Our Day Out at Thorpe Park

Our Day Out at Thorpe Park

If you are at a loose end with the kids this summer and want something that will suit all ages, from babies to older teenagers (and you) try Thorpe Park.  Thorpe Park is a large theme park set between Chertsey and Staines-Upon-Thames, at juction 11 on the M25. Despite being just a forty five minute drive from me I haven’t been there since I was a kid.  Mike was supposed to join me, but because of his work commitments I took the kids on my own. Two children under two, four over six and just one adult meant I wouldnt be able to make the most of the day.  So, I dropped George and Arthur to my Mum and Dad’s and headed off with Mikey (10), Harri (10), Charlie (8) and Libby (6). When we arrived the kids checked the map and all the many rides and gave me a summary of the ones they definitely wanted to go on. My slight disapointment, being a huge rollercoaster fan, (bigger the better) was because I was on my own, I had to swerve some of the biggest and best rides in the park. Mikey was also disappointed, as he seems to have inherited my need for thrills!  Saw, Stealth, Colossus, Rush and Nemiesis Inferno were all no-gos for us this time round. So lets talk about the rides we did go on. Like other theme parks, Thorpe Park is separated into different areas, each with its own theme. We started our day at Amity, a section of the park based around the seaside town that the movie Jaws is based on. The first ride we went on was Flying Fish, a family rollercoaster. After dragging Mikey and Harri on some of Universal Studios scariest rides last year, they were both up for this ‘tamer’ ride. Libby and Charlie however, were rollercoaster novices and both tried get out of it. Thinking they would enjoy it once they were on it, I managed to convince them with some gentle persuasion. They loved it! Mikey didnt feel it quite satisfied his adrenaline need, but enjoyed it nevertheless. Whilst in Amity, we also went on the obligatory log flume Tidle Wave and the more gentle water ride, Storm Surge. One of my most memorable rides with the kids was ‘Storm in a Teacup’.  Maybe because I remember this ride and the Tetley men from when I was the boys age.   While the kids were spinning the cup, faster and faster, I was watching their faces, they were ecstatic, their laughing and screaming with excitement will stay with me forever.   It is what #makingmemories is all about. From Amity, we headed to ‘The Jungle’.   This is where we rode on Mr Monkeys Banana Ride (a tame thrill ride for younger children) and the Rhumba Rapids, riding through the jungle river on a raft. Whilst in The Jungle I spied a ‘Ghost Train’ sign. Ghost Trains are my favourite kind of ride so I dragged the kids kicking and screaming towards it. They breathed a sigh of relief when it stated at the entrance that you had to be 13 or over.  I was gutted! It looked fantastic, promoted as Darren Brown’s Ghost Train, I am heading straight for that on my kid-free visit! Harri’s ride of choice was Angry Birds 4D Experience. It was very similar to the Shrek ride at Universal Studios.  I dont want to spoil it for anyone, but it is a great ride for all the family. At Old Town the kids jumped on The Rocky Express, which they all commented that George (2) would have loved. Then, the kids hurried Mikey and I passed Samuri and Saw whilst we sulked like teenagers. We stopped for a well deserved Whoppa at Burger King, just because it was the closest Eatery.  However, there are plenty of places to eat at the park.  They have everything from a Bar and Grill to Fish and Chips, Mexican, Kebabs, Pulled Meat and BBQ, they even have Burger King and KFC. If you want treats they offer Donuts, Ice Cream, Slushies and lots of yummies dotted around the park. The Lost City was the home of Mikeys favourite ride of the day….Quantum.  Judging by Thorpe Park standards it was one of the smaller rides but given that Mikey hadnt managed to ride any of the monsters, this satisfied his thrill level for the day. Charlie and Harri however, were not so keen! Mikey ran off begging to ride again, whilst the others threatened to report me to social services for making them go on such a scary ride (I bolted out of the queue with Libby at the last minute as I knew she would be petrified). Zodiac was a great ride, I actually managed to ride that one with Mikey as the queue was less than five minutes. We spent the last hour of our day at Thorpe Park at Amity Beach, A large, man-made beach with shallow pools and water features. The weather was beautiful and It was so reminiscent of the Lidos my mum used to take us to when we were kids (none of which are open any more). I sat and watched the four kids mess about, splash each other and have a great time. Depth Charge is next to the beach.  It is a multi slide where you sit on a raft and ride down the slide.  The kids would have gone on this again and again and again but time was running away. Being the unorganized mum that I am, i hadnt packed swimsuits or towels so it is just lucky we made that the last stop of the day. I say last stop, but as every parent knows, no trip to a theme park is complete without a visit to the park store! Loaded with badges, sweets and souvenirs, we were ready to say goodbye to Thorpe Park. All I needed to do was remember where I parked the car!!! For more information on Thorpe Park, their prices and admissions, head over to their website. https://www.thorpepark.com If you have been or do plan a day in Thorpe Park I’d love to hear your feedback. Love Kate Xxxx Linking up with #BloggerClubUK

