I've been 'Safari Parking' since before you where born

Showing my age with that Simpson parody title.

But this week we visited Port Lympne Reserve

And O-M-Goodness it was such an amazing day out.

It's set in some lovely grounds and there is so much space, the little one could really get a head of speed up running about and exploring.

They have such a wide array of animal we started in the part with the big cats. I was a tiny bit unsure of about the cages as there was only one wire mesh guard between them and us. 

I am sure it is sturdy and secure, but when you see such a big and powerful animal pacing. Looking for a way out as he might be a bit peckish and fancy's a bit of Human Rump, a little voice in the back of your head is saying are you sure that's secure enough lol...

But the area it is set in is beautiful and we had such a nice day for it, and as it is set at different elevations at the top you could see all the way to Romney Marsh and the sea, pretty... 

You also get to go on these great Safari Trucks a lot bigger than the one I went on Safari in when I was in Nairobi back in 2010.

Although I would not recommend if you have back problems is was a bit bumpy and the seats were very hard - thanks goodness for all the cooking and eating I do,  as I have a bit of extra padding lol

So lots and lots of animal - Ostriches

   

Fantastical Amazing Rhinos, these are such beautiful creatures, still can't believe they are killing them in the wild.

It 2016 people, magic Rhino horn potion do not work, just get to the proper doctor ask for the little blue pills and it will all be okay. 

Can't remember what these animal were call some kind of antelope - I am probably so, so wrong and as someone is reading this they are shouting at the screen..

Giraffes, I love these animals, think they are cool, like how nature solves problems. 

"The food we like to eat it up high?" 

"hmm tricky"

"I've got it long necks" 

As well as having the huge reserve where the animal roam free, they've also got some lovely habitats for the other animals.

They have meerkats, now as I big Disney Fan I alway think of Timon, out of Timon and Pumba - I'm sorry I will never see them as the advert ones - "Simples" eh.. 

Although he did throw me some shades as you can see from the picture above lol.

As I am such a mega geek I found the enclosure with the Fossa in them and because of "Madagascar" the animated movie I started shouting "FOSSA, FOSSA" and pretending to run away, much to the bemusement of my son and the un-amusement of my Husband. 

Yes there was other people about but I don't care. 

They also have a Gorilla enclosure it actually really nice, but as I think it was such a hot afternoon they preferred it inside. They had this amazing area which had slides and rope swing for them.

I know there is nothing better than the wild, but seeing as their natural habitat is being eroded and they are being killed. I find, if they are in captivity, but it's done in a great way like this is, I think that it can sometime be the best thing. To make sure that they are around in years to come. 

Oh and I saw a monkey with a beard, no really story just thought it was cool. 

Oh wise old monkey tell me your secrets - he said nothing, kept all his secrets to himself lol. 

So fantastic time seeing all the different animals 

The Lions 

The Tigers 

The Bears - OH MY!!

Sorry had to do that!!


Along with the Animal they have a fab Dinosaur forest.

Where they have proper size (well I can only assume they are proper size I admit I am not very knowledgble about the Dinos so big apologies to any paleontologists if I'm wrong) Models of a lot of Dinosaurs.

They are split into different time periods and there is a lot of information dotted around the place.  Although seeing I had a toddler who likes to run about it was hard enough getting pics, I had no time to read anything.

Oh they also have them up in the trees to so make sure you look up.

I though it was a really cool idea and something a bit different to come across.

I think the little one was a bit unsure of them to start off with. 

But he soon came round and decided to make a few friends. 

My verdict on the day - aabsolutelybrilliant.

Now I have a fussy toddler who get board very easily and normally if I can spend up to 2 hours anywhere I consider it a win (At the cinema we lasted 5 minutes it was a nightmare) at this place we arrived at 10.30am and the little one was still going strong when we left at 4pm (well strong in spirit, he slept all the way home).

The only slight thing, and the reason there is no picture was the food, we brought a packed lunch for the little man and we had some of their fast food, Burger and Chips. Have to say I wasn't impressed but to give them a bad food review, I think would be to do them a dis-service.

I wouldn't rate what I had, but going around the park and seeing all the signs it looks like they do amazing food. They have a hotel onsite that does by the looks of it a fantastic afternoon tea as well as having a full service restaurant.

They even have Africa lodges you can hire with a personal chef to cook you dinner.

