Catching the Angel 21 bus to The Angel Of The North & Saltwell Park

I have a confession. I am 32 years old and have lived in the North East for all of my life and I've never been to visit the Angel Of The North or Saltwell Park. This is shocking! Especially the Angel Of The North as this is such an iconic structure in the North East. We have attempted to visit Saltwell Park before but I don't know what it is about being on the other side of the Tyne - we found ourselves completely lost and ended up driving home after a bit of a row over directions!

I've been told time and time again that I must visit Saltwell park so last weekend we decided to take the kids on a little Gateshead adventure. We wisely left the car at home this time and used a Go North East Family Day Ticket which is currently priced at £12.50. This ticket includes unlimited travel for one day with Go North East for up to two adults and three children. There are over 60 services to choose from including the Quay Link to the Quayside, the Castles Express to Auckland Castle and the Waggonway service to Beamish. We used the Cobalt Connect and Cobalt Clipper to get from Cramlington (where we live) to Newcastle and then hopped aboard the Angel 21 service from Eldon Square bus station to the Angel of the North.

Visiting the Angel Of The North 

Go North East buses are fitted with tv monitors that let you know what the next stop is. Steve and Karen from Metro Radio will also announce the next destination. This makes it super easy for anxious folk like me who worry about visiting new places and when/where to get off the bus. The Angel 21 dropped us off across the road from the Angel Of The North (there is a pedestrian crossing available to cross the road). Very convenient. 

We started our visit reading some interesting facts about the Angel. Did you know it is 20 metres tall and 54 metres across? I also didn't realise this until I was up close but her wings are actually angled at 3.5 degrees forward apparently to give the feeling of an embrace. 

The sheer size of the Angel Of The North is very impressive and the kids had fun lying underneath her wings and looking up. 

The Angel is positioned on a hill which pleased H, H and J who spent time running up and down as Steve and I took countless photographs.........

Selfie! 

I think we maybe spent around 30 minutes in total with the Angel. I am so pleased we made the journey as she truly is impressive. We were on a spending ban (where we don't spend any money on a day out) so didn't visit the coffee hut but I think it would be nice to grab a hot drink and spend a bit longer here admiring the spectacular views of the Angel and the surrounding countryside. 

A quick check of the Go North East App and we realised that the Angel 21 bus actually stopped at Saltwell Park too. Winning! We waited around 5 minutes for the next bus and then headed to our next destination. 

Visiting Saltwell Park

The Angel 21 bus dropped us just a few minutes walk away from Saltwell park's entrance (if you leave the bus at the Saltwell Park/Durham Road stop and turn right along the road then head down the bank at the traffic lights you'll see the park gates). We checked the park map at the entrance and there seemed to be lots to do. We decided to begin our visit with a walk around the lake where we said hello to the swans and ducks along the way. The lake is very safe and fenced all the way around which I appreciated as the kids could run ahead without me fearing for their life.

Next up were the play park areas which is where we spent most of the afternoon. There are two enclosed spaces - a junior area which Harry and Heidi thoroughly enjoyed and a park that was more suited to under 7's which was perfect for Jack. Steve rolled his eyes that there was a sand pit and banned the kids from going in as he didn't want their shoes filled with sand. What a grump!! Next time kids I promise! The parks are adjacent to each other which was perfect for us as both sets of children were in our eye line. 

Junior Park

Junior Park

Under 7's Park

Under 7's Park

There are lots of benches and picnic tables in both parks and there was an ice cream kiosk and coffee hut too. Drinks were on the pricey side at £2.50 for an Americano so I'm kind of pleased we were on a spending ban that day and had brought our own juice for the children and flask of coffee for us :-) 

Under 7's Park

If you are a long-term reader, you may remember the time we were trapped in the maze at Longleat back in 2013.  This experience has left me terrified of mazes and it takes a lot to get me in one. There is a maze at Saltwell Park and of course the children wanted to give it a go. I was very happy to see a viewing platform and decided to stay there whilst they explored. They had a great time and split into two teams - Harry and Jack vs Heidi and Dad. Harry and Jack were victorious and we had to guide Dad and Heidi to the exit. HaHa Steve, I think this is karma for not letting the kids in the sand pit :-) 

The maze is free by the way as are most of the park's attractions. There are a couple of paid for activities - you can hire a boat on the lake or for £1.50 per person you can catch the mini Thomas train for a trip around the park. This is something we will definitely budget for on our next visit I think. 

Saltwell Towers 

You can dine at Saltwell Towers (check out New Girl In Toon's Afternoon Tea review) however I have heard mixed reviews so I would probably advise taking a picnic instead. There's no denying it's a beautiful building though. We walked past the towers on our way to Pets Corner.

