The Big Egg Hunt (Part One)

You can probably remember, a couple of posts back, how I mentioned Faberge's Big Egg Hunt and how excited we all were at the prospect of traipsing around London looking for the elusive ova.  Well last Sunday was the day that our hunt was to begin.  We had printed out some of the twelve zone maps from the website, packed a picnic and ensured that we were all wearing comfortable footwear.  If I'm honest, despite the fact that the children had been begging to go on this egg hunt since before it had even begun, I was dubious as to how long their interest would hold out and was expecting the usual cries of 'Our feet hurt', and 'Can we stop now?' to begin after the first hour.  But I was to be pleasantly surprised.

We'd decided to opt for the Convent Garden zone first, thinking that we could combine a bit of egg hunting with some street entertainment.  Walking up from the Strand and entering the piazza, we were immediately confronted with our first egg.  I cannot describe the thrill of pure pleasure that seized us when we saw that decorated oval of loveliness.  The hunt had begun in earnest.  The children were almost hysterical as they darted around Convent Garden ticking off the eggs on the map and duly having their photograph taken.  

Once the Convent Garden zone was completed, we decided to walk down to St. James' Park for our picnic and for some further egg hunting.  The park is beautiful on a sunny Spring-like day and there really is nothing nicer than having a picnic whilst partaking in a bit of people watching and squirrel counting.  The park is itself a zone in the egg hunt, so we took a slow stroll around the area before visiting the small children's playground at the end nearest Buckingham Palace.  The playground has a nice assortment of see-saws, swings, slide and a landscaped sandpit and there is a small kiosk next door for drinks and snacks.  

Once we had rested our feet and filled our stomachs we resumed the hunt with gusto.  Green Park, Picadilly and finally Trafalgar Square were the zones we crossed through.  I had not expected the children to be quite so enthralled with the egg hunting and we were eventually forced to go 'off-map' as  I hadn't printed off enough to sate their eggy appetite.  The eggs themselves are really quite breathtaking; the designs are intricate, clever and often quite humorous, so there is always an element of novelty even when it's your thirtieth egg that day.  The hunt is also made more interesting by the assortment of locations the eggs are hidden in; shop windows, parks, suspended above walkways and marooned on islands in a lake, were some of the places we discovered eggs.  For the hardcore egg hunters there is the 'Wally egg'.  This is an egg decorated like the character from the popular children's book series 'Where's Wally?' who moves location on a daily basis and for whom you must check the Facebook page to get a clue as to his whereabouts.  What more could an egg hunter ask for?

The zones are much larger than I expected and the precise location of each egg is not identified on the map, although there is a street reference for each one.  As a result, there really is an element of difficulty in finding some of the eggs and you may want to consult the cheatsheet (available online) if your intrepid egg hunters are starting to feel disillusioned.  There is however a crossover element between the zones, meaning that you are always relatively close to an egg and don't have to wander for miles in between each one.

We started our hunt at 11am and we eventually called it a day at 5.30pm.  The children did not complain once about being bored or tired, despite the fact that we had been on the move almost constantly.  When the sun had almost disappeared behind the skyline and we finally called an end to the day's hunting, the children were on the verge of tears that there would be no more eggs to be found that day and as we half-dragged, half-carried our tired children back to the car they declared that it had been 'the best day of their lives.'  Even as we pulled away, they were still craning their necks out of the car window to see if they could spy one final egg.  What more recommendation do you need?


Zone maps and all other information regarding The Big Egg Hunt can be found at:
http://thebigegghunt.co.uk/

Barleyland's Farm

There are some places which, because of their close vicinity, are frequent destinations for a day out, despite them not always being the most enjoyable.  Barleylands is somewhere that we have been going since we were blessed with the arrival of the boy child, nearly eight years ago.  It has always been a rather reluctant visit, if I'm honest.  In those earlier days, animals were rather sparse, play equipment was non-existent (except for the fleet of blue ride-on tractors) and you had to leave the farm and venture to the nearby craft centre for toilets and food, unless you counted a battered looking hot drinks vending machine in the cold barn.  Not ideal for a young family.


