Ideas To Keep You Busy In May

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Other than December, May is one of my favourite months. Not just because it's my birthday month but because the weather is always warm, we have lighter evenings and we get to enjoy two bank holidays. There are also lots of other reasons to enjoy May and here are some ideas to keep you busy. 

hello may


This month is Get Caught Reading month and also Bike month.

Get Caught Reading
The idea behind Get Caught Reading month is some people see book readers as book nerds, as secluding themselves away in a fantasy world and not living in the real world. If you are a book reader you will know that reading a book is so much more than that. It's a chance to relax, step away from the screen and yes you are whisked away into another world for a short period of time, but so what. Get Caught Reading month is the chance to show your friends, family and other people that reading might not be for everyone but it is for you. 

Bike Month
Riding a bike has become so popular over the years as a way to get to and from work, a way to get fit or just a fun activity getting you out and about. Bike month is the chance to appreciate your bike and use it more. If you haven't ridden a bike in a long time, dust it off and get back on the saddle again. 

Bank Holiday Monday (3rd)
The first if two bank holidays this month. Unfortunately this doesn't mean an extra day off for everyone but if you do have a day off then I hope you enjoy it.  However it does look like it will be a wet one. 

boy hugging a wookie


Star Wars Day (4th)
May The 4th is known as Star Wars day. Star Wars has been a huge part of our lives both individually and as a family and I'm sure we will celebrate Star Wars day by playing some Star Wars games we own and watching a movie too. 

Revenge Of The Fifth (5th)
If May the 4th wasn't enough for you to show your appreciation to Star Wars then you have another day to celebrate. Revenge of the Fifth was created to extend the Star Wars celebrations and see who will turn to the dark side?

Big J's Birthday (6th)
A personal one for us as today we will be celebrating big J's birthday. 

Password Day (6th)
Today will definitely keep you busy as it is password day. It's a day when you are supposed to sit down and change all your passwords. Make your passwords strong, add special characters and numbers to help protect you online. 

Nurses Week (6th - 12th)
I'm sure in our lifetime we have all benefited from the help and care from a nurse. This week we can show our appreciation to all the nurses out there who have helped us especially those risking their own lives and spending time away from their families over the past year. 

My Birthday (7th)
Another personal celebration for us as I celebrate my birthday. 

Golf Day (10th)
Whether you're a regular golfer, new to the sport or would just prefer a round of mini golf, today is for you. 

Stay Up All Night (10th)
I may have pulled a few all nighters when I was younger but I couldn't think of anything worse now especially on a school night. For those that are up for a challenge, good luck. 

Eat What You Want Day (11th)
Eat what you want day was originally created and founded by Thomas and Ruth Roy. The idea behind the day is to help people break away from the constant reminder from magazines and now social media that we should all be on diets and have the perfect body. Take today to just eat something that you may have wanted for a while or just something you really enjoy. 

National Dinosaur Day (15th)
A day dedicated to Dinosaurs and the perfect day for all dino lovers to express and enjoy their love for Dinosaurs. 

Bring Flowers To Someone Day (15th)
I'm sure flowers have many many purposes but I think their main purpose is to make someone smile. If you hand someone a bunch of flowers their face will instantly light up and a smile will appear. If someone needs cheering up then I would definitely recommend using today to bring flowers to someone. 

boy baking
World Baking Day (17th)
World baking day is the chance for us to head in to the kitchen and spend some time baking. Some people find baking very therapeutic and others like to bake with the kids. If you don't have time to bake today maybe head to a local bakery and support them by buying some freshly made bread or cakes. 

Roadmap Step 3 Begins (17th)
Today is the day we see some of the restrictions lifted as part of step 3 of the roadmap. The restrictions on gatherings outside will be lifted and although they have said to use your own common sense on the level of risk, gatherings over 30 will be illegal. Indoor hospitality can reopen as can cinemas and children's play areas. Hotels can reopen and indoor gyms and classes can resume. For a full list just head to the gov.uk website.

Work From Home Day (17th)
Today would have been something we all would have loved over a year ago but now working from home is our new normal and some may even want to return back to work.

Visit Your Relatives Day (18th)
Now that the restrictions have been lifted for outdoor gatherings plan some time when you can visit your family today and have a much needed catch up. 

Be A Millionaire Day (20th)
Unfortunately today doesn't mean we will all become millionaires overnight. The day was created to remind people that anything is possible and if your dream is to become a millionaire, today is the day you can start making your dream come true. You need to start off by reviewing your spending habits, look at your debts and see how you can make better money choices in your life. 

