Issue 17 summer 2015 by Molly's Guide

for parents & carers

issue 17 â&#x20AC;˘ Summer 2015

SUMMER HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE What every parent needs!

F KICK OFOLN NC WITH LI OUTH CITY Y MY ACADE der lexan Keith A l Annual a ri o m e M ent Tournam

OUT & ABOUT Fun-packed activities for the whole family this Summer

BOOK REVIEWS Great ideas for your little bookworms this Summer

Take a walk on the wild side with the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust

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Summer’s here! Are your children looking forward to some long lazy days ahead of them or do they demand an action packed break? We’ve lots of ideas in this issue of Molly’s Guide to suit all tastes. Readers can ﬁnd recommendations on page 20, you can discover what Lincoln BIG has planned for summertime in the city on page 32 and what DiscoverNK has in store on page 44, compile your own summer bucket list with the help of suggestions on page 49 and, to create your own back garden hive of activity, see page 54 – or, if you’re just looking to survive the six week stretch, check out Sam Curtis’s tips on pages 22-23.

LINCS WILDLIFE TRUST

THE SURVIVAL GUIDE

LINCOLN CITY F.C.

RAND FARM PARK

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

And don’t forget we’re constantly adding events to our What’s On calendar on the Molly’s Guide website: www.mollysguide.co.uk/events Sam’s already marked September 3rd on her calendar and the autumn will surely come round again and, if 2016 is due to be a big transition year for your child, then take a look at pages 10-18 for news of school open evenings to help you make that difﬁcult decision. It might be sad to think past the holidays already – although the ‘back to school’ ranges appearing in shops even before term ends now won’t help with that – but you can be sure that the fun doesn’t need to end on August 31st with lots of family fun days already planned ahead including the St Barnabas Fete (page 39) and Macmillan’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (page 36). For now though let’s celebrate a feeling of freedom, family fun and a good weather forecast!

stevensgreenmedia Editorial & Advertising: Stevens Green Media Ltd 63 Bunkers Hill, Lincoln LN2 4QS T: 01522 535068

E: info@mollysguide.co.uk

While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors, inaccuracies or omissions it may contain. Inclusion in the directory does not imply an endorsement of the service or product. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, or by means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise. Or stored in any retrieval system - without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Copyright ©Stevens Green Media Ltd - All rights reserved.

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NEWS

STEP PARENTING

THE SIMPLE WAYS FOR FAMILY TIME... Squeezing in quality family time around work commitments must be one of the toughest, and often frustrating, challenges facing any parent. As well as welcoming baby Betty into our lives three months ago, I have started a new job in a new city. It has meant a world of change and it certainly hasn’t been easy. In my last column, I wrote about how I was determined to make sure my seven-year-old step-daughter, Evie, didn’t feel left out with the arrival of our new addition. It seemed so straight forward – all I had to do was make her feel just as important as the baby. Keep up the fun times, remember to poke fun and cuddle her in equal measure. Simple. But of course, I was writing that while I was still on paternity leave. Now, I am leaving the house at 6.30am most days and frequently not back until 8pm. It leaves precious little time for quality time with anyone. Much of my concern had been centred around not seeing my baby grow up – I underestimated just how much they develop on a daily basis at this age. But the other week, I was hit hard when discovering I had majorly taken my eye off the ball with Evie. Following a sequence of long days in the office and consequently very little one-on-one time with her, she surprised me one morning by running down the stairs to cuddle me goodbye. With one eye on the time I said: “Be good for Mummy and have a good day at school. Is it PE day, today?” “No,” she replied. “I am doing my SATS.” SATS?! How did I not know this? My response was lame: “You’re the brightest seven-year-old I know, so you will be fine.” Quite frankly, I was embarrassed I hadn’t known about it.. I spent my hour’s commute, and much of the day, questioning my ability to be a stepdad. I was overcome with guilt. Here was Evie going through her first batch of examinations and, had she not woken up in time that morning, it may well have passed me by altogether. Had I become so consumed with my two new job titles, new employee and new dad, that I’d forgotten about my existing role? And, when I scratched a little deeper, I was left asking myself if, in fact, that role’s job description had been actually rewritten while I wasn’t looking.

Summer 2015

As a step-dad, especially in the early days, my role was to back up Evie’s mum. She dished out the discipline. I nodded sagely behind her and tried not to laugh. But having Betty around has shifted the dynamics. While Mel is inevitably tied up with the baby, I now realise I am having to step to the fore with Evie. Traditionally, I’ve been able to be the fun one. Now I’m having to take the lead a little more.

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I have had to tell her to tidy her room, to not be cheeky to Nanny, to stop doing cartwheels in the middle of the road. Consequently, not only has my time with her been reduced, I’ve realised that the time I do get with her has become a little more serious.

“I guess this is where I learned the ﬁrst rule in the Step-Parenting Handbook…. You can’t be Good Cop forever.”

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I’ve had to tackle the behavioural challenges headon for the first time and I’ve had to think on my feet when it comes to punishment. And it’s fair to say Evie has taken my occasional switch to Bad Cop a little hard. After quite a bit of soul searching, I realised I had to be proactive. And quick. And as luck would have it, this week provided me with the perfect opportunity to make amends. Praise be for sports day. I have always loved sports day. I am dangerously competitive and hate losing – which is ironic because I don’t win much. Evie too is naturally competitive and a big sports fan. She asked me to give her some training at the local park and it was music to my ears. Sadly, I had been unable to book the morning off work to cheer her on but, the long summer nights leading up to the big day gave me an opportunity. I made an extra effort to get home earlier and did what I could to help her cross that finish line first. And she didn’t let me down. Last Friday, my lovely little step-daughter came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in her three races. But more importantly than the results, those ‘training’ sessions gave us a chance to reconnect. She filled me in on the school gossip. She surprised me at just how far she could actually run and she dissolved into giggles at my pathetic attempts at cartwheels. And it was during those sessions that I learned the most significant lesson of all. That when all is said and done, there’s only one thing that any child needs from the adults in their lives. And that’s time. It really is that simple. Mark Williams, aged 31, lives in Lincoln, a Journalist by day and a tired dad at night

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NEWS

LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST

TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE...

The summer holidays are a great time to get outdoors and explore the natural world. Sunny days bring out butterflies, bumblebees and dragonflies that are easy to spot but there’s a host of other creatures that are a little more hidden away. Let the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust be your guide to some amazing wildlife discoveries this summer. The Wildlife Trust has events for children and their families at Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln, Far Ings on the south bank of the Humber, and on the coast at Gibraltar Point and Saltfleetby-and-Theddlethorpe Dunes. You can join them pond dipping and sea dipping to discover the creatures of the deep, learn about funky flowers, tremendous trees and marvellous mammals, or get crafty making fabulous creations in the sand on the beach or designing your own wildlife-inspired flags. MAIN: 7-spot ladybird by Rachel Scopes LEFT: Forester moth by Sheri Lake

Summer 2015

If you can’t make it to any of the special events there’s still lots of wildlife to discover in your garden, local park or on walks in the countryside. Here are a few things to look for:

14-spot ladybird by Amy Lewis

LADYBIRDS Have you noticed that not all ladybirds have the same number of spots and that they come in many different colours? This is because there are 26 types of true ladybird found in the UK, and they come in many different sizes and patterns. Look out for the 7-spot ladybird (red with seven black spots), the 14-spot ladybird (yellow with 14 oblong black spots) and the 22-spot ladybird (yellow with 22 black spots).

