Nicola, Pete, Lola and Nell set off for their travels with a difference on 8 June. We hope to get a taste of many countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood. This post is from Nicola
“When you pick up your medicine ask to see the Assistant Post Master with a tail,” says the irrepressible Dr Adrienne Swan as we leave her clinic. Lola is already feeling better at having been given a treatment at the Dalmally clinic (25 miles from Oban) that includes a large chunk of Green & Black organic milk chocolate before and after the antibiotic she has just been prescribed… We have been found an afternoon slot – something our own doctor might well struggle to find if we’d turned up the same day asking for treatment – which interrupts Dr Swan’s filing. But she doesn’t seem to mind, and in addition to the treatment we also learn that she is soon off to Liberia to work in a rural clinic for five weeks.
“I haven’t flown for five years, but I figure what I’m doing in Liberia cancels out the flight.” It’s clear she’d stay longer if it wasn’t for needing to find someone to look after her dog Munro, or pay the mortgage. As a bonus Dr Swan also gives Lola her first Gaelic lesson…
maidainn mhath (say mateen vah) – good morning
feasgur mhath – good afternoon
oidhche mhath (say oichee vah) – good evening
Back in the pharmacy Lola’s recognized as the little girl who wants to learn Gaelic – we were looking for a phrase book or even printed tea towel or postcard earlier in the day - and so the introduction to the Assistant Post Master is both a treat and a lesson. “This is Ruhr (a golden retriever) which means rust or dark brown.” Ruhr puts his paws on the counter and gives a melting expression which leaves all the shop’s customers in a state of ooh and aah. Both Lola and I decide we want to move here, but of course if we did we’d want to spend all our time at the doctor’s. So for our health’s sake we better stick to the more brusque, albeit efficient, treatment that we thought was universal in Britain.
PS: Three days later we are back at the doctor's as Nell has picked up tonsilitus as well... (fyi [19 june] both children are now well)
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
Bunking off
Nicola, Pete, Lola and Nell set off for their travels with a difference on 8 June. We hope to get a taste of many countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood. This post is from Pete.
“Are we in Scotland yet?” asks Nell at around 3am on the night train from Euston to Glasgow. Stumbling into the corridor, I look out of the window. “No idea Nell, it’s all black. But maybe we are… now let’s sleep a little longer.” If I wasn't so knackered I'd be telling her about Venice (Orient Express) or the lions and Cape Buffalo tracking the Blue Train (South Africa) or derring do and revolution as we sped through the night from Moscow to St Petersburg (Russia).
Nothing excites kids more than riding on the night train. The illicit thrill of arriving in Euston in your pyjamas, then boarding the train at ten o’clock, a whole hour before departure. Nicola and Lola (who isn't well) are in one cabin; Nell and I are next door.
Nell thought there might be a double bed in the compartment, some kind of grand four poster affair. But she’s even happier to discover we are in a cosy two-berth cabin with bunks, crisp sheets and blankets. We explore the table that opens out into a sink, discover mini toothbrushes and toothpaste, and climb up the ladder to my top bunk and enjoy an illicit midnight feast of Marks and Spencer salt and vinegar crisps. “We’ve got tables!” declares Nell, discovering that a table pulls out of the wall for bunk eating.
The other great thing about night trains is that they have a bar; the only one where you can get a seat on a Friday night in London. While Nicola minds the kids I retreat to the bar and return with a single malt whisky and chardonnay for mum and dad. Having read Nell a story I settle into my bunk and pour a wee dram while below Nell turns the various cabin lights on and off.
Sleep is rhythmic, punctuated by the movement of the train and slow stops in sidings. But then at six am we are awoken by the guard with a croissant, cake and dessert-thing each, coffee for dad and orange juice for Nell. We unwrap each carefully in a picnic breakfast, before dragging our bags on to the platform. “Are we in Scotland now, daddy?” “Yes we are, Nell, hooray!”
Go to sleep in London, wake up in Glasgow and breakfast in a bunk – there’s no other way to travel.
“Are we in Scotland yet?” asks Nell at around 3am on the night train from Euston to Glasgow. Stumbling into the corridor, I look out of the window. “No idea Nell, it’s all black. But maybe we are… now let’s sleep a little longer.” If I wasn't so knackered I'd be telling her about Venice (Orient Express) or the lions and Cape Buffalo tracking the Blue Train (South Africa) or derring do and revolution as we sped through the night from Moscow to St Petersburg (Russia).
