This year I was the parent taking my daughter, Lizzie, across the channel for the first time.

The beauty of taking a one year old on a ferry as opposed to a plane is the freedom you’re granted. Sitting still for 3 hours plus is not an option for Lizzie so she was thrilled to be able to run around the ship under the watchful eye of mum and dad.

It was hilarious watching her get her sea legs as she’s only been walking for a months so the bobbing of the boat was interesting for her to handle.

On the outbound journey we decided a cabin was unnecessary so we spent a great deal of time in the kids play area. Brittany Ferries provide a soft play facility, drawing pencils and paper, and play children’s TV which entertained Lizzie for a good while and allowed us to have a cup of of tea in peace.

The Mont St Michel ferry we were booked on were booked on variety of things to do to keep you entertained, including a cafe, self service restaurant and “posh” restaurant. There are 2 shops and also a bar where Bluey the Clown made balloon animals.

We ate in the self service restaurant on both the outbound and return journey and I can honestley say I had the most heavenly Shepherd’s pie I’ve ever tasted. And the chocolate cake comes in the size of a brick. One slice fed all three of us and only cost £2.65. Amazing.

So did our trips on the Mont St Michel live up to my childhood memories? Undoubtedly, yes. And as we docked in at British shores I was already planning next year’s hols!

Elizabeth and the Quinny in the harsh, cold winter!

My final post as a QuinnyCaster!!

Six months ago, my daughter and I,
Won a Quinny Zapp Xtra that would change our lives,
At three months old she was small and grumpy,
Full of milk (and a little bit trumpy)
Half a year later she’s twice the size
But still she loves the Quinny, her prize.

Back then in the pram she would face me, her mummy,
Pulling strange faces we all thought were funny
Now she looks out on the world from her mobile throne
All the way from the nursery to her loving home
Baba baba, she jabbers away,
As we walk home and go for a play.

When we first saw our Quinny, folded so small
Not big, or fat, or wide, or tall
Wow we were happy, and very amazed
It’s not at all crappy, man we were dazed
From Dorset to Dundee we’ve travelled so far
It’s a really good job that it fits in my car

When Elizabeth went in the pram she would sleep
For hours of walking we’d hear not a peep
Even when the ride is bumpy,
Because the Quinny is so very comfy
It’s given my baby such a wonderful start,
So the Quinny Zapp Xtra will stay in my heart.

So long, QuinnyCasters!

I’ve mentioned previously the difficulties in taking photos of Elizabeth awake in her pram as it is her favourite place to take her daytime naps. But its an absolute sanity saver when you’re desparate for just 5 minutes peace!! Anyway here are the pics from our trip, including my favourite image of lizzie snug in her Quinny, sound asleep on a footbridge across the m62!

So, like many mums I take to the street several times a day and get some (much needed) exercise, while Elizabeth dozes off. What I really like about the Quinny Zapp Xtra is that it fully reclines and faces me. So as soon as Lizzie drops off I can make her much more comfortable in a lying position and I can still see her face to check on her.

I went along for the first time on Wednesday and have to admit I was a bit nervous having never really worked with that age group before. But I had a great time and I hope the Brownies did too – despite the attempt to make them sing Kum-bay-ah (has anybody ever liked that song).

Brown Owl sent me off to play some games armed with a piece of the best advice ever: “You’re going to have to shout.” And shout I did. Just to be heard. I didn’t know how loud seven year olds could be!

So before I throw myself to the lions again next week does anyone have any other tips on working with 7-10 year olds or any games they enjoyed when they were a Brownie or a Guide which I could try out?

Not just any dog poo, but the biggest, smelliest, most revolting dog poo you have ever witnessed. And it was all over my brand new pram, grr.

This is the second time it has happened to me in a fortnight – the first I had to throw away my shoes they were that saturated – so I am particularly annoyed that it’s happened again.

Anyway, I’d like to say to any dog owners who pick up and bag their dog’s mess, thank you so very much, I do appreciate it. And if you don’t – you are very, very mean people with no consideration for anybody else – I hope you get fined. Your cash should go towards buying me a new pair of shoes. 

On a brighter note, in my official capacity as a QuinnyCaster, I can definitely testify that the Quinny Zapp Xtra pram withstands dog poo and was relatively easy to clean with a bowl of water and fair amount of scrubbing. I, however, feel as though I will never be clean again. Yuck, yuck yuck!

Not so good points…
1. I can’t hang my changing bag on the handle bars. The bag slips down the handles and the pram is so light it is easily toppled (although not when you’ve got a 17 pound baby in the seat!)
2. It is not easily pushed up large steps or curbs – especially the huge (and quite frankly ridiculous) step at our local post office. I have solved this problem however, by asking big, strong passers by to help me. Thank you to the gallant post man who helped me get through the post office door to send my parcels this morning -my eBay feedback depended on it!
That’s all the opinion I have for now, but I am sure I’ll have more. Watch this space…

So after several phonecalls I eventually managed to arrange to pick it up from a warehouse in Trafford Park and we put the pram together. Or rather Daddy did. Here are pictures of how it went. He tells me it wasn’t too difficult to assemble, and coming from the bloke who drilled through a water pipe when hanging curtains, that’s saying something (only kidding Ben, your help was very much appreciated!!)