The colou r and the number of spots o n a ladyb ird tells us which species it is

There’s some great information on how to recognise different ladybirds at www.ladybird-survey.org DRAGONFLIES AND DAMSELFLIES These are some of our most impressive and colourful insects. Damselfiles are quite delicate and dainty, watch them when they land – they always fold their wings closed over their backs. Dragonflies are bigger and stronger, when they land, they hold their wings out at right angles from their bodies. If you want to identify which species you’ve seen, you’ll need to look carefully at the colour of their bodies. Check out this website for details and photos of all the species in the UK: www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/uk-species ABOVE: Male banded demoiselle and RIGHT: Female broad bodied chaser - both by Vicky Nall

sy lﬂies are ea s and damse Dragonﬂie at how they g in ok lo by to let apart they land ings when hold their w

LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE TRUST EVENTS Wild-Time: Summer I-Spy Trail at Whisby Nature Park Available every day from Wednesday 22nd JulyWednesday 2nd September Celebrate the signs of summer with this seasonal trail. Collect your own Explorers Pack from the Natural World Centre (open 10am-4pm). £2.50 per trail. Please note this is a self-guided trail and requires adult supervision. Run in partnership with the Natural World Centre.

Wild-Time: Wonders of the Wash at Gibraltar Point 11am-4pm, Wednesday 5th August Discover the marine life that lives in and around The Wash with free activities and a self-guided trail.

Saltﬂeetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes Family Fun Day 10am-4pm, Sunday 16th August A whole host of exciting nature activities for the family to enjoy including pond dipping, arts and crafts, bug hunts, beach art and animal tracks. At The Eco-Classroom, Rimac, Saltﬂeetby-Theddlethorpe Dunes National Nature Reserve, LN11 7TS Check out the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust website for details of all the summer holiday events http://bit.ly/lwtsummer15 www.mollysguide.co.uk

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EDUCATION

THE NEWTON ACADEMY

Newton Academy – the Science Club for Girls A new academy aimed at encouraging young girls to pursue careers in science & technology has been launched in Lincoln. The Newton Academy – the Science Club for Girls was set up by the University of Lincoln in June 2014 to take girls on a 3-year scientific voyage of discovery. Sixty Year 6 girls from across Lincolnshire enrolled into its first cohort, and have attended the first year of Saturday Club events. The Saturday Club is a series of Saturday morning science and technology-themed workshops consisting of hands-on activities and projects, designed to work alongside the National Curriculum, that will inspire and enthuse the next generation of female scientists and engineers. The 2014 Programme included

the Robotics Big Launch; Spud Science; The Chemistry Christmas Cracker; and a visit to the Big Bang Fair at the NEC, Birmingham. The Academy has been created as part of the University of Lincoln’s Athena SWAN project, acknowledging the Institution’s commitment to improving the representation of women in science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM). To improve the representation of female academics in some STEM areas (particularly in physics, mathematics, engineering and computer science) we have to attract more girls to these subjects at School level (e.g. currently only 20% of Physics A-level students are female). We believe that early engagement is the key to increasing the popularity of STEM subjects among our girls. The Academy, therefore, aims to inspire 10–14 year olds in STEM subjects – subjects that research shows they are less likely to pursue – opening their eyes to the

possibilities of what they can achieve, and encouraging them to consider post-16 study in STEM subjects... and ultimately, of course, to pursue science and technology careers. But most of all, the Newton Academy is all about showing young girls that science can be fun! Girls enrol in the Academy at the end of Year 6 and stay until the end of Year 9. During their three years, ‘Newton Girls’ will take part in projects that develop their confidence, their enthusiasm for STEM, and essential problem-solving and critical thinking skills. They will develop leadership skills and the confidence to challenge any preconceptions that may prevent them from pursuing and being successful in any STEM field. Lincoln University Technical College and the region’s science and technology-based industries are also involved in the Academy. For more on the Newton Academy and details of how you can sign up for future years please go to http://newton.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/ YouTube: Newton Academy the Science Club for Girls www.mollysguide.co.uk

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EDUCATION

ENCOURAGING OUR STUDENTS TO BE EXTRAORDINARY

LINCOLN CASTLE ACADEMY

We provide an education that transforms lives, and as a good school we bring out the best in every young person, addressing their needs, developing their potential and nurturing their talents. We celebrated another record year of exam results this year with more Year 11 students achieving at the highest level than ever before. Year 13 leavers also recorded a string of excellent successes and many of them have now started at universities and employment around the country. We wish every bit of luck to them! We accept we have many responsibilities to the students in our care. One of the greatest is to ensure that each student leaving Lincoln Castle Academy has opportunities and choices for his or her own future. With our guidance and support we can be sure that all choices will be informed and exciting. Lessons at Lincoln Castle Academy are well planned and challenge students to be their best selves.

We regularly invite guests to speak in class and assemblies, recently including poets, authors, artists and business leaders; we organise engaging trips including to Vulcan to the Sky, local universities, Lincoln Castle and ďŹ eld trips around the country. Several of our trips are as part of our bespoke rewards programme that provides opportunities to celebrate success and endeavour every six weeks. We have an Open Evening on 17th September, but youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always welcome to visit for an informal tour (contact details on our advert below).

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EDUCATION

AIM HIGH WITH NORTH KESTEVEN SCHOOL!

NORTH KESTEVEN SCHOOL

The 2014-2015 academic year at NK has seen great success for our high performing academy and we invite Year 5 and Year 6 parents to learn more about our school, its staff and students by visiting us on our forthcoming Open Evenings on the 16th and 24th September. As Ofsted conﬁrmed for us in March this year, “Students enjoy attending North Kesteven School and have a very positive attitude to their learning”. Our students do enjoy their time studying with us; whether this is due to the large choice of GCSE options we provide for them, the fantastic facilities, our KS4 results which are above local and national averages or the inspiring teaching, there are a multitude of positive reasons to become a student within our school community. During this past year our students have beneﬁted from and enjoyed using the redeveloped School Restaurant as well as our new Learning Development Centre. As the different phases of the £3.6 million redevelopment of the One NK Sports Centre come into fruition, our students will enjoy outstanding PE lessons delivered in state of the art facilities and are already fully utilising the 3G pitch and spacious, modern dance studios. To keep up to date with all our developments and news please refer to our school website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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EDUCATION

SIR WILLIAM ROBERTSON ACADEMY

COME AND FIND OUT HOW YOUR CHILD CAN ASPIRE TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE… Choosing a secondary school is one of the most important decisions you will have to make for you and your child. The decision making process will be eased by gathering as much information about possible schools in advance of the October deadline. With this in mind, we would like to extend an invitation to parents/carers for a personal tour of the Academy. During the tour you will see ﬁrst-hand the excellent behaviour of our pupils and the high-calibre learning taking place in the classrooms. In addition, our new Summer Open Evening takes place on Tuesday 7th July and our Open Week (14th, 15th and 16th September 2015) provide a chance to see the school working and meet with pupils who have very recent experience of starting in Year 7. Sir William Robertson Academy is a highly successful 11-18 school with a ﬂourishing and rapidly expanding Sixth Form. The school fosters an aspirational ethos in which every child is expected to achieve the very best they can in all that they do. Situated in a rural location, SWRA provides a safe and idyllic learning environment with small class sizes and superb pastoral care and support. The Academy is easily accessible from Newark, Grantham, Sleaford, Lincoln and surrounding villages – with school buses serving each of these areas. Our pupils are well supported through an engaging and dynamic academic curriculum that is tailored to the needs of the individual. The school is well-resourced, with wonderful outdoor sporting facilities for a wide range of sporting activities. We offer a full and active programme of Musical and Performing Arts from our purpose built studios

