Wow they go fast don’t they!  Well according to your kids they do.  If like most parents, you have ran out of things to do with your kids by now you could try sending them across an assault course!

OK before you go and phone the army, I don’t mean that sort of assault course.  Well almost.  When I was younger I set up an assault course in my garden using anything and everything I could find, I had ladders to climb, ropes to swing across, blankets to crawl under, plant pots lined up to dribble a ball through, hoops to skip across and all this in a garden measuring 45ft x 30ft!

With a bit of imagination you could build a lot of fun for your kids and the neighbours kids too.  My assault course attracted a lot of attention, most of the neighbourhood kids used it and had a blast – not bad for a nine year old’s imagination!

If the weather is suitable, you could even include water into the course, such as a water pistol target range, a paddling pool with objects in the bottom to fetch using only mouths – you get the picture.  SAFETY NOTE – if you have a deep paddling pool don’t get your kids to retrieve things from the bottom!

If you are anything like my family, you used up all your great ideas at the begining of the holidays, now you are at the end you are struggling.  I like to try and treat the holidays like a good novel – a great begining, a great end and some compelling bits in the middle.  Lets give our kids an awesome last week, one they will remember!  Don’t forget, most teachers get our kids to write an essay about their summer holidays the first week back, lets give them lots of materials.

In our family, great fun doesn’t mean great expense.  Try doing some of the ideas found earlier in this blog and you will have some great memories.

Jon Roberts
Guest Writer
Websites for only £35.00

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We walked part of this not cycled as I fancied a walk, but next time I think I will get the bikes out as its a nice route.  We only went from our house to Penmaenmawr (that was quite a distance!).  It was fun to walk along where we hav usually whizzed by in the car and go around the outside of the tunnel.  It was a very blustery day but not cold.  We didn’t rush and had a picnic along the way.  We left home at 11.30 and got to Penmaenmawr beach cafe about 3.30 – 4pm.

A bit nervous walking along the part from Conwy Marina off-ramp along to the tunnel as the path had no rail between us and the cars and was a bit narrow in places but once we reached the tunnel the path led across the rail line below and around the tunnel and from there it was set back from the road and had a fence between us and the cars.

Its amazing how much we miss driving in cars.  The beach along this part of the coast is all sand and we found a tunnel running under the railway that went down to the beach.

I love Penmaenmawr the prom is wide and there is a lovely beach cafe there – well worth a visit.

While waiting for our lift home we decided to walk in the direction of the town and found a small wooded park with swings and slides and a sort walk around a stream and mini waterfall.  As my legs were aching we decided to stay in the park.  We had a fun day despite being tired.

As I said its amazing what we miss by driving everywhere so its worth finding out about the footpaths and cyclepaths and setting off with a picnic.  Next time we are going to be dropped off at Penmaenmawr and walk on from there to Llanfairfechan and then towards Bangor.

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Title: Penmaenmawr Prom Weekend
Location: Penmaenmawr, North Wales
Description: weekend of fun on the prom
Start Date: 2008-08-23
End Date: 2008-08-24

Didn’t manage to go on the Saturday and missed the storming of the beach on Sunday!!

The weekend was a trip back in time to world war 2 with a re-enactment group dressing as American, British and German soldiers on the prom along with vehicles from the war as well.  Up in the town was a shop containing a fantastic display of WWII memorabillia.  The couple who owned this collection (sorry I didn’t catch your names) were very friendly and helpful.  We were disappointed to find that we had also missed a Saturday night dance.  It’s all on again next year and the plans sound brilliant, so I’ve marked it on my calendar now.

We managed to get there in time today and the re-enactment group explained the weapons that were used and also fired the guns (some of which were very loud).  We had fun and took plenty of photographs.  This was most definately a good bludger’s event as there were no entrance fees, we took a picnic and really had a great family day out.  Look forward to next year

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I’m not a train spotter but steam trains are quite interesting and have character – does that sound train spotterish?

We took a trip to Porthmadog to the Welsh Highland Railway.  Yet another leaflet we picked up at the tourist information centre.  It wasn’t a long trip on the train but £15.00 for a family ticket I didn’t think was so bad and the ticket lasted all day.  The return trip included a stop off to view the train sheds where volunteers work on steam engines.  There is a miniature railway here (included in the price) for the children, you are allowed to climb on the different engines. 

Volunteers are presently working on this line and extending it to join up with the Ffestiniog Railyway.  By Easter 2009 the Aberglaslyn Pass and Beddgelert part of the line should be finished. I freely admit I am looking forward to that next year. 

