Visiting Liverpool this spring #DinosaursUnleashed

It's nearly the school Easter holidays and I am thinking of places to take Little Bird to so he has a varied two weeks, one where he is occupied and has new and exiting experiences. A favourite city trip is top of the list and where better than the place I went to university.....Liverpool. 

Ever year we go to this fab city and find something to explore, we find Liverpool so vibrant and always offering new events so it's always interesting. This year, Liverpool ONE have a fantastic augmented reality event called Dinosaurs Unleashed which incorporates technology and dinosaurs for a super prehistoric adventure with the family. There is an app that you download and when you visit the shopping area Liverpool ONE there are dino activities for you to take part in - collecting points when you find giant dinosaur eggs to hatch, then go to feed them at 'Chavassic Park', then once fed they are ready for the Battle Arena. The event has been put together with National Museums Liverpool to provide an informative event that is fun whilst learning fascinating facts about dinosaurs. Little Bird would love this and the benefit is that I can do some shopping and we can go for a bite (!!) to eat too.  I think he will especially love petting the dinosaurs that we find and having pictures taken with them. Special park rangers will be on hand to assist with the app, offer dino facts and to help you have a great time. 

After this I think a trip to the World Museum would complement our shopping and dino experience. I used to help out at this museum when I was a student so this is a particular favourite place of mine and I love to take Little Bird there. The dinosaur gallery is excellent with life size casts of dino skeletons and footprints. The rest of the museum is equally brilliant, especially the bug house and the aquarium. My area was in the natural world galleries, helping with the bird specimens and learning museum curation techniques. There is so much to see here and I recommend combining the museum with some retail therapy so the dinosaur themed day will work very well for us and keep everyone happy. And if the weather is hopefully sunny like the lovely spell we have been having, then a skip through the Liverpool ONE fountains will be fun.

Every time we visit Liverpool we like to have a walk around Albert Docks with its maritime history and cultural feel. The duck boat always makes Little Bird laugh and it's pleasant to sit and both people and boat watch. If you're feeling arty then the Tate is a must and is free entry (as are most of Liverpool's galleries and museums). Over Easter there is a colourful bunny trail at the Docks, collect stickers for the trail booklet to keep your children entertained. Also there will be an Easter themed selfie station and crafting activities.

Liverpool always puts on such a good show and is a city to be relied upon for events on school holidays to entertain as a bonus to its attractions. We could spend a few days there so our one day will be absolutely jam packed full. Finally I will take us to the cathedral preferably when I know the bells will be ringing as I've been lucky enough to see them being rung up in the tower. Some time to gaze at the gothic architecture is always a favourite of mine and luckily Little Bird also likes to explore and do the mouse trail around the building. 

Have you visited Liverpool and what did you like to do? Have you any family recommendations?  We can't wait to see the dinosaurs and see if we can remember their names.

*Collaborative post

Autumn daytripping #TestYourTreads

My favourite season is a mere gust of wind and a conker fall around the corner, a time when the countryside is looking magnificent in its autumn finery and no better time for days out to enjoy nature's show. But before we leave, time for a few checks of the car to make sure we are safe on our travels, especially the tyres as with all the leaves on the road and damp days, plus the nights drawing in, the driving conditions will be a little trickier - no matter what you're driving.......even if it's the Zombie Response Team bus that I came across last autumn.....well it is the time of year for all things spooky 👻

So....what to check with your tyres. to make sure they are safe and legal...

• Check the tyre pressure, refer to the car manual to see what the pressure should be (sometimes also in the jamb of the driver's door this is shown) Also consider the load the car will be carrying. When we go on our autumn holiday the car will be full of cases and us plus the dogs so the tyres pressure will need to be increased. We have a portable tyre inflator that plugs into the lighter socket in the car, connect to the tyre valve and the digital display advises of the pressure. This is a usual weekend check before a day trip or any particularly long journeys when we check oil, water and engine fluid levels.

