HIGH SCORE ARCADE POOLE - SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN

 If you're looking for an activity for all the family then why not head for the newly opened High Score Arcade in the Dolphin Centre Poole. High Score Arcade boasts an impressive collection of classic arcade games such as Pac Man, Time Crisis, Terminator and many more. The variety of games available ensures there's something for every gaming enthusiast - whether you're a casual player or a seasoned pro. And the best part? It's free-play so you can challenge your friends and family over and over again until you win ;)

High Score Arcade Poole is situated in the old Market Gallery unit and it's much bigger than I remembered. This means that there is plenty of space for the machines and never feels too crowded. There is a section for smaller children which Erin enjoyed exploring but she loved trying out the rest of the games throughout the arcade. The brilliant thing about free-play is that she could have a go on something and if she didn't like it, she just moved on to the next one. 

Erin and I both loved the rollercoaster simulator - I don't think she was expecting her chair to wobble as much as it did! 

Erin riding the rollercoaster simulator

Elliot is a bit of a gamer so he was in his element - he made a bee line for the Star Wars game and had lots of fun beating his Dad on the basketball hoops!

The cost for an hours play is £11.95 (under 5's are free) and I think this is great value. They also do family tickets and even concessions for Blue Light Card holders. 

There is no cafe however they do sell water/soft drinks and although you can't take these into the arcade, there is a large seating area called the "Hub" which you are welcome to relax in. 

High Score have some special events on over the remaining weeks of the Summer Holidays - you win free return tickets so I'd definitely recommend checking these out: 

     

Overall we had a great time and I know we will definitely be back again soon for more arcade fun!

For more information about opening times and more, please visit the High Score Arcade website. 

*Disclaimer - We were invited along for the purpose of this review but as always, these are our honest views

10 Top Tips to Survive the Summer Holidays

It's that time of year again when I'm firstly wondering where this year has gone to, and secondly making plans for the Summer Holidays! Currently the UK is having a bit of a heatwave and I'm really hoping this lovely weather continues so we can get out and about and enjoy the time away from school.  

I used to feel a bit daunted by the thought of 6 weeks off school and having to entertain the kids but I've learnt that it needn't be scary, and it doesn't have to cost lost of money. You'd be surprised, some of the best days we've had are the ones which didn't cost anything! 

Here's my top tips for getting through those 6 weeks....

Brainstorm

The first thing we do is make a summer holiday bucket list, get the children involved and write down all the things they want to do. On previous lists we have had simple things like "have a bbq" right up to the extravagant "go to Peppa Pig World"! Obviously you might not get around to doing everything on your list but there's always the half term holidays :) 

Make a Plan

I find it really useful to make a wall planner which you can stick up in the kitchen - it doesn't have to be anything super fancy, I literally got a big sheet of paper and drew out the days/weeks. It helps that the kids can see for themselves what we're up to and I'm not constantly being nagged "what are we doing today?!". 

Snacks & Crafts

I always make sure I do a Home Bargains trip prior to the school holidays to stock up on snacks/ice pops. The kids are always hungry so it's good to have plenty in - also handy if you need to pack up a quick picnic. Much cheaper than buying lunch out.  I always restock the paper and crayons/pens whilst I'm there too - good for rainy days! 

Rainy Days

Speaking of rainy days (and I hope there won't be too many of them), the thought of a whole day cooped up inside can be a bit daunting, especially if the children are moaning they are bored from 8am! If you've exhausted the usual crafts/baking/films/board games then sometimes its fun to just get outside and play in the rain. Last summer on one particular day, we had a ton of rain and our road had loads of surface water - the kids went out in their wellies and had so much fun splashing about. 

Library Time

Local libraries are a great place to spend a bit of time, you can often find treasure hunts and colouring plus most libraries will hold a Summer Reading Challenge. Our local library even has a little cafe! 

Summer Hols Scrapbook

Encourage the kid to make a Summer Holidays Scrapbook or diary. They can collect leaflets from days out, or draw/write what they've been up to. You can even get holiday journals on Amazon which are a fab way of getting creative and a nice way of remembering what you've been up to. Good to look back on for inspiration too! 

Better With Friends

Reach out to your friends and get some playdates booked in. I actually find it less stressful when there's a group of children because they will generally entertain themselves! 

Free Days Out

Not everything has to cost money in the hols and there are plenty of options for a cheap, or even free day out. Pack a picnic and visit your local park. Go for a walk and look for wildlife. You can download lots of free scavenger hunts online which are a great way for keeping walks exciting - you can find a great selection here.  Geocaching is another great free activity - all you need is the app on your phone and you can start finding caches. There's a great guide for beginners here. 

