Finsbay, Milngavie

Finsbay, in Milngavie, was a spontaneous choice for lunch before visiting Kilmardinny Loch (or the Gruffalo Trail, review here).  It was Saturday lunchtime and seemed popular as it was fairly busy.

They were able to accommodate the buggy at our table.  The decor is young, trendy and fun (a bit mid-century modern, I'd say).  There was an aquarium at the back, on the way to the toilet, which we went up to have a look at a few times.  The staff were welcoming to Angus but there's no children's menu; which is odd as there are toys for children to play with.

Angus had soup; he loves soup and our food was tasty too.  The drinks selection was good too.  I can't quite put my finger on it but I don't think I'd go back though.  Perhaps the service was a little slow, despite being friendly.  Perhaps it felt a little stuffy.  I just didn't feel that relaxed.  I think that, despite some toys and books, really it's a grown ups venue and best to leave it to them.

The toilets and baby change were fine.  We parked in the Marks and Spencer's car park for free.  The cafe is close to the town centre.

Paradise Island Golf

I'd been quite lucky for a long time, Angus hadn't spotted Paradise Island Golf in Soar, Braehead.  Then he did and I decided to treat him to some Big Brother-Mum alone time as a treat.

Whilst Gran cuddled Douglas, we went for it one rainy Wednesday afternoon (term time).  It was very quiet, there were perhaps two or three other groups on our course (which meant that Angus could have several goes on the exciting holes and not hold anyone up or get in the way).  There are two courses to choose from: the Tiki Hut Trail (I've done this one a few times before) or Maggie McCaw's Challenge.  I don't think there's any difference in difficulty or interest and Angus chose the latter.

There is a good range of clubs to choose from and Angus, who is on the shorter side (95cm), took the smallest, purple putter.  A couple of the 18 holes were a little less interesting (and repetitive) than others but that doesn't bother a three year old.  He especially enjoyed finding the next number hole and the holes where the ball goes down a gulf, along a tunnel and out.  The course is very well maintained and it was hard to enough to be a challenge for me but easy enough for Angus to manage each hole in less than 8 shots.  He did get a hole in one too.  The booming voices from the tiki huts and talking totem pole were amusing rather than frightening for him.  It took us between 45 minutes and one hour to complete one course.  I don't think I would do both courses in one session.

Overall it was really good fun and brilliant for a rainy day.  We had a great, relaxed time together with lots of laughs.  This session cost £8 as under 5s are free between 12-5pm, weekdays during term-time.  There is also a VoucherCloud offer of two play for £10 any time except all day Saturday and before 5pm Sunday.  So it's not the cheapest activity but not bad for a treat.

We didn't use the toilets, so I can't comment on them or the baby change.  You definitely couldn't take a buggy around.  I think the youngest age for this activity would be two and a half but that might be stretching it.  He got more out of it because it wasn't beyond his capabilities (at three years and five months).

Obviously the free car parking at Soar is plentiful and easy.  We had lunch beforehand at Wetherspoons which was cheap and cheerful and quite healthy as Angus had cheesy pasta with veg, apple slices and a glass of milk (don't forget they do bottomless coffee too!).

Big Music for Minis 2017

This is our third time attending this amazing festival of music for under 7s (and we have a three year old!). Young families take over the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall one weekend every October and the organisers drip information out over a long period of time.  I think concert tickets went on sale in March this year but the details of the whole programme came much later.

I plan meticulously, you can get the programme leaflet ahead of time at libraries or Glasgow Life venues.  We only had the Saturday free this year, so we arrived for 12pm for Toddler Tales (well, earlier to queue, you need to queue for the free events), then had lunch.  After that we went to our ticketed concert, which was Melody Quest - a trip around the world with Owen and Olly from Children's Classic Concerts and the NYOS Camerata.  All of whom played a great variety of short pieces magnificently.  Tickets were £5 each, an absolute bargain (Fun Box the next day were also a steal).  After that we stopped for another free event, Creative Martyrs' Kids Cabaret.  Angus laughed and laughed.

I think you could spend the day just at the free events but the tickets are subsidised, so why not?