Nothing excites kids more than riding on the night train. The illicit thrill of arriving in Euston in your pyjamas, then boarding the train at ten o’clock, a whole hour before departure. Nicola and Lola (who isn't well) are in one cabin; Nell and I are next door.
Nell thought there might be a double bed in the compartment, some kind of grand four poster affair. But she’s even happier to discover we are in a cosy two-berth cabin with bunks, crisp sheets and blankets. We explore the table that opens out into a sink, discover mini toothbrushes and toothpaste, and climb up the ladder to my top bunk and enjoy an illicit midnight feast of Marks and Spencer salt and vinegar crisps. “We’ve got tables!” declares Nell, discovering that a table pulls out of the wall for bunk eating.
The other great thing about night trains is that they have a bar; the only one where you can get a seat on a Friday night in London. While Nicola minds the kids I retreat to the bar and return with a single malt whisky and chardonnay for mum and dad. Having read Nell a story I settle into my bunk and pour a wee dram while below Nell turns the various cabin lights on and off.
Sleep is rhythmic, punctuated by the movement of the train and slow stops in sidings. But then at six am we are awoken by the guard with a croissant, cake and dessert-thing each, coffee for dad and orange juice for Nell. We unwrap each carefully in a picnic breakfast, before dragging our bags on to the platform. “Are we in Scotland now, daddy?” “Yes we are, Nell, hooray!”
Go to sleep in London, wake up in Glasgow and breakfast in a bunk – there’s no other way to travel.
Wednesday, 13 June 2007
West Highland Way
Nicola, Pete, Lola and Nell want to travel the world with a difference. We hope to get a taste of many countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood. This post is from Lola
We just walked a bit of the West Highland Way (we did five miles, the whole is 95 miles from Glasgow to Fort William)... Mummy said it would be flat but it was very hilly so I got very tired and hungry. I saw lots of black slugs, they are slimey to pick up. We saw the lochan (small, wild lake) where King Robert the Bruce's sword was supposed to have been thrown. I am almost as tall as that sword (I know this because there was an engraving of the sword on a rock nearby). Scotland is very different to London. It's so calm and peaceful and very, very green. I am starting to see colours now: purple (heather, foxgloves and thistles) and yellow (buttercups, broom and gorse). It's also got a good chip shop at Tyndrum - the Real Food cafe. We liked Greg's tip about the station cafe at Crianlarich too, yum.
We just walked a bit of the West Highland Way (we did five miles, the whole is 95 miles from Glasgow to Fort William)... Mummy said it would be flat but it was very hilly so I got very tired and hungry. I saw lots of black slugs, they are slimey to pick up. We saw the lochan (small, wild lake) where King Robert the Bruce's sword was supposed to have been thrown. I am almost as tall as that sword (I know this because there was an engraving of the sword on a rock nearby). Scotland is very different to London. It's so calm and peaceful and very, very green. I am starting to see colours now: purple (heather, foxgloves and thistles) and yellow (buttercups, broom and gorse). It's also got a good chip shop at Tyndrum - the Real Food cafe. We liked Greg's tip about the station cafe at Crianlarich too, yum.
Sunday, 10 June 2007
We're in Scotland
Nicola, Pete, Lola and Nell set off for their travels with a difference on
8 June. We hope to get a taste of many countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood.
In a nutshell: We are staying at Glasgow's best kept secret - in other words everyone knows about Rowardennan and the amazing beaches and coves all along Loch Lomond's east side. There are cars parked everywhere, mini tented cities occupied by revellers in midge nets and community policemen patrolling. The SYHA (Scottish youth hostel association)
http://http//www.syha.org.uk/SYHA/web/site/home/home.asp is packed with Germans climbing Ben Lomond (the high road) while many of the other nationalities seem to be walking the West Highland Way (the low road). Mind you it's a perfect Saturday for getting away from the big smoke: 21C degrees and sunny. Not sure if this is a sign of climate change as people say that in Scotland "summer comes in like a bicycle" (fast) or creeps in (one day in July). Now that I know how close Glasgow is to this lovely area there would be no contest if I ever had to choose between living there or in Edinburgh.
From Lola (8): So far we've seen a dog wearing a life jacket, a dead fish head and a boat capsizing. We're also staying by the biggest loch in Scotland, Loch Lomond. Yesterday I had a temperature of 102F degrees. Mummy thinks I have tonsalitis but she doesn't know how to spell it...