Come and ﬁnd out how your child can ASPIRE to a brighter future, by booking a personal tour on 01400 272422 or visit www.swracademy.org www.mollysguide.co.uk

EDUCATION

CONTINUALLY STRIVING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

ST PETER & ST PAUL

The Community at St Peter & St Paul Catholic Voluntary Academy is made up of many faiths and backgrounds; however, our Catholic ethos underpins everything that we do. Our students are encouraged to appreciate their gifts and talents and then they are given every opportunity to make the best of them. At St Peter & St Paul we share our values of respect and courtesy to one another and we encourage the students to take personal responsibility. We provide a safe environment in which students are academically successful and spiritually nourished so that they become well-educated young people with strong Christian Values. Through this we enable our students to take their place as successful adults in a modern world. Success at St Peter & St Paul Academy stems from careful planning of the curriculum so that every student irrespective of their ability is studying appropriate and challenging courses and is being provided with opportunities to develop their unique talents.

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Students can continue their studies in the St Peter & St Paul Sixth Form where there are a wide variety of courses offered to suit all students. Our students receive excellent guidance when choosing the most suitable courses; they are taught and prepared well to achieve the grades they require to move on to Higher Education or employment. Our extra-curricular and enrichment activities play an integral part of a young person’s development and all students are encouraged to embrace the breadth of opportunities available. We welcome visits to the Academy at any time so please feel free to make an appointment to come & see us at work.

CELEBRATING GOOD NEWS After achieving the Lincolnshire County Council Healthy Schools Bronze and Silver Awards, St Peter & St Paul Catholic Voluntary Academy has now been successful in achieving the Gold Award which recognises the continuous hard work done by the School Council. The School Council have reached this high standard through their hard work & determination over the past year; particularly their very successful fundraising. The main charity supported this year was St Barnabas Hospice but at least 4 other charities have also received support. School Council members have also been involved in: • The interviewing of new members of staff • Raising funds for and selecting the academy’s new outside benches • Discussing aspects of the healthy meals which are cooked and delivered onsite • Choosing art work for around the school to enhance the various work environments • They have also been involved in wider community projects such as the refurbishment of Boultham Park To be awarded the Gold Award is a rare accolade in the county of Lincolnshire, we are therefore extremely proud of our students and what they have achieved.

Join us for our

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Well done to all those involved. www.mollysguide.co.uk

EDUCATION

THE PRIORY ACADEMY LSST

Students and their families are attracted by the academy’s unique environment. The achievement of academic excellence and the development of an individual’s true potential are pursued enthusiastically and successfully within the local, national and international communities. Students, from the day they arrive in Year 7, are encouraged to participate fully in all that the academy has to offer. It is expected that the relationship will last until, and even beyond, the time when they progress from Sixth Form to university and their chosen careers. Parents and carers also appreciate and support the high expectations of achievement, behaviour and uniform that are established clearly and consistently. The Priory’s exceptional learning environment, thoughtfully fostered for many years, has been complemented in recent times by the addition of a new sports hall, planetarium and Sixth Form study centre.

A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT The Priory Academy LSST, one of the top performing nonselective State schools in the country, continues to ﬂourish and build on its recent successes.

Judged as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in its most recent inspection, The Priory continues to post excellent examination results, including a 95% pass rate for ﬁve or more A*-C grades (including English and Maths) at GCSE. The aspirational emphasis also helps students progress to the country’s top universities, including Oxbridge and the rest of the Russell Group. The academy’s philosophy, known as The Priory Ethos, is designed to ensure that students appreciate the excitement of learning, the rewards of personal challenge and the importance of helping others. In this way, they are helped to become true citizens of the world.

The Priory Academy LSST

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Summer 2015

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EDUCATION

Part time evening & weekend courses

COMMUNITY LEARNING

Community Learning provides adults with high quality courses and learning which can help to develop new skills, improve confidence or lead to qualifications. This term our programme offers many opportunities for you to start up a new inspiring hobby, brush up on your skills or simply learn for fun! We have a team of expert tutors who deliver an exciting programme of learning. Our part time courses run in the evenings and at weekends and vary in length from one day workshops up to 10 weeks. The centre is based at Sir Robert Pattinson Academy in North Hykeham where learners will benefit from the excellent facilities available and ample free parking. Sir Robert Pattinson Academy provides a friendly environment in which you can learn and the resources available for your use are amongst the best. We provide a wide variety of courses delivered by experienced tutors who will ensure that you learn new skills in a caring and supportive environment. If you choose us for your learning needs you will be choosing a friendly, local, community led centre that really cares about your needs and strives to help you achieve your goals.

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If you would like more information, please telephone 01522 681861 or visit our website: www.srpa.co.uk

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EDUCATION

BOOK REVIEWS HEADER

EXPLORING GREAT READING IDEAS Bookseller Deborah Holland from Waterstones in High Street, Lincoln, recommends four titles to get stuck into during the summer holidays… Blown Away by Rob Biddulph (HarperCollins, 9780007593828) Penguin Blue is going on for an unexpected maiden flight with several of his friends hanging on. This is Rob Biddulph’s first ever picture book and was awarded winner of the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2015. Beautiful illustrations and don’t forget to check out the little stowaway on their return that you can find on the last few pages - cheeky monkey!

Darkmouth by Shane Hegarty (HarperCollins, 9780007545612)

Oi Frog! by Kes Gray & Jim Field (Hachette Children’s Group, 9781444910865) Meet the very grumpy cat who sits on the mat and orders the frog to sit on the log. When the frog asks why? The cat’s answer is hilarious. Brilliant rhyming text and quite honestly the funniest book I have read so far this year. A winner for both kids and parents. Jim Field captures all the animals and their rightful places, brilliantly. Remember though, only “gophers sit on sofas”.

With the most inept hero, Finn, whose job it is to protect our world from the invasion of Legends AKA monsters, now is the time to worry. As the last Legend Hunter it is the 12 year old’s destiny. With humour, adventure, quirky illustrations, twists and turns this is the most amazing children’s book I have read this year. This ﬁrst instalment would deﬁnitely appeal to fans of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson, Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant and Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl.

The Jolley-Rogers and the Cave of Doom by Jonny Duddle (Templar Publishing, 9781848772410) Join Matilda and Jimlad on their second pirate adventure together. Fantastic tale with stunning illustrations. Perfect for ages 5 to 8 years, boys or girls. A great progression from picture books especially if you have read Jonny Duddle’s picture books The Pirate’s Next Door and Gigantosaurus.

