Family Breaks Are More Important Than You Think

Life is just one big rush at the moment. With having a wife who works long hours, two girls under four, two dogs, working a part-time job, writing a blog, running a business, trying to build an office for that business and fitting everything else in between. It’s been all work and no play for a quite a while now, and unfortunately, Olivia and Robyn have been getting the rubbish end of the stick. All I can say is, thank god for CBeebies and YouTube.

As a family we have a million things going on, too many to count sometimes and with so many plates spinning all at once it’s easy to get overwhelmed. My energy gets sapped and I have to work extra hard just to stay on top of things. I’m sure you can relate.

In fact, I wrote a blog post a couple of weeks ago about how, as a result of spending less quality time with the girls, my feelings of #DadGuilt have done through the roof. Something needs to change, and fast!

For those who regularly follow me on Instagram will know that a couple of weeks ago we decided to book a last minute trip to Center Parcs | Whinfell Forest up in Cumbria. We haven’t had a proper break away since Robyn was four months old and she’s now coming up two so, as you can probably tell we were more than ready for a little time away from everything.

Our other business has really took off this year and has completely taken over our lives. So much so that we have decided to build a dedicated outside office space for it, simply because it’s currently been run from what use to be our dining room and we can’t live this way anymore. I don’t think wanting to eat a meal at a dining table is to much to ask, do you?

I don’t care who you are or what you do, you can’t maintain working at a fast pace over a long period of time. You’ll simply burn out and this is the point we’d gotten ourselves too. As a said earlier, we were having to work extra hard to produce our best work and normal mundane tasks become twice as hard.

Choosing Center Parcs as the place to go for our break seemed like the most logical choice for us. We went a few times before we became parents and we always really enjoyed. So, since becoming a parent, it’s all about convenience. Everything is more difficult and takes so much longer with a kids. I try to take the less stressful approach where possible.

Plus, finding places to go when you’re actually on holiday which have everything you need right there makes a huge difference.

This is why I enjoy places like Center Parcs as you have everything you need onsite. You literally drive there and park up, then have no reason to leave. Well, until the end of your break. I don’t think they want non-paying guests sleeping rough in the forests.

It almost gives the impression that you’re having different holidays on the same holiday, just without the hassle of travelling, if that makes sense.

Having this short weekend break away was exactly what we needed as family. It was a chance to see a new place, have different experiences and just escape the mundane routine of everyday life. It gave us a chance to step back appreciate the simply things in life, like walking in the wood because your girls are on a bear hunt and laughing at them laughing because they went fast down a water slide.

Sure we all have to deal with the day to day grind and we all get blogged down with things that, at the time seem far more important to us but the true is, they’re not. Spending time making memories with those around you is.

I view somewhere like Center Parcs as a place for us to go and spend a few days of quality family time doing stuff together, with only the occasional argument believe it or not. I also find that there’s something great about being in the (relative) wilderness with the ones you love. You’re able to just enjoy the simpler things without the distractions of everyday life. The poor phone signal in the woods helps with this!

 

What do you think? Is time away from everything important to you? Or do you love the hustle and bustle of daily life? Let me know in the comments below 

 

Child-Friendly Leeds | Rosie's Diner Review

Believe it or not, like us many parents enjoy taking their kids out for something to eat but sometimes it’s hard to find a place to eat that’s welcoming for children but also where the parents can feel relaxed too. It doesn’t always feel like they’ve test drove the layout with a toddler in a pushchair before they opened the door. This is exactly what this series of posts is aimed at. I really want to highlight the best ‘Child-friendly’ places to eat in Leeds so that parents can go out for something to eat with their kid (or kids if you’re feeling brave) and know that the place they’re going has them in mind. Not just in terms of the layout or how well they’ve used the space but how good the facilities are and are the kid’s menu attractive enough that your child might actually eat something from it.

Well, with my first stop you’ll be crossing your fingers that the kids will leave some so you can tuck into too…

Rosie’s Diner, which is about a 5 to 10-minute drive from the city centre and about 20 minutes away from where I live but if you’re like me and joy food, it’s well worth the drive. If you love 50’s diners and your typical American food you will love this place! The Diner comes complete with a monster truck on its doorstep, a yellow bus inside that you actually sit and have your meal in. It was a massive hit with my two girls. They really enjoyed having their dinner on a big yellow school bus. Inside, it’s kitted out with huge American diner booths and movie theatre signage.

If your kids are a little bit older, there’s always the pool table to entertain them while the food arrives or after you’ve all finished but you’re not quite ready to go.

It ticked all the boxes for me.