A massive cache that we found here in Dorset

Cheap Eating Out

It's great to have lunch out now and again throughout the holidays but it can get expensive. If you look around you can normally find some great deals to keep the costs down. Brewers Fayre do a great breakfast, not only is it unlimited but kids eat free making it a fab bargain. Tesco have also recently announced that kids eat free over the summer when an adult spends £3.50. We'll definitely be taking advantage of this offer - lunch in Tesco and a mooch round the toy aisle would make a great time waster on a rainy day! 

Kids Pass is another good one to look into - currently you can do a 30 day trial for £1 and this will get you lots of discounts, including free kids meals at certain restaurants. 

Down Days

Lastly, don't be afraid to have a day with no plans! I'm always guilty of packing loads into our summer holidays and the kids (and me) end up tired and grumpy. Stay in your pjs, watch a film and just RELAX! 

Farmer Palmer's Farm Park Reopens! Summer 2020

Last month saw the reopening of one of the most popular attractions in Dorset, Farmer Palmer's Farm Park. We have been going there since Elliot was a baby and it's a brilliant day out.

They closed their doors back in March due to Covid 19 but have been keeping their visitors up to date with regular emails and social media posts, going into lots of detail about what's going on behind the scenes and the new changes that will be implemented on opening. We were really missing our visits so it was brilliant for them to keep in touch like that and I'm sure a lot of people appreciated still being able to visit virtually!

One of the most important changes to happen has been the booking system - currently visitors are unable to just turn up, they must pre-book tickets online.There are two slots - morning 9am -1pm and afternoon 2pm-530pm.

The booking system is really straightforward - we have annual passes so I just logged into my dashboard on the website and then picked a date and time slot.

On the day of our visit the kids were so excited to return! We arrived at our allotted time and check in was quick. It looks a little different as the front desks have plastic screens up and there weren't any timetable leaflets. However there was a large poster with all the information you'd need including what was open and what time we could see the animals, I just snapped a photo on my phone for convenience. 

Although the indoor play areas (soft play and the play barn) aren't open, there is still lots to do at Farmer Palmers and the kids couldn't wait to explore. They spent ages in Straw Mountain, they like to pile the straw onto the bottom of the slides and slide into it and we always end up covered in straw! We noticed that Erin's actually grown since our last visit and she was able to clamber up to the higher slides with a bit of help from Elliot. 

The tractors are still very popular and this area looks a little different. The bouncy castle has been removed and instead, the tractor area has been expanded with a one way system in place. Most kids seemed to be sticking to this! 

Some of the animal encounters have stopped due to Covid but we were still able to see lots of animals on our walk around the pens. We spotted a Goat Talk on the timetable and this was held in the big animal barn which we've not been in before. The worked out really well because there was lots of space for social distancing and all families had their own little section to stay in. We were also allowed to hand feed the goats which was fun! 

The go-karts are still open and there is a member of staff on hand to sanitise after every go. Speaking of sanitising, there are hand gels available all around the park which is great to see. 

The sand & splash zone and outside play area are both open and we spent lots of time in these. We followed the Trim Trail down to the Maize Maze and we ventured in, hoping not to get lost. (luckily there's no chance of that at the moment as the maze is on a one way system to follow social distancing regulations!)

The Hen House is now take-away only, but there is lots of extra seating around in the park, including the old animal barn which has been repurposed and is now the "Grazing Barn". The menu looks to be sightly smaller than before but don't panic, you can still get those yummy chips! We didn't get a meal but we did get drinks and a huge slab of the famous chocolate cake. (It's worth noting that FP's are taking part in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme so you can get half price food on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout August)

Overall, we had a fab visit and I was really impressed with all the extra measures in place. Visitor numbers are limited and this worked in our favour because it felt lovely and quiet, even in the popular sections like the tractors and playground. The staff are so friendly in the park and they really made sure all visitors were enjoying themselves. It's great that families can have a little slice of normality in this strange time! 

For more information and to book tickets, visit the Farmer Palmer's website

Summer Holiday Fun at Mighty Claws Adventure Golf Bournemouth

Last June, we went along to the opening of Mighty Claws Adventure Golf in Bournemouth and since then it has been on Elliot's "Favourite places" list and somewhere that he always asks to visit.

Just in time for the Summer Holidays, we were able to go back this week for a round of adventure golf and some yummy food in the restaurant, The Kitchen Club!