• Check the tyre treads which need to be a minimum of 1.6mm legally but really this depth does not ensure safety and replacements are advised to be at least 3mm. The deeper treads will grip better and have a better stopping distance, especially in wet weather. What you don't want to end up doing is aquaplaning so check these out by looking at the tread indicators on the tyres or there is a check you can do with a 20p as the border on it is 1.6mm, place into the tyre groove to see if yours are above this. 

• Bald tyres are illegal and carry a weighty fine plus could be very dangerous. Do get them checked out and replaced, tyreplus.co.uk have a wide range of tyres to ensure you have the right tyres for your car. Their network of over 700 fitting location and conveniently can replace them at your home or workplace.

• Check the outside of the tyre for any damage such as cuts.

• Check for uneven wear on the tyre treads (this could be on the inside or the outside) as this could suggest that the wheel alignment is not correct and requires a trip to a car garage to sort out for a minimal cost.

• Ensure your spare tyres (if you have them still - we don't as yet have the repair kits that many new cars now have) are also legal and of the right pressure. Make sure you have a car jack, relevant tool kit and the details of your rescue service.

Then we are ready for our autumn day trips to castles, churches, collecting conkers in woodlands and exploring the best of the mellow countryside. 

Remember to #TestYourTreads

*Collaborative post, words are my own.

Places I'd like to live

Every so often I feel like moving to a different area, I have a bad day and want to up sticks and go to another part of the country or even another country entirely. Some days it might be the city and on other days the coast. if I'm on days out I get seduced by new places and start imagining a life there and how things would be different. 

One place that always appeals is the wonderful city of Bristol and its association to me of nature and its culture. I first found myself there in my twenties as a student of ecology attending a Mammal Society conference and dreaming of working for the BBC Natural History Unit. As soon as I see the Clifton Suspension Bridge across the Avon Gorge I get a flurry of excitement. The arty culture in Bristol is vibrant from the street art of Stokes Croft to the annual balloon fiesta with over 150 colourful hot air balloons flying over the city.

Another place that appeals is Scandinavia. I'm a bit obsessed with the culture and the lifestyle of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. The wooden houses, the design, the snowy landscapes of winter and the greenery of summer. Folklore of trolls and brownies that you leave porridge out for, Norse gods and goddesses and the other worldliness. I am particularly in awe of the wooden stave churches. There is something about the Scandinavian life that exudes coolness and sophistication - their flair for home design is something the Brits love. Family life in Scandinavia seems pretty trendy too, think Ikea and how the family room is the heart of the home, open airy living that promotes communication and togetherness. I spent a little time in Norway some years ago and was incredibly impressed, making it one of my dream places to live.

Wooden stave church By Eduardo [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

France
Living in France would also be pretty amazing. I imagine myself in a French village, collecting my pain au chocolat and croissants from the boulangerie, walking past vintage Citroen cars and past beautiful gîtes with shutters and pink roses scrambling whilst beans grow up canes. There are so many regions that I would choose, perhaps Brittany and all its coastal castles. A tumbledown cottage would suit, in a French medieval town, windy streets and steps past bars and small shops, sparrows chattering away and the late afternoon sun dipping behind the church tower.

Cornwall
Quaint seaside towns and harbours with colourful boats and cottages along lanes with flower and crab pots by front doors. Cornwall is a county that I adore for its pace of life and wonderful beaches to walk along and watch the surfers. Cream teas, Cornish pasties as you go, dog walks, clear water and a sense of freedom. The community feeling of local festivals, markets and buying local produce. I long to go back and explore some more and will have to be satisfied with staying in holiday cottages but pretending that I live there for a week is pretty exciting. 

Places I would like to visit

Over the years, before my son arrived, I did my fair share of exploring the world – Australia, New Zealand, weekend break to New York, Barcelona, Paris… These days we stay in the UK and I have had a wonderful time, there is so much here that I am excited for each year’s holidays.

I feel like I am pretty knowledgeable about different countries but to test myself I tried the Karcher monuments of the world quiz and didn’t do too bad. Have a go and see how you fare. Did you know that Karcher have been involved in helping the preservation of famous buildings and monuments? I didn’t, and from a wannabe historian that is really interesting to me.

