I always have a lot of questions about accommodati I always have a lot of questions about accommodation when we stay anywhere as a family so I thought I’d share this little tour of our room at @windjammerlanding which was a pretty perfect place to stay.

It’s the ‘Ocean View Two Bedroom’ which was like a little house, with an upstairs and downstairs, built into the hillside. Both rooms had outdoor space and their own shower rooms. Such a great option for a family.
A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. A little photo dump from our holiday in St Lucia. We’ve been back a few days now but still miss the heat, the food, the pool, the constant sounds of wildlife and the lovely people. It was such a great holiday and I’m sure we’ll be back one day.
And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is And just like that, Athena is 12! What a joy it is watching her grow and what a wonderful young woman she is becoming. We could not be more proud. Love you Pickle, have a great birthday.
We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in S We’ve just got back from two glorious weeks in St Lucia staying at @windjammerlanding and it was just the holiday we needed. Two weeks of sunshine and relaxation in what must be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. 

We can’t wait to go back again in the future. Here’s just a little snippet of our trip.
AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @na AD - Press Tickets | We had such a nice day at @national_motor_museum despite the rain! The children loved the Little Beaulieu play area and we loved exploring the National Motor Museum and Top Gear exhibit before having a ride on the monorail! We went on an old open topped bus, explored the Beaulieu Manor House and loved the gardens. 
Beaulieu is always a great day out - whatever the weather. This summer they have a whole ‘Summer of Fun’ planned, with activities most days - parades, bird shows and hundreds of sculptures within the grounds too. If you’re looking for a day out this summer definitely think about heading to Beaulieu.
AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to t AD - Press Tickets | Tonight we took the kids to their first concert - but it was so much more than just a concert! @abbavoyage is incredible. With CGI ABBA and a live band, it’s like being at an ABBA concert 40 years ago but with modern lighting, effects and sound. ABBA look and sound real, it’s a mind blowing experience.
The set includes all the songs you know and love as well as a few less familiar ones.
You can’t take photos during the show which actually made a refreshing change. A whole arena focused purely on the show and soaking up the moment. It’s definitely something the four of us will always remember.
Now, I’m off to sing Dancing Queen all the way home.
AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdo AD - Press Trip | We had such a great day at @phdockyard today. They have a fantastic Ultimate Explorer ticket that lets you visit all the attractions as many times as you like for 12 months - and after a day at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard we can see that you need more than one day to really do everything!

We explored HMS Warrior, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Exhibition - which is incredible! We also saw where ships are built and restored and spent time in Action Stations where the kids climbed and did an assault course.

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is such a fun, educational day out with something for all ages - we can’t wait to go on their harbour tours next time we visit!
AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To cel AD | WIN!! Would you love to win a holiday? To celebrate #100YearOfARoads National Highways have launched their #ARoadsToSummer competition! It's all about celebrating summer holiday moments, time together, fun in the sun, days out and more.

So why not be in it to win it? To enter, all you have to do is send @nationalhways a DM on here with a photo or video of your favourite holiday moments. You can also comment on their Facebook or Twitter #ARoadsToSummer posts with your holiday photos. I've shared a few of our favourite photos to give you some inspiration.

The best six entries will each win a £500 @nationaltrust holidays voucher! SO what are you waiting for? Dig out your favourite holiday photos or take some new ones to share!

The #ARoadsToSummer competition runs from 24 July to 10 September 2023. Winners will be announced in September 2023.

Good luck!
Oh these two! Every day I feel lucky to have them. Oh these two! Every day I feel lucky to have them. As school draws to a close at lunchtime, I’m looking forward to a whole summer with them. My favourite people.

They’ve both had a great year at school this year. Troy’s first without his sister by his side and Athena’s first at secondary school. 

They both had great reports, always did their best and have made some really lovely new friends this year. I could not be more proud of them.

Now, let’s go and enjoy the next six weeks before school starts all over again!
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Days Out, Days Out and Attractions/Events, Reviews · April 23, 2017

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway – The Watercress Line

Disclosure: We were invited on this day out for the purpose of this post however all opinions are my own.

We finished off our Easter holidays with a trip to A Day Out with Thomas on our local steam railway line – the Mid Hants Railway – Watercress Line. We went to A Day Out with Thomas last summer and as soon as the children knew where we were going they were so excited and couldn’t wait to ride on Thomas again.