Both those offering sound amazing, so I'm just going to say I had an off meal and next time I go I will make sure I try one of the nicer places or get a night at a lodge before I properly judge.

So my advice is go and have a great day out.

Happy to go to the Wonderful Kent Show

So it was the Kent show this past weekend.

It's amazing (see last years blog) I've been for the last 3 years and always have a good time.

It full of querky things. I especially like this fake lawn dino.

It has live stock show and give out awards.

In the below picture I think the middle one should win best cow butt, hmm I wonder if they would let me hold that award next year - will send an email lol.

Not only do they give awards out for live-stock but also for fruits. veg and Flowers.

We found the winner of the best onions - yay them!!

Growing and showing Veg isn't my thing but it really cool to see people and their passions and I hope the person who won, show their veg credentials with pride :) 

They also have loads of food and drink stations - I cover everything I drank that day in my Vlog so exciting about Vlogging, but so need to get better talking to the camera, might have to do a video of the out takes of me sounding more wooden than a forest lol.

But a cocktail van is always a good idea,

They also have an array of old motorbikes and Cars.

They even had a old chevvy pick up truck painted in a beautiful green colour. such an amazing car it's so pretty and I want one.

Couldn't you see me rocking around the streets in Kent driving this and having Dolly pumping out of the Stereo

Also got see to a bit of Royalty - I always move in the best of circles - The Duke of Kent was there to open the show and meet some of the people working there.

Amazing day out for a bit of family time too, as my son was very interested in the Tractors, boys and their toys! 

Well Kent is the garden of England so a lot of farming goes on so was great to see all the machinery that goes into it. Although I hate being stuck behind one on the little Kent Country Roads

The food places are amazing too, I had a fantastic Pad Thai. 

My Husband found a great food place The Duck Truck  the staff was lovely and the other half said it was amazing well it must have been as I didn't get a taste (Rude lol) I did try to explain that I needed to try so I could tell you lovely people about it but he wasn't having any of it.

There was lots of shop and vendors, although as I've had a few birthday this month and it was the week before payday so didn't buy much.

But I found these amazing guys who made flavoured Gin.

The foxdenton dudes had amazing customer chit chat and were telling me all about the process and let me try a few flavours and it a real family business with their Dad running the instagram account -@foxdentonestate 

I picked up some of their Award winning Rhubarb gin - It is so nice on it own but also with a some Fever tree tonic - Yum Yum and thrice yum.

I also picked up a small bottle of Pinkster to try as the big bottles were a bit to pricey. This little one alone cost me a fiver (£5).

but I gave it a go with some lovely Tonic and added in a few Raspberries to fruity it up.

Was refreshing and tasted nice and would defintiely have it again but I do think I like the Rhubarb Gin better. 

So that the Kent show over with for another year boo!! have to wait till July 2017 but now you all know how amazing it is you can make your plans and attend next year.

Hopefully by then I will get much better at Vlogging so can show you a lot more.

The only other thing of Note I did this week was go to PainsHill Park it a lovely park with Follys and nock and crannies to explore.

They even have a Vinyard

They have lovely array of birds and animals - but the Swans are a bit scary

So a great family day out the only problem is they toilets are only at both end of the park and its a big park so if you're stuck in the middle and need to wee its a hell of a long way to go.

Faux Fun

So I had big plans for cooking and was going to teach the hubby how to make Bread and we were going to paint the front of the house be busy productive members of society...

The little man had other plans. He was a bit ill and when I say a bit ill if you've ever seen the "Exocist" you'll know what I mean.

Wasn't so bad when we were at home lots of cleaning up lots of hugs as you always worry so much when they are not well,. but his temperature was fine so obviously something just upset his stomach.

Or major error came when we thought he was doing better and took him out to the local hardware store "B&Q" to look at getting supplies for the house painting, and was subsequently very ill down one of the isles and all over his dad. To be fair the staff were wonderful and really helpful and didn't get upset even when I showed them the mess.

Just think that great for a store as there are times when you are a bit mortified but they handled it like it wasn't any trouble at all and I did even offer to do the mopping myself but they said to take care of the little one and they would take care of it.

So as for cooking, this week to make thing easier I stuck with quick simple dishes in between handing out a shed load of TLC.

I made a Faux Carbonara .

cooked up some leeks and Mangetout while frying some bacon..

After the leeks and Mangetout were cooked I thew them into the frying pan too for a couple of minutes.

