Why Teenagers Need A National Trust Membership

Why teenagers need a National Trust membership !

Once your teenage hits 18 they are not longer allowed on your family National Trust card which is a bit hard especially if they have a September birthday like my teenager I do wish they had a 19 age limit like English Heritage does. We had to buy the teenager a student membership so he could come visiting with us we do love going to our familiar family haunts of Calke Abbey ( just down the road and to Kedleston Hall another close properties , there are a lot of stunning properties in Derbyshire.)





The student National Trust membership won't break the bank either and will be useful to him when he goes to study archaeology at York ( something to do also when he is recovering from Freshers week ) The price for the student membership comes in at £32.40 for the year and they'll pay this price till they are 25.

One day we prized the teen out of his bedroom for some much needed sunshine as he's been studying hard for his A levels before hope going on to study Archaeology at York University. I feel like the shackles of Winter are finely being cast off and I hold strong onto the coolness of Spring still. You've no idea hope much the teen needed sunshine as I think the A levels in some cases are more fraught than GCSEs. We decided to take the teen out to Biddulph Grange which is a truly beautiful and magical secret type garden in Staffordshire.

Biddulph Grange 

 

    

Hardwick House

Hardwick House is where we actually signed up for the teens National Trust membership .

Wightwick Manor

A wonderful Victorian arts and crafts Manor House which had the unique position in 1937 of being handed over to the National Trust when it was just 50 years old.

Beautiful Sunflowers against a William Morris tapestry.

How To Cope In A Rome Heatwave

It's Claire here your on scene travel reporter ~,live from Rome in what can only be described at the ultimate heatwave dubbed " Lucifer "

Do wear light clothing 

Do continually drink water ( sipping )

Do refresh yourself with an ice cream / Gelato

Blessed is the aircon especially when it's in the Vatican as well and of course the water is holy well it must be as the Pope lives there ;-)

You honestly can't cope in Rome without drinking copious amounts of water and filling up at the various little water fountains dotted here there and everywhere. The blue fountains in Rome are affectionately known as "Blue Noses"

Now in England I'm sure Gin fountains would catch on , I shall be writing to the Prime Minister with this very idea. 

Fakeaway Subway

Sometimes you just want to save your pennies well I know not only as I have been made redundant from my teaching assistant job ( booooo hiss ) but also I have a son off to university soon . So you see every penny counts and I know that as a student the teen will be watching the pennies as well. Student life isn't all partying so I have been told there is some studying sandwiched in there as well !

I had a prepared some lamb meatballs in a tomato sauce and pre sliced some bread rolls.

For the cucumber bacon topping 

1. Heat a wok until smoking and add the groundnut oil, then add the dried chillies and Sichuan peppercorns. Stir fry for a few seconds, or until fragrant. 
2. Add bacon lardons and chilli and stir fry for 2-3 minutes, or until the lardons have turned golden-brown at the edges.
3. Add the rice wine or sherry, vinegar and sesame oil and stir-fry for a few seconds, then add the cucumber and stir-fry for a few more seconds.
4. Season with sea salt, dried chilli flakes and lime juice, stirring well.
5. Pile the stir-fry onto a serving plate, drizzle over the chilli oil, and serve immediately
   
   
    
   
   

Choosing The Right DIY Tools

Having the right DIY tools is key to doing the job right and properly , thankfully FX tools came to our rescue allowing us some tools for review. Big hurrah no more scrating round the house looking for the right screwdriver only finding the ones out of Christmas crackers. I know that doing DIY is something men and women do equally but it's something I mainly leave my husband to do or at least threaten to do it so the task gets done quicker !! ( I do my fare share of DIY I sanded the banisters in February and I'm just waiting on it being painted ~ trust me and gloss paint don't get on !!

Ordering the tools from FFX tools was easy and my husband easily found what he was looking for , I mentioned earlier about the screw driver s and he was able to find a comprehensive set , also an electric screwdriver and a dectector. Having good quality tools helps with your DIY jobsand means you'll be saving in the long term too and you'll probably be helping out your friends , neighbours and family with their jobs once they realise you own these tools.

Disclosure I was kindly provided with a voucher for the tools and thoughts words and op,ions are my own except the DIY that was provided by Mr T.

Review Of The National Memorial Arboretum

Living so close to this previously we had only managed a fleeting visit to this place but yesterday on the anniversary of the 100 years of Passchendaele we payed another visit. 

Though this is a memorial children are very much welcome this is a couple of play areas dotted about done with much respect and reverence to the surroundings. There is an activity pack which you can pay for to children to do it is First World related.

Car parking is £3 and all money goes back into the National Memorial Arboretum  also there is a superb cafeteria there with great food at realistic prices.

There is a map you can purchase to guide you round , also there is a little land transport train if you feel tired or have mobility issues.It is however a lovely walk round with a river running through it , it is part of the National Forest. If you so wish you can walk 75 miles through the National Forest !!

There are plenty of shelters going round often these are full of information too of what you're looking at . There is a recreation of a First World Trench , an insistu World War 2 pill box.