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Archive for the ‘National Trust’ Category

We have been going to the fun days at Penrhyn Castle, with a friend who is a child minder, who is also home schooling.

This week the fun day was Knights and Princesses. Being slightly insane, we decided to challenge each other to wear a dress. I decided to wear my wedding dress, and D found a lovely purple dress to wear.

At Penrhyn Castle Fun Day

Not perfect enough for my little girl, she also got picked out to help Bimbamboozle to do his magic, which even tonight – she is talking about, and saying how wonderful he is, and how funny it was when he changed a nappy… so yet another picture coming up..

Them knots

We also went around the castle, and looked at the play room, and spent some time looking at the big trains in the old stable blocks..

Great fun.

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Whilst I cant claim to be an avid fan of the politics behind the National Trust as an organisation, I am a definate fan of there FUN days.

Today was Alice in Wonderland at Penrhyn Castle. Along with Chris, from the Harlequin Puppet Theater The oldest purpose built puppet theater in britain , at Ros on Sea – Well worth a visit!!

Asha loves the national trust fun days, as she gets time to do some crafty project – todays was decorating a fairy cake,

and making a plate rabbit. Also today she planted some seeds, in little pots. As well as this there was the colouring in competition, and the trail – with a prize for everyone who did it..

she also enjoyed having a go at lawn crochet, and hoop playing..

Added onto this, about three hours of Bimbamboozle,and time to play in the large grounds, fun play area and if you want visit the castle, or stable areas where there are displays such as the steam trains, old dolls etc etc..

Anyway, today we had agreed to meet some friends there, who did the fancy dress parade, as well. We didnt do it this week, but are going to endevour too for next week.

Having fun doing all mad stuff at the moment but I fall asleep as soon as I get home at night, exhausted!!

(Photograph of Chris, and Asha, kindly provided for by Debbie Pritchards Proffesional Child Minding Service )

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We finally got to Plas Newydd today. We didnt however get inside the house, to see the wonderful paintings, or such things, but small steps..

It was there circus fun day, but Asha wasnt feeling too good, but she did love Mr bimbamboozle (Chris) and the punch and judy show. She spent time playing with Wayne and Debbie, but didnt really want to do much as she was tired.

The history of the estate may be traced back to the 15th century, and the Griffiths family. They were an enormously powerful and wealthy family of the Penrhyn estate in Bangor. They did in fact at that time own most of the important Anglesey estates. Gwilym ap Griffith (d1431) had married Morfydd, the daughter of Goronwy ap Tudur of Penmynydd. Her esteemed Anglesey family were blood relatives of King Henry VII.

In 1553, one of their descendants, Ellen Griffith (d1573) married Sir Nicholas Bagenal, Marshal of the army in Ireland, and the owner of Irish estates. Their granddaughter Ann (d1623) married Sir Lewis Bayly – the Bishop of Bangor, tutor and chaplain to both the sons of King James I.

source : http://www.anglesey.info/PlasNewydd.htm

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I have recently been reading this fantastic book by Thomas Firbank, originally written in 1940.

A fantastically comical, yet interesting insight into sheep farming in the snowdonia national park pre and during the wars.

It also covers there journey over the 14 13,00 mountains,  and is a great read.

Whilst trying to find the exact location of the farm on google, I came across this article.  dated 2005.

A Snowdonia hill farm made famous in a best-selling book has been acquired by a conservation body.

Dyffryn Mymbyr near Capel Curig was left to the National Trust in a bequest by hill farmer, Esmee Kirby.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/4215429.stm

Now why isnt it listed on the national trust web site as somewhere in gwynedd to visit?

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-property-searchresults_2.htm?type=region&target=10

Answers please. As I actually would love to go and see the place!

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Asha at Penrhyn

A photograph a friend took earlier in the year at Penrhyn Castle

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granny met us in Bangor and then we headed off to Penrhyn Castle for the fun day.Asha was quite tired, but she managed to make a wonderfull sand bottle.

Needs : chalks, small funnel, plastic bottle small, salt, and a container.

Put a little bit of salt (about a table spoon) in the bottom of a plastic tray.

Use chalks to colour in salt.

Pour salt into bottle.

repeat above with different colours.

Use some old plastercine to plug bottle top.

After enjoying herself doing this, she then watched the punch and judy Mr bimbamboozle show which she loved.

We came home shortly after as Asha was exhausted. She sat with granny, had a bath, ate her tea and then went to bed.

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Bodnant Gardens Web Site.

Everyone has always told me how fantastic they are, but to be honest:-

Disabled Parking, used by anyone who thinks they are disabled, no badges in site. I had to park somewhere else then move.

Wheelchair access diabolical and no signage for alternative routes.

Food provision for an Asha – fruit salad, out of a tin.. It “should” be o.k.