Bike To Work Day (21st)
Riding your bike to work has proven to help with better performance, helped towards your personal health and fitness, saved you money and also saved the planet. 

Pizza Party Day (21st)
Fridays for us usually mean fish and chips however today we may make an exception and eat pizza instead. 

Lucky Penny Day (23rd)
We have all heard of the saying 'See a penny pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck'. Whether you believe pennies are lucky or not today is lucky penny day and I know we could all do with a little bit of luck sometimes. There are so many superstitions abut pennies and how they can bring you good luck at certain times. Would you pick up a penny or walk straight past?

brothers on a trampoline


Brother's Day (24th)
One we will definitely be celebrating here. Brother's Day is a day to appreciate the bond between brothers. Eleven years between our two and they are the best of friends. 

Sun Screen Day (27th)
Today is just a reminder of how important sun screen is. It should be part of your daily routine whatever the weather. You only get one skin so we should protect it as much as possible. 

Hamburger Day (28th)
No fish Friday again for us this week as I know the boys would much rather have a cheeseburger. 

Put A Pillow On Your Fridge Day (29th)
This day is a result of an old tradition where people would place a piece of linen or nightwear in their larder. As it was an item from the bedroom they believed it would bring them good luck with fertility. Over the years and the power of social media it has now turned in to a special day and people do believe it brings them good fortune. 

Bank Holiday (31st)
What a great way to end the month with yet another bank holiday. 

I am always so grateful for any support I receive on my blog and social channels. If you did find this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

What are you looking forward to this month? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

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Too Good To Go App

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A few months ago a friend of ours used the Too Good To Go App. I had heard of it before but had no idea what it was. If you haven't heard of it I have since found out it's an app that allows you to save food from local restaurants, cafes and stores from going to waste. 

Cafe Nero


As you may already know we love money saving and cash back apps so we decided to give it a go. We were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use and we were impressed with the food we collected. 

How Does It Work?
Too Good To Go is an app available to download for free from your devices app store. Setup was quick and easy with just a few questions to answer including your name and email address. 

When setup is complete,  you then search for food in your local area. Find your location by pinpointing it on the map, searching by city or using your location. 

Once you have selected your location you can then decide to search within 3, 5, 10, 15 or 30km. The larger the range then the further you will have to travel, but the more choice you will have. 

That's it - you are now ready to browse available food that will go to waste in your local area. 

You can browse via a list or a map and choose food you would like to buy and collect. 

Sandwiches


What Food Will I Get?
Each restaurant, cafe and store offers magic bags. The magic bags are mystery food bags that you will not know the contents of until you collect. Stores can't predict exactly what food will be left over at the end of the day so they offer a magic bag which will be full of surprises. 

What Restaurants, Cafes and Stores are included?
I think this depends on your local area as there are well known brands such as Costa, Cafe Nero, Baruritto and Spar but there are also local stores close to us that are not part of a bigger chain.

How Much Does A Magic Bag Cost?
The price of a bag varies depending on the restaurant, cafe or store. The cheapest bag I have seen is £2.59 for £10 worth of products and the most expensive is £10 for £40 worth of products. 

Costa Sandwiches


How Do I Collect The Bag?
This was really easy as every store we went in had the bags ready and understood what we asked for when we mentioned the magic bag.  We found it easier for us to show the app and explain we had a bag to pick up and this worked really well.  
                                    Michelle

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A Mole Like No Other Children's Book

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Disclosure - We were gifted a copy of A Mole Like No Other for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I love finding a book that is the perfect balance of a good bedtime story and also a book little J is confident reading alone. Although we read to little J before bedtime he likes to follow along with the story and will sometimes take over reading. Our most recent bedtime story is A Mole Like No Other by Julia Grantham.

A Mole Like No Other Book


The story is based on a toy mole. He is an unwanted toy animal that for as long as he can remember has been in a dark and stuffy box. With a bright yellow tractor pressed up against him and a smelly old football boot near his over sensitive nose Mole can only dream that one day he will see the light of day again. 

When he feels the box lift off the ground, Mole is sure his life is about to change and begin again. Mole soon hears a familiar voice, one he hasn't heard for a long time. His owner Lorna. Lorna has taken Mole to an Easter fair to sell him however she is sure no one will want an 'ugly old mole' so even offers him for free. Will Mole find a new owner that will love and care for him?

Luckily Mole is bought by a little boy called Ashley. Ashley decides to call him Moley and takes him home to be with the rest of his stuffed toy animals. 

Moley's new home is a beautiful English cottage surrounded by nature and animals. Follow Moley as he makes lots of new friends thanks to Ashley's stuffed animals and real animals on his adventures. 