So onto the food. The menu is huge, and when I say huge I really do mean it. They have hotdogs galore with various toppings. I had ‘The Great Dane’ (BBQ sauce, smoked streaky bacon, Philly cheese and crispily fried onion). If you’re like us and enjoy nothing more than good old chicken then definitely try the ‘New Jersey’ burger. Just make sure you get them with the Sweet Potato Fries, they’re amazing! Our eyes, as always were bigger than our bellies and we ordered a side of the Battered onion rings. My mouth is watered just thinking about eating it.

Even after all that delicious food, we still found our eyes wondering to the dessert menu. Why is it no matter how full you are, you still have room for sweet. The Pecan Pie which ice cream is a particular highlight.

As for the kid’s menu. You know sometimes when you got to a restaurant and you ordering your kids something from the children’s menu but it’s either not enough for them or it’s that massive you wish you’d of ordered it. Well, this just wasn’t the case at Rosies Diner. It was a perfect size and my two girls polished the lot.

Even though it was the school holidays, the service was brilliant. It was no time at all after I’d stopped looking at the incredible menu our table was covered with plates of yummy food.

So if you’re visiting Leeds anytime soon or like me you’re lucky enough to live close by then definitely make a stop at Rosie’s Diner, you won’t be disappointed. I’m hoping we’re going to make another trip down there soon!

 

*This post, even though it was sponsored by Rosie’s Diner, it is my honest opinion. Hope you enjoyed it!*

Getting Into The Christmas Spirit | Going To See Aladdin – The Rock 'N' Roll Panto

Panto just IS Christmas. Oh no, it isn’t! To get us well and truly into the spirit of Christmas we decided to take the girls to the pantomime and where better to take them than Leeds City Varieties Music Hall. This years performance was Aladdin – The Rock ‘N’ Roll Panto. It’s the story of Aladdin that we all know and the one we all love but it’s got a twist. It had tons of the 60s and 70s rock hits which had me singing along to every single one. I think I enjoyed it more than the girls did.

This was the first year that we’d all been together as four. Rachel took Olivia to see Cinderella last year which was at the same venue and she absolutely loved it. So it wasn’t a case of ‘If’ we were going to go this year it was more a question of ‘when’, and with Robyn been a little mover and shaker that she is we both knew she’d love all the music, singing and dancing.

Now normally we would drive into the city centre but we were under strict instructions from Olivia to get the bus. So obviously we had no choice but to get the bus. It’s probably because when she went last year she got the bus and remembered. I hate getting the bus. I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve been on a bus since passing my driving test at 19 but on that day I added to that number. It all added to the experience of taking them to the panto.

| Aladdin is exactly what it says on the tin, a rock ‘n’ roll pantomime. With its 60s and 70s rock hits, it’s ideal for all the family

We’d actually booked some pretty good seats to say we got them at the last minute. We were the second row from the front, on the left-hand side. The girls had to either sit on our knees to be able to see but it didn’t spoil the view for me and Rachel.

The show was filled with the ’60s and ’70s rock, pop and soul songs, audience participation and corny gags plus the added bonus of a legendary ‘boulder’ fight (which has to be seen to be believed!) Some of the gags were a little too close to the knuckle for the time of day. Must of the kids didn’t understand them and they were fun for the adults to hear so I wasn’t to bothered. There was even a traditional panto interval ice cream. Bonus!

In years gone by I’ve been known to be a bit of a grinch around Christmas time, before having children obviously. I think working in retail has done it to me. It’s forced upon you from the beginning of September so by the time December comes around you’re almost numb to it. However, Olivia is getting older now and more aware of Santa, Rudolph, and what happens at Christmas so it more important this year to go the extra mile.

 

Going to see this panto has gone along way to helping me get into the Christmas spirit and made this time of year a little more magical. 

Lotherton Hall | 12 Days Of Christmas Woodland Walk, Ft. Meet the Penguins

Life just seems to be one big rush at the moment. With juggling kids, dogs, work and everything else in-between, it’s been all work and no play for a quite a while now, and unfortunately, Olivia and Robyn have been getting the rubbish end of the stick. All I can say is, thank god for CBeebies and YouTube. So today we decided to down tools, shut shop and have a day off.

After a little deliberating we decided to head up to Lotherton Hall and check out there Christmas experience and the latest addition to the wildlife world, the Humboldt penguins. We’d been to the Christmas experience last year and we absolutely love it so we were very excited to see that this year had in store.

