Monster Jam® are roaring their way to the UK!

Get into gear! 

Rev your engines! 

Buckle up tight for the ride of your life!

Monster Jam® are taking over Principality Stadium in Cardiff on the 19^th May 2018.

Families of the UK prepare for a full throttle, monstertastic sport that will entertain, thrill and leave you on the edge of your seat - Monster Jam®

Returning to Cardiff's Principality Stadium next year on the 19^th May Monster Jam® is set to deliver unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable entertainment for the whole family.

Childhood memories – a beloved auntie, beach fun, summer log cabin houses and caravanning.

With Bug’s 5th birthday looming on the horizon and Jelly Bean reaching that half year mark, now a busy beautiful 6 month old baby boy, I often find myself thinking where has the time gone and how quickly my babies are growing up. Looking at my children growing up so quickly and making memories with them that I will cherish forever, memories I hope they will look back on fondly when they are grown, I often reminisce about my childhood memories.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are from holidays to Hereford and surrounding areas to visit my beloved great-great-great auntie Nansi (sadly now late great-great-great auntie).

During school holidays, the summer holidays in particular, my mum would pack up the car and take my sister and I on road trips to Hereford where we would pitch up at my auntie Nansi’s where we always had a fabulous time and lots of fun and adventures.

2016 UK Travel Bucket List.

During my childhood I was very fortunate to have travelled to a number of places across the UK. My mum loved taking us on adventures and mini trips all across the UK. As well as taking us on day trips to a number of places, thinking nothing of going miles away for a fun adventure or a shopping trip, we also used to take our little old caravan on holidays. My mum would hook up the caravan to the car and off we would go for a fun adventure where we would set up camp in a new place before exploring our new surroundings and what the area had to offer.

In the last years I am sad to say that travelling across the UK has dwindled. As I miss travelling to explore new places in the UK and also want to impart to my children a love of travel and show them the country we live in, I have decided that 2016 will be the beginning of exploring the UK with my family.

As I hope to travel the UK this upcoming year I have decided to compile a UK Travel Bucket List for 2016. Here is where I would love to visit –

Blackpool

Even though I have been to Blackpool before I want to go again. My desire to visit Blackpool again is partly due to the fact that it is where Lee and I had our first holiday together not long after we became a couple and it would be lovely to relive memories of our time there together. As we are now a family it would be great to visit the place where we enjoyed our first holiday together as a couple now as a family.

How to register with the NHS – plus a thank you to the NHS

Being currently pregnant with our second child and once again having numerous hospital appointments for growth scans, tests, and consultant check-ups as well as midwife appointments, I am once again reminded of that the fact that I am fortunate to be living in the UK where I have access to a great healthcare system – the NHS.

It is thanks to the NHS that I, like other UK residents, have access to medical care regardless of how much or how little money we have.

I can’t imagine how difficult and worrisome it must be to be pregnant without access to free or affordable healthcare, let alone deal with an injury, illness, medical emergency or long-term health problem.

Edinburgh with the Family: What’s in Store.

The Scottish capital isn’t all about whisky, shopping and festivals, you know. Far from it, actually. Edinburgh is full of interesting attractions and sights that aren’t just suitable for adults, but for children, too, making it an excellent spot for a family mini-break this summer. 

Take a look at the family rooms available in the local Edinburgh Travelodge hotel and book yourself and the kids a well-deserved treat. There’s plenty to explore and discover that will keep you entertained for hours!

From museums and historic sites to weird and wonderful attractions, Edinburgh and the surrounding Lothians have something for everyone. Here are a few of the standout attractions that would look perfect at the top of your family’s to-do list.

National Museum of Scotland

This one is well worth a gander if you have an interest in local history. The exhibits on display delve into the history of Scotland, while also showcasing artefacts from around the world.

