Project 365 2018 Week 15

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

Project 365 2018 Week 15 -16 Day 98 – 111 a fortnight round-up, school holidays and a half century celebration.

Sunday 8th April – Day 98

Project 365 2018 Week 15

We started the day trying out the Sonic Rocket we’d been sent to review.  It really does blast off and in the end we had a bit of a magical mystery tour trying to find out where it had landed on one of its flights.  Thankfully we found it.

We got home and the heavens opened for the rest of the day.  Daddy P decided to drive into Oxford city centre as we were reviewing the Vietnamese Pho restaurant.  Even my fussy son loved his meal.

Monday 9th April – Day 99

Project 365 2018 Week 15

We put our waterproofs on and headed over to Blenheim Palace to spend the day with the majority of our NCT group.  The rain has finally caught up with us, but in fairness we still remained dry for most of the day.  The kids play really well together and the Mum’s got a chance to have a catch up and get some cuddles in with the youngest member of the gang, who turns one next week.

With two of the children and two of us Mum’s celebrating our birthdays in the next week, A had made us all cakes, she’d even brought candles with her.  It was a lovely way to end our day together. One of my friends has made me a lovely pair of earrings.  I’m very lucky.

Tuesday 10th April – Day 100

Project 365 2018 Week 15

Our plans for the day had been cancelled, and we both really needed a chill out day.  Poor Brewster was less than impressed to spend time with my son.  He’ll be even more unimpressed when he goes to the cattery tomorrow.

Wednesday 11th April – Day 101

Project 365 2018 Week 15

My son and I dropped Brewster at the cattery first thing so and then headed home to sort out all the packing for tomorrow.  The weather forecast is awful, so I’m packing extra in case we are cold and wet.

I had a surprise delivery from my niece in New Zealand which made me cry.  Totally unexpected and a lovely way to say good-bye to my 40’s.

Thursday 12th April – Day 102

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

The big 50.  After I’d opened my presents we hit the motorway for the long drive up to Conwy in North Wales. We’d had heavy rain but by the time we left the motorway it had stopped and I spotted a sign for Attingham Park which seemed like a good place to stop for a bit, stretch our legs and grab some lunch.  It was a great plan, lovely lunch, great grounds, all up until the heavens opened when we were at the furthest point away from the car park.  We soon discovered that my son’s waterproof coat wasn’t up to the deluge and my husband realised that he should have listened to me when it came to wearing his waterproof coat at all.  I was dry up top, but soaked from above the knees down.  A memorable way to start the day!

By the time we arrived at our hotel we were on the way to drying out and a spell in front of the heater sorted out my son’s coat thankfully.  We headed off into Conwy, walked the town walls and had a wonderful meal in The Erskine Arms, before finishing our day on the beach outside Llandudno.

When we got back to the hotel I discovered wine, chocolates and a birthday banner from the hotel staff.  It was a lovely surprise (to my OH too!!) and a great personal touch.

Friday 13th April – Day 103

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

We woke up to a wet, grey day and knew that’s we’d just have to make the best of it.  I’ve wanted to travel on the Blaenau Ffestiniog mountain railway since I was my son’s age so we headed across North Wales to Porthmadog to catch the first train of the day.  It should have been a really scenic drive and train journey but if I said that we didn’t see one mountain along the way because of the weather, I really wouldn’t be exaggerating.  This photo kind of shows what I mean.  But we still had a great time, it was atmospheric if nothing!

We had lunch at the railway station before heading over to Caernarfon and a visit to the castle.  We were all impressed with how much of the castle you can still explore, and my son was straight up and down all the spiral staircases without a backwards glance.  We had a walk around the town, grabbed a fish and chips supper and decided that we’d hop over to Anglesey.  With two men who are obsessed by bridges, the chance to see and cross the Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge was too much to miss.  I also had an idea, and we ended our excursion with a trip to the railway station with the longest name – one very happy, tired son.