Oh but how things have changed.  A recent visit to Barleylands during half-time could not have been more different.  Arriving fairly late in the morning, we were immediately drawn in by the prospect of the organised scarecrow hunt and Hungry Caterpillar trail advertised on noticeboards around the craft centre, as well as the opportunity to make your own scarecrow.  Once inside, the children were like well-trained heptathletes, charging around the farm looking for the clues; jumping mud puddles (Clementine far less successfully than Harper), bouncing on giant inflatable pillows, shooting each other with plastic balls and occasionally 'oohing and ahhing' at the appearance of a farmyard animal in their pursuit for the Hungry Caterpillar.  There were the same assortment of animals, with the addition of some birds of prey, that I remembered from before.  Being an animal lover, I would have liked to have seen this element of the farm being extended but it was adequate enough for the children's interest.

The biggest changes came in the form of the new play equipment that the farm has acquired.  There is a large outdoor play area, with the required assortment of swings, climbing frames and zip wire.  But there is also the huge inflatable pillow which deserves its very own mention.  Even as an adult, you can not underestimate how alluring that large, striped, marshmallowy pillow of loveliness is.  Take the children's shoes off?  What children?  I was tugging my boots off and launching myself at this thing before I remembered that I even had children.  I have never seen one of these anywhere else that we have visited, but I suspect that they will be taking over children's play areas everywhere.  


Once my mother had managed to lure us away from the pillow of pleasure, we discovered another play area in a nearby barn.  This one took the form of a kind of shoot out gallery.  Children can take their place behind one of the canons in the three tiers facing each other, whilst sending smaller and more gullible children down into the middle to collect balls as ammunition, often leading them to become targets for the opposing team. Needless to say, Harper was the gunner, Clementine was the ball runner.  Whilst the older children engaged in ball wars, Claudia was free to wander around the remainder of the barn meeting some friendly animals.  Everyone was happy.

At the other end of the farm, there is another indoor play area, made up of the usual slides, ball pits and large swingy things.  This area also houses the cafe and the majority of the indoor picnic tables.  On a cold, wet, half-term afternoon, this place was packed and we were forced to brave the fresh air for our picnic.  Needless to say, it was a rather rushed affair as the bracing February weather didn't really lend itself to a leisurely lunch.  Ideally, there would be another picnic area available as it seems that many parents, once settled in the play barn, have no inclination to leave it, thereby making many of the tables unavailable unless you're a skilled practitioner in the art of evil glares to shame people into moving.  


In addition to the play areas, there are a selection of other activities for the children to take part in; sand diggers; go-karts; tractor rides and a farming exhibition centre.  Admittedly, some of these things have been at Barleylands for a few years, but the difference is the organisation and communication that the farm now demonstrates.  A visit used to be a somewhat aimless meander around the paddocks and pens, but now there are tannoys and leaflets to ensure that visitors know what is going on and don't miss out.  It is a far more slick and professional affair. 

The website states that the farm is suitable for toddlers to ten year olds.  Having three children that fall into this bracket, I can confirm that it is indeed an ideal attraction for this age band.  Harper loved the play areas, whilst Clementine and Claudia loved feeding and petting the animals.  And me?  You don't really need to ask do you?  I wonder if my garden is big enough for an inflatable pillow?


http://www.barleylands.co.uk/index.html


Barleylands Farm,
Barleylands Road,
Billericay CM11 2UD


Tel: 01268 532253

The Big Egg Hunt

OK, so technically this is not one of our Sunday-bound destinations, but it is something that me and the small people are hugely excited about (what self-control I exhibited there, I was dying to write eggcited). It is the Faberge Big Egg Hunt!  It begins on the 21st February and for forty day and forty nights, 200 fibreglass eggs will be hidden amongst the streets and attractions of the capital.  Many of them have been designed by famous artists,designers, architects and jewellers such as Vivienne Westwood and Zandra Rhodes and the proceeds all go to charity.

