Learning made fun

Christmas In Melbourne

VIOLENT storms shatter the peace of Christmas. This was the headline we read as we flew out of Melbourne to Alice Springs. When planning our trip to Australia we had imagined Christmas on the beach with barbecues and picnics. As it happened, this was the case but in the mid afternoon Melbourne was hit by five individual thunderstorms, gail force winds and a tornado. At the time we were wandering around the truly spectacular Royal Botanical Gardens and although we sheltered for a bit it was impossible to dodge all the storms and ended up absolutely soaked through. Our clothes were literally dripping despite having waterproof jackets on. The rain fall was three times the amount usually considered "heavy" rain! Some areas had a white Christmas with hailstones the size of golf balls. We suffered only marble sized hail stones - they still hurt and pictures the following day showed windscreens shattered by them.

Despite this soggy end to our five day stay, we really liked Melbourne. It was our first stop in Australia having flown in from Bangkok. It's a city easy to navigate and whilst there is not a huge amount to do in Melbourne, the surrounding area is a must see. We stayed at The Langham Hotel which is brilliantly situated on the south bank of the Yarra River. The standard of the hotel did not live up to its five star rating due mainly to inexperienced/poorly trained staff. However, as the India Cricket Team was staying there if it was good enough for them it was good enough for us!

We did two trips. One to Phillip Island to see the penguin parade. These are little penguins, 30 cm tall, that return to their nests at nightfall. They appear in their hundreds and it is really spectacular to see. The better of the trips was The Great Ocean Road, a whole day exploring the wonders of this stretch of coastline. We saw kangaroos, koalas and kookaburras, all in their natural habitat. The breathtaking coastline is topped off with sandstone formations, just off the coast, known as he twelve apostles (although only 8 exist and this number is reducing).

In Melbourne itself we went to St Paul's Cathedral, Flinders Station, Queen Victoria Market, the shops and went to the viewing platform of the Eureka Building (the highest viewing point in Melbourne). It is easy to get to these places as there is a free city tram that circles the main city. On the first day, still suffering from jet lag, both Rob and I managed to fall asleep whilst on the tram whilst it was describing all the main hot spots!

Christmas in Melbourne is really different to how we expected it to be. It's a lot less commercial than in the UK and the build up is really quite low key. There are a few Christmas trees scattered around but very few decorations. Christmas songs are played but they somehow seem out of place. The main sign of Christmas were people wearing Santa hats. In the Crown Casino (the largest casino in the southern hemisphere) there was a Christmas play on the half hour with a talking Christmas tree a giant umbrella and a carousel. We saw it twice and still didn't understand the story - Disney doesn't need to worry! Outside the casino on the hour there are fire balls coming out of eight columns. Sounds spectacular but was actually quite naff.

On Christmas Day before the storms we had taken a tram to St Kildas beach. Here we saw a penguin nest alongside the pier with a chick inside. Rob went for a paddle and there were groups around having picnics and even the odd barbecue. This is more what we had expected from Christmas.

We liked Melbourne. It reminded us of a city in England but perhaps a bit more buzzy. However, given the rain and despite the test match cricket due that day, we were not too sad to leave.

Bangkok - The Start Of Our Adventure

OVER the next few weeks I'm going to blog about various places we visited in our recent one month holiday to Australia. I went with Rob my husband on a 'once in a lifetime' holiday to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed it so much it may be more than 'once in a lifetime' now as we have the travel bug! We arranged our holiday with Bridge and Wickers and flew Qantas.

Bangkok was a city full of surprises. After a tearful farewell to our three grown up children we set off on our great Australian adventure. It all seemed a bit surreal and both Rob and I were left with the feeling of "what have we done?"

En route we had a three night stop over in Bangkok. We loved it - but what an unusual city. We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental which was very good. As Bangkok has just got over the floods and at the best of times has a mixed reputation, this hotel suited us down to the ground. We had less qualms about the water, food and sanitation although still only drank bottled water and had no ice. We were amazed to see people eating food from the street vendors. I am sure it's ok but it wasn't for us.

Highlights of Bangkok were the floating market (although this was outside of Bangkok), the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the night market and a Thai massage. We didn't buy anything at the floating market but it was interesting to see. We had to do this with a guide because it is impossible to do this yourself, being 1 1/2 hours outside of Bangkok. Most of the market is actually not floating and it is therefore the 20 minute journey in a "James Bond" style tail boat that zips through the canals that make this fun. It was possible to go in a boat through the market and if you want to do this check that your tour operates this way.

We took a ferry bus from close to the hotel to the Grand Palace. You need to be careful as there are tuk tuk drivers outside who will tell you it is closed for an hour to take you on a tour of the local shops. This will undoubtedly not be the case. You need to dress modestly but if you have forgotten to do so there are clothes to borrow. It was a little confusing going around the palace but we found everything in the end. The highlight is the Emerald Buddah which is housed in a great big room but is itself tiny.

