Wednesday, 28 July 2021

Days out in Kent // Bedgebury Pinetum

 For the second year running, I have taken the big two on a long weekend camping with a group of friends at Bedgebury Campsite.  It is a highlight of our year and after lockdowns and restrictions, it feels wonderful to set them loose in the woodlands and get so much fresh air.  We stayed an extra day this year which meant we went exploring at Bedgebury Pinetum, a forest we had all heard of as it is famous for it's Christmas lights.

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

It was a five minute drive from the campsite along one country road and parking was £14 per car, with no additional entrance fees (slightly cheaper on a weekday).  The adults wanted to go for beautiful country walks and the children were keen to find the play areas but we managed to fit in both.

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

The forest has set running trails, cycle trails and walking routes so there is something for everyone.  The running routes are set out with distances and there was on site cycle hire facilities as well as the option to bring your own.  We went for a beautiful walk which took us deeper into the forest which was well maintained.  We found a mini fern garden where we could explore miniature versions of the varieties of the trees and the Gruffalo trail where you can spot your favourite creatures including a huge Gruffalo (probably more of a highlight for me than the children now they are 8 and 9, I still know the book off by heart!).

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

After we had had fun exploring the walking trails, we went to find the playground.  The main playground is set with a wooden ship as well as other equipment and a table tennis area too.  There is a Go Ape next door which sadly we didn't get to experience but it looked great fun.  Leading off from the playground was an adventure playground trail which combines a forest walk with several different playgrounds, all designed differently.  Around the forest there were dens and other interesting creations for the children and mine could have spent most of the day exploring them all.  The giant log swing was a big favourite and sadly the huge spiders web climbing area wasn't something we managed to play on (the rain beat us by that point.

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

There is a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating which sits next to a lovely lake with ducks.  They did a variety of hot and cold food including vegan and vegetarian meals and we loved trying out the cakes too.  If you didn't want to buy food then you could of course being a picnic.

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

We loved our visit to Bedgebury Pinetum and would recommend it for families of all types.  My children are not confident with dogs and we loved how the place was designed with children in mind as well as dogs.  Dogs have to be kept on a lead and there are dog parking stations by many tables and benches.  The toilets all had smaller children seats and lower sinks and my nervous of dog children felt very comfortable there.  


Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

Bedgebury pinetum, Bedgebury with kids, family days out in Kent

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Wednesday, 7 July 2021

Time with Just One

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I feel like she missed out on the final months of having me to herself.  She had waited three and a half years for it, always with brothers around and then that final stretch before school when it should have been just her and I was taken over by home-schooling and living through a pandemic and she probably got the least attention as I tried to balance the educational needs of her three big brothers.

She won't be the baby of the family forever, so getting out with her now, just for little walks is important. She is absolutely dog obsessed (which can get interesting when we are out as the big two are completely petrified) and our local park has a little nature area with some dog statues that she loves visiting and petting. She managed to find some friendly real dogs to throw balls for and play with too.  

Molo dress, dog loving girl, Childrensalon

Molo dress, dog loving girl, Childrensalon

Our walks usually involve her picking up any stray snails that may have wandered onto a path too so she can move them to safety and stop them getting crushed and I always have to check her pockets as she likes the idea of choosing herself a pet.  She also likes directing the photos she wants me to take of her, demanding extras if she doesn't like my first efforts!

I couldn't resist this Molo dog dress for her and I think it is going to be a real favourite.  Childrensalon have a brilliant selection of girls dresses from lots of our favourite brands and she has had a bit of a growth spurt recently (I think she is still the shortest in her class though) so there is an excuse for shopping!

Molo dress, dog loving girl, Childrensalon

Molo dress, dog loving girl, Childrensalon


My plan over the next few months is to carve out as much one on one time as I can with these four little individuals because I know how consuming having a new baby is, and that it will be a while before I can take them out alone again.  I want to let them know that they are loved and special and unique.  I have something booked for Dylan and I, but I am still thinking of ideas for the other three.  Hopefully the summer holidays will provide us with plenty of time!

Molo dress, dog loving girl, Childrensalon

Molo dress, dog loving girl, Childrensalon







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Thursday, 1 July 2021

Pregnancy at 23 vs 33

I don't think I had realised how much harder pregnancy would be at 33.  I am not considered an older mother yet, but compared to the 23 year old me who breezed through pregnancy, I feel like one.  My body took it in its stride back then, with mild tiredness in the first 12 weeks but a mostly easy ride but at 33 I found the first 13 weeks were so incredibly tough.  The nausea kicked in around dinner time and would sometimes wake me up in the night.  The tiredness was all consuming and some days I barely got out of bed.  There were aches and pains that I don't remember before and an overall feeling of weakness that I wasn't used to.

pregnancy anouncement, pregnancy at 33, fifth baby

Of course looking back at 10 years ago, before I started blogging, before I recorded these things, I could be looking back with rose tinted glasses, but I know that it was never this tough.  The fact is my body is older, scarred, tired.  I have four children to balance, I have stomach muscles that remember how to fall apart at the first sight of those two blue lines, I have a job that allows me to work at home rather than forcing me to run around a restaurant  for 12 hour shifts and I just don't have the same energy and enthusiasm as first time Mum me.

I am in my second trimester now and things have eased, I have my energy back and the nausea has gone, but I still find myself aching after a busy day, holding my back in a way I didn't before and even though I still love this middle part of pregnancy, it feels very different from my first.

In other ways, being older and more experienced is wonderful.  I feel much more able to advocate for myself in the medical settings, I am not afraid to ask for more information or to speak to someone else if I feel it is the best thing for my baby and I.  I wish I had the same confidence at 23 as when I look back at my pregnancy care, I see the gaps where things could have and should have been better.  I feel more comfortable making decisions now, more able to say no to things and to put myself first and more secure.

pregnancy anouncement, pregnancy at 33, fifth baby


I definitely feel older this time around and I will be 34 before I deliver this baby but I am hoping being older and more experienced will mean I don't take any of it for granted.  At the moment I am in that wonderful middle trimester where I am growing but not too uncomfortable but I am already concerned that the last trimester might be a bit of shock to my body too if the first was!

If you have had pregnancies with a big age gap did you notice a difference?
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