Glasgow Riverside Museum, in pictures

Seriously great morning out.  If you haven't been yet, get your shoes on and go now. 

In fact, better still wait and go first thing in the morning, preferably not on a weekend as the place is jumping.  We arrived at 10am and had a blissful hour and a half of space and quiet before literally coach loads of people, mostly children emptied into the museum.  The ratio of children to adults is pretty frightening!  But hey, that's because we're bang in the middle of summer holidays, and this is Glasgow's newest free attraction. 

I've heard that a lot of people have been complaining that the car park is too small, and there are signs everywhere naming the overspill car parks nearby to deal with this.  But I don't believe that the museum will continue to attract such huge crowds once the initial buzz of interest calms down.  Also, the museum is well serviced by buses and ferries, so there's no need to drive there.

As well as being a stunning piece of architecture, by the wonderful Zaha Hadid, the museum is really cleverly put together and truly caters for everyone whatever their age and taste.  Even TT with her minuscule attention span was enthralled by some of the features.  We split up so that Daddy Wild could enjoy some of the displays in peace and quiet whilst I zipped around the place with TT.  The hour and a half we spent inside, and half hour playing outside was not long enough at all.  However we just know that we'll be back many times, probably more so when the weather changes and we are desperate to get out and about on wet afternoons later in the year!

There are two cafes inside the museum and three vans outside selling hot dogs, coffee, sweeties, sandwiches etc so there's good choice whatever the weather and the age of your party.  We were so lucky to be there on a hot sunny day so sat in the sun outside watching TT build sandcastles and silently stalk other children.

 I loved how interactive most of the displays are.  With games for children & adults to play with whilst learning more about some of the engineering and history of transport in Scotland.  Best of all, all of the interactive displays are voiced by locals with great big broad Glaswegian accents.

 We couldn't agree on our favourite parts on the journey home.  I can't decide between Arnold Clark's Wall of Cars, or the cinema documentary showing in one of the stalls.  Daddy Wild had to be torn away from Colin Macrae's rally car, and lingered by both the motorbike corner and the model ships.  I think making a display of model boats interesting is a pretty impressive feat! If TT could answer I more coherently I think she would be split between the model street and the old subway.

 Baby Wild was beside herself with so many cars. She's mad into cars at the moment, in particular tractors for some bizarre reason!  So maybe that was the one minor downfall - there were no tractors!

Inside, you are still aware of the stunning design & architecture of the building.  Everything is streamline and sleek & modern, with great attention to detail and is typical of Hadid's genuis.  The layout is clever and busy, so that I reckon every time we return we'll find something we missed before.  I paid a quick snoop around the small shop and saw things I would have liked to buy for a lot of friends and got plenty of inspiration for some upcoming birthdays!

Lots of toilets, baby changing, cafes, seats, easy access, tall ships, boat rides, interactive displays and things for toddlers to climb on and ride in, making it possibly the most perfect day out around Glasgow.  And it's FREE!

 Amazing!

Logistics / 10 baby friendly            10

toddler friendly         10

adult friendly             20

educational               10

toilets/changing         10
accessibilty               10
car parking              get there early or get a bus/ferry. Cheap parking though.

cost                         Free!! So do please leave a donation.

Carry on Camping?

Things I have learnt this holiday....

• don't let small boys climb trees.
• do not set foot outside in the Scottish Highlands without Skin So Soft.
• consider buying shares in Skin So Soft.
• consider buying shares in Sudocreme as you'll need heaps to deal with the midge massacre.
• do not move when covered in Sudocreme as it stains like a bitch.

Still fancy going camping?  We're lucky in Scotland with the roaming rights, which means it is possible to camp almost anywhere and can avoid being forced into camp sites.  So thought we'd make the most of this and go wild camping on the way home after visiting friends in Inverness.

We borrowed a huge 8 person tent. I know, I know - there are only 3 of us so that was a bit daft. We pretty much agreed that next time (next time?!! Ha!) we'd take 2 Two person pop up tents. Daddy Wild in one with all the stuff, and TT & I cuddled up in the other. That was possibly the only highlight of the one night camping trip - I got to sleep with TT. She's so adorable when she's asleep!  If only she were so calm and peaceful during daylight hours.

So if you aren't put off, make sure you make it as easy as possible and are prepared for full on vigilance over the children.  We're the most laid back parents in the world apparently, so found the constant vigilance exhausting.  Maybe camp in the middle of a field out of harms way, definitely not on the edge of a fecking highland loch surrounded by trees.

