Too Good To Go App

Too Good To Go App

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A few months ago a friend of ours used the Too Good To Go App. I had heard of it before but had no idea what it was. If you haven't heard of it I have since found out it's an app that allows you to save food from local restaurants, cafes and stores from going to waste. 

As you may already know we love money saving and cash back apps so we decided to give it a go. We were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use and we were impressed with the food we collected. 

How Does It Work?

Too Good To Go is an app available to download for free from your devices app store. Setup was quick and easy with just a few questions to answer including your name and email address. 

When setup is complete,  you then search for food in your local area. Find your location by pinpointing it on the map, searching by city or using your location. 

Once you have selected your location you can then decide to search within 3, 5, 10, 15 or 30km. The larger the range then the further you will have to travel, but the more choice you will have. 

That's it - you are now ready to browse available food that will go to waste in your local area. 

You can browse via a list or a map and choose food you would like to buy and collect. 

What Food Will I Get?

Each restaurant, cafe and store offers magic bags. The magic bags are mystery food bags that you will not know the contents of until you collect. Stores can't predict exactly what food will be left over at the end of the day so they offer a magic bag which will be full of surprises. 

What Restaurants, Cafes and Stores are included?

I think this depends on your local area as there are well known brands such as Costa, Cafe Nero, Baruritto and Spar but there are also local stores close to us that are not part of a bigger chain.

How Much Does A Magic Bag Cost?

The price of a bag varies depending on the restaurant, cafe or store. The cheapest bag I have seen is £2.59 for £10 worth of products and the most expensive is £10 for £40 worth of products. 

How Do I Collect The Bag?

This was really easy as every store we went in had the bags ready and understood what we asked for when we mentioned the magic bag.  We found it easier for us to show the app and explain we had a bag to pick up and this worked really well.  

                                    Michelle

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Have you used the Too Good To Go App? Leave us a comment below and let us know about your experience

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A Mole Like No Other Children's Book

A Mole Like No Other Children's Book

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Disclosure - We were gifted a copy of A Mole Like No Other for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

I love finding a book that is the perfect balance of a good bedtime story and also a book little J is confident reading alone. Although we read to little J before bedtime he likes to follow along with the story and will sometimes take over reading. Our most recent bedtime story is A Mole Like No Other by Julia Grantham.

The story is based on a toy mole. He is an unwanted toy animal that for as long as he can remember has been in a dark and stuffy box. With a bright yellow tractor pressed up against him and a smelly old football boot near his over sensitive nose Mole can only dream that one day he will see the light of day again. 

When he feels the box lift off the ground, Mole is sure his life is about to change and begin again. Mole soon hears a familiar voice, one he hasn't heard for a long time. His owner Lorna. Lorna has taken Mole to an Easter fair to sell him however she is sure no one will want an 'ugly old mole' so even offers him for free. Will Mole find a new owner that will love and care for him?

Luckily Mole is bought by a little boy called Ashley. Ashley decides to call him Moley and takes him home to be with the rest of his stuffed toy animals. 

Moley's new home is a beautiful English cottage surrounded by nature and animals. Follow Moley as he makes lots of new friends thanks to Ashley's stuffed animals and real animals on his adventures. 

A Mole Like No Other is a lovely bedtime read which touches on emotions and friendships. It's funny in places and a perfect choice book to read aloud. 

If you would like to be in with the chance of winning A Mole Like No Other I have two copies to giveaway. All you need to do is complete the entry form below and pop back daily for bonus chances to win. 

If you are not lucky enough to win you can purchase A Mole Like No Other in paperback on Amazon or it is completely free on Kindle. 

Win A Mole Like No Other Children's Book

Michelle

Terms

Entrants must have a valid UK address. 

Bulk, third party or any other entries using automated software will be disqualified. 

All entrants and entries are checked and verified. 

1 lucky winner will be chosen at random by the Gleam application. 

Playdays and Runways will contact the lucky winners within 7 days of the competition closing. 

