Manley Mere

9/9/14

So in the last few days of the summer holidays I went up near Chester to visit my cousins. It's always a laugh going to see them and this time was no different. We visited a place called Manley Mere which is basically an adventure walk with activities along the way that you 'control' yourself without supervisors. (things can get muddy!) 

Unfortunately the photos aren't great quality... I didn't want to take my camera because inevitably it would have got wet and muddy! But my cousin Aidan has a go pro so we took that but the pictures aren't great and there aren't that many but at least there is something.

At the beginning you start all dry and the first activity you want to avoid because it involves getting wet straight away by shooting water at each other, but once you get further on you realise just what your in for and by the end you shooting water each other without worrying! 

During the walk there are balances across muddy streams, rope swings, hamster wheels, zip wires, balance beams across muddy ponds and things beyond your wildest imagination!

I hope you enjoy the pictures below! We got wet and muddy...

This had to be one of my highlights. He may look strong and he may be a ginger but balance is not his strong point. Aidan was the first to go and my goodness, did he go. XD Sarah (Aidan's girlfriend) and I managed to get along the beam across the pond, I took a more slow approach and Sarah basically ran across (IT WAS A FLUKE OKAY?! I'M BETTER AT BALANCING!)

A few things after the balance beams here was a random rope above some water. I was the only one out of the five of us who tried it, at first I tried the arm approach and then went mission impossible. 

We then walked back to the car and had a lunch break for going onto the better/worse bits, it depends how you look at it. :D. We then went and did all the best things that we had done previously and then went onto things we hadn't done. Such as things called manly or womanly which we will get on later.

Now for the famous dunking chair. Kind of self explanatory but for you information, you get dunked into a muddy pond in a chair using a see-saw type method.

Manly or Womanly is a 'game' my cousins Aidan and Simon invented. A zip wire across a muddy pond. No seat, just a knot, hard to get off without getting wet. Manly or Womanly is when you have to jump off first time when you zip line across the pond. Bit sexist but your manly when you succeed and womanly if you don't. Stupid. Stupid. Why can't womanly be when you succeed! So I was obviously 'manly'.  I went a few times and had a few battles on the metal bridge with Simon to push each other in. I ended up dragging him in and being sat on and for a brief moment, being completely submerged in water!

I have now been to manley mere twice, and it was so much time, although getting changed after is a pain.. 

Tash

A Trip Down Memory Lane - Part 1

Greetings Whoever You Are,

The other day we headed down to my Great Uncle David and Great Aunty Rosemary's house down in Bournemouth. 

I have entitled this "A trip down memory lane" because I have always loved David and Rosemary's cute cottage with their little forest and big garden, I always used to run around and explore. I say used to because the past couple of years my brother is old and boring! So I go outside each time I visit by myself and still go and explore.

This time we stayed over for a night instead of just a day at their house which we haven't done for a while so it was nice to spend a bit longer there than usual. 

I would like to mention at this time about their railway. My Uncle is really into 'transport' and has many remote control helicopters and things like that. So many years ago he made a mini railway with remote control trains that go around on them. 

I absolutely love the railway but for the past 2 years it has been collecting dust. There are many broken rails etc. so we have not been able to use it. But my uncle promised me that the next time we visit everything will be fixed! I am so excited to show you guys the trains on the railway and to finally be able to play with the trains again.

The other thing that I used to do is to climb the trees in their garden. I still do this but I thought it was an important part of my 'David/Rosemary Memories' collection! 

Now we get to the main yet little part of this entry. My wheelbarrow. When I was 4 I used to love going into the woods to collect twigs to put on the bonfire when we had a barbecue but I used to struggle with the ginormous wheelbarrow that they had. So my uncle made me a mini, wooden wheelbarrow for me. I recently rediscovered this wheelbarrow that I hadn't seen for 4 years in the train shed! I actually got so emotional and I don't know why. I was so happy. 

And here is just a random pic 

So go fourth stranger, and in case I don't see ya, good morning, good afternoon, good evening and good night.

Tash.

My Youtube Channel

Cotswolds 2014

Greetings whoever you are,

So on Monday 4th August, I embarked on an epic journey to the Cotswolds with my mum, dad and family friends. It's only about an hour from my house but it's such a beautiful place. We were so lucky to stay in such a beautiful house that overlooked a stunning lake. 

View from our villa


On the first night we enjoyed a lovely barbecue cooked by my dad.

Everyday swans would come in front of our balcony and we would feed them bread. When they weren't there- we would feed the huge fish that constantly swam right in front of our balcony.

Family of swans after having some bread

We were also fortunate to have a hot tub/jacuzzi which we went in a couple of times after we came back from the pool in the resort.