Waterstones holds weekly Sunday storytimes throughout the year and has a programme of summer holiday activities too. 20

Summer 2015

To ﬁnd out more: T: 01522 540011 297a High Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AF Twitter: @waterstoneslinc Facebook: Waterstones

Exci�ng, interac�ve & fun

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Musical classes for li�le ones MONDAYS

The Community Centre, Clinton Park, Ta�ershall, LN4 4QZ

HAPPY HOUSE - Toddlers & younger siblings BABY BEEPS - Babies si�ng to toddling BABY BELLS - Babies newborn to si�ng

WEDNESDAYS

Bailgate Methodist Church, Bailgate, LN1 3AR

FRIDAYS

The Ark, Moor Lane, North Hykeham, LN6 9AB

SATURDAYS

Birchwood Children’s Centre – every 2nd & 4th Saturday To book your taster class: Tel: 07734 865952

Email: Miranda@hartbeeps.com

www.hartbeeps.com

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EDUCATION

SCHOOL SUMMER HOLIDAYS

THE PARENT’S SUMMER HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE Here’s a date for your diary - Thursday, September 3. What signiﬁcance does it hold? For parents of school-age children it’s the ﬁrst day of the new academic year. It will also be the day the holidays end and mums and dads can congratulate themselves on having survived the six-week break. If like me, you are a working parent, this period represents a logistical challenge of how to ensure my kids are cared for, while not using up my entire holiday entitlement. The only way to achieve this is for my husband and I to stagger our vacation time and for the rest we call in the big guns - the grandparents. Thank goodness for grandparents, who are happy (well, they say they’re happy) to look after our little people while we toil. On the plus side, the school holidays offer a break from the 6.45am starts and the 3.15pm 22

Summer 2015

pick-ups, the seemingly endless packed lunches and Sunday night uniform preparation, not to mention the weekly rush to get homework finished before hand-in day. For my childcare shift, I plan to take the first two weeks. There are advantages to this. After just finishing a seven-week term, I know my eldest child, Lottie, 9, will want to spend the first few days “chilling out”. This will entail wearing a onesie (no matter what the weather), watching YouTube videos about Minecraft and making several trips to the freezer for ice lollies, with little inclination to do much else. My toddler, Louie, will be so thrilled to have someone at home to play with, he will follow his sister around like a chick scurrying after a mother

hen. Wherever she goes, he’ll be hot on her heels, so if she is watching a ﬁlm, that’s what he will want to do. Anyone with a toddler at home will understand what a godsend it is to know they are quiet because they are being entertained by someone else, not because they have found your stash of nail polish and are making pretty pictures on your bedroom carpet. Once the chill-out period comes to an end, we enter the second phase, commonly known as the “novelty” phase. Youngsters will probably still be enjoying the lack of structure to their day, the lie-ins, the late lunches and the opportunity to lose themselves in a video game for a couple of hours. Life should be relatively calm at this point.

The phase that follows is where you’ll need to up your parenting game. Older children will probably start to find their younger siblings annoying around week three - the midway point. Behaviour that was once cute and endearing, may now trigger a meltdown. Listen out for tetchy exchanges, maybe the door being slammed and for cries of, “get out of my room” – an absolute giveaway that tension is building. By week four there may be signs of boredom setting in, after all six weeks feels like an eternity to children, whose perception of time is different to adults’. You have several options at this point: 1. Send them to their grandparents. 2. Make sure your partner has booked time off so they can deal with it while you head to the office/shops/day spa. 3. Find ways to keep your children entertained. Clearly, option one is the easiest but what if you have no choice but to find things to keep your family occupied? Here’s a few ideas your kids might find fun, heck you might enjoy taking part, too. Plus, they won’t break the bank. GO CAMPING (for older kids). If you have a tent, pitch it in the back garden. Most youngsters love sleeping under the stars, at least until they hear an owl hoot, or a snuffling hedghog the other side of the canvas. There is one major advantage to this option, rather than pitching up at a real campsite for a week: If it rains, is too cold, or just too darn spooky, you have a warm house and comfy beds to slip back into at 2am.

or large bowl, with water and washing up liquid, find a couple of paint brushes and then give the youngsters permission to paint fences, decking, paths, in fact anywhere you are happy to get wet. Your little ones will be amazed as their handiwork magically disappears in the sunshine. If you want to be really proactive, why not persuade busy toddlers to wash your car with their ‘magic paint’, by swapping the paintbrushes for a sponge. BE SOCIABLE Invite your children’s friends around for tea and a movie. My daughter loved doing this last year and even went to the trouble of printing cinema tickets and invitations for her chums. Yes, you’ll have to cook but keep it simple – pizza always goes down well. If tummies start grumbling, rustle up some popcorn in the microwave and offer as a mid-film snack. Suggest to other parents what a great idea it is and maybe they will host their own film afternoon. Just one word of warning. Make a pact not to screen Frozen at any point, unless you are happy for your offspring to sing Let It Go every day until they return to school.

MAGIC PAINT (for toddlers and pre schoolers)

FINALLY, DRINK WINE (you, not the kids).

If we are blessed with a sunny day, tell your children you are going to give them a bucket of magic paint. Fill a bucket,

The warmer months are perfect for sitting in the garden in the evenings, enjoying a glass of vino after a day of parenting.

TIP: Make sure you buy wine with proper corks, not screwtop lids. You can then make cute cork boats. All you need is three corks, some elastic bands, bamboo skewers and cardboard to make sails. The more children you have, the more wine you’ll need to drink* in order to have enough corks. (Seems fair enough to me). Visit www.tescoliving.com and go to the ‘for kids’ section to ﬁnd the full instructions on how to make the boats. *In the interest of your health, drink responsibly. Plus, we all know looking after kids with a cracking hangover is the worst thing, EVER. So, here’s to a fun-ﬁlled, chilled out summer holiday. And if you haven’t done it already, remember to mark September 3 on your calendar. Book yourself in for a massage, a manicure, a round of golf or lunch out at a restaurant with a great selection of puddings, whatever makes you feel good, because by then you will have earned it. Newspaper columnist Sam Curtis, 45, lives in Lincoln, in a house that’s not as clean or tidy as she’d like, with her husband Leigh and their two children, Lottie, 9, and Louie (almost) 2. Twitter: @sammanfa www.mollysguide.co.uk

SPORT & HEALTH

LINCOLN CITY FOOTBALL CLUB

“He was a man of dignity, courage, warmth and great football knowledge” Nigel Clough

KEITH ALEXANDER MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT SUNDAY 26TH JULY 2015 at RUSTON SPORTS CLUB, LINCOLN First game due to kick off at 10am (subject to scheduling)

Lincoln City’s Youth Academy will once again be hosting its annual Keith Alexander Memorial Tournament in July this year. “He wasn’t just a good football man but a really top bloke and somebody that everyone in the game had a lot of respect for”

Now in its ﬁfth year, this prestigious event brings football clubs and communities together to remember the man who not only took the Imps to ﬁve consecutive play-offs, but who himself bridged so many divides across the football community.

Nigel Pearson, Leicester City manager

And this year, the Academy hopes to build on its previous success by increasing the size of the event to include an Under 12 tournament alongside the current Under 14 and Under 16 events. Previous winners include Hull City, Norwich City, Burton Albion and Lincoln City, and the current holders are Shefﬁeld Wednesday (U14) and Nottingham Forest (U16). Admission is free for everyone, and we would love to see as many Imps fans and supporters of local football at the event as possible.

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Lincoln City’s Youth Academy is delighted to announce that Liverpool FC will bring their Under 18 Youth Team to Sincil Bank on Thursday 23rd July, 7pm kick off. Last July the young Imps entertained Arsenal’s Youth Team in front of nearly 1,400 spectators and the Academy is delighted to have been able to secure another prestigious pre-season ﬁxture. Liverpool’s Academy is considered to be one of the best in the country - current and past Liverpool players to have graduated through the ranks include Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, Jamie

Carragher, Steven Gerrard, Jon Flanagan and Raheem Sterling. And in 2006 former Lincoln City academy scholar Jack Hobbs played a major part in the reds’ FA Youth Cup success. Admission prices for the game are just £5 for adults and £1 for juniors and concessions. There will be no advance ticket sales so everyone can pay on the gate. Executive boxes seating 10 people can be bought in advance for just £100 by emailing futureimpsfund@redimps.com with your name, address and contact details. All proceeds from the ﬁxture will go directly to the Future Imps Fund which was established to ensure the future of the club’s Youth Academy.