The view was stunning though.

And I heard an owl hooting, which was nice.

Work Life Balance vs Parenthood

Why are we so nervous to discuss how we balance our busy lives and parenting I wonder?  I was thinking about this following a truly inspired series of musings and interviews on my most favourite blog A Cup of Jo.  Do read it, it was for once refreshingly honest about how Jo, and seven other mothers she spoke to, balance raising a family with working, busy lives and time with loved ones.  I have a similar set up as Jo, in that I often work from home and squeeze in hours to suit TT's routine. But I have to admit that hours devoted to play time, and only play time are few and far between. And almost only at weekends when we go out exploring.  However TT gets so excited when Daddy Wild comes home and adores playing with him in the evenings, so it's not all deprivation of attention!

Oh how I wish I could afford to only work part time and spend more time playing with TT outdoors.  What are your thoughts on the juggling and balancing acts of parenting?

Going to Edinburgh with a toddler.. Part 2

Gorgie City Farm

After lunch we headed to Gorgie City Farm as an additional quick treat for TT before we headed home.  Fabulous. PERFECT for toddlers. Besides the obvious attractions, it's free, small, has toilets (no baby changing again) , a play park, and a small cafe. There is virtually no parking, but if you're lucky you might manage to get one of the 5 or 6 spaces available on the farm for a donation of £2.  We actually parked at the front entrance to Tynecastle stadium for free and walked the few minutes along Gorgie Rd to the farm.

I've read poor reviews of this place on other forums, saying that it is a bit run down etc. It costs £900 a day to run the farm, and as entry is free the farm really does rely on grants and donations.  Please bear this in mind and leave a donation when you visit because they do an outstanding job and provide a hugely important space in the city for kids to connect with nature and animals.  Whilst we were there we had great fun watching a class of teenagers, each with a special need, try to catch the chickens to take them for check ups.  They were so happy and getting so much from the day.  Sure, a few of the chickens have been fighting and are a bit scraggly looking, but I loved the genuine and unapologetic mess of some of the corners because this place is hard work to look after! There are loads of animal who take a small army to feed and clean out I imagine.  There are fantastic raised beds growing every vegetable you'd imagine and flowers dotted around everywhere they can squeeze in.  There's a stall selling this produce too for great prices to help sustain the farm.  And they offer pet sitting services too.

TT certainly loved it, and all I had to do was follow her running with squeals of delight from one animal enclosure to another, occasionally stepping in to save her fingers being pecked off by the chickens.

In short, don't leave Edinburgh with small kids without paying it a short visit.

Logistics / 10
baby friendly            05
toddler friendly         100
toilets/changing         07 (no babychange)
accessibilty               06
car parking              £2 but only 5 spaces - get the bus!

cost                         Free!!  So please leave a kind and much needed donation

Going to Edinburgh with a toddler... Part 1

I have to admit something here, at home we actually refer to Baby Wild as "The Terrorist", due to the tantrums as mentioned previously.  So from now on, or at least until she matures into a more mature and calm child again, I shall abbreviate this to TT for blogging here.

I wanted to meet up for lunch with one of my bestest friends in Edinburgh.  As said 'Terrorist' can be a bit of a handful if things aren't going her way I played it safe by driving us through rather than getting the train.  So entailed the beginning of the usual military precision planning for such a major feat......

First off where would we go for lunch? Where was toddler friendly? Lets be clear here- this is completely different from child friendly.  Babies tend to keep themselves to themselves, and children above the age of 3 should be well enough behaved to be allowed in public places occasionally.  But who and where is happy to put up with a tiny tearaway who is referred to by her parents as the terrorist?

A google search pretty much came up with soft plays, pubs with soft plays (Like Brewers Fayre etc), really expensive tourist attractions.  The websites such as Tripadvisor and Babycentre etc only had ideas for babies or older children.  Yawn.  What about us?!  After some furry at the uselessness of babyfriendly.com and many facebook messages with my friend, we decided to have a picnic.  Is this a gap in the market?

