Wednesday 1 April 2015

The low budget option















Gosh it's been windy lately hasn't it.  I hope your fences have stood firm and your trees have held their own.  We went to look at the sea on Sunday.  It's the Severn Estuary really, and rarely has proper waves, just a little gentle lapping of the shore.  But when the wind is in the right direction everything changes.  The boys had fun running away from the waves on the slipway.  We stayed quite close to them in case they fell, the water where they were was only ankle deep at most.  Although they did manage to get pretty wet.  Other half mistimed the very first wave and got soaked as well.

I took them birdwatching today.  Well, the biggest boy did most of the birdwatching, the rest of us did an Easter trail and went for a bit of a wander before going to the play area.  We saw a couple of swans nesting, and an avocet egg was laid while we were there.  Someone had seen a first swallow.  The magnolia that I look out for every year was already fading a little.

We're pretty good at not spending money when we go out.  We take our own drinks and snacks and avoid gift shops.  Apart from the petrol and our annual membership of the bird place, these two days out didn't cost anything.  I threw some vegetables in a pan this morning and made a quick batch of soup.  I stuck in flasks along with some other bits for a quick picnic.  I always include good snacks, it's just that they're homemade ones.

This evening I sat on the sofa with the biggest boy looking through his birdwatching magazine.  It's full of adverts for birdwatching kit.  Everything you could possibly imagine.  Binoculars at £2,000 a piece.  I suggested we get a pair.  Each.  And a telescope.  No, two.  They come in at around £3,000.  And we thought a holiday together would be nice.  Five days for £800.  Snacks weren't included.  I told him to go and ask his father for £12,000 (that's around $18,000).  I'll let you know how that goes.

36 comments:

  1. Ha! Do let us know how that one goes!! Your scenes from your walk are outstanding! The power in those waves is so immense!!! WOW! Must have been neat for the boys to see that up close! Happy gardening CJ!!!! Nicole xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hee hee! Well if you can rustle up the funds.... I think that your low budget day sounds like great fun and just shows that you don't have to spend a lot to have a lot of fun!!! xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. I bet you wouldn't have any more fun if you did spend all that money.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well, it's nice to have a dream. :) I think you made a couple of really fun days for them. They'll look back someday and appreciate it a lot. Both walks must have been spectacular. We do the same kinds of things here too. Tomorrow is going to be our big day out...to Costco to buy a ham for Sunday and some other food. I told them we can eat lunch there. They'll most likely share a hot dog and soda that costs $1.50 for the meal. I might get the $1.99 slice of pizza. Something different for lunch and super-cheap, I'm looking forward to it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've always thought that the best things in life are free. It's just easy to forget that, or be persuaded otherwise!
    The waves look powerful and very impressive. I love going to the seafront on windy days and watching the waves crash over the path along the undercliff walk. x

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was amazed at how muddy the waves are! Our waves on the Pacific are pretty clean and blue green. You're a good mum to take your sons and OH for adventures. I did that when the kids were little and my hubby was working a lot. Good luck on the bird watching goodies! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

    ReplyDelete
  7. That first picture is GORGEOUS!!!! You certainly have a talent for capturing your area. I almost feel like I am there.

    When you get that $18,000, ask for a little more. Come to Florida and I will take you to see the Florida birds. They are quite something in the wintertime. Your son would love the Merrit Island Wildlife Preserve.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Goodness what big waves! Good job you weren't in a boat.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Goodness what big waves! Good job you weren't in a boat.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow those waves are crazy. Windy here too.
    Have a lovely Easter CJ,
    Jillxo

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tee hee. Hope you get your money!
    The sea looks spectacular; and I love the idea of getting absolutely soaked by the waves!

    ReplyDelete
  12. wow, wildy windy. I love the idea of soup in a flask on days out, I normally take tea but Miss K complains as she doesn't like tea....... she loves soup though x
    as for the blowing the budget, we have imaginary moments like that too!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey CJ,
    I spent money yesterday on pasties for the boys. They aren't cheap. I should really start to make and cook my own. It's something I've never tried. It's really difficult living here sometimes. When we go to the beach, the boys are surrounded by holiday makers spending money like water. I feel such a skin flint saying 'no' to ice creams etc. I have found places that don;t over charge the tourist, and will go there sometimes. Other times I just think 'sod it' and buy the Moo Maid. I always take packed lunches or snacks, and water. Of course I usually only have Olly with me, and you have three little ones. And Betty is fab for providing a cooked meal when we are out and about in her.
    I love your photographs today. The last time I visited Bristol, I took Dad to Portishead/Clevedon (I can never remember which one) and we stood where your boys are watching the water. Luckily I know the family that own the arcade, so Olly got a free ice cream!
    Leanne xx

