Ideas for a family holiday in 2014

I know we haven’t even had Christmas yet but I do know people who literally book their next years holiday very soon after returning from their last. I also have a friend who is so last minute dot com and still manages to get a great holiday arranged!

I have teens now and so camping is our affordable way to go and they love the enjoyment of the camping itself and all that it entails. But for many years when they were young we actually owned a static caravan which we shared with our best friends. My friend and I would pack up every weekend and ALL school holidays and bundle the kids all in together and have a great time. They totally loved the fact they were with their friends and near the seaside!

Even now they look back so fondly at those holidays remembering all the things we used to get up to while we stayed there, beach days, swimming etc. A close friend even now books a caravan holiday every year!

I also know friends who love to go away for New Years! This is actually the first year my in-laws have gone away on a short break over the Christmas/ New Year period ever! Yet some of my friends have a tradition of seeing in the New Year somewhere new. I can see the benefit of taking a trip away over this time though either with or without the kids.

When I do go away I love to have lots of things around to do, activities for the boys, entertainment, maybe a spa facility if I’m lucky (yeah right)……………I can dream. I like to have a plan and fill the days with as much as possible so I don’t feel as though I have wasted a minute of my holiday or short break.

If your similar to us then UK holiday parks could be an option for you. It is always nice when you have kids to know that when you go you have lots of activities and entertainment to suit all tastes- lets face it and I talk from experience, happy kids mean a great holiday for everyone.

So what has been your favourite family holiday so far?

 

 

 

Haven Holidays

When the boys were small, toddlers actually, my best friend and I had a mad idea of getting a static caravan as a joint adventure where we could spend the days taking our kids to the nearby beach and just have a bit of fun. Both our OH’s worked very long shifts so it made sense that we all spent the time together and let the kids be good buddies.

Now when we went looking we really didn’t know what we wanted or how much it was going to cost. What we did know was that we don’t want to travel any more than about an hour or so away- making it more accessible for impromptu weekends and last minute get togethers. We also knew that because money was an issue as neither of us were working, we didn’t want a caravan on a site with loads of entertainment facilities as we wanted to bring all the kids up showing them that they could have lots of fun without spending a fortune.

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Spin Mania Review

Spin Mania Review

We had the chance to review a new game, Spin Mania, out in time for Christmas. It’s not your normal board game with dice and counters, believe me we have loads of them in this house.

Spin Mania is more of a hands on game and puts extra pressure on with a timer.

This game comes from Drumond Park which sell all sorts of games online check it out at their website www.drumondpark.com

Here’s the what they say about it

DESCRIPTION: 

A 2+ player game to test speed and agility by completing spinning plate time trial challenges in the fastest time. Includes 1 x motorised spin base with timer, 3 x spinning plates, 3 x plate bases, 1 x plate handle, 4 x scoring pegs, and instructions. Requires 2 x ‘C’ batteries (not included). Suitable for children aged 6 years upwards.

ASSEMBLY:

No assembly is required other than putting together the three plate stands by pushing the posts into the three-legged bases. Batteries also need to be inserted into the underside of the Spin Base prior to play – a Phillips screwdriver will be required for this.

To play, each player turns on the spin base (via a switch on the underside) and, ensuring that the timer is set to the start position and the tip is spinning steadily, starts the timer and lowers their first plate onto the tip. Once the plate is spinning on the tip, the player must use their plate handle (or ‘spin spike’) to pick it up and transfer it to one of the positioned plate stands, following which they must then rush back and repeat the process with the second and third plates. 

Obviously players take part one at a time, and to make the game more challenging the other players secretly place the plate stands around the playing area (agreed in advance) prior to each turn, for example in a visible but slightly difficult-to-get-to location!

The plates must be spinning at all times during and after transfer – if they are dropped en route or they stop spinning, they must be ‘spun up’ again. Once the third plate is spinning on its stand, the player races back to the spin base to stop the timer. Coloured marker pegs are included for each player to handily record their time (via holes around the side of the timer).

The winner is the player who completes the challenge in the shortest time.

Here’s what we think:

So my boys are 12 and 14yrs old. This game is suitable for 6+ although to be honest it would depend on their motor skills at that age. We gave it a go and thought it would be probably too young for my boys. How wrong could I be.

The element of competition with the timer was brilliant. Also the fact that they could place the plate bases anywhere in the room!

It wasn’t as easy as it looked though and I would suggest everyone has a practice of transferring the plates before the game starts. Our boys are very competitive so it was entertaining in itself waiting to see where they had placed the base plates.

The plates need enough spin to keep going until you can place the last plate but it’s a fine line between enough spin and wasting time.

 

All in all we found this to be an different style and very entertaining game. This one will definitely be played over Christmas and will be hilarious after a few glasses of wine ( for the adults of course).

Spin Mania retails around £22.99 and is in keeping with most game prices. There is no major set up but remember like most games the batteries are NOT included.

DISCLAIMER: we were sent this game free of charge for review purposes