The winners will be emailed to the email address given at the time of entering. 

The winners will not be announced on my blog or social media until they have agreed that their name can be displayed. 

The winners must respond within 28 days, if no response a new winner will be chosen. 

This prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative 

The Prize : A Mole Like No Other Children's Book 

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Dino Falls Adventure Golf, Trafford Manchester

Dino Falls Adventure Golf, Trafford Manchester

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Dino Falls Adventure Golf offers 36 holes over two courses. No need for golf experience the Dinosaur themed golf adventure is perfect for all ages and all abilities. 

What To Expect At Dino Falls, Trafford, Manchester. M17 8PG

Dino Falls Adventure Golf is situated in The Trafford Golf Centre close to the Trafford Centre. There are two courses to choose from each consisting of 18 holes. 

Dinosaur fans will love this themed adventure golf featuring prehistoric caves and winding fossil paths. There are a range of moving dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops and Velociraptors.

Course 1 - Rapids

Navigate along the winding river and the following waterfall on the Rapids course. Make sure you don't get sprayed by the Pterodactyl overhead. 

Course 2 - Volcano

Head out on the ultimate adventure along the Volcano course complete with colossal erupting volcano. 

Both courses feature engaging obstacles with a pre-historic twist, selfie stations and fascinating facts to keep you informed as you play. 

Prices

£8 Adult

£6 Child Under 16 and students

£24 Family (2 adults and 2 children)

Booking is essential and guarantees your entry however payment is not taken online, you will need to pay on arrival. 

Opening times are 7:30am-10:30pm daily. Last tee time is 9:25pm. 

The cafe and bar is open for takeaway only and does not allow sitting/waiting inside. 

Dino Falls Adventure Golf is all outdoors so it would be wise to come prepared for all weathers. 

You must arrive 10 minutes before your tee off time. It is estimated that a round of 18 holes will take 1 hour when playing as a group of 4. 

Parking is free at the Trafford Golf Centre. 

Close by is The Trafford Centre which is home to lots of shops, bars, restaurants, cinema and amusements. 

If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Have you been to Dino Falls Golf? Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit.

Visit our Days Out In The North West post for more walk ideas

Check out our Gifts for Dino Lovers

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Michelle

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Perfect Gifts For Dino Lovers This National Dinosaur Day

Perfect Gifts For Dino Lovers This National Dinosaur Day

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Disclosure - We were gifted these items for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

The 15th May is a date on the calendar that will be very popular with Dino lovers across the globe. National Dinosaur Day is celebrated on both May 15th and June 1st and is a day that we can celebrate all things Dinosaur. I've chosen some perfect gifts to help us celebrate this special day.

Carson the Triceratops Soft Toy from GUND

Carson may be a strong dinosaur but he has the sweetest smile and gives the best cuddles. His soft body, smooth fur and chunky feet are the perfect combination for cuddles and adventures. 

Carson is 38cm tall approx and is suitable for children aged 1+

Currently priced £19

Zuru Smashers Dino Ice Age Surprise

Surprise toys are so much fun and Dino fans will love the Smashers Dino Ice Age with over 25 surprises inside. Smash your way through to collect all the pieces to build your very own T-Rex, Pterodactyl or Woolly Mammoth.

Currently priced £25

Treasure Map Trails - Dinosaurs and Diggers

Take a walk about Chester town using the Chester Northgate and Cathedral treasure map. Following the clues on your map will take you along ancient streets, through holy grounds and onto the mighty Roman wall. Find 10 treasures along the way with a Dinosaurs and Diggers theme. 

Currently priced £5.99 for 1 map. Please keep an eye on our blog for a full review once completed.

 

National Geographic Dino Fossil - Dig Kit 

The Dino Fossil dig kit has everything you need for young paleontologists to dig up some fossils. Included in the kit is 1 dig brick, 1 carded coprolite specimen and 1 T-Rex Tooth Replica. A dig tool, brush and magnifying glass is included as well as a full learning guide with instructions. 