Pet's Corner is smaller than the one in Jesmond Dene but it was still fun all the same. We met some of the biggest chickens we've ever seen, said hello to this rather pretty bird and a few other smaller animals. 

We also explored the special wildlife garden (where we kept our eyes peeled for signs of foxes), walked amongst some of the spring flowers that were just sprouting and watched a few older children play basketball on the sports court. We were even lucky enough to spot a squirrel as it crossed our path.

After our walk the children were begging us to re-visit the play areas so we headed back for another 45 minutes before catching the Angel 21 back to Newcastle. I loved our trip to Saltwell Park and we've already made plans to spend another day there in the summer.

I don't use public transport regularly and I do know that it can be frustrating when there are delays ect.... however we encountered no problems during our Saturday trip and the kids thought it was a real adventure. The Angel 21 service is an electric hybrid with low emissions so we also felt like we were doing our bit for the environment by leaving our car at home. We made the most of free wifi on board and the kids took a book to read. All in all it was a very positive experience and something we are going to try and do on a more regular basis in the future.

We created a video featuring the highlights from our day and would love to know what you think.

Where are you favourite days out in the North East that we can access via public transport? I'd love some more ideas for the rest of the year.

I'm linking up to Mummy Travels and Wander Mum #CityTripping shouting loud and proud about NewcastleGateshead.

How to throw the Ultimate Easter Movie Party

We love a good movie party here at NEFF HQ and following on from the success of last year's Christmas Movie Party we have decided to host an Easter version on Easter Sunday. It's just going to be me and the kids as Steve is working and I think an Easter Movie Party is a nice way to make the day extra special.

Movie Choice 

We are going to watch the Rise of the Guardians on our Panasonic Viera TV which we last watched back in 2012 when it was released at the cinema. It features various 'guardians' including Santa Claus and The Easter Bunny himself and is a definite seasonal favourite for the whole family. 

Buy here for £3

Movie Snacks

All good movie parties require some decent snacks and I would recommend our Chocolate Orange Slow Cooker Fudge which I am planning to make the day before our party.

Of course I have also been browsing Pinterest for some ideas too and how cute are these Easter themed drinks! If anyone knows where I can buy some mini milk bottles from, please let me know.

I will serve an Easter lunch in the film interval in these special Easter boxes. I'm thinking Hot cross buns and a slice of Easter cake will go down well. 

Buy here

Decorations

It's all about the little touches and I have picked up some Easter invites for only £1.65. I will leave one by the children's cereal bowl for them in the morning and sign them from the Easter Bunny.

I also like the idea of creating our own Easter bonnets in the morning to wear during our party. This kit is only £2.50 for a pack of three from Baker Ross. 

I think this set of 30+ Easter decorations from John Lewis is a bit of a bargain at only £10 and I plan to use them to set the mood and decorate our tv screen and fireplace.

During our Christmas Movie Party we brought Heidi's mattress downstairs and covered it with a Christmas blanket as an extra seating area for the kids:-

They thought this was great fun and I'll definitely do it again for our Easter party. I just need to find an Easter blanket that doesn't cost a fortune or maybe a plain throw will work. 

I'd love to hear if you are planning on watching any Easter Movies or are planning your own Easter party this year. 

A day spent with The Co-operative Childcare Nursery in Newcastle

*This is a collaborative post

A few weeks ago I was invited along to spend the day with The Co-operative Childcare Day Nursery and Pre-School at their Newburn branch and provide an honest account of my experience. Understandably, I wasn't able to take any phtotographs during my visit so I have used images with permission from The Co-operative Childcare website. Take a peek at this video too, which I think gives you a very good idea of what to expect:-

My outlook is that I am very pro-choice. I think sending your child to nursery or daycare is a very personal decision and it very much depends on your family set up or circumstances whether this is right for your child. I am not going to go through the pros and cons of sending your child to nursery as I could be here all day but do believe that parents should be provided with as much information as possible in order to make an informed choice themselves.

A little bit of background - my three children all attended a nursery that I paid for on a part time basis from around the age of one. They attended two different settings across 6 years between them and then went onto attend our local nursery school. I am also an Early Years Governor at our children's school and do have a little bit of experience in early years.

