Today we went to Markeaton Park near Derby. So did everyone else!!

Almost a year ago plus a couple of days, Kelly was wandering round the park with her husband in labour. She'd been sent home from hospital to wait it out but didn't fancy the long drive home so they went to this park. So it was rather fitting that we all went there today to celebrate little Benjamin's 1st birthday. He is the cutest wee man - always got a gorgeous smile.

We had a picnic and then went to the large paddling pool. It was heaving. I'd not packed swim stuff for the kids (bad mummy not reading e-mail properly) but had put in a change of clothes. Eva was quite happy to go in, in her nappy but Tobes was very reluctant and went on and on about why did I not bring his swim stuff and his goggles (which incidentally I only bought at 10.30pm last night and which he saw for about 10 mins this morning!).

After a bit of a meltdown, he did eventually have a paddle and before long had stripped down to his pants and was charging about swinging his soaking wet shorts in the air! There were lots of older children/ teenagers there and it was quite difficult looking after Eva and Tobes, especially as Toby had 'switched his ears off', as he likes to say.

The play park wasn't any better - Eva was charging about on the pirate ship and went down the slide. I couldn't follow as there were kids sat at the bottom so I had to run round, dodging kids along the way. By the time I got to the bottom of the slide Eva had disappeared - I found her quite quickly but it was a heart stopping moment. All the Mummy's decided enough was enough and we went for an ice-cream and birthday cake.

Think the park is a fantastic place to go - just not on a hot day in the school hols!