Things to do at half-term in London

Happy Valentines’ Day! Reuben and I made these lovely heart-shaped chocolate brownies for Nathan as a secret surprise. It wasn’t the most secret or surprising…in fact, the secret was hinted at yesterday morning, when Reuben sent Nathan off to work with a “bye bye Daddy! We’re making a secret cake for you!”. Then we he got home, Roo rushed up and said “Daddy, we made you a secret!” then went off to find the tin that contained the non-brownie offcuts. Apparently, the smell of baking gave the game away too.

But anyway, they were yummy. And I got to eat one of them, which is a gift that keeps on giving really.

So, it’s been both Valentines’ Day and Pancake Day this week (Roo made his own pancake and then only ate the marshmallows he put on top of it). February is a busy month. Next week, the excitement steps up a gear with half term! So I thought I’d share with you some of the very exciting things that you can do in London next week. We may do some (but not all) of them. Even I need to pace myself occasionally!

I guess the most obvious one to mention is the Southbank Centre’s Imagine Festival. There are lots of things going on, although the two things I really wanted to go to (baby opera and dinosaur petting) look to be sold out. Roo is going to see the Stockwell Children’s Orchestra tomorrow, on his School Trip and we are going down next Thurs to hang out and see what’s happening. There should always be something on…

The galleries are also holding free events over half term, with the V&A hosting an Imagination Station all week with family crafts and Tate Britain running a family day on 22nd Feb. And the Horniman Museum have an exhibit on called Amazon Adventure,  which is perfect for that little Octonauts fan in your life (for non Octo-aware people, the New Year’s Day episode was called “The Octonauts and the Amazon Adventure”). That’s one we’re definitely taking Roo to – tickets are booked! Under 3s are free, over 3s are £3, adults £6.

Lastly, there’s an exciting event happening in John Lewis. I was contacted by a publicist about this, so I’m just going to copy and paste the blurb, if that’s OK readers…

“JOIN TREE FU TOM AT JOHN LEWIS FOR SOME HALF TERM
TREE FU FUN PLUS STORYTELLING WITH SOPHIE ALDRED AT OXFORD STREET STORE

Who: Tree Fu Tom

What: Meet and Greet with Tree Fu Tom

When: Where:
Monday 18th February John Lewis Bluewater Shopping Centre
Wednesday 20th February John Lewis Welwyn Garden City
Thursday 21st February John Lewis Kingston
Friday 22nd February John Lewis Oxford Street*
*With storytelling with Sophie Aldred

Timing:

Tree Fu Tom appearances:

Between 10.30am and 3.30pm at Bluewater, Kingston and Oxford Street

and

Between 11.00am and 4.00pm at Welwyn

Storytelling with Sophie Aldred only at Oxford Street store:
12.15pm -12.30pm and 1.00pm -1.15pm

Tree Fu Tom the star of one of CBeebies highest rating series will be leaving the enchanted land of Treetopolis to meet his young fans at John Lewis this half term to help celebrate the launch of the first range of products.

These will be some of Tree Fu Tom’s first ever public appearances and the pre-school hero will be joined at the Oxford Street store on Friday by former Doctor Who assistant Sophie Aldred, one of the voices from the series, who will be reading stories from the Tree Fu Tom books.

There will be a chance for little ones to meet Tom, take part in some Tree Fu moves with their hero and do some colouring-in.”

Tree Fu GO! Again, I think we’ll probably go to this. As long as neither kid gets ill. We’ve had a lot of that lately.

So, there you are….some handy half-term hints. No, I’m not being paid for these particular plugs. I’m just spreading the love!