How to Be More Efficient at Work | AD

No comments
Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration

If you want to be more efficient at work you don't need to make huge adjustments to your routine. There are ways to get more done by simply cutting out distractions and making small changes to your work space. Sometimes, even the smallest changes can make the biggest impact. For example, turning off social media notifications on your phone or simply having a tidy up. Here are some tips to help you be more efficient at work.

tidy desk space


Prioritise Your Work
Start each morning prioritising your work load. This may sound really simple, but we all know how easy it can be to do the things you enjoy first and put off the more complicated tasks. Try and categorise each task and sort them into high, medium and low levels of urgency. Start with the tasks that need to be done by the end of the day, and once these are completed you can focus on the less important ones. This will help you to feel less stressed about meeting important deadlines and boost your productivity.

Tidy Up Your Work Space
One of the easiest ways to improve your efficiency at work is to tidy up your desk. Clear your workspace and get yourself organised. A clean work space will not only improve your productivity, but it will also help to clear your mind. Give your computer files a clear out too. Delete old files and create new folders to organise your files more effectively. You should also try to get into a routine of putting your work away and cleaning up your desk at the end of the day.


tidy desk space


Limit Those Distractions
Smart phones are one of the biggest work distractions. So be sure to switch off your phone, or at least your notifications during work hours. This will prevent you from checking your phone and help you to stay focused on your to-do list. The same applies to your computer. If you have the privilege of accessing social media channels on your work desktop, you should stay logged out of your personal account to avoid those distracting little ‘pings’.

Update Your Office Technology
Updating your office technology can really have an impact on the way you work. For example, investing in a faster computer or getting the help of managed print services can make a huge difference to your business. This is because managed print services allow you to create a bespoke printing strategy that fits around your business. This will not only help to save you money, but it will also improve productivity.

Do you have any tips on how you have been more efficient at work?

Michelle
Read More

Bookkeeping Tips To Help You Save for Holidays | AD

No comments
Disclosure - This is a paid collaboration

Accounting and bookkeeping rightly belong in the realms of business, but not exclusively. The skills and applications needed cross into personal finance too. Whether you’re in business or not, money management plays a big role in financial wellbeing, so we’ve put together some solid tips for everyone trying to save money. 

beach



Take Your Cue from Business
Just as business owners might make financial decisions after collaboration with staff or advice from an accountant, personal financial decisions are stronger if all the family is on board and can have a say. Saving for holidays is a great way to introduce children to budgeting, for instance. 

Budgeting means informed planning of your expenses balanced against your income, and preferably putting some kind of time frame on the plan. Having a time frame gives your goal some structure and helps keep you focused, especially if temptations to overspend crop up, which can happen in business just as easily as in family finances.

Informed planning comes from understanding spending patterns and trends. You might think you know exactly how you spend money, but until you break it down and study it a bit you can’t be sure you’re not missing savings opportunities.

Here’s how to dig into your spending habits.

Track Your Expenses
If you do any kind of business operation you should be doing this anyway, but it’s just as important for personal finances. Similar skills and methods apply to small business accounting, just on a deeper, more complex level. If it can work for business, it can surely work for families.

Tracking your household spending is relatively easy with nothing more complex than a notebook or simple spreadsheet. If you take the spreadsheet route, remember to get a receipt for everything so you don’t forget a purchase when you’re at the computer. Once you’ve recorded the information on the receipt, you can get rid of it - unless you want to save it as a proof of purchase.

Create your tracker with just four columns, giving them the headings of ‘Date, ‘Cost’, ‘Item’ and ‘Balance’. Start the balance off by jotting down the amount currently in your bank account. Remember to include direct debits so your personal records tally with what’s going out of your bank.

Start a new page at least every month and keep your records up to date so it only takes a few minutes now and then. It doesn’t have to be a daily task unless you have a lot of daily expenses to track.

bookkeeping


Delve Into the Numbers
Once you’ve got a few weeks of records, you can start figuring out where you can make the most savings. The mistake many people make when they’re trying to increase savings is to start by cutting out leisure or pleasure purchases. This isn’t the best way of cutting down on spending as you’ll soon give up if you start feeling deprived.

A better way is to figure out ways of spending less on necessities. You’ll find categories of spending in your ‘Item’ column, and that will tell you where you’re spending most money. You can shop around for better deals, switch to zero interest credit cards, or look for better terms on utilities. 

It might also throw up some surprises. Maybe you didn’t realise how much take-aways were costing each month, or how much you were spending online if all your purchases were small ones. It can be shocking to see how little spends add up over a month.