Doing his best dinosaur impression! 

Mighty Claws Adventure Golf is located at Playgolf Bournemouth and just a ten minute drive from the seafront. As you work your way through the epic 18 holes of the Mighty Claws Valley course, you will spot scary animatronic raptors, a giant waterfall (although the recent heatwave has dried up the river somewhat!), a whole host of  ancient prehistoric creatures, ginormous T-Rex and even a smoking volcano!

Each hole gives you tips on the best way to get a hole in one - although if you're anything like me, you just whack it and hope for the best! Some are harder than others, you even have to hit the ball over the river in places which can be tricky. But if the ball plops in there are nets to fish them out with!

An exciting new activity to try this Summer is "Find your Fortune" Gem Mining. Grab your gemstone mix from the reception and race over to the water sluice and see what treasures you'll find as you wash away the prehistoric dirt! (This is £3.50pp or £3ppwith your Mighty Claws entry ticket)

We headed into the Kitchen Club after our golf and couldn't wait to get stuck into the pizzas which are all handmade and cooked in their fancy pizza oven. They are some of the nicest pizzas we have tried and always taste lovely and fresh! The staff were really helpful too - Elliot isn't a fan of cheese so he was able to have his half without, and he even got extra toppings to compensate.

The Kitchen Club have also recently launched a delicious new milkshake menu featuring yummy flavours including Strawberry Shortcake, Oreo Cheesecake and Chocoholic. I have to confess that milkshakes are one of my weaknesses so I was very excited to try them! As you can see, they got the thumbs up from Elliot :)

The celebrate the launch, you can get a whopping 20% off your milkshakes with your Mighty Golf ticket!

Mighty Claws Adventure Golf is open 7 days a week (except Christmas Day), 9am-930pm weekdays, 8pm weekends. 

Ticket Prices: Kids: £6.50, Under 4’s: £3 and Adults: £9.50. Concessions and group prices

available.

Visit www.mightyclaws.co.uk / or visit their Facebook page @mightyclawsuk for more information.

Livening Up Your Summer Holiday Picnics

Here we are with the end of the Summer Holidays in sight. I don't know about you but we've had countless picnics and I'm feeling a little bored of them. I've even taken to stopping off at the sandwich shop en route to our day out so I don't have to pack a picnic!

With that in mind, I've compiled a list of things that might perk up your picnic...

1. Newman's Own Salad Dressings - Sandwiches are probably the first choice on a family picnic but sometimes it's nice to pack a big salad - I personally love a chicken salad with boiled eggs! Newman's Own have a vast range of dressings and sauces to liven up your lunches and you'll be helping a great cause - 100% of the profits of Newman's Own are given to charity.
2. Nivea Sun Kids Caring Roll-On - this might not be your first choice of picnic items but is easily forgotten if you're busy keeping an eye on the kids/feeding everyone. I love this roll-on, it's so much easier doing faces and really handy for independent children who want to do it themselves!
3. Sparking Ice - Sparkling Ice is a flavoured sparkling water in 5 tasty flavours. A healthier alternative to fizzy drinks, the drinks have just 12 calories and are packed with vitamins. I can't wait to try the Black Raspberry flavour!
4. Brita Fill&Go Vital Bottle - This is the perfect bottle for picnics on the go. Available in 4 colours, the filter disk will reduce the levels of impurities and chlorine, leaving you with fresh tasting water. Refreshing!
5. Abakus Dried Jujube Fruit - The Jujube fruit is brand new to the UK market and would make a great addition to any picnic. Packed full of goodness, the Jujube fruit contain 20x times more vitamin C than citrus fruits!
6. Savoursmiths Luxury Crisps - What is a picnic without crisps?! Savoursmiths are something a little  different - featuring decadent flavours such as champagne, truffle and port and wagyu beef, these indulgent crisps are sure to inject a bit of life back in your picnic!
7. Leksands Swedish Crispbreads - If you're bored of soggy sandwiches, this might be the thing for you! Perfect topped with cheese or cured meats, these crispbreads serve up a tasty treat
8. Bibetta Large Picnic Blanket - These fab blanket is perfect for family picnics - made from thick neoprene, it is easy to clean and can be popped in the washing machine. It is thermally insulating to prevent cold and damp coming through from the ground and comes in a matching shoulder bag which is really handy for hanging on the buggy. Our Bibetta blanket has been everywhere with us these past 6 weeks!

Having fun at a Beer Festival on our Bibetta blanket!

