End of the Year

Well, I lost track of hours somewhere over the last few months but we definitely didn't hit 1000hrs.

However, I don't mind...we definitely took more opportunities to get outside this year and will continue to do so in 2023! 🎉

-Jenny-

Struggling

We've really been struggling to get outside at all recently and our weekly hours are relying heavily on football training and matches, rather than any excursions out and about.

Our car was poorly, and out of action for over a week, which means we did get some extra time in walking to and from school/doctors etc. (the journey back from the doctors involves a lovely bit through the park 😍

Personally, I've managed to get out more on my own than usual and I think next year I'll track my individual hours, and see how I do.

 I've experienced the full range of autumn weather, from beautiful blue skies, to torrential downpours 😅

Half term is now here, and we do have some plans to go out, but I'd really like to get into the habit of just being outside more, rather than taking a trip out.

Hope to be sharing some more outdoor adventures soon! x

-Jenny-

Still Not Fully Changed Our Mindset

Whilst we've definitely got out and about more than last year, we still haven't managed to incorporate the outdoors into our everyday lives as much as I'd hoped.

Lost Track of Time

As the title of this post says, I've lost track of the time....over the past few weeks I have missed recording hours towards our 1000 hours outside challenge. I'm trying to count back what I've missed but I don't think I'm going to get it exactly right!

On a similar note, I've hardly taken any pictures this last couple of weeks so don't really have any to share.

We've done a lot of garden hours....trampoline, paddling pool, slip 'n' slide. That kind of thing!

However, there have been a couple of evenings where we have spent time outside, which isn't the norm for us. We've discovered that we still have hedgehogs visiting our garden, so have spent time looking for them, and managed to snap a pic of this (very fast) little one 🙂🦔

We also spent some time watching for shooting stars. The Perseids have recently been at their peak and J & C & Mr MudAhoy all spotted a few, unlike me (maybe I just blink every time one passes?)

Until next time... (and hopefully I'll have some pictures then!)

-Jenny-

Summer Holidays

Well, I've bee slacking a bit on updating this blog but we've just been generally enjoying our summer holidays. It's so nice not to have the hustle and bustle of school/clubs etc.

Me and L took a trip to Wentworth Family Farm, which is small but great for a little trip out. They have a good number of animals, and hourly opportunities to meet the animals close-up. The have a good, pirate-themed playground including a water play area (taking a change of clothes is a good idea!)

Whilst at Wentworth, we also visited the Historic Gardens....we visited the Bear Pit (as seen in the picture below) and completed the Maze, all whilst completing a treasure hunt. Great fun!

The holidays certainly make getting those outside hours a lot easier. Being able to nip out for a quick walk around the nature trail near our house is just wonderful.

More updates coming soon!

-Jenny-

Paddleboarding & Kayaking

Sometimes it can be difficult to encourage the teenager to get outside with us but I recently discovered that a local boat club were doing 'Try It' sessions for canoeing, kayaking, and stand up paddle boarding. J & C both jumped at the chance of doing kayaking, and I've long fancied trying SUP.

We headed down there on Saturday (a day after the toasty 30° weather) and had such a fun time, spending an hour on the water. The boys quickly took to kayaking and were quickly playing tag with the other participants.

I was apprehensive when I first got on the water, utterly convinced that I was going to fall off and get totally drenched, but we all started off on our knees and learning how to use the paddle. 

Once we'd go the hang of that, we were given the opportunity to try standing up.... absolutely terrifying 😅 But...I managed it, I paddled for a while, I manoeuvred around a buoy, and didn't fall off!!

It was such an enjoyable afternoon for all 3 of us that we're seriously considering joining the club and making it a regular thing!

Unfortunately, as we had no spectators it means we didn't get any pictures of us doing the watersports, but I did get a nice pic of the lake.

-Jenny-

Holidays Make Such a Difference

We have been lucky enough to get away on holiday over half term and it has allowed us to get some many outdoor hours in a short space of time.

We visited Peñiscola, in Spain, and we averaged at least 10hrs a day outside, including eating all our meals outside. We stayed with extended family in a large villa, which had its own outdoor pool, so easy just to pop in the pool when we felt like it.

The area, which we stayed in, was so beautiful, and plenty to keep us occupied; the boys particularly enjoyed exploring the old town and castle, and spending time on the beach (and in the sea!)

The beaches were lovely, we spent a lot of time on the North Beach, where there are playgrounds dotted along the beach, and facilities like showers and toilets nearby.

The boys had an amazing time, and were eager to get outside as soon as they woke up; if only it was that easy in soggy and cold England.

-Jenny-

Sports Count Too

 Sometimes it can be hard to get past the idea that '1000 Hours Outside' should be forays into nature, or amazing hikes across the mountains. Well, this post is about saying Stop! Look at what you're doing, and realise that you are actually meeting the brief of the experiment....you are getting outside!

My middle boy is on a football team, and this adds to our total outside hours quite substantially. He's outside, getting exercise, and spending time with his friends and, whilst I'm not getting loads of exercise standing on the sidelines, I am out in the fresh air.

So, just remember...outside is outside! 🙂

-Jenny-

Small Wins

I sometimes forget that getting outside doesn't have to be a big excursion, or even far from home.

It's easy to get excited about going to new places, planning a long walk, or having a whole day outside but it's worth remembering that just an hour in the garden or a local park is better than not getting out at all.

This week we've not been able to go far from home so have made short trips to our local park, and it's been great just to get out in the fresh air.

Hopefully we will be able to have some bigger days out soon, but it's definitely not the end of the world if we don't 🙂

-Jenny-

Rivelin Valley Trail

 As the weather has been so nice, we recently took a trip up to Rivelin Valley, in Sheffield. It's a place that me and the boys have never visited but Steve used to go often, as a child.

Being a Saturday, there was a lot of traffic and it took us almost an hour to get there, but we soon found our way to Rails Road Car Park. (Click here to see on Maps)

At the end of the car park is a lovely little pond where we saw Mandarin Ducks, which are quite uncommon around here.

From the car park, we crossed Rails Road and entered onto the Rivelin Valley Trail and decided to follow the river downstream. The trail is a heritage trail, and there are markers along the route, showing where the various mills used to be.

There are so many waterfalls along the trail, some of the plunge pools are surprisingly deep though, apparently this one is 2m deep just below the waterfall!

The boys particularly enjoyed the various places where we had to cross the river, particularly the stepping stones! There are, at least, 3 sets along the trail but we only crossed one; due to the river level some of the stones were completely underwater, so we took an alternate path a little further up the hill.

We continued all the way down the valley to Rivelin Park, where we stopped to play on the playground and have an ice-cream, before heading back towards the car. The walk back up the valley is even more lovely, as you're facing all the waterfalls as you reach them.

By the end, we had walked 5.5 miles, and had been outside for 4hrs (great for our 1000 Hours Outside challenge). We'll definitely be back another time!

-Jenny-