This year for lunch we went to the Encore Cafe in the Concert Hall and it was £21 for three sandwiches, two drinks and two cakes.  They were okay.  Last year we went to the John Lewis Cafe, which was a bit nicer.  Lots of people take a picnic though and I think I might next year.

Overall, the atmosphere is great.  Loads of music of all different genres, all of which Angus has really enjoyed.  It's a great introduction to concert-going.  I can see us going for many years to come.  Bravo Glasgow Life.

There is a buggy park and the changing facilities are okay.  Entering the venue is difficult with a buggy as the front has lots of steps and there are two lifts at the back, which get queued up.  Go buggy-free if you can.  On the Sunday you can park for free north of the city centre, where the meters are off.  Or you can park for £3 all day in Buchanan Galleries or Cambridge Street car park.  Parking on the Saturday is much more expensive.  You can pay a lot to park in a car park. The meters aren't really an option as you will probably stay for more than three hours.  We park and ride on the Subway.

Baby 'n' You Beginners Baby Yoga

Organised fun for babies starts early...with Douglas (baby #2), I enjoyed this block of classes so much I did it twice!

Baby 'n' You is an independent business run by Suzy out of the Scout Hall in Dowanhill.  With Angus, I did Baby Massage and Baby Calm, followed by Beginners Baby Yoga, all of which I recommend.

I was worried that I wouldn't be able to manage Baby Yoga as I have problems with my back, but the focus is mainly on the baby.  Both my babies loved it and I'm trying my best to keep up bits at home with Douglas; although it's mainly the bits for assisting windy tummies I practice!  The difficulty of the moves build up over the four weeks.

Suzy is very welcoming; I find the fact she's a paediatric nurse very reassuring and useful when I've had questions about the boys.  The classes as a whole are warm and friendly, through the time for tea at the end of each session, I've made good friends as well as starting my journey into Mum Life as I bump into these mums around and about.  I think this is a unique aspect to these classes and a great touch.

The sessions are quite fast-paced, which seems daunting at first but I picked up the moves and the songs quickly.  There's a good balance of simple moves, more complicated ones, quiet time, props and songs.

With Angus I remember sitting out in the garden, drinking tea and chatting in the sun...no luck with this maternity leave.

Since then parking restrictions have come in, which means you can't pop down to Byres Road and continue the party in a cafe or nip to the shops as easily.  You can still park for free nearby.  Obviously there's a baby change!  The price for the block seems quite high at first but it keeps the class sizes smaller which I prefer.

Wild Adventure

The need to visit this soft play, Wild Adventure, came about after so many different people suggested we check it out.  It's in Drumchapel and feels a little out of the way but was worth the journey.

It's a fairly standard soft play but the place feels easy.  We visited on a Monday morning and it was very quiet, just us and may be two or three other families.

This first photo is of the main frame.  It's got lots of explore but is still suitable for preschool age.   I think older children would have fun in there too.  At the back is a football pitch area, which is Angus's favourite part of any soft play frame.

On the other side is the babies and toddlers section, which had plenty to keep wee ones entertained.  Behind a screen to one side is a learning area, this has various activities and there is a theme each fortnight, which is listed on their Facebook page. It's planned out nursery-style.

The cafe fare isn't very inspiring; the usual nuggets, baked beans, pizza...  I had a Mexican chicken panini but the chicken was reformed.  For the children's lunch deal, they can pick and mix from a selection, which led to Angus selecting a hot dog and garlic bread for his lunch.  Milk was included though.  The coffee is good.

The seating area is particularly well thought out: it goes right across the width of the soft play.  This makes it very easy to see your child all the time.

Toddler time is £3 but I can't find other prices, suffice to say, it's very reasonable.  There is no car park so you need to park on the street.  This wasn't a problem on a Monday morning.  The toilets were plentiful and basic.

Finlaystone Country Park

Finlaystone Country Park is an easy drive from Glasgow and we were looking forward to a day out in the countryside with added extras.

There is a small visitor centre and shop at the car park.  Sometimes there is an attendant taking the admission fee and sometimes you have to go into the centre.  Inside is a little boat to play on.