An idea for the summer holidays – Reigate, Surrey

An idea for the summer holidays - Reigate, Surrey

Mikey has had rehursals for his summer show in Reigate over the last 5 weeks so I feel like I’m really getting to know the town well. I worked in Reigate years ago but never appreciated what it had to offer, but then  I did spend all my free time in the pubs! We have spent a few lovely evenings at Priory Park, enjoying the warm summer nights while the kids play in the fabulous playground. Libby didn’t leave the zip wire, Charlie was king of the pirate ship and the twins were having a water fight (when they weren’t hunting for pokamons). The park is so beautifully kept with perfectly manicured flowers, paths perfect for bike riding, a lake, tennis courts and skateboarding ramp. It’s has the feel of a Royal garden but without the hassle and bustle of London. We have also given some of the restaurants a go….. It’s hardwork but there has been no time to cook! 😜 Charlies favourite place to eat is The Giggling Squid, a Thai restaurant with a modern feel. The food is stunning and I recommend the Green Thai Curry, Thai Beef Salad and Pad Thai noodles. Charlies favourites are the pork dumplings and the paid Thai are a guaranteed win for my lot. www.gigglingsquid.com We have also taken the kids to Bills which has a fabulous little courtyard garden. The menu has something for everyone from Seabass, Burgers, Grilled paprika chicken and Salads. The kids menu is very reasonable and the decor is great. https://bills-website.co.uk Reigate also has Pizza Express, Cafe Rouge, Carluccios, Cotes and lots more lovely places to eat…. I’m working my way round! So if you find yourself at a loose end over the summer,  take a visit to Reigate,you won’t be disappointed.

Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum

​Thanks to the teachers strike (with you all the way!) I got an extra day of quality time with the twins. They are studying World War 2 this year and, as it is also my favourite period in history we decided to take a trip to the Imperial War Museum near Waterloo. A nice day out without spending too much money (entry into the museum is free) I find it easier when I have George with me to drive up to London. It just means after a long day the kids can lay back and relax in the way home. The only problem I ever have with driving to town is the parking…… Not anymore! The last couple of trips I have used www.justpark.com Before I leave I put into the website the destination postcode and it throws up the nearest car park. You pre pay on the website and just turn up! On this trip I parked 10 minutes from the museum and it cost £11 all day! The museum was as fantastic now as I remember from when I was their age. We learnt about what it was like to live through WW2 through the eyes of a South London family. The boys found it really helped them to relate to the Allpress’, comparing members of their family to ours (they also had a big family!) Looking at rationing, evacuation, the blitz and all the propaganda, we took it all in and enjoyed every minute. It gave the three of us an overwhelming feeling of pride and patriotism that our previous generations went through this for us. ‘ we gave up our today’s for your tomorrow’s’ Harrison wouldnt even have his picture taken with a swastika in the background. As for the haulacaust exhibition, I could hardly bare it. Explaining it to the boys and hearing some of the stories was truly horrific. It is the first time I feel like my children really felt grateful for what they have and their life. The museum facilities are great to, plenty of lifts to access the diffetent exhibitions, toilets, baby changing, coffee shops etc. I was gutted we had a big breakfast before we got there. The restaurant food looked absolutely amazing, pizzas, seabass, salads, marinated chicken aswell as a huge range of pastries and cakes! I’ll save that for my next visit!

Family Movie Nights 🎥

Family Movie Nights

Who doesn’t love Disney movies!? I could watch them day after day…… Oh, hold on,  that’s exactly what i have been doing for the last nine years!  Given my babies ages (11 months. 5, 7 and two 9 year olds) I have been on the ‘disney, cebebeies, baby TV and Mr bloody Tumble’ channel for nearly a decade.  So,  people may judge me when they hear i have been embracing the twins impending teenage years by introducing them to some of MY favourite movies.  Some have been a hit, some haven’t, some appropriate, some maybe not,  but I’ve had a blast sharing my old favs with them.  Pauly Shore is a bit of an unknown name in the UK, but growing up,  his movies were amongst some of my favourites. California Man, Bio-dome, son in law and In the Army Now are great movies for my boys.  They think he is one of the funniest people alive (besides Mr Bean).  Stand by Me was our Friday night movie recently.  It was a really lovely evening as Mike and I were as excited to sit down and watch it as they were. They found it quite emotional (when Gordie’s brother dies and when they tell stories about their family lives) but the ‘leech scene’ and all the swearing made up for it! FYI,  a little trivia I found out while writing this blog, did you know,  Vern in Stand by Me has grown into Jerry O’connell, who has been in Scream 2, Mistresses, Billions and Jerry Maguire! Who’d have guessed that!  I don’t worry about them watching movies that use profanity anymore.    They know what they are allowed to say and what they aren’t and I trust their manners….