LINCOLN CITY v LIVERPOOL

SCHOOL VOUCHER OFFER

HERE’S WHAT YOUR SCHOOL CAN WIN!! AN EXECUTIVE BOX FOR YOUR TEACHERS TO WATCH LINCOLN CITY NEXT SEASON* 100 FREE LINCOLN CITY CHILD TICKETS FOR YOUR SCHOOL** Simply write the name of your school in the box below and hand it in at the turnstile when you come to the game. The school with the most number of entries (per number of children in the school) will be the winner.

*Executive Box holds up to 10 people and the prize can be claimed at one of Lincoln City’s home Vanarama National League fixtures during the 2015-16 season, subject to availability. Details of how to claim your prize will be sent to the winning school once all vouchers have been verified and counted. **100 free child tickets will be issued to your school for a Lincoln City Vanarama National League 2015-16 fixture once the fixtures have been announced, at the club’s discretion.

www.mollysguide.co.uk

SPORT & HEALTH

THE SPORT & EDUCATION TRUST

MATCH DAY ACTIVITIES AT LINCOLN CITY F.C. Here at Lincoln City Football Club we offer more than just watching football and these activities give children the chance to be part of the club on a match day.

The Sport & Education Trust on a match day run both the Mascot Experience and the Match Day Birthday Party. These activities give the child the opportunity to run out with the players in front of the home crowd. This is a unique experience in Lincoln and one not to be missed and include the following:

MATCH DAY BIRTHDAY PARTY:

MATCH DAY MASCOT:

• Birthday Party for up to 16 people • Activity session for all attending

• Full Lincoln City Football Club Kit

• Birthday Cake

• Match Day Programme

• Party Bags and Invitations

• Meet the 1st team squad

• Gift from the club

• Meet the manager

• Full Lincoln City Football Club playing kit (Birthday child only)

• Kickabout on the pitch

• Photos with favourite player (if in match day squad)

• Food for mascot and two guests

• Walk Out with player of their choice (if in starting XI) • 2 additional tickets for guests of the birthday child • Food available at additional cost • Tickets for match available at additional cost Your child can enjoy all of this from £220 plus we have other birthday party options available on non-match days or even visiting a venue of your choice.

• 2 additional tickets for guests • Walk out with player of their choice (if in starting XI) • Photo with captains and referees • Photos with two favourite players (if in match day squad) Your child can enjoy all of this for £125 for a 3pm kick off or £100 for a week day evening game

For further information, please visit our website: www.lcfcset.com Alternatively please contact the ofﬁce T: 01522 563792 E: enquiries@lcfcset.co.uk 26

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ENTERTAINMENT

THE SHOWROOM

TREAD THE BOARDS AT THE SHOWROOM THIS SUMMER If you are looking for a holiday club with a difference this summer, The Showroom Theatre School, run by Lincolnshire YMCA, could be just the thing. Run by trained industry professionals, the weeklong club will see kids age 7+ write and perform in their very own musical. The emphasis of the week is on use of imagination and having fun. Participants will learn a variety of acting techniques and drama games, such as role play and improvisation, alongside dance and singing workshops. They will choreograph their own routines, with support from our IDTA qualiﬁed dance teacher, and create a unique and exciting piece of musical theatre, which they will perform at the end of the week to parents and friends.

Running from 10th-14th August, the club is a fantastic way to keep active and make friends throughout the summer. It also helps build the conﬁdence that is all important during the school years transition. At just £10 per day, The Showroom team offer a great creative outlet in a supportive, enjoyable and encouraging environment. Additionally, our Hip Hop Dance School on the 17th and 18th of August will get kids working up a sweat to the latest tunes. Whether its to Beyoncé or Pharrell, they will learn a variety of routines and styles, leading to a showcase performance at the end of the club. When they aren’t busy being creative, kids can chill out in our youth zone, fully equipped with pool, table tennis and air

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hockey, or take on their friends with a game of Dodgeball in our sports cage. For those who have never been to The Showroom before, our summer clubs also offer a great taster to our regular, term time theatre clubs. Our main Theatre School is on a Wednesday evening, and gives equal focus to dance, drama and singing, building conﬁdence both on stage and off, whereas our Tuesday night club is an acting group that teaches classic and modern technique. This is a great opportunity for those who really want a better understanding of the craft. For more information on all our holiday clubs and other activities, please visit our Facebook Page or www.lincsymca.co.uk. To pre-book a holiday club space T: 01522 508360 E: activities@theshowroom. org.uk

ENTERTAINMENT

KIDS! SEE GREAT LIVE SHOWS AND CREATE YOUR OWN AT LINCOLN DRILL HALL

LINCOLN DRILL HALL

Lincoln Drill Hall is a great place to get children of all ages involved with the arts and this Summer and Autumn there are events for everyone , from toddlers to teenagers. The venue’s regular ‘Diddy Disco’ continues to rock the dance ﬂoor on Thursday 23rd July, so head along for the funkiest disco party for under 7s around! On Saturday 25th July, Fretless, the Drill Hall’s ‘young cultural entrepreneurs’ group, marks the start of the holidays with their Summer Fete, with live music, spoken word and a few surprises. Aimed at young people aged 13+ this promises to be a quirky, but brilliant afternoon. At the end of July, the Drill Hall’s ‘Fishtank Summer Schools’ offer kids a great chance to develop drama and comedy skills. Working with Alice and Steph, budding writers, directors and actors can ‘Make A Play In Two Days’, while the ‘Comedy Workshop’ allows kids in tune with their funny bones to work on comedy characters, sketches and stand up.

In July and August, the Drill Hall is working with Lincoln Castle to present three productions in the castle grounds by open-air theatre company Illyria, including ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’. Take along your picnics and all the family for enchanting evenings of theatre as the sun sets. Moving into the Autumn, play classic games, enter tournaments and dress as your favourite character at the ‘Nintendo Gaming Day’ on Saturday 3rd October, part of the Lincoln Japan Festival. On Saturday 24th October the Italian theatre company TPO visit the Drill Hall with ‘Bleu’, a magical undersea odyssey rooted in Mediterranean mythology, told with their trademark combination of sumptuous visual imagery, movement, dance and music, plus opportunities for children to participate with

the performers as the story unfolds. Rounding off the year is the spectacular family panto ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ (8 December - 3 January) overstuffed like a Christmas stocking with fantastic characters, songs, jokes, dance routines and special effects. For further information about these events and activities visit www.lincolndrillhall.com or pick up the Drill Hall’s Autumn brochure. www.mollysguide.co.uk

