SLEEP

Ah, I think he's gone to sleep.  Now I can sit down and doze in front of the television.

SECRET PARK

It's maybe not so secret to folks who live/work in Croydon, but I had never heard of Tilford Park before we met the grandchildren there at the weekend.  Getting to it involved driving through a seemingly huge estate.  That's probably why I had never found it before.

It had lots of the sort of wild parkland that kids love

 and some cultivated parts that were equally fun.  I think someone's been cheating in this maze.

There was also a small zoo with the sorts of animals that kids enjoy watching.  But, as if to emphasize the secrecy of the place, MI5 seemed to have posted some mysterious code messages around the place.
 

 

I wonder what it means.

Since spending a couple of days with the kids, I have been fighting to throw off an incipient cold.  Why is it that kids are so contagious, yet seem not to get so ill themselves?  Anyway, I'm trying to walk it off.  Tomorrow I go on my third 10 mile walk this week.

In between, I am dosing myself up with Marmite, coffee and honey.  And look what I have just been sent!

 

That should knock any germs on the head. 

FOR THE BIRDS

Today we were in Worthing.  It was the annual Birdman Festival.  Tomorrow the contestants actually try to fly from the end of Worthing pier in a variety of home-made flying machines.  The record, from last year, achieved with a hang-glider, was 106m.  But some of the 'vehicles' only in fact fly downwards.

Today was the turn of the intrepid jumpers.  The format is to dress as someone/thing, play appropriate music, perform for a minute or so on the platform, and then jump.  The rank banality of the event is no doubt what makes it so attractive.

Here are the spectators from the beach.  That's the platform barely visible on the end of the pier.

And here's a view of the promenade to give an idea of the gathered crowds.

And here's a short video to give you a flavour - one competitor, jumping as Fred Flintstone.

But the real reason we were there is that it was Imogen's second birthday party.  I can't believe she is 2 already.  In fact she suddenly started speaking in whole sentences recently (in English, instead of Imogenese), which makes her seem even older.  Here's the birthday girl (I think - she's in disguise).

RETAIL PARK

Today it was the turn of the other two grandchildren.  Thank goodness for Ikea and its playroom.  Not only that, but free coffee!

After coffee, and while the kids were still in the play area, we accidentally bought a bath mat, some cutlery, a pillow, some serviettes, and very nearly some cushion covers.  As it was, we had splashed out £10.  Oh, the power of retail promotion!  Somebody asked me how far I walk each day - well, at Ikea it's 3 miles from the entrance, through the retail section, to the checkout.

Having rescued the kids from the horrors of the ball pit, we then attacked the restaurant.  Two fish and chips, one meat balls and chips, one pasta and tomato sauce, two desserts and two lingonberry juices.  That was another £10.  Expensive business this babysitting!

Then it was off to the park to try and burn off the rest of my - sorry, their energy.

Here is Tom using an early social networking platform to communicate with the girl you can just see at the other end of the playground.  Of course I made sure that the parental control button was pressed.

And here is Lily, who decided to dance on the stage, quickly attracting an audience (who actually applauded!).

SALAD DAY

When Dr Beeching decided to axe a number of rail lines in England in the 60s, one earmarked for closure was the Mid-Hants Railway, which linked Hampshire villages between Arlesford and Alton and notably provided transport from the Hampshire watercress beds to London.  In 1973, volunteers managed to raise enough funds to buy back the line from Arlesford to Ropley, complete with its small fleet of steam locomotives.  Although a small fleet, the engines were all fairly large, powerful machines needed to pull rolling stock over the hills at Medstead,

 

the highest station in Southern England.

 

Although, through an extraordinary act of vandalism, or self-mutilation, British Rail had torn up the remaining track from Ropley through to Alton, the volunteers continued raising funds and eventually were able to buy back the line and indeed relay the track.  It is now possible to take the train from Arlesford, through to Alton, where the Mid-Hants has its own platform and station buildings, and then connect again with London trains.  And thus was born the Watercress Line.  

 

As you can see, the watercress is still grown here.

 

All the maintenance of trains and track and buildings, and indeed the running of the entire link line, is still carried out today by volunteers.  And it is very popular for days out.  What could be more fun than a run on an old steam train, a lunch at the station buffet at Arlesford,

 

(and such good value!) and a leisurely run back?  So, when we heard that Wallace and Grommit were going to be on the platform too . . . well, what could stop us?!  And, as an afterthought, we decided to take the grandkids with us.

Here's Lily with Grommit.

 

(and a hot chocolate). And Isaac with Wallace.

And here are all three of them with both of them.

Some ads on the platform:

 

Luckily, when the inspector came round, we had our tickets.

 

And there was even a buffet car on the train.  Note the loose chairs.

And a grand day out was had by all.  And I think the grandkids enjoyed it too.

APPLE iTASTE

Yesterday we went to the annual Borden Apple Festival.  This is Borden Hall in the grounds of which the festival took place. 

Of course, there were a lot of apples. And we tried all of them I think.  Apples are currently Isaac's favourite fruit, so he was in his element.            

 But there a lot of country crafts were being demonstrated too.

 

Wood carving.

 Bread making (my favourite).  And conservancy.  The kids were allowed to handle the toads (against the better judgement of parents and grandparents!).

 And maybe it's just as well most of the children weren't reading the notices.

 These are Isaac's boots with Teddy.

 

And here are Tom, Lily and Isaac.

And here's Imogen, who has just decided to walk.