A short walk from the Palace is the temple Wat Pho. This houses the Reclining Buddah which is absolutely enormous. It is incredible to think anyone would have thought of commissioning something so big! Inside the grounds is the Thai School of massage. Prices are very reasonable and Rob had a half hour back massage for about £5.00. We had both had a Thai massage in the hotel the previous day which was brilliant, an experience not to be missed. We had a suite with a bath and steam room prior to the massage. We put on special outfits and were then massaged in unison by two masseurs. The massage finished with a ceremonial tea.

The night market was a really fun experience. On one side there were stalls selling all types of tourist products. On the other side were people trying to get you to go into their sex shows - usually under the title of "ping pong show". We bought nothing and didn't go to a show!

We were quite sad to leave Bangkok. This is a city that you should not take seriously if you really want to enjoy it.

Welcome to the new look Have a Lovely Time backed by Musical Minis

By Linda Jones

SINCE working with Musical Minis, we've also been busy with our family activities and travel website, Have a lovely time.

Now the two have come together as a new-look version of Have a lovely Time has been launched, with a fresh design and regular features and reviews of fun stuff to do and places to go.

We've incorporated Musical Minis branding on to our home page and are also keen to share news of any upcoming events from franchisees. If you have any stories about what you have going on, please get in touch.

If you're a fan of festivals with children, check out Just So

 

Run for your life, there's a Gruffalo coming...last year's Just So festival was a roaring success.

THEATRE, art, music, stories, nature and more are on the menu for a wonderful feast of family fun.

Staffordshire’s yearly Just So festival returns to Barnswood, near Leek, for a weekend of family festivities from August 19-21.

You can see lots of breathtaking pictures of the 2010 shenanigans here:

Just So 2010 gallery on Flickr.

Here's what the organisers say on their website:

The festival provides a magical experience where art, music and literature are embedded and entwined in a beautiful and wondrous landscape. We provide a broad range of musical, theatrical, visual and aural performances, workshops and installations within a safe, natural and magical setting. Every clearing and glade holds a new way to unleash creativity. Families discover and delight in the spectacular within the woodland environment during this spectacular weekend event.

Musical Minis backs Have a Lovely Time

At Musical Minis, our emphasis is on fun.

That's why we're delighted to now be supporting the family travel and activities website, Have a Lovely Time.

This popular resource, written by parents for parents, is set to be relaunched in June and will be branded with some Musical Minis images and information.

We're looking forward to this partnership, which will also see the Have a Lovely Time team publish regular news from Musical Minis.

Athens - Ruins, Columns And Statues

NEARLY 30 years ago I studied classical civilisation for A Level. Ever since then I have wanted to visit Athens to bring the Acropolis, statues and columns to life. Emily, my daughter, is now studying classical civilisation for A Level too, and she was so keen to visit that we decided on a half term trip.

We had heard that Athens was dirty, boring and not worth a visit so are expectations weren't great! However Rob, Emily and I found Athens to be quite the opposite (except the graffiti everywhere and it wasn't the cleanest of cities).

We stayed at the Intercontintental Hotel, which is slightly outside the city centre. The hotel has a regular free shuttle service into the centre, however, this could have been slightly more frequent - often it was once an hour. We upgraded our stay to include the executive lounge which was definitely worthwhile - this included breakfast and refreshments throughout the day as well as an hour of free Internet use. Drawbacks to the hotel was the concierge service wasn't great - we were dealt with whilst the concierge was taking phone calls and didn't feel we were given full attention. Restaurants suggested to us were really quiet and we felt unsure if the hotel was on commission.

The highlight of our Athens trip was a visit to the Acropolis. The Acropolis comprises of the Parthenon, Temple of Athene Nike, Theatre of Dionysus, Theatre of Herodes Atticus and the Propylaia. All my classical civilisation came flooding back as I identified Ionic, Doric, Corinthian, and Caryatid columns. A visit to the New Acropolis Museum added to my excitement of being able to remember the pediments, friezes, metopes and statues that I studied all those years ago. I'm not sure Rob and Emily found this quite as exciting! I was left with a feeling that the Elgin Marble in the British Museum really should be returned to their rightful owners, Greece.

Other sightseeing visits included:
• A trip to the 1896 Panhellic Olympic Stadium which held the first modern Olympics. There was an audio guide which was an excellent way to explore the stadium. I find it remarkable how the plumbing system used all those years ago has not experienced any problems and is still in full working order and yet our modern system always seems to be faulty! The seats for the 68,000 spectators were created with curvature so everyone could see - remarkable.
• The Ancient Agora, which was the focus of ancient Greek life where business, democracy and trade took place. Today it is an archaeological site made up of ruins but the Temple of Hephaestion is still preserved.
• The National Archaeological Museum which is full of statues, most with missing body parts! It also houses vases, jewellery and other antiquities. Emily was particularly pleased to see Nestor's cup which she had read about in Homer's Iliad. Agamemnon's death mask was also a hit. I preferred the statues as I had studied lots of them but had forgotten which ones!
• We took the open top sightseeing bus tour valid for 2 days. The first day we sat inside as it was pouring. The tour was informative and well worth doing.
• The Temple of Zeus and Hadrian's Arch which again were very interesting and a reminder of my school days.
• We were also lucky enough to be in Athens for the Changing of the Guards on Sunday morning outside the Parliament building. The guards changed every hour on the hour but on Sunday at 11am, there is a much longer ceremony to accompany this.
• We also went shopping to both the touristy and exclusive shops