The 'hunt' lasts until 8th April, so plenty of time to obtain a map or alternatively download the app, and get eggbusting whilst seeing more of the wondrous city.  What better way to discover the sights of London, whilst putting your detective skills to the test?  And just think of the photo opportunities.  I am making it my mission to get a photograph in front of each of the 200 eggs.  Should you wish to rise to the challenge and embark on your own egg hunt eggsperience (snigger, snigger) feel free to send me your own photographs of your good selves posing in front of your discovered yolky treasures (keep it clean and keep it nice and if you can't manage that, then at least make it funny).


For more details check out:
http://www.thebigegghunt.co.uk/the-hunt/eggsplore-the-streets-of-london/

Spitalfields City Farm and Market

When I set out to write this blog, I promised to recall faithfully both the highlights and the tribulations of our weekly outing.  Unfortunately, dear readers, I'm afraid that this week's jaunt was rather less than scintillating.  Although we aim to make each Sunday as entertaining and child-friendly as we can, sometimes the demands of grown up life intrude upon on our Sunday tradition and we have to actually do things that the children aren't too keen on; shopping, decorating etc.  Today was one such day, our bedroom required some furnishing and we were off to Spitalfields to sample its alternative, funky, Student-smelling wares to see if we could find some objects to fit the bill.  However, being the nice parents that we are, we thought we would try to incorporate something child-friendly to compensate the small people for the hours of stall hunting they would be subjected to.  Quick internet search and hurrah, Spitalfield's City Farm.  'Perfecto' as our Spanish cousins would say.

Warmly dressed, we drove through a maze of dejected looking estates to reach the farm, which was snugly nestled between a small housing estate and a park.  Entry was free so we wandered in, feeling rather like tresspassers on someone's small holding.  We rambled on through an allotment style garden and some eclectic looking picnic/seating areas in search of some animals to which we could make the necessary oinks, quacks and baas for our children's amusement and our one year old's elucidation (we're currently working on our farm animals noises with her).  Rounding a corner, we were confronted by some feisty chickens in mid-brawl.  Much screeching and delight from the children!  Animals - at last!  After some further investigation we managed to find some more farmyard friends; sheep, pigs, goats, rabbits, donkeys, ferrets and erm...cats (I'm going to include the cats as they were in a cat box).  The farm is free and is obviously a community venture with volunteers helping out, so I don't want to be too harsh.  The farm has animals, so that's one important criterion checked off.  The farm has some of the friendliest animals I've ever encountered, in fact; you can't feed the animals so they come to you to be stroked, not to perform the usual farmyard ruse of 'you stroke me, while I steal your bag of animal feed' that always makes me feel slightly used.  

                               

I liked the sprawling, almost spontaneous, layout of the farm,with tree houses and seating areas rising up in strange places depending upon on what the landscape leant itself to, but it was all rather too haphazard to make the farm work effectively; sheds and pens popping up in the middle of paths or hidden behind greenhouses.  Also although there are lots of colourful displays, there are limited, almost non-existant signage so there's a kind of lost feeling as you traipse around.  The farm, in its present state, is essentially still very much a work in progress.  There is the promise of it being a wonderful place to take children in future years but much development, and I imagine funds, is needed to make this happen.  It was fine to take the children for half an hour on the way to somewhere else, but there is not enough there to warrant a visit of any extended length.


Please note, there are toilets and baby change facilities on site, but that's it.  It's definitely a snacks or picnic affair.

