Planning Our Outdoor Adventures For 2018



This Monday was Blue Monday, officially the most depressing day of the year. It's cold and miserable, you've lost that festive feeling and all that's left are the remnants of all that Christmas eating you've been doing and not much money left in the bank!

Blue Monday certainly lived up to it's name for me this year. We had a terrible nights sleep, woke up late for nursery, got drenched in the torrential rain and then Noah cried when I left him because his favourite teacher was off sick. He hasn't cried at drop off for quite some time now. I'd almost forgot how awful it makes me feel but I know for a fact that as soon as I leave that he would be fine. I then walked back home with Ava, put the kettle on and decided to sit down and plan our next adventure because we all really need something to look forward to.


Our favourite thing to do as a family is to simply be outside, exploring with one another. Whether it be at a farm, at the seaside, in the woods, at the park, on a nature trail..... anywhere really! As long as we can stretch our legs, breathe in the fresh air and enjoy each others company then we are happy. 

That being said, this time of year can make it tricky to get out and about with all the cold and dreary weather that comes part and parcel with January. There are some days where I'll look outside, see that it's pouring down with rain and it makes it far too tempting to stay indoors. I think that is a bad excuse though, the easy option. If we never stepped outside when it rained or was cold then we would be in the house 24/7! This is England after all. I recently treated myself to some new walking shoes and Noah some wellies using this Mountain Warehouse discount code. I now have no excuse not to venture out now as we all have suitable coats, hats, gloves and scarves too. We are fully kitted up and prepared, no matter the weather!

Next on the agenda to banish my Monday blues was to book a few days out. Trips out as a family and maybe even one or two  just for Nick and I. We enjoy being out with the kids so much as a family that we something forget about that one on one time. We've made a plan this year to have at least one date or even a coffee out together every month! We'll probably not manage it but it is Nick's 32nd birthday coming up and I want to plan something a bit different for us to do. I've been looking online at voucher codes for Virgin Experience Days as there's quite a few that I know he'd really enjoy, such as zorbing and paint balling. I just need to figure out which one to choose!


Last but certainly not least, I've planned and booked a week away for the four of us in March, just after Ava's first birthday. W are having a week away at Center Parcs in Cumbria! We've never been before but have heard so many wonderful things about it. I just know that we will love it and totally be in our element. I keep logging in online and looking at all the activities we can book and envisioning what we will do during our stay. I know that we will thoroughly enjoy our trip and won't want to come home! The Lake District is such a lovely place to visit and is so naturally beautiful, we've always had a fantastic time when visiting previously.

How was your Blue Monday? Have you got any plans made for 2018? I'd love to hear all about them!

- This is a PR Collaboration.

34 comments:

  1. I had a blue Monday too, we moved in September, our neighbour seemed lovely, but Monday she had an all out screaming fit in front of Megan, who got upset as she was saying things about her, she's 5 bless her, then an hour later sent her boyfriend round who threatened to do my car over, so now I'm hoping we can move in September when we have been here a year 😢 xxx

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    1. All over a little path as my partner had no choice but to park in front of it xx

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    2. Saddened to read that you had an unfortunate experience with your neighbour. Sounds like " Road Rage". I hope the neighbour reflects on action/s. As surely neighbour could have asked to speak to you at a convenient time : - Giving you the opportunity to have an adult conversation. An innocent child being allowed to have and enjoy a childhood.

      I wonder why so much anger about where your boyfriend parked the car. It may have been inconvenient for neighbour. But surely effective communication, compassion, empathy, etc could have been a much more acceptable way to deal with the situation / issue.

      Rachel Craig

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    3. Thank you for replying, yes I was shocked as we have been friends since I moved in in september, so it really came out of the blue, and the worst part is after this she rung my housing officer and reported my partner and i as threatening her, when it was the other way around, I think she did it to cover herself as I Said I would be informing the police if she continued to harass us, as i put my recycling out the next morning and she had another screaming fit xxx

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  2. Good to get out at this time of year.

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  3. Getting out and about os always uplifting - so many free ways to entertain all the FAMILY

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  4. Monday was okay, but the rest of the week hasn't been that great. And it's been soooooo cold! And windy. Did I mention the wind? Brrrrrr. Roll on spring.

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  5. Kelly Louise dover18 January 2018 at 15:58

    Love getting wrapped up and going for lovely walks with my partner and our four beautiful children, great family time.

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  6. Good post :) i am also planning lots of lovely outdoor activities for 2018.

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  7. Mine was spent in the house it's too cold we all spent Christmas in the hospital so trying to stay in the warm for a while

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  8. Blue Monday was an extremely depressing day! We look forward to our outdoor adventures too. Anything that helps the kiddies sleep better! Center Parcs wil be amazing

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  9. Blue Monday for me was a day to get on with what needed to be done. Visited Mum, as she is still on the mend following injury from a fall, and medical treatment and hospital admission. She is glad to be home, though reality has kicked in, in regards to assistance she requires following sustaining injury. Luckily eating well when she has company, she loves company. So hopefully will mend well.