The T-Rex tooth is extra special as it is molded from a genuine tooth fossil.

Currently priced at £9.95

Dino Dash by Cheatwell Games

Dino Dash is a quick thinking card game that is perfect for dino lovers aged 4+. Once all the cards are dealt each player races to play out all their cards so they can be the winner. The cards feature T-Rex (Land Card), Plesiosaur (Sea Card) and Pteranodon (Sky Card) dinosaur and the aim is to much a dinosaur on one of your cards with the location on the discard pile. Watch out for the Meteor card!

Currently priced at £4.99

Fruit Bowl Dino Yogurt Eggs

Each bag of Fruit Bowl Dino Yogurt Eggs comes with  T-Rex, Pterodactyl, Velociraptor or Triceratops characters on the front of the bag. Inside are juicy raisins inside a Dino egg shell. The creamy yogurt shells come in red, green and blue speckled and are made using all natural colours. 

A healthy snack choice for Dino lovers. 

Currently priced at £2 for a pack of 5 at Morrisons and Waitrose

Do You Love Dinosaurs?

I'm guessing if you are reading this then the answer to that question will be yes. Do you love Dinosaurs is a brightly illustrated non fiction children's book all about Dinosaurs. Jam packed with fun facts about all your favourite dinosaurs including Titanosaurus, Ankylosaurus and the mighty T-Rex. This book has everything you need to know and reminds us just how amazing Dinosaurs were. 

Currently priced at £5.99

If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

How will you be celebrating National Dinosaur Day this year? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

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Michelle

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Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow Cheshire

Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow Cheshire

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At the weekend we visited a new National Trust property, Quarry Bank Mill in Wilmslow, Cheshire. Although some of the property was closed it was still definitely worth a visit. 

What To Expect At Quarry Bank Mill, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 4LA.

Quarry Bank Mill is one of Britains greatest industrial heritage sites, home to a complete industrial community. Although the mill and apprentice house remains closed at the moment there is a huge estate to explore.

On arriving at Quarry Bank Mill you will be checked in by a member of staff. Pre booking tickets is essential and guarantees entry. 

There are a couple of paths to choose from once inside the estate with most heading towards the upper gardens. 

The path that leads to the upper gardens is only a short distance away. The upper gardens are filled with beautiful spring flowers and landscape gardens. There are toilet facilities in the upper garden as well as a small shop and newly opened Garden Cafe.

There is a downward winding path from the upper gardens which takes you in to the lower grounds and mill. 

The path can be steep in places however there are oils to hold on to in certain parts. The path features lots of spring flowers and benches to enjoy the view of the estate below. 

Once at the bottom you can access the lower grounds, a range of walking routes, the mill (when open), weaving shed restaurant, mill shop and stables ice cream parlour. 

There are four walks to enjoy in and around Quarry Bank Mill. 

The Southern Woods Walk

Distance 2.5km

Duration 50 minutes

The Kingfisher Walk 

Distance 2km

Duration 50 Minutes

Giant's Castle Walk 

Distance 6.2km

Duration 2hrs30

We took the Southern Woods walking path and did the route in reverse. There are plenty of things to see along the way including rivers, wildlife and stunning views. There are benches along the way for those who need to rest or take in the views. If walking with the kids there are plenty of opportunities for them to explore and climb.

All routes are circular so bring you back to the estate. 

Anything Else?

The car park at Quarry Bank Mill is free and has lots of parking spaces. It's open daily from 8am - 8pm. The estate opens at 8:30am and there are individual opening times for the range of facilities available 

Gardens 10:30-5pm

Garden Shop 12-4pm

Mill Shop 10:30-5pm

Stables Ice Cream Parlour 10:30-5pm (weekends only)

Weaving Shed Restaurant 10:30-4pm (weekends only)

The Garden Cafe 10:30-5pm 

Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome at Quarry Bank Mill. 

Pre Booking tickets is essential. 

