hoppermum

Do you have an iPad? There's a kids series called seek and find which I use for long train journeys (and trips to the hairdresser!) the apps are free though you can pay for extra pictures which I dont think are necessary if its just a one off journey (I was doing lots of train journeys with similar age DS) Other thing he loved were stickers-any kind of stickers entertained him for ages, and then he liked to draw around / over the stickers. Finally, though this involves a lot of adult participation, we found flash cards to be a life saver-you can bring them out in restaurants / cafes too as they just fit in your handbag. Good luck!

Ill be there too if I can get someone to look after my little un until DH gets home. Will prob need to get him to bed myself so will see you 7.30ish.

Second timer due 9th nov (DS will be 2y 2m) I'm home full time with DS so if anyone is around during the week I'd be happy to meet up. Can't make tomorrow's meet up but will aim for the next one!

I went to the one in Lommel in Belgium in feb (I was living in Brussels at the time) I don't have any experiences of UK centre parcs to compare but I found it to be really lovely. We had one of the VIP cottages on the lake and there were always ducks coming up to be fed (there was a foot of snow, i had pneumonia and it was minus 10 degrees and we still had a great time!)

Hi folks, slight complication is the DH only had a specific week in July booked off so reduced our flexibility a little. Also we need a 3 bed place as MIL is coming too. I have managed to find somewhere though, lovely farm on the south coast near a beach. Was really helpful to get coast / beach suggestions. Some of the farms you suggested are amazing and will definitely be on my list for next years holiday if this one works well!!! Will let you know if its any good :o)

Ooh thanks for all these suggestions-looking forward to having a google / map session this evening to figure it all out. Annoyingly lots of the "availability" pages on farm websites haven't been updated for weeks so having found lots of nice places that show availability, I'm finding that most are full....grrr! #leftittoolate!

Morning all, I'm trying to plan a summer holiday in Cornwall-DH has given me until the end of the day or he's "just going to sort it out" (gulp!) I'm trying to get my head around the different coasts and where the best place would be for soft, sandy beaches without a million steps to climb up and down, with non-surf type water. Does this exist?! Also, we've left it far too late to book any of the amazing guardian / telegraph / mumsnet recommended stay-on-a-farm type holidays as the good ones have been booked for a year...but if anyone knows of any similar types that perhaps didn't make the infamous lists, please let me know! Love the idea of staying on a farm...but also close to a nice sandy beach with rock pools. Too much to ask?!!

?11 isn't expensive-I used to go to both The Castle in archway and the westway where it was about ?20. These places are brilliant for slightly more experienced climbers. It is an expensive sport...I've got all the equipment gathering dust in the loft and it shocks me to think how much we spent!

Hi there, I've been a few times and it seems to have got much worse recently-when I first started there was a good mix of soft play and gym equipment and recently its just been a very poor selection of things that don't really seem to hold kids attentions or imagination.i asked the supervisor where all the gym equipment was and I was told that due to "health and safety" they can't bring it out anymore. Definitely not worth the ?4.95 entrance fee until they reinstate all the gym equipment. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear, just trying to save you the disappointment! Hopefully it will improve again as more people complain!

Evening all, I've changed my name so I can't be identified in RL so apologies for the secrecy! My husband has had an opportunity to move to Istanbul for a year or two with work and we're currently exploring our options. We'd be well looked after with a villa / pool / driver / maid provided and great work prospects for my husband but we've recently had a baby and I'm concerned about what life would be like for me and little hopper (she'll be 7 months old when we move) Does anyone have any experience of expat life in Istanbul? The move wouldn't be until the Spring but I'm trying to get as much information as possible to help make the decision!! Thanks!