Category: Locally

Camping Wookey Farm

My only pic from last camping trip before the crappy phone ran out of battery after a measly 6 hours.

groovy tomato
groovy tomato

The camping trip was great. Our friends Dee and Swiss brought a new Karma bell tent which looked so much easier to put up then our tried and trusted tunnel tent. They were popular on the campsite too – There were 4 others there belonging to other campers. These all had rather nice wood burning stoves inside.

Military Portable Steel Camp Hunting Fishing Cook Wood Stove Tent Heater
Stove 2345

This one seems particularly nice, looks like it packs away really small and good for cooking and drying things on. Shame it’s only sold in the USA

 

Climbing Trees

The older boys in Goulden House have been climbing the trees with ropes recently and had started making their own harness with just the rope. This was pretty uncomfortable so when we were in Exeter a couple of weeks ago I purchased a climbing harness with belay and carabiner from Go Outdoors.WP_20140412_14_13_43_Pro These seem to jump directly from small child size to adult sizes so I got a XS size. Not ideal but we’ll try not to turn upside down and hence fall out of the harness. We also picked up 45metres of climbing rope and a second adult harness from a shop that was closing down. The rope is technically accessory rope but still a lot better than the nasty nylon bailer twine they were using.

 

Charlie climbing at High Park Cottage
Charlie climbing at High Park Cottage

Since the purchase there’s been a lot of activity in Goulden House which is blessed with half a dozen trees of different sizes.

I’ve been reading/watching videos about climbing to try and improve our techniques. Here are some of the links.

Tree Ascending techniques
How to use a belay
ATC Belay guide
outdoor belay instructional
Useful knots for tree climbing
Fig 8 knot

At some point soon a trip to the climbing wall and some decent training will be booked in.

http://www.bigtreeclimbing.co.uk/

http://londonist.com/2013/12/climbing-the-trees-of-london.php

http://www.londonplay.org.uk/content/30401/build_a_playspace/made_by_london_play/tree_houses/treehouses

Last chance to see automata

automata exhibition

This exhibition runs to 21 November.

automata exhibition
automata exhibition

It’s at Finton House School

Cabaret Mechanical Theatre has been a feature of Covent Garden in the West End for many years.  This rare exhibition of automata is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at Finton House School from 5-8pm until 21st November, and on the morning of Saturday 9th November from 9-12. Free of charge. Contact Lucy on 020 8682 5757 to book a visit

Charlie 11th Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Charlie

Charlie’s 11th party was a outdoor boyish sort of party – although with more girls than boys there was quite a battle for the ‘best’ den making materials.