Olivia became excited almost straight away at the thought of going on a special walk through the woods and then to see some Penguins.  Robyn, however just did that open mouth stare thing she does. She’s only just gone One though. On the drive up, all we heard from Olivia was “I can’t see the penguins yet Daddy!” and “Will we see some Fairies?”

| The 12 Days Of Christmas Woodland Walk

The woodland walk takes you down a twinkling lit path, through the Captains Woods and around the grounds. The walk is obviously related to the 12 days of Christmas and each stop has a little interactive station that kids can get involved in. From make the turtle doves fly to walking through the five gold rings. You can get the ladies to dance and even be one of the drummers drumming.

My little ones really enjoyed the interactive stations. Olivia was a little too young to really understand and appreciate it last year but with her being over now she really got stuck into it. Those 9 ladies dancing have never danced so much in their lives and the turtle doves must be shattered from all the flying they did.

There were some other attractions which were apart of the Christmas experience too. These include; an Elf Village, Fairy Dell, Christmas Courtyard. Sadly, we didn’t quite make it to these as Robyn got a little too cold and a little too tired but we’re definitely planning another visit to finish off the full Christmas experience.

| Meet The Penguins

The wildlife world at Lotherton is already an amazing place and home to many different types of birds in it. Most of the birds aren’t native to England so they have plenty of flamingos, cranes, owls, vultures etc. Other new additions include Tapirs and Capybaras. Not forgetting the emus too: the flightless, devil-eyed beasts that they are. They definitely eye me up for a nibble every time I walk past. So when we heard that the Humboldt Penguins were the newest residents, it was only a matter of time before we had to go and say hello.

The penguin enclosure has been very well thought out and with a 360-degree view of them splash about in their pool, every child will be sure to get a really good view of them in their new home. The glass viewing areas are a nice touch too, it let our two girls and every other smaller kid see the penguins are they were swimming in the water. My two girls were amazed that penguins could swim underwater.

On one side of the walk is a Tapir enclosure with good views of the little guy. There is just one at the moment but I hear there is more on the way.

Yesterday was a much-needed break for everyone. A break from everything we’ve had going on over the last couple of weeks. It was a chance to switch off, forget everything and recharge our batteries. A chance to stop and remember what’s really important and the reasons why we work so hard.

 

Probably the best Christmas experience that I have ever been to and the penguins are a welcome addition to an already amazing wildlife world. Well worth a trip!

National Railway Museum, Ft Olivia And Robyn's First Train Journey.

Life just seems to be one big rush at the moment. With juggling kids, dogs, work and the launch of a new business venture, it’s been all work and no play for a quite a while now, and unfortunately, Olivia and Robyn have been getting the rubbish end of the stick. All I can say is, thank god for CBeebies and YouTube. So today we decided to down tools, shut shop and have a day off.

After a little deliberating we decided to get on the train and head to the National Railway Museum in York. One: it was the perfect chance to take the girls on the train for the first time and two: because it’s free entry. I wouldn’t be a proper Yorkshireman if I didn’t mention the cost.

We only live a 10-minute walk from the local train station so it’s a little shocking that I’ve never taken them on the train before.

Olivia became excited almost straight away at the thought of going on a train. Robyn, however just did that open mouth stare thing she does. On the way to the station, all I heard from Olivia is “I can’t see the trains yet!” We bought her one of those wooden train tracks from IKEA a while ago and ever since then she’s had a fascination with trains and of course she’ll have probably watched a YouTube video with some American kids singing about them.

After a short wait on the platform and a quick lesson on safety near a train line, we were on the train and on our way. Once off the train on the other side, the Railway Museum itself is only a short way away from York station. Far enough though when you’ve got a toddler on your shoulders, pressing down on your head.

The Railway Museum

First things first. Let’s eat. When ever I go anyway one of the first things I check out is: Food! Where can I eat?

We found the Dining Car restaurant just inside, after the gift shop. We selected the family deal which consisted of two adult sandwiches, two kids sandwiches, two teas/coffees and two kids drinks for £19.95, which I thought was a good price. I tried the salted beef and mustard sandwich and Rachel had chicken and bacon. As far as sandwiches go it was pretty good. The kid’s cheese one didn’t look bad either. The food here is everything you would need for light lunch. You don’t want anything heavy if you walking around all day. As you can see from the photos, it was a hit with the girls.

There was also an outdoor miniature train, that for just £3 a ticket you could have a go on. The big kid in me couldn’t resist taking Olivia on. Apparently, it doesn’t go fast enough and we had to put our arms in the air.

Robyn was a little too small for it but her time will come.

