Climbing High at the O2

Last year during a visit to London we discovered you could walk over the top of the O2 and from that moment Hubby and Kian kept dropping hints that they wanted to do it.

I am an O2 customer and they run half price promotions on certain days of the year, but each time they did it clashed with Hubby’s work so we didn’t get to take advantage of the offers. I decided enough was enough and this half term we had tickets to Comic Con over the river at the Excel so it seemed the perfect time to book them on.

The minimum age for the climb is 10 years old (and 1.2m tall) so it was just Hubby and Kian doing the climb this time. After the initial booking in it was time to watch a short safety video and get ready. You are not allowed to take bags or items up with you so these are packed away in a blue crate which is wheeled around the O2 so they are waiting for you at the other side.

You are provided with a Climbing jacket, Boots, a Harness and the Latch for the climb. Apparently the boots are the most comfortable they have ever worn and once you are ready it is time to climb.

Up at the O2

They had planned to take the Go Pro up with us and charged it prior to our trip, but somehow left it switched on so the battery was dead which was a real shame, but thankfully were allowed to take the camera and phone up with them as long as it was kept away until they got to the top. Anything dropped on the way up or down could potentially damage the roof of the O2 and would be unlikely to be retrieved.

Ross, the tour guide, gave another brief safety talk and asked if anyone wanted to lead – of course Hubby volunteered straight away and they were clipped onto a safety line and set off.

Up close the walk looks quite steep but you can go at your own pace and the boys say it was fairly easy. Ross, the tour guide, gave a fantastic commentary and happily pointed out all the sites which included Historic Greenwich, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Canary Wharf.

Up at the O2

Our booking was at 3.30pm and the sun was starting to dip which made for an even more spectacular view at 52 metres in the air.

Up at the O2

At the top you get to walk around a large circular walkway so you can take in the 360° views.

Up at the O2

There is also an app you can download which gives you a labelled view of the skyline as well as staying up to date with the weather.

Up at the O2

The climb itself takes around an hour, but with the briefing before hand the whole experience lasts around 90 minutes. At the end of the climb you are reunited with your belongings and offered the chance to purchase photo’s of the climb which were a very reasonable £10 and a great reminder of the day.

Up at the O2

Hubby has promised me that next time he will take me to climb the O2 and this time we will make sure the Go Pro is charged!!

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Up at the O2

Project 365 2015 – Week 44

How on earth is it November already? It only feels like I started this years Project 365 a couple of weeks ago!

Half term week with us hasn’t gone quite to plan. Last weekend we went to London with the kids and it was clear that Sebby wasn’t quite himself and by Monday he was clung to me refusing to move and stayed like that until Wednesday.

London was fun though, we went to Comic Con with friends on the Saturday which if I am honest we really didn’t enjoy, however we took the Cable Car over to the O2 and took advantage of all the free activities there and had a blast. On Sunday, I headed to Kidzania with Isaac and Eliza whilst Kian and Hubby climbed the O2.

Sebastian was very poorly on Monday and Tuesday but thankfully hubby was at home to help. I did escape the house for Isaac’s water polo lesson on Monday and I took him and Kian to the Hollywood Special Effects Show on Tuesday evening, but I cancelled the two events we were due to go to on Wednesday. By that afternoon it was clear we all needed some fresh air and went for a walk at a local Iron Age Fort, Badbury Rings.

Thursday was another quiet day as the weather was atrocious but we did spot a break in the rain and went to the local park for some fresh air.

On Friday we were invited to the Snow Dome at Hemel Hempstead to try skiing and snow boarding with Crystal Ski Holidays. I hadn’t skied for 26 years but it seems you don’t forget and was off and going immediately. Not quite so good at getting off the lift though.

On Saturday we had booked to go to a promising new local Halloween event. Sadly it didn’t live up to expectations and we left early, however, the kids did love playing in the smoke from the smoke machine.

This is my week in pictures:

Week 44

298. Jail break at Kidzania

299. Water Polo practice

300. Hollywood Special Effects Show

301. Running free at Badbury Rings

302. A break in the rain so we hit the park

303. Kian snowboarding at the Snow Dome in Hemel Hempstead

304. Halloween fun

Kidzania

Saturday is Caption Day – 31st October 2015

Hello and welcome to this weeks #satcap

If you have not taken part before please come and join in. Simply find a funny / cheeky / captionable photo and upload it to your blog with a sentence or three about it. Then link it up with me below and visit the other people who link up and have a giggle as you come up with some humourous captions!