9. Wilko Rainbow Storage Containers - These colourful stacking boxes are perfect for brightening up your picnic or storing your leftovers - 7 sizes available
10. Shloer Drinks - If you fancy something with a bit of fizz but it's too early for the prosecco, then why not pack a bottle of Shloer in your picnic. Featuring 11 flavours, including a brand new no added sugar recipe, Shloer will make your picnic a sparkling success!
11. Beau & Elliot Raindrops Cool Bag - A vital part of a picnic, I love having a large colourful cool bag to carry all our food and drink in. This lovely one has a 20 litre capacity and is definitely on my wishlist ;)
12. Crafted Fruit Juice Drinks - Crafted is a brand new juice drink featuring some delicious summery flavours including Pineapple, Coconut & Lime and Apple, Mint & Lime. With no added sugar or sweetners, each 200ml glass even counts as 1 of your 5 a day. My favourite is the Still Cloudy Lemonade - yum yum!
13. Marks & Spencers Melamine Dinner Plates - Bright and colourful, these melemine plates will stand out on your picnic and make everything better!

What are your picnic essentials? 

*Disclaimer - some of these items were provided to me for the purpose of this post

Looking back at Summer '16...

It doesn't seem 5 minutes since we were looking ahead at the Summer Holidays way back in July but here we are in September. I had two aims at the start of the 6 weeks - to have fun, and to try not to spend much money! I probably spent more than we should have but we certainly had lots of fun!

Here's some of my favourite memories from the last 6 weeks....

Beach Day

We are really lucky to live on the South Coast and we are spoilt for choice with beaches. Although saying this, we never go to the beach!! I'm not a fan of sand and the big beaches are always packed in the Summer but I made sure we had at least one beach day over the hols. We stayed local and went to a small beach that is nice and shallow for paddling. We met up with some friends and the kids had a great time! One thing though, why is it never possible to travel light to the beach?! I had picnic bag, picnic blanket, a camping chair, bucket and spade, child, beach stuff, various dinosaurs..!!

Kingston Lacy, Dorset

I've written about Kingston Lacy before on my blog but it is one of our favourite places to go in Dorset. It's a stunning stately home with beautiful grounds to explore and is owned by the National Trust. We are NT members so it's a great place to go for a cheap day out with the kids! 

We visited on a boiling hot day and we had a lovely picnic in the shade of the giant oak trees next to the house. We then wandered down through the estate to the Kitchen Gardens where you can find allotments, pigs and plenty of ride on tractors to entertain small ones! There's a little kiosk selling ice creams and drinks and these were certainly appreciated on such a hot day. 

Celebrity Stalking - A List Style!

I used to love a bit of celebrity stalking in my younger years....Boyzone, Jared Leto, Ant & Dec...um Peter Andre! Being a Mum it's usually limited to CBeebies presenters these days but over the Summer I found out that a new film was being shot in Swanage which is around half an hour from where I live. In that film were a couple of unknowns called Tom Hardy and Harry Styles, I doubt you've heard of them! ;) I'd been planning a day trip to Swanage so we thought we'd combine the two and see what we could spot. Not a lot happens in sleepy Swanage so it was a big deal! 

The majority of the filming was taking place at the railway station so we headed there and had a nosy around. The kids enjoyed looking at the trains while we tried hard to not make it look like we were on stalking mode!! We spotted some paparazzi so my friend managed to climb a wall (wearing a dress I might add!) and she did get a glimpse of Harry Styles! 

Apart from the wall climbing, I thought we were being quite discreet (not like some of the shouty 1D fans we saw!) but then I came home that evening to find we'd been filmed for the local evening news......cringe!!

http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/update/2016-07-25/crowds-as-town-transformed-into-hollywood-film-set/

Park Life

We have some really great parks near to where we live and we spent lots of time there over the Summer holidays. We have a brilliant country park just down the road which has lots of nature walks, things to climb on and in the Summer there are splash fountains which we have enjoyed lots over the Summer - good for cooling down on a hot day! We actually visited on a few rainy days too rather than being cooped up indoors. They also do amazing ice creams! 

Our other favourite park has a big paddling pool which Elliot loves and we've visited on numerous occasions over the last  few months - sometimes it's hard getting him out of the water though!! 

Days at Home

To keep costs down we've had lots of days at home and the paddling pool has certainly had a battering!! We moved house last year and our bungalow has a lovely little garden that catches the sun just right so it's perfect for playing in. The slide was a new addition and Elliot loves nothing more than hurtling down into the paddling pool! 

What did you get up to over the Summer Holidays?