Rosie Scribble

Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest

Santa speeding across a lake in a boat, festive fireworks on the beach, real-life reindeers and even a professional photography lesson were just some of the highlights of our recent weekend at Center Parcs. It was our fifth visit to their Sherwood Forest venue and despite living only a short distance away, it always feels like a million miles away from home.

We were thrilled to be offered a complementary three night stay to enjoy their Winter Wonderland this year; especially as we’d never visited during December. For six weeks of the year Center Parcs is decorated with lights, decorations, Christmas trees and even a little fake snow. There’s also Santa’s Woodland Workshop, festive pony rides, carriage rides, a pantomime and lots of Christmas craft activities, so we were keen to see if it would get us into the Christmas spirit.

The one where I exercise in full view of the locals

I have to admit to being a little unsure when I first saw a chest press in our local park. Along with a running machine, exercise bikes, sit up benches, and, in fact, an entire outdoor gym, these things have appeared overnight, all luminous green and not what you expect to see on a leisurely stroll.

But they gave proved surprisingly popular with the locals and are in constant use.

I knew immediately that I wouldn’t be seen using gym equipment in full view of the locals, but wandering through the park this afternoon after school I found myself strangely lured in.

Before I knew it I was peddling away, and so was IJ. Appearances can be deceptive because this outdoor metal gym is actually incredibly good.

Is it a possible solution to the nation’s obesity problem? I'd say yes. Is it a great way of getting families exercising together? I'd say yes to that too.

On first glance I thought they were an eye sore and out of place in an otherwise natural space, but I’ve changed my mind having tried them out. Now I'd like to see more of them.

They are produced by The Great Outdoor Gym Company. This isn’t a sponsored post, but credit where credit’s due.

What do you think? Does your local park have exercise equipment? Would you give them a try if it did?

Back to nature

This morning, with so many big decisions to make about our future and only one opportunity to get it right, I logged off, left it all behind and got back to nature.

I’ve made a decision to pursue my long-neglected love of photography, because it is something I have always wanted to do, so I spent the morning wandering around Sherwood Forest. Just me and my camera.

It proved to be a great way of blowing away the cobwebs. Until I got lost. Then I had to switch my phone back on and use Google maps to guide me to the nearest road.

But still. It was good while it lasted.

On the subject of cobwebs, I’ve been writing about the spider season over on Ready for Ten. Do take a look.

On learning to drive

One lesson I have learnt in life is that if there is something you really want to do, don’t let age, or a lack of experience or anything else hold you back. Just go ahead and do it. If it doesn’t work out, at least you’ve tried. If you never give it a go then all you are left with are regrets.

Which is how I find myself learning to drive at the age of 38. Because I want to, which is reason enough. But also because I want to be independent and if it doesn’t work out, although I’m confident it will, then at least I can say I’ve tired.

I’ve written before about making up for lost time, and learning to drive is part of that. On the road to independence the significance of me choosing my own course in life is not lost on me.

A funny thing has happened during the course of my lessons with the ever-patient Tracie. While I’ve been attempting to learn how to reverse around a corner, manoeuvre into a parking bay and successfully negotiate a roundabout without accidently changing into first gear, Tracie has been listening to me harp on about social media and marketing.

The result is that Tracie now has her own Facebook page. While it might not be of relevance to people who live outside of Nottinghamshire, it does contain some useful clips on independent driving and the ‘show me tell me’ part of the driving test.

As of today Tracie is now working for herself and isn’t affiliated to any local driving school, so if there is anything I can do to help build her business I’ll do it.

So if you can, do go over and ‘like’ Tracie, because sometimes life doesn’t take the path you think it will but even if you veer off course and take up things a little later than you thought, you can meet some really lovely people along the way.

And if you live in Nottinghamshire, do recommend Tracie to your friends.

Photo credit.

The Gallery: Chilled out

This week’s Gallery theme is Chilled Out, a tough one I know (@Tara_Cain).

My idea of chilling out is relaxing with a good book, watching a film, shopping, chatting with friends and enjoying a bit of me-time, ideally without a child in tow. IJ doesn’t understand the concept of chilling out and considers all the above activities boring.

But being chilled out for me also means having a happy child, and here’s an extremely happy one enjoying her first attempt at orienteering in our local forest.

It’s something I’ve always wanted to try so we thought we’d give it a go.

Tell a child they are going to spend two hours walking around a wood and they’ll tell you they’d rather sit in front of the television all day. Tell them there are control points along the way for them to find and a map for them to read and suddenly they can think of nothing better.

And after that there's plenty of time to chill.

You can also read my post about orienteering over on Ready for Ten.