For when I do renew my passport and venture out of the UK, here are the places that I would love to go:

Norway


Vigeland Park Museum Shutterstock

I went on my own years ago and serendipitously saw my best friend from primary school at the luggage carousel – she was also on her own but meeting some friends in Oslo. I had an amazing Easter weekend exploring the city, eating wonderful confectionery and visiting the Thor Heyerdahl Kon-Tiki Museum, admiring Easter trees in the windows of Norwegian houses and walking around the Vigeland Sculpture Park which was only amazing. The only problem – I lost my photographs and must return to do it all over again and show my son the city.

Austria
I love the idea of Austria, sweets and cakes in beautiful café windows, heading off to the opera and after being inspired by William Cavendish at Bolsover Castle, some amazing horsemanship at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. A cultural spectacle of music, museums, parks and food.
Johann Strauss Statue, Vienna Stadtpark Shutterstock


Malta
Another place I want to return to and explore its medieval streets. Even though the famous yellow buses have now gone there is plenty of quirky character on this small island full of culture. The harbour at Valletta is a romantic feast for the eyes by evening with all the lights twinkling, and around Easter time there are some wonderful customs to see, from parades in the streets to small magical doorways that open to show a scene of the Last Supper.

Bavaria
I’m a fairy tale lover so seeing the magical Neuschwanstein Castle is a dream of mine. Picture perfect alpine villages, more Medieval history to learn about and lots of beer. The Danube River Valley looks spectacular and the city of Regensburg has twenty museums to look around.

Neuschwanstein Castle Shutterstock

Denmark
Finally Denmark, another fairy tale destination to see The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen. Of course Hans Christian Andersen was Danish and I’d love to go and visit places associated with him as I have been recently studying his fairy tales. I’d take my son to Legoland to see the fabulous structures and have some fun. Finally a canal boat trip to admire the architecture at a leisurely pace would be just my thing.

*Collaborative post*

Top 5 European Spa Retreats

Now we’re into autumn and your summer holiday seems like a lifetime ago, it’s important to look after yourself, factoring in some time for a little TLC. Although an 8+ hour working day may not leave ample room for putting your feet up, a spa stay can push aside everyday distractions and offer much needed respite. What’s more, planning a break, whether it be a day in Hampshire or a week in Corsica, lifts your spirits for far longer than the actual pampering lasts. Indeed, you could fritter away hours drooling over these top 5 European spa retreats - take that as a warning.

Cornwall travels

 Just back from an adventure around Cornwall and have so many places and photos to write about and share. Our base was at Perranporth but we literally travelled out to different places both around the coast and inland every day. Possibly need a good rest after it all now. Plenty of pretty harbours brimming with colourful boats, collecting shells and eating huge pasties whilst for the most part of the week the sun shone. A couple of rainy days had us in wellies still exploring castles and churches, driving from place to place and stopping at anything interesting looking.  No end of souvenir shopping and a haul of nautical items for the house and garden, a good dose of Medieval castle love and a new heap of books to read.  Smuggler's coves fired our imaginations as did climbing coastal paths and exploring garden with waterfalls and hidden beaches. Whilst I read The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, I also found myself drifting around churchyards reading inscriptions of lives lost in tragic sea wrecks and talking to friendly church goers who enjoyed in sharing their wonderful houses of worship with me.  The cottages and gardens were also a highlight, especially in Port Isaac. Narrow cobbled streets lined with pretty buildings with cheery front doors and flowers in pots lined up and the sound of the sea gulls crying above. It was all so wonderful, now to go through the hundreds of photos.....!

Beaches of Ceredigion

I wanted to write a little guide to some of the beaches we had visited on our recent trip to the Ceredigion area of Wales. We went with our son and two dogs, so beforehand we had tried to do a little research on which beaches would be best suited for us. Of course not all let the dogs on, which is fine but it was actually better than what we had anticipated and all but a couple had an area where the dogs could enjoy too. We did drive to all the beaches and at least take a look or perhaps to find an area nearby to walk instead like we did at Mwnt. Here is my little Beach Guide to Ceredigion. I hope it helps anybody planning on visiting or perhaps introduces you to the area and inspires you to visit this area of astounding beauty. I'll eventually be writing about most of the areas individually as I took so many photos that I'd like to share with you and there are many more tales to tell. I love Ceredigion so much!