Anyway, so ever hopeful of the weather we arranged to meet at the Meadows, so should the sun be in our favour we could let TT run riot whilst we were suitable close to coffee/toilets/toys/shelter all available at The Pavillion Cafe.  The sun wasn't shining, and the ground was soaking, so we abandoned the picnic to the car and ordered lunch in the cafe.  Totally recommend it for kids of all ages, maybe not babies though as there's no baby changing and it is tiny inside.  Only downside for toddlers is that there is no lock on the toilet door - so I spent lunch concerned that TT could storm any poor punter whilst on the loo! The staff were really friendly, trying to get TT to dance with them.  There are toy trucks and scooters outside and jigsaws & books inside for kids to help themselves to.  Now, I wouldn't recommend this to you unless like us you went to art college, or have a quiet hippy living inside your heart.  It's not a conventional cafe, it's independent and a spin off from the former successful Scott's Deli near Morningside.  So TT's generous slab of homemade pizza was amazing, with a wholemeal and cheese base.  I think TT's favourite part though, was charging through the puddles outside, destroying everything she was wearing!  What can you do, puddles are the bomb!

Raspberry Bounty!

 We went foraging yesterday in Spiers Garden in the sun and found hundreds of ripe raspberries to gather!

Baby Wild wasn't much use at the gathering process however, she gobbled everyone she picked, leaves and all!  We had set off with hopes of finding some mushrooms following the earlier downpour. but all I found was this ugly looking specimen below.  I'm not sure whether it is Jews Ear or not, so I left it alone.

I still managed to take home a full punnet of raspberries though and we've been eating them ever since.  I think we need some recipes to use them up.  I've had enough jam making to last a while so fancy something new....

Possibly Raspberry Cake

Or a Berry Cocktail

and I really fancy this Iced Raspberry & Basil Creme Brulee

and also this Raspberry Rose Sorbet which would be great in the garden in the sunshine this afternoon since I'm off on holiday!

Spiers Garden is pretty toddler-tastic and we had lots of fun running around and finding hidden paths.  The whole place just smells sensational just now with all the wild flowers in bloom.  I loved finding this wishing tree which local kids from the after school club had hung their Christmas wishes onto some time ago.

 

I shall leave you today with this Wild Raspberry poem, which sums up our Raspberry bounty!

Easy, nutricious family recipes

I used to think I was one of the best cooks ever. But the fact is that I can cook, I love to cook, I LOVE food, but I'm no where nearly as hot as I used to be!  I just don't have the time, or the money, or the energy most evenings.  Baby Wild needs to eat her dinner 5.30/6ish.  Her parents on the other hand are never ready to eat then. I'd like to, but I'm simply not organised enough to be utterly honest.  So she ends up eating omeletts most nights while I try to figure out what to make us for later on, when sports/gardening/cleaning/showering is all over and we're ready to settle down for the evening.

I truly wish for us to eat dinner together more often so am going to make extra effort to make meals at the weekend in advance for reheating on weeknights.  I figure this'll help me make more nutritious meals that will cater for us all too, rather than cook twice each evening which is a little bit nuts when you think about it!

What are your fail safe recipes for parents & kids alike?

• One of our favourites is a take on Annabel Karmel's Salmon & Spinach pie.  I say a take because we use whatever ingredients we have to hand, mostly veg from the garden and whatever fish is in the freezer.  I ate tons of this when pregnant because of the high protein, omega 3 and folic acid content.

My own ever growing Top Tips List

Here are a list of things I wish someone had told me (and repeated until I understood!)....
this list shall grow over time as I have never fully recovered from baby brain and retain a sketchy memory....

1) Do not underestimate how different your life and world feel once you become a mother. Nearly two years on and I am only just beginning to understand this.

2)You can never have enough bananas, or bibs. Bananas solve most hunger pangs, sooth bad moods, are to bribe to complete many an order! But it does not wash out of any clothing so do not offer when baby is in her Sunday best!

3) Sleep time comforters ROCK. So keep them in the cot to encourage baby to want to go to bed to see their favourite toy. And make sure you have at least one spare to employ whilst one is in the wash or incase one gets lost - heaven forbid!  TT cherishes hers & would never sleep or calm down with out him, who has the rather odd name of Boris.  Everyone in our extended family knows who Boris is, so really he has become another family member almost.

4) Vary the foods you eat towards the end of pregnancy to get baby used to different flavours and spices.  It means she will eat most of what you eat in her early years and minimises risk of being a fussy eater. So it works out cheaper and easier in the longer term!

5) Baby Nurofen may cost a lot but solves a lot more pains than Calpol. Teething powders simply don't work, this has been scientifically proven unfortunately.  Use a Nuby Nibbler (can buy in most supermarkets)with frozen banana pieces instead.