Edinburgh Castle

If there’s one sight you need to see as part of a trip to the city, it’s the iconic castle that looms, majestically, over the city from atop its own tor. Not only does it provide sensational views of the Edinburgh skyline, but you and the kids will also be able to explore within the castle walls, catch a glance of the Scottish crown jewels and also listen out for the eardrum-shattering one o’clock gun.

Real Mary King’s Close

Head to the Royal Mile and you’ll find a real piece of Scotland, hidden away underground. This unique attraction is as interesting as it is spooky and, while smaller children may not appreciate it because of the fear factor, older children will love it.

Edinburgh Dungeon

Sticking with the bloodthirsty macabre, the Edinburgh Dungeon is as adrenaline-pumped and scary as it is fascinating. It is here where you’ll meet some of the city’s most sordid characters of the past, including Sawney Bean and the grave robbers, Burke and Hare.

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

It may not be as well-known as some of the other attractions in the city, but Camera Obscura has entertained visitors for years. Its optical illusions are awesome, and the kids will adore it.

Edinburgh Zoo

If you’d prefer to stick with animals rather than illusions and horrible histories, Edinburgh Zoo is the place to go. It’s even got pandas!

Our Dynamic Earth

This fascinating attraction takes you on a journey through time and space, giving you the chance to appreciate everything from a tropical rainstorm in the jungle to the arid deserts and freezing polar icecaps. It’s definitely an attraction that’s designed for the children, but adults will enjoy seeing their kids learn as they walk around the various zones.

Step away from the city of Edinburgh and you will be met by the glorious great outdoors. The Lothians are simply beautiful, and hold many a country park, forest walk and outdoor pursuit for you and the family to enjoy if the weather holds up!  

*  Guest post *

A wet and windy end to 2013 and a stormy start to 2014.

Over the past few weeks the UK has been battered by storms, with strong winds and excessive rain causing havoc and damage across many parts of the UK.  Thanks to the unrelenting weather sadly many people across the country have been affected by flooding and damage to their homes.  Sadly countless people were affected by the unforgiving weather over Christmas and the New Year, with 2014 starting on a very damp note.

Luckily apart from experiencing strong winds and heavy rain we have not been affected badly by the storms with the only casualty of the weather being our fence but sadly there has been areas near where we now live and near where we have recently moved from where friends and family still live that has been gravely affected by the bad weather.

Even though we were not affected directly by the bad weather in our new home the town where we now live, Haverfordwest did experience some limited flooding especially when the tide peaked causing the River Cleddau to overflow.  Keeping safe and dry from the weather (apart from the odd dash to the shops where poor Bug and I would return home as drowned rats in spite of rain covers and umbrellas being used and coats zipped up tight) I kept abreast of how our new county of Pembrokeshire was fairing in the bad weather.  Thanks to Radio Pembrokeshire and Pembrokeshire County Councils social media updates and the Western Telegraphs’ live updates as flooding hit Pembrokeshire I heard all about how the county was being affected and could witness the damage through the photographs they were posting.

Unique outdoor wedding venues.

Lee and I are engaged and have been for a little over three years now.  After Lee romantically proposed to me we started discussing tying the knot, dreaming of how and where we would love to get married.  But before any firm wedding plans were made, a little over a month after getting engaged we found out we were expecting Bug and decided to put getting married on hold and focus on our bundle of love instead.

Recently we have renewed our desire to get married and as we hope to be husband and wife in the near future rather than waiting yet another three years, we have revived our wedding plans.  As well as finding the perfect wedding dress, photographer, flowers, table centres, invites and decorations we have been considering a number of venues to find the perfect one for our magical day.

Initially we wanted to get married abroad and have an intimate beach wedding and then a safari honeymoon in Africa we have decided to get married in the UK instead as there are so many amazing places here where we could get married and getting married in the UK would mean that our friends and family could be part of our big day.

Even though I think traditional church/chapel weddings are beautiful, both Lee and I would love our big day to be at a unique outdoor wedding venue and have fallen in love with 5 stunning and unique wedding venues that offer outdoor weddings.