Christmas Ready With Buy A Battery.

Christmas Ready With Buy A Battery.

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Disclosure - We have teamed up with Buyabattery to test the latest children’s toys and gadgets as part of its campaign to urge parents not to forget the batteries this Christmas Day.

This year we decided to put our Christmas decorations up almost two weeks earlier than we usually do. We did it over a wet and stormy weekend and it's really helped us get in to the festive mood. Each year we buy some new decorations for the tree and around the home. We also make sure we stock up on batteries. You can never have too many over the Christmas period. 

We recently came across www.buyabattery.co.uk. Buyabattery is a leading online battery store with a wide range of disposable and rechargeable batteries for all of your household and small business needs – making it the must-visit website to help power everything from TV remotes, toys and torches, through to hearing aids, thermometers, watches and car keys. They also supply to many trade and wholesale customers.

This Christmas Buyabattery is urging parents not to forget the batteries when it comes to the big day. Research by the battery retailer has found that more than a third of parents which is around 35%, have forgotten to buy the correct batteries for their children’s Christmas gifts. I know in the past we have definitely been in that 35%. Not having the correct batteries lead to tears on the big day but we have learnt from our mistake and we are always prepared for Christmas now.

Buyabattery managing director, Darren Jones has some great advice for all parents

"Always read the information on the box thoroughly to work out which batteries are required for the toy or gadget – don’t forget some toys like remote controlled cars will need batteries for the car and the remote control."

"Before you wrap your presents fit the batteries to make sure that the toys work – this will avoid any disappointment on Christmas Day and ensure that the toy is ready to go as soon as it has been unwrapped. No fiddling around with small screwdrivers required!"

"Make sure you buy quality, genuine batteries. Long-lasting power is key when it comes to kids’ toys so look for advanced battery technology which will give you improved power and shelf life. For example, the new Duracell Plus 100% extra life batteries have more concentrated power than the previous Duracell Plus batteries. They have also been equipped with Duralock which ensures a 10 year power preserve."

"Buy extra batteries so you have spares in case any friends or family members give your children battery powered toys. Most small to medium children’s toys will require AA or AAA batteries. Larger toys may require C or D batteries"

"Having spares to hand will also mean that there are no tears if batteries do end up running dry before the end of the day. Some toys can drain batteries quickly if played continuously."

"Before Christmas Day have a battery amnesty – remove batteries from toys that are no longer used and separate dead or old batteries from those that still work. This will give you a good idea of which working batteries you have and what you might need to buy. It also means that you aren’t powering toys with batteries that are low in charge and may not make it through the day."

"Always recycle your old batteries – there are collection points in most supermarkets, DIY stores, convenience stores and even some clothing retailers. Never put your batteries in the bin – they contain hazardous materials which could enter the eco-system. They should always be disposed of in the correct way."

"Consider investing in rechargeable batteries - instead of burning through packets of disposable, alkaline batteries, invest in a quality pack of rechargeable batteries that you can recharge hundreds of times. Consider having a spare set that are charged ready for when the set in the device run out. Just make sure they are compatible with your device before inserting them."

It’s not just the children’s gifts that might need battery power! Don’t forget to check the battery requirements for any of the presents you are giving this year – to avoid disappointment."

Have you ever forgotten batteries on Christmas? 

Michelle

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Forza Horizon 5 Exclusive Xbox Controller Review

Forza Horizon 5 Exclusive Xbox Controller Review

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Disclosure - We were sent the product below for the purpose of this post and is in collaboration with Buy A Battery. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our unless stated. This post contains affiliate links. 

Another year, another Forza game. Probably the most popular franchise in car racing on Xbox sees Forza Horizon 5 release this month.  Alongside the game, Microsoft have released a Forza Horizon 5 controller so that you can really immerse yourself in the experience. 

Controllers for Xbox haven’t changed much over the years, however this controller is really striking with its bright neon colours and see through casing. You can see through to the rumble motors inside which themselves have splashes of colour which look great when spinning.  

Since the Series X / S release, controllers have included a new capture button in the centre, a really useful feature for those who like to capture screenshots, live streaming or quick recording features. 

