Summer holidays 2016 have already started for us and as a result we have been out exploring. As much as I hate to admit it this exploring has been somewhat helped by the release of Pokemon go! The opportunity to go somewhere new, set a lure, take down a gym and maybe get a new or elusive Pokemon seems to be the way to get the kids out of the house. Indeed Pixie now seems intent on leaning how to ride her bike properly so that she can join the other two (with an adult of course) on Pokemon hunts further afield. Not only can you cover more ground and collect more Pokemon on your bike but you can hatch those all important eggs.
I have taken a ‘if you can’t beat them join them’ attitude but have found the game surprisingly addictive. I’m not sure the this is a phenomenon that is going to stick around but for now it is getting the kids out of the house and actually looking at things. We have had two recent visits to parks and they actually looked at the flowers and sculptures whilst there.
One of the things we are really looking forward to is the release of the BFG, we’re going on Friday to see it and the children have already signed up to the Dahl themed summer reading scheme in the local library. Even more excitement has been created – following on from the book bench trail a couple of summers ago this year there are dream jars scattered around London. We have pencilled in a couple of dates to see as many as possible, one trail following the journey Sophie and the BFG take around the palace and Hyde Park, which Pixie is particularly excited about. We’re doing that one once we have seen the film. We’re are going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (thanks to Kids Week) at the end of the holidays so we can find some in the Covent Garden area then. So tomorrow we’re searching around St Pauls and maybe the Southbank area too. Great to see the different jars and get the children to experience the sights of London, something we sometimes take for granted.
Thanks to Pokemon it sounds as if I need to take a picnic and find somewhere warm to sit with a Pokestop so they can catch some Pokemon but in some ways this is no bad thing. It gives us a chance to recharge our batteries and enjoy the green spaces in London as well as saving me money. Taking sandwiches and crisps is much cheaper than buying them on the go! Win! Win!
Definitely making the most of the good weather as who knows how long it will last, not long according to the forecasters and with two summer camps and a holiday booked in the days will pass by rapidly. Writing seems to be on hold (again!) but with little teaching lined up for September I have several outlined projects to progress. The kids book is nearly ready to go, just waiting on the kids to give me some feedback and do the edits and have planned on a proper working day from September setting proper deadlines for myself as otherwise I tend to just prevaricate, end up doing errands and not getting anywhere -not going to have a huge career in publishing that way!
For now I will concentrate on giving the kids a great summer holiday, before we know it it’l be gone and routine can take over, in the meantime we’ll enjoy getting out and about and hopefully having some great adventure and memories that last.
http://www.visitlondon.com/bfg
