Pitch-a-Tent at Puxton Park

We erected our tent at Puxton Park to overcast skies on a thankfully dry evening. We hadn’t brought very much with us: you learn to camp light when you need to and, anyway, we’d only be here for 18 hours – the doors opened at 4pm on Saturday and all tents were packed away by 10 the next morning, plus the burger bar complimented the fruit and biscuits we’d bought from the Farm Shop there, which took the whole cool box and stove carrying out of the equation, though some people did light their own barbeques.

In all, 17 tents were pitched at the circumference of the ‘Main Arena,’ leaving plenty of space for the kids to run and play, if needed. But really, with so much to do here, we only went to the camping area to sleep.

Our first stop {and one we returned to often over the hours that followed} was the jumping pillow and, with so few people at Puxton, I was able to bounce as hard and as high as I could, delighting my daughter. This may have been the best part of spending an evening as a camper – we felt as though we had the place to ourselves. The Play Barn was open till 9:30pm, which is also when the toilets closed. Throughout the evening, three keen young lads strummed their guitars and sang barely audible numbers at the entrance to the building, next to the burger van on the other side of the doors. We slid, bounced, crawled, swung and squealed our way through a couple of hours.

At 8:30pm we passed the cows, goats, sheep, ponies, chickens and alpacas and all trotted down to the Twilight Zone for a highly entertaining owl display, where we learned a few things about these creatures’ habits. Children and adults got to be hand perches for a range of birds and the Owl Guy, who clearly loves his job, had us all taking part in some way, even if only through our laughter and listening.

Then we went back outside for a sheep race. We were giving betting slips, so C decided on Sheep Number 6, who didn’t win but that was fine because everyone got a lollipop prize. Next we were treated to a slightly wild trip around the Park on a cart, pulled along by a big red tractor, The Wurzels playing loudly in our ears. Completely bizarre and very Somerset. We absolutely loved it.

I barely had time to catch my breath when she pulled me over to the wooden fort as the sun went down. Finally it was time for bed with no resistance from a happily exhausted almost 5-year old.

We awoke to full sunshine, had a touch of breakfast in The Meadows restaurant and then made our way to The Barn for some more sliding and twisting – all by 8:30am. We found our way once more to the jumping pillow, where she perfected her gambol, and then we went to say ‘Hello’ to the adorable new-born piglets, snuggled up with Mummy Pig. A quick look in the Falconry Centre and time for one more swing before collapsing the tent and packing the car. Another stop at the Farm Shop for Sunday’s bread and milk to take to our home, just 10 minutes away.

My only problem with this £10 a night Pitch a Tent at Puxton Park is that they don’t do it more often. We would go at every available opportunity. It’s the most relaxed camping trip that we have ever been on. And that’s saying something.

A big thank you to all the staff, who were so friendly and very helpful. And to Clover the Cow :-}

Puxton Park website

- by Becky

Murders and Ghosts of Olde Weston with Weston Walks

We met under the granite arch on Weston's sea front on an evening well suited to tales of mysterious deaths and long-forgotten murders. The wind was high and so was the tide as it lashed over the sea wall, the spray from it wetting our faces just enough to taste our seaside town, the grey sky accentuating its many colours of brown and grey.

Those of us on tonight's tour of Weston's murky past had our own local ghost stories to tell - mine of a woman who used to visit me in South Road while I tried to sleep, a woman who nobody had told me about, although they all knew. Mike, our guide, invited conversation as we pushed along the front to Knightstone Island.

And so the stories begin. Tales of dead brides in baths, Jack the Ripper suspects, sororicide, butchered butchers, love turned sour, policemen who perished. Accounts of bigamists, cads, thugs, the mentality unstable, the infuriating and the innocents. The perpetrators hung, transported, locked up, acquitted and disappeared.

Mike is a natural story teller, who elicits sympathy for some of his subjects and mistrust of others. He puts the points across and asks tricky questions, "Do you think she killed him?" He describes vividly the characters and the setting (many of the stories are, understandably, from the Victorian era, Weston being a town of little over 100 people at the turn of the Nineteenth Century).

The Weston Walks' Murders and Ghosts tour takes the party up to higher ground, so be prepared to hill-walk a little. I know this town very well but walking around the Shubbery and the areas above Grove Park with a knowledgeable and entertaining guide made me see my home in a different light. I communicated with the topography of Weston and with people I shall never know.

Future visits to some of these crime scenes will get me thinking of Weston's long departed over and again. And I will always wonder whether that stolen cheese was really worth it? But that's a story that Mike should tell you ...

Murders and Ghosts of Olde Weston takes place at 7:30pm every Tuesday and Thursday evening and cost £4 for adults and £3 for children. Booking is essential. Weston Walks also does daily Seaside Strolls, where history and entertainment combine. For more details, see www.westonwalks.co.uk

Written by Becky Condron

The week that was

Well, it's been a lively week!  Since the creation of our on-line Community last Wednesday, over 45 local members have joined, we've had a well attended play date and a Mums' night out.

The site is attracting not only Mums from Weston but aunties, grandmothers, mums-to-be and today, our very first Dad joined the ranks!  And we've expanded a little southwards with a member from Burnham-on-Sea.  Via the forum, our members have discussed places to go in the local area, the swine flu vacination, the 2010 school intake, holidays and work, among some other 11 topics.  They've set up groups dedicated to food, mums-to-be, twins and multiple births and single parents.  Members are also invited to share those things they love about Weston-super-Mare and have debated what's missing from the town.  Hhm, a central swimming pool seems to be quite a talking point.  Funny that!  There is now a group for Mumpreneurs and a place you can go for a good old rant when you've had one of those days.

Karen Blake is in the midst of creating a much needed database of places to visit with children in Weston so that parents can find a suitable group to attend at a glance.   Please help Karen to achieve this by sending her information about activities in the area (see our forum).

Debbie Smith wrote her very first blog, wittily chronicling her family's joy at her eldest's daughter's school allocation by North Somerset Council.  Furthermore, Debbie has bravely volunteered to set up and help run some of our play-dates.

And Clare Kingsbury-Bell's amazing IT skills have been most welcome.

Thank you to every single person who has joined Our Community and a special thanks to all of you who have contibuted to the discussion and group wall - MUA!!


Around 15 of us (plus kids) met at the Purple Sheep Cafe in the H Church in Hughenden Road yesterday.  Quite a turn out!  And, oh, how the children old enough to bonce bounced!  MANIC.  Thanks to Shane, Lorraine and Chris for making us so welcome.  We will be writing about this in the Weston Mercury very soon.

Last night (yes it was a busy day!), five of us enjoyed a gorgeous meal of 7 small courses plus wine/cider/peppermint tea at The Alasia restaurant in West Street (opposite The Playhouse).  Outstanding food and excellent service, revealing chats and some whirring heads.  A couple of us carried it on in the pubs across the road.  Thank you to Michaela and Charlie at The Alasia.


And the future?

On Tuesday, Rebecca Condron is attending a meeting for professionals who work with parents, which is being held at the Central Weston Children's Centre.  It's a chance to promote our Community and to find out more about what going on for parents in Weston. 

We're currently organising a shopping trip to Bristol, brain-child of Emma Tait, while the indefatiguable Debbie Smith is getting us together for an evening of pubbery at the Old Manor Inn in Worle on Feb 18th.

Join us if you can ....


:-)