I have been saying, more and more recently, that doing fun stuff with and giving my kids, grandkids and now great grandkids the things they will remember me for is worth more than anything else money can buy. I want them to be able to say to each other “do you remember the time when granny……”  Well the last two weeks have been so packed with fun activities and days out with most of them that I must have gone a little way towards achieving that goal.

It all started when I decided to join Joey, Amanda and Val at the International Bomber Command Centre memorial for their 1940s event. Although it was way too hot to dance to the singers and bands we had a lovely afternoon relaxing in the sunshine and exploring the memorial and the wartime exhibition. 

The following day we were going to head into Nottingham for a day of rockabilly but, thanks to Joey and another sweltering day we opted for the Newark Air Museum. To be honest I have to admit that I enjoyed it more than the rockabilly. Joey’s reaction when he saw the Vulcan up close was priceless and he was event more impressed when he discovered that his granddad had actually worked on that one. The museum is bigger than you think with several hangars full of aircraft, engines and various bits thereof. They also have a nice cafe selling rather tasty food at very reasonable prices. 

Back home I had promised Netti we would go for a walk on one of her days off that week. For many years now, when driving to Anglesey, we have crossed the Pennines via the Woodhead Pass and every time we have driven past the car parks for Langsett Reservoir I have remarked that I am going to explore the area some day. Well that day arrived on the Monday. I had looked up a route which took us through the woodland surrounding the reservoir and up onto the moors. The woodland is a pleasant mix of oak, sycamore and birch and provides some lovely dappled shade along the edge of the reservoir. We crossed the weir and climbed a path which brought us out onto the moors with their blanket of purple heather. We sat in the shade of a crumbling dry wall to eat our picnic lunch to sustain us for the rest of the walk. And my picnic of a couple of tuna sandwiches, a packet of crisps and some fruit was not a patch on Netti’s chicken salad wraps and various accompaniments. At least I had a flask of hot tea. As we descended to the dam along the access road we both decided that in future we would do the walk in reverse as we found that last leg a tad uninteresting. Might take Mabel up there one day. 

Taking our youngest family members to Sundown Adventureland (Pets Corner as was) has been a family tradition since I first took Danielle 48 years ago. Back then the main attractions were the rabbits and guinea pigs they used to sell and the play park and adventure playground were just additions to occupy the kids whilst the parents finished buying their new pets. It was 25p to go in which you paid to the owner at the garden gate and they sold pots of tea and biscuits from their kitchen window. Back then they also had a small petting farm with pigs, goats and sheep. Although the animals are long gone and they have added new play areas and rides over the intervening years what I really liked was that although the place has changed it hasn’t really changed at all. It still encourages imaginative play and provides safe adventures for younger children and their parents. And grandparents! 

So when, on our regular Wigglie Wednesday, Suzy asked if I would like to go to with them and at first I said I wasn’t bothered, by Thursday night I had changed my mind. And I’m glad I did as I had a whale of a time running in and out of the little houses in the Pirate Cove after the two of them and taking Jude on the spinning eggs, bouncing pigs and rocking ostriches whilst Cyd managed Finlay.  Keeping an eye on Finners; who can teleport to another area of the park in a millisecond; needed eyes in places that shouldn’t need eyes and getting him back into his nappy and clothes after he stripped off in the sandpit was an experience I’ll never forget or want to repeat; it took two of us to keep him still whilst Cyd struggled to get his nappy on. He was not a happy toddler let me tell you. Until he saw the spinning eggs. Thankfully they were both too tired to make a fuss when it was time to come home. 

I had another day out the following Tuesday when Harry, Lils and Lils friend and I joined Bozzie, Jim and their boys and Shawna, Josh and their boys on a trip to our local zoo, Yorkshire Wildlife Park; another attraction I’ve watched develop over the years. Despite the weather being a little cooler we all had a splendid day. We saw lions and tigers and polar bears (oh my!) along with zebras, giraffes and rhinos, wallabies, lemurs and meerkats and the sea lions and penguins. I really like the way they have made the penguin pools so you can see them underwater. I managed to get a few decent photos and Hudson got some nice ones too with my iPhone. He now wants his own camera so he can go and take pictures at the zoo with granny. Especially as I have finally treated myself to an annual membership so that I can visit as often as I like so be prepared for the photo dumps!

And finally, a few celebrations. Thursday 20th was Joey’s 16th birthday, Friday 21st was our Big Day as Paul and I reached our 50th Wedding Anniversary and upcoming on the 26th is Darroch’s 50th birthday, all of which we celebrated with our family by enjoying a pleasant afternoon tea at our house.