    ReplyDelete
  14. That's Clevedon, I do like this pier. I found lots and lots of sea glass here with my son a while back. I was thinking of here the other day, perhaps I'll have a little trip out! x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Churning, cross, stormy waters indeed! But very invigorating to be near I should think :o) Cheap days out are the norm here too- picnics and fresh air - or rather, they were when the kids still wanted to come with us! M and I have continued the tradition, although occasionally we treat ourselves to hot chocolate and cake in a cafe. Bins are horribly expensive, but once you've got them they're there for life. I bought a decent pair last year and they almost never leave my neck. The sight through them is amazing xx

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ha ha, hope that goes well. Never mind the £12000, the upbringing you're giving your boys is priceless. You can't put a price on the time that you invest in them and you're opening their eyes to the world around them, what more could they want? I know, I know, binoculars and a telescope!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow - look at the size of those waves! Quite scary. Sounds like a brilliant couple of days out. Good luck with that bird-watching kit! xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. How are magnolia hasn't even opened its flowers yet. You can spend a small fortune - no a large fortune on birdwatching kit but often the cheaper stuff does the job just as well.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tee hee! Good try! Sounds like you had a very good time and those waves look fearsome. That's Clevedon isn't it. I recognise the pretty pier.

    ReplyDelete
  20. It sure has been blowy this week, as your pictures well illustrate!
    Your last paragraph had me smiling. I can just see father rather wryly replying 'I'll go halves with you and your mother' or perhaps 'In your dreams!'.
    Have a good Easter. Flighty xx

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wow, those are real waves for sure! Looks like they pack a punch! If not for your pictures I would have never pictured waves breaking in an estuary.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Can I join you on your luxury trip? These waves are scarily big, no wonder they boys were soaked! We are just breaking up for the holiday and I hope to go on some budget outings, too. A good long walk in the nature reserve maybe. Have a lovely weekend! Cxx

    ReplyDelete
  23. Those photos of waves are very dramatic indeed, and the silty colour of the water in the Severn is familiar to me as a fellow West Country dweller! Looks like you had a fun day out and I wish you luck in your quest for a top-notch birding kit :)
    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  24. Those are pretty impressive waves.
    The annual membership of the bird place was one of the few things I felt we got value for money for, when we lived closer. We'd go first thing Sunday morning, when it was quiet. Miss it.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wow such huge waves, I bet the boys had loads of fun. We always take snacks and drinks with us on days out too, you can spend a fortune otherwise! I love the idea of a flask of soup. xx

    ReplyDelete
  26. Those waves look ferocious! We like low budget outings here, a picnic and a flask of coffee (tea always tastes weird in my flask) make a good day out. Twelve grand - eek! That's a dear do, I had no clue that the proper gear was so expensive. xx

    ReplyDelete
  27. It is so nice to go out for a nature walk .... whatever the weather.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  28. what fabulous waves! i do love stormy waters....

    when we lived in the city, all of our outings were of the free/low cost variety -- a membership to the botanical gardens that paid for itself in two visits, or trips down to the lake...and a bus pass, of course!

    and having tried to get a good view of a raven's nest with some ghetto-binoculars, i can certainly see the appeal of fancy ones. not quite enough of an appeal to pay that much, mind you....i think we'll just continue to strain our eyes and imagine...:)

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  29. What a great way to spend a couple of days! I love the power of Mother Nature, waves are so great to watch! And the birds swooping through all those crazy air currents. Lovely pictures, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Those waves are so big! We live near the Gulf of Mexico and our waves are rarely big. I think it is great you can experience so much and not have to spend a lot.
    Hugs to you and Happy Easter,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great blog, those waves are impressive! I feel it's much better to have memories, experiences and tales to tell than lots of "stuff". My boys and I are certainly better off and "richer" for it, we get lots out of a day out and I hardly ever spend more than the petrol to get there, a picnic and time :) Have a lovely Easter weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Wonderful pictures of the waves, they look huge and very brown! You don't need to spend lots of money to have fun and you have shown in your post. Your children will remember all those good things you have been doing with them far more than buying the latest gadget or eating unhealthy food that wouldn't taste as good as your soup! Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  33. The boys were a bit too near the end of that slipway for my liking.

    ReplyDelete
  34. The boys were a bit too near the end of that slipway for my liking.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Good luck with the budget!! My hubby would just laugh and change the subject... very quickly!! The estuary looked VERY angry and I can imagine the wind whistling around your ears. That day was particularly bad with us too, especially when I braved it to go out to lunch and ended up having difficulty just putting one foot in front of the other whilst dodging wind blown hats and plastic bags that had left their owners! Have a wonderful and peaceful Easter xx p.s. Happy Blog Anniversary too - two very very happy and interesting years! xx

    ReplyDelete
  36. That holiday sounds a bit of a budget break especially if you need to test out the binocs and telescope. Aren't you missing out on a new all singing all dancing camera.

    ReplyDelete