Our party for this visit was myself, Mr GFN, Angus (3), Douglas (2 months and in the buggy), Gran and Papa.  All were needed.  Angus needed someone to play with (Daddy or Papa preferably) and someone needed to push Douglas or stand with the pram.

We went down to the adventure playground area first.  There are lots of different areas throughout a woodland.  Here are some planks to balance on, which are close to a train.

Most of the play "equipment" is handmade, which is very charming.  There is lots of opportunity for creative and imaginative play.

As you make your way around, you stumble across different areas.  Here is something for tinies:

The only problem was, despite visiting in August, most of the woodland was boggy and muddy.  Wellies were essential and a lot of the time the buggy couldn't go close to the play areas, just wait on the path.  Below is the only slide (inside a hand crafted, full size wooden tram), Angus could go on, as all the others ended in a muddy bog.  

There was quite a bit that was accessible but for a three year old, you want the slides.  It had been a rainy summer but I would expect the area for playing to be built on a site with better drainage.  I think Angus would have had a lot more fun playing with his friends or will have much more fun with friends when he is older and can be given a large area to roam free in.

We spent about an hour playing then went to the cafe for lunch.

Everyone was very impressed with the cafe.  I was surprised that it wasn't much busier but I suppose as you can't access it without paying admission that limits numbers.  The Tearoom had a great menu and wasn't too pricey.  Everyone enjoyed their food and the space is light and airy.

We finished our trip by taking a stroll around the ornate gardens.  This took about half an hour.

There are woodland paths to explore, which we didn't as they didn't look accessible with the buggy.  You can also pay to enter a bird centre.  There was a witches and wizards event on, with a treasure trail and costume competition.  This was just a little too old for us on this occasion but other children appeared to be having a great time.

At the time of our visit, admission was £3.50 for children and concessions and £5 for adults.  We spent about three hours there and were quite disappointed with our visit, given the cost and how much people rave about the place.

In different circumstances, perhaps in sunnier weather with a BBQ table booked or with a large group of older children, I imagine it's a brilliant place but for toddlers it's a poor man's Kelburn Castle.

Parking was quite easy but it did get busier towards the end of our visit.  There are lots of areas to have a picnic.  The toilets have been judged "like a park but slightly cleaner".

Summerlee, Museum of Scottish Industrial Life

This place is a sure fire hit with our family.  There's a working tram.

We have visited Summerlee several times now and is a good choice when the weather looks changable (your fairly typical Scottish day).  If it's sunny when we arrive, we head straight for the brilliant play park.

This photo shows the start of the play park, which is brilliant for little ones.  Further back there are things for bigger kids including a flying fox.  Don't forget to bring your bucket and spade as the floor of the start is all sand (and quite clean at that).

Following that we step aboard the Vulcan, a canal barge, which has a small exhibition inside.

There are two main areas to the museum, the exhibition hall and the miners' cottages and mine.  These are connected by a tram.

Usually this is a mid-century German tram but we have been lucky enough to ride this one before.

The miners' cottages have been furnished to show life at different time periods, from 1840s to 1980s.  See if you can spot the 1990s artifacts in the 1980s cottage!  One of the cottages is an old-fashioned sweetie shop - a word of warning if you don't want your child consuming sweeties, you will need good excuses up your sleeve.  We've always got away with it.  We haven't been down the mine yet; that's really more suitable for much older children and grown ups.

Inside the exhibition hall there is a lot to see and it's got lots of interactive stations.  There is a train table, a dance hall, a pretend grocers and much more.  Quite often there are craft activities on; we haven't tried these yet and I think there might be a small charge. Upstairs is a small, changing exhibition space, we have seen themes such as the 1980s and weddings.  I imagine they're designed as social history exhibitions suitable for primary school visits.  Again, they are curated to be interactive.  Watch out as the lift can be tricky.