Plus, they probably hear worse at home anyway! Beetlejuice is now on their favourite list aswell as mine, along with Goonies, National Lampoons Vacation, Big, The Great Outdoors,  Overboard, The Ernest Movies,  Gremlins, Jaws, Mannequin, Parenthood, Return to Oz…I could go on.  One choice that was very controversial in our house, and, I won’t lie, was Mikes choice for a movie night.  His all time favourite movie,  FOREST GUMP!!!! Now,  this movie is PG rated which was his argument for letting Mikey and Harri watch it. However,  I don’t think he took into account the various scenarios this movie involves. 

I found it the most painful 6 hours of my life (that is how long the movie goes on for isn’t it?  No? It f#@king felt like it!) 
Cringing at every scene i knew would be followed by an awkward question 
‘ mum why is Forest making funny noises after his teacher visits his mum ‘
‘urgh why is jenny making him touch her boob!?’
‘ why is jenny running away from her dad?’
But, the boys absolutely loved it,  Harrison asks me daily to watch it again. 
The adult themes went over their head but the emotional rollercoaster really swept them away. 
They are memorised with the whole movie,  Forest, his relationships with family and friends,  his comic manner, his constant need to please,  protect and love. 
I feel,  in hindsight,  it was a great movie choice for them that taught them things I certainly couldnt.
And it opened the door for me to test some other movies such as Olympus has Fallen,  London has fallen,  San Andreas, Outbreak 😱, Salt, Planet of the Apes.
So in short, now. When we have ‘a family movie night ‘ I can be in the room with them mentally aswell as physically, watching with general interest rather than staring blankly at the TV because I’m watching Toy Story, Frozen or Horrid ba#@ard Henry for the 1000th time! 
Don’t worry George…… I’ll still sit through all the crap for you 😘

Saint Nick popped in for a cuppa!

Saint nick popped in for a cuppa

​Deck the halls! We have had a really special,  festive weekend full of friends,  wine,  mince pies, sausage rolls, tinsel, The Pogues and Santa Claus! Back in November I looked into which Santa to take the kids to visit. I looked into local garden centres, National trust venues and shopping centres. I know most of them are great experiences but when you have 5 children they are also really expensive. It got me thinking,  how much would it cost to bring the big guy to us!? I hit Google and found a company called Hiresanta. They sent me a few videos of different Santa auditions and the relevant price for each Santa. Obviously, the best,  most realistic was the most expensive….. And typically the one I set my heart on. The price tag for our Santa came at a wopping £300, but,  considering I was going to spend £100 for 2 minutes with a half decent Santa at the local garden centre, I thought I’d give it a go.  He didn’t disappoint! The children were absolutely blown away (and so were the adults). Turns out our Santa was a professional actor with credits such as Eastenders, The Bill, Frost, Londons Burning and Casualty just to name a few. He spent two hours talking to the children,  listening to each of their presie lists and told them a lovely Christmas story. We are definatly going to book again for next year. Some of the older kids were suspicious but he was pretty convincing and left even the most defiant believers wondering….. Could he be!? So I can confirm we are now officially in the Christmas spirit! If you can get a few friends together and split the cost it is a great experience and a chance to make special memories that last forever. It’s also a great excuse for the parents to get together with a few bottles of wine and let a jolly man in a suit entertain the children for a couple of hours. Only one problem, Santa left his belt on my bed!…. Try explaining that one too the kids 😆🙊🎅 HO HO HO!!!! 🎅 http://www.hiresanta.co.uk

Sleepover without the ‘sleep’

