Category: Days out

Days out, events, trips and places to visit mostly in the UK, on Bubbablue and me

Oxford walks – Holywell and Botanic Gardens

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Oxford walks - Bubbablue and me

It’s not often I get the chance (and excuse) to go out with my camera and just roam without having an agenda.  But when my car is in for service, it’s a perfect excuse as N never wants to come with me. Unfortunately I hadn’t realised that my day in Oxford coincided with the global instawalk, otherwise I’d have tagged along with the Oxford instawalk gang. Being lazy I decided against taking my mirrorless camera.  A slight mistake as it… Continue Reading “Oxford walks – Holywell and Botanic Gardens”

Blue reef aquarium Southsea

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blue reef aquarium Portsmouth - Bubbablue and me

I often check there’s an aquarium nearby when I’m planning places to visit. They’re good for rainy day activities, although obviously then get busy.  Near where we were staying in Southsea, right on the sea front, was Blue Reef Aquarium and I’d picked out the coupons I’d found in case N wanted to go.  I didn’t expect him to ask to go on the first day we were exploring Southsea seafront. Blue Reef Aquarium is looking a little tired especially… Continue Reading “Blue reef aquarium Southsea”

Exploring Southsea and Clarence Pier for seaside fun

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Exploring southsea and clarence pier - Bubbablue and me

When we go on holiday, just N and I, it’s usually a last minute booking and decision on where we’re going. I tend to look for places near the coast because we’re so central, it’s the only chance we get when going away for a few days.  Thankfully N is used to our visiting lots of places in a short time.  Both of us whizz round and we rarely spend all day in one place.  But we have started chilling… Continue Reading “Exploring Southsea and Clarence Pier for seaside fun”

Sunny West Wittering beach day

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beach day at west wittering beach - Bubbablue and me

Whenever we go on holiday, I always try to take N somewhere that’s close enough to go to the seaside for a beach day.  We recently stayed in Southsea, Portsmouth – yes it has its own beach but it’s shingle like so much of the south coast around that area. But a short journey to West Wittering and N had the sandy beach he prefers. Oh and I have the pretty beach huts!  Which were surprisingly unused for such a… Continue Reading “Sunny West Wittering beach day”

Mozzarella Joe’s and the children’s menu giant pizza

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mozzarella joe's giant children's menu pizza

When eating out, childrens menus are a mixed bag.  Some like Pizza Express tend to get them pretty spot on (although I’m not sure that N by the age of 10 will be satisfied with the kids menu) as do Bella Pasta with their 2 younger and older kids sizes.  I also like places like Cotswold Wildlife Park who have sandwich lunch boxes, but hot meal options across the standard menu with small and larger choices at good prices.  At… Continue Reading “Mozzarella Joe’s and the children’s menu giant pizza”

Friends Fest at Blenheim Palace

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Friends Fest at Blenheim Palace - Bubbablue and me

Last year I heard about Friends Fest too late to buy tickets. They were all sold out.  This year, I was on that waiting list and I bought tickets as soon as possible the Blenheim Palace Friends Fest.  It was a shame children’s tickets were the same price as adults – the general admission was free, it was the timed slots for the set tours that you had to pay for (£26 a ticket). If you’ve not heard of Friends… Continue Reading “Friends Fest at Blenheim Palace”

Day out at Dudley Zoo

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Day trip to dudley zoo - Bubbablue and me

Zoos aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but we quite like them. Our latest visit was a great opportunity to talk conservation of animals with N as he was asking about why we had zoos. We had a spare day and I was looking for something to do outdoors to make the most of the outdoors and some of the only sun on my week off work.  After comparing Whipsnade and Dudley Zoo, I decided that Dudley was better value and… Continue Reading “Day out at Dudley Zoo”

Kilkenny Lane country park – a new playground discovery

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kilkenny lane country park - Bubbablue and me

You’d think most children would love to visit places and get out away from home. But not my son because the farm calls to him.  My only chance for getting him out is offering a bike ride.  But even that is a battle because he always just says he wants to go to the local park. Sigh. The playground isn’t great, it’s a bit dull and it’s not very exciting going to the same place time and time again. But… Continue Reading “Kilkenny Lane country park – a new playground discovery”

Exploring The Mumbles and Oystermouth Castle

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Mumbles and oystermouth castle - Bubbablue and me

People often ask how we manage to visit more than one place in a day on holiday.  I always say it’s getting up early (although many holiday tourist spots don’t open til later than places at home), being focused on what we want to see, and having a child who rushes round places and doesn’t dawdle. He obviously takes after me (I’m like that with shopping and museums) On our recent camping holiday in South Wales, one day we knew… Continue Reading “Exploring The Mumbles and Oystermouth Castle”

Countryfile Live 2017 – celebrating outdoor life

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Countryfile live 2017 sunny day outdoors - Bubbablue and me

I love going out and about with N. It’s lovely to spend time with him and see how he’s changing over the year.  Last year we had a great time at the first ever Countryfile Live show, and again managed to get tickets to return there again this year.  For once, there was no moaning from N. Hey, there’s tractors (and fairground rides which is what he was planning for), so there wasn’t a problem having to bargain to get… Continue Reading “Countryfile Live 2017 – celebrating outdoor life”