Before mixing them all with some pasta and low fat fromage frais for very quick very easy and if you've cut the fat of the bacon low in fat healthy scrummy meal.

I even made another Lasange (See previous week's post for recipe) but instead of pasta sheets on top I used potatoes which gave it an added kick.

Don't worry the little one did get better and even managed to have some fun on the swings.

I am  a big kid at heart and the swing are one of my absolute favorite things to do and I am  so glad my son is like me and loves them.  I know when he upgrades to the big kid swings we'll be on them together from morning to night  :) 

As he was doing so well went out for a lovely brunch  at The Fancy Goat. I had a Bucks Fizz (mimosa) to celebrate his recovery

And enjoyed a wonderful Tortilla De Patatas.

Oh and when the waitress said the pan was hot I should have paid more attention as I burnt a finger on it ouchie, ouch.. Although being so yummy made up for the pain.

The little one got some tasty scramble egg very rich and creamy.

Another highlight of the week was another trip to Thomas Cookie Co to get some more of there fab cookies can see them become a staple in my life (but shh don't tell the diet)...

Right this weekend I am having no excuse (well a sick infant isn't really an excuse it a all encompassing situation) I will be making bread and will post it up step by step...

And as it's a Bank Holiday over here I've also got a few other interesting things planned so will be a far more exciting post, well they can't all be mad weekend in Amsterdam (even though I wish they were lol) :)

Giggles and Guzzles at the Kent County Fair

So this weekend we had a fab time at the Kent County Fair.

for those of you guys who don't know what this is, it's really a show and a celebration of all things Kent.

And considering Kent is the Garden of England there's a lot of Farmers, Fresh Produce and Outdoor type things.

We tried to get down there early but due to the traffic! Thank You Operation Stack - where they close the motorway because the crossing to France is scuppered. It to do with Strike action and some poor illegal immigrants getting them self killed trying to make it over to the UK all very sad and all very stressful. And definitely one I think the politician need to sort out!!

Any who we got there and in an unlikely English even the sun was shining and there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

We proceeded straight to the "Food Tent" which was one of the areas selling food in the show.

Full of all kinds of tasty noms.

My first stop was to Ballymaloe Country Relish and their offers of a free taste sample. I got a bit of brown bread, cheese and the relish on top. It was nom-arama I am not the biggest fan of relish but this was Tasty with a capital T so I got myself a pot. I thinking open sandwiches with a mature cheddar and a bit of the relish on top a perfect summer snack.

we then popped by Grasmere Farm  to stop make a stop for our breakfast.

I had a bacon buttie (Sandwich) as you can see from my 1st July post, I do love my Bacon. Think I might have to start rating all the bacon butties I try and give them a score out of ten. This would defiantly have a high score for the bacon although the roll was a bit plain. My husband opted for a pork burger which he said was fab. We both had lovely fried onions to top them off. We where two satisfied customers.

Also we weren't ignoring the little one he had breakfast at home so he was nice and full enjoying his sippy cup of water while we ate. Offered him some of it but he seem content just to have a drink. (But he is a bit of a fusspot when it comes to food and as we can see doesn't get that off his mummy) To be fair to him he has improved and will have a few more things to eat we are getting there slowly but surely. Toddlers eh lol :)

We then past a lovely tractor display on our way to see Titan the Robot a mechanical man who provides laugh and fun for the children.

When we came last year the little man was only 10 months and he didn't like him at all this year he seemed more curious and definitely wanted to see what was going on. Also helped Paul had him lifted up high so he was at eye level which helps . (good tip if you taking the little ones to theme parks to meet characters as it makes them less afraid of them if they are not being towered over)

We then made it to the highlight of the day for my little one the John Deer exhibition. my son loves, no scrap that, is obsessed by wheel so when he saw the huge ones on the JD Tractors he was in Heaven.

Think he would have spent all day there and made one of the wheels his home if we let him.

But we moved on to have a look round some more of the stalls and took in some of the Animal exhibitions and shows that were going on.

By this time we met up with the folk and we went in search of a coffee for them. I don't like coffee and I being slightly strange for an English person can't stand Tea either, shock horror I know.

as we where looking for a lovely place to sit and rest our feet we came across a 4 piece band playing some 1920/1930 music, all very "Downton Abby" and they drew quiet a big crowd.

After a drink and a chat we split off again to look at things around the fair. The little one had fallen asleep so we headed for the Produced in Kent Area. I got a little distracted by the Pub on Wheels a great idea where a van that pulls out into a bar can come to your events.

