Sherwood Forest Visiting The Major Oak

Now I’ve never visited the Major Oak which is meant to be the tree Robin Hood his in or something like that.Truth is it wouldn’t have even been a sapling when he was allegedly around but myths become legend and become ingrained in folk law.There is always perhaps a grain of truth in these things sometimes there are more grains of truth.I mean without it we wouldn’t have had Bryan Adams clinging onto the top spot for what seemed like 20 years with “Everything I do for you “ and Bryan we salute you.Bryan Adams however was not around when I visited Sherwood Forest with my husband and son back from university.

Sherwood Forest is a 450 acre nature reserve and is home to the well loved Major Oak as mentioned earlier.You need to visit this nature reserve and be part of the Robin Hood legend , it costs £4 to park at the Nature reserve ensure you have to correct change though as cards are not accepted at the car park payment machines.There is a RSPB cebtre there complete with cafe , shop and toilets etc.Also nearby is a lovely craft complex complete with another cafe.

And a direct quote from Mr T “This is the first time I’ve been to see the Major Oak, so was quite excited to visit this legend landmark of Nottinghamshire. I’m a big Robin Hood fan and was looking forward to learning more. There’s lots of information here from the original name of the oak “Cock pen oak” to becoming the “Major’s Oak” to finally becoming to World famous “Major Oak”. There are lots of walks around the forest of various distances to suit your needs. “

Rage Against Early Mornings

I woke early early early so early that Stonehenge hasn’t been built yet and I thought about being cross.Cross with the fact that I was up early and no mortal was up but then I thought again that this would indeed be a waste of time and just enjoy the slumbering peace.I hung the washing out and I still maintain that hanging out socks it’s fruitless and soul destroying & and will bring about the end of the universe.

Whilst putting out the washing , pegging ? placing out the washing ( gosh do much description in a household task ) I chanced up the Starlings on the bird feeder and you know they sound just like a teaspoon tinkling in a teacup.

And with beautiful life observations ( I don’t mean hanging out the washing, pegging arrrgh ) I mean just the peace and tranquillity being in the beauty of the moment.So often we brush over the simplicity of life and yearn we yearn for it.

And before everyone stirs you feel that everything and anything is yours , you survey your kingdom and of course you have your cup of tea.

Mornings are what you make them and of course mine has to be with a cup of tea. It’s a wonder I actually dealt with the washing at all , I think clothes should take themselves to the washing machine at the very least.

Bedrooms That Grow With Your Children

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My husband is one of seven siblings consisting of 6 boys and 1 girl all now fully grown.My husband is the baby of the family and growing up he of course had to share with his brothers and his sister got her own room.They had a large 4 bedroom house but one of these was a tiny box room and my husbands sister was in one room and his parents in another.That left 6 boys in 2 rooms one of which was the box room so it was a tight squeeze.I myself never knew the struggle of fighting to see who got the top bunk as I am an only child and the only time I ever got to sleep in a bunk bed was when I went on school holidays.

My husband says about the bed situation growing up “In Barlow St. Mum &Dad room a double bed plus me in a drawer , Philip in a cot, the others in the other room Chris/Alan, Mark/Ian bunk beds, Anne in a single “

And of the larger 4 bedrooms house they moved in when my husband was a toddler he says “Osmaston Rd Mum & Dad in their room. Me Phil in bunk bed with Alan and Chris in singles in other, Mark/Ian in a bunk in the small room and Anne in a double in the last room “

So when his brothers and sister started to leave home getting your own bed was sheer luxury! So if you’re struggling where to put your little ones no matter how many you’ve got then why not check out this blog from Happy beds.It is important to have a bedroom that grows with your child as there is nothing more annoying that continually changing the furniture , I think the only think you really should have to be changing is the mattress and the decor eventually.

I can’t believe that my husband actually slept in a drawer ! I think my husbands parents would have loved one of these Happy Beds triple sleeper beds to maximise on floor space when it was not covered in toys that they hadn't put away.

Here is my husband with all his siblings and yes they are the ones in the background !

Cheats Waldorf Salad

You know I have never had Waldorf salad and I got to thinking which I tell you can be a very dangerous thing especially over a cup of tea , I thought about salad and how boring it can be and now we are entering into salad season I really do think salads could do with a pep up and taking to that next level.salad has never ever been so exciting and I think salads need to be more Bear Gylls less Danny Dyer!

Ingredients 

Enough walnuts for 2 crushed and a little bit extra to sprinkle on the salad

2 ts of Dijion mustard

2 chicken breasts thinly sliced( already cooked) but of course you could cook your own chicken breasts through

4tbp of Olive oil




Salad

Use a salad of your choice

red and green apple wedges

a splatter of mixed fruit

More walnuts enough for 2 again

celery cut into chunks

lemon zest and juice if no lemons perhaps use ready made lemon juice


Method

Heat some olive oil in a pan

Method brush the chicken with the Dijon mustard and coated with some crushed walnuts and cook the chicken through until thoroughly cooked if you are cooking them from scratch.You can of course use ready cooked chicken .




Cut up the celery into chunks and mix with the salad ingredients in a bowl. Mix everything together with with homemade mayonnaise or a very very good shop brought one.

The Outdoor Prescription

It’s been raining men .. it’s been raining forever and ever and I’m really beginning to think it’s down to budget cuts ~ weather austerity if you will.At what point does it stop being good for the garden I think the rain started when I got a new garden table then I’m afraid it was all downhill from there.

We are over half way #30dayswild celebrating all things wild and nature.The garden has been a labour of love over the past few years and it’s taken shape nicely.I’ve a wildlife pond and have tadpoles they don’t contribute to the household income though.Also we have tree bumblebee s in the bird box and they’re super busy collecting nectar.

I wanted a bird bath but didn’t want a whimsical fairy or a constipated looking frog set in stone .Neither was I prepared to pay over £100 for a stone one that had been hand craved by a monk called Dave.So as my husband and I walked round the garden centre with a lost purpose until I spied though he says he spied first some glazed plant pots and saucers that would be ideal as a bird bath and it was a combined priced of 21 pounds.You could do this cheaper by recycling stuff and upcycling suitable shallow containers etc. My husband up turned the glazed dish upon the glazed pot just fixing it with outdoor sealant ( but do pick up the whole thing by the pot )

Gardening gives myself and my husband a great sense of well being as when you're standing there gazing aimlessly out the window doing the washing it , it so takes away from the drudgery of the task in hand. To see the bird hopping across to the bird feeder and to see Dragonfly's dip into the wildlife pond without a care in the world and it satisfying to see that carefree life it gives a warm glow to your day.It starts with something simple life plating some seeds in the garden , a few forgotten plants in the forgotten corner of the garden centre , swapping plants from friends.Gardening makes feel feel hope for tommorow because sometimes just sometimes hope can slip away but Gardeing promotes hope for tommorow and gives a tremendous sense of well-being and achievement.