The kids and I were chatting recently about all the fun things we have done this year if I’m honest I had a hard time remembering even half of the adventures we have had. I got to thinking about how useful my blog has been in the past as a memory keeper, as an online visual diary of sorts. Looking back on 2019 I realised that I’ve written very little personal content spending more time trying to take my blog in different directions instead of concentrating on the content I love to write.

On the very last day of the year, I’m making the decision to get back to doing what I love, writing about family life, the adventures we have and the memories we make. I also want to include the ups and downs of family life too, life can be messy and complicated and sometimes people want to read that so they don’t feel quite so alone.

I suppose what I’m trying to say is that 2020 will be the year of sharing more of our adventures along with anything else I fancy writing or featuring.

A Year Of Adventures 2019

January

We stayed fairly local for our adventures in January, the first month of the year for us is all about saving money and budgeting so free activities are our favourite things.

We visited Wigg Island in Runcorn, our local park on frosty days and the Lady Lever Art Gallery especially to see a Quentin Blake exhibition.

February

We started the month of February with a visit to Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden where we found frozen ponds and snowy grounds. There was a cinema trip to see The Grinch and a first-time visit to a fantastic local park that we didn’t realise was just on our doorstep.

This month we also joined the National Trust and went to one of my favourite childhood places, Dunham Massey.

March 

Chicken Pox scuppered most of our plans for March but Daisy and I did manage an overnight stay at the beautiful Llyndir Hall in Wrexham.

I also enjoyed an afternoon tea at Hotel Gotham in Manchester with my eldest daughter Jess, it was such a treat. Talking of treats I won an overnight stay at Chester St. David’s Village Hotel, Chris and I had a lovely time and enjoyed a delicious meal and breakfast.

I also joined Daisy’s class this month for a trip to Croxteth Park Farm which was lots of fun, we also visited a few more local parks.

April

In April we used our National Trust membership to visit Quarry Bank Mill and Dunham Massey again where we took part in their Easter Trail.

During the Easter holidays, we went to our local museum in Warrington to do some fun craft activities followed by ice cream in the town centre.

We went to review Treetop Adventure Golf in Manchester this month too which was so much fun. Our final adventure of the month was to Drayton Manor Park, the kids loved Thomas Land so much and we spent a big portion of our visit there.

May

We started our biggest adventure in May with the kids first ever trip on an aeroplane, we had a family holiday in Majorca after saving up for over a year. We had such a fantastic time and the kids loved every minute.

I won tickets to watch The House On Cold Hill by Peter James at Manchester Opera House, my first trip to the theatre in years. Chris and I enjoyed having a night out during the week as that never happens.

June

In June we visited Salford Museum and Art Gallery which was a great experience, they have a fantastic selection of old toys and a Victorian cobbled street complete with a sweet shop. On the same day, we popped over to Ordsall Hall which is close to the museum. The kids really got into the spirit of the hall by dressing as a lord and lady and feasting in the banquet hall.

July 

In July we reviewed our local Infatanation in Runcorn, I’m not sure who had more fun me or the kids!

Our adventures really tailed off over the summer as I was a little unwell after being diagnosed with Colitis, lots of our time was spent at home in the garden as I needed some time to rest and get my head around it all.

August

August was a very quiet month for adventures, we did go to the cinema to watch The Lion King which we all really enjoyed. We also went for ice-cream at Seven Sisters Farm in Knutsford with my cousin, the kids loved the little play area there and the very friendly cows and calves.

September 

There were no adventures at all for us in September, in fact I barely took any photo’s this month either. This makes me really sad but I needed to rest and get used to my new medication so that took priority.

October 

Chris turned 40 this month and we celebrated with a trip to the moon, not the real one of course. The Museum of the Moon came to the Parr Hall in Warrington and we visited on opening night when they had a festival of light celebration on too.

We also made the most of the school holidays visiting a pet workshop at Pets At Home, the library for fun crafts and our local museum and the park lots of times.

November

The month started off with a bang as we went to a fantastic Firework display and laser show at Blakemere Village. We normally watch fireworks from our window at home so this was a real treat and something we plan to do again next year.

December 

I won a festive weekend away in Derby for the whole family this month, we stayed for two nights at Jury’s Inn Derby had a delicious meal at The Cosy Club and watched Peter Pan at Derby arena. The whole weekend was wonderful and such a lovely treat right before Christmas.

Thanks to another prize win we spent Christmas Eve morning at Winter Funland in Manchester enjoying all the fairground rides.

I might not have been perfect at memory keeping this year but writing this post and looking back has made me realise that what memories I did record were fantastic.

Here’s to a whole new year of adventures and memory-making.

FOR MORE POSTS LIKE THIS SEE OUR ADVENTURES ARCHIVE.