Seeing the amounts in black and white can be a bit startling, but they also empower you to take control.

This isn’t a complicated system, and just about anybody can put it into action. It’s a far better way of figuring out how to save than randomly trying to cut back.  One of the reasons there’s sometimes more month than money is because the thought of tracking spending can feel overwhelming. 

Maybe like us, you’re saving for something special like a big holiday, or maybe you just want to manage money better so you can have a few luxuries or days out. Keeping a close eye on your spending in a simplified accounting system means you always know what’s going on with your money, and you can choose to some extent how you spend or save it.

Michelle
Read More

Jump Maniax Inflatable Park, Preston

No comments
Jump Maniax is a unique inflatable park and is now open in Preston. With a 20,000 sq.ft arena it is every bouncers dream as all the inflatables are connected to make one huge bouncy playground. 

Jump Maniax
What To Expect At Jump Maniax, Preston, PR1 4LQ

Jump Maniax is located on Fishwick Park in Preston. The inflatable park covers 20,000 sq.ft and is the largest of its kind in the North West. The arena has different areas to provide bouncing fun for everyone.

Slam Dunk and Darts - Challenge your family or friends to some basketball or darts.

Wipeout Zone - Can you stay in the wipeout zone the longest? Be prepared to dunk and jump over the spinning beams.

Battle Beams - Balance on the inflatable beam with another beam in your hand as you try to knock over your opponent. 

Climbing Wall - Use all your strength to climb across the wall. Don't worry if you fall there is a nice bouncy soft landing. 

Wrecking Ball - Stand on the beam opposite your opponent and try to dodge the wrecking ball as you throw it back and forth.

Wac A Mole - Like the popular fairground game but you can choose an opponent (wearing a helmet) to whack. 

Inflatable Slides - Various slides to choose from all heading in to a ball pool. 

Ninja Climbing Wall - A little tougher than the climbing wall but there are ropes to help you. 

Ninja Obstacle Course - A One way obstacle course with lots of different challenges.

Multi Sports Arena - Perfect for basketball or football.

For Toddlers - The under 5's won't miss out on the fun with their own inflatable area including slide. Upstairs in the arena you will also find their own dedicated soft play area.  

Anything Else?

If you are feeling peckish the cafe serves hot and cold drinks and food all day.

There are lockers available to keep your personal belongings safe whilst bouncing. 

There are a variety of promotions offering discounted entry such as buy one get one free so make sure you check the promotions page before you buy tickets. 

Jump Maniax also offers party package perfect to help you celebrate a special birthday. 

Opening times differ depending on the time of year 

Term Time
Monday – Friday: 10am – 6:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 8:00pm

School Holidays
Monday – Friday: 10am – 7:00pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 8:00pm

We will be heading to Jump Maniax soon and will post a full review of our experience. If you would like to visit Jump Maniax, enter our giveaway to be in with a chance of winning one of two family tickets. All you need to do is complete the entry form below and pop back daily for bonus chances to win. 

Good Luck

Monday – Friday: 10am – 7:00Michelle

Read More

Giant Bubble Set Giveaway

No comments
Disclosure - We were sent the product below for the purpose of this post and another to giveaway. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our unless stated. 

Hopefully the bad weather will soon be behind us and we can start to enjoy some Spring and Summer sun and have lots of fun in the garden. We have lots of toys and games to keep us entertained in the garden including our new Giant Bubble Set from Ridley's.

Giant Bubble Set


Who can make the biggest bubble? Just dip your wand in the tray full of bubble mixture, wave the wand around and make some bubbles. It's so easy and simple but lots of fun. 

We have teamed up with Wicked Uncle to offer a Giant Bubble Set to one of our readers. Just complete the entry form below and remember to pop back daily for bonus chances to win. 

Good Luck

Michelle
Read More

Disney Magic At Sea Staycation Cruise - What To Expect.

No comments
A trip to Disneyland Paris or Walt Disney World may not be possible for us this year but we are still going to enjoy some Disney magic on the Disney Magic at Sea Staycation Cruise this Summer. Disney have created a cruise that allows you to enjoy all the magic of Disney whilst staying in the UK. 

woman holding a piece of paper

Having never been on a Disney Cruise before or any cruise to be precise I will make sure that I gather as much information, tips and anything else that will help us make the most of our stay on board.  The Disney Magic At Sea Staycation Cruise has lots to offer and this is what I have learnt so far and I will keep updating as I learn more.

    WHERE AND WHEN?