From Nell (6): I went on the night train and it was so fun http://www.scotrail.co.uk/slprinfo.htm. We slept in bunks (berths) and a ticket inspector gave us breakfast in bed. I wanted to hear a Scottish accent but at Glasgow station it looked like London. I didn't believe we were in Glasgow, but then when me and mum went into a shop I heard it was true. I saw a bird's nest with eggs in its nest that looked like little stones. There are loads of wildlife around the youth hostel, and this morning the fire alarm went off.
8 June. We hope to get a taste of many countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood.
In a nutshell: We are staying at Glasgow's best kept secret - in other words everyone knows about Rowardennan and the amazing beaches and coves all along Loch Lomond's east side. There are cars parked everywhere, mini tented cities occupied by revellers in midge nets and community policemen patrolling. The SYHA (Scottish youth hostel association)
http://http//www.syha.org.uk/SYHA/web/site/home/home.asp is packed with Germans climbing Ben Lomond (the high road) while many of the other nationalities seem to be walking the West Highland Way (the low road). Mind you it's a perfect Saturday for getting away from the big smoke: 21C degrees and sunny. Not sure if this is a sign of climate change as people say that in Scotland "summer comes in like a bicycle" (fast) or creeps in (one day in July). Now that I know how close Glasgow is to this lovely area there would be no contest if I ever had to choose between living there or in Edinburgh.From Lola (8): So far we've seen a dog wearing a life jacket, a dead fish head and a boat capsizing. We're also staying by the biggest loch in Scotland, Loch Lomond. Yesterday I had a temperature of 102F degrees. Mummy thinks I have tonsalitis but she doesn't know how to spell it...
From Nell (6): I went on the night train and it was so fun
http://www.scotrail.co.uk/slprinfo.htm. We slept in bunks (berths) and a ticket inspector gave us breakfast in bed. I wanted to hear a Scottish accent but at Glasgow station it looked like London. I didn't believe we were in Glasgow, but then when me and mum went into a shop I heard it was true. I saw a bird's nest with eggs in its nest that looked like little stones. There are loads of wildlife around the youth hostel, and this morning the fire alarm went off.
Thursday, 7 June 2007
Your travel ideas
Nicola, Pete, Lola and Nell set off for their travels with a difference on 8 June. We hope to get a taste of many countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood. Already you've sent us loads of ideas about where to go & what to do. Here are some:
1) FROM JAPAN
Wow. You found Vancouver in London. Can you find Japan in England? I am sure
you can find a nice Japanese garden somewhere over there. Cheers,
Stacy & Motoki Kurokawa (Nicola's Canadian cousin)
2) FROM PERTH, AUSTRALIA
Well done gaining a reprieve for those trees! The Council cut a nice tree down from the verge outside my place earlier in the year, it was overhanging the footpath, but wasn't a danger 2 anyone, and I really liked the tree. They have planted another tree now tho.
Pam XXXX (Pete's Australian sister)
3) FROM OUR NEIGHBOUR, LONDON
Have a wonderful low carbon time. Perhaps you can count this as balancing my hyper carbon time! Love, Stephen
4) FROM A FARM NEAR MONMOUTH, WALES
Come & stay? Test our new compost toilet? Sleep in the woods? We will cook too! It all sounds exciting & wonderfully bonkers. :) I'm envious... Ruth
5) FROM THE MAN OVER THE ROAD - GO TO FRANCE
Monet's garden in Dorset at http://www.waterlily.co.uk
French style wine estate in Surrey at http://www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk
French chateau in Buckinghamshire at http://www.waddesdon.org.uk
French abbey with a tomb of a real French emperor (Napoleon III) in Hampshire at http://www.farnboroughabbey.org/home.php , from Greg
6) FROM A UNIVERSITY TOWN, CAMBRIDGE
Hey! Pls do come and see us in Cambridge, we can fit you all in and I love the idea of not having to cook a meal, although the kids can now do BBQs. You have been on my mind for yonks. let me know when you will be Down our way. Dotx
7) FROM GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Don't forget Venice (Birmingham - has more canals ;) on your travels. And Ayres Rock (Malvern- pre-Cambian rocks, more than 500 million years old ;). I am now living in Geneva (since Nov 2006) and have been doing some exploring myself.... By bicycle :)Have also visited the smoke of London a couple of times (boooooo.... Nasty carbon Iknow!) so was planning to make contact sometime. Bon voyage, Barry x
8) FROM TUNBRIDGE WELLS
If you find yourself in Kent in your travels come and stay. Hurstmonceaux is just down the road - couldn't sound more French and has a fab observatory. Think the blog looks great and good on you guys for doing something positive. Have fun, Diana x