Last weekend we went to Kidzania in London and Isaac and Eliza had great fun trying out jobs for the day, but there wasn’t a great deal for Sebby to do so we made our own fun……….. not sure he quite gets the idea of hide and seek though.

Can you caption this?

Kidzania

[inlinkz_linkup id=577684 mode=1]

It’s easier to go down a hill but the view is much better at the top!!

This week is half term and typically Sebastian has come down with the lurgy so we had to spend two days indoors, which is most unlike us. By Wednesday we were all going a little stir crazy, but as Sebby still wasn’t quite himself we decided that it would be safer to take him somewhere quiet where he could not share his bug.

Badbury Rings is an Iron Age Hill Fort set just up the road from us, just outside Wimborne in east Dorset.  The site dates from around 800 BC and was in use until the Roman occupation of 43 AD. It is a site of historical importance, but more importantly for the children it is somewhere where they can run and play and hide and seek to their hearts content.

We arrived just after lunch to an almost empty free car park and set about putting on welly boots as the last couple of days had been very wet. Cue an almighty meltdown from Sebastian who didn’t want to wear his wellies so after a 10 minute stand off I relented and let him wear his shoes and suddenly my happy boy reappeared.

Badbury Rings

Badbury Rings is a high point in the local landscape and provides excellent views in all directions. Isaac, Eliza and Sebastian enjoyed climbing the fortifications to see what they could see around them.

Badbury Rings

We headed into the woods at the centre of the fort, but as they were shaded it was quite boggy in places, so we decided that playing on the rings was a much more sensible idea as the ground was much drier.

Badbury Rings

Sebby brought his binoculars with him so we were playing a game of what we could see. From the rear of Bradbury Rings we spotted Kingston Lacey House and the town of Wimborne. We saw a Buzzard flying high on its search for food and a Chinook helicopter that has been around for days, apparently on a training exercise. Isaac brought his sonic screwdriver along and him and Eliza were playing Doctor and his assistant – even the Tardis dropped in for a visit at one point.

Badbury Rings

We spent a good hour and a half exploring Badbury Rings, walking up and down the forts and finding mini beasts. Getting fresh air did Sebby the world of good and he seemed much chirpier afterwards and actually ate his dinner which he hasn’t done all week.

Badbury Rings

I think we have found a new favourite place to visit with the children and next time we hope Sebby will wear his wellies so we can explore further!!

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Eliza

Crocs for all the family!

Crocs are a bit like marmite – they are shoes you either love or hate.

I am on the love side of them and all the kids own a pair which get used for trips to the beach and general summer wear as they are perfect to protect little feet from stones, they dry instantly if you take them into the water for a paddle and they are lightweight to tuck away in a bag.

I didn’t know they did wellies for both kids and adults and I was keen to try them.

Made from fully moulded from their infamous Croslite™ material the boots are super lightweight with cushioning and comfort. We received the Handle It kids’ rain boot for Eliza to review which are available in 6 bright colours with a waterproof build that keeps her puddle-jumping feet cozy and dry.

I thought the handles at the top were a genius idea for carrying them around, but they actually make pulling the boots on so much easier that she can actually do it herself plus they survived the puddle jump test and look great too.

Crocs Handle It Wellies

I was sent the Wellie Rain Boot in a shocking pink colour. They are made with the same  Croslite™ material as Eliza’s only have rubber outsole pods which helps improve traction and grip. I was surprised by how light and comfortable they are and will now become my staple for days out.

Crocs Tall Wellies

Isaac’s current wellies still fit him, so for him I chose the Star Wars™ special effects traditional croc, only they come with a twist – Watch the lightsaber elements around the front of the clog light up with every step. It glows a menacing red to match the Darth Vader™ design theme.

I ordered a size bigger than he needs so hopefully they will still fit him in the summer, although he is quite happy wearing them around the house as slippers.

Star Wars Crocs

I have to say I am very impressed with the Crocs range of wellies and shoes and will certainly be back for more when the kids out grow their current ones.

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