BLAKESLEY HALL

I've not blogged in a long time; work and school are mainly to blame, but I refuse to dwell on how little I've blogged over the last year.

Today is Good Friday so no school and no work for any of us and an ideal opportunity for A&D, who went to Blakesley Hall on a school trip, to play tour guide to Daddy on his first visit there.  It was also the perfect opportunity for me to dust my camera off and take some photos for a quick blog post.

As a bit of background Blakesley Hall is one of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery's heritage sites.  It is a Tudor House with lovely grounds and a gem of a place.  Lucky for us it is only a ten minute drive away from home.  There are often activities for kids going on in the school holidays for next to no money and it's a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. 

Our visit today was very impromptu, but A&D had renewed enthusiasm for it since they had been on a school trip a month or so ago and they had so much fun retelling all of the things they had learned from their guide on that trip that I wish we had planned it better and gone earlier.

Here are a few snap shots of our lovely afternoon adventure.

On the Gilbertstone

Learning about Tom, Frank & May

WW1 Dress Up

WW1 Dress Up

Writing a letter, quill in hand

The Entrance

Watching the film about Tom, Frank & May

12/52 ISTANBUL

Twice I have spent hours writing an open letter to Julia, Ville, Ruskin, Matti, Anton and Neve to express my heartfelt gratitude and thanks for their wonderful hospitality, love and friendship which allowed Teeny and I to visit them in Istanbul recently.  Unfortunately Blogger has decided that saving said blog post was not on its list of priorities and now, as hard as I try, the words will just not come as they did before and I know myself well enough to know that if I do not publish a post about our trip soon it will stay in my drafts folder forever.  So here is my very condensed down, but equally as thankful post on our wonderfully enriching trip to Istanbul. 

 

Julia, Ville, Ruskin, Matti, Anton and Neve please know that my lack of words in this post does not reflect a lack of appreciation, rather the opposite; I feel that today whatever I write could never reflect my gratitude or admiration for you all. 

 

Crazy Hands

With Matt-iii

With Ru-kin

A word from the wise

Topkapi Palace

Beautiful Neve

Sunset Fishing

Patisserie de Pera

With Du-li-a

A view from Galata Tower

Home for the week

(For anybody who would like to see much better photographs of our trip they can be found on Julia's very gorgeous Flickr page)

DIRTY FEET

Teeny - 365

You aren't quite walking yet and so I rarely put shoes on you, especially in the warm weather because what's the point.  Today though, while we were at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery's Collection Centre's open day, you decided that you wanted to get down and 'walk around' while holding Daddy's fingers so we obliged.  At the time though we didn't realise quite how dirty the floor was.

STICK INSECT

D - 365

You are usually a little more reluctant that your sister to hold the animals, but not today.  Today you could not wait to hold them and were maybe a little too eager at times.  Bless you my sweet boy.

A TREASURE TROVE

A - 365

Here you with your brother next to a gorgeous old vehicle stored at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery's Collection Centre.  I had never really thought about what museums do with all of the things that they own that is not on display, but today we found out.  Daddy and I took you and your brothers to a (free) open day at the Collections Centre and I can only describe it as a treasure trove.  As well as all of  the amazing collections which are stored there they also had a falconry display and animals from Animalmania and the Minibeast Roadshow as well as a visit from the Lord Mayor. 

We all had a really lovely afternoon, but your particular favourites were the animals and the collections comprising of pretty things and of toys like these ones.

 

Collection Centre Treasures

 

MY DIDDY DINOSAUR AND THE DADDYOSAURUS

D - 365

Dinosaur dress up at Dinosaur Isle.

DINOSAUR FOOD

A - 365

ROOM ON A BROOM FOR A GRUFFALO

A - 365

Today the little lady and I went to The Gruffalo's summer disco at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery whilst all three of my boys went to a birthday party.  It was run to coincide with their A Squash and a Squeeze exhibition which is an exhibition dedicated to Julia Donaldson stories (which we have not been to yet as I am saving it for the October half term). 

 

The disco was £3 per ticket for children and nothing for accompanying adults and was two hours jam packed full of party games, dancing, a fancy dress competition and colouring and even included a drink for the little ones.  My little lady (and her friend who also went) had an amazing time and it was literally the best £3 I have ever spent.  We can't wait for another one!

SNAKE CHARMER

D - 365

Last time we went to the museum to see the Minibeast Roadshow you were very wary of the snakes, but not today; today you were the snake charmer!

ANIMALMANIA

A - 365

A cuddle with the tortoise thanks to school holiday fun by Animalmania at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

HAPPY TIRED

Teeny - 94/365

Worn out from all of the excitement of the train journey to the museum and seeing the animals there you snuggle in ready for the journey home. Happy tired like we all were today.

BEARDED DRAGON

D - 94/365

Here is Basil the Bearded Dragon from the Minibeast Roadshow at BMAG today.  What fun you had meeting all of the animals and you were so brave to hold and touch so many of them too. 

 

Just goes to show you don't have to spend lots of money to have an exciting morning out and it was even better that we got to share the excitement with our friends.

SNAKE CHARMER

A - 94/365

Today we went to Minibeast Roadshow at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery with our lovely friends.  They do some lovely activities for children, especially in the school holidays; in fact  I blogged about another visit here.  When we arrived you went off to see what was going on while I paid* and when I turned around I just managed to catch you doing this.  If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I don't think I would have believed it.

*£2 each for you and D.  Bargain!

BOYS' TOYS

D - 32/365

Your sister had her date with Daddy last Sunday and so this afternoon was your turn.  I packed you  off to Coventry Transport Museum* with a few pounds in your wallet, the compact camera, a bottle of water and a banana and I am told that a fabulous time was had by both of you.  To be honest though I could have sent you anywhere and you would have had a lovely time because you were with your daddy and he is your world, your idol and your comfort blanket all rolled into one.

*All for the cost of the diesel used to get there.

DADDY'S GIRL

A - 27/365

For Christmas we gave Daddy the gift of time in the form of a date per month with either you, D, Teeny, me, Nanny, Grandad or a special family outing.  This was partly because life gets so hectic sometimes that we thought it would be nice to give him some downtime and also because I am on maternity leave and so had to think of something thoughtful that wasn't going to cost the earth.  Each date was scribbled on a slip of paper and put inside a blown up balloon so he had to pop 12 balloons to get his presents.

 

January's date was with you and took place this afternoon.  Before you left I gave you some money to pay for things which you safely put into your handbag along with the compact camera, a banana and a carton of apply juice.  You took the train into town with Daddy to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery where you dropped into the Make and Take Crafts in the Activity Zone and made a lovely snowman and then wondered around the exhibits where I am told that your favourites were this phone and the 1930s kitchen complete with apron and oven glove.  Eventually you got back on the train and came home to me!

 

I am a little bit envious, but mostly just so happy that you both really enjoyed this afternoon out.*  I love you both so much.

*For the tiny cost of £3!