August birthdays

Calvin turns 4 and MJ turns 14!

 

World Book Day

 Without a doubt, Ezra’s favourite book is ‘Where’s Wally?’. He loves an activity based book much more than a story book. So of course we had to turn a potato into Wally for WBD.

I sent Calvin to choose his favourite book, he, unlike Ezra, loves story books and every day we read the same ones over and over until I can bear it no longer and introduce a new one. So it was no surprise that he choose ‘The night before Christmas’ as his favourite book, which we are still reading regularly in March!

Christmas 2020, Centre Parcs, Ireland

 We made it to Centre Parcs, Ireland! With all the changes due to COVID in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we were very unsure as to whether we would be able to go but I remained hopeful. It took us awhile to unwind, to put COVID and restrictions to the back of our minds, if that is really possible...but it was lovely to be away, a change of scene and no jobs to be done. Centre Parcs is not quite the same without the swimming pool and activities but it is still a beautiful place to walk, ride our bikes and chill out.

New parks at Gosford Forest Park, N.Ireland

The new parks are open at Gosford. They are beautifully designed, made and in a beautiful setting. The diffused light through the trees also makes it a great place for photos. Maybe the kids group shot will grace our Christmas card this year.

 

Back to school 2020

 

MJ Yr 8, Lj P7 and Ezra P1.

An evening in the park

It is so rare for us to be in the park after tea time. But tonight after picking up the groceries in Asda the boys were keen to go to the park. The weather was so warm and mild and burning off energy in the park sounded like more fun than heading home to kill a couple of hours before bedtime. 

It was warm, I was surrounded by foreign accents so I relaxed and imagined I was in Barcelona or some other Metropolitan city. I think it is the closest I’m going to get to international travel this year. Sob sob.

 

Calvin’s 3rd birthday

Calvin...he talks all day but we are only just beginning to understand him. He has incredible expressions and actions to make up for his unintelligible speech. He loves a story or two. Loves anything to do with food; cooking, eating and playing with it. He loves playing Doctors and reading his book about doctors and throws a fit when we walk to the park past the Doctors but don’t call in! He loves to draw and write, cut and stick. He’s happiest at home, in his own little patch with his siblings.

Lj made cakes with him.

MJ read him his new story

And Ezra tested out his new toys for him!

Walking with little ones, Trassey Track, Hare’s gap, Mourne Mts, N.Ireland

This weekend we took M up the mountains with us.

We parked at Meelmore Lodge, just off Trassey Road. I couldn’t believe how busy the car park, over flow car park and camping site were. We managed to find a spot to park and paid our £4 car park fee.

Our aim was to reach Hare’s gap, a stile on the Mourne wall between Sieve Bearnagh and Slievenaglogh. There are a number of small rivers to cross which was fun for the kids but made the journey quite slow and it felt like it took quite a bit of the kids energy to just get to the start of the Trassey track. Although it was a treat to watch the shepherds shearing the mountain sheep. The track follows the river and it was a balance to let the kids have fun climbing the boulders but also make some progress. In the end M and MJ went on ahead while Lj, Ez, C and myself went at a slower pace and enjoyed paddling in the ford at the base of the last big climb.

The nice thing about starting our hike at Meelmore is the facilities available. Good car parking, good toilets and a nice cafe. We enjoyed a hearty late lunch before heading home.

M enjoyed his trip and is already planning many more with us.

Walking with little ones, Butter Mountain, Mournes, N.Ireland

Our guide book said it could be wet underfoot and not to follow the signs for the ‘Ulster Way’...I’m so glad I read the guide AFTER spending the day on Butter Mountain rather than before!!!

Never the less, once we had embraced the wet feet and river hopping, due to not following the guide we had a great time exploring this mountain of spectacular views. At one point we could see right across N.Ireland to Scrabo Tower, Cave Hill, Lough Neagh and Dromara hills to name a few. Then as you turn and head back towards the start, the view of Spelga Dam is incredible.

It was a very quiet route which we started from Spelga Dam car park (which had the toilet facilities open). The climb is medium to gentle to the first summit and after that it stays reasonably flat until the descent. It is possible to let the children wander a distance ahead or behind as the visibility is good.

This has possibly been our longest trek so far but the inclines were more gentle. Again Ezra surprised me by his competency in the hills. I had to carry Calvin a fair bit due to the wet ground and so we could keep up with the other adults in our group.

It is exciting to begin to recognise the other mountains around from climbing them on previous trips. It gives us confidence that we are learning the lay of the Mourne Mountain land.

Walking with little ones, Hen Mountain, Mournes, N.Ireland

This week we made it back to the Mournes. As usual we were unsure what the weather would do so had sun hats, winter hats and rain coats packed. 

I had read online and in my guide to the Mournes that Hen mountain was a family friendly route to try. So we parked at Sandbank Road Carpark and had our picnic by the river. This is a lovely picnic spot with a number of tables set by the river and below the car park. 