9) BIGGING UP OXFORD
Britain exotic ?? How could that be? Surely you could fit the oxford botanic gardens and puunting through mesopotamia with the goddess Isis into your itinerary. You could even camp in our back garden - although we do have room to fit all of you (just about) in the house if it gets rainy. hope you Keep those midges at bay in scotland - midge malaria, never heard of it. Great news about west ham too. xx Lucy
10) GO TO A FOLK FESTIVAL BY THE SEASIDE
First week in August - be there and be square! The festival's smaller than it was a few years ago, so focussing more on British music but there should still be plenty of international stuff there to add to your world tour: a Brazilian samba troupe, Romanian dance ensemble, le Bebert Orchestra from Quebec, the Bollywood Brass Band (from London!) and so on.We've been a few times, and don't really bother doing many of the formal concerts as there is just low key music and dance stuff happening all over the place - pub beer gardens, town square, along the prom, .... - as well as children's and family activities every day (and a beach and ice creams). Maybe see you there bon voyage, Andrew
1) FROM JAPAN
Wow. You found Vancouver in London. Can you find Japan in England? I am sure
you can find a nice Japanese garden somewhere over there. Cheers,
Stacy & Motoki Kurokawa (Nicola's Canadian cousin)
2) FROM PERTH, AUSTRALIA
Well done gaining a reprieve for those trees! The Council cut a nice tree down from the verge outside my place earlier in the year, it was overhanging the footpath, but wasn't a danger 2 anyone, and I really liked the tree. They have planted another tree now tho.
Pam XXXX (Pete's Australian sister)
3) FROM OUR NEIGHBOUR, LONDON
Have a wonderful low carbon time. Perhaps you can count this as balancing my hyper carbon time! Love, Stephen
4) FROM A FARM NEAR MONMOUTH, WALES
Come & stay? Test our new compost toilet? Sleep in the woods? We will cook too! It all sounds exciting & wonderfully bonkers. :) I'm envious... Ruth
5) FROM THE MAN OVER THE ROAD - GO TO FRANCE
Monet's garden in Dorset at http://www.waterlily.co.uk
French style wine estate in Surrey at http://www.denbiesvineyard.co.uk
French chateau in Buckinghamshire at http://www.waddesdon.org.uk
French abbey with a tomb of a real French emperor (Napoleon III) in Hampshire at http://www.farnboroughabbey.org/home.php , from Greg
6) FROM A UNIVERSITY TOWN, CAMBRIDGE
Hey! Pls do come and see us in Cambridge, we can fit you all in and I love the idea of not having to cook a meal, although the kids can now do BBQs. You have been on my mind for yonks. let me know when you will be Down our way. Dotx
7) FROM GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
Don't forget Venice (Birmingham - has more canals ;) on your travels. And Ayres Rock (Malvern- pre-Cambian rocks, more than 500 million years old ;). I am now living in Geneva (since Nov 2006) and have been doing some exploring myself.... By bicycle :)Have also visited the smoke of London a couple of times (boooooo.... Nasty carbon Iknow!) so was planning to make contact sometime. Bon voyage, Barry x
8) FROM TUNBRIDGE WELLS
If you find yourself in Kent in your travels come and stay. Hurstmonceaux is just down the road - couldn't sound more French and has a fab observatory. Think the blog looks great and good on you guys for doing something positive. Have fun, Diana x
9) BIGGING UP OXFORD
Britain exotic ?? How could that be? Surely you could fit the oxford botanic gardens and puunting through mesopotamia with the goddess Isis into your itinerary. You could even camp in our back garden - although we do have room to fit all of you (just about) in the house if it gets rainy. hope you Keep those midges at bay in scotland - midge malaria, never heard of it. Great news about west ham too. xx Lucy
10) GO TO A FOLK FESTIVAL BY THE SEASIDE
First week in August - be there and be square! The festival's smaller than it was a few years ago, so focussing more on British music but there should still be plenty of international stuff there to add to your world tour: a Brazilian samba troupe, Romanian dance ensemble, le Bebert Orchestra from Quebec, the Bollywood Brass Band (from London!) and so on.We've been a few times, and don't really bother doing many of the formal concerts as there is just low key music and dance stuff happening all over the place - pub beer gardens, town square, along the prom, .... - as well as children's and family activities every day (and a beach and ice creams). Maybe see you there bon voyage, Andrew
Wednesday, 6 June 2007
Travel with us
Nicola, Pete, Lola and Nell want to travel the world with a difference. We hope to get a taste of loads of countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in aiport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood. This post is from Nicola.