We are really blessed to have such beautiful countryside and I love visitng Beddgelert.  Before they started re-doing the old train track we used to walk along that path and through the tunnels, the path is now just a bit lower down.  One of the best times to walk along the river in Beddgelert is when the rhododendruns are out (not sure I spelt that right), everywhere you look is purple and its gorgeous.  Also they have a fantastic ice-cream parlour.

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Living in North Wales we are blessed to have some of the most beautiful places to walk in.  We have a number of beaches close at hand, quite a few hills and a bit further away some mountains.  One of our favourite hills is quite close – The Vardre.  A great place to walk, have a picnic, admire the scenery and grass slide.  On one of the few sunny days we have had this summer holidays we spent an afternoon on the Vardre with a picnic and some large bits of cardboard.  Grass sleding was an activity we did as children with no thought to all the health and safety aspects that plague us these days.  I had recently bought a small vacuum cleaner and the box came in handy for this afternoon’s adventure. 

Having split the box in two and given a piece to each child we sat back to enjoy watching them slide and tumble down a slope at the top of the Vardre.  Who needs to pay to go to an amusement park! We spent a good 3 hours here enjoying the picnic and laughing at the children screaming as they slid down the hill and not always on the cardboard.  Yes they came away with a few scuffs and grass burns but they didn’t care they had really enjoyed the afternoon.  I did have a go but did not go as high up the hill as the children did I’m not quite as brave now as I was when I was a child.

A couple of days ago we decided to walk along Conwy Mountain in spite of the weather.  Conwy Mountain is a nice and popular area with plenty of paths leading the way from Conwy to Sychnant Pass.  Depending on how fit you are you can take a path over the top or slightly lower down. 

Only me and Jake decided to go for this walk and as it threatened to rain took macs and as it turned out we only had one shower.  So don’t let the threat of rain put you off chances are it may not.  We haven’t been to Conwy Mountain for about a year and were pleasantly surprised to see how many Welsh Mountain Ponies and their foals were up there. (also a pheasant and some lovely butterflies)

There are so many places local to where we live that we may not know about them.  A visit to the tourist information and I found some leaflets marking out walks close to home that we didn’t know about.  Another example of living somewhere for years and not really knowing the locality is when I used to live in Maidstone, Kent.  I had gone back for a visit with my hubby and he wanted to see some the different places around my home town.  We decided to go to the TIC.  I had often spotted signs for the heart of Kent tour but never had the time to find out what it was about, so we asked at the TIC and were given a guide to follow.  Most of the heart of Kent tour is driving but at different places around the route places of interest are pointed out, which you can visit.  I found places I had never known were there! We have a really great day and ended the day at a hop farm (we never finished the whole tour).

Walking is a great way to find places you whizz past in the car, to get fit and to have family fun.  If you have young children who might whinge a bit, why not make a quiz for them to do along the way or play games like I-spy.

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The weather hasn’t been too good for the past couple of days, so we haven’t been anywhere.  We were going to attend the Medival Festival tomorrow but apart from the weather still predicting rain, our funds don’t really stretch to going this year.  (I think we should have an outings savings jar).

With our weather being so unpredictable it is a good idea to have some things handy to do when its raining or funds don’t stretch to going out.  We have a varied selection of board games and computer games and with the internet there is quite a range of things that can be done at home. 

Please post some of your indoor ideas.

Where possible indoor days should be planned in advance or at least pre-prepared and the activity kept somewhere handy, so that not too much of the day is spent trying to get organised.  I like making greetings cards and have quite a bit of stuff on hand to just be able to pick up the craft and get going.  Not everyone in my family is as enthusiastic about this as I am though. 

One of my favourite shops is Home Bargains as they have bits and pieces in there that aren’t too pricey and you could probably pick up an item or two each week.  A couple of months ago I was in there and spotted a home art box for £1.99, it contains four pre-printed canvases, brushes and paints so all we have to do is set it all out and paint.  As the canvases are already pre-printed there’s no need for “but I don’t know what to paint”.

I use quite a few different websites for printable pictures, crafts and games and I will get around to adding them to the appropriate heading on the About page.  Please make sure the website allows you to print off and use the stuff for at home etc.

With the olympics underway now I remember I came across a website, which suggested holding your own mini olympics.  This could be organised for either indoor or outdoor depending on the weather and it even made suggestions for making your own olympic torch, medals, and trophies.

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Title: Eglwysbach Show
Location: Eglwysbach
Description: Agricultural show
Date: 2008-08-09

In all the years I lived in North Wales we have only been to this show once and we really enjoyed it.  We forget because this is one of those events we only see advertised on little signs in the local area.  I should make a note of when it is as it is an annual event.

