SingleParentBlagger
on Jul 06 in General by DanAmy and Evan have been desperate to go to Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Theme Park ever since they saw the advert for it on the TV. So when Jo Beaufoix inadvertently let slip in an email that SingleParentDad was organizing a freebie trip to Drayton Manor I lost no time at all in trying to elbow myself onto the guest list.
True, the trip was being organized as a meetup for the Midlands chapter of the British Mummy Blogger Network and I don’t really fit that geographical inclusion criteria. In fact the only way you could classify where I live as “The Midlands” is if you counted Scotland as being merely a Northerly district of England (which lets face it, is every Scot’s secret dream anyhow). But as SingleParentDad had recently announced he and I were in the midst of a “Bromance” I naturally felt he owed me something to make up for the humiliation. It’s not the concept of Bromance itself that upsets me you understand, it’s just the implication that I can’t do any better than him
And anyway, it’s not that hard to pass yourself off as a Midlander. You just slacken your jaw a bit and make your eyes go dead.
SingleParentDad very kindly invited us to come and stay at his house the evening before. I’d not been feeling too well the day before, so had a few reservations about the trip. But I’m really glad we decided risk my dodgy belly as a great time was had by all. Amy Evan, and Max (SingleParentDad’s son) hit it off straight away and lost no time in tearing around the house shrieking and giggling. There was bouncing on trampolines, games of hide and seek, and general gloriously rowdy behavior.
The adults gelled similarly well and the conversation flowed freely and effortlessly (which is unusual for me as I often take a little time to come round). All in all the evening was worth the trip in itself and has produced a real and valuable friendship, at least from Kerry and my perspective anyhow. SingleParentdad is probably composing a cruel and biting character assassination of us for his blog at this very moment.
As for Drayton Manor, I’ve never been to a theme park with the kids on a weekend before, and you can certainly tell the difference. On discussing the trip in the car on the way home we all had differing opinions about what the best part of the day had been, but we were all agreed that the queues had been the worst. Not that that’s Drayton Manor’s fault of course, but if you intend on going with preschool children then I’d advise going on a term time weekday when it’d be more quiet. It’s one thing queuing patiently for an exhilarating thrill ride like Shockwave or Stormforce10, but waiting for twenty minutes with a fractious two year old to get onto Harold’s Helicopter Tour can be a little disheartening.
But queuing aside Dayton Manor was a pretty good place to take a pre-schooler. Not only do you have the presence of Thomas the Tank Engine (which acts like catnip to a certain breed of little boys), but the rides for this age group are a cut above those that are found in other theme-parks I’ve visited.
The Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster was really very fun indeed and had a very generous hight restriction policy. I’m not sure if it was good enough to shell out £5 for a on-ride photo mind you, but seeing as though SingleParentMug was kind enough to email me a scan of his I didn’t have to.
What was also good was meeting up with other bloggers, particularly Jo Beaufoix who is coming on Hadrians Walk with us next year (as is SingleParentDad incidentally).
I also spent time chatting with Rosie Scribbles in the queue for a ride called the Maelstrom. I’m glad we chatted before we got on however as I wasn’t much in the mood for chatting after it finished, being too busy trying to rearrange my internal organs back to their original positions to strike up much of a conversation.
Also there was Tara and her family from Sticky Fingers who I talked to briefly but who we unfortunately got separated from quite regularly (probably due to the fact her son, Dan, may have been a little too sophisticated for the Thomas Land rides).
As with all good days, it was over all too quickly. It was a very happy and tired couple of kids that we bundled into the back of the car to go home. And to be fair it was a couple of happy and tired adults sitting in the front too.
Thanks go to Drayton Manor, who very kindly let us in for free; and to SingleParentDad who somehow blagged it for us. Maybe that Bromance isn’t such a bad thing after all.
Related posts:
- Drayton Manor, Ben 10, and Speed
- A visit from the Sordor ambassador
- Four and over
- …again?
- Towers above the rest
« « Know your walkers: Oli| *Clang!* » »
Dude, you had me at hello.
.-= SingleParentDad´s last blog ..Glitterati and Drayton Manor Park and Zoo =-.
@SingleParentDad, well you didn’t have me until “do you want some free tickets?”
.-= Dan´s last blog ..A trial run? A scouting mission? =-.
Would this be considered a long-distance Bromance? Cause you know those never end well.
Those rides look like a blast, by the way.
.-= James (SeattleDad)´s last blog ..Into the ‘Donate’ Pile =-.
@James (SeattleDad), I know, but he promised he’d write every day.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..A trial run? A scouting mission? =-.
You lot look like you had a lot of fun. Totally gutted that not being in the UK means that I miss out on a load of this type of event. You think you are not from the midlands, I’d really struggle to blag that one!
Glad you all had such a great time.
@Brit in Bosnia, It’s the first one I’ve ever been to to be honest. Perhaps you should get something arranged for when you come back for a visit.
Or set up a Bosnia Mummy Bloggers forum.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..A trial run? A scouting mission? =-.
What a great review (apart from the slack jaw and dead eyes Midlander comment, you are absolutely outrageous) and I love the photos. We really enjoyed the day. SingleParentMug did a great job in blagging the freebie. I won’t be forgetting the Maelstrom in a hurry, still recovering!
.-= Rosie Scribble´s last blog ..Drayton Manor rocks! =-.
@Rosie Scribble, I’m surprised you noticed that slackjaw gag. I thought it would probably be too subtle for a Midlander. Are you sure there isn’t a bit of yorkshire in your heritage somewhere?
Great post! Love the photos. There is supposed to be a Northern ‘mummy’ bloggers meet up soon – see you there?
.-= SandyCalico´s last blog ..Here Lego! =-.
@SandyCalico, quite possibly, although depends when and where as I work rather funny hours.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..The Parker family do Hadrians Wall =-.
Hmmm, ‘slack jawed Midlanders’ how rude. It was brilliant meeting you all though, and I love that pic of the kids. I have similar thoughts about Drayton Manor, and If Miss E had been with us I think we’d have struggled as she’s a little less wussy than her Mum but still not ready for the Maelstrom yet. It was brilliant for the littlies though.
.-= Jo Beaufoix´s last blog ..Ponderings of an Exhausted and Slightly dazed Singleton =-.
Have you been trying to keep me off your blog?
The minute I got back from Drayton Manor I tried to come over and give you a warm ole hug and say what a fab day we had and your blog was having none. of. it.
Kicked me off. Several times.
You’re right, I did spend much of my day trailing after a 6-year-old who, it has to be said, had a brilliant time.
kept asking me where our new friends were and when were we seeing them again.
Tut, after everything I did to tell him you were a northerner and not worthy of our time . . .
.-= Tara@Sticky Fingers´s last blog ..Review: Seriously Mo Willems, we think you’re the man =-.
@Tara@Sticky Fingers, My blog was a bit broken for a while, but I didn’t think it was then. Are you sure you actually turned the computer on? You are a Midlander after all.
I simply love your photos! I reading your blog and really amazed! You should try professional photographing for sure
.-= lelik´s last blog ..Pregnancy Weeks 13-16, Month #4 (Pregnancy Health Guru) =-.