Country House Sleepover, Adventure Tarp Style After a rainy night in Coniston on the first wild night of our Sleepover Season, the chance to bivvy out in the grounds of Halecat House, an English country house in South Cumbria, seemed a much more civilized option. But we had clearly underestimated the neighbours… A perfect lawn [...]
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Morecambe Sandcastle Festival.. all you need is love

Morecambe Sandcastle Festival I always thought the main ingredient of a sandcastle was sand. In fact I thought it that was pretty much the only ingredient. Ah, but that’s where I’ve been going wrong. Today we learnt how to do it properly, at a sandcastle workshop, on the beach at the Morecambe Sandcastle Festival, and love [...]
Ceramically challenged at a Pottery Workshop

Call me ceramically challenged As a mother and son activity goes, a pottery workshop is a winning idea for a rainy afternoon. Matthew is top of his class at art, and I am top of the class at art in my head. And we are in Dali country, in La Bisbal D’Emporda, a region of [...]
Is Catalan food the best in the world?

Is Catalan food the best in the world? There are many reasons you should visit the Costa Brava. But ultimately there is only one. The best restaurant in the world. It seems that unless you are an internationally recognized food critic, there’s little chance of getting a table this summer. But don’t panic, you won’t [...]
Och Aye the Pool. A taste of summer at Gourock Pool

Och Aye the Pool. A taste of summer at Gourock I’m up to my neck in hot water. Hot salty water. Floating effortlessly under a summer sky. It’s a perfect Sunday morning and I am floating free; free as the gulls above as they drift upon the sea breeze. Welcome, dear reader, to the Lido [...]
10 great reasons to visit Blackpool

10 great reasons to visit Blackpool It’s a bucket and spade. It’s fish and chips on a tray. It’s a slow waltz to a Wurlitzer. It’s bingo in your B&B. It’s a glitterball on a neon prom. Blackpool is a holiday resort that knows what it is, and delivers what it promises on budget. And [...]
Inspired by Dali in Costa Brava and Girona

A country of many moustaches What to pack for a Spanish holiday? Bucket and spade? Suncream? Trashy novel? Well I’m off to Spain this week and I’m packing a moustache. Yes, I know, it’s more common to defoliate before than take extra facial hair with you, but I’m off to the home of Salvador Dali… [...]
Gear Guide: Choosing bikes for cycling with kids

Gear Guide: Choosing bikes for cycling with kids We’ve been cycling with kids since they could first hold their heads up and pretty much been through every possible configuration of trailer, bike seat, tag along, balance bike, solo bike and tandem you can imagine as we’ve figured out how to bike with one, two and [...]
Blackpool Pleasure Beach: A Nostalgia Ride

Is your family divided on how much fun you find a theme park? Would you choose a gentle spin on a carousel over those stomach twisting, mind bending, gravity defying drops from the sky that your kids favour? Or is it you that has a crush on the coasters? Perhaps you should get yourselves down [...]