Location

The Co-operative operate three childcare settings in the Newcastle area:-

• Day Nursery Newcastle, Newburn : open 7:30am - 6:30pm
• Day Nursery Newcastle, Newbiggin : open 7:30am - 6:30pm
• Day Nursery Newcastle : open 7:30am - 6:00pm

I visited the Newburn setting and found it fairly easily in the middle of Newburn business park. The building is purpose built and everything has been designed around the children from low windows and open plan rooms to large gardens and outdoor areas. There are 3 main rooms:-

• Babies (6 weeks to 18 months)
• Babies (18 months to 2 years)
• Toddlers/Pre-school (2-5 years)

There is also provision for older siblings/children during school holidays. 

Child Protection & Safety

You can't just walk into the nursery (which is pretty standard with all childcare settings I think) and I needed to show my passport before I was allowed into the building. It was re-assuring that as a visitor I was never left alone with any of the children and always had at least 3 members of staff with me. Gemma (soon to be deputy manager) kindly showed me around and stayed with me the whole time. As a parent, this is very reassuring.

Parents use a unique finger print system to access to building and need to scan their finger to enter and exit various rooms which is all tracked by the computer and there is an office at the entrance to the building so staff can visibly see people in the foyer.

Finally, I wasn't allowed to take my mobile phone anywhere with me and had to leave it securely in the office. Again, an extra step that has been taken to protect the children that I'm impressed with. 

Staff are trained to a very high standard and professional development is actively encouraged, in fact one member of staff was attending a course the very next day. Colleagues are all trained in Makaton which I witnessed throughout the day and have specialist training in autism, behaviour management, epilepsy, tube feeding and special educational needs. The staff all seemed very happy in their roles which is reflected in the low staff turn over. Their benefits include career progression, discounts at co-op and finishing early on their birthday. I always think it's a good sign when an employer goes the extra mile to ensure their staff are happy in their workplace. 

The Co-operative Childcare is All Inclusive

One of the things that really stood out for me compared to other nursery settings I have visited is how the Co-operative Childcare truly is all inclusive. Your fee includes:-

• Nappies
• Wipes
• Formula Milk
• All meals and snacks

You can choose your own brand and every child has their own feeding equipment which is clearly labeled and only used by them. There is a dedicated milk room where milk is made up freshly on demand. 

Baby room

Visiting the baby room was my favourite part of the day. First of all, the staff weren't at all phased by me being there and watching them which I think is a very good sign. Babies all have their own key worker who will design bespoke activities for them that day (based on speaking with parents and what the baby has shown an interest in) and also encourage independent play. Sensory activities play a huge part in this room and I watched some very happy babies play in a pool of homemade gloop (which was so messy I can't ever imagine doing this at home) and then later with a bowl of ice. Photographs are taken throughout the day and development stages are recorded which is all shared with the parents. 

Baby snuggles with my Nephew

There are set times for nappy changes but babies are also changed as and when in a dedicated changing room. I have to say that during my visit I didn't experience any offensive smells from lingering nappies which is reassuring.

There is a separate nap/quiet room and as a rule babies would be put down for a nap after lunch, although the staff are very happy to follow your little one's routine too. There are a range of places for little ones to sleep from cot beds to floor cushions and even individual reading chairs with their own curtains that can be drawn if your child likes their privacy. Babies are monitored every 10 minutes when they are sleeping and their temperature is recorded. 

My overall feeling in the baby room was that I couldn't believe how calm it was! Considering there were 8 babies in there, they all seemed very happy and content and from what I could see were given the very best of care. 

Toddler room

The toddler room definitely wasn't as calming as the baby room but I loved how much space the children had to play with both indoor and outdoor areas being maximised and plenty of space for the children to run around and have fun. Children are again encouraged independence and there is a good mix of adult-led activities and the chance for children to explore themselves. There were lots of little touches in this room such as equipment being labelled in lots of languages not just English. 

My overall impression of the toddler room was just how much fun it was. As is the case with most childcare settings these days the doors are left open and children have the freedom the choose to play inside or out. 

The outdoor area was wonderful and the children took real pride in showing me the  'bug hotel' they had created and they couldn't wait to go hunting for worms to put inside their wormery. There was also an outdoor story telling corner, slides and tunnels plus assault courses and bikes. A lot of the children enjoyed playing in the sandpit too which was better than the one in our local park and they spent time watering the plants and exploring their environment around them - all good fun! 

The staff make the most of all weathers and they have waterproofs available if it rains so the children can enjoy puddle jumping and the staff even take the children sledging when it snows. Sensory activities are designed around what the children can see and talk about so for example on the day I visited there was a little bit of frost on the ground so the staff designed 'Frozen themed' crafts in the afternoon. 

All of this fun can be tiring and at age 2-5 some children may still need a nap. I loved the quiet areas where children could sit or lie down if they needed a nap too. 