Sometimes, we will go back and ride the tram again or back to the play park before ending our visit.  We spend about half an hour in the playground and half an hour at the miners' cottages, around an hour in the exhibition hall plus lunch and tram rides.  If you lived locally, you could easily pop in for a short visit but for us it's a day out.  They have lots of events on and are worth following on Twitter.  We have been known to stop at the Fort on the way back if we have things to pick up or fancy lunch there (Wagamama anyone?).

There are lots of spots to enjoy a picnic, including two indoor spaces.  The cafe is quite average for lunch.  When we have had lunch there, we have always had soup, it has always been lentil and it has always been quite salty.  Usually, we aim for a picnic lunch and stop for coffee and cake mid-morning or mid-afternoon.  Their cake is good: lots of traybakes, empire biscuits etc.

The museum is free to visit.  There is a charge for tram tickets though.  On our last visit adults were £1.60 and under 5's are free (there are other fares).  A ticket lasts all day, so you can ride as much as you want.  The staff will happily help you load your (folded) buggy onto the tram.

The toilets and baby change are clean and copious, although the nappy bin was overflowing on my last visit.

The museum is in Coatbridge and easy to access.  It has a small free car park directly in front and another small free car park next door.  Even though there is not much parking, I have always found a space easily.  It is also close to the train stations as it is close to the town centre.

Lunderston Bay

Lunderston Bay claims to be the nearest sandy beach to Glasgow and it's in between Gourock and Inverkip.  One sunny Wednesday, I took a trip (during the school holidays) with just the two boys (3 years and 3 months).

The bay is very scenic with views across the firth of Clyde.  The beach is sandy but with lots of shingle too.  I think the southern end of the beach may have been sandier than the spot where we were as I could see lots of castles being built.  If you want fine, golden sand, this isn't it.

It's a small stretch, may be 200 metres at the most.  In between the car park and the beach is a small area of grass with some picnic benches.  There are also toilets.

 We threw stones in the water, spotted crabs and shells (I think the rockpooling there might be good), built a sandcastle, had a picnic and a paddled.  The water was very clear and waves gentle.  The beach was very clean with no litter.  Our fellow seasiders were friendly.  We also walked along a short section of the coastal path.

After all this, we went across the (fast) road to Cardwell Garden Centre, which has a large cafeteria, for ice-cream and a go in their sandy play area.  The road was quite hairy to cross with the pram and a three year old, especially as everyone had parked clear across the pavement.  The Garden Centre seems to be in a 70s time warp and the service wasn't too good but the homebaking was excellent and they had  good range of ice cream.  Angus could have spent a long time in the play area.

We arrived at 10.45 and left about 3, so it was a full day out.  There was lots of parking early on but very busy when we left, so my tip would be to get there early, play and then have your picnic.  It was a very easy drive from Glasgow and took 45 minutes.  You go straight along the M8/A8 and then it is residential roads and my sat nav was definitely needed.

You can get lunch in the garden centre and there was an ice-cream van in the car park but no other catering.  The toilets were terrific, very clean with hot water.  Logistically, I found the trip tricky as my travel system couldn't negotiate the beach.  It would have been much easier with friends.  There were lots of dog walkers, so if your child is worried about dogs, it's not the best beach for them.

Theatre for Under 5's this October

There's so much on, particularly over mid-term 2017 this year, it really makes me wonder whether the powers that be couldn't spread it out over the year rather than everyone cramming it into 11 days.  Anyway, here we go...take your pick and let me know what you think:

Stick Man: Friday 22nd to Saturday 23rd September at King's

The Adventures of Robin Hood: Sunday 24th September at East Kilbride Village Theatre

The Story of the Little Gentlemen: Wednesday 27th September at Johnstone Town Hall, Wednesday 4th October at Eastwood Park Theatre, Saturday 7th October at Tron, Tuesday 10th October at Platform

Sprog Rock by Starcatchers: Saturday 30th September at Beacon Arts Centre or Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October at Platform

The MacDougalls (different shows): Saturday 30th September at Theatre Royal or Saturday 28th October at Theatre Royal or Wednesday 18th October at Rutherglen Town Hall

Once Upon a Time: Superworm: Friday 6th October at Theatre Royal

Hairy Maclary: Sunday 15th October at Eastwood Park Theatre or Monday 16th October at Town House Hamilton

Shark in the Park: Monday 16th October at Rutherglen Town Hall

The Wonderful World of Lapin: Wednesday 18th October at Platform

The Night Pirates: Wednesday 18th to Thursday 19th October at Town House Hamilton

White: Friday 20th and Saturday 21st October at Cumbernauld Theatre

Once Upon a Time: Owl Babies: Friday 3rd November at Theatre Royal

The Gingerbread Man: Saturday 4th November at Paisley Arts Centre

Don't forget there's also the Scottish Mask and Puppet Centre, which has performances every weekend and through the mid-term.

Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls and Tennis Centre

Angus has been admiring people playing bowls for quite a while and when a friend visited it seemed like a good opportunity to give it a go.  We went to Kelvingrove and had a great time despite being rained on (the full Glasgow experience for a tourist).

It's a very picturesque place to play and the greens seemed well kept (I suppose you are playing at a Commonwealth Games venue!).  The best part is...it's free.  Actually the service was equally good.

I don't think you can book, it's first come, first served.  At the pavilion, we asked to play and the attendant provided us with all the equipment we needed and took us out to show us the ropes.  He couldn't have been friendlier and explained the game simply.  The only proviso to playing is that you are wearing flat shoes.

The game is simple, you bowl the jack and then bowl the rest of your bowls aiming to be the closest to it.  The equipment is all free to borrow, including the mat.  There were special, light bowls for toddlers/children too.  The only tiring thing about playing with a toddler is that you can't play the full length of the green.  This means you have to keep collecting the bowls up and bringing them back rather than switching ends like usual.  If wasn't for this I think Angus would have wanted to keep playing for longer.

We played for about half an hour before moving on to visit the play park, get some lunch (at Firebird, review here!) and then visit the gallery.

Parking is easy behind the gallery and £1 for four hours.  We didn't use the toilet facilities so can't comment on them).  The Centre is open from Easter to the September Weekend.

Rouken Glen Park

Rouken Glen Park is in East Renfrewshire, near Giffnock and is fantastic for a residential area park.  We go fairly often when the weather is sunny.

The park undulates without being hilly, so is good for buggy walking, scooting and is actually where I learnt to ride a bike.  There are lots of paths and the different features are well signposted.

Our first stop is always the play park, which has lots for children of all ages but would be especially good for toddlers who are just toddling as a couple of the slides don't have ladders/steps etc.  It is designed to have equipment for wheelchair users and others with disabilities, which makes it very accessible for all.  The park is always busy and is fairly safely enclosed but it can be difficult to always see your child.  I would say this is the best play park I know in terms of variety of equipment, maintenance and quantity of activities.

Next we walk or scoot past the outdoor gym equipment up to the boating pond and the Boat House cafe.  I highly recommend the cafe for lunch but there are lots of picnic spots too.  I will review the cafe one day!  You can buy duck food in the cafe and feed the ducks and swans.  At the other end of the boating pond is the waterfall.  If anyone is using the skate park as we make our way back to the car, we might watch them.

I would say the park is a half day out, although Angus can be so tired at the end that the rest of the afternoon is a DVD treat.

The main car park is signposted from Rouken Glen Road and is a right hand turn just after Speirsbridge roundabout.  Don't speed up too much after the roundabout or you'll go past it.  It is also the car park for the garden centre and is very large although on a sunny school holiday it can still fill up.

There are adequate toilets in the Pavilion next to the play park and behind the cafe at the boating pond.  Apart from an incline up to the boating pond (which can be avoided if you take a longer route), it is very easy with a buggy.

Paesano Pizza

Paesano Pizza is the most raved about pizza in Glasgow, so on a wet Sunday we paid the Great Western Road restaurant a visit.

Is it the best pizza in town?  Probably, yes.  There's a lot of talk about using the best, freshest ingredients and you can taste that the base is amazing and the toppings are tasty.  The pizzas cost between £5-£8 and there is a choice of nine plus specials.  You can also specify any changes.  There are also some sides and a choice of soft-serve ice-cream or the tart of the day and that's the whole menu.  Spotted the omission?  There's no kids menu.  We were told they would do a kids size of anything on the menu.  Here is Angus's cheese and tomato.  It's slightly smaller than a regular and I'm not sure what they charged us for it (no more than £5 anyway, which is what the full size costs).