DAYS OUT

LINCOLN BIG

GET OUT & ABOUT IN LINCOLN THIS SUMMER Summertime in the city promises to be really unforgettable – with more events and attractions than ever for families to enjoy this year. Look out for the return of Lincoln by the Sea and colourful Punch & Judy Shows. Explore the Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail or visit Lincoln Castle, which has just beneﬁted from a £22 million revamp. Lincoln BIG is, once again, bringing the phenomenally popular beach back to City Square. A fresh delivery of sand is on its way. The deckchairs are stacked, ready to be put out of July 20, and the fun will last right through until August 29. Alongside the beach, there will be various family activities, including a fairground ride. Children are also urged to watch out for that much-loved seaside duo, Punch & Judy. The Punch & Judy Festival itself takes place on July 31 and August 1. Six Punch & Judy Professors are coming to the city and they will be staging shows on Lincoln’s High Bridge, in City Square and in the grounds of Lincoln Castle, so catch a nearby performance. Don’t forget to look out for the giant Mr Punch & Judy puppeteers who will also be visiting the city. If you didn’t manage us join us for Lincoln’s Great Magna Carta Weekend (June 13/14), when we celebrated the 800th Anniversary of Magna Carta with the launch the Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail and lots of festival-style celebrations, don’t worry! Our fabulous trail, which features 25 Baron sculptures, will remain in place until midSeptember. Why not take a closer look and encourage your children to enter our special Barons’ competition. All you have to do is pick up an entry form and get them to look for the hidden letter on each Baron. Find out what the letters spell out, complete the form, and your child could win one of 5,000 bags of King John’s gold coins (chocolate). If you haven’t been inside Lincoln Castle for some time, a major transformation has taken place. Now is a great time to check out the brand new, state-of-the-art, David P J Ross Magna Carta Vault – which houses Lincoln’s copy of 1215 Magna Carta and the 1217 Charter of the Forest. You could also walk the Castle walls.

for more information visit www.lincolnbig.co.uk www.visitlincoln.com 32

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DAYS OUT

VISIT THE SEASIDE

Anderby Creek

DISCOVER THE BEST OF THE LINCOLNSHIRE COAST... Sand Train, Mablethorpe

With miles of sandy beaches, traditional seaside atmosphere and many major attractions there is much to do and see on the east coast of Lincolnshire. Choosing where to go, and what to do, is made easy with Visit The Seaside which offers a comprehensive guide, value for money and some great deals for family and friends.

Gibraltar Point

Discover all of the brilliant resorts of Skegness, Ingoldmells, Chapel St Leonards, Sutton on Sea, Mablethorpe, and Cleethorpes at www.visittheseaside. com where you will also ﬁnd many free discount vouchers available for use at some of the biggest coastal attractions including Butlins, Fantasy Island, Natureland and Pleasure Island among many other organisations and hospitality venues whose business is pleasure.

Cleethorpes Pier

Holidaymakers and visitors will find something for everyone from great amusements, to the best accommodation, the biggest attractions, the best restaurants, cafés, and fish and chip shops! There is a full list of activities featuring the best places to visit such as fishing lakes, parks & gardens, family attractions, sport & leisure, and animals & wildlife.

Skegness Pier

In addition, a full what’s on guide can be found which points visitors to special events, such as annual carnivals & festivals, what to watch at the theatre & cinema as well as the night life scene and what to do on rainy days to get the most from your seaside experience. When planning your holiday at one of the fantastic resorts along Lincolnshire’s east coast make that virtual trip to www.visittheseaside.com ﬁrst and ensure you get the best from your adventure. After all, a well planned holiday is always a great holiday. Chapel St Leonards 34

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For further information: www.visittheseaside.com Facebook: Visit The Seaside Twitter: @visittheseaside

DAYS OUT

MACMILLAN

JOIN THE TEA PARTY IN THE SQUARE

The Mad Hatter warmly invites you to tumble down the rabbit hole and join him at his Tea Party in City Square, Lincoln on Saturday 12th September.

For further information: T: 07572 429953 E: info@merrymacs.co.uk Facebook: Macmillan Cancer Support - The Merry Macs of Lincoln Twitter: merry_macs www.merrymacs.co.uk

The Mad Hatter is having a tea party and would like to invite everyone to join him, young or old - and the madder the better!! Make it fun and dress up as your favourite character and have your face painted, what will you be ....the Cheshire Cat... Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum ... or the adorable Alice? His good friends Mr Punch and Mrs Judy will be here to celebrate with him as will Mr Muggy and we hope a Minion may pop in (subject to weather). For the younger generation we have a clown coming down to make balloons and generally ‘clown around,’ or challenge the Mad Hatter or the Queen of Hearts to a round of Flamingo Croquet - although be warned as we all know, the Queen is not a good loser...or design your very own crown and see whether the Queen will swap with you! For the adults we have tea...lots of tea...coffee and cakes, along with fresh warm doughnuts from DoubleM, a fantastic tombola, name a beautiful bear and take him home with you and even try your hand at Play Your Cards Right! For the bird lovers out there, we have Hawks of Steele joining us so you get very close to owls and hawks and see just how beautiful they really are! The event is a family one, free for everyone to attend (although donations on the day would be appreciated). The fun and hilarities begin at 10am and goes right through to 4pm and we will have The White Rabbit’s clock so we won’t be late .... Remember it’s a very important date!!!

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Rushmoor

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DAYS OUT

ST BARNABAS HOSPICE

THE ST BARNABAS ANNUAL FETE! Sunday 20th September 2015 11am-3pm St Barnabas Day Centre, Hawthorn Road, Lincoln LN2 4QX On Sunday 20th September the beautiful one-acre garden at Hawthorn Road will be host to our annual fete. Running from 11am to 3pm the much loved fete will be full of fun, laughter and fundraising! There will be a host of stalls from local crafters, traditional tombolas, hospice merchandise and homemade cakes, all lovingly prepared by hospice volunteers. Traditional games will be available for children with Hook a Duck, the buzzer game plus much more. Twiglet and Friends will be attending with a bird of prey display and refreshments will be served on the BBQ. The St Barnabas Fete is also the perfect opportunity to have a stroll around the Day Therapy garden, which has been lovingly designed and planted to create a tranquil space for reﬂection and outdoor relaxation for our patients.

“There is something for everyone at the St Barnabas Fete!” FREE ENTRY for further information please feel free to visit www.stbarnabashospice. co.uk/lincolnfete or follow St Barnabas Lincs on Facebook for more updates.

www.mollysguide.co.uk

DAYS OUT

RAND FARM PARK

COME AND ENJOY AN EXCITING BALANCE OF INDOOR PLAY, OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS & FARMING FUN... It is almost 20 years since Rand Farm Park opened for business and many changes have taken place during that time. From 1996, new ideas and steady investment helped to change from a working pig farm into one of the county’s leading tourist attractions.

For more information: T: 01673 858904 www.randfarmpark.com

School Day Visits have always been popular and formed a basis for children to learn more about Life on a Farm but 2005 saw the introduction of Educational Residential visits when it became possible to camp in tents during the summer months and learn more about Food, Farming and the Environment. In 2010, a purpose built dormitory was designed within the roof space of the original Tea Room to allow such visits to take place all year round. After a quick count-up, 79 residential visits will have taken place during the academic year of 2014–2015. This year, has seen another major investment for the Day Visitor with the addition of Kangaroo Jumpers in time for the Easter Holidays and a “world ﬁrst” in the form of ‘Skyrider’ from the Rupert Oliver Ideas’s Factory which has proven to be an added attraction for the day visitor in time for the forthcoming school summer holidays.

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“We have to keep looking at our markets and move into new areas as families change and children want more challenging play” “We knew we needed and wanted to add something different from any other Farm Park” said Richard Waring, “Something unique to remind our visitors that we are still here. So we approached Rupert Oliver who has designed and built ‘Skyrider’ for us. We consider it to be an outdoor activity with a difference as you can run, climb, slide and then Skyride...” Since 2012, Rand Farm Park has also worked with Lincoln College to offer practical work experience for students working towards Levels 1, 2 and 3 in Animal Care. This in turn has resulted in the building of a new classroom which will be used by the college during term time and which will then be used as a base for the Kids Holiday Club to be launched this summer again in time for the school holidays. This is another new idea available from this innovative team.