My mum, me and family friends Jess (left) and Emily (right)

On our second and last visit to the pool we found out that there was a freezing cold eco-pool. There Emily and I met two girls around the same age as us called Amy and Mia. It was amazing how quickly we became friends and I felt so comfortable around them because they were so nice. We also found out our mutual interest in thatcherjoe and other youtubers and can't wait to keep our friendship going through the internet!

Emily jumping in the warm pool

ME!!

On one of the days we went on a long bike ride. We cycled to and around this gorgeous lake and then rode to a pub where I ordered a steak pie (I love pie) and played 2 games of snooker. I lost one and won one but I only lost because I potted the white ball just after potting the black. :(

The next day we walked back to the lake and went kayaking. We were trying to book a go on the cable wake boarding but there weren't any available slots (you can see in the first picture of kayaking below a wake boarder). But kayaking was just as fun. In the half an hour that we had a satisfying amount of fun. I was the first to jump in and after discovering that the water actually wasn't that cold, decided to push and splash everyone else, successfully capsizing Emily. I admit there was a terrifying moment when something brushed past my leg and thinking it was some sorted of shark, swimming back to my kayak only to find that it was a piece of sea-weed...or lake-weed. 

Mum and Dad kayaking

Me starting kayaking

Tash

MiGZ Gig

Greetings Whoever You Are,

On saturday 18th may there was a fundraising event in kintbury, in aid of breast cancer. Please, please, please go and check out their website http://coppafeel.org. Raising over £1000, it was a successful evening with many bands performing including my dads band, the MiGZ, who were the headline band.

The MiGZ play a range of songs: Forget You, Oh What A Night and Viva la Vida. My dad is the bass guitarist, playing with Jamie on lead guitar, Alex on drums, Peter as voice, Ian on keyboard and 2 backing vocalists. Ian sometimes plays the drums, guitar and sings Price Tag. They have 2 songs of their own written by Jamies called Good Old Boy Blues, which is about going to the pub, and Confessions, which is about lurvvvv.

When I arrived, when another band was playing, I was scared that nobody I knew wasn't going to be there because nobody I invited could make it.. But 2 minutes in I spotted my friend Eleanor and I nearly knocked her off the wall she as sitting on as I rushed to hug her! We talked and played catch and had to improvise when she threw it on top of the hedge (twice). We found a broom handle and started prodding the hedge, blindly, until I guided Eleanor to the spot where it was resting while balancing on the wall.

About and hour or two later, our friend Grace arrived just before my dad was due to go on stage. While we waited for the MiGZ to go on, we spent our time taking sweets from the sweet basket! When the band finally started playing we listened to a couple of their songs while busting some crazy dance moves.

We decided to go for a walk and we got back for the last few songs of the band, which was good because we still had some moves to bust and shout the lyrics of 'Dakota' and 'Rocks', then waving goodbye to Grace and Eleanor, I felt bad for my mum about her having to cycle home at 23:00 for a 7 mile bike ride while being not quite sober. After congratulating the band and my dad for an excellent performance, my uncle, aunty, brother, his 'friend' Chloe and I headed back to the house. And after a nice apple and hot chocolate, I just…zzzzzzzzz.

My dad playing his bass guitar- love ya pops!

Above- My MiGZ T-Shirt.
Below- left to right- Grace, Me, Eleanor.

La Manga Tennis Tour

Greetings Whoever You Are,

I'd like to tell you about the time I embarked on a epic adventure to a stunning country called Spain! It was an amazing experience that all started on 12th April 2014. It was a tennis trip to a famous tennis club called La Manga (near Murcia). The GB tennis team has been there including Andy Murray.

Watching a demo on doubles tactics

Estelle (left) and me (right) outside one of the apartments

Got excited about our epic view and all went to take photos

There are 28 courts including 20 clay courts, 4 astro and 4 hard. We were split into 3 groups based on our ability. I, because I am sooooo amazing (well just happened to have a good serving day), was picked for the first team (just). Our first tennis training session started at 11:00 and finished at 13:00. Then at 15:00 we had a fitness session and then from 16:00-18:00 we played tournaments and matches. 5 hours on Monday-Friday, turning out to be a tiring week.

On the Sunday night our apartment had a barbecue. I was lucky enough to be in an apartment with my best friend Lara. And another girl in my year called Estelle, someone who i hadn't known that well at the begining of the trip. There were also two really nice year 9s and our apartment teacher Mrs. Keogh. (below)

One night we went out for a meal at a tapas place. It was the first time I had a proper tapas meal and our table all challenged each other to try a bit of everything that came out. Only two succeeded and I was one of them! And the same restaurant I decided to try out my spanish and order my drink in spanish… "Zumo de melocoton, por favour". Only to discover that the waitress didn't even speak spanish!

Now because it is the Summer term, we have started tennis at school. And I have made the squad of 8 from our year! I'm looking forward to putting my new skills into action and going for it!

All in all I had a great week. My tennis improved greatly and I really recommend La Manga Club.

Tash