School field trip to Moor Farm

Photo: geograph

Last week, I joined my younger son's class on a school field trip to Moor Farm, located 7 miles northeast of Peterborough. This was the second time I joined my son in a school field trip as a parent helper. Because of his multiple allergy, either my wife or I will accompany our son during a field trip as requested by his schoolteachers.

Moor Farm is a medium-seized mixed arable farm (200 ha in size) with cattle and sheep and run by a husband and wife team. The farm offers free educational visits to primary schools. When we arrived at the farm, owner Judith gave a brief welcome orientation to the children before going out on a short educational tour around the farm.

Springfields Spalding: Close encounters at the Alien Garden

Last month, the whole family went on a day-out in Springfields Spalding, an outlet shopping and garden centre, a half hour's drive north of Peterborough. It was a day of shopping (mostly the window variety) and close encounter with 'aliens' sprouting in the garden centre.

The aliens I am referring to were the 35 stunning and brightly coloured air sculptures. The Alien Garden resembled plants and flowers, not quite what we've seen before! They range in size and height, up to 30 feet high.

While admiring the Alien Garden we managed to watch the dazzling water fountain display. Afterwards, we finished the day with the now customary game of mini-golf, our sons' favourite part everytime we go to Springfields Spalding.

Further information on Springfields Spalding:

Springfields Outlet Shopping & Festival Gardens
Camelgate
Spalding
Lincolnshire
PE12 6EU
tel: 01775 760909
email: enquiries@springfieldsshopping.com

Source: Springfields Spalding

Skegness: Famous landmarks

Day-out | Donkey ride | Landmarks

Last month, we joined some friends in going to the seaside resort town of Skegness. We stayed in the town centre where we saw a couple of its famous landmarks.

Skegness: Donkey ride at the beach

Day-out | Donkey ride | Landmarks

Last month, we went back again to Skegness but this time we tried the attractions at the town centre together with friends.

Skegness has a long and wide sandy beach. There are herds of donkeys available for riding by children. Our boys experienced their first ever donkey ride (above photo). It was a scary start for them but in the end they enjoyed the short ride immensely!

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has a station in the beach. It is manned by a volunteer crew except for the coxswain, and equipped with two lifeboats. During our visit last month we saw one of the lifeboats, the all weather Lincolnshire Poacher, being washed by the crew.

(Info source: Wikipedia)

Skegness: Day out with family and friends

Day-out | Donkey ride | Landmarks

Last August, our family joined some friends in a three-car convoy to the famous seaside resort town of Skegness, Lincolnshire. The car journey from Peterborough took one and a half hours.

We've been going to Skegness three years in a row now. The last two years were spent only in Butlins holiday resort in Ingoldmells, which is to the north of Skegness.

This year, however, we spent the day in the town centre. We parked at the Festival Tower Esplanade. From the car park, it was a short walk to the beach, fairground rides, mini-golf, arcade & slot machines, and the chippy shops.

Nearby, you can see two of the town's famous landmarks: the Clock Tower and the Jolly Fisherman's statue in the Compass Gardens.

Before leaving home, we tried the fish and chips in Skegness, which our friend told us is quite well known. He led us to the best among them in town. I was not let down.

We've always enjoyed our visit to Skegness. Moreso this year, as we tried the town centre's many attractions in the great company of friends.

(Info source: Wikipedia)

London: O2 Arena

Our short tour in London was capped with a dinner at O2 Arena courtesy of Clark, who celebrated his birthday the week before our visit. Tired from the tour I didn't manage to have pictures taken with the arena as background. We went straight inside to have a look around.

Clark treated us at Nando's, a Portuguese restaurant specialising in chicken (reminds me of Max's in the Philippines). It was obviously a favourite among diners as there was a long queue when we get there. Clark told us to have a look around the arena while he queued.

We walked around until we saw a dome with the sign "O2 fanspace" and went inside. It is supposed to be a place to chill out which I welcome very much. The kids does not understand the word chill out obviously, as they treated the place as playground.

London: City Hall

After our sightseeing of Buckingham Palace, we went to London City Hall. Not only is the city hall a great space to enjoy it is also close to two famous London tourist attractions. Opposite it is the Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Near it is the Tower Bridge.

Here are some pictures taken in the city hall. The kids had a great time frolicking around in the grounds outside the city hall.

London: Buckingham Palace

A week ago, we went on a tour of London together with Clark, who is Daisy's cousin, and his family. Since it was a short tour, we only went to see Buckingham Palace, London City Hall and ending with dinner at the O2 Arena.

Here are some pictures taken from Buckingham Palace. Pictures from London City Hall and O2 Arena will follow in the next posts.



My family with Clark and his boys.