A Mole Like No Other is a lovely bedtime read which touches on emotions and friendships. It's funny in places and a perfect choice book to read aloud. 

If you would like to be in with the chance of winning A Mole Like No Other I have two copies to giveaway. All you need to do is complete the entry form below and pop back daily for bonus chances to win. 

If you are not lucky enough to win you can purchase A Mole Like No Other in paperback on Amazon or it is completely free on Kindle. 



Michelle
Terms


Entrants must have a valid UK address. 

Bulk, third party or any other entries using automated software will be disqualified. 

All entrants and entries are checked and verified. 

1 lucky winner will be chosen at random by the Gleam application. 

Playdays and Runways will contact the lucky winners within 7 days of the competition closing. 

The winners will be emailed to the email address given at the time of entering. 

The winners will not be announced on my blog or social media until they have agreed that their name can be displayed. 

The winners must respond within 28 days, if no response a new winner will be chosen. 

This prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative 

The Prize : A Mole Like No Other Children's Book 

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Dino Falls Adventure Golf, Trafford Manchester

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Dino Falls Adventure Golf offers 36 holes over two courses. No need for golf experience the Dinosaur themed golf adventure is perfect for all ages and all abilities. 

dinosaur golf



What To Expect At Dino Falls, Trafford, Manchester. M17 8PG

Dino Falls Adventure Golf is situated in The Trafford Golf Centre close to the Trafford Centre. There are two courses to choose from each consisting of 18 holes. 

tyrannosaurus rex

boys head in a tyrannosaurus rex


Dinosaur fans will love this themed adventure golf featuring prehistoric caves and winding fossil paths. There are a range of moving dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops and Velociraptors.

Course 1 - Rapids
Navigate along the winding river and the following waterfall on the Rapids course. Make sure you don't get sprayed by the Pterodactyl overhead. 

Course 2 - Volcano
Head out on the ultimate adventure along the Volcano course complete with colossal erupting volcano. 

boy playing mini golf


Both courses feature engaging obstacles with a pre-historic twist, selfie stations and fascinating facts to keep you informed as you play. 

boys playing mini golf


Prices
£8 Adult
£6 Child Under 16 and students
£24 Family (2 adults and 2 children)

Booking is essential and guarantees your entry however payment is not taken online, you will need to pay on arrival. 

Opening times are 7:30am-10:30pm daily. Last tee time is 9:25pm. 

The cafe and bar is open for takeaway only and does not allow sitting/waiting inside. 

Dino Falls Adventure Golf is all outdoors so it would be wise to come prepared for all weathers. 

You must arrive 10 minutes before your tee off time. It is estimated that a round of 18 holes will take 1 hour when playing as a group of 4. 

Parking is free at the Trafford Golf Centre. 

Close by is The Trafford Centre which is home to lots of shops, bars, restaurants, cinema and amusements. 

Dino Falls sign
If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Have you been to Dino Falls Golf? Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit.

Visit our Days Out In The North West post for more walk ideas

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Perfect Gifts For Dino Lovers This National Dinosaur Day

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Disclosure - We were gifted these items for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

dinosaur gifts
The 15th May is a date on the calendar that will be very popular with Dino lovers across the globe. National Dinosaur Day is celebrated on both May 15th and June 1st and is a day that we can celebrate all things Dinosaur. I've chosen some perfect gifts to help us celebrate this special day.

Carson the Triceratops Soft Toy from GUND
Carson may be a strong dinosaur but he has the sweetest smile and gives the best cuddles. His soft body, smooth fur and chunky feet are the perfect combination for cuddles and adventures. 

Carson is 38cm tall approx and is suitable for children aged 1+

Currently priced £19

Zuru Smashers Dino Ice Age Surprise
Zuru Smashers Dino Ice Age Surprise
Surprise toys are so much fun and Dino fans will love the Smashers Dino Ice Age with over 25 surprises inside. Smash your way through to collect all the pieces to build your very own T-Rex, Pterodactyl or Woolly Mammoth.

Currently priced £25
Treasure Map Trails - Dinosaurs and Diggers
Take a walk about Chester town using the Chester Northgate and Cathedral treasure map. Following the clues on your map will take you along ancient streets, through holy grounds and onto the mighty Roman wall. Find 10 treasures along the way with a Dinosaurs and Diggers theme. 

Currently priced £5.99 for 1 map. Please keep an eye on our blog for a full review once completed.
 