    The Disney Magic At Sea Staycation cruise is a brand new experience that is available to UK residents giving them the chance to enjoy Disney fun and magic close to home. The cruise is departing from Liverpool, Southhampton, London Tilbury and Newcastle on selected dates this Summer for 2, 3 or 4 nights. 

    Disney Magic Cruise Ship


    THE SHIP

    The cruise ship is called the Disney Magic and it debuted on the sea in 1998. It boasts 11 decks with a nostalgic art deco decor. Continued refurbishments have kept the ship up to date and a refreshed feel. 

    Disney Magic Cruise Ship StateRoom


    STATEROOMS

    There are 4 categories of staterooms to choose from aboard the Disney Magic, inside, oceanview, verandah and concierge. Which room you choose will depend on your family size and budget.

    Inside 
    Offers more space than you would find in same-class rooms on most other cruise ships, Disney Magic “Standard” is superior.
    The stateroom sleeps 3 or 4 people
    It has a sq.ft size of 184
    The inside room offers a queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper-berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)
    There is no exterior view

    Oceanview
    Offers the same square footage as a Deluxe Inside Stateroom plus the added bonus of a porthole for ocean views.
    The oceanview stateroom sleeps 3 to 4
    It has a sq.ft size of 214
    The oceanview room offers a queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)
    There is one large porthole window or 2 small porthole windows (in Category 9D staterooms)

    Verandah
    The perfect home away from home, this room type offers generous square footage and a private place to admire the view.
    The verandah stateroom sleeps 3 to 4
    It has an approx sq.ft of 268 including verandah
    The verandah room offers queen bed, single sleeper sofa and upper berth pull-down bed (if sleeping 4)
    You will have a private verandah guaranteed.

    Concierge
    Whilst on board why not enjoy a superior level of comfort.
    The concierge stateroom sleeps 5
    It has an approx sq.ft of 304 including verandah
    the concierge room offers a queen bed, single sleeper sofa, upper berth pull-down bed and wall pull-down bed
    You will have a private verandah guaranteed. 

    Within each of the categories there are options to upgrade the room including deluxe and family. Each room comes with a category and a deck number. These categories can determine whereabouts you are on the ship. 

    ON BOARD

    Disney Magic At Sea is filled with entertainment, water fun, live shows and of course characters. You will enjoy a full and fun packed itinerary from the moment you step on board. 

    Walt Disney Theatre


    Entertainment
    Enjoy a pre-show Celebration at Sea with Mickey & Friends. The all new, high energy musical celebration includes our favourite Disney friends Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Donald. 

    Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic takes us on a journey following the touching story about the power of dreams. A young girl named Anne Marie is struggling to find it in her heart to believe. The live stage show features a dazzling procession of characters and songs from some all-time Disney classics including Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Cinderella and Aladdin.

    Characters
    You can be sure that there will be many Disney Characters popping up for surprise appearances throughout the ship. 

    Head to the Atrium to wave to your favourite Disney Princesses as they enjoy a Princess Promenade from the Atrium balcony as they enter Lumiere’s for dinner. This beautiful dining experience also features live music by an extraordinary pianist, playing classic arrangements from the Disney Songbook.

    Be sure to snap a selfie withWoody and Jessie two of my favourite Toy Story characters. Sarge and the Green Army Patrol will also host a fun new game show around the ship in search of the elusive blue crayon.

    Frozen and Heroes
    Avengers Assemble for an extravaganza including Marvels finest Iron Man, Spider Man and Black Panther.  The Marvel themed entertainment will help you unleash your inner hero. 

    Frozen songs, dancing, ice magic and more in a Frozen show featuring Anna, Elsa and Kristoff—along with virtual visits from Sven, Olaf and the trolls.

    Disney Aqua Fun


    Aqua Fun
    The AquaDunk, AquaLab and Goofy's pool will keep you busy and wet whilst on board. 

    To experience the AquaDunk you will need to climb to the ship’s highest point, then plunge 3 stories on the body slide. This is perfect for thrill seekers as the floor will drop from beneath you, dropping you in to the side.

    You will have a splashing good time at the AquaLab. The water playground is a family favourite. 

    Goofy’s Pool area is perfect for guests of all ages. It is a family pool area which consists of a   main pool and 2 whirlpool spas.

    Rest and Relax
    Catch a Disney movie from the comfort of a state-of-the-art Buena Vista Theatre.

    Enjoy family-friendly entertainment at the D Lounge including karaoke, game shows and much more. 