Saturday 14th April – Day 104

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

What a difference a day makes!  We woke up to blue skies, sunshine and a 10 degree weather jump.  As we drove to nearby Bodnant Gardens we discovered that just down the road from the hotel we could actually see Conwy Castle, the bay and mountains behind.  It was the third day we’d driven down the road and the first sighting of any of it as the weather had been that bad.

Bodnant Gardens were beautiful, lots of colour and we could actually see the Snowdonia mountain range from the gardens.  This particular photo makes me smile, as I had a panic attack on stepping stone some years ago, clearly my son does not share my fear of water.

We decided that we really did have to make the most of the weather, and headed to Llanberis and managed to get seats on the Snowdon Mountain Railway.  It only runs a diesel service until next month, and goes two-thirds of the way up until then too, but we went for it anyway.  The views were wonderful and we’ve vowed to go back at some point and get to the summit.

We ended the day in Llandudno, walking along the pier as the weather changed and a beautiful full double rainbow appeared.  I’d learned first thing this morning that the 6 year old daughter of a fellow Country Kids blogger had passed away in the early hours.  She’d been on my mind all day, and seeing that rainbow was rather emotional.

Sunday 15th April – Day 105

Project 365 2018 Week 16

The sunshine had disappeared as we checked out of our hotel.  When I realised we’d be staying only an hour away from Chester Zoo I knew we had to finish our holiday there.  My son loves watching The Secret Life of the Zoo and he’s learned so much from the program, he couldn’t wait to meet Seabiscuit the Seahorse and all the other animals he’d seen on TV.

We had a great day out, the rain held off until we were leaving and I hope we can go back one day in the future.  It’s a really good Zoo.  Thankfully the motorways were fairly kind to us and we were home in three hours, with just enough time for a quick dinner, bath and storytime.  We were all shattered but had had a good trip.

Monday 16th April – Day 106

Project 365 2018 Week 16

First day back at school and of course the sunshine has returned.  We both struggled to get up this morning but once I’d dropped my son at school I headed off to pick Brewster up from the cattery.  Cue major sulks all day as the cat has tried to decide whether he wants to be indoors or outdoors.

Daddy P had gone into work before I’d got up which meant I had access to the laptop all day, so I used the bonus time to catch up on some admin.  I really needed to go food shopping but just couldn’t face it.

My son came out of school full of smiles and announced that it was too warm to wear his coat home.  Off he strode, he’d really missed Brewster, I’m not sure Brewster had missed him quite so much.  Did you have art today I asked, how did you know Mummy?  Well, because you’ve got paint all over your trousers and the elbows of your sweatshirt.  Really?  Yes we are back at school, the washing pile gets just that little bit higher!

Tuesday 17th April – Day 107

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

So perhaps Brewster did miss his playmate after all.  It’s very unusual for him to sit on anyone’s lap, let alone my son’s.

A day of catch up for me and you could tell my son was tired after school, vegging in front of the TV was required.

Wednesday 18th April – Day 108

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

It was 18 degrees by the time I’d done the shopping at 10am this morning, so time to ditch the boots and socks, paint my toe nails and get the Birkenstocks out.  Had a load of house work to catch up so didn’t actually get to enjoy the sunshine much, but it was nice to know it was there.

Ice creams after school were definitely the order of the day.

Thursday 19th April – Day 109

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

The unloved back garden.  It’s lovely to have the patio door open on a sunny day, but we back onto a busy road and the constant noise of traffic drives me mad.  Throw in having a childminder for a neighbour and there’s nothing tranquil about our garden during the week. It’s devoid of colour, nothing with colour ever seems to thrive in it and I’ve never really felt much love for the space.  It really does need a complete make over.  Send inspiration!

A sunny day and my son insisted on wearing his sweatshirt over his polo shirt and a coat to school this morning.  Even I was warm this morning and it got to 41 degrees (honestly!!) in my garden at lunchtime.