The track begins opposite the Carpark and Hen mountain is clearly visible up ahead. It is an easy to walk on path and leads you slightly uphill to a set of gates. Once through the gates we headed straight up the side of the mountain but if you want an easier walk it would be better to remain on the track which goes off to the right. It is a quick but steep climb to the top. The kids reached the top much quicker than the adults which is always slightly unnerving!

The views from the top are amazing, as usual! I love the photo of my Mum at the top. I hope I’m still fit enough to climb when I am her age.

Coming down was more tricky as we weren’t sure which way we should descend. The older boys were keen to descend down the rock face. My Dad was unsure how safe it was for the little ones with us...Aged almost two and upwards. I guess we took too long to decide as before we knew it the older boys were heading down and setting up a route for us to pass the smaller kids down safely. 

I had hoped to find a spot by the river, by the track at the base of the mountain, so the grown ups could rest and the kids could enjoy paddling and throwing stones into the water but the boys got so far ahead we couldn’t turn them and ended up back at the car park.

Walking with little ones, The Big Stone, Cloughmore trail, Kilbroney, N.Ireland

This week, unsure of what the weather was going to do we took a safer option and visited Kilbroney Park, Co.Down, N.Ireland. The lovely C.S.Lewis trail is still closed due to COVID 19 restrictions, along with the cafe, toilets and mountain biking trails so the park was quieter than normal. We were keen to keep up our hill walking so had ‘The big stone’ or ‘Cloughmore’ in mind.

We set off from the Kilbroney Carpark but found it difficult to know where the track began. After asking for advise in the Cloughmore centre we realised there was a Carpark much further up the mountain. Myself, Lj and the little ones decided to take the car up, while the others trekked on foot.

From the second Carpark it is a short but steep walk to the stone. At the top we had fun playing hide n seek while we waited for the others to join us.

I loved this little bit of folklore...

Local Folklore claims it (the big stone) was thrown here by Finn Mac Cool during a fight with a Scottish Giant. During the same battle, the Scottish Giant allegedly tore out a handful of earth and flung it back at Finn, which missed. The earth landed in the sea and became the Isle of Man while the divot he made, filled up with water and became Lough Neagh. https://www.visitmournemountains.co.uk/Products/Kilbroney-Park

Walking with little ones, Ott mountain to Lough Shannagh, Mourne Mountains, Co.Down, N.Ireland

Day two of our summer exploring the Mournes.

Today we stopped for lunch at Silent Valley reservoir. It surprised me how windy it was. Thankfully my parents were joining us and they had a few extra layers in the car. We had dressed for a warm day of walking like last week. It was a bit too chilly to take time to explore Silent Valley and I was keen to get started on our trail. But we did take him to throw a few rocks into the water. Is there a child who doesn’t enjoy throwing rocks into water?

Our walk of the day began at Ott Mountain car park. A small car park but a great gateway to the Mournes. Crossing the busy road, we climbed the stile and started along the track. The track is clear and bends right along the edge of Ott Mountain. It doesn’t take too long to see and reach the distinctive Mourne wall, a good place to take a break and take in the view. After a biscuit or two we crossed over the wall and walked towards Doan. Mj and his cousin would have loved to keep trekking all the way to Doan but I felt the little ones had gone far enough. Calvin was v cold as the wind was severe.

Our descent was quick. The older kids able to walk on ahead as they were feeling confident of the route and knew where the car park was.

As with last week I am pleased with how well Ezra can walk and how much he loves trekking ahead on his own.

Calvin needed some shoulder carrying, but that was as much to keep the pace up and to get over the rockier/ wetter parts more easily.

On return home, I asked Mj if we should try another route next week, to which he replied ‘What about tomorrow?’! 

March, Lockdown begins

Oh my, what a difference a month makes! I just flicked back in my diary to the start of March when we were blissfully unaware that Corona virus was beginning to circulate. I can’t believe it is less than a month. How life inside and outside the home has changed.

With the sun shining and no where to go, the spring clean begins in ernest.

The table tennis table which was only used as a layout space for me has been dusted off and is in full use again. A UPB, an unexpected pandemic benefit, as my friend has coined.

Our last visit to McDonalds drive thru. The following day, even the drive thru closed. We wondered how we were going to cope, not having somewhere to go on a little trip but it is amazing how we can adapt to change.

Home schooling begins. Lj dressed for her first lesson in a Greek chiton!

Ezra’s nursery teacher is keeping him busy with all sorts of activities to complete. Lj helped him to make a farm for his animals and machinery.

We found a huge puddle we could walk to and play in. With no rain for over a week, it was beginning to dry up and yesterday when we visited it had completely dried up so I think we need to discover a new daily walk route.

Calvin has his own hiding place...I could do with one of my own at times!