    Kids Club
    There are 3 kids clubs on board, Oceaneer, Edge and Vibe. 

    Disney’s Oceaneer Club is the ideal place for kids to not just play but to learn too through imaginatively themed games and activities.

    Edge is for the tweens onboard and allows them to have their own place to hang out and  participate in a variety of activities. Edge is filled with high-tech entertainment, computers and video games.

    Vibe offers an exclusive place for teens to hang out, listen to music, watch TV and play games. 

    ADULTS ONLY

    Head to Quiet Cove which is exclusively for adults. Quiet Cove offers a main pool and nearby whirlpool spas allowing guests 18 years of age and older to relax, recharge and soak up the sun.

    Cove Café is an adults only lounge. It's the perfect space to sit back and relax. Take time out for specialty drinks, coffee and tea throughout the day. (extra charge applies)

    If you are looking for an adult only intimate restaurant then head to Palo's. Take in stunning sea views as you browse the Italian menu.

    Live music and cocktails under the stars with beautiful sea views are available at Signals or watch live sports at O’Gills Pub.

    Lumieres Restaurant


    DINING

    Disney Magic At Sea offers three main dining restaurants on board. Lumiere's, Rapunzel's Royal Table and Animators Palate. Disney offers Rotational dining which means you will be allocated a different restaurant each night of your stay on board. 2 night cruises will not be able to eat in all three restaurants. 

    Allocation of your dining restaurants will be given to you on arrival.

    Lumiere’s offers an enchanting meal in this beautiful restaurant named after the candelabra from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. At Lumiere's you can enjoy live music during dinner.

    Rapunzel’s Royal Table is a truly enchanted dining experience filled with food, music and fun. Lots of lively entertainment to enjoy including appearances from the merry ruffians, Flynn Rider and Princess Rapunzel herself.

    Animator’s Palate allows you to enjoy the magic of Disney animation with a unique dinner show experience starring Disney characters. You will follow the journey through decades of Disney and Pixar animation.

    Snacks and Quick Bites
    There are a number of snacks and quick bites options on board too.

    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and 24 hour room service are included in the price of the cruise. 

    Disney Magic at sea


    ANYTHING ELSE?

    As this is a Disney Cruise you expect lots of magic on board and as this cruise is new and unique I assume there may be a few surprises too.

    Keep an eye on our blog for our Disney Magic At Sea Staycation Cruise - Know Before You Go post coming soon.

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

    Comments - I love reading your opinions and thoughts - Have you been on a Disney Cruise? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought.

    Growing my social media is something I work hard on. If you would like to follow us - Like us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram

    If you have found this post or our blog useful you can say thanks by - Buying Us A Virtual Coffee

    If you think a friend of family member would like this post - Tap the share button below.

    Michelle
    Read More

    The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall Cheshire

    No comments
    The Ice Cream Farm is a family friendly attraction that offers a children's play area, lots of pay as you play attractions and over 50 flavours of ice cream to choose from.

    Boy sitting on a deck chair


    What To Expect At The Ice Cream Farm, Tattenhall, Cheshire CH3 9NE
    The Ice Cream Farm is located in Tattenhall in Cheshire. Like most days out and activities you now have to book in advance online. You can choose a 1, 2 or 3 hour pass. The passes cost just £1 or 90p if you are a VIP pass holder. You can choose a time slot that suits you. We went at 2pm and stayed in the farm until 5pm.

    The attractions inside are pay as you play however we chose to buy a play pass online before we arrived. This cost us £15 per pass and allowed us to access the attractions inside at a discounted rate. Our play pass had 5 credits on so instead of paying £4.50 on the day per attraction it had only cost us £3.

    Tree house at the Ice Cream farm

    Tree house at the Ice Cream farm

    boy crawling through a tunnel

    Daisys garden


    Once inside you have access to Daisy's Garden which is included in your entrance fee of £1. This is a lovely play area with lots of different play equipment for the children. 

    There is a large treehouse with rope ladders and slide. A selection of in the ground trampolines. Balance beams and tunnels. Rope swings and lots more. 

    In-between attractions it was a great place to let the kids play in whilst we waited for the next. 

    strawberry falls

    boy playing mini golf

    boy playing mini golf


    Strawberry Falls golf was a lot of fun and is probably the main attraction at the farm. There were 12 mini golf type holes on the course.

    We had to book this attraction using the virtual queuing system. It was quick and easy to book your time slot and meant we didn't have to queue. 