The producation by The Chapter House Theater group, was o.k., but i wish it had said in its blurb it was aimed at 4 – 8 year olds, and not sold as an outdoor production of sleeping beauty.. It was slightly confusing, I wish they had omitted the stork and the baby bit, and it took me about 3/4 of it to actually enjoy it.

Asha however loved it.

PDF file on Bodnant Garden and Estate

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Asha has been catching frogs and generally pond dipping today.

She was mesmerised by the tiny frogs and really did want to catch one, but wasnt too keen on falling in the pond.

We also looked at trains, dolls and gardens. A quick sneak around a victorian kitchen… Can you guess where we met Granny?

We also got a copy of astrid Lindgren – Pippi Longstocking… now illustrated by Laruen childs.. Asha has loved it soo far,

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Mummy has been suffering this week. Last weekend she was shivering in a room which was recording a temperature of over 25degrees C and under a duvet.

Glad to say Mummy is now a lot better, and only complaining that the kitchen floor still needs mopping;)

So what have we done then?

Last Saturday, was the normal rush to ballet, and then home to collapse on the sofa..
Sunday, I didnt do anything, I can remember and I am sure Steve played with Asha loads, and played football outside with her.
Monday. I went to the drs and got yet another course of antibiotics. I think we also went somewhere else but I cant remeber where/ what?
Tuesday, We went to Aberdesach Beach, and had a lovely day – mummy sleeping on the beach wrapped in blankets, Steve and Asha playing in the stream and just enjoying the sun, and sea air.
Wednesday- Oh the joys of wednesdays;) Shopping, followed by a short visit to C.L.A.S followed by a trip to the Spinneys – Nature / Bird reserve thing, at Bangor.

We also fitted in a trip to Penrhyn Castle, ……and Asha and I did a detour to the cafe for some Asha friendly cake… to meet a friend, for a lift as the Van wont get into the car park at the spinneys!

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We felt the material in the main lounge, we looked at the dungeons, and we walked around the pictures, and at the main hall table.

We discovered why the walnuts were wrapped up in lace (the servants would break the shells before they got to the table) and we looked at the victorian kitchens.

We watched a lady spinning a selection of different wools, and talked about harps.
We looked at the mad collection of trains, but Asha’s favourite bit??? Playing in the play area

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Well she has done it. She came to Bangor by train, and has now gone home. Asha and I met her, and we had a lovely day, visiting some of the shops, and spending some time at Penryn Castle. A national trust property with class, large gardens, a outdoor play area, and loads of interesting things for even an Asha to look at!

The history behind it is slightly more worrying however – cotton, slavery, death….

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Mum has offered to pay for membership for us for my birthday, so i sent an email to query some of the issues on the membership leaflet for home educating families.

My reply:

There is no legal requirement to register with the local LEA to home
educate. As per the education act 1996

Parental Duties: Section 7
“The parent of every child of compulsory school age shall cause him to
receive efficient full-time education suitable ;
a) to his age, ability, and aptitude, and
b) to any special educational needs he may have,
either by regular attendance at school or otherwise.”

You may wish to confirm this by lookint at

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Schoolslearninganddevelopment/ChoosingASchool/DG_4016124

Dear Victoria,

Thank you for your email.

Before I can provide you with the information you requested, can you please confirm if you are registered with the government as a certified home educator.

Kind regards,

Ste Galloway
Membership Department

—- Original Message —-
My mother plans on paying for us to have home educating membership for the
national trust for our daughter. She is currently 3 1/2.

However before we decide to do this, I am concerend about a few of the
practicalitis of the Educators Membership, and what would be expected of us.

Would I be expected to notify a venue 7 days in advance, of us visiting?

We often only decide on the day that we are going to attend a venue. The
idea of notifying somewhere 7 days in advance is not really practicle, could
you explain why this is necessary? What bonus is there to us as home
educators of you knowing we are coming? My daughters and my health
restrictions as well as weather in wales, kind of dictates our activites

Would I be expected to have insurance?

With thanks

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We went there today, with a few people from Woodfolk, to see the snowdrops and Daffodils.

Although only the gardens and tea rooms were open, it was a well spent afternoon, dispite the high winds, and rain at the end of the day, and I really recomend going to them if you have the chance.

The three small ponds had snails and interesting plants in, and Asha got to see Matting toads, and frogspawn. She also saw water snails, lillies and other wildlife.

It was great getting to go around with P, as he works there, he was able to direct us and tell us all about so many of the trees, the beech, redwood, and laurel, are three trees I have learnt more about today.

We also discussed the tree which queen elizabeth planted.. but I cant remeber what it is.

Asha got to look closely at snow drops, daffodils, crocus, Primrose, and other plants. We also looked at a tree heather, which I am intrigued about.

Loads of walking, and If Asha was asleep I would be asleep now.. but a great afternoon.

Link to castle site.

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