Prices are 

£8 per adult

£4 per child

£20 per family

There is plenty of grounds and space around the gardens and mill to ensure social distancing. 

If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Have you been to Quarry Bank Mill? Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit.

Visit our Walks In The North West post for more walk ideas

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Buy Us A Virtual Coffee

Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 

                                      Michelle

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Healthy Snack Ideas For Kids On The Go

Healthy Snack Ideas For Kids On The Go

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Disclosure - We were gifted a selection of Love Corn products. The idea for this post, thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

We were so ready for things to start getting back to normal but now as restrictions have started to lift I have realised how busy we usually are. On top of work and school we now have football training and matches 3 times a week, swimming, friends over in the garden plus we are still trying to fit in our daily walks and our longer weekend walks too. 

I feel like we are always on the move with somewhere to go so I make sure I have some snacks handy for the boys to eat. These are our go to snack ideas for kids on the go. 

Proper Corn

There are a variety of brands and flavours on the market but we opt for Proper Corn. Proper Corn is one of the healthier popcorn choices and is also vegan friendly and gluten free. The sweet and salty bag has the perfect balance of sea salt and raw cane sugar giving it a caramelised glaze. 

Fruit Bowl Juicy Yogurt Raisins and Strawberry Yogurt Flakes

Fruit Bowl offer a variety of snacks however we have found the juicy yogurt raisins and strawberry yoghurt flakes work best for us. Both are made with real fruit and have a tasty yogurt coating which gives them a sweeter taste. The yoghurt flakes are also gluten free too. 

Go Ahead Fruity Cake Bites

Go Ahead fruity cake bites are delicious orange and lemon sponge bites with an orange filling. Each pack is high in fibre and offers no artificial colours or flavouring. The pack size is ideal for a snack on the go when you feel like something sweet and filling but without the calories. 

Love Corn

Pieces of crunchy corn sprinkled in a choice of four tasty flavours. The Love Corn flavours will definitely satisfy your taste buds with a choice of salt and vinegar, smoked BBQ, Habanero chilli and sea salt. Each pack is plant based, vegan friendly and gluten free. Again the pack is a great size for snacks on the go, lunchboxes or even add to a salad for an extra crunch. 

I have teamed up with Love Corn to offer you the chance to win a delicious box of 12 packets of Love Corn and Love Corn Merchandise. All you need to do is complete the entry form below, pop back daily for bonus chances to win. 

Win a box of 12 packets of Love Corn and merchandise

If you are not lucky enough to win you can still enjoy Love Corn. Head to the website, order some tasty Love Corn and enter CRUNCH20 for 20% off. If you would like to try before you buy thats okay too. Grab a free sample of the four flavours (postage is £1.99). Grab Your Free Sample Here 

Michelle

Terms

Competition closes on Sunday 2nd May 2021

Entrants must have a valid UK address. 

Bulk, third party or any other entries using automated software will be disqualified. 

All entrants and entries are checked and verified. 

1 lucky winner will be chosen at random by the Gleam application. 

Playdays and Runways will contact the lucky winners within 7 days of the competition closing. 

The winners will be emailed to the email address given at the time of entering. 

The winners will not be announced on my blog or social media until they have agreed that their name can be displayed. 

The winners must respond within 28 days, if no response a new winner will be chosen. 

This prize is non-transferable and there is no cash alternative 

The Prize : 12 packets of Love Corn and branded merchandise

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What's New At Merlin Attractions In 2021

What's New At Merlin Attractions In 2021

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Today is the day that we begin the second step of the Roadmap out of lockdown and restrictions. All non essential shops will open, as well as hairdressers and beer gardens to name a few. I think the one thing we have been looking forward to the most is the opening of the Theme Parks. Visiting theme parks is our favourite day out and we can't wait till we can visit our favourites this year. 

We are Merlin Pass holders so their attractions will be top of our visit list this year. They have been working hard behind the scenes during lockdown to bring lots of new and exciting updates to their parks and attractions in 2021. Here is what we can look forward to.