6) Be kind to yourself. I'm referring to the look after yourself - mentally & physically - self kindness here, not the cakes and lie-ins variety!  I had a traumatic birth (or should that read Baby Wild had a traumatic birth?!) but felt fit as a fiddle with in 2 days and expected to be fighting fit within weeks again. I tried to pick up running again to shift the baby weight (I'm still waiting) and couldn't understand all these weird pains I'd never really noticed before.  The doctors had no idea either so I just stopped trying to run.  20 months on and all these aches and pains have mysteriously disappeared signalling that I am only now physically ready to work out at my former fitness levels. You really do need to pay attention to what your body is telling you, no matter how healthy you think you are.  I stubbornly refused to believe anyone when they suggested my mind and body would never be the same again.

7) Bottle Feeding - best but most common tip I was told was to get baby used to having her bottle at room temperature.  Makes life a heck of a lot easier when you don't have to find a way to heat up bottles out & about or in the middle of the night!

8) Bump bands. Are you mad? Do you have money to burn lady? Just cut the top of some tank tops and vests you wore on summer and use them instead.  They'll already co-ordinate with your wardrobe too.  I managed to get away with  buying only one pair of maternity trousers for slouching around at home in comfort.  The rest of the time I used hair bobbles to hold my normal trousers up by hooking them through the button holes.

9) Beat the blues with natural oils.  Orange essential oil is proven to lift moods and is really soothing yet refreshing.  Cheap and cheerful personified!  Sprinkle a few drops on a handkerchief or piece of pretty cloth and keep in your pocket for those days when you feel like shit and the pregnancy symptoms just aren't helping!  It can also be used for Flatulence, Constipation, Stress, Slow Digestion Dull Skin, Colds & Flu!!  Just google it for where to buy online for a couple of pounds.  I still use it actually in winter in an oil burner to lighten my mood in dark evenings.  Much cheaper than scented candles too.

Toddler Taming

HELP!!!!
I really need your tips and advice for getting back some calm & order ... maybe like never before!

Baby Wild is living up to her nickname.  Only wilder than the amazon trapped in a bag of tricks.  Nothing is ever ok, epic almighty disasters and dramas unfurl at every turn and I have even stopped taking her out in public unless it is necessary for fear of the next downpour of rage and temper.  And she's not even two yet. Heaven help us if there's more to come with the so called Terrible Twos.  I shall have to resign my position as Mama, I swear!

The only book I ever come across which touched upon this subject was written my a fabby journalist many years ago.   She had a whole host of hilarious distraction techniques and tricks up her sleeve in case of any sudden outbursts.   Unfortunately I neither wrote them done, not can remember the book now in my hour of need.

What works (worked) for you?  Do you think distraction techniques are the only way,  or try to ignore such behaviour to discourage it,  or indeed have other ideas?  I'm finding it impossible not to be infuriated and start to lose my own temper in the end.  We use the naughty step for when she's bad & try to ignore most of the tantrums,  or calm her down when she works herself up into a furious towering cyclone hell bent on smashing everything in sight,  but when things get that bad we always end up putting her in her room to simmer down as there is simply no reasoning with an explosive 20month old!

I did dream of having a brave and independant daughter.... maybe I should be careful what I wish for !

Breastfeeding

Oh my god I hated every minute of breastfeeding.  I was not one of those fortunate ladies who take to it instantly, and find it a bonding and loving experience.  No sir! It was pain all the way!  But being a stubborn and determined mama, I stuck it out for as long as I could... which was only 6 weeks in my case.

I would never had lasted that long without a whole army of support.  I'm not exaggerating - I had a breastfeeding 'buddy' who was at the end of the phone with advice and would visit for moral support (!), attended the local breastfeeding club - although that was mostly for the free lunch and to try make new friends (I didn't), and of course I had the bossy midwives visiting to help out.  Making it to the breastfeeding club by lunchtime on a Thursday always felt like such a miraculous triumph & achievement!  Although I found the staff intimidating, it was so useful and encouraging too, especially since I struggled so much.

But the crucial point came when my favourite mid wive came to visit one day and I broke down in tears with exhaustion and pain.  Taking pity on me she shared the best 2 tips I have.  The first one was how to get baby to sleep on her own.  The second was possibly controversial, but a total life saver in my case - that you can top up breastfeeding with bottle feeding!  Wow!  SO simple, why had no-one shared this with me before?!  Because the other midwives insisted that once baby had fed from a bottle she'd never go back to breast (it's apparently more difficult - like a hungry baby cares!) and that all my milk would instantly dry up and vanish! Bollocks to that.  That night was the first time any of us got some decent sleep since the birth.  Baby Wild had a full belly for the first time, and was tricked into thinking she sleeping on Daddy Native's chest, and I was a whole world calmer.