One of the things that really stood out for me during my visit is the complete lack of TV's and technology. I have visited nursery settings before where TV's are used during quiet time and children can play on iPads ect..... It was actually  a breath of fresh air to see these techniques are not used here. There wasn't a tv in sight and children are very much encouraged to play with traditional toys and explore the world around them without being stuck to a screen.

Meal times

Another area that really stood out for me was the dining room and meal times. Newburn nursery employs their own full time chef and the whole menu has been consulted with parents and designed by a top child nutritionist. Parents are emailed menus and can view them online or in the dining room at any point. The dining room is centred around a large open hatch so children can watch the chef prepare their meals and the children often spend time baking with the chef too. 

How Meal times stood out:-

• Children are encouraged independence and table manners from a very young age and given the responsibility of dishing out their own food, clearing their dirty plates away and even wiping the table when they had finished. I loved seeing this and it really made me think about how little responsibility I give my own children at home during meal times. If a 2 year old is able to wipe a table, there's no reason why my 9 year old can't do this at home. 

• Dining was a social experience with children using Makaton with the staff and talking about the vegetables on their plate and what they had been up to that say. Staff joined the children at their tables and some even tucked in themselves. It was fab to see them leading by example.

• Allergies and dietary requirements are given top priority with colour co-ordinated crockery being used for those with allergies, gloves being used by staff as a precaution and separate dishes being prepared for those who needed it. 

• The food was of a very high standard and something that I would (and did) eat myself. It was all freshly prepared by the qualified chef that day and actually puts my own cooking to shame. On the day of my visit children tucked into broccoli and cauliflower bake followed by apple crumble and yoghurt. What surprised me is that not one of the children made a fuss and most cleared their plates! The staff also recorded how much each child had eaten. 

Parental involvement

Parents are very involved in their child's care at Co-operative nurseries and their views and thoughts are regularly consulted. As well as informal handovers and diaries, parents are invited to sepcial events such as breakfast clubs (where the chef cooks bacon sandwiches for them to grab and go) or fundraising fairs. Parent's in Partnership is very much encouraged and there are parent representatives who attend nursery meetings too. 

Cost

This all might sound wonderful but I know that cost is a huge consideration when choosing a nursery too. I was expecting a premium price and was pleasantly surprised with the cost. Remember, these prices are all inclusive so include nappies, formula, wipes, food, snacks, trips and activities. 

0-2 years

Full week - £214

Full day - £46.50
Session - £28.75

2-3 years

Full week - £209
Full day - £45
Session - £27.75

3-5 years

Full week - £208
Full day - £45

Session - £27.75

A full week is 5 days, a full day is 7:30am - 6:30pm and a session is 7:30am - 1pm or 1pm-6:30pm. 

There is a lot of funding to help you with childcare costs ranging from free childcare places for 2 year olds, government funding for 3-5 year olds, childcare vouchers, tax credits and student support. 

Conclusion

I am not going to try and persuade you to use Co-operative childcare and can only report back on what I experienced during my visit. I will however say that I left thinking I wish I had known about these nurseries when my children were young and based on my visit, I would be happy for my own children to attend. The staff were all so friendly and approachable and absolutely devoted to the children. One of the little one's took their first steps when I was there and everyone was absolutely overjoyed and couldn't wait to share the news - it really is as if the children were part of their family. 

Thank you to Gemma, the staff and all of the little one's for taking the time to share your day with me. You can find out if the Co-operative childcare is for you by arranging a visit at one of their 44 childcare settings, requesting a brochure or requesting a call back to discuss options. 

My birth… My choice?

I was recently sent a press release from Cells 4 Life and it really struck a chord with me (no pun intended). I am very pro-choice and feel that women should be able to make an informed choice about all aspects of their birth. In the West, women are increasingly aware of the choices that they can make during birth.  They are presented with information about a plethora of subjects enabling them to make informed decisions to suit their needs and desires.

36 weeks pregnant with Heidi

However, when it comes to cord blood banking a staggering amount of women (including me) are completely oblivious.  Not only are they unaware of the procedure but they are unaware of the benefits of cord blood banking.  Alarmingly, cord blood banking could be one of the most important considerations of their birth. I for one have only briefly heard about this in passing and it was certainly never mentioned to me during any of my maternity care and I don't recall reading about it in any of my pregnancy books either. I really wish I had known about it during my pregnancies as I am pretty sure I would have looked into this further. 

26 weeks pregnant with Jack

Cord blood contains precious stem cells which can be used as approved therapy for over 80 serious illnesses such as cancers, blood disorders and metabolic conditions. Additionally, cord blood stem cells could hold great promise in the field of regenerative medicine.  Regenerative therapies often use a patient’s own stem cells and cord blood often provides the perfect source.  