Restaurants in Athens were everywhere, especially in the Plaka district. We went to a taverna here where we had a great Greek salad together with music and bustle. We went to Spondi, a Michelin star restaurant with great food although slightly lacking in atmosphere as it wasn't very busy. The 5 course meal we had was delicious and worth the price, especially as it came with 3 extra courses plus 2 glasses of wine. The hotel recommended a nearby taverna, Aremis, but although the food was ok the atmosphere and service was definitely missing. We were left feeling that perhaps the hotel was on commission as there must have been many other better places to recommend and 2 staff members had suggested we go here.

I would recommend a trip to Athens. It's remarkable that the ancient Greek life can still be seen so well. Ancient Greeks were so advanced in geometric design, philosophy, drama and democracy - the rest of the world is still catching up! Modern Greece is engulfed in it's ancient heritage and it's fascinating to see the two existing side by side.

Brussels - Chocolate, Waffles And Beer

AS I've mentioned in previous blogs I do find it important to have a complete break from work and escape from my daily routine, including dealing with admin tasks like the phone and emails. This Summer has been so hectic that it was difficult to have a full break, however, I realised I needed a few days off so as to work more efficiently in the next few months. With this in mind Rob, Emily and I settled on a 4 day break in Brussels.

We booked on Eurostar which apart from the queues to get through the ticket barriers and passport control was an easy journey. The 2 hour early morning trip, sitting opposite a large loud foreign man on his mobile phone, could have turned in to a disaster but thanks to the tunnel we were spared from his shouting and only had his snoring to put up with!

We had booked for 3 nights at the Hilton Brussels Hotel a decision, in the end, we were pleased with. There are many parts of Brussels worth visiting and we didn't find one particular area worth staying in above others. Our hotel was within walking distance of most of the major spots in Brussels and was in a road with many designer shops. We ended up in 3 different bedrooms in the hotel - one smelt of smoke, one had thick dust on the windowsill but the 3rd was perfect. The hotel staff were really friendly and went out of their way to help us - we were particularly impressed that after Emily ordered a waffle for breakfast one day the waiter remembered and asked her if she wanted one the next day when he saw her. The Senior Duty Manager, Saad Boumraya, was particularly helpful and we really had the feeling he was intent on making our stay the best he could. His attitude was reflected amongst his staff and we were delighted that we could make proper use of the concierge service - they were knowledgeable, friendly and always keen to assist. When we returned after a trip they had recommended, they asked how we enjoyed it - such a contrast to our experience at other hotels we had stayed in recently.

My Top 5 City Breaks

MY post on Barcelona has inspired me to write a positive post about my top 5 City Breaks.

1. New York is my favourite place to visit for a few days. I don't think I could ever tire of this bustling city for a short break, however, I wouldn't want to live there permanently. I've been to New York 3 times and just love the activity. I find it such an exciting place to be. My first visit I went with Rob and we stayed in a good position in a Hilton hotel, which was so huge it was like a busy train station. The next 2 visits we went with all 3 kids and stayed in a hotel on Time Square where we could get an apartment to sleep all 5 of us so it worked out cheaper than 2 hotel rooms. I loved being on Time Square, even though it was so busy. Looking out the hotel window and seeing the tiny yellow taxis beneath us gave me a thrill. In New York there are numerous tourist attractions, museums, shops, delis, diners and everyday hustle and bustle - its so exciting. Despite great restaurants, my favourite place to eat is in the numerous delis with their huge sandwiches and enormous slices of cheesecake. Out of all the attractions my favourites are shopping at Bloomingdales - where we collected each size of brown bag: the Guggenheim Museum - set in a house; ice skating at the Rockerfeller Centre and walking through Central Park. Of course, no visit is complete without seeing a production on Broadway. Everything is just larger than life and great fun.

Barcelona

RUNNING your own business, especially from home, can be really difficult as you constantly have something you should or can be doing. In a 'normal' job once you leave work, on the whole, your work day is over - not so for business owners.

Working from home, I always have something to do. In the evening the phone rings as my franchisees find it easier to call me once their children are settled for the night. There is always something to update or create and a never ending stream of emails to answer. Evenings and weekends just merge into work time. In the 20 years I've been running Musical Minis this has just become routine for me and an acceptable part of my life. The only way I can properly escape is to go away and have a few days break.

Whilst I don't go away often I do feel it's crucial to my well being to regularly have some time off. I know that the business can run smoothly whilst I'm not around for a few days. Nobody is irreplaceable and it's important to realise this. I do have a nightmare few days before I go away and another few when I get back just organising and sorting everything out so things run calmly despite my absence. In fact sometimes I question if it's worth all the effort but it really is - I firmly believe everyone needs a chance to have time off as I'm convinced it helps them to be more productive when they return.