It was my birthday on Saturday and I have been celebrating by having a mini holiday from home. It is amazing how many things I managed to do without having to go away.
I started out by going to Chessington, a theme park close to my house. I’m not a fan of the scary roller-coasters, but had great fun taking my little boys on the gentler rides.
We went to a ‘pick your own’ farm and got our first strawberries of the season. (That is my little boy on the right and my nephew on the left)
In the evening I went to see Leona Lewis sing at the O2. She has the most amazing voice! Fans of fantasy will love her performance too – the costumes and stage props all looked as though they’d stepped out of a fairy tale.
To finish off my weekend we paid a little trip to a doughnut factory.
We also managed to squeeze in an amazing Japanese meal and a few bottles of wine! I’m afraid that I haven’t done much reading for the last few days, but my parents bought me a few books that were lurking at the top of my wish list.
I am now the proud owner of:
In Cold Blood – Truman Capote
The Housekeeper and the Professor – Yoko Ogawa
The Affirmation – Christopher Priest
I hope you all had a fantastic weekend too!
41 replies on “You don’t have to go away to have a great time….”
Happy birthday yesterday, Jackie! It certainly looks like you had a great time. I’ve heard a lot about The Housekeeper and the Professor, I hope you like it.
Happy belated birthday! It sounds like a load of fun. I love exploring things close to home — all too often you don’t get around to them unless you have out-of-town guests.
Happy birthday! Glad you had fun. I remember going to strawberry patches with my parents when I was a kid, so I hope your kids have great memories of this. Enjoy your new books!
Happy belated birthday! Looks like a great time – especially the donuts. I’ve been craving donuts lately but have no idea where to find them. Being in an unfamiliar town can be a trial. :p
I know our birthdays are very close! It sounds like you had a great one…oh those donuts! I’ve not had lunch yet and right now I could eat them all. In Cold Blood is one of my favorite books, not only because it is pure, unadulterated true crime, but the whole back story is just as compelling. I hope you like it!
That sounds like a great day. Enjoy the books and doughnuts and Happy Birthday!
Happy belated birthday, Jackie! 🙂 Looks like you had an amazing day! Now I´m craving strawberries 😉
Looks like a wonderful birthday! Sometimes the attractions close to home are just as much fun as the ones far away–and all without the annoyances of long-distance travel.
Happy belated birthday! It looks like you had a great time. It is always so much fun discovering new and exciting things to do close to home.
Happy birthday!! And wowsers, those doughnuts just look incredible. The chocolate sprinkles have layers of chocolate sprinkles. Gosh!
Belated birthday greetings, looks like the whole family enjoyed your birthday, I like that. 🙂
Happy birthday! Love the pink elephants! And how wonderful is that to live near a donut factory?!!
Happy Birthday! I’m a big fan of the birthday week, which means my birthday runs into Father’s Day most years. We had a wonderful bbq tonight, and saw Toy Story 3 last night. We’re practically twins – mine was Friday, and I had the same sort of wonderful few days with family and food and will spend my book money later this week. Now I’m craving donuts tho!
Happy Birthday (yesterday) Jackie. It sounds and looks like you had an amazing time. I think many of the best places are right in our own backyards no matter where you live. Your little ones are very cute.
Happy birthday Jackie! What a fun day. Pick-your-own farm is one of my favorite things. Hope you get to read In Cold Blood soon and tell us what you think 😉
Happy belated Birthday, Jackie! Glad you all had a wonderful time! 🙂
Happy birthday, Jackie! Sounds like you had a wonderful celebration.
Happy birthday, Jackie! It looks like you had tons of fun, all in your own backyard! Glad you found so many ways to celebrate!
Happy Birthday Jackie. Looks like you had a great time, so did your kids 🙂
Love Leona Lewis and strawberries.
Happy belated birthday Jackie! Leona Lewis is awesome, isn’t she?
Happy Birthday Jackie! Looks like you had a great day and that’s the best birthday present!
Belated happy birthday, Jackie! It looks like you had a great time.
Looks like a fab weekend – Happy Birthday Jackie!
Also, I soooo want to go strawberry picking, I haven’t done that since I was a little-ee.
Happy belated birthday Jackie! It looks like you had a wonderful weekend..
too often we neglect the pleasures to be had on our own doorstep. I’m glad you had such a wonderful time.
Happy birthday! It looks like you had a wonderful day. Enjoy In Cold Blood–it’s one of my favorites!
Belated Happy Birthday Jackie.
A happy belated birthday to you! It looks like a fabulous time. Especially the donuts! Yum!
Wheres the donut factory? that sounds brilliant. Happy belated birthday, sound like a good one.
Happy belated birthday! I love just staying at home and discovering all the city has to offer.
My husband and I have our birthdays 5 days apart so we like to make a week of it. This is the first year that he won’t have to work (he’s a new teacher) and we won’t have a brand new baby so we’ll be able to celebrate proper!
Happy Birthday Jackie! Looks like you had a great day and those donuts are making my mouth water!
Happy Birthday Jackie! I’ve read In Cold Blood and it’s the scariest book ever. I loved it slash had nightmares for months afterward.
Absolutely, you don’t have to go far to have a great time! My idea of near home great time is picnic by the thames, steam funfare in prospect park, or simply hang about in Waterstones!
I live in Reading.
Belated birthday wishes. You have had a wonderful fun filled day – let your days all be happy ones.
Happy Birthday!! What a great day … donuts, amusement park and books! What’s not to love!? And I don’t think I’d ever seen a photo of you before so it is nice to put a face with a blog!
Happy Belated Birthday, sounds like you had a fab weekend, you fitted so much in!!
What a fab weekend that sounds like! Happy birthday!
Happy belated birthday! This looks lovely (plus, the problem with actually going away is that you feel like you need to relax AFTER the actual holiday…I’m in a little post-holiday slump myself right now, actually).
Happy Belated Birthday! It sounds like you had a perfectly lovely weekend to celebrate.
lot of chocolate in that box!
Happy Birthday!
Looks like you had a great birthday 🙂