I stopped for a Vodka and coke before heading on.

We found the produced in Kent area just at the start of the Spitfire fly over.

We had to stop and watch that. currently we live on what used to be an old WW2 airfield and was home to many spitfires.

They are such amazing machines and they noise they make is astonishing beautiful.

As it was the 75 year to the day since the battle of Britain which help to stop use being invaded it brought home that just a relatively small number of brave men climbed into these machines and lots of them didn't make it back to give us the freedoms we enjoy today. I got a bit teary at this point :)


when it had finally flew off into the big blue. I headed back to the food there was so much on offer. I got a bit giddy trying all the favours and sight and was  bit of a bad blogger got so caught up chatting and tasting my camera phone was an after though. I would say it because I'm new to this but 43 post in (bad me).  I did get a few shot of some of the stalls.

And I picked up some Amazing  Ashmore Chilli cheese which I did snap while waiting for them to cut my slice.

With the baby still asleep we quickly darted into the antique market section, as him running about in there would have been akin to a bull in a china shop lol. so we had a quick look round and came across a great light stall Beauty From Decay

It was fabulous what he could do with old machine part and Army paraphernalia. We had a chat and found out he makes it all himself in his workshop. I loved them and will be saving up my pennies for one as when we move I getting a workshop shed and ones of these could take pride of place. I love talking to artist especially ones as passionate as he was you can see the love, sweat and tears that go into making it.

We dragged ourselves away as we were meeting the folk again for a late Lunch. Hubby as he was Hungry needed something STAT so we got a cookie for him.

He also tried a Cricket from the bug selection stall, he said they tasted okay. Each to their own.

I decided against bugs and found a lovely local Wine seller Hush Heath Estate  Balfour

We had a fantastic lunch thanks to Gypsy Joe's Pizza  which consisted of a Rustic and a Game Feast Pizzas. Which were cooked on site by a proper Pizza oven on a back of a van. Apologies the pic of the stall is a bit rubbish the red arrows were flying over when we ordered and then the Pizza arrived and I got bogged down in eating.

I preferred the Game Feast over the Rustic but as my dad a bit of a pizza bore only really like cheese and tomato we had to have one of those.

Although if it was just me eating on my own I like the look of their  "Spicy Bad Boy" offering. Hopefully I will catch them at another event in the local area.

So as I was saying when we where waiting on our food we saw a wonderful display by the Red Arrows.

And not to take away anything from the Red Arrow as it was one of the main reason we went on the Friday as we knew they would be performing and they performed so well. I think I had a more emotional connection to the Spitfire, I suppose it was just thinking about what those brave guys did in just such a small plane.

Cant believe how good they are its like a mad Roller coaster in the Sky. Especially went the blue and the red trails were looping I could have been standing next to Dragon Challenge in Universal Studios.

It brilliant that these planes are 40 years old and they can still perform such dazzling feats of aerial acrobatics. Don't think I could fly with them though might make me feel a bit queasy lol.

As a post flyby treat I got myself some Churros form the Don Churros, Churros & Chocolate Stand.

Deep fried and very tasty, although I think the ones I had Stateside last October had the slight edge over these one. But very good so if you ever see the stand and you enjoy a Churro I would give it a go.

As we took our last bites after 2+ hours of being asleep the little one woke up so we took him  (after a quick snack for him) to see the horse which he wasn't too impressed about think he might be like his mum. I like Horses as an animal and wish them no harm but not too keen on getting on one. Especially as when I was little I got on one and it bolted nightmare and totally scared for life.

So as he wasn't impressed with the real thing we took him too to the fair ground an let him go on the carved merry go round horse which he did enjoy. It was an beautiful only carousel with a pipe organ belting out old tunes as the horse spun faster and faster.

The restored ones are works of art which are great to interact with.

We let the little one have a couple of goes on the other rides including some scaled down swings which he enjoyed and some cars and because they had a steering wheel think that might have been his favourite.

As it was gone 4pm having got there at 10am and both feeling very weary and slightly sun-burnt. We religiously topped up he little ones sun cream and kept him covered if we only thought of that for ourselves doh.

So verdict a great show, just wish we had more time there, it was over 3 days but we only got to go to one. Next year will definitely be going for two days. One day with the little one for lots of fun and second day a proper adult look around which will include a lot of food and maybe a cheeky drink or two..