A few miles away from Cardigan down narrow foxglove lined lanes you will find a spectacular beach at Mwnt. Park on the hillside - National Trust so there is a pay and display and then wander down to the secluded beach. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on this beach from May to September but there are some great coastal walks from the car park where they are very welcome on leads. By the car park there is a little white chapel that is a 14th Century sailors' chapel of ease and I'll be writing about this on a future post and about the walk we took the dogs on. So even though we didn't get to go on the beach, we had some unforgettable views of the bay and I will return here one day. There is a small shop and toilets so good to stop off for a refreshment break. I saw plenty of people taking cute picnic baskets down to the beach or stopping on the grassy hills for a bite to eat. Super gem of a place and spotless aside from the sheep poo but I don't mind that at all. 
 Aberporth is a wide sandy beach accessed down a reasonably steep ramp from the car park at the top. The car park has great views across the bay and it's a £3 to park  which you pop into the honesty box. There's an outside shower to clean yourself of sand and a small cafe where you can get an cup of coffee and ice cream.
The people were very friendly and a man who was using some sort of water sports club house was leaving out water for any dogs to have a drink.

It was a very family orientated beach with many doing water sports such as canoeing and paddle surfing. 
Parts of the beach have rock pools to explore at low tide; the water is amazingly clear. There is a stream (Nant Howni) that trickles all the way down the wide beach which was a lot of fun to walk up and splash in. 

Dogs are allowed on one part of the beach so big thumbs up for us. 

(rockpools)

(Nant Howni trickling across the sandy beach at Aberporth)

We found the secluded coastal village of LLangrannog one evening after exploring narrow twilight country lanes with bats flying overhead. Sadly we didn't go back in the daytime, despite it being so mesmerizing beautiful and quaint, dogs are not allowed on any part of the beach during the summer season so we picked other places to go to.
I am sort of pleased we didn't go back. This visit as the sun was setting has stayed in my mind as a magical place and I look back on our fleeting visit with an air of mystery to come. I will return, I will eat in the restaurant here and I will sip a drink at dusk on a little chair outside the pub. 
The rock formation 'Carreg Bica', is a giant's tooth as legend tells. You could well believe that here. Magic is around, I tell you. You will feel it.
The village apparently has a waterfall in the middle of it - wish I'd have seen it and the beach looked popular with surfers who were walking back across the sands as night started to fall. You could fall in love here. 

Carreg Bica - the giant's tooth. Spat out in a toothachey rage

We stayed in the New Quay Bay area at a caravan site that had access onto Traeth Gwyn. This beach leads into New Quay - you can walk along the beach at low tide or there is a coastal path with fabulous views of the whole bay. In New Quay itself, dogs are allowed on some parts of the beach - plenty of space for them to run around and for the parts they aren't allowed, there is a walk on the harbour instead or along the sea front. Bustling with fishing boats and wildlife tours - keep your eyes peeled for dolphins. The scenery is perfect with pretty pastel houses and to me it was the perfect resort. Not gaudy, just perfect. Some pleasant eateries and a few souvenir shops for the obligatory fridge magnet purchase. Parking can be a bit tricky - there's a pay & display near the beach that gets quite busy or you can park at the top of the village and walk down the hill (it's a bit steep!). 
Loved the flat sands of Traeth Gwyn in particular and the streams that ran across the beach. A very interesting area to explore and appreciate the natural and geographical significance. The Haven site, Quay West leads onto this beach with its many nature walks and cascading waterfalls of the Afon Halen. 

