http://www.havealovelytime.com/ en-US Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:38:39 +0100 http://www.typepad.com/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/thomsonbookevents.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/thomsonbookevents.html FANCY meeting Jacqueline Wilson in Kos or Michael Morpugo in Menorca? Okay, so it's not currently a possibility unless you happened to bump into them while they were on holiday too, but a new development from Thomson conjures up all sorts of possibilities for the future. The leading tour operator has teamed up with Headline Publishers and some of the biggest names in popular adult fiction, including Victoria Hislop, Sheila O’Flanagan, Penny Vincenzi and Lyn Andrews, are holding An Audience With events at Thomson Gold hotels. Bestselling author Simon Scarrow and chicklit favourite Jill Mansell are also lined up to... Books Europe Hotels Linda News Travel Linda Jones Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:38:39 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/wheres-best-for-families-in-brixham.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/wheres-best-for-families-in-brixham.html Photo by Lovestruck on Flickr. I'M heading off to Brixham at some point in the very near future. I've already been recommended to check out Crealy AdventureTheme Park and um, cream teas. What else would you advise a family with two 11-year-old girls should get up to? Have you got a favourite beach, restaurant or day out around and about? Please help, I haven't been since I was about 12. Thanks! Devon Linda Self-catering Tips Travel UK Linda Jones Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:50:02 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/familysites.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/familysites.html Why we love butterfly farms, a recent post by Rosie Scribble from Ready for Ten. IF you're running out of inspiration for stuff to do with your family, these resources may get you going. From booking a best deal on an exotic getaway to mastering some crafty fun, these sites -- some you'll know and some you won't -- will be right up your alley. Carrots and Kids Deb is a gifted blogger whose love for her family, allotment and amazing craft or (whispers) educational projects shines out from her gorgeous blog. Her Big List of Things To Do For... Baking (yay!) Blogging Children's activities Days out Englishmum Meet the bloggers Tips Travel UK Web/Tech Weblogs Why we love Linda Jones Sat, 14 Aug 2010 23:55:33 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/review-park-inn-telford-and-blists-hill-museum-by-newmummy.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/review-park-inn-telford-and-blists-hill-museum-by-newmummy.html This beautiful carousel is one of the attractions on offer at Blists Hill Victorian town..but it can be scary when you're little you know! WHEN Carol and family visited Telford recently, she didn't know what to expect, but a pleasant hotel with a warm welcome and a fantastic family-friendly attraction gave her plenty of great memories. She writes: When I was recently offered a trip to Telford I asked myself two questions, one where is Telford? And two what was there to do? Well let me tell you, I''ve since discovered Telford is in Shropshire and it turns out there... Children's activities Days out Great British Days Out Hotels Midlands Museums Sponsored posts UK Weblogs Linda Jones Mon, 09 Aug 2010 15:21:58 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/londoneye.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/londoneye.html JEN and her family tell us what they thought of a trio of London attractions. Hang on to your hats, it's a bit of a bumpy ride...The London Eye How can you take a trip to London without going on the famous London Eye? When is a "trip" not a trip? You guessed it...on the Eye, it used to be owned by British Airways, so you could say we undertook a flight! We had prebooked tickets, so just had to collect them from the priority queue and the assistant was really helpful as he also changed the times for our... Children's activities City breaks Cruises Days out Great British Days Out London Museums UK Wish you were here? Linda Jones Sat, 07 Aug 2010 15:46:55 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/keycamp.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/keycamp.html WHEN Carol Garrington and her family headed for Southern Brittany in May courtesy of Keycamp, they couldn't wait to see what this part of France had to offer. Carol writes: THIS year we were lucky enough to be invited by Keycamp to sample one of their holiday parcs in France. We had a fabulous family holiday with them last year when we spent a week at Le Croix de Vieux Pont, Bernie Riviere, so were really excited to be going again. I took my parents and my nephew along this time and chose to venture a bit farther afield to... Beaches Brittany Camping Europe France Holiday parks Travel Linda Jones Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:51:53 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/geat-british-days-out-portsmouths-historic-dockyard.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/geat-british-days-out-portsmouths-historic-dockyard.html By Yuri and Vic. MOVE over Chalmers, move over Calder, move over Bradbury, there's a new kid on the travel broadcasting block. Thank you so much Yuri and Vic for their fun-filled video of their Portsmouth adventures. You can see part one above. Scroll down for the following instalment, amid Vic's review. I first visited Portsmouth Historic Dockyard when I was 10, maybe 11 years old. In those days I didn't think there was a great deal there. There was the HMS Warrior 1860, HMS Victory and the Mary Rose being sprayed down with salt water -–my parents didn’t bother... Children's activities Great British Days Out UK Video Web/Tech Weblogs Linda Jones Fri, 06 Aug 2010 08:01:07 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/reviewbelledune.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/08/reviewbelledune.html By Siriol Haf Griffiths HOW would a pair of seasoned travellers cope with their first holiday abroad with their baby? My family were recently invited on a bloggers’ trip to Pierre & Vacances Belle Dune resort in northern France. Between us, my husband and I have covered most of the globe on our travels as singletons. After getting married and having Little M, we decided that was not going to change. So a trip to France was perfect. Getting there We were due to sail early evening from Dover, so off we set in our car from Cardiff at 11am.... Beaches Brittany France Self-catering Linda Jones Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:15:55 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/07/win-tickets-for-fun-day-and-a-family-meal-at-wolverhampton-racecourse.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/07/win-tickets-for-fun-day-and-a-family-meal-at-wolverhampton-racecourse.html AS we are forever on the look out for some different ways to have fun these school holidays, we were thrilled to get the chance to team up with Wolverhampton Racecourse, and offer one lucky family some exclusive freebies for their fantastic family fun day. The event on Monday, August 16 is choc-a-block full of entertainment, including appearances from Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants at various intervals, a chance to get up close and personal with a range of different animals thanks to the staff of Dudley Zoo, plus face-painting and fun with their mascots, Gracie Giraffe and Jambi the Tiger. There... Children's activities Days out Entertainment Food and Drink Giveaways Midlands UK Linda Jones Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:34:46 +0100 http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/07/great-british-days-out-weston-park-staffordshire.html http://www.havealovelytime.com/2010/07/great-british-days-out-weston-park-staffordshire.html YOU wouldn’t necessarily think of a visit to a stately home as the ideal day out for a rambunctious toddler, writes Josie George, but a recent trip to Weston Park in Staffordshire proved that it had far more strings to its bow than expected. We thought we’d end up chasing Kai round ornate flower-beds for the day, perhaps having a wander round the beautiful 17th Century house, one of us wrestling Kai, our nearly two year old, while the other tried to take in the history. What we did NOT expect was, well, where do I start? The giant woodland... Children's activities Days out Great British Days Out Midlands Staffordshire UK Josie Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:20:47 +0100