    Each player pays £4.50 or uses a credit from their play pass. You are given a scorecard, golf club and ball. Make your way around the course weaving in an out of lots of decorative yummy treats.

    boy and dad looking for gems


    Gemstone Cove was lots of fun. You are given a small sieve and a mesh bag and then you are ready to go and find some gems. 

    All you need to do is dig in the sand and water and then sieve it out and see what you've found. 

    We found lots of stones of all different colours. 

    Again this costs £4.50 per person or 1 credit from a play pass. We were asked to keep to a time limit of 20 minutes. 

    two boys on a quad bike


    SilverCone costs just £1 and you do need a £1 coin to put in the slot of the quad. You can then drive your quad around the track and straight to the finish line

    boy looking at a bouncy castle


    Unfortunately we couldn't play on the marshmallow mound as little J has broken his finger so he just watched as his cousins had a turn. It's a huge inflatable bouncy pillow and they have a smaller one for little ones too.

    The marshmallow mound costs £4.50 or 1 credit from a play pass. You are given a timed slot to return to the marshmallow mound and the children have a limited time bouncing.

    There were a few attractions we didn't do including Rocky Road. This is another self drive attraction. The inside play attractions where closed due to restrictions and we also didn't see the farm this time. 

    picnic area


    There is a lovely picnic area too which we will remember for next time. 

    We finished the day with Ice Cream. There are over 50 flavours to choose from. 

    boy looking at ice cream flavours


    The ice cream parlour usually has an indoor seating area however due to restrictions it was closed. There are places to sit around the play area though if you wanted to sit whilst eating.

    boy bouncing on a trampoline

    boy on a trampoline

    Ice Cream Farm

    Ice Cream Farm
    We had a lovely day at the farm and would definitely recommend it. Pre booking tickets online meant it wasn't too busy and it felt safe. The virtual queuing system also meant less waiting times at the attractions too. 

    We can't wait to go again. 

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

    Comments - I love reading your opinions and thoughts - Have you visited the Ice Cream Farm? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought.

    Growing my social media is something I work hard on. If you would like to follow us - Like us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram

    If you have found this post or our blog useful you can say thanks by - Buying Us A Virtual Coffee

    If you think a friend of family member would like this post - Tap the share button below.

    Michelle
    Read More

    Dunham Massey, Altrincham Greater Manchester

    No comments
    We have visited Dunham Massey twice over the past few months and it has quickly become one of our favourite National Trust properties.

    boys looking at house across a lake


    What To Expect At Dunham Massey, Altrincham, Greater Manchester WA14 4SJ.

    Dunham Massey boasts a garden for all seasons, ancient deer park and a house that is filled with treasures and stories.

    On arrival at Dunham Massey your tickets will be checked as you drive in to the car park area. Pre Booking tickets is advised and guarantees entry. Once your tickets are checked you are shown to the car park area and ready to start your day out.

    The reception area is just as you enter the estate and has a cafe, toilets, gift shop and an ice cream kiosk. It is probably the largest reception area we have seen in the National Trust places we have been to, and its really modern and fresh. 

    boy on grass


    When you are ready to enter the main estate you can head up the steps or the accessible route which leads you to the courtyard. There is a large lake which you walk past here which has fountain sprays which fire up from time to time and are really nice to look at.  In the courtyard you have access to toilets, ice cream parlour, the gardens and the deer park.  The courtyard also has some pop up stands with freshly cooked pizza, coffee, and cakes to choose from. 

    The house, mill and stables are closed at the moment but there is still plenty to explore.  The house itself looks really impressive, and well preserved so we are looking forward to being able to have a look around when it opens.  

    boys sat on a bench


    From the courtyard you can choose to head out onto the deer trail, or into the gardens. Both are different experiences and I would recommend you visit both when you go. 

    The Gardens are a lovely walk through brightly coloured plants and flowers and large open spaces too. There are plenty of benches dotted around for a break or just to take in the views.  The open spaces are really flat which makes it a great place for a picnic, or to play some games. We played frisbee and the area was perfect for that.  As with most National Trust areas a lot of the trees and flowers are labelled so if you want to have a look and see what everything is you will be able to. 

    deer park at Dunham Massey



    The Deer park is a much larger and open spaced part of the property. You can choose to wander across some of the more open wooded areas, or you can walk the deer park paths, which in places you can't go off as you have the Deer Sanctuary areas which are left alone for the Deer.  There is so much space to explore and the wide areas reminded us of Tatton Park.  If you follow the defined path you will be able to walk all the way to the end of the estate and come back along another path where we did see some deer from a distance.  There is lots to explore and plenty to climb over, run through and generally enjoy the outdoors. 

    boy holding an Ice cream


    All paths will lead you back to the Courtyard area, which is a good idea as you can get refreshed and have an Ice Cream before you head back to the reception area and have a look in the shop if you like. 

