i want to make a memory today - suggestion??

[Mimstar]

Okay I want to do something spontaneous today. I want to do something with 4 year old DD which will make lovely memories, something unusual, something we don't normally do. Something a bit crazy.

Last time I felt like this, within an hour we has jumped on a train to the lake district and we boyght fresh bread and cheese and ate them by a lake, drawing everything we could see with our coloured pencils.

Unfortunately, its too cold to sit by a lake today ans I want to make a new memory :) needs to be cheaposh, budget of 30 quid!

Suggestions gratefully received!

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Victor you can get offers for The Ritz on lastminute I think. I went with 2 hen parties a few years ago and seem to remember it was about £25 each...may well have changed now. It was lovely - be prepared for multiple tea choices, cakes and sandwiches and cream tea.

Victor, tea at The Ritz is fab. Went twice last year (birthday hand Christmas) with dc and dh. Go hungry as they continually bring more and more cakes, sandwiches, pots of tea throughout. You will not feel out of place. The staff treat you so well and there are customers there from all walks of life (many of them there as a treat like we were. I've kept menu etc as keepsakes. The whole feel of the place is understated luxury and puts you at ease from the minute you step in!

Visit the ritz website for menus, dress codes etc. prices start at £45 and increase if you want champagne/extras.

My DD's favourite memory from being younger was driving to the beach AT NIGHT and eating MacDonalds on the sand under the stars with her friend and me and her friend's mum.

Still can't fathom what possessed us to do so, but the DC's were still awake at 10.30pm, so we jumped in the car.

That was 11 years ago now, and she still occasionally mentions her midnight beach picnic!

My DS1 remembers stuff about trips out when he was just 2yo (memory like a flipping elephant that boy!). Stuff that nobody else would know, too, and I hadn't told him and was surprised when he turned round at 10 and said 'do you remember when we went xxx...' And I'm going "but you can't possibly remember that..." But he does!

Good beach in Essex - Walton if you want north Essex.

Blathers -Unbirthday party thread

Thanks for the tips about the Ritz! DD1 would love the cakes!

Inspirational thread! Thanks for starting it Mimstar!

Any suggestions for 'encouraging' DH with over-planning tendencies to be spontaneous with the children?!!!

I had an over planning ex - only way to deal with it was to surprise them too. Can you do something on the way/way back from a usual route? Stop for a woodland walk on the way back from school or shops? Bluebell walks are usually memorable.

I'm an overplanner. So long as it's a secret from the DCs, you can still overplan a 'spontaneous' (and memorable) day. Perhaps get him to plan something as a surprise for the rest of you?

You have to not tell dh!

DC too young to read so we do a picture treasure hunt. Have taken photos of household objects and hide next clue. The treasure is whatever sweets we have, chocolate coins are best but they're just as happy with haribo.
Also enjoy going to kids second hand market, gave them a couple of pound each and they can buy whatever they want.

Here's one for a rainy / freezing day. Give each person an "instrument" - a saucepan and wooden spoon, / a plastic bottle or metal tin with some gravel in / a pair of spoons / a bicycle bell, basically anything you can find that makes a noise. Put on some upbeat music and bash along to it. It's great if you all know the words but still fine if you don't, as long as it's cheerful music. It makes one hell of a racket but it's so much fun!

Love the picture treasure hunt- will steal that for the summer and do in the garden I think!

We jumped on a bus today (fist bus we saw) and ended up by the sea. Had DD's hair cut for the first time and then fish and chips on the beach followed by a choc ice cream all to herself (not intentional but she refused me even a lick. Don't blame her!) and I let her get as messy as possible. She watched dogs catching balls all over the beach which she thought was amazing and then she conked out just before we got on the bus home :) Lovely day.