Another great addition to this particular controller are the rubber grips. A nod maybe to the rubber you’ll be burning in game, these are a fantastic addition and maybe something for all future controllers to consider. The grip is excellent and if you use this and then drop back to a regular controller you really notice the difference. We also own the first series Elite controller and this also benefits from the rubber grips so it’s great to see them on a controller that doesn’t set you back £150. 

Coming back to the colour scheme, it really has to be seen to understand how vibrant the colours are. I’m sure some people will think it an eyesore, but compared to the standard vanilla controllers out there, this is my favourite of all of them. 

Finally, I love how Microsoft still allow you to use regular batteries for your controller rather than having to keep it charged. I find it easier to use normal AA batteries rather than remember to charge my controller after use.  I hope they continue this with future controllers.

Michelle

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Light The Night - The Snowman and The Snowdog Brick Model Trail

Light The Night - The Snowman and The Snowdog Brick Model Trail

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Disclosure - We were invited to complete the The Snowman and The Snowdog Brick Model Trail for the purpose of this post. We have been compensated for our time. 

Light The Night - The Snowman and The Snowdog Brick Model Trail has arrived in Blackburn. The trail includes 16 illuminated brick models which are located in and around Blackburn's town centre and is the perfect day out for fans of the beloved animated classic The Snowman. 

What To Expect At The Light The Night - The Snowman and Snowdog Brick Trail, The Mall, Blackburn BB1 5AF

If you want to take part in The Snowman and The Snowdog Brick Trail then all you need to do is head to The Mall Ask Me Point to pick up a trail map and quiz. From here you can then follow the trail to find all 16 models. If you would prefer to be more interactive, you can download the free experience Blackburn app to join in with the QR code trail. Both trails will give you the chance to win a prize too. 

If you would like an sneak peak of where you can expect to see the illuminated brick models here are some confirmed locations 

Morrisons Instore Opticians

Mortimers Estate Agents

Rhode Island Coffee, The Mall

6G/The Wifi Centre

Grays Outfitters

Blue Inc

The Works

Althams

Jack & Jones

Edmondsons

Ainsworth Jewellers

Hobkirks Sewing Machines

Blackburn Central Library

M&S

Next

Blackburn Market

The trail includes 4 larger models including a 1.8m tall Snowman which used 53,851 bricks!

This is the third brick model trail we have done over the past few years. First we did a Paw Patrol trail and then We did Brickosaurs brick trail and in our opinion they keep getting bigger and better. The Snowman and The Snowdog brick trail perfect for this time of year and will really get you in the Christmas mood and is free to do.

The Light The Night - The Snowman and The Snowdog trail will illuminate from the 27th November to the 5th January. We loved the trail and would definitely recommend.

If you do the trail we would love to se your photos. Make sure you tag us on socials @playdaysrunways and use the #brickburn

I am always so grateful for any support I receive on my blog and social channels. If you did find 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 thought. 

Like us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Buy Us A Virtual Coffee

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

Michelle

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Blaze and The Monster Machines - Axle City Racers Video Game

Blaze and The Monster Machines - Axle City Racers Video Game

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Blaze is ready to race with his monster machine friends and wants to bring you along too. Race around Axle City’s colourful streets and the awesome Monster Dome stunt track, the world of Blaze is yours to explore. It's time to buckle your seatbelts and take control of Blaze, Pickle, Darington, Zeg, Starla, Stripes and even Crusher! Prepare to race at blazing speed and go for the championship or compete with up to 4 players in split-screen mode! 

The fun doesn't stop as you boost, drift, jump and pull off stunts around amazing tracks like Race to Eagle Rock, Stuntmania, and more! 

Collect the wrench to power-up and activate your character’s unique skill and outsmart the competition. You can even customise Blaze and his friends in the garage. 

STEM education features, plus accessible control options like Auto-Drive Helper, younger players will have a blast discovering as they race for glory!

