messing about on the river

Ahhh, what to do with the summer holidays?

I try to make the most of our National Trust membership; you can usually find large outdoor areas for the children to run around in, a loo and a tea shop (if I haven't already organised a picnic) and sometimes the houses are even of interest to my young children.

Last week we visited Cliveden, once home to the Astor family and the famous Profumo affair, but this information is far too high brow for my brood. The hugely impressive Cliveden is also said to be the inspiration for Toad Hall which is much more my children's level and so it was we took our Wind in the Willows picnic.

We met friends and the children ran wild as we meandered down from the house to the river and the boat house. Here we set up base and lay our picnic watching the boats . Not one to miss a literary opportunity I had involved the children in making a picnic in a 'fat, wicker luncheon basket' just like Ratty gives Mole.

"There's cold chicken inside it ..... coldtonguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrolls
cressandwidgespotedmeatgingerbeerlemonadesodawater-"

We didn't see any familiar river side friends, just plenty of wasps, but the children enjoyed it regardless.