Heidi when she was less than an hour old

Cord blood stem cells are collected in a non-invasive procedure once the umbilical cord has been cut.  The placenta is taken away and the cord blood is harvested from the cord attached to the placenta. The stem cells are collected in their optimum state and whilst they are preserved they will not age.  The stem cells in cord blood are a perfect match to the baby meaning; the baby has a perfect stem cell match waiting for them should they ever need it when their cord blood has been stored.

While the majority of hospitals do allow cord blood collection, unfortunately, not every hospital in the UK allows cord blood to be collected for storage.  This means the decision of what to do with their baby’s cord blood can be taken away from parents by the hospital who have destined it for incineration. 

25 weeks pregnant with Jack

So while women are able to make choices about many aspects of their birth, one of the most important choices is stripped away from them by hospital bureaucracies and policies.

Naomi Isted, a presenter and lifestylist, was one woman prepared to fight for her right to choose.  

Naomi had chosen to give birth at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow whose policy was not to allow cord blood collection.  Thanks to Naomi, the Princess Alexandra Hospital changed their policy and allowed her to store her baby’s cord blood with Cells4Life.  Not only has the hospital’s change in policy allowed Naomi make a choice to bank her baby’s cord blood but it has given other women who wish to give birth at the hospital the opportunity to make the same decision.

34 weeks pregnant with Harry 

Making an informed decision about banking your baby’s cord blood ahead of your baby’s birth is incredibly important.  Cord blood banking is a once in a lifetime opportunity and once it has been lost, it has been lost forever.  Thankfully, the majority of hospitals in the UK support cord blood banking and a mother’s right to choose.  If you would like to find out more about cord blood banking or find out if your baby’s cord blood can be collected from your chosen hospital contact www.Cells4Life.com, the UK’s leading cord blood bank.

10 ways to keep the kids occupied during a train journey to London

This Easter we are planning a day trip to London with the kids. It will be Jack's first time visiting the big smoke and ever since we visited the Southbank, Natural History Museum and Science Museum with Harry and Heidi a few years ago, they have been begging us to return.

There's no getting away from the fact that accommodation in London is expensive, especially as a family of 5 when it's not as easy as booking a cheap Travelodge deal. After a lot of careful consideration we have decided to travel from Newcastle to London and back in one day. Virgin Trains East Coast can get you there in under 3 hours so really, it should be quicker than driving somewhere like Alton Towers and when you look at it like that, it makes sense.

Virgin Trains customers are also eligible for various 2 for 1 offers when visiting the capital on top attractions including The Tower of London, Madame Tussauds London, The London Eye, ZSL London Zoo and lots more. We're planning on visiting The Houses of Parliament (it's on my bucket list!) and Madame Tussauds London then exploring a little of the Southbank before heading home.

We have endured many LONG journeys in the car before (remember Peppa Pig World in 2014) so I am sure a short trip on the train will be a breeze in comparison. Especially as I can enjoy a glass or two of wine on the way home! However I have found a few things that will keep the kids occupied during our journey. Some of these links are affiliate links.

First of all, I have fallen in love with this London Bus Back Pack 

1 - Sticker Dolly Dressing London 

There is a part of Madame Tussauds London that is dedicated to  London Fashion Week and I'm sure this will inspire our creativity.

2 - London Activity Pack

We bought this is 2014 and it was such a good buy that I am planning on buying them again.

3 - 100 Things for Little Children to do on the train 

We have the car version of these cards and there is loads to keep the little one's entertained and I'm sure the train version will be just as good. 

4 - iPad 

Nothing like a good old electronic babysitter for keeping the kids entertained for a bit :-) 

5 - London children's map for kids 

Again, we bought this for our last trip to London and it was actually handy for grown ups too! 

6 - Learn to draw a London bus 

I love this little activity and might even have a shot myself. 

7 - London themed picnic lunch  (Photo Credit:-  Eats Amazing)

This London themed packed lunch box will make for a wonderful snack on board.

8 - Teach the kids how to use the underground

I know that some grown ups struggle to use the underground and I think navigating public transport is a very important skill for children to learn. We'll use the tube map in our children's map to help us plan these and our own journeys. 

9 - Play Uno 

Uno is our family's favourite game and I'll definitely be popping our deck into my handbag.

10 - London colouring book 

I just love this colouring book and think I'll not be able to resist helping out. 

What do you think? Have you travelled to London via train with the kids? Let me know your tips too.