Life Lately - September 2020

 

Back to school 

The kids have been back to school for a few weeks now - Jack in Year 5, Heidi Year 7 and Harry Year 9. I didn't think the kids had really missed school that much but now that they are back and with their friends / kids their own age again, it has made the world of difference. They are no longer in each others pockets so the fighting has dramatically reduced and it is so lovely that they have their own little personality and lives back again rather than us all being one unit. I now have a huge appreciation of how important school is for my three (I know all kids are different) and really hope we never have to return to home learning again. I think I am unrealistic in this dream though. 

30+ Ways to Have a Magical Christmas at Home

 
Who knows what is going to happen with Christmas this year. As a family of 5, I am starting to worry that we may not be able to plan any of our usual get-togethers with friends and family. This is so sad and I try not to think about it too much. For me, Christmas is very much about family and friends (oh and food). Fingers crossed restrictions change by then...... 

2020 has been a tough year for all of us and Christmas is something we usually look forward to and is the time of year we can inject a little magic into our lives. Whatever happens, I reckon most of us just want to try and make the best of it. 

Toffee Apple Nachos Recipe

 Toffee Apple Nachos are a quick and easy snack. I like making them for when the kids get home from school but they are just as good as a movie night snack. Perfect for those cosy nights at home when you have the curtains drawn, the candles lit and are snuggled up on the sofa. 

I like to think that this snack is a nice mix of nutrition and treats too - the best of both worlds. Unfortunately, this dish cannot be made in advance but it only takes a few minutes to prepare. The dish is best enjoyed with your fingers but it can get a little sticky and I find that individual portions work best. 

Low Hauxley Nature Reserve - Free Accessible Wildlife Walk

A quiet, accessible wildlife walk with bird hides near Amble in Northumberland. This post is based on a visit in September 2020.

During our recent stay at Cresswell Towers, we decided to pay Low Hauxley Nature Reserve a visit. It had been on my list of places to visit for ages and after my in-laws visited and mentioned it was lovely, we decided to bump it up the list. 

Easy Mini Chocolate Orange Cheesecakes

 

These mini baked cheesecakes are super simple to make and are ideal as an after school snack, to prepare for a school Christmas fair, to take into work or bake if you have a friend coming over for coffee over the Christmas period. If your school allows a little chocolate, you can sneak one into lunchboxes too. 

Life Lately - Back to School After Almost 6 Months Off

 
The summer of 2020 has definitely been a weird one. I have felt a real mixture of sadness for H, H and J that they are not enjoying the summer we are used to and have not had a holiday this year (spoken from a place of privilege I know).  Sad that sleepovers / end of school trips / our usual trips to museums, swimming pools and theme parks have just not been possible. I know these past few months have given us a chance to enjoy a slower pace of life, but 6 months is a long time. 

PaddlePod - Private Hire Swimming Pool & Lessons in Shiremoor

 This is an advertisement. This post is based on a visit in August 2020. 

Apologies if this page takes a little longer to load than normal - google are in the process of updating their blogging software which is causing a few issues. If you wait 5-10 seconds, the page should fully load. 

PaddlePod Shiremoor is a 15m swimming pool (1.3m deep) available for private hire (£80 + booking fee for up to 20 people per hour - price includes inflatables, toys, swimming aids and lifeguard) and swimming lessons from babies up to juniors.