Alton Towers

Due to Covid-19 the opening of David Walliams land was delayed but it now looks set to open this year with the 'land' being added to the park map and features new rides. 

Gangsta Granny: The Ride

This dark ride will take you on a journey based on the popular David Walliams book, Gangsta Granny. 

You must be 0.9m or over to ride, and 1.2m or over to ride without an adult. All riders aged 11+ must wear a face mask. 

Royal Carousel

Hop on board the Queens horses or sit on the throne as you spin round and round. 

If you are under 1.3m you must be with an adult (18+). All riders aged 11+ must wear a face mask. 

Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp

Bounce up and down on Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp Ride. 

You must be at least 0.9m to ride Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp. If you are under 1.1m you must be with an adult (18+). All riders aged 11+ must wear a face mask. 

If you are familiar with Alton Towers you may know David Walliams land will take over the former land Cloud Cuckoo Land. 

Although the location has not been confirmed yet I can only assume that Gangsta Granny The Ride will either be in the Charlie and The Chocolate Factory ride which closed in 2015 or the old Wobble World play area. 

The Royal Carousel and Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp sound very familiar to the Carousel and Frog Hopper which were located in Cloud Cuckoo Land so may not be new rides as such, maybe just rebranded. 

Alton made a very exciting announcement recently on their social media that they have added three 'pop up' type rides to the park called The Retro Squad. 

We don't know a lot about these rides other than they are old school rides called Mixtape, Funk'n'Fly and Roller Disco. 

The locations of the rides have been shared with a brief description.

Roller Disco 

Located in The Dark Forest and is a spinning ride.

Mix Tape 

Located in X Sector and seems to be a 'bouncy' type of ride. 

Funk'n'Fly 

Located in Forbidden Valley and says we will soar to heights.

All three rides require you to be a minimum of 1.2m and all riders aged 11+ must wear a face mask. 

All the above rides may not open on the 12th April 2021. Further updates will be made with opening dates once released.

Chessington World Of Adventures

It looks like there is just one new addition to Chessington World of Adventures in 2021. 

Croc Drop

Jump on board and reach great heights before being plunge 25m in to the Crocs Jaw.

Croc Drop is a fun and exciting 'drop tower' type of ride which requires all riders to be a minimum of 1.2m. If you are between 1.2-1.3 you must ride with an adult over the age of 16. All riders over 1.3 can ride alone. 

There is no update about face masks for this ride however I assume it will be similar to Alton Towers. 

Legoland Windsor Resort

Opening on the 29th May Lego Mythica is a new land coming to Legoland Windsor Resort. Mythica is a parallel universe where all the lego creatures we create go so they can come to life. 

There are three new rides opening in the land of Lego Mythica and includes the UK's first ever flying theatre ride. 

Flight Of The Sky Lion

Take a ride with Maximus through Lego Mythica and explore the realms facing some of the rarest and scariest creatures.

Fire and Ice Free Fall

Two spinning top tower rides.

Hydra's Challenge.

An interactive water ride with twists and turns.

Again there isn't much information about the new land and the three exciting new rides. As soon as information is released I will update minimum height restrictions and other updates. 

Thorpe Park 

Just one new attraction heading to Thorpe Park this spring and it is a UK first.

Black Mirror Labyrinth

Opening on May 21st The UK's first ever Black Mirror Experience attraction. Described as a twisted and sensory defying maze it will lead you in to the core of the Black Mirror Universe. 

Based on the description I will assume this will be adults only however will update as soon as more information is released. 

Warwick Castle

A new activity trail to follow.

Zog and The Quest For The Golden Star

Included in the price of your ticket and available until 5th September 2021, the Zog activity trail will keep you busy. Learn how to become a true dragon, rescue a princess and collect stamps along the way. 

Zog will be there to pose for a photograph and hand out some golden stars too. 

All these new rides and attractions should keep us busy this year. What are you looking forward to most?

*********************************************************

If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Leave us a comment below and let us know what you are looking forward to most?

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Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 

Michelle

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