                                                     
The children enjoyed the time they spent at the farm and the park next door, but didn't object when it was time to leave (always a sign that they have had enough).  And so it was that we left the small farm in the city and were off to the heaving crowds of Spitalfield's Market.  I'll make a small note about the market, as although it's not particularly for children, the area has in recent years been redeveloped and the market and the surrounding area have lots of things that can assuage tired or dispirited children; cool shops, interesting sculptures, fountains and street entertainers.  So a trip to the market need not be an entirely adult affair.  In fact, our children have always enjoyed traipsing around the market admiring the alternative fashions and odd wares on display, as well as a bit of people watching (there really are some characters to be found here) and there are numerous restaurants and food stalls to quell any hunger pangs.  


So all in all, it was a bit of a mixed bag today.  The farm was an interesting stop-gap but would not be a place I would consider revisiting for a few years, when further development has taken place. But the children enjoyed their time there and Claudia is now pretty fluent in pig and sheep, so it wasn't a wasted journey by any means.


Spitalfields City Farm,
Buxton Street,
London,
E1 5AR


020 72478762
http://www.spitalfieldscityfarm.org/

"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” Samuel Johnson

I love London and it's a frequent destination for our weekly ventures.  I'm always surprised by how many people never consider the city as an option for their family day out, when it's right on our Essex doorstep.  Many people bemoan the cost of travel, the high entrance prices to attractions, the extortionate food prices as excuses against going, but these are the complaints of the amateur London visitor.  Obviously, the main tourist attractions are expensive but they're just the tip of the iceberg of what you can do in London, and even if you should opt for one of these time-honoured favourites you can usually procure some kind of discount voucher online, in a supermarket or indeed last minute at the train station (check the leaflets on display for current deals).

London has a wealth of things to do for a family that needn't cost a penny; museums, galleries,   parks, a stroll through Convent garden or along the South Bank are all completely inexpensive  and yet thoroughly absorbing for the whole family.  And, if you're a competent driver, then why not drive there on a Sunday, when parking restrictions on single yellow lines are lifted? As for food, you're in a city, take a picnic and enjoy some people watching on a park bench or along the Embankment or hunt down a fast food outlet or sandwich bar if you're more the 'fly by the seat of your pants' kind of visitors.  Whatever you choose to do, you're assured of a great day out in a part of the country that changes daily and which always, ALWAYS, has something going on.  We once took a stroll around Westminster and upon turning the corner into St. James' Park, was confronted with a parade of military regiments complete with banging drums and pipers.  That's not your average encounter on a Sunday stroll.

Recently, we discovered a book that I would like to recommend for all my fellow London loving families; London Unlocked (A Guide Book For Kids) by Emily Kerr and Joshua Perry.   It features 66,  yes that's right, 66 attractions and places of interest for the intrepid family to visit and explore.  Obviously there are the die-hard, typical tourist favourites such as the Tower of London and Madam Tussauds, but there are some real hidden gems in here as well; exploring the biggest rooftop gardens in Europe, nestling just above Kensington High Street; defending a castle at the National Army Museum or flying a kite on Primrose Hill.  I was genuinely impressed with the novelty of some of the suggestions, definitely suited for those of you who like to wander a little bit off of the usual tourist track.  The information about each attraction/activity is fairly brief and concise but it provides you with all the essential information you could need.  The guide is great for the sheer diversity and breadth of its suggestions and its layout is easy and accessible for children; my son has already read through it and highlighted all of the attractions he wants to visit in the forthcoming months.  For a measley £8.99  it's a book that is well worth its place on your book shelf and which I guarantee you'll be pulling down again and again.

I'll finish as I started, as Samuel Johnson seems to capture my feeling so well:

'By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can show.'

So what are you waiting for?

The Children's Story Centre (Discover), Stratford

On a recent trip to the new fangled, coffee smelling, twiggy loveliness of Westfield Shopping Centre (although everyone knows that Bluewater is better) we drove past an attraction that we had visited a few years ago and which had evidently undertaken a bit of a facelift; The Children's Story Centre.  We vowed that we would return on a future occasion to check out what improvements had been made and to give our newest addition, Claudia, a chance to sample the Centre's charm.