You can walk into New Quay harbour along this beach

Further up the west coast from New Quay is a foodie heaven, Aberaeron. Pretty pastel Georgian style houses, streets filled with bunting, a local honey connection (have the honey ice cream) and many restaurants. This harbour town with its pleasant seaside food made me want to eat fish and I've been a vegetarian since I was at primary school. I resisted. The beaches are pebbly and in fact we didn't go on it and chose to walk around the harbour instead looking at the boats. The dogs enjoyed that, sniffing around and I think the pebbles on the beach would have been hard for my older dog Tara to walk across. There's a lot of car parking (mostly pay and display) and then a promenade to walk along that leads to the harbour. It's worth mentioning that the annual Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival is held in July every year. 

A little bit in a state of rebuild after taking a battering during the winter storms, Aberystwyth is the quintessential seaside resort with a pier, arcades, donkey rideas, slightly shabby Victorian façades and a whole host of things to see and do in the summer.
Plenty of parking on the sea front and a lovely mile long walk from one end to the other, from Constitution Hill and its cliff railway and then at the other end of the prom is Aberystwyth Castle. 

There was a lot of building work going on so some attractions which were crumbled by the mighty waves, like the open air pool, will hopefully be back up and running for the approaching summer season. 
Finally Borth, right at the top of the Ceredigion coast line. We stopped here for a quick look on our journey home and the tide was still in so there was just a narrow strip of pebbles. At low tide an ancient sunken forest is revealed on the north beach. I had seen this on an episode of Coast and it was fascinating but not as fascinating as Neil Oliver's hair.

A very long stretch of beach and the village road running parallel has some shops and cafes which to me had an arty air about them. Unfortunately most did not seem to be open on the cloudy Monday morning we were passing through. Very quiet but would love to explore this area more, especially to see the ancient forest so if you love your geography, this is an area for you.

Apparently Morrissey wrote "Everyday Is Like Sunday" inspired by Borth! So that's my Manchester connection then.

Thank you for reading my little review of the beaches we visited in Ceredigion. Originally I had included a wonderful sand dune and beach area called Poppit Sands but I then learnt it was classed as Pembrokeshire so will write about this separately.

Would love to hear of any recommendations for this area- beaches, restaurants or shops, places of geographical interest. 

You're my rock of Gibraltar

When I saw a Pinterest competition hosted by Love Chic Living to put together a board based on one of Cunard's Mediterranean destinations. There are some amazing places from Italy to Portugal but I instantly chose Gibraltar.

Standing at the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea is Gibraltar. A curious place at the southern end of Spain and just across the short crossing to Morocco, a little British enclave that I visited some years ago.

It is an intriguing place, a melting pot of cultures and influences. It is so strange to be in Spain and then pass through passport control and be in surroundings that feels so English with red phone boxes, an M&S store, fish and chip shops and British police - all in a beautiful Mediterranean setting. I was taken with Gibraltar and all its quirkiness - the rock from which views are spectacular, the cheeky Barbary monkeys that will jump on your shoulders, the cable cars and the busy Straits of Gibraltar full of all sorts of seafaring vessels. 

My board reflects the mixture of influences to the area - lots of Mediterranean, a bit of bohemian kasbah thrown in nodding to Morocco and of course Rule Britannia. An eclectic mix, which is what I like in my home. 


Follow Happy Homebird's board Gibraltar on Pinterest.

I like bright and happy colours so many of the Mediterranean colours are perfect. Warm pinks and different hues of yellow. Contrasted with blues that reflect the shades of the beautiful warm Mediterranean Sea. Pink printed fabrics, yellow cushions and accessories such as seashell and lanterns that remind me of a bustling medina quarter, flickering from with a secret doorway. 

Clashing colours is the go, items of furniture painted in a mixture of colours and rugs with colourful patterns. The more colours the better and light voiles fluttering in a gentle breeze across the window. A place to relax and unwind.

A few items to remind of Great Britain, perhaps some framed Union Jack postcards or some bunting. 

Fretwork and lace, patterned layers adding texture and depth to a room.

Geometric patterns and diverse items. Old meets new.

Glassware, a sea green lamp made from glass made on Gibraltar. Items collected at the local market. 

Of course being by the sea and with the Strait of Gibraltar being such an important body of water - it connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean, there is a hint of nautical in here too. Europe and Africa are under 8 miles apart at the narrowest point so you can see why there is a mixture of the cultures. 