Nell (6) has never flown, Lola (in the pic) and I haven’t been on a plane since 2000 (seven years!) and now we have three months to get around the world in a carbon lite way. We're doing this by staying in the UK pretending to be in other parts of the world from the Arctic to the Yemen. As the man at the Daily Telegraph newspaper's travel section said: "it's either mad or genius."
Staying in the UK is great for the local economy, and we will use local businesses and public transport whenever we can. But because accommodation can be pricey in the summer, especially in the Lake District, we are housesitting, houseswapping (more detail on this as we travel) and staying with friends. At times we will be camping, renting a cottage or using B&Bs… You can help us travel to 80 countries - just order mint tea in a Lebanese cafe, eat pizza in an Italian restaurant or go to the US by watching a baseball game - and then tell us about it.
If you haven't decided what to do for your summer holiday, or happen to be near us you can join the adventure. This is where we will be:
JUNE
8 June: Orient Express (plus a bit of Harry Potter) aka night train to Glasgow
9 June: New Zealand also known as (aka) YHA Rowardennan on Loch Lomond, Scotland
10-15 June: Arctic, aka village near Oban on the River Orchy
16-22 June: climbing Mt Everest (Nepal) via Skiddaw in the Lake District
23-24 June: Nigeria aka village near Skipton, north Yorks
25-26 June: North American Praires via a village near Bedale, north Yorks
JULY
27 June – 1 July: Yemen & Roman time travelling along Hadrian’s Wall in Newcastle (east end)
1-5 July: Canada & Chile, camping by Ullswater, Lake District
5-14 July: Germany & Baird family history around Aberdeenshire
15-16 July: Visiting the only polar bear in the UK, plus Edinburgh highlights
17-22 July: chance to be free spirits – where do you think we should go?
23-24 July: probably back to Hadrian’s Wall (west end).
AUGUST
25 July – 2 August: Roman time travelling along & Great Wall of China, aka Hexham
3-10 August: France via Devon & the plastic bag free town of Modbury
11-26 August: possibly Brighton, Hornby or Wakefield. Which place do you like best?
SEPTEMBER
27 August – 2 September: to the home counties (Herts) with a trip to Stansted airport’s bank holiday departure lounge…
5 September: school starts
Nell (6) has never flown, Lola (in the pic) and I haven’t been on a plane since 2000 (seven years!) and now we have three months to get around the world in a carbon lite way. We're doing this by staying in the UK pretending to be in other parts of the world from the Arctic to the Yemen. As the man at the Daily Telegraph newspaper's travel section said: "it's either mad or genius."
Staying in the UK is great for the local economy, and we will use local businesses and public transport whenever we can. But because accommodation can be pricey in the summer, especially in the Lake District, we are housesitting, houseswapping (more detail on this as we travel) and staying with friends. At times we will be camping, renting a cottage or using B&Bs… You can help us travel to 80 countries - just order mint tea in a Lebanese cafe, eat pizza in an Italian restaurant or go to the US by watching a baseball game - and then tell us about it.
If you haven't decided what to do for your summer holiday, or happen to be near us you can join the adventure. This is where we will be:
JUNE
8 June: Orient Express (plus a bit of Harry Potter) aka night train to Glasgow
9 June: New Zealand also known as (aka) YHA Rowardennan on Loch Lomond, Scotland
10-15 June: Arctic, aka village near Oban on the River Orchy
16-22 June: climbing Mt Everest (Nepal) via Skiddaw in the Lake District
23-24 June: Nigeria aka village near Skipton, north Yorks
25-26 June: North American Praires via a village near Bedale, north Yorks
JULY
27 June – 1 July: Yemen & Roman time travelling along Hadrian’s Wall in Newcastle (east end)
1-5 July: Canada & Chile, camping by Ullswater, Lake District
5-14 July: Germany & Baird family history around Aberdeenshire
15-16 July: Visiting the only polar bear in the UK, plus Edinburgh highlights
17-22 July: chance to be free spirits – where do you think we should go?
23-24 July: probably back to Hadrian’s Wall (west end).