Today turned out to be that day.  The new entrance on the high street is large, bright and had our children squealing with anticipation.  Who can fail to be excited by the sight of a 9 foot monster?  Once inside, we opted to eat first as it was close to lunchtime.  Please note that there is only a small cafe on sight, so food options are essentially a small selection of rolls and some delicious chunky cookies.  If you plan to stay for the long haul and want something more substantial than a snack, then a packed lunch is probably the best idea and there are various areas (inside and out) where you can do this.

Once inside, the children were in a frenzied confusion as to which area to go to first.  The Centre is made up of two floors and an impressive outdoor play area.  The ground floor is dedicated to sensory and creative play, with the open plan layout being divided up into areas such as fancy dress, arts and crafts, role play and sensory play.  It seems that every surface either flashes or sparkles or chimes.  The indoor cave area with slide won out and both made an immediate sprint for it.  The baby loved the oversized tea party area with throne-like chairs and play food.  I dread to think how many other small mouths have sucked on those plastic foods but it kept her happy.

Upon arrival, we were given four wooden spoons, and once in we could see what we were supposed to do with them. The arts and crafts table was smothered in tissue paper, fabric, pipe-cleaners and sellotape which we were to use to turn our plain wooden spoons into little characters.  It was an OCD sufferer's worst nightmare, but the children loved it, as did, it would seem, many of the parents who were crouched around the table offering advice and instruction on how best to personalise their child's spoon and many of which stayed to finish the creation once the children had tired of the exercise and ran off.

Round the corner we discovered an old favourite; the secret cave with accompanying trip, trap bridge and splash light puddles.  The den like quality of the cave, coupled with the echo sound machine and twinkling lights was an instant hit with all the children who relished the idea of being in a secret camp and the trip trap bridge is hard to resist even for adults who choose to stamp across it rather than use the boring old floor.

Having sampled the ground floor, we decided to take advantage of the fine, although cold, weather and headed outside to the play area.  It was fantastic.  I would love to have a garden like this.  The area is filled with landscaped astro-turf hills, secret paths, mirrors and chimes.  There's a pirate boat, an alien spaceship climbing frame, a wooden shack, a monster slide and a climbing wall.  The whole area is enclosed by generous shrubbery and a high fence so you can unleash the small ones without any fear that they'll wander off site.  My 7 year old loved it out there and it was by far his favourite area in the whole centre.

Once back inside we ventured downstairs to Monsterville, a new exhibition that takes up most of the lower floor.  Walking through a wardrobe of monster suits, we emerged into a twinkling tunnel of light at the end of which was a monster with gaping hidey-hole mouth.  Perfect.  We were definitely in the land of monsters.  Round the corner and we were confronted with a miniature monster town, complete with ice-cream parlour, hairdressers, gallery and bandstand.  As with the area upstairs, there are lots of activities for the children to interact with.  The small shops with their themed interiors allowed the children to give reign to their imagination and there was role-playing galore amongst all of the little visitors, and a few game parents.

The visit was completed with a story-telling of The Monster Who Ate Darkness by one of the Centre's staff.  Ushered into a darkened room, with rugs and cushions for the children to sit on and benches for the adults, the story-teller gave an engaging rendition of the story, with lots of enthusiastic audience participation and use of props.  It certainly gave me an act to follow for the bedtime story in our house.

Overall, we thought that it was a great day out for families with small children.  Although our 7 year old loved it there, he was probably on the cusp of being too old for some of the activities.  The combination of indoor and outdoor play means that it's ideal for those days when the weather is uncertain and you don't want to get caught out.  Also, it's extremely good value for money; we spent three and a half hours in the centre and spent £16 on the family ticket to get in, this includes the storytelling. In short, the Children's Story Centre provides a highly interactive and engaging day out that is bound to have your children begging for a return visit.

Children's Story Centre (Discover)
383-387 High Street,
Stratford,
London E15 4QZ
Tel: 020 85365555

http://www.discover.org.uk/