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So for a great family day out with so much going on (as we haven’t mentioned Water Wars, Archery, Sheep Racing as well as the animals and all the other attractions) why not visit Rand Farm Park.

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DAYS OUT CITY OF CAVES & GALLERIES OF JUSTICE MUSEUM

A FUN-FILLED DAY OUT... Witness history as it comes to life for people of all ages when they step back in time through two of Nottingham’s most popular attractions, the City of Caves and the award-winning Galleries of Justice Museum. Families can double their fun by taking both tours and take advantage of discounted entry with a joint ticket - or visit one attraction and return to the other any time within six months. The City of Caves tour reveals a unique hidden labyrinth of tunnels and caves carved from the sandstone under Nottingham city centre, including a tannery and where the poorest of the poor eked out a wretched existence. Visitors can experience the tour with either audio-handsets or costumed guides, dependent on the time of year. Nearby, the visitors to the Galleries of Justice Museum experience what happened to felons in years gone by. Here, in dramatic detail through ﬁve storeys, they are met by costumed interpreters, led into court, take part in a mock trial and then get ‘sent down’ to the dungeons. A joint ticket is ideal for couples and families for a fun-ﬁlled day out or, for those who are not faint-of-heart, there are the popular after-dark events: Ghost Tours on Friday evenings and Terror Tours on Saturday evenings. The City of Caves tour takes about 45 minutes and the Galleries of Justice tour takes about 90 minutes and there are some lovely places to eat and drink in Nottingham in between.

Visitors are strongly advised to check availability of tours before starting out by checking the website or calling 0115 9520555 www.cityofcaves.com www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk

Discounted entry when you visit both attractions!

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DAYS OUT

DISCOVER HEADERNK

Come rain or shine, DiscoverNK has something for you to do these summer holidays! Sunshine? The Riverside Discovery Trail is the perfect way to explore Sleaford’s riverside, from ancient watermills to exciting exhibitions, use this trail to hunt down clues hidden along the way. The trail costs just £1.50 from Cogglesford Watermill and Navigation House and sets you off on a voyage of discovery hunting for time capsules, miller’s ancient graffiti and more before claiming your prize! We’re welcoming Summer to the riverside too, on Sunday 12 July, with lots going on at Cogglesford Mill, Navigation House and on Lollycocks Field. Try your hand at pond dipping, willow weaving and duck racing, to name but a few of the activities going on! Rain? Take a trip to Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre to try your hand on the flight simulator; can you land on the runway before you run out of fuel? You can also learn about RAF Cranwell, see the Jet Provost and have fun on the interactives. On Sunday 2 August Cranwell Aviation Heritage Centre will also be celebrating summer. Come along and explore a Harrier cockpit and vintage fire engine, make and fly a kite and enjoy some summery refreshments. For more information on all of these venues: 01529 308102 E: discovernk@n-kesteven.gov.uk www.heartoflincs.com Twitter: @discover_nk Facebook: heartoflincs

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A great day out this Su mmer! ��

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...and save with our discount voucher

SHOWS THROUGHOUT THE DAY Including

• Big Cat Feeding • Wolf Feeding • Reptile Handling • Meet the Lemurs • And the amazing animal show Follow us on

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on page 63

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ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES

SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER – SO GRAB YOUR BUCKET & LIST!

SUMMER ACTIVITIES

If you’re a list maker then pick up your pen and join Karen Malpass in writing down your fun and seasonal ‘must dos’… The early pages of my son’s diary are often punctuated with the acronym TWLFT – Things We Are Looking Forward To. Whilst in danger of wishing the time away we were looking forward to his first trip to the seaside, his first visit to the cinema, his first dip in a swimming pool… well, we were new parents, so his first everything. Very soon we learnt the full meaning of “the days are long but the years are short” and, as well as continuing to delight in his new experiences, we’re also always looking for ideas and activities to keep his constantly moving feet headed vaguely in a helpful direction and his busy hands occupied.

If you have young children then you can retain control of the list but, if your children are older, then involving them in compiling one can be an activity in itself if you’re wondering how to ﬁll those long summer weeks after the end of term – and some of their ideas may even surprise you. Entries can be as simple as walking barefoot in the grass, feeding the ducks, fruit picking, going on a bug hunt or dedicating an afternoon to blowing bubbles – remembering it’s as important to have some relaxed days as well as action packed ones and also ensuring you’ll be able to tick some boxes on your list sooner rather than later. They can be social. Inviting other families to a picnic party in the park could include making the invites, delivering them, planning the food and thinking of games to play or you could even host a back garden Olympics.

And now, as my “The opportunities daughter is in are endless – on the verge of what a shame crawling, he has a partner in mischief there’s only six who needs to be weeks to ﬁll!” entertained too. We certainly haven’t stopped making lists – they’re just becoming a bit more immediate than long term (although that trip to the Science Museum in London may keep being put off until he’s a little older and/or we’re a little braver). Last year I enjoyed reading the many Summer bucket lists put together by various mummy bloggers and loved the idea.

They can be local. As local as your own home if den building or growing and cooking their own vegetables appeals. Or, if you’re as keen to get out of the house as we often are, there’s plenty to explore just past our doorsteps too with this year’s Magna Carta Barons’ Trail taking you across the city, Lincoln Castle now opening up its grounds for free and various country shows such as Heckington Show (July 26th and 27th) and Revesby Country Fair (August 2nd). Or they can be more adventurous. Swimming outdoors, going camping, geocaching, visiting CBeebies Land, seeing the ﬁsh swim at The Deep in Hull, taking a young train spotter to the National Railway Museum in York, an outer space mission to Leicester’s National Space Centre and beyond.

And don’t forget to make sure there are some rainy day activities on there too – decorate a room with paper chains, bake cakes or make your own pizza, scrapbooking, making playdough, having a movie day at home or at the cinema, visiting a museum, catching up with the Summer Reading Challenge… But, most importantly, don’t forget we’d love to know what you’re getting up to and would recommend to other parents! Let us know on Facebook and Twitter and we’ll share with other mums and dads who’ve already ticked all the boxes on their lists. You can ﬁnd out what Karen and her family get up to over the summer by following the Molly’s Guide blog at www.mollysguide. co.uk/category/lukesguide/ www.mollysguide.co.uk

ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES

MUSIC LESSONS

MAKING MUSIC LESSONS FUN FOR CHILDREN There have been numerous studies done to show the benefits of music on children. It develops rhythm, brain development, hand-eye co-ordination and can open up opportunities in later life. Tom Simmonds, a local musician from Grantham, has taught children how to play in his shop for a number of years and gives his insight into how children and parents can get the most out of music. We asked him for his expert opinion on how you can make music lessons more fun for children. Q: So, what’s the first step Tom? “Before you start even thinking about music lessons for children, first you have to get them interested in music.

like the ones listed in Molly’s Guide, and let your children see music performed up close. Seeing someone play an instrument has a tremendous effect on people, especially youngsters, as it allows them to see the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the music they enjoy. Once they’ve seen how great playing an instrument can be, they’ll soon let you know if they are interested in taking it up themselves. You can also ﬁnd local venues that host ‘taster’ music sessions for children. These activities allow children to experiment with sound and music in a fun, relaxed environment.”

