Friday, 26 November 2010

Vogrie Park


Vogrie is a good day out, all year round. We've been there on scorching Summer's days for a play in the park and lunch in the cafe but we've also been on chilly Autumn days, to collect leaves and cones. 

It has two good play parks that appeal to all ages although I think that the one next to the car park has more in it for toddlers, whilst the large one at the bottom of the hill has something to keep everyone amused. 

There's a couple of ponds to explore too. One of our favourite visits coincided with the frog spawning season in Spring, when the noise of the frogs' croaking was so loud it sounded like motorbikes revving their engines in the distance. They were really interesting to watch and kept Belle amused for ages.

There's lots to do here. We've been to a 1st birthday barbecue, rolled our Easter eggs down the  hill, and played in the soft play next to The Cedar Tree Cafe. There is more- we've never caught the miniature railway and have never managed to climb the giant chair and bike sculptures yet but I'm sure we will one day if Isabel has anything to do with it!

Egg Rolling
Soft Play
Giant Bike Sculpture

Tuesday, 2 November 2010

Goldilocks and the Ikea Chairs





If your toddler's anything like my toddler then they will love playing at Goldilocks in your local shed of dreams a.k.a. IKEA. Now I'm not sure that IKEA will love me for promoting their stores as free, indoor playgrounds (think of it as a giant soft-play, minus the ball pit and with a few hard corners and trolleys thrown in for sport). 
Isabel just loves trying out all the chairs (as does her Auntie Louise, see above) and testing out the beds to see which one is the comfiest. Best of all, there's a fabulous children's department with lots of try before you buy toys out on display to mess about with. 
Just as long as you don't head there planning on getting a new kitchen designed (this is just asking for trouble with a Wee One in tow) and are happy to hang about whilst said Wee One saunters back and forth through the rainbow-ribbon-curtained-tunnel two dozen times or more, then its happy days.