    Like your reaction to your Blue Monday, cup of tea and plan for future adventures. We haven't planned any as yet. Though fiancé has arranged for us to have some evenings out for a meal.

    Looking forward to maybe making some plans for days out, etc. Hope your adventures and Dates go well. Enjoy!

    I believe I have read that Lorraine Kelly has a monthly Date with her husband.

    Rachel Craig

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  10. I love to get outdoors and get a bit of fresh air and leave the hustle and bustle for a while, it keeps me sane (sort of!)

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  11. Yes, plans - or at least hopes and wishes - are a good idea to lift your mood, especially at this time of year. Centre Parcs in March sounds wonderful. Enjoy.

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  12. Lovely pictures! I love reading your adventures....we have booked a holiday to Cyprus and bought a new sofa so far....decorating starts this weekend lol

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  13. It's my goal for 2018 to get out and do more walking, it really does lift you. Fresh air works wonders ! I don't really notice any difference on 'Blue Monday' and try not to indulge in these types of things, am I the only one ?! :)

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  14. I had only just got out of hospital in Blue Monday, so I rested all day and then spent a lovely evening with my daughter and grandson playing his new board game "Wordsearch", then encouraging him to read his book he brought home from school (he's only 4 years old, but my daughter has dyslexia & also has ME/CFS as well as being my full time carer, so when I feel able to, I help him) I'd love to feel better healthwise this year and just continue to stay positive, enjoying every minute I spend with my daughter and grandson ��

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  15. I had only just got out of hospital on Blue Monday, so I rested all day and then spent a lovely evening with my daughter and grandson playing his new board game "Wordsearch", then encouraging him to read his book he brought home from school (he's only 4 years old, but my daughter has dyslexia & also has ME/CFS as well as being my full time carer, so when I feel able to, I help him) I'd love to feel better healthwise this year and just continue to stay positive, enjoying every minute I spend with my daughter and grandson ��

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  16. We love centre parcs. So much to do and the pool is fab. Hope you have a great time

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  17. You can't beat some time out in nature to boost the feel good feelings :)

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  18. We do love a nature trail. Unfortunately, we attempted one with the dog today, I slipped and fell in the mud. My daughter got stuck in the mud, the dog now is brown (usually a white westie) and it was a total disaster! maybe next time I attempt it, it won't have been raining all night! ;)

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  19. Weather not particularly conducive to getting outdoors. Though I had a meeting to attend today. Car parks I found were like "ice rinks". Gritters out, gritting the roads, :- Thankfully! Some pavements had been gritted. But icy patches in places. Oh! How I am looking forward to better weather, getting outdoors, etc. As I do like nature :- Trees, flowers, plants, birds, animals. As well as a smile and a nice chat to folks.

    Hoping we can soon begin to consider days out, etc for 2018.

    Rachel Craig

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  20. Looking forward to Spring, when we are likely to have milder weather. I like that time of year, as it is when nature seems to come alive. Green grass, leaves on trees, birds chirping, etc. So maybe we will be likely to think of, and plan outings, etc once Spring is upon us.

    Rachel Craig

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  21. I can't wait for the onset of spring, I've already got a few days out planned for the grandchildren and me

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  22. Looking forward to news of your ventures outdoors. Can be nice to try out new adventures, etc.

    Rachel Craig

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  23. Will be attending a Burns Supper this week. Apparently 25th January is a Welsh Saint's Day, I think patron saint of Love.

    Rachel Craig

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  24. Time seems to have passed quickly, been busy. Hopefully productive. Now feel the need to rest and sleep. Once I have recuperated / recovered will review, and consider what has been achieved, and what we need to plan ahead for, etc.

    Rachel Craig

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  25. We had a delicious and filling meal (Burns Supper) at a new and local establishment. Enjoyed our meal, music was good, service courteous and pleasant. We would certainly visit again.

    Rachel Craig

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  26. This post really inspired us a family to get out more and explore more as the kids love going on adventures! Thanks for this handy post! :)

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  27. Dean T (ribbons1978)9 February 2018 at 02:02

    I live near some country parks and I always used to go for long walks up on the hills with my family and then down to the chippy to refuel. We are lucky to have such amazing countryside in this nation of ours (till they concrete it anyway)

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  28. There's nothing like getting close to nature for happy and fun time together x

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  29. I can't wait for the warmer days to start arriving, our family are like bears who hibernate in the winter & then slowly start poking our noses out into the fresh air in spring, the problem is I seem to store my fat like bears do too lol

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  30. Good post! Happy that summer is finally here to enjoy more of the outdoors

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  31. great post loads of activities planned

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