Features:

BE BLAZE and 6 more heroes including Starla, Pickle, and Crusher 

RACE WITH FRIENDS in 4-player split-screen mode 

POWER UP with speed boosts, upgrades, and unique character abilities 

WIN THE CUP at the Axle City Grand Prix, the Monster Dome, and more 

AUTO DRIVE with optional simple controls for younger players 

To celebrate the launch of Blaze and The Monster Machines - Axle City Racers Video Games I have teamed up with outright games to offer one lucky Playdays and Runways follower the chance to win Blaze and The Monster Machines - Axle City Racers Video Game (on the console of your choice) and a Blaze Toy Bundle. 

All you need to do is complete the entry form below and pop back daily for bonus chances to win.

Good Luck

Win Blaze And The Monster Machines Video Game and Toy Bundle

Michelle    

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Laser Pegs Multi Models Review

Laser Pegs Multi Models Review

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Disclosure - We were sent the products below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own unless stated. This post contains affiliate links. 

As the darker and colder nights are drawing in we have been looking for things to do inside where it is warm and cosy. We recently received Laser Pegs Multi Models which provided us with hours of fun last weekend as we created a Bobcat (similar to a JCB) and a Sparhawk aircraft. 

Laser Pegs building bricks are perfect for those who like to create models and can follow instructions. Each set comes with a booklet of step by step instructions to create each model. There is a variety of bricks included and also light up bricks too adding to the fun. 

First we made the SparHawk with over 170 pieces. The instructions were easy to follow, however the bricks were sometimes hard to place and did need a little wiggling or adult help. The SparHawk took just on a hour to build and has three light up bricks and spinning propellers. 

The Bobcat has just short of 100 pieces and didn't take as long to build but was equally as fun. The Bobcat  which is similar to a JCB has 1 light up brick and a moveable digger feature at the front. 

The Sparhawk was our favourite to build even though it had a lot of smaller pieces and took longer. Now that we have made them we can add to the fun and break them up and build another model as each set has different models that can be built from the kit. 

The Sparhawk can be built in 5 different ways. The instruction booklet shows just one model but you can scan the code in the booklet with your phone and different model instructions will pop up. So as well as a Sparhawk you can build a Warthog, Chinook, Bi-Plane and a L.P.A.H-1.

The Bobcat also has more models to build with a total of 4 different designs. Again there is a code to scan inside the instruction booklet which will bring up the building instructions for the other models including an Excavator, Forklift and Grader. 

There are hours of fun to be had as the Laser Pegs bricks are also compatible with other building bricks so the creations you could make are endless. If you don't have access to a QR scanner you can check out all the model instructions at Laserpegs. 

Laser Pegs Sparhawk and Bobcat are to buy online at Amazon, Very and other independent toy stores. 

We are looking forward to building the other models over the next few months. For now little J wants to display his Bobcat and Sparhawk in his room so may be a while but I know we will enjoy making them when we do. 

Michelle

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20+ Advent Calendars For Kids Who Don't Like Chocolate

20+ Advent Calendars For Kids Who Don't Like Chocolate

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This post contains affiliate links. 

Advent Calendars have moved on so much since the days of cheap chocolate chunks behinds the numbered doors. You can get advent calendars for everything nowadays and I have gathered our favourite advent calendars for kids who don't like chocolate. Whether your little one is a stationary lover or Pokemon collector you will find an Advent Calendar that will suit your little one.

Happy Holidays! It’s the most fabulous time of the year, and the 2021 Pokemon Holiday Advent Calendar is here with the best of holiday cheer! Whether you’re 2 or 102, kids of all ages can enjoy the wonderful surprises that Pokemon brings to fans year after year. Create and display your own Pokemon Holiday Scene with the 2021 Pokemon Calendar. Every day of the holidays is an exciting reveal as each numbered door contains 1 of 16 dynamically posed 2-inch Pokemon Battle Figures with a gorgeous pearlized finish, or 1 of 8 Holiday themed accessories. The 2-inch Pokemon toy characters include Pikachu, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Vulpix, Eevee, Yamper, and MORE of your favorites! Gotta Catch ‘Em All!

Looking for official exclusive Minecraft toys and accessories? Do not miss out on this fantastic advent calendar kids fully licensed by the official game merchandise.