For the duration of A Day Out with Thomas the railway line is taken over by Thomas – with activities at each station, bunting and Thomas shops. The line runs from Alresford to Alton with a couple of stops in between, the main station being Ropley where there is so much car parking and where all the main activities are held – as well as it being the base for the Thomas and Toad trains.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

When we arrived at Ropley the children were given a certificate, a passport book to complete activities during the day and a sticker. The passports were a great idea and gave the children something extra to do on the train rides and made them look out for different things along the route – like station clocks and the Fat Controller.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line
A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

The first thing we did after we arrived was jump on the normal diesel train and ride it to Alresford, where we jumped off, looked in the shop and played in the Thomas toy room that has been set up. The children just loved riding on the train and Dave and I really loved the old fashioned style of the trains, that they were exactly how they would have been back when those trains were in general use across the country. It’s amazing how roomy all of the seats and carriages are – all the seats set out as booths and everyone having a table. It was a much more pleasant train ride than our normal trains going into London and back nowadays.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

The trains stop at each station for a few minutes so you can hop off and take photos or look around before getting back on again – or stay for a while and catch the next train in either direction. There are clear timetables on each platform at each station and each platform is marked with what the next station on the route is. Every station was really traditional, quaint and had little seating areas to spend some time. From Alresford we stayed on the train the whole way to Alton, enjoying the journey and watching the different scenery go by out the window.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line
A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

We took a picnic with us to eat on the train but there was also a buffet carriage selling sandwiches and drinks and most of the shops had basic refreshments in them too as well as a fast food van based at Ropley station.

The trains had toilets on them and it was such a comfortable journey – you could literally ride up and down the track all day if you wanted to but we went back to Ropley to participate in some of the other activities, arriving back just in time for the magic show.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

The magic show was held in the marquee on the green and it’s where most of the activities are – with a picnic area and lots of other things to do. The magic show was great fun with singing to warm everyone up before the magic tricks started – and Rusty who did the show even had a puppet friend Verne to help him with the performance. The children absolutely loved it.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

After that the children had a ride on the teacups and a turn on the giant inflatable slide – something they could have easily spent all day doing. I loved that rather than just having the trains as the attraction all of the other activities were included in the ticket price and were just so much fun for the children. There was also a play park that was so busy but the children loved it regardless.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line
A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line
A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

We then listened to the Thomas Storytime where a member of staff read a Thomas story to all the children with full audience participation. It was quite a simple activity but the children loved it.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

After the story we had a ride on Toad which was one open sided carriage at the end of the train. It took you literally down the track and then reversed back again but it was a nice ride – especially as it was pretty much open air – and the children loved it.

We then crossed to the other side of the platform to have a ride on Thomas – a real steam train although the Thomas engine had been attached to typical diesel carriages rather than Annie and Clarabelle. The children didn’t seem to mind though and loved the journey on Thomas – another ride that just went up the track and then reversed. It would be great if Thomas could go along the whole line from Alresford to Alton but I guess it’s done with just the one station involved to make sure that as many people as possible can get a ride on Thomas and not miss him along the track.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

The children absolutely loved their Day Out with Thomas – as did Dave and I. It was such a lovely, family day out and something we would love to do year after year – LP and Little Man have now been twice within the space of a year and have loved A Day Out with Thomas just as much each time. It has so much to do and so much variety that I think they will enjoy it for years.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

Children of all ages were enjoying A Day Out with Thomas although, despite the event having a buggy park, many people took pushchairs with them. These did crowd the platforms and made it harder for the people using them to get on and off the trains. If I were going on this day out with a baby I would probably use a baby carrier just to make everything that much more easily accessible.

Aside from that, the day out was pretty perfect. It wasn’t too busy, the wait times for Thomas and Toad weren’t very long and the other trains ran really nicely to their advertised timetables. We left A Day Out with Thomas feeling so happy – it really was just a really lovely day.

A Day Out with Thomas on the Mid Hants Railway - The Watercress Line

In: Days Out, Days Out and Attractions/Events, Reviews

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Comments

  1. Kate | LesBeMums says

    April 24, 2017 at 8:10 am

    I had no idea this even existed! This will definitely be on our list of places to visit, especially as our son is a MASSIVE Thomas fan.

    Our only experience with steam railway was the Bluebell railway so it’ll be nice to visit a different one – especially if the stations are just as pretty, which by the looks of things they are.
    I like the fact that there are things to do on the stations and places to visit – it really makes it a whole day outing!

    Reply
  2. Janine Dolan says

    April 24, 2017 at 1:15 pm

    That looks class. Definitely something we should do next time we are in the UK.

    Reply
  3. Karen, the next best thing to mummy says

    April 24, 2017 at 6:05 pm

    I love Thomas the tank engine maybe because I am a mother of sons although when I was a child minder the girls were equally besotted with anything Thomas related

    Reply
  4. Laura - Dear Bear and Beany says

    April 24, 2017 at 9:55 pm

    This looks like such a fun family day out. Holly loves Thomas and she would love to have a ride on him. I must look these up and see when they next have one. That picture of LP in the thomas photo frame, she looks like you even more than usual. I think it must be her expression 🙂 x

    Reply
  5. Plutonium Sox says

    April 28, 2017 at 2:24 pm

    Isn’t it an amazing day out? We had a fantastic time too.
    Nat.x

    Reply
  6. Newcastle Family Life says

    May 1, 2017 at 11:14 am

    They are having a day out with Thomas in Newcastle next month and I think I will have to get tickets as my son is Thomas crazy. This looks like such a lovely family day out xx

    Reply

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Hi everyone! I'm Donna. Mummy. Blogger. Social Media Manager. Traveller. Lover of stars, rainbows and gin. Firm believer that tea and cake can fix most things.

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