Cean in front of the magnificent palace gates.




Cean in front of the Victoria Memorial.

 

Military guards in red uniform marching in unison.

 

Horse-riding military guards on parade.
 

Holiday Souvenirs

London, UK: Model of Tower Bridge over the river Thames

My brother Jay and Mel, his wife, visited us last May for a week before going home to the Philippines for their scheduled holiday this year. I toured them in some of London's famous landmarks like Big Ben, House of Parliament, Tower of London and many others. As remembrance of their visit to these London landmarks they bought souvenirs such as fridge magnets. Aside from taking photographs, buying souvenirs from our holiday destinations is usually the next in our to-do list, is it not?

But buying holiday souvenirs is not enough for photographer Michael Hughes. He likes to photograph them in front of the real tourist hotspots. In fact, he has travelled the world doing just that. Now, that is cool, don't you think? I would like to do that in our future holidays. Actually, I don't have to wait for our next holiday. I will buy a souvenir of Peterborough's famous landmark, Peterborough Cathedral. Once I get a photograph I will publish it in this blog. Watch this space!

Maybe you would like to do it, too? When you have published it in your blog please let me know and I will have a look. If you don't have a blog but you want the world to know I can publish it in this blog if you like.

Picture credits - www.guardian.co.uk

Mel and Jay UK Tour

A fortnight ago, unknown to many people except for the closest of kith and kin, Mel and Jay flew into town for a one-week holiday. It has been awhile since we've seen Jay; at the same time, quite thrilled to finally meet Mel.

They arrived one gloomy and wet Thursday afternoon (15th May) in an Emirates plane from their base in Kuwait via Dubai. Although they had a few hours stopover in Dubai, Jay was not able to have a quick reunion with his brother Jul since the latter was already at work and could not make it to the airport on time.

After two delays I finally met the pair at the arrival area of London Heathrow Airport's Terminal 3 and it was nearly 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Quick hellos and how are yous were exchanged before we proceeded to London Underground to catch a tube train to King's Cross, wherein we caught another train to Peterborough. It was about half past nine in the evening when we reached my home. The kids were already asleep but Aai was still awake. Late hot supper was served.

I toured Jay and Mel in London the following day. Before that, they accompanied me and Cean (eldest son) to school and then we took a late morning train to London. Our main itinerary for the day was the Tower of London, a World Heritage Site and very popular to tourists. We then proceeded to see Tower Bridge exhibition and London City Hall. I then brought them to Westminster area for a quick look at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and London Eye.

Now that they know their way around London they went back there again on Saturday. Their itinerary was Buckingham Palace to watch the 'changing of guards' ceremony. After taking lunch in St James Park they went back to Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and London Eye. Alas, it was another wet day so they weren't able to get a great view of London from the Eye.

And on the Sabbath they rested. We treated them to lunch after attending Mass in a church near the city centre. As visitors to Peterborough, it is customary for Jay and Mel to visit Peterborough Cathedral. We ended up the day window shopping at the city's shopping centre, Queensgate.

On Monday, we took them to Burghley House, the largest and grandest house of the first Elizabethan age, which is located in nearby Stamford, itself a famous old market town. Before we went inside the house for a guided tour we visited the new attraction, Garden of Surprises. The boys really had a wonderful time. Inside the house was a different matter. You are immediately transported to olden times, seeing all those kitchen utensils and stoves, hundred of paintings, royal beds, antique furnitures and more. You have to be in the house in order to appreciate it.

The next day, they are back in London and this time they went to Kew Gardens, St Paul's Cathedral and the National Gallery. On Wednesday, on their last tour in the famed city, they went to Madam Tussauds, the famous wax museum, where they rubbed elbows with world famous celebrities in all their waxed glory.

On Thursday, they decided to rest and started packing their things for a trip back home to the Philippines. The kids bonded with their uncle Jay and auntie Mel. When we told Cean that they were leaving the following early morning, he started crying and kept on telling his Mum to stop them from leaving. He was upset. And John Paul? Not bothered at all.

They left for London Heathrow in the early hours of Friday morning. They were obviously very happy during their one week stay with us and even talked about coming back. We told them they can come anytime. And here's an interesting fact, Jay and Mel have been to more London tourist attractions that I have been to and I have been living in this country for six years.

Today is the 3nth birthday of Jay and his twin brother JT Alan. I wish them a healthy and prosperous life ahead of them! You did not think that our recent visitors were Mel Tiangco and Jay Sonza, the famous hosts of the now defunct talk show, Mel and Jay (later Partners with Mel and Jay), did you? No, they were my younger brother Jay and his wife Mel(rose), modern day Filipino heroes (OFWs) based in Kuwait.