The Christmas advent calendar 2021 includes a complete Minecraft stationary set: a must have for all gamers. This advent calendar includes: 2 x mini notebooks, 2 x ball pens, 2 x Minecraft pencils, 1 webbing puller, 2 Minecraft stickers sheets, 1 x ruler, 1 x eraser, 4 x rubber charms, 1 xx sharpener, 2 x metal badges, 1 x lanyard, 2 x note pads, 3 x highlighters.

The Countdown to Christmas is an exciting time for children. And one way to heighten the holiday anticipation is with this jewellery advent calendar! This girls christmas advent calendar for kids have fun surprises hidden behind 24 doors, children can take out a small gift from the drawer corresponding to the date in the box every day. This is a great holiday gift for kids!

INCLUDES 24 SURPRISES. Each day will reveal a new little surprise perfect for your little Star Wars fan! This cool advent calendars 2021 contains stationery gifts and some fashion accessories including slap bracelets, baby yoda keyring, novelty erasers, coloured stickers and a necklace. We won't spoil all the fun! Buy the fantastic advent calendar 2021 kids and discover cool gifts every day.

This special advent calendar 2021 kids includes a cute selection of 24 girls and toddler hair accessories and cute jewellery for kids. Peppa advent calendar kids will be the perfect pre-Christmas gift for all little girls that love to watch the cartoon.

If you are looking for something to entertain your kids for Christmas holiday,This Cute Animals Toys set advent calendar is a good choice.The wait can still feel like an eternity for a kid, but Advent Calendars act as the perfect countdown gift. Kids will open one door a day for 24 days to discover something that will delight them.they will so happy and meaningful.

The Fidget Toy Advent Calendar is a fun way for children to count down the days before Christmas and get some surprises every day.

The BIC Advent Calendar lets kids express their artistic talent with crayons, felt pens and accessories waiting to be opened. This carefully curated writing and colouring set is packed with everything your kids need to count down the days to Christmas.

​This Barbie Dreamtopia Advent calendar helps celebrate any occasion with 24 days of surprise gifts. Kids open Barbie doll on day one, and then reveal a new surprise daily for the next 23 days Surprises include accessories, storytelling pieces and fashions that let kids dress Barbie doll up as a princess, mermaid or fairy. Each new surprise brings a new opportunity to mix and match and tell a new fairytale Accessories and storytelling pieces, like tiaras, necklaces, pets and tea party pieces, instantly expand the playtime possibilities. 

Exclusives - festive surprise cards including an unbeatable 101 limited edition Match Attax card! Limited edition - 131 football cards including 6 exclusive limited editions cards! Daily app cards inside every packet! Look out for crystal parallel cards and chrome shield cards in this match attax advent calendar! Look for autograph cards from your favourite UEFA players inside lucky packets!

This Hot Wheels Advent Calendar will delight kids of all ages. There are eight decorated hot wheels vehicles and sixteen accessories for every day leading up to the big day. The Hot Wheels Advent Calendar now includes a foldout playmat for kids to play with their new hot wheels vehicles and accessories.

The Polly Pocket Advent calendar is a winter wonderland full of 25 holiday surprises. Count down the festive season on day one, then open a surprise gift daily for the next 24 days. 

​

Play out the snowy storytelling fun with micro surprises including fun Polly Pocket dolls, dwellings, animals, vehicles and more (micro dolls can fit in and interact with some of the accessories).

​Create a fun holiday display with the packaging featuring a snowy holiday scene!

This LOL surprise advent calendar is a must have for all lol dolls fans this christmas! The charm bracelet advent calendar is the perfect pre-christmas gift for girls and features some of the most popular dolls from the born to rock collection. Open a new door each day from 1st December to reveal a new surprise and wear it with pride during the day. 

​Count down to Christmas and a complete play set with the Disney and Pixar Cars Holiday advent calendar. ​For 24 days in a row, Cars lovers will start each day excited to find out what Cars-themed surprise is next. Set includes five vehicles based on Cars fan-favourite characters. ​Look for fun storytelling pieces like racing flags, stacks of tires, a road cone, a racing trophy and more.