AUGUST
25 July – 2 August: Roman time travelling along & Great Wall of China, aka Hexham
3-10 August: France via Devon & the plastic bag free town of Modbury
11-26 August: possibly Brighton, Hornby or Wakefield. Which place do you like best?
SEPTEMBER
27 August – 2 September: to the home counties (Herts) with a trip to Stansted airport’s bank holiday departure lounge…
5 September: school starts
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Damsel in distress
Pete, Nicola, Lola and Nell want to travel the world with a difference We hope to get a taste of loads of countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood. This post is from Nicola.
Children are suffering from nature-defecit disorder reports the Guardian. Well if that's so it's a shame as Lola and Nell can be occupied for hours in our grubby back garden playing with stones, locating snails and catching newts. Though it's very small, they have to be brave to spend time out there because a number of foxes use our garden every day. We think the foxes call our garden the outdoor hen cafe and constantly wait for us to be lax with our hen coop. Sadly it is easy to be outwitted by foxes. Two of our three chicks ended up as fox snacks this year.
During half term we visited Enid Blyton's former home in Buckinghamshire. Old Thatch http://www.jackyhawthorne.com is the classic English country life dream - a listed, thatched cottage with a stunning garden off a foxglove-strewn lane near the River Thames. Fairies have to live there. Way back it was a pub where highwayman Dick Turpin stabled his horse Black Bess. Now it is an exquisite garden designed by the current owner, Jacky Hawthorne.
While I tried to imagine how Blyton (creator of Noddy, Amelia Jane, Famous Five, Secret Seven and catch phrases such as "lashings of ginger beer") wrote 6,000 words by tea time and looked after two young children my girls explored the garden. They were soon distracted by the pondside drama caused by a spider's web in the arum lillies. Two bright blue damsel flies were entwined in a huge web so the girls decided on a rescue mission. It took them ages to untwist the silken cords and then another half hour to find a suitably safe spot to let the damsel flies recover. I'm not sure they thought me very kind when I said they should leave the insects on top of a plant so a bird could scoop them up and feed them to their hungry broods...
Still as the four million of us tuning into Springwatch found out when we watched the big baby owl swallowing its tiddly sibling, whole(!), after its mum failed to go hunting because of the heavy rain, nature provides spectacular opportunities for rescuing, comforting, prodding and grossing out.
Wherever you live you can join in by looking at http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces (instead of using up all that time on Penguin Club); watch Springwatch on TV or just go outside. See how long it takes to find an ant, a bee and a cabbage white butterfly and then tell us! Good luck.
Children are suffering from nature-defecit disorder reports the Guardian. Well if that's so it's a shame as Lola and Nell can be occupied for hours in our grubby back garden playing with stones, locating snails and catching newts. Though it's very small, they have to be brave to spend time out there because a number of foxes use our garden every day. We think the foxes call our garden the outdoor hen cafe and constantly wait for us to be lax with our hen coop. Sadly it is easy to be outwitted by foxes. Two of our three chicks ended up as fox snacks this year.
During half term we visited Enid Blyton's former home in Buckinghamshire. Old Thatch http://www.jackyhawthorne.com is the classic English country life dream - a listed, thatched cottage with a stunning garden off a foxglove-strewn lane near the River Thames. Fairies have to live there. Way back it was a pub where highwayman Dick Turpin stabled his horse Black Bess. Now it is an exquisite garden designed by the current owner, Jacky Hawthorne.
While I tried to imagine how Blyton (creator of Noddy, Amelia Jane, Famous Five, Secret Seven and catch phrases such as "lashings of ginger beer") wrote 6,000 words by tea time and looked after two young children my girls explored the garden. They were soon distracted by the pondside drama caused by a spider's web in the arum lillies. Two bright blue damsel flies were entwined in a huge web so the girls decided on a rescue mission. It took them ages to untwist the silken cords and then another half hour to find a suitably safe spot to let the damsel flies recover. I'm not sure they thought me very kind when I said they should leave the insects on top of a plant so a bird could scoop them up and feed them to their hungry broods...
Still as the four million of us tuning into Springwatch found out when we watched the big baby owl swallowing its tiddly sibling, whole(!), after its mum failed to go hunting because of the heavy rain, nature provides spectacular opportunities for rescuing, comforting, prodding and grossing out.
Wherever you live you can join in by looking at http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces (instead of using up all that time on Penguin Club); watch Springwatch on TV or just go outside. See how long it takes to find an ant, a bee and a cabbage white butterfly and then tell us! Good luck.
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