Tuesday 30 January 2018

#CountryKids KWL Whitestones Juniors

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

On Sunday I got some more practice in for filming fell running when my son took part at the latest Kendal Winter League event at Whitestones. It was very windy and the course was muddy and steep. I found myself a vantage point to try to capture the races. It was hard to keep the camera stable even with a tripod (my new monopod was delivered whilst I was out!) but it was a stunning view:


At noon the under 13s set off and I was able to capture how tough it was to get up the hill:



My son managed to run the course over a minute faster than last year so I am very proud of him!

Saturday 27 January 2018

#CountryKids KWL 2018 Giggleswick Fell Race

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

On Sunday I drove through falling snow to get to the second Kendal Winter League of the year. I was going to be filming for YouTube after the success of Scout Scar. My son was injured so stayed back in Kendal in the warm:


As I had been to the race a few times (including once when I ran it!) I knew the best spot to film was at the water crossing:


The snow continued to fall so I had to protect my camera to keep it dry whilst waiting for the first race:

Friday 26 January 2018

The National Running Show 2018

My son and I both got free tickets to the first National Running Show at the NEC in Birmingham. We set off before breakfast to drive down the M6 to try and get there as close to the start as possible. In the end we arrived half an hour after it began. 

First stop for me was the Run Mummy Run stand. With 54,000 members online it was no wonder I had to wait 30 minutes to get to the stand! At least some of the lovely members were keeping us entertained with the selfie frame:


It was lovely to be able to have time to chat in real life to other runners from the community which I am part of online. Eventually I had purchased by Run Mummy Run hat and was able to try out the alcohol free beer from Erdinger:


I missed the talk from Dame Kelly Holmes but saw her in the VIP Meet & Greet section:

Thursday 25 January 2018

Reasons to be Cheerful: Teaching, YouTube, National Running Show and more! #R2BC

R2BC at Mummy from the Heart

The lovely Michelle is hosting again this week before I take back over for February. Please do pop over to her place and say hi! I seem to have plenty of reasons to be cheerful this week and here are a few of them:

1) School Display

I have been enjoying creating an England display at school with the help of the children. Alongside the St George from last week we now have a dragon and Big Ben or Elizabeth Tower:


2) Fell Running filming

I had a freezing cold afternoon videoing the Giggleswick fell race in the snow:



I am astounded that I have had over 700 hits on my two videos! That really did put a smile on my face. I will be doing a fuller blogpost about this tomorrow...

3) National Running Show

My son and I had free tickets to the first National Running Show at the NEC. Plenty of reasons to be cheerful meeting folks I have only spoken to online and listening to some famous runners. 

#CountryKids Athletics and Parkour in Blackpool

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Last weekend my son was taking part in a Sporthall athletics competition in Blackpool so we headed down the M6 early in the morning so that he was there for the 9:30 start. He was running, jumping and throwing over 4 events during the day including a 2 lap race. He then went out and did Parkour in the park:




Tuesday 23 January 2018

#MakeChildcareWork The Childcare Problem

A Save The Children campaign

The childcare system in England isn’t working for families. Parents need childcare that gives them the choice to go back to work. But hundreds of thousands aren’t getting the help they should be. It’s a battle for mums, dads, and caregivers to get the support they’re entitled to – and that their children need to thrive. There are particular gaps in support for one and two-year olds, which can keep mothers out of work for up to 3 years.
 
Simply figuring out what they are entitled to is a big first hurdle. Almost half of parents say they have no idea or are confused about what support they should get. There are lots of different schemes and forms to fill out – it’s a nightmare to navigate. The result is that families may miss out on the childcare support they should be getting which can hinder the development of young children.
 
This campaign is about making childcare fair and easy to use. Nursery workers and childminders are doing an incredible job. But right now, our broken childcare system isn’t giving families the support they need - at the most important time in their children’s lives. We need a childcare system that gives parents choices and children the chance to build a better future. We need a childcare system that fits around families’ lives and gives parents the choice to go back to work if they want to.
 
Why Childcare?
 
Great childcare sets up young children for life - helping them to learn, express themselves and get along with other children. It’s where they learn the communication skills, and gain the confidence and curiosity that will mean they can get on once they start school.
 
If children start school behind, they are likely to stay behind as it is incredibly difficult for them to catch up. A lack of development in the early years undermines their chances of success throughout school and in life. That’s why it’s so important to get it right.
 
It also gives their parents the choice to go back to work and earn the money that will help to build an environment at home in which kids can thrive. We all know how crucial the first few years of a child’s life are. Their childhood shapes the kind of person they grow up to be. What’s more, the lives we shape for our youngest decide the kind of country we get to live in, and the future for us all.
 
How You Can Help
 
As a first step, the government needs to listen to parents’ concerns. They’ve made changes to childcare - including increasing free hours - but parents are still telling us that the system’s confusing and too expensive. We’re asking the government to make the system work. We want to hear ministers responsible for childcare in England committing to a childcare system that is high quality, affordable, easy to use and fits around families’ lives.
 
To make it happen, we’re calling on mums, dads, and caregivers to sign our petition. Together, we’re asking the government to listen to our concerns, and make childcare work for everyone.
In the past Save the Children has achieved significant coverage resulting in real change that will help drive up the quality of childcare in England – earlier this year the government committed to a new strategy to ensure there are qualified teachers in nurseries. But the next phase of our campaign will be just as crucial so we’d love your support.

