Following the Sun

The forecast for today was not great, however, that is not unusual for a Bank Holiday Monday, but we are trying to make the most of every day before school starts next week, so decided to pack a picnic and to follow the sun via a trip to Ikea to check out beds for MiniMad!!!

So we looked and the bed we liked was out of stock - boohoo, but that means we can have a trip to Leeds on Wednesday to get it - yippee. The boys were very well behaved, but the promise of ice cream and play area might have had something to do with it (not that I am one to resort to bribes and emotional blackmail - oh no, not I)!!

We then decided to make the most of the warm weather and sun and go off to the coast and headed to Tynemouth for our picnic (yes we were at Ikea for opening) and spent the afternoon at Tynemouth Priory and Castle.

The boys loved running around the castle and really enjoyed the cannons and the gun battery. MadDad enjoyed telling them all about the reasons they were named (size of their ammo).

I just loved running free with the children and taking lots of pictures to remind me of a fab day. The beauty of English Heritage sites is the children can run and explore, climb on the ruins (within reason) and have a hands on experience of the wonder of history.

Best of all the day ended as it had started with ice cream and ice Lolly's, but unfortunately the rain caught up with us. By the time we got back to the car we were soaked though our rain coats and the boys traveled home in just T-shirts. But soon warmed up with a feast of crumpets and hot chocolate for supper.