waterloo station in the background, the dim light of the sun, starting to rise… She’d arrived in London in such style, as the sun set last night, and here she was, waiting for the night bus, watching a Waterloo Sunrise instead.

But I Smile Anyway...

Double Whammy!

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A double whammy from A Pinch Of Yum this time!
Thank you so much for thinking of me for the Premio Dardos, and the Versatile Blogger Awards!

PREMIO DARDOS AWARD

The Premio Dardos Award exists to acknowledge the values that every blogger shows in their effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values every day. These stamps were created with the intention of promoting fraternization between bloggers, a way of showing affection and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web.

The rules are:

Thank the giver and link their blog to your post.
Pass the award on to other bloggers of your choice and let them know that they have been nominated.

VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD

The rules are:

Acknowledge the person who nominated you by thanking them and posting a link to their blog.
Share 10 interesting things about yourself.
Nominate more bloggers. (You may want to let them know that they have been nominated by commenting in one of their posts.)

So a few more things about me are:

1) I am a big kid at heart… Its why I’m so at home in my job!
2) I love children’s movies! Total Disney freak!
3) I need a walk-in wardrobe! Too too too many clothes and accesorues, and my mum keeps adding to the collections with her beautiful stuff!
4) I love Tempur mattresses! You tried them? Memory foam… Oooh a great nights sleep!
5) I went to the same school from 3-18years old!
6) I can’t stop buying books!
7) currently, I’m laying here, thinking up facts, back at my parents place, and my daughter us in my bed!
8)I love to swim , wish I could go every day!
9) I still need a holiday… Here’s hoping we can book that short break before school starts again!
10) I’m 40 in less than a month…Aaaaargh!!!

Nominees for both awards are (from my newest followees… if you know what I mean!)

Bottled Memos

It’s Jerrod

SRT Beauty

Tangental

Mark Bialczak

As always, please don’t feel obliged to accept, but if you do, let me know! I love to read your responses!

But I Smile Anyway...

One Liner Challenge

The lovely Hugh, of Hughs News And Views has batted the ball back into my court! I did the first entry on this challenge, and after many twists and turns, its back to me!

1. Write one line in an ongoing story
2. Pass the challenge onto the next victim/nominee
3. Link back to your nominator.
4. Link back to Rich at  Shine On: Wafflemethiswho created the challenge.
5. Copy and paste all the previous story and add your line in italics.
6. If you decide you don’t want to take part please send back or contact Rich at Waffles and he can send it elsewhere.

Chapter 1…THE BEACH
It was a warm sunny day and sea was an almost transparent shade of blue.
I lay there, watching the waves lap on the shore, a drink in hand, a tear rolling down my cheek.
I stand up yelling at that boy who threw this load of sand into my eyes and my drink when he jumped over me.
I then grabbed my water gun, running fast after him, I was laughing, he was jumping over people to escape. He turned to look at me, but didn’t see the two children in front of him carrying two delicious looking ice cream cones.
As he barreled into the children, knocking the ice-cream from their grasp, I caught one of the scoops of pistachio and hurled it at his head as I fell laughing to the ground!
And what luck, his mouth was open and he gulped down the scoop, spitting nuts rapid-fire style like a rabid squirrel! And wouldn’t you know it, a squirrel leaped from a nearby tree, performing a flying maneuver worthy of the best traveling circus family, catching the nuts in his mouth in mid-air!!
It was all too fantastical and I wondered for a moment if I’d forgotten to take my medication earlier…or perhaps I took too much!
I opened my eyes with a jolt, peeled my face from the sticky plastic beach lounger, and rubbed my eyes-sun and too many mojitos make for ridiculous dreams!
Unaware to her, the man behind the one way mirror furiously scribbled down notes and couldn’t help but marvel at how his creation truly believed IT was a real human being and he hadn’t even begun stage 2984DU which everyone with his intellect knows is when the real fun starts!
Professor James Loxet knew he had just one more test to carry out before the implant of the 2984DU chip, Just one more social situation, the dinner party. The thought of going to this party, surrounded by so many people, just made James cringe to his core, he hated crowds of people! Yet, at the nagging of his close friends, James, picked himself up from the beach and headed home to change for the party. Despite his nagging headache and the gnaw of anxiety in his gut, James found a sort of peace in the ritual of dressing.
The party was a very formal affair, so James decided to put on his best black tuxedo. He stood before a mirror, fidgeting at the tight-fit of his white shirt and tie, trying to feel comfortable.
The minute he walked through the rotating doors, he was greeted by Brenda, a horrid woman with a snaggletooth and unibrow who spoke through her nose and mocked his work, calling him Mr. Latex.
The back of his psyche buzzing, “Mr Latex will read your entrails!” hisses toward her.
His thought was interrupted as his eyes landed on Robin, mesmerizing in strapless long black dress with hair tied high on her head, flashing her glowing skin. Mrs. Robin, he clenched his teeth as he reminded himself of her new status.Just as he was imagining how different his life could have been if he had married her, Robin felt his eyes trailing the length of her body and gave him a cold, hard look before turning her back to him.
James would not let her go so easily, no matter her status; he rushed behind her, pressed himself against her back as one hand gripped her wrist and the other pressed firmly on her stomach. The pain of a stiletto heel shot through him, and as he released his grip on her, Robin spun round,and James doubled over in agony as her knee made contact with his balls. Why oh why, after previously ripping the very expensive fitted sheet his mother had bought him for Christmas, had he let her persuade him to wear those stilettos in bed again?

He slowly straightened himself and quickly did a scan around the room to see who may have witnessed what had just happened…good, no one, it seemed, and sauntered over to the bar, in his ‘no, I wasn’t just kneed in the balls’ kinda way.

And I pass the baton to….. Lisa of Rebirth Of Lisa. Go get em Lisa!!!!!

But I Smile Anyway...

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