Thursday 18 January 2018

Reasons to be Cheerful: St George, Cute Canines and a Proud Mum #R2BC

R2BC at Mummy from the Heart

I am joining in with Michelle for this week's Reasons to be Cheerful. She is recovering from an operation so make her smile by joining in and commenting on the other posts. Here are my reasons to be cheerful this week:

1) A cracking photograph

I snapped this shot of the Parish Church whilst walking home on Friday night. It really showcases how wonderful the architecture is:


2) St George

I have created this picture of St George which the children have painted for the class's England display:


Next up its Big Ben!

2) Cute canines

I was lucky to encounter two cute and photogenic dos this week! On the left is Alfie the Border Terrier and on the right is Bracken the collie:



3) Proud Mum #1

Sunday 14 January 2018

Review: Ravensburger Jigsaw Awesome Alphabet "A"

Sponsored Post

I was sent a new 1000 piece jigsaw by Colin Thompson called Awesome Alphabet "A". This was perfect for occupying me during a week of Dry January!



Job number one was to try and find all the edge pieces to get the basic jigsaw in place:


Then I could begin to try and spot obvious pieces that went together:

Saturday 13 January 2018

Parkour #1 - Kendal

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall
One of the other things my son was inspired to do by Kendal Mountain Festival was some parkour or free running. He has done the odd little bit but today decided to try some of it out on our walk into and back from town.



He has watched some seasoned parkour athletes on YouTube and so had seen what the basic moves are. To get more advanced he will obviously need to:




a) practice


b) build up his body strength

c) learn more techniques 


For now though I don't think he is doing too badly for being self-taught and not having a gymnastics background:





Thursday 11 January 2018

Reasons to be Cheerful: Bargains, Weight Loss, Fell Running and Castle Building #R2BC

R2BC at Mummy from the Heart

Thanks to the lovely Michelle for hosting again this week. I am feeling pretty chipper at the moment so I have chosen just a few key reasons to be cheerful:

1) Charity Bargain

Whilst dropping off some books at a local charity shop I spotted this lovely long wool skirt for only £2.50. Its been super for work and I love wearing it:


I had also picked up a brand new Ikea throw in another charity shop for a 1/3 of its normal price. With mismatched furniture throws are essential!

2) Detox

I have been doing a detox for just over a week to kick start my healthy eating for the year. One of my new discoveries is overnight oats which turned out to be scrummy:


In the first week I lost 4 lb which is a good step on the way to a healthier me!

3) Fell Running

Sunday 7 January 2018

Fell Running Challenge #4 Kendal Winter League 2017 Scout Scar

It was a beautiful if freezing day for the first event in this year's Kendal Winter League at Scout Scar:


I walked the course with my son and then positioned myself on a good spot for capturing the juniors as they tackled the ascent:


I managed to film all three junior races and also captured the start of the senior's race.





A good start to the league and now we just have to wait to see what position my son finished in! The next event is Giggleswick on the 21st which includes a stream to cross...

Friday 5 January 2018

Weird Science Volcano Eruption

My son had asked Santa for a science kit in his stocking. He was very pleased to find a volcanic eruptions kit in his stocking. It was something he took when we went to visit the grandparents. He enlisted Gramps into helping him build the volcano once we had prepared the table:


They had to mix the plaster carefully to coat the volcano:



Then the mixture was spread over the plastic volcano:

Thursday 4 January 2018

Reasons to be Cheerful: Happy New Year! #R2BC

R2BC at Mummy from the Heart

Its January which means I have handed the reins back to the lovely Michelle so do pop over there and say hello! There has already been plenty to smile about even though 2018 has only just begun:

1) Snow

Well it wasn't a lot and it didn't last long but it made for a more dramatic backdrop for our latest fell running film:


2) Coco

My daughter's cat thoroughly entertained 3 generations on New Year's Eve. He is turning lots of non cat people in to cat lovers:


He even tried to join in at Game of Life:


3) New Year's Day dip 

Sinking into the cold of Windermere on New Year's Day certainly put a smile on my face:



4) Family

Having shown you last week how tall my daughter is getting this week I can show you the height of my 11 year old next to my mum (she is 5ft 4.5)! I think he is taller than I was at his age...


Please join in and visit all the other happy linkers and share some love in 2018!

Wednesday 3 January 2018

Did I achieve more in 2017?

I went back to see what I had put as my resolutions for 2017 and realised that I hadn't gone down the traditional weight loss route! So how did I do?

1) More Family Fun

We certainly packed a lot in to 2017 including trips to Northumberland:


Hikes up the Old Man in the snow:


Several games of football golf:


We also continued our love of board games and added even more to our collection!

2) More Running

Well I may not have run the hoped for 1000 km but I did manage over 700 which is pretty good achievement. My son has carried on with his fell running and looking forward to the new winter series:


My running was plenty of parkruns (even getting my 50 shirt!) but also the Grasmere Gallop 10 km trail race:


My daughter even joined us the colour dash at the castle: 


I wonder if we will manage even more in 2018!

Tuesday 2 January 2018

Starting the New Year with a parkrun and a cold dip!

Last year I meant to get up on New Year's Day and run Lancaster parkrun but in the end decided I wasn't safe to drive there after celebrating the new year... This year my home parkrun at Fell Foot had its first ever New Year special. In order to ensure that I was fit to go I volunteered to tail walk so that I had to make sure I could get there!

Despite the celebrations of the night before there were 150 of us undertaking the 5 km event (and some of them went on to Millom afterwards to do another!). As I was walking I managed to capture many of the runners on camera:


By the time we finished only the volunteers were left but two of us mad mums still went in the water. It was a chance to try out my action camera underwater:



I will have to be brave and go in the water again and improve on my filming!