Just remember, learning to play an instrument through music lessons should always be a passion, not a punishment. As soon as you start making it a chore, your child is more likely to get bored and lose interest.”

This really is the simplest step to take – all you have to do is start playing music. Whack it on in the background when you’re cooking “There’s more to music than just playing. dinner, doing the Dance round the living room when your housework or favourite tune is on the radio, or ask your you’re in the car.

Q: So, how do I keep their interest without becoming a pushy parent?

child to play for you while you wash the car A lot of parents I or mow the lawn. It really is that simple!” “Music should always know used to find having music on be fun. I’ve been Q: Do I let my child pick their in the background distracting playing for more than 25 years own instrument? What if and a bit annoying, but once and the one thing that’s kept they get bored with it? I told them the benefits for me interested is that my music their children, they now play “No one likes to have is fun to play! music all the time at home. decisions made for them and I play with friends, I jam at children are no exception. If It introduces your child to home in the garden, and I go you take away their choice music in an indirect way. They to see others play in concerts and make the decision for get used to hearing it and and shows. The key to keeping them, you’ll find they will once they see you enjoying children engaged is to make get bored of playing quite it, they start to appreciate it music as fun as possible. quickly. more as well.” For more information please If they have really expressed Q: How do I know my child is contact Tom Simmonds: an interest in learning to interested in playing music as play, take them to your local Simmonds Music, 8-9 Westgate, well as listening to it? music shop. Most likely the Grantham, NG31 6LT Listening to music is all about staff will have experience T: 01476 570700 the audio, but seeing live with instruments and can help E: enquiries@simmondsmusic.com music adds a visual element you both make an informed www.simmondsmusic.com as well. Go out to live events, choice. www.mollysguide.co.uk

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ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES

PASSION 2 DANCE

SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN AT PASSION 2 DANCE Dance Classes, Princess Academies and Musical Theatre Workshops

We have a busy summer holiday timetable offering ballet, jazz and tap dance classes for babies, toddlers and children. We are also hosting our enchanting and magical Princess Academies and our new Glee Workshops. PRINCESS ACADEMIES Join us for a truly magical princess party time, where your little girl will receive the royal treatment. These include everything your princess adores with themed activities, arts and crafts, dancing, mini pampering and special treats just for them! With Special Royal guests hosting these magical events. We are running events for Petite Princess (ages 2.5/4years) and VIP Princess (ages 4+years)

GLEE WORKSHOPS Inspired by the hit TV Series “Glee and High School Musical”, these workshops will provide opportunities for children to combine a mix of singing, drama and dance, performance skills, and choreography using pop songs from all eras.

SUMMER DISCO Join us for our end of summer disco party.

For further information :T: 01522 691292 E: info@passion2dance.co.uk www.passion2dance.co.uk

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ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES

CHILDREN’S GARDEN IDEAS

CREATE A CHILDREN’S GARDEN Home style writer, Katie Lewis talks to Molly’s Guide about designing creative garden spaces for the kids....

ens Create scre ps to from bottle

I really ﬁnd that childrens garden furniture and toys can be uninteresting and uninspiring, so why not make your own from natural materials, get the children involved in creating their space as they have great imagination, this will also make them appreciate the outdoors more. fab for ns are just Play kitche messy in t ge to n the childre

Chalk boards brings out your childs cre ative side

I do think it is important that your garden can be segregated to cater for your children and yourselves, use hedges or picket fences to make the divide, this way you can create a designated area for them.

ly Creepy craw be n ca es us ho made from s, bricks, twig and wood

Children love nature so incorporate this into their garden, making a creepy crawly home, hedghog house or hand painted bird boxes. Create different zones like sensory/ reading/messy play and growing and nurture areas can make children feel more independent and creative. Reading corners made from a wooden frame and climbing plants are just lovely and can easily blend into the background unlike the bulky plastic ones.

Give your children responsibility in growing their own produce out of usical area Create a m for your s ct je ob d ds househol e sweet soun kids to mak

Make a wooden frame & grow climbers up it to create a den

hand Grow your own child’s 54

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I’m a mother of 2, with a passion for interior design, ﬁnding new designs and ideas to make homes more interesting. Moving into our house sparked my passion off again so I decided to write a blog, showing people that interior design can be exciting and easy and not a daunting slog.

Make kite sticks and s from lolly yarn away in th to ﬂoat e trees

Keep up to date with my latest ﬁnds and ideas by visiting ellmoointeriors.com

Ruddocks of Lincoln

Monday to Saturday 8:00am - 5:00pm & Sunday 11:00am - 4:00pm 287 High Street, Lincoln 01522 528285 www.ruddocksoﬂincoln.co.uk

Have fun this summer Get outdoors with our family fun range of Kites, Bug Nets & much more, perfect for in the garden or on the beach!

Add some excitement to your journey with * Melissa & Doug Colour & Paint * Smart Game Puzzles to test your IQ * Car games from Tactic * Playing Cards & much more including MB Traditional Games...

Junior ops Worksh Get creative with Mandy Derbyshire

Make a Peg Doll family d Roc Create a Windmill using Mo Weds 12th August 10am - 12pm, Weds 29th July 10am - 1pm £7 £12 inc. lunch Decopatch Animal Masks Decorative Hair Slides £8 Thurs 13th August 10am - 12pm, & Hairbands Tues 4th August 10am - 12pm, £7 Stitch a Felt Ladybird Tues 25th August 10am - 12:30pm, Junior Drawing £7 Weds 5th August 10am - 1pm, £9

Be prepared for Back to School * Lamy Pens * Pilot Frixion Pens erasable for those little mistakes! * Wide selection of Pencil Cases & everything to ﬁll them * Large selection of Notebooks

ACTIVITIES & HOBBIES

RUDDOCKS OF LINCOLN

WHERE WILL YOU BE THIS SUMMER? It’s safe to say that all of us love a bit of Vitamin D but with the sunshine not guaranteed for us this summer, known as typical British weather, ﬂying out to a hot country seems to be the perfect answer. However for many of us there does seem to be something appealing about England and instead we choose to stay loyal to the country year after year. We all have them childhood memories of walking along the seafront with a melting ice-cream, the seagulls circling overhead, and the days of playing bat and ball outside the tent, making friends with other children on the campsite and breathing in the heavenly smell of BBQ food. As much as we would like to travel back in time to the good

old days, this summer we will be doing something a little bit different and embracing our crafty side! Yes, that’s right, we will be running a range of junior workshops – a little something for the children to get involved with and a way of having some ‘you’ time when the school holidays just get too much! Our junior workshops have been successful in the past, with smiling children keen to show their proud parents what they have made, and so this year we have made sure that there will be even more fun in store! From creating a decopatch animal mask & making a mod

roc windmill to learning a new art at junior drawing and creating decorative hair slides/hairbands, there really is something for every child... For the full details of our workshops or to book your child a place visit www. ruddocksoﬂincoln.co.uk or speak to a member of staff in-store. Adults, if you’re feeling crafty too then you’re in luck as our new workshop brochures were launched at the Lincolnshire Show! Our one wish to you all… have a lovely summer!

T: 01522 528285 www.ruddocksoﬂincoln.co.uk www.mollysguide.co.uk

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Discover Nottingham’s horrible history this Summer at England’s Best Small Visitor Attraction of the Year!

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High Pavement, The Lace Market, Nottingham NG1 1HN www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk

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