A few weeks ago I was asked if I wanted to review a mobile phone for the kids. Given my thoughts on screen time I was apprehensive, so after skimming the email I sent it to Mr Aimee with a “to talk about over gin” note. (more…)
It’s officially mid-autumn. One of my favourite times of year.
We’ve had Halloween, we’ve out-banged Bonfire night, we’re just a and only a hop, skip and a jump away from Winter and Christmas.
For a sun worshiper it’s surprising that I I love autumn this much, but apart for my love of knitwear and boots, there are the little things that make me smile. Sometimes the sky is brighter and more inviting then in the summer, the sun exploding in little flashes of light as you drive beneath a tunnel of trees. Trees which are always looking the best because they are full of bright red, orange, yellow, brown leaves. I love jumping in those leaves as they fall in piles on the ground, collecting them up and hunting for conkers and pine cones.
Saying that, some days I forget how much I enjoy it. You know what days I’m talking about. As the rain beats down against the house, and the leaves swirl into my hall every time I open the front door, I begin to resent it one of the most magical seasons, wishing for summer. I often resort to rushing in and out, locking the doors, drawing the curtains, getting cabin fever, avoiding the park due to certain small children sitting in muddy puddles.
So when we got a parcel from garden games in the form of a fantastic wooden see-saw (which is totally in keeping with my “keeping the garden free from bright coloured plastic” rule), it gave us the nudge to pull on some warm boots and get out into the garden.
After years of flatpack, I was clever enough to shuffle the package out into the garden without any child seeing me, anticipating a bit of a struggle putting it all together. After all, let’s not talk about the play house we bought earlier in the year.
HOWEVER, one week day, when I was meant to be working, I snuck outside and got cracking. It wasn’t too hard, however, I got rained off, so decided to wait until Mr. Aimee got home to finish it off. *cough*.
In typical MAN style he commented on the thickness and quality of the wood (as if the children and I care as long as it looks good, and plays fun), and he finished it off within a matter of minutes.
The monkeys loved it, in fact, I’d go as far to say THEY ENJOYED EACH OTHER’S COMPANY! This never happens.
That is, once we’d got over the fact that the Chunky weighed it down and taught him to bend his knees that is! 😉
Garden Games kindly sent us this See-Saw as a gift to keep the boys out of trouble and my gin consumption low. It did the trick – Thank you x