A great weekend
It's been all go this weekend, with visitors up from Yorkshire. There's only one true Yorkshireman among them - one Southerner, one Manc, and one proper Yorkie who doesn't know his true and proper heritage yet - but he will when he's old enough!! With enough to keep the two young lads (and their offspring) happy all weekend it's been a great few days.
Friday - Time Twisters
Poor Joe, at work while the rest of us played. It's only our second visit to Time Twisters and I have to say it was better than last time, not saying last time was in any way a negative experience or anything, but this was just better. Now we know there's multiple exits over two levels to watch for (ie our own little Pharaoh can appear from any direction with no warning) it's manageable, after the initial shock. But they are safe, electronic doors that are permanently manned, there's no escape route. Lunch was a must given the time of the visit, and I have to say there are two things a place like this needs to get right.
- The play area - has to appeal to kids, be safe, be interesting, have variety, and develop multiple skills. Tick.
- The food - if the coffee is like sludge then Mum & Dad aren't going to relax, sit back and enjoy their time. Tick.
No instamatic rubbish here, a proper espresso machine. And an extensive menu with healthy eating awards splattered across it. Run of the mill? Nope, certainly well above average. In all areas except the price - while they will make money on it it's very reasonable. Our old haunt never got a look for lunch as it never looked that good, we tried a snack once and wasn't taken with it, so only ever had a sludge coffee and muffin (Costco's I guess), so played it safe.
On the plus side, our old haunt had a big tick in box one, until it shut down at Christmas without warning. The good news is it re-opened today under a new name with new management - Hoorah!
Swimming for the first time in a while on Saturday. While we've always seen our little fish as ahead of the game he's not having formal lessons, which Mac is and it shows. Better now than at aged 11, when I started learning.
Sunday - the play area in our development is trashed, it was never installed correctly, or builder refused to rectify it, the factor is useless, so it's going to ruin. The next one along, however, is great, and a good walk ending in there in the afternoon (after a good morning at Socatots, a strop-free quick shopping blast and lunch out).
I think it ranks as one of, if not the, best weekends we've had as a family in a long time.
