Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!

Yesterday we packed a picnic, our buckets and spades and headed off to Wales. We went to Ogmore by Sea which has a lovely sandy and rocky beach. It was a hot day but the sea was still cold. But that didn't matter to the kids, they don't feel cold when it comes to playing in the sea.

Children don't get bored at the seaside. We made sand castles, looked in rock pools and went fossil hunting followed by sausage sandwiches, ice cream and a failed attempt to fly a kite (there was a piece of frame missing).

Will definitely being going to Ogmore again. It's only just over an hours drive, it would be rude not too!



Fossil hunt

Do you like owls?

I DO!

This week I took the kids to Kington Small Breeds Farm and Owl Centre I took my camera and brought home some lovely owl photos. The kids wanted to bring home a pygmy goat each. Actually, I would probably like one too they are extremely cute.

European Eagle Owlet

Larger owls like this one have orange eyes because they hunt at dust and dawn. They need larger prey like rabbits which are usually out and about at these times of day.

Snowy Owlet

There are two snowy owlets here, hatched in July. They are very funny and are just growing their adult wing feathers which are so big and heavy for them, they get really tired and sometimes just lay splatted out on the floor.

Burrowing Owl (named Spike)


Tawny Owl


The owls on display outside their cages can be stroked (by adults only!). The burrowing owl wasn't keen (he pecked me when I visited here two years ago so I didn't attempt it this time). The tawny owl was so unbelievably soft. There are many other types of owl here, some of them are so amazingly camouflaged, you have to look hard to see them in their aviaries.

Blackberries!

I took a stroll, ice cream tub in hand, down to my secret blackberry spot today. Almost filled the tub which I wasn't expecting. Over the next two weeks I shall be making a few more harvesting trips, occasionally with my child labour helpers. I say 'helpers'. The boy will only select berries that are absolutely perfect and reach his high standards. The girl will eat more than she saves. But it's all good fun.

I wish I could tell you I have an amazing secret family recipe for blackberry crumble but I don't. Instead, I use a Jamie Oliver one.

Hereford Library Ssssh!

I went into town today to return my slightly overdue books and pay my 50p fine. How I still manage to accumulate fines when I renew my books online is beyond me. I need to sign up for Library Elf to get reminders sent to my email before the books are due.

Borrowing books for free (minus fines!) is great. I love the library service. What is even better about Hereford library is that it has a free art gallery and museum upstairs which is child friendly. My little girl had a lovely hour playing with the puppet show, dressing up clothes, castle building blocks and Victorian kitchen. While she played, I looked around the artifacts.