Being Country Kids In Real Life

 I have been joining in with the brilliant Country Kids linky for well over a year now and it is one of my favourite - actually I think it is my favourite linky because of the impact it has made on my life as a mummy to my two boys. This linky has made me get out and about more with my boys. I would have always gone outside and allowed the boys some fresh air, as I am very keen on ensuring my children experience a natural childhood with lots of outdoor play and discovery. However, knowing I needed to write a post each week with photographic evidence has given me a kick up the ar*s and seen me go out in all weathers with them!

This week Burton, Jenson and I were given the opportunity to be real life Country Kids - yes we had a day trip to CoombeMill Farm. My friend TheBoyandMe and her family were staying at the farm for the week and Fiona very kindly agreed to allow the boys and I to visit for the day so we could all meet up (as was Hayley - nice to meet her after all these years of blogging and tweeting!).

 CoombeMill Farm is only 55 miles away fron me so it is not too far to travel to, and we left home early so that we would make the 9am feed run along with the holiday guests, and have a ride on the tractor and trailer. This is such a fantastic experience for the childen and adults to get their hands dirty and feed and touch the farm animals that live on Fiona and Farmer Nick's land. My two have had some previous experience of feeding and handling/holding chickens as their grandparents keep these birds.However, for children who have not done so before this feed run allows them such a wonderful experience and opportunity to get up close and personal to these birds. And not just chickens but the pigs, donkeys and goats too.

After the feed run we had a drink and some cake with Fiona and then TheBoyandMe, her family and myself and the boys headed down to the adventure park near their holiday lodge, which has a zip wire, slide, swings, sand pit and an old tractor to climb upon. 

Following a picnic kindly provided by TheBoyandMe we went to feed the pigs our scraps of food - great way of ensuring no food wastage - before heading over to the brilliant pirate ship for some more playtime adventures.

The boys made some woodland art too with some clay and using whatever was to hand, they created some faces which they were VERY proud of!

While the boys got creative with their clay and nature's crafty bits and bobs, us adults, including Fiona who came over to meet us, made some rafts using twigs, sticks, long grass and whatever else we could find to make our sailing vessels. Then it was time to have a little raft race and it was between myself and MrTbaM (as Fiona wanted to save hers for the big race which was held Friday) whose raft was much bigger then mine it has to be said. The boys, TBaM, Fiona, some other guests and I waited patiently to see which raft would get to the bridge first........the tension was unbearable lol and it took ages as our rafts got stuck in the river bank. MrTBaM very kindly waded into the water to rescue them! In the end, mine did come in first - but only just!

After the raft racing shinnagins, we did some stone throwing into the river and Burton and The Boy swung over the water in a rope swing and we all waded across the water to the little island - wet shoes and all!

After a shower and change of clothes it was time for the final CoombeMill treat and surprise - a train ride on the minature locomotive (*that* is said in the voice of Grandpa Pig from Peppa Pig for all you Peppa Pig fans!!)! Jenson did not want to have a ride so it was just Burton and The Boy who went round the train track circle line for about 20 minutes! It is fair to say that we did not want to leave but it was 5.45pm and I do not know how both boys kept going for so long, especially Jenson who was still running around up until he got into my car! Needless to say, they were both asleep 10 minutes into our journey home!

Before dropping off, both boys excitedly talked about all the things we had done and the animals we saw and the great day we had all enjoyed. And when we arrived home, a sleepy Burton said to me "but I wanted to drive the train Mummy!" and then they both showed Daddy every single photo which I had taken of our day at Coombe Mill, before finally going to bed.

I only spent 9 hours at Coombe Mill Farm but what an epic 9 hours they were! It is such a beautiful place, magical and welcoming and relaxing. It is remote and peaceful and a wonderful haven. I have read many posts and seen many photos of the place but it is not until you see it with your own eyes, and soak up the atmosphere that you can truly appreciate its magic.

I want to stay for a holiday now!!!!

Thank you to Fiona and TbaM for having us and giving us a really fantastic day and one which made me smile all the way on my drive home :)