Bradfield: Damflask Reservoir walk

Saturday was another lovely sunny day and once again ideas for places to go were not coming to mind easily.  I'm more than happy with walking  but everywhere I found that I fancied took between 1 and 2.5h to get to on public transport (I hate not having a car sometimes).  Then Bradfield came to mind.  It's only half an hour up the road and not a place we've ever really been exploring at, we've had a quick walk one wet day and been to the pub for tea when we first moved up..... oh and we've  been round it on the bus when we went to Our Cow Molly Farm last year.  But making a day of it, never.

So I got to googling and there are loads and loads of different walks to printout and follow.  I choose the circular walk around Damflask Reservoir as at 3.8 miles it was about right for the boys to either stop for a rest half way or go all the way around in one go.   Another picnic packed and I told the boys we were off on a Famous Five adventure (that's really what it felt like) and even nipped to Morrisons for some Ginger Beer :)

Holiday time .... part 1 ... Sheffeld - Windsor

We really made the most of the last week of our Easter Holidays, even better due to the fact our kids were

off when the southern schools had gone back.

We chose to go to Windsor and make a day (and a half) out of our Merlin Passes at Legoland then onto my mums for a couple of days before she brought us home on Sunday.  Despite living on the high speed rail line to London (2 hours) the connections etc to Legoland make it that little bit too far to do comfortably in a day.... but that's a tale for later in the week.

This holiday was all about budget .... fun and experiences.... but budget and trying not to spend too much on unnecessary items or expenses.

Weston Park and The Ponderosa

Weston Park Museum and The Ponderosa 

We took a little break from the set downloadable walks this week (due to it being freezing and very wet) and went to Weston Park Museum instead.  We do this maybe every couple of months and, only at the end of last year, realised we could walk 3/4 of the way home by going through the Ponderosa.

It's really easy to get to.  You can get the tram to the University Tram Stop and walk (10 mins ish) or get the number 51/ 52 bus which stops outside the door.   You can drive but it has no designated car park, the area can get really busy so it's not guaranteed you will be able to park close by.

thought Sundays were a day of rest.......... not in this house.

blurggggg - I KNEW I was coming down with something (I always get a sore throat).... today I have started with a full on streaming cold.  YAY back to bed for a duvet day.... no such luck!!  Hubby works sundays so it was me, DS1 (4 going on 16) and DS2 (2 going on 20) with a whole day to fill (stupid cold + not being able to breathe properly = up before the kids at 6.45am!!).

a couple of pain killers later (becuase the ghost in the house had used the last of the cold n flu tablets and not told me) I was up and raring to go (well ok I could move off the sofa).
By 8am the kids were up and the chicken was cooking nicely in the oven so we could go out for the day knowing all I had to do when I got in was actually MAKE a pie.

Question time.......... do you use the roasting bags for your chickens??  have you ever managed to empty the fat out without covering the kitchen??  It's all well and good "snip the corner and empty it out".......... except my bags crumble the minute I touch them!!! Or is it just because I am using cheap ones (I get the ones linked to but at less then £1 for 10 from home bargains).

by 11am the chicken was resting, the kids were dressed and the picnic ready..... kids sent upstairs to brush teeth..... cue lots of laughing and shouts of "can I come and join in the fun too"..... fun..... teeth ...... something wasn't right.
DS2 had filled the bath with water and was stood in it (fully clothed) having a paddle!!!!!!!!  GRRRRRRRRRR.

A change of clothes later and we were eventually ready to go get the bus (urggggg busses and kids + buggy).  This was surprisingly easier then i expected (after we ran for the bus as I mistimed it and wasn't waiting 20 minutes for another)

The destination - Lowedges Festival in Greenhill Park.

This park is HUGE and was covered in 100 stalls from the local creative kids business (Creation Station) to local sweet sellers (sweet sensation), to the NHS (apparently their budget is spent producing canvas bags to alert people to cancer) to old fashioned cars to dog agility to funfair rides.

It was a good day out, the kids loved sitting in the fire engine (honestly DS1 was just mardy) and watching the chip-pan fire demonstration.  There was also a free fire engine bouncy castle for them to play on.

the weather couldn't quite deccide if it wanted to be hot and sunny or cold and overcast, so we decided the best picnic place would be near the trees.... I was freezing lol.

DS1 became obsessed with the land train that kept coming and driving around near us, so picnic over we went on a hunt to fnd it's stop..... kids bundled into a 'plane' I parted with £2 each for a ride EEEEEKKKK.

We also had some ice creams - now don't get me wrong and ice cream is an ice cream...... except when it is a Granelli's ice cream..... £4.50 for 2 lollies and a knickerboker glory (so not a bad price)

They had clearly had some sort of freezer malfunction (which they failed to admit to customers).

Both my boys had fiveices which are large long multicoloured ice lollies.  DS2's broke in half the second I took the wrapper off.  DS1's broke after about 2 minutes.  needless to say there was tears.

My knickerboker glory, apart from looking nothing like the picture, was re-frozen.  it was like rock and really unappetising (in fact it is the first time ever i have thrown away ice cream).

I'll be stearing clear as much as possible in the future - Unfortunaly they seem to have the monopoly in Sheffield and are pretty hard to bypass and go elsewhere in the summer months.

They also met with my other bugbear.......... NO PRICES!!! I think it's disgusting when rides (the land train mentioned earlier included) do not display prices for their services/ goods.

DS1 then spotted the miniture train (can you sense a theme here?) and wanted to go on it, at 50p for 2 rides (ok so it was only down a track and back twice)  he really enjoyed this.  and YAY 5-star for them - they actually had their prices clearly displayed.

A quick stop off at the playground and we headed home...... via the local retail park as I needed some new trainers (and somehow got suckkered into buying DS1 some new shoes and pants too (£22 and £6)!!!

A trip to the local zoo - aka Pets at Home - and we were on the bus home............

...............except silly me got the bus that took the long way and about half hour longer then the other one.

Pie n mash went down well for tea tho........ 4 clean plates - you couldn't ask for more.

Evening

this evening I joined the other Parent Bloggers at the Sunday night Twitter party #pbloggers.  was great to discuss days out with other mums and dads and share ideas and experiences.

Yes ok.......I said it would never happen but.............. I am a twitter convert!!!!!!!!