In the Schleich Horse Club 2020 advent calendar, the vet uses her stethoscope to examine the Trakehner mare and foal before the big horse show Christmas celebration, and has good news: the horses are healthy and can take part in the competition!.The little cat family, the rabbit and the squirrel are also happy to hear it. As they nibble on delicious apples, carrots and lettuce from the basket and bowl, they look curiously on as the horses are groomed with the hoof pick and massage brush. Thanks to the colourful horse blanket and the pretty head collar, they are ready for the big event.

Celebrate Christmas in the Wizarding World with this magical LEGO Harry Potter Advent Calendar. Behind each of the 24 doors is a different toy or figure from the Harry Potter series. As the big day gets closer, kids can recreate Hogwarts holiday scenes – including the amazing Yule Ball.

The 2020 Harry Potter advent calendar is the perfect pre-xmas gift idea for all Harry Potter fans, especially if they love to collect jewellery, hair accessories and fun stationery. Open a new window each day from 1st December to reveal a new surprise, each one with a touch of magic! A must have for all Gryffindor fans this Xmas.

Crisp lovers everywhere, prepare to be amazed. There's a tub of Pringles behind every door on this unique advent calendar, perfect for those who prefer savoury over sweet. With one of 4 classic flavours behind each door, the countdown to Christmas has never been this exciting.

Every door and window of the freestanding festive Swizzels Sweet Factory contains a delightfully sweet treat to be savoured by the young, or young at heart.  It makes a perfect pre-Christmas gift for anyone with a sweet tooth.

For those with a sweet tooth the Barratt Retro Sweet Advent Calendar is the perfect choice with 24 doors to open filled with Fruit Salad, Black Jack, Wham Bars and more. 

Start your Christmas countdown with HARIBO and 24 windows that are hiding a merry mix of little treats. Themed, fun and perfect for those looking for an alternative to the traditional chocolate calendar.

This tasty advent calendar brings together HARIBO favourites from across the world with Tropifrutti, Goldbears and MAOAM includes seasonal mini bags and themed jellies. Look out for Santa’s boot, a red hatted reindeer and gold star topped Christmas tree!

As you can see there are so many Advent Calendars to choose from. Which one is your favourite?

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 

- Visit our Christmas Gift Guide For The Kids post for more advent calendar and present ideas

- Like us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

- Buy Us A Virtual Coffee

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

-- - Michelle 

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Christmas Stories At Books2Door

Christmas Stories At Books2Door

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Disclosure - We were gifted the books below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains an affiliate link. Click here to receive £5 off any order

It won’t be long before we will be getting all our Christmas decorations down, eating mince pies and preparing for the big day. Christmas is definitely our favourite time of year and to help us get into the Christmas spirit we have received some lovely Christmas stories to read each night.

We already own all of the Little Miss and Mr Men books so when I saw the Christmas Collection I knew this would be a great addition to our collection. 

The Mr Men Christmas Collection features 14 books based around the most wonderful time of the year. The books are similar size to the original collections and include

Mr. Men Meet Father Christmas

Mr. Men The Christmas Tree

Mr. Noisy and the Silent Night

Little Miss Christmas

Mr. Men A Christmas Carol

Mr. Men The Night Before Christmas

Mr. Men A Christmas Pantomime

Mr. Men A White Christmas

Mr. Men The Christmas Party

Mr. Men All Aboard for Christmas

Mr. Men Winter Sports

Mr. Men 12 Days of Christmas

Mr. Men Winter Wonderland

Mr. Men A Christmas Carol

Perfect stories for Little Miss and Mr Men fans this Christmas. 

The Big Christmas Collection of 10 Little Tiger books are a great choice this Christmas to read before bedtime. Each of the 10 books tell us a snowy tale including 

1) Waiting for Santa

2) When Granny Saved Christmas

3) When Will it Snow?

4) The Magical Snowman

5) Big Bear Little Bear

6) A Christmas Wish

7) A Long Way from Home

8) The Night Before Christmas

9) The Magic of Christmas

10) One Snowy Night

The collection will be very popular with younger readers as each book as beautiful illustrations. 

