Pages

Tuesday 21 January 2014

Puddles, rockets and bubbles in the New Forest

On Sunday there was a rare break in the rain, so we legged it outside amid the usual complaints of, “A walk?  But why? What are we doing to do??”  I blame the National Trust.  If it wasn’t for their efforts to make nature interesting with trails and so forth, maybe walking for walking’s sake wouldn’t seem such a bizarre prospect to my children.  So we compromised and packed few props. 
Some bubble mixture and a rocket launcher that it ominously said on the packet could travel 400m.

We live in the middle of a forest, which just sometimes can be a bit claustrophobic.  So we went out to the open moors.  As luck would have it the first (and best) prop turned out to be a natural one.  The trails across the forest had turned into a network of puddles, and the unexpected news that we didn’t actually care about how wet they got for once turned around everyone’s moods.  Ok so Katie took about 10 minutes to accept this.  But this was only to be expected seeing as she normally spends the entire school run in puddles.  And she is 3 (something I sometimes feel like I should have tattooed to my forehead to save explaining to strangers).


And then we stopped, and Katie set to work with the bubbles.  I say Katie, although she doesn’t really do holding bubble mixture.  It’s sticky, isn’t it, and there are slaves for that kind of thing.  The rocket launcher turned out to be unexpectedly cool, with a launch pad you jumped on and Katie discovered a new mission in life as chief rocket retriever, a springer spaniel in training (the packet didn't lie about the 400m).


A good afternoon when we didn’t need to hurry or worry about anything.  And all that exercise was a great excuse for hot chocolate and brownies.  On the way back we discovered a secret millionaire’s lane, a hotchpotch of houses leading down to this amazing concrete architectural house built into the side of the hill.  It felt a bit like the start of a novel.


I’m linking this post up to Cas at  ‘s new linky, ‘All the small things’.  A typically wonderful idea.

All the Small Things - MummyNeverSleeps
<div align="center"><a href="http://mummyneversleeps.com/small-things/" title="All the Small Things - MummyNeverSleeps"><img src="http://mummyneversleeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/SMALLsmallthings.jpg" alt="All the Small Things - MummyNeverSleeps" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

27 comments:

  1. Hahaha I love this! :D I totally sympathise with not being able to "just go for a walk" but WHYYYYY?!

    Sounds like an utterly lovely day, and you cannot - FACT - beat puddle jumping ;) Thanks so much for sharing and linking up!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I too love jumping in muddy puddles - blame peppa pig. Lovely tale. xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. The National Trust has improved SO much in recent years, so much fun for children and still offering interest to adults. Sounds a lovely walk.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think you should write "the novel!". It looks like a very beautiful place to live. Lil

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely pics, great idea taking a distraction along, nothing worse than a child that doesn't want to go for a walk!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks like they had a good time in the end! A nice change to see some sunshine and not rain.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Where do you live? Where do you live? I'm in the New Forest too! I spy a coffee meet up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmm, we could probably manage it somehow if we put our heads together ... We're in Lyndhurst, handily the mecca of all tea shops!

      Delete
  8. It sounds like a great afternoon. Where can I get one of those rocket launchers? They sound perfect for my son and his friends.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love bubbles and puddles too. Oh and hot chocolate when you get home goes without saying!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love Forest s and bubbles I love it all !

    ReplyDelete
  11. Mine is 4 and she still spills the bubble mixture every time, I have stopped buying now :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Gorgeous pictures. A walk can always turn into so much more. Loving the sound of the rocket launcher, my kids would love it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Taking bubbles on a walk is a fabulous idea. I will totally steal it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. What lovely photos. It looks like you had a lovely walk.

    ReplyDelete
  15. blowing bubbles is such a wonderful simple pleasure isn't it! x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like great family fun. I love blowing bubbles, and the rocket sounds extremely cool!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Now you have me thinking about hot chocolate and brownies and wishing I had some in the house but glad I don't because I have weigh in in the morning!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I miss walking out in nature - I used to love taking the dog on long rambling walks (now I have to leave that for others) and can you ever beat a good time blowing bubbles :) x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Emmy has turned into a teenager and if I suggest a walk I'm met with whhhyyyyyy and noooooo

    ReplyDelete
  20. sounds like fun, the boys also moan when we 'go for a walk' sigh.. but they love it once we get out there. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the photos, esp the one of them hand in hand!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow - what fun - and what gorgeous photos. It must be lovely having the New Forest right on your doorstep :-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. We love the New Forest & are lucky that Hubbie's parents live there so we get to visit often.

    Lovely photos :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love exploring the new forest and taking bubbles is a fab idea

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a fab idea to take bubbles and a rocket launcher - although the last one does sound a bit ominous *ducks and looks around wildly* ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  26. and what better excuse could there be than to be rewarded with brownies after a good walk? errrrrrm none! yay cake? x

    ReplyDelete