There is plenty of other things to see and do as well. Not all of the trains are accessible to the public. The ones we saw first were the ones that you could only look at from the outside, but once we got into the ‘Great Hall’, then you find the ones that you interact with a bit more. You can venture inside a lot of them, even underneath a couple of them. Which was cool. There was even a little soft play area for kids under 5. We, of course, had to stop off for a short play break. Oh and a Thomas the Tank Engine ride too. Of course!

Today was a much-needed break for everyone. A break from everything we’ve had going on over the last couple of weeks. It was a chance to switch off, forget everything and recharge our batteries. A chance to stop and remember what’s really important and the reasons why we work so hard.

 

Probably the best free museum that I have ever been to. Well worth a trip to York for!

My Top 5 Activities To Do With Kids In Leeds That Doesn't Break The Bank.

Finding things to keep an active kid entertained, occupied and out of trouble can be pretty challenging, not to mention pretty expensive.

So often I find myself looking further afield for something to do with the kids and forget about all the great attractions I have right on my own doorstep. Even if you’re feeling the pinch and need to tighten those purse strings a little, you can still make the most of the city.

Roundhay Park

If you’re looking for a free afternoon out with the kids in Leeds, Roundhay Park is an obvious choice. I have spent many happy times at this park, not just with my own little munchkins but when I was a kid too.

The park has plenty of space for picnics and games, so whether it’s football, hide and seek, or just taking a blanket to sit on, you’ll be able to find the perfect spot for it. Take a walk around the lake and let the kids feed the ducks – and when you’re finished there, you still have the adventure playground to let kids go wild in. Liv also never fails to secure an ice cream every time we go: be it 21 degrees or 2 degrees!

Tropical world

You can explore the gardens surrounding it first as it links into Roundhay Park which is right across the road. It’s effectively an indoor zoo. It’s not massive and when I’m in there with both baby and toddler it only takes a little over an hour to walk through. We all know what the attention span of a toddler is like. Make sure you dress the little ones in removable layers, as it can get pretty sweaty in there!

With tropical plants, butterflies, reptiles, fish and  crocodiles, there’s lots for your little ones to see. Our favourite part is the meerkats though- they’re so damn cute!

If you’re anything like me, you’ll rush through the gift shop at the end and hope you’re toddler doesn’t become attached to the most expensive soft toy she can find. However if by the end you need a sit down and a caffeine top up, they’ve recently finished some refurbishments and have a decent  sized, child-friendly cafe.

Lotherton Hall and bird garden

Lotherton Hall is a stately home near Leeds which houses a ‘bird garden’ within the grounds. Most of the birds aren’t native to England so they have plenty of flamingos, cranes, owls, vultures etc. Not forgetting the emus too: the flightless, devil-eyed beasts that they are. They definitely eye me up for a nibble every time I walk past.

There’s also plenty of others things to see and do if the bird garden isn’t your thing. If you’re bit of a history geek like me, you’ll appreciate having a wander around the house. Although it might be worth mentioning that this is not the same as walking around IKEA and playing with this flat packed furniture will cost more than your large plate of meatballs if your toddler gets too hands on, as I have often come too close to finding out!

It’s surrounded by parkland so there’s loads of space to have a picnic, play games with the kids and if they’ve still not had enough, there’s also the playground.

 

Home farm at Temple Newsam

It’s a working farm with many rare breed animals, that is open to the public for visits. If you go in the springtime, it will also full of cute baby farm animals. There’s also an additional playground hidden away at the bottom end of the farm for your kiddies to play on and for you to put your feet up for a minute’s rest.

Although you can get into Temple Newsam itself for free there is small entrance fee to the farm.  However, as under 5’s go free it’s definitely worth forking out for an adult ticket. (That’s the Yorkshire-man in me coming out).

For the dog lovers out there, it’s also a ideal chance for them to stretch their legs too. Although if they’re as small and cute as our dogs, it’ll take you twice as long to get around as people just seem to be drawn towards you when you have a dog.

Leeds City Museum

When it comes to free things to do with the kids, Leeds City Museum is the first place that comes to mind. It’s absolutely jam-packed with intriguing exhibitions, covering everything from ancient mummies to fossils, so there’s something for everyone. Look out for their temporary exhibitions: they’ll keep the kids coming back. They also often host baby and toddler events, which can be great when you’ve got some spare time to fill.

As you can probably imagine there is lots to see and lots to do. I mainly go to let them go wild and knacker themselves out so Robyn will sleep better during her afternoon nap, and Olivia goes to sleep quicker at bed time so me and Rachel actually get some time together *insert evil laugh.*

 

So those are my top 5 days out which can entertain your little ones for hours and not break the bank. What do you think? Would I make it as a tour guide? Or is it more a case of “don’t give up your day job”? Let me know below.