My son came out of school in his polo shirt and school PE shorts, Mummy I was hot.  Really??  So will you wear shorts and just a polo shirt tomorrow then please.

After we’d had dinner I suggested we went for a walk to the park, it was too busy for his liking when we got there so we walked on to the local nature reserve and back, picking up some ice creams along the way.  A lovely way to spend some time before bedtime.

Friday 20th April – Day 110

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

There was a Celebration of Learning open morning at school where you could walk through all the class rooms.  The school started the term with each class learning about a different country around the world and my son’s class were learning about Kenya.  Perfect for a boy who loves giraffes!  There was dancing, drama and artwork to look at as well as their written work.  My son loves it when I go in to see his work and I tried to spread myself around to look at some of the work of the children whose parents were working.  They were all so proud of what they’d done.

Popped into town to pick up some photos for my son so he could complete his Animal Carer badge work for Cubs ready to hand in on Monday.

I had planned on getting the paddling pool out and filled for when my son got home from school but his Dad decided he needed to do the gardening.  It didn’t go down well with one eight year old.

Warm weather means lots of salad for me – yum.

Saturday 21st April – Day 111

Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

A chilled out day at home.  Definitely a day to be out in the garden.  I got the paddling pool pumped up and my son helped me fill it.  We put up his tepee and he was soon happily playing, in and out of the water and then with his tractors and diggers.

We’ve had lunch alfresco and are just taking things easy.  Bliss.

Project 365



24 thoughts on “Project 365 2018 Week 15-16

  1. Happy belated birthday! It looks like you had a lovely birthday trip away, despite the weather. (I have a husband who never thinks to take a coat anywhere too, not to mention three kids who agree with him!)
    It’s amazing how the weather has changed in the last few days. It makes the world feel like a better place!

  2. Sounds like a perfect Saturday. N keeps going on about his paddling pool, but with the hose in the lodgers’ garden rather than ours, it’s not easy to actually fill it up. He has a new water gun though. It’s been so nice to have the flip flops out finally.

    1. It’s a faff here too really as the water supply is all at the front of the house. We’ve had an outdoor electric socket put in the back of the garage wall so at least inflating it is easier these days.

  3. Happy belated Birthday, sounds like you had a great time despite the very changeable weather, we love the ffestiniog railway, although we haven’t been on it in quite a while. Asa and the two eldest children climbed Snowdon a few years ago and loved it, although at the top it was too misty to see anything! Long may the warm weather continue x

  4. Looks like you had a lovely trip, despite the weather. How wonderful to have a surprise treat from the hotel. Happy belated birthday to you! 50 is a new 40 (or so I keep telling myself). We really must get together in Oxford some time soon, and celebrate our big birthdays. How about an afternoon tea?
    Brewster looks gorgeous, as always. He must have missed Monkey.

  5. Happy belated birthday! It looks like a great couple of weeks…The weather has changed so much…I am hoping the sunshine sticks around. It sounds like you had a lovely birthday.

  6. Happy belated birthday!! It sounds like such a fun filled week. I just wrote a post on doing a bit of diy to our garden all of which were review items so let me know if you want any contact details. #365

  7. A very big Happy Birthday to you. What a brilliant way to spend your birthday. I went to Ffestiniog from school and still remember it to be a really lovely place.

  8. sounds like you had a great birthday week. Happy belated birthday. Shame about the weather, and yes nothing worse than finding your waterproofs are not really waterproof after all.
    Cats are strange creatures, maybe by siting on son making sure he does not leave again.
    I had my shorts on last week, and I miss being able to eat a salad.

  9. I’ve just spent half an hour looking for a photo of me and a giraffe for Monkey, but it’s eluding me for now. Nice to see some lovely summer weather. try some bulbs/plants in pots for some colour in the garden, that way you can move them to get maximum sun.

  10. Happy belated birthday. Sounds like a lovely trip away despite the weather. It looks like you had a lovely birthday trip away, despite the weather. x

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