Flora and fauna inspired items feature in my collection. Flower and fruit patterns and succulents in terracotta pots in the window. Vintage botanical pictures to brighten an entrance. 

Kitchen wares with fish on make me feel like rustling up a healthy lunch and then sprinkling herbs on which have been grown in the terraced area. Heady scents fill the air and are carried to my bedroom where the floral patterns make me think of bougainvillea. The Mediterranean to me is health and vitality, relax, move slower and appreciate everything around you. My items on the board make me feel chilled out, anything goes. 

Now, there's a knock on my beautiful green door. Do come in for a glass of wine....

In fair Verona

I dream of going to Verona one day. To walk along humid summer streets past buildings made of warm stone whilst dreaming of Shakespeare's plays that were set here - Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew and The Two Gentleman of Verona. 

A place to admire gothic architecture and drink a little red wine of an evening in a pretty scented courtyard whilst the sounds from the open-air opera drift across the romance filled streets. What a city of culture and to visit during opera season would be a perfect tonic for renewing my heart's beat. Alas, no travel to Italy is on the cards for us this year.

For now the next best thing would be to see a performance with the English National Opera. An evening immersed in the Cosi fan Tutte ENO production would create that feeling of escape and enchantment. A Mozart comedy but with a twist, set in the 1950's at the Coney Island sideshow. Expect to see sword swallowers and acrobats performing whilst the story of the two sisters tricked into testing the limits of true love by their fiancées pretending to be other men. 

I took OH to the ballet one evening and he survived so I wonder if he would object to the opera. It certainly sounds like a feast for the eyes with its fairground setting,  I think he could be persuaded. Have you ever been to the opera? Does the sound of opera make you feel warm and fuzzy like it does me?

*Sponsored post

Gardens on my travels - New Zealand

 A good number of  years ago I was fortunate to be able to have a little tour of the North Island of New Zealand. At this time I was studying horticulture and garden design so whilst I was there I visited a fair few gardens out of interest. I've lost a lot of the photos and I wasn't much into photography in the way I am now so many of the pics are very touristy and have me in them ruining the picture :) These are ones that pass...

I noticed that mosaic work seemed very popular and bright colours especially in NZ. This was at a cute little cafe in Taupo, L'arte Mosaic Cafe and Sculpture Garden. I love the mosaic rocks especially with the pukeko, which is the blue bird related to the moorhen - you see them all over NZ, quite the little characters. I do love the little cats set into the pathway, aren't they cute! Fabulous lush vegetation everywhere and some familiar herbaceous borders but much more green looking and when the backdrop has semi tropical trees it really makes for a different garden. I remember taking a look at my travelling companion's (who was New Zealander) friend's garden and it was lots of rockery displays and much spikier looking vegetation planted. Some of the gardens were spectacular. Pretty houses too with a lot of care taken in the planting around gates and front doors. The house below is pretty dreamy isn't it?! Now I am not sure where this picture is from and I kind of hope it isn't one from Melbourne that has snuck its way in. If anybody recognises this imposing building do let me know? Terrible really that I can't remember but I was younger than and I'm more into taking note of places now. I'm pretty sure this one actually was Melbourne and I remember it being a huge street display of sunflowers. I guess perhaps the weather helps but it would lovely to see more displays like this here in the UK. I'm afraid that I do not really like typical council bedding displays. Sorry little marigolds and begonias.........
It was February when I went to New Zealand with a brief stop over in Melbourne and Sydney, so of course it was summer and glorious is was too. Some more sculptures that I came across, sheep of course. They are really into artwork over here - would love one of these in my garden. I bet Little Bird would too, it would be a nice little sheep to perch on and climb over. A farm we visited, no longer running as a farm as it belonged to my companion's nana who was in her retirement years. Lots of pukekos roamed around and at night there were glowing eyes up in the trees from possums. It was a truly wonderful experience of walking through streams and through fields of flowers that reminded me of daffodils. I'd love to return one day and take pictures of everything in better detail! I've got some more pictures to show you and I'll save them for next week's How Does Your Garden Grow? with Mammasaurus.