Last year we had great fun, there was a wide variety of stalls, a few fun fair rides, food and a tent set up for judging of local produce and art.  I’m not much into animal shows but I found it really interesting to watch the judging of sheep.  There was also a gymkhana (I know I have spelt this wrong) and we watched as the little children were riding their ponies around to show off their skills.  There was even a bird of prey display in which the star of the show flew off and sat in a tree not answering the call to come back.  As a family there was something for everyone (including face painting).

We were a bit disappointed to have missed it again this year but hopefully we will remember for next year.

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I love visiting Anglesey, there is quite a lot of different places to visit considering its an island – beaches, nature reserves, national trust properties, castles etc.

We went to Llangefni yesterday, the weather wasn’t too good; varying between light to heavy showers.  On a previous visit I discovered a well laid out walk. Some of it is boarded for easy use by wheelchairs and pushchairs and some of it is woodland path and concrete path called The Dingle.  Along the walk are some wood carvings.  Also some interesting wildlife to look out for such as tree creeper, dipper, kingfisher etc.

It was a great walk despite the rain, we spotted the tree creeper, but we never got to the end (I had given away the leaflet I had about it).  It was a gentle walk but as we left our picnic in the car (cheap car park) and so turned back as we were hungry. 

We visited Llangefni on a Thursday which is market day. 

Just as an aside if you are into researching your geneaology – family archives are also in Llangefni.

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It doesn’t really matter what you do or where you go, the whole idea is about spending as little money as possible either and (more importantly) it’s more about being together as a family.  There are so many activities that go on in and around the home which can and are done as individuals i.e. watching TV, playing computer games, listening to music, outside playing, reading etc.  All too soon the children grow up and leave. 

For a couple of years now when the school summer holidays start we get the tent out in the back garden and sleep out there as many nights as we can (only got rained out one night last year at 3am!).  Recently a friend of mine came to visit and saw the tent and when I explained it to her she said “You’re making memories”.  That was a nice idea – making memories.  I’m sure we all have memories of our childhood and what we did during our summer holidays – I have many.  One of the best ones was my Dad announcing we were going on a mystery tour, which is always an exciting prospect.  We turned up at the local garden centre, which was holding a camping exhibition with 100’s of tents set up.  I remember feeling quite disappointed until we started looking around, my Dad made it fun and we were soon all having a great time running in and out of tents.  As a bonus to the day we took a drive to the nearby Priory, where by chance there was a Jamaican Steel Band playing.  This turned out to be one of the best days ever – not because it cost anything (it was all free) but because it was fun.  My parents made the day fun and I’ve never forgotten it.

I would like to point out now that if as parents we make it a fun day and look for all the positives the children will join in – go out with faces and attitudes that are miserable and you’ll bring everyone down.

We have taken our own children to camping exhibitions, which they have enjoyed because we made it fun.

A good place to visit is your local tourist information centre (TIC).  Ask if they have a list of upcoming events in your local area.  Even though you live there it doesn’t mean you know everything about your locality.  We are on our TIC mailing list and its surprising what you can miss.  I was very disappointed to note that we missed a Viking Experience last weekend just because we didn’t know about it.  We seem to miss a fair few events local to where we live!  I don’t know where they advertise but I ususally find out about it when its over. 

So please use this blog to let others know of different events.

One of the best ‘local’ events we attended was when we visited Maidstone, Kent.  We were driving along the Ashford Road when we spotted a small sign advertising a village event – can’t quite remember the title but it had to do with scarecrows – it was for a couple of days time, so we made a note and went along.  It was all set out in (I think) someone’s back garden, quite a large garden.  Scarecrows everywhere all dressed in as many different ways as possible.  There was a variety of simple games being held, such as ‘whack a rat’, mini golf and all for not much money.  At first we were a bit unsure but then entered into the spirit of it all and had a fantastic day.  There was tea and cakes, raffles and guess the weight of the cake, even an art display.  I won one of the raffles – yay.  Everyone at the scarecrow event was friendly – I hope it’s turned into an annual event.

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Title: Conwy Honey Fair
Location: Conwy, North Wales
Description: Annual Honey Fair
Date: 2008-09-13

I love going to this and have done for quite a few years now.  Conwy Hight Street is taken over by various stall holders – honey ‘farmers’ mostly, local WI goods and a few other charities.  Always worth a visit no matter the weather.  Always on the 13th September (except when it falls on a Sunday).  No entrance fee, you only pay for local car parks and any goods you buy (of course)

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