The point of this is simple - don't be afraid to work out what works for you.  The 'professionals' aren't always right and can't know what's right for you individually.  There are no rules, throw away the books and follow your instinct - you know you're doing all you can the best you can for baby, and therefore she's going to be fine!

Glasgow Riverside - Summer events

After a long wait, the fabulous looking new Transport Museum has (re-)opened in Glasgow on the banks of the Clyde.  Daddy Wild is quite keen to go so it won't be long til I post a review on here from a kiddies point of view for you all.

In the meantime, I discovered that there are loads of things happening on the riverside to coincide with the museum opening, including a riverside regatta, a seafood festival, a new Rat Race location (oh I long to be fit enough!), and drive-in movies!  Have a peek here for the full line up.

But most exciting of all for my emerging enthusiasm for revisiting my own childhood fantasies is The Forgotten Island, just beside the Transport Museum.  It sounds fantastic - a growing, temporary space for kids to interact and participate with.  It sounds a bit mysterious, so I have signed up for their emails with clues and news, and hopefully shall be bringing it to life for you to find out more here in the coming weeks.  It disappears on the 18th September, so I'll get to get a move on and go soon so I can revisit and see the changes before it ends in September.

Best day ever

We plumped for Kelburn. The sun was so fantastic that I decided to get us both dressed up and crash the festival for a couple of hours.  I figured that if we failed to get in then at least we were near to beaches and the sea and would find plenty of other treats in that direction.

But lo and behold we got in no bother, for free seeing as we were staying until 6pm. And holy crap but it rocked!!! I was actually jealous of the children (and there were many) present as the whole place would have totally blown my mind when I was a kid. There was so much effort in to decorate trees, creature sculptures hiding in bushes, lots of folk dressed up as fairies and spirits to tell stories and throw riddles and secrets to unravel to kids in the secret forest. 

There were illustrated maps of where are the stages, bars, toilets etc were with the music and entertainment line-up on the back.  There were plenty of food stalls, and lots & lots of stalls selling crafts, hand made toys and lotions etc.  It was very hippy, I was very happy, but very aware that my toddler was not so laid back and chilled as the rest!  On saying that, there was a great mix of people, so don't let the hippy vibe deter you if that's not your thing, man.  There were entire families there, from old grandparents right down to ickle babies, with men in football tops basking in the sun right next to teenagers decked out on all their day-glo glory swigging from their merry carryouts.  It was a completely eclectic affair, with a lot of truly imaginative and sensational fancy dress.  We even stumbled across a mad hatters tea party where some poor sweating folk were sitting all day in full character costume to entertain surprised kids who stumbled across their path.

All of course back dropped by the stunning painted castle.  Well done to the folk at Kelburn -  a lot of hard work and effort, and it all paid off for a great weekend.  I shall be going back again next year, for a whole day at least, and will be bringing every child I know!

Afterwards we couldn't resist a quick trip to the playground in Largs for an ice cream and a play on the slides in the evening sun.  Messy, sticky but extremely happy, I think one toddler had the best day ever this weekend.

PS - here's a list of other things nearby in Largs....

Out and about this weekend.. decisions, decisions

The sun is shinning and I owe Baby Wild some quality fun time. We're just back from a holiday in Ireland and I have been so depressed back at work and the monotony of the working week/cleaning/unpacking/washing/having to talk to office colleagues/parenting dullness now that the party with friends is over! So I think she needs some 1 on 1 time to make up for general lack of patience this week.

So what to do? We are so lucky to live near Kelburn Castle and they are hosting their fabulous Garden Party festival this weekend. My dilemma is that I am kinda skint after the hols, and I'm not sure I can afford £42 for the Saturday day pass, especially when I am actually only going to manage a few hours with a toddler. I think I might chance my arm at the gate and see if they will let in the 2 of us for a discount for simply a few hours in the afternoon before most of the music stages are fully functioning etc? I dunno, but I guess if you don't ask you don't get!
My other alternative is to go strawberry picking at East Yonderton Farm, just next door to Glasgow Airport.  That would make up for me feeling so pathetic for not bothering to net my main crop strawberries in my own garden and therefore not getting to taste a single one for all the wildlife.  I have netted my beloved wild strawberry patch, but they are young and yield tiny (but deliciously sweet) fruit. 

Time will tell, and I shall let you know how we get on.