National Geographic Dino Fossil - Dig Kit
The Dino Fossil dig kit has everything you need for young paleontologists to dig up some fossils. Included in the kit is 1 dig brick, 1 carded coprolite specimen and 1 T-Rex Tooth Replica. A dig tool, brush and magnifying glass is included as well as a full learning guide with instructions. 

The T-Rex tooth is extra special as it is molded from a genuine tooth fossil.

Currently priced at £9.95
Dino Dash Game
Dino Dash is a quick thinking card game that is perfect for dino lovers aged 4+. Once all the cards are dealt each player races to play out all their cards so they can be the winner. The cards feature T-Rex (Land Card), Plesiosaur (Sea Card) and Pteranodon (Sky Card) dinosaur and the aim is to much a dinosaur on one of your cards with the location on the discard pile. Watch out for the Meteor card!

Currently priced at £4.99
Fruit bowl dino eggs
Each bag of Fruit Bowl Dino Yogurt Eggs comes with  T-Rex, Pterodactyl, Velociraptor or Triceratops characters on the front of the bag. Inside are juicy raisins inside a Dino egg shell. The creamy yogurt shells come in red, green and blue speckled and are made using all natural colours. 

A healthy snack choice for Dino lovers. 

Currently priced at £2 for a pack of 5 at Morrisons and Waitrose

do you love dinosaurs book


I'm guessing if you are reading this then the answer to that question will be yes. Do you love Dinosaurs is a brightly illustrated non fiction children's book all about Dinosaurs. Jam packed with fun facts about all your favourite dinosaurs including Titanosaurus, Ankylosaurus and the mighty T-Rex. This book has everything you need to know and reminds us just how amazing Dinosaurs were. 

Currently priced at £5.99

If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

How will you be celebrating National Dinosaur Day this year? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

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Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow Cheshire

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At the weekend we visited a new National Trust property, Quarry Bank Mill in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Although some of the property was closed it was still definitely worth a visit. 

Quarry Bank Mill


What To Expect At Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 4LA.

Quarry Bank Mill is one of Britains greatest industrial heritage sites, home to a complete industrial community. Although the mill and apprentice house remains closed at the moment there is a huge estate to explore.

On arriving at Quarry Bank Mill you will be checked in by a member of staff. Pre booking tickets is essential and guarantees entry. 

boy running on grass


There are a couple of paths to choose from once inside the estate with most heading towards the upper gardens. 

The path that leads to the upper gardens is only a short distance away. The upper gardens are filled with beautiful spring flowers and landscape gardens. There are toilet facilities in the upper garden as well as a small shop and newly opened Garden Cafe.

Boy overlooking gardens

3 people walking ahead


There is a downward winding path from the upper gardens which takes you in to the lower grounds and mill. 

view of landscape

view of landscape

view of landscape

view of landscape
The path can be steep in places however there are oils to hold on to in certain parts. The path features lots of spring flowers and benches to enjoy the view of the estate below. 

boy on grass
Once at the bottom you can access the lower grounds, a range of walking routes, the mill (when open), weaving shed restaurant, mill shop and stables ice cream parlour. 

Southern walk at Quarry Bank Mill


There are four walks to enjoy in and around Quarry Bank Mill. 

The Southern Woods Walk
Distance 2.5km
Duration 50 minutes

Walking routes at Quarry Bank Mill


The Kingfisher Walk 
Distance 2km
Duration 50 Minutes

Giant's Castle Walk 
Distance 6.2km
Duration 2hrs30

dad and son looking in the river

boy walking down a hill

Boy climbing up a hill

boy sitting on a riverbank
We took the Southern Woods walking path and did the route in reverse. There are plenty of things to see along the way including rivers, wildlife and stunning views. There are benches along the way for those who need to rest or take in the views. If walking with the kids there are plenty of opportunities for them to explore and climb.

All routes are circular so bring you back to the estate. 

Anything Else?

The car park at Quarry Bank Mill is free and has lots of parking spaces. It's open daily from 8am - 8pm. The estate opens at 8:30am and there are individual opening times for the range of facilities available 

Gardens 10:30-5pm
Garden Shop 12-4pm
Mill Shop 10:30-5pm
Stables Ice Cream Parlour 10:30-5pm (weekends only)
Weaving Shed Restaurant 10:30-4pm (weekends only)
The Garden Cafe 10:30-5pm 

Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome at Quarry Bank Mill. 

Pre Booking tickets is essential. 
Prices are 
£8 per adult
£4 per child
£20 per family

There is plenty of grounds and space around the gardens and mill to ensure social distancing. 

quarry bank mill


If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Have you been to Quarry Bank Mill? Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit.

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