    Anything Else?
    The car park at Dunham Massey is free and has lots of parking spaces. It's open daily from 9am-5:15pm (weekends) and 9:30am - 5:15pm. (weekdays)

    Please check the individual opening times for the gardens, cafe, shop before you visit.

    Well behaved dogs are welcome in the parkland (9.30am – 5pm) and gardens (12 noon – 5pm), but must be kept on a short lead at all times to protect the herd of deer.

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

    There is plenty to see and do at Dunham Massey to keep you busy and makes a lovely day out. 

    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 Dunham Massey? Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit.

    Visit our Walks In The North West post for more walk ideas

    Like us on FacebookTwitter and Instagram


    Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 

    Michelle
    Read More

    April 2021 | Looking Back

    No comments
    April was a busy one for us. It was nice to have the boys off school so we could enjoy half term and some adventures together. Like most of the months this year, April just flew by and I actually cannot believe we are in May already. We did have a lovely month  and I have really enjoyed looking back at our April. 

    boy lying on the grass


    National Trust
    Once again we tried to make the most of our National Trust passes this month. Sometimes it can be hard to plan in advance as you have to book up to a week in advance. The tickets for the week ahead go on sale early Friday morning.  So far we have been lucky and have visited every time we have booked and the weather has always been kind to us. 

    boy completing an easter egg hunt

    boy completing an easter egg hunt

    Easter egg treat


    First we headed to Speke Hall. There was an Easter Egg Trail around the estate for the children to enjoy. It was lots of fun and little J enjoyed following the arrows, solving the clues and getting a chocolate treat at the end.

    boy on grass

    boy on grass

    meeting percy the park keeper


    Tatton Park was also on our visit list for this month. Here we enjoyed a different type of trail. Percy the Park Keeper has created a secret path to follow to help find his friends and gather all the tools he needs for a big spring clean up. We really enjoyed this trail in Tatton Park Gardens and got to meet Percy at the end. 

    Quarry Bank Mill

    Quarry Bank Mill

    Quarry Bank Mill


    Next we visited Quarry bank Mill where little J enjoyed another Easter Egg Trail. We’ve never visited Quarry Bank Mill before so had no idea what to expect. We all enjoyed lovely views of the gardens, the mill and then headed on one of the walks. 

    I am so pleased that we bought our National Trust memberships last year. It’s really helped us get up and go over the past few months and enjoy some lovely properties, gardens and walks.

    Spending Time With Family and Friends
    This month we managed to squeeze in some time with our family and friends within the lockdown restrictions.

    boys in the woods


    We took little J and his friend to another National Trust favourite of ours, Formby Red Squirrel Reserve. They spent the day building dens, swinging from a tree swing, rolling down sand-hills, enjoying a picnic and even finding some animal bones. It was lovely to see them play together and catch up on all the things they’ve missed out on over the past few months.

    boys playing


    We also had the chance to head to the park for a lovely afternoon with family. Watching Little J and his cousins play together made us all so happy as they have missed out on so much time together over the past few months.

    boy on a trampoline


    Another family day out was to the Ice Cream Farm in Cheshire. This was definitely our favourite day out this month. It's been a very long time since we visited the Ice Cream Farm so we were pleasantly surprised how much it has changed with lots more to see and do. They boys spent their day climbing, bouncing, crawling and digging for jewels. We finished off the day with an ice cream.

    broken finger


    Another Injury
    Unfortunately there was another injury this month.  Last month was big J hurting his ankle and ending up on crutches, this month little J broke his little finger. It happened while he was playing for his football team. As he is the goalie he has to make lots of difficult saves and sometimes gets trampled on. We’re not quite sure which one caused the break, maybe it was a mixture of the two. 

    boy with a bandaged arm


    We hesitated at first about taking him to A&E and thought about strapping his little finger together to the next with a bit of cotton wool and tape. We are so glad we took him because his little finger was broken. He ended up with a full cast up to his elbow. This is a new procedure for broken fingers at our local hospital and hopefully it means that he will be on the mend sooner. The bad news was it did mean that his goalie duties were passed on to somebody else and he had to watch his team from the sidelines.

    Looking forward to a fun May with lots planned.

    Michelle
    Read More
    Copyright © Playdays and Runways. Blog Design by SkyandStars.co