Each year we usually create our own book advent calendar for little J to enjoy on the run-up to Christmas. I usually choose 24 stories and wrap each one up in Christmas paper and number them 1-24. However this year we’ve received a Disney Advent Calendar filled with 24 books perfect for the festive season. Just like any other advent calendar there is a surprise behind every number door. Just open the doors from 1-24 each day in December and enjoy a Disney Christmas Story. We are really looking forward to opening these each day and having a new story to read. 

Books2Door are the perfect way to encourage reading amongst young children. It has an extensive range of books from different authors and genres and you are sure to find something suitable for every child. 

Standard delivery at Books2Door is only £2.99. Express delivery is available. However free shipping will be awarded for all spends over £35. You can also collect book points which offer you cash back on future purchases, 10% off multi buys and £5 each if you refer a friend so there are lots of incentives to get your young ones reading this Christmas.

Michelle

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October 2021 | Looking Back

October 2021 | Looking Back

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We had a very busy October with us all doing lots of stuff as a family that we had planned. Some of the things we enjoyed had been booked for a long time so we were just so grateful that we were able to go. No one knows what the next couple of months might look like here in the UK as the Winter kicks in so we tried to enjoy it as much as possible.

We started the month with a date night for a Chinese and then off to a charity quiz night. John and I were absolutely rubbish at the quiz although John did make the best paper plane. His plane that went the furthest out of about 40 so he won a prize. He won a juicer. We didn't win at the quiz but it was lots of fun. 

Around Springtime we took part in a Percy The Park Keeper Trail in Tatton Park. It was a lovely trail around the gardens and we got to explore, do challenges and meet Percy himself. There was a new Autumn trail to experience at the park this month called After The Storm. The trail was really good and was free to enjoy or you could buy a trail map for just £1. We got to see parts of Tatton Park we hadn't seen before. 

We went to the theatre for the first time in what feels like forever and it felt so good to be back watching a live show. Unfortunately there were only about 100 people in there, which was just so sad. I can't even say it was the show as it was the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic, Tell Me On A Sunday. I guess people may not feel comfortable heading to such an intimate setting yet. However I absolutely loved the show and Jodie Prenger was amazing.

We made our way up North to visit Blackpool to see the Blackpool illuminations. We try and do it every year and it has become a tradition. We always do the same thing every year but the boys still enjoy it. We head to Coral Island to play some games and try and win some goodies. Then we usually go to the chippy for dinner because you can't go to Blackpool and not get fish and chips. As we are Merlin Pass Holders we then visit the Blackpool Tower to see the illuminations from 380ft in the air. After that we drive through the lights all the way along the golden mile. 

Pumpkin Picking was the start of five days of Halloween and was so much fun this year. We managed to pick some really nice pumpkins at Kenyon Hall Farm. Tickets sold out very quickly so we were lucky to grab some before they did, however we actually realised that you only needed the ticket to visit the pumpkin field, everything else was available at no cost with lots of pumpkins already picked for sale. You can also enjoy the play area, cafe and shop too so I won't be too stressed next year if we don't manage to get a ticket as there is still lots to enjoy. 

Only one thing to do after you've picked your pumpkins, time to carve them. From left to right is big J, mine, John's and little J's.

After our pumpkin picking day and pumpkin carving night we headed to the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience. We had tried not to see anything about the trail online as we didn't want to spoil our experience so didn't really know what to expect. It was absolutely amazing. The trail was at Arley Hall and Gardens National Trust property which was magically transformed in to all things Harry Potter. The rain poured down however the trees proved to be amazing umbrellas so we didn't feel it until we headed in to the open. It was an unforgettable experience and worth every penny.

We made it to Scarefest at Alton Towers after almost being put off by the rain. We are so glad we still went as the rain stayed away all day and we had a really fun packed day. The morning was a slow start with queuing almost 2 hours for Mixtape but after that we managed to get on all the rides we wanted, visited the new Trick O'Treat Town which was a really fun experience for all the family and rode Galactica and Wicker Man in the dark

We finished off our Halloween themed half term with two Halloween parties. 

I hope November is as fun as October was.

Michelle

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