Sleepover Without The Sleep

My father in law looked at me totally baffled yesterday as he was trying to work out exactly which children were staying at my house and which werent. Two of my kids had stayed at my friend, Rosies the previous night and she had just turned up to drop them off. In the mean time another friend, Claire was leaving my house. ‘ I’m taking Charlie!’ she shouted ‘ok, leave Caolan with me !’ I yelled back. Rosie then went to leave,  turned to her two girls and told them to be good and she would see them in the morning. I could see my father in law trying to work it out like a tricky maths question.  You know the ones,  if three men got in the boat,  one fell out and they pick up four, how many are left in the boat? ‘so who is here?’ he asked ‘ Mikey,  Harri, Libby, Darcie, Sydney, Callan and George ‘ He looked totally bemused, I’m not sure if it was the casual way we had swapped children like handbags or the fact I had seven children for the night.  😂😂😂 They all made a camp in the living room and went to sleep. …..our at least I thought they had. I woke up to a text from a friend of mine ‘ Mikey on Insta at 1am 😂’ Along with a pic of her INSTAGRAM with Mikey liking her photo at 1am!

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What a week

What A Week

What a draining and eventful week. Not only for me, but the whole country! Britain voted to leave the EU! Who saw that coming? Ironically, the remainers are accusing the leavers of dividing Britain. Although, it is this attitude that I believe is making a divide. Don’t get me wrong, I am as nervous as everyone but the backlash has disappointed me slightly. Ever the optimist, I would have liked to think that now is time to come together and make our children’s futures as great as we can. Anyway, enough of politics, I’m sick of it! After spending Friday night celebrating a friends hen do I spent all day yesterday on the sofa. I haven’t had a hangover like that since I was 21! What was I thinking!? Surely the fifth sambuca shot should have been enough! I have no business behaving like that now, I’m a mum of five!…. F#@k it, it’s because I’m a mum of five I behave like that! Saturday night I watched Anthony Joshua defended his title without breaking a sweat and Adele had me in tears watching her at Glastonbury. George is teething badly at the moment. Our house has a constant moan in the background, poor little mite! Calpol has been stocked up and the powder that looks like cocaine wraps. To finish the weekend we have spent a lovely day at the school fete. Reminding me of everything I love about British tradition, spending a overcast summer afternoon with family and friends, drinking pimms and playing Tombola!

Rumbled! 

Rumbled

​So this weekend something happened that will change my sex life for the next 20 years. After telling the kids to ‘shhhhhhh’ for the 58th time in the six berth camper we had hired for the weekend, finally silence fell. …..until Harrison asked loudly, in a disgusted tone: ‘urgh, are you two having  S….E……X!? Because of you are having  S…..E……X. You need to stop.  It’s just gross, with your kids here,  close those curtains,  this is grossing me out!’ 😱😰😳😩😫😭 What the fu#k!? Firstly we actually were not having sex, any grunting noises had come as a result of me clambering up the shit#ing ladder to get into the coffin style bed above the drivers seats. Secondly, the space from our bed to the ceiling was about half a foot, i could barely turn over let alone anything else!! Thirdly…..I was too tired 😜 So the next morning I questioned harri on what is S….E…..X? His answer…. ‘its when a man and lady are naked in bed, kissing and making noises’ who was rocking the caravan last night?’ I had to think on my feet. ‘oh,  i thought you were asleep (true!)  there were some naughty boys outside pushing our caravan.  Did you hear dad go out and shout at them?’ ‘no, but thank God for that,  I thought it was you two having S….E….X.  i hope those boys don’t come back tonight! ‘ No fear of that son…they have well and truley got the message😒 So we are now looking for locks to put on our bedroom door and I’m trying to work out how to approach the proper birds and bee’s talk with them …..wish me luck! 

My little man

My little man

I’ve been finding it hard to blog lately. Since George turned one he up’ed his game massivly. He has gone from a quiet little baby who sits contently playing in his playpen (or cage to you that know us well) to a walking,  talking, shouting Hitler whos day consists of eating,  tipping up the dogs water bowl,  eating some more,  shitting and then eating again. Happy times though,  He has started saying my name! It’s so cute! He hasn’t learned that whine yet, He just walks around saying ‘ mum, mum, mum, mum ‘ Let’s see how long that little novelty lasts before the sound ‘mum’ has me scratching at my eyes!

When my babies are born i always make the mistake of strutting around with my beautiful new baby telling everyone how lucky I am that he is so good. This was true,  he was good,  most babies are when all they do is sleep,  drink milk and poo. It’s when they start crawling/walking and learning the art of manipulation that things start to change. When I had the twins I used to take a high and mighty ‘i will not give in ‘ approach……not anymore. George wants chocolate,  I say no,  George screams,  I give him the chocolate. …..bad, bad mum that aside, I am loving every precious moment with my number five. He is growing into a sweet, funny and affectionate little boy, just like his big brothers USED to be🙈. I am so excited to see what he makes of his new little brother when he arrives.