Category Archives: Travel

Children, Family, home, Travel, united kingdom

Make Your Child’s Next School Holiday or Half-Term a Memorable One

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The British education system realizes the importance of time with family and allots kids multiple breaks throughout the school year. While kids may have plans to camp out in front of the TV on video games or spend time with their friends, you should make the time for family and create memories that’ll last a lifetime. 

Take a Cruise 

A cruise on the Thames River is an opportunity for your kid to learn, enjoy a day on the water, and witness the sites on the river, such as the Westminster Bridge.

Specifically, the Red Rover Hop-On/Off River Pass allows 24-hour access to the ship for you and your family. You could also take a multi-day cruise, such as a Mediterranean tour. 

Consider a Museum Tour 

Stop at various museums since the country is known for having some of the most awe-inspiring museums in the world.

For instance, the Natural History Museum in London houses dinosaur bones and marine fossils. The National Railway Museum York gives kids an opportunity to learn about locomotives, and it features an indoor and outdoor play area. 

Think About Multiple Outdoor Day Trips

With the pandemic continuing with no end in sight, you might prefer a trip where you can safely maintain social distance. In this case, consider taking multiple outdoor day trips. This idea also works well if you have to work throughout the break and can’t take time away to enjoy it with family. 

For example, the ZSL London Zoo offers views of magnificent creatures like zebras and pygmy hippos. Plus, you can easily keep your distance between yourself and other visitors. 

Have a Staycation 

Pick a hotel in a city that’s within an hour or two away from your home. Plan one or two activities to do and spend the rest of the time in the hotel room. Splash in the pool, read books, order food in, and enjoy one another’s company. 

Make the Most of Staying Home

If the pandemic has you leery of traveling or you don’t have the time, stay home and encourage the family to spend as much time together as possible. Get in the kitchen and make meals together from scratch. Spend an afternoon or two baking. You could have a board game day where you play games together all day. Learn a new hobby. If you aren’t sure of any that everyone would enjoy, search online for some inspiration. 

Preparing for a Road Trip

Before you head out on the open road, make sure you prepare for the getaway. You’ll not only make the trip better for you, but you’ll also make it more enjoyable for your kid. 

Bring along a high-tech device or two to keep your child occupied on the long ride. A kid’s smartwatch can be easily monitored via parental controls, and it has GPS capabilities and medical ID in the event of an emergency. 

Family Fun for a Few Days for Memories for Life

By spending a few days of their vacation with your kid, you’ll make memories that’ll last forever.  

Guest written by Joyce Wilson from teacherspark.org

photo credit https://unsplash.com/photos/xaG8oaZD7ss

Appliances, home, love, poem, real pagans, Travel, united kingdom

I Remember You

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Duck egg blue

Footwell smell

Proud feeling

Bumping apologies

Fleeing scenes

Visiting

Backward speeding

Flat shoes

Pavement bounce

Driver blues

Sticky shift

Steamy views

I still fondly smile

When I remember you.

End.

By Samantha unextraordinarybint Harris

This is about my first car. Light blue Moris Minor Traveller.

I broke the front axle on it.

Long story.

I might tell it some day.

She was beautiful but annoyingly hard to handle, I called her Gertie.

Thanks for reading.

What was your first car?

Moris Minor
home, poem, Travel, united kingdom, wildlife

Where We Go – poem

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When eyes close

Where do we go?

Body lies in place

Slack goes the face

Peace is known

Meditate

In the open hours

Remember

Odour of flowers

The smell of the ocean

Or the deep forest green

I visualize, fantasize

Resting back on a tree

Branches bow and creek

Listening to the wind speak

End

By Samantha unextraordinarybint Harris

Travel, unextraordinarybint

Getting into Israel – Real Life Story

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I realised some time ago that my perception of the world is different than the majority of my fellow folk. Different does not mean better. There are so many reasons for this I will not bore you with listing them. One thing which sets me apart is that I have been to the middle east as a traveller rather than as a tourist.

It was 1991 when I arrived at an Israeli port with my UK registered vehicle a Talbot horizon, in blue, thinking I could gain entry into one of the heaviest guarded countries in the world on a whim. Oh yes, you can’t beat stupidity, confidence and youth.

In my defence my passport was in date, I didn’t have a criminal record, I wasn’t intended to work there so I hadn’t looked into a work visa.  Although, whilst in England, there had been some talk of pulling up to a kibbutz and volunteering I had enough money to see myself through a month or so if I lived frugally.

As I had been educated within the English school system, I knew all about the Jewish battle for a homeland to call their own, how the Jews had been persecuted to almost extinction during WWII and the horrors of the Jewish fight for continued survival during the six day war. I rolled up there ready to pull up my sleeves and help, if I could.

Perhaps I should mention that Sunday school lessons, my history classes and religious education had helped me achieve full patronising mode. I had a map with campsites marked on it. I was very impressed with myself for choosing to bring my car with all the equipment I’d need. As a armed forces brat – term affectionately used for children of soldiers – I felt I was savvy enough to continue.

The Israeli border force at Haifa were less impressed and even less convinced.

Up to that point, I was twenty four and quite well travelled, the most aggressive border control I’d witnessed was at Kennedy airport. Well Americans have nothing on Israeli forces for aggression and fear tactics. To say I was proper shitting myself is an understatement.

For eight hours I waited at Haifa after getting off the ferry. The car was taken to one side and I was gestured to follow.  Men with automatic machine guns stood over me whilst customs officials emptied the car. A fearsome female Israeli soldier demanded papers. She was shouting at me in Hebrew which I couldn’t understand. For those eight hours they took my car apart. Impressively even taking the car wheels off to x-ray them.

They threatened to take off the car doors too but it was getting late and dark. There were no artificial lights to work by so they discontinued searching. In the darkness the car was repacked in silence. I was stunned for the first time since leaving England. Driving to the campsite in the dark with no road signs was the first of a scary lot of driving.

But I did gain entry to Israel and I did drive my car through to the Egyptian border.

I came back from the middle east a very different person. Some one who realises that what we see in the media often isn’t the truth. I learnt to see both sides of difficult situations. Mostly, let’s be frank, I discovered that my education had been biased.

An interesting change happened regarding my hobbies. Perhaps it was floating in the dead sea or swimming with tropical fish in Eilat or noticing the sea level signs along the old dirt roads. Whatever it was, upon my return to England, my fondness for science grew at an exponential rate and I realised a need to educate myself constantly if I were to view the world as it truly is rather than as others would have me see it.

The plight of the middle east back in 1991 was one of hatred and entitlement from the Israelis and Christians towards the Palestinians. It was very hard to witness. It’s emotionally difficult to recall many things about Israel, if I am being honest. However, all memories have a home within me and make me who I am and richer for it.

Thank you for reading. I will have to dig out some photos to show you.