Storm Callum is coming. Beware if you live in South Wales! You have an AMBER warning for strong winds and torrential rain. So said the BBC this morning!
Hmmm… not the kind of weather forecast you need while you are waiting for Max to arrive! It made me decide to chat with Max about having an indoor adventure for a change this week. I felt sure my little buddy would agree.
When he arrived, it was all smiles as usual and Max had a little play with the trains and the track, while I prepared our breakfast. Max had Rice Kripsies with a banana and milk and I had my usual bran-based cereal. We had a lovely time eating breakfast together. I asked Alexa to read us a story, but she wormed her way out of it again. I asked her for some peaceful music and she chose some rainfall in an Amazon rainforest. It was quite soothing.
After our breakfast we watched train videos for a bit before we had a bit of learning. We sat and watched the Scallywags DVD and listened to Karen and Dawn take us through a range of songs all with brilliant actions. Max is starting to do a few now.
We then decided to head off to Coconuts in Barry. Coconuts is warm, dry and loads of fun – the ideal place to spend time waiting for Callum to move across us and get out of the way. It was indeed raining heavily, as we took the short car journey to the wonderful little town of Barry.
To get in, I was free, but I had to pay £3.95 to get Max in. I lent him the money and he can pay me back whenever he gets a bit of cash… birthday or something.
Inside Coconuts was just fantastic. Max went rigid with excitement when he realised where he was.
Coconuts have a designated ‘Toddler’ area where the maximum age is three. It was just perfect and Max had such a lovely time… climbing, falling, building, sliding, bouncing and loads more, each one accompanied but a huge smile. Fortunately, there was one other ‘grampy’ there, obviously on duty like me. The rest were a load of young mums with their adored offspring; each one with a mobile phone tucked into their back pocket – the young mums not the little darlings. When their child was engaged in some physical activity they would whip the phone out, press various keys with swift use of thumb and fingers, before looking up and smiling if their child called.
Max was wonderful, he loved playing and he loved being with other human being his own height. There was no language other than grunts, pointed fingers and giggles. It was lovely, no aggression or arguing just kids having fun together. Some haven’t quite learned the art of lining up correctly, but that will come in due course.
We spent several hours here and I loved every single minute. We were both hot and tired. We had forgotten about Storm Callum and were still thinking about the long hot summer days and we left Coconuts and headed north.
Coconuts is actually built on ‘HALLOWED GROUND’. It is built on the old Barry railway on the old line between Biglis Junction and Sully Station. As you approach and leave you actually have to drive over one of the bridges that carried countless old steam trains years ago; many carrying passengers to and from Barry Island others carrying good wagons full of essential supplies.
We headed for McDonalds to enjoy an ice cream together. We ordered and took our table ready to eat. Max absolutely loved his – eating every single bit in record time. Had I known, I would have ordered him a bigger one. What a delight!
Next we headed back towards Dinas. It was time for lunch and ne better place to eat it than in The Plug. My favourite Coffee Shop.
Here’s a recent TripAdvisor review and it sums up the place so well…
The Plug is my local coffee shop, it’s always been a small intimate place to chill out and meet friends and enjoy good quality coffee. It’s run by Pete, helped by his brother John and a quite charming young lady, who everyone calls Bes! Recently the Plug has been closed due to renovations and enlarging – I think they bought the old hairdressers next door and just made the place bigger!
Today they reopened and what a remarkable transformation! It’s bigger and brighter, but somehow they have managed to retain the intimate and chilled out feeling and the coffee is still as good as ever! I understand the owner roasts his own coffee. It’s truly lovely.
The Plug is set right in the centre of the lovely village of Dinas Powys. It’s a fortunate village to have such a great coffee shop at its heart!
If you are anywhere near don’t miss a visit.
I had thought ahead came armed with Max’s portable high chair and in no time we were sat together with Max enjoying his lunch and me enjoying a cup of Americano- I even have my own personalised Plug Mug. Max enchanted everyone with his wonderful smile, everyone forgot about Callum howling outside.
After a leisurely lunch we made our way home and Max went for a nap, dreaming of climbing, falling and building, eating ice creams and spending precious time with a chubby little man who loves him a lot.
We had such a lovely time…. Just Max and me.
Ramblings of a retired teacher 