The staff were some of the most welcoming we've come across.  The stereotypical "Italians are nuts about children" thing really came across even though it was all Glasgow students working there.

At the end of the day, I felt the pizza and service was better than Pizza Express, which is our usual go to for pizza all round.  We haven't tried the restaurant in Miller Street yet but we definitely intend to.   Watch this space!  Very, very delicious.

There are steps up to the entrance, which we managed with the pram between the two of us.  However, there is a step-free side entrance, which we left by.

I think there was a baby change on the same level as the restaurant (we didn't need to use it) but all the toilets were down lots of stairs.  There is metered parking nearby and the restaurant is close to Kelvinbridge Subway station.   They don't take reservations but we arrived early and were easily accommodated.

Glasgow Doors Open Days 2017

I love Doors Open Days, last year we had a great time. I strongly advise prebooking anything you want to do and to book on the day booking opens (10am Wednesday 28th August).  The main weekend is 16th and 17th September, although there are events during the preceding week.

You can pick up a brochure in lots of places, including your local library.  There is a special page for children's highlights at the back but here is my selection.

Buildings

The Tenement House: always good to get in somewhere for free that you normally need to pay for.  Tours bookable on Saturday and Sunday.

Bridgeton Bus Garage: all toddlers love a bus.  Tours bookable on Sunday.

The Pipe Factory: looks to be lots going on in this new arts space.  Open Friday to Sunday.

West Boathouse: promises interpretation activities.  Open Saturday and Sunday (taster sessions bookable).

Mackintosh Queen's Cross: another freebie.  Open Saturday and Sunday.

School of Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Hospital: like a petting zoo but not??   Tours bookable on Saturday.

House for an Art Lover: again, get in for free.  Open Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Pollok House: normally you pay National Trust entry (restricted to the servants quarters weekdays).  Open Monday to Sunday.

STV: books out immediately.  Tours on Saturday.

TS Queen Mary: all aboard!  Tours bookable on Saturday.

Events

Synchronized Swimming, Drumchapel Pool: 11-1 on Sunday.

Chapati Making Workshop, Glasgow Gurdwara.  Sessions bookable Monday to Thursday.

The Hidden Gardens: Wild Fest activities 1-6pm on Saturday with a picnic concert 5-6pm.

Kelvingrove Bandstand: more Wild Fest activities 1-4pm and a concert 2-3pm on Saturday.

Late Morning Strings, Pearce Institute, Govan: a family-friendly pop-up performance.  10.30am for 11am on Saturday.

Storytelling, Arts and Crafts, Village Storytelling Centre.  Drop in Saturday and Sunday.

Unlocking the Story of Glasgow's Canal - Boat Tour: 150 minutes on board the Gypsy Princess.  Bookable on Saturday.

Glasgow Stories, ARTPARK Heritage Centre: stories and crafts at Bellahouston Park.  Bookable 10-11.30am on Wednesday.

Fossil Grove: lots of activities organised.  Drop-in on Saturday.

The Lighthouse: designer-led workshops.  Drop-in on Saturday and Sunday.

Obviously this is subject to change and I might have copied out details incorrectly, so best to get your own copy of the brochure or view online.  There also might be other events that suit your own child's interests!

Kilmardinny Loch, or the Gruffalo Trail

Kilmardinny Loch is one of those local hidden treasures.  It's in a very residential area and I would love to live next door.  It is a loch with a path right the way around and a play park to the side.

From the car park, facing the loch, we take the path to the right, going anti-clockwise around the path.  After a short while, you reach a bench with good duck and swan spotting opportunities.  Further along when the path veers to the left, if you keep going straight and round you come to the play park (this isn't obvious so keep your eyes peeled).

The play park has lots of different activities. There is a sandy bit, so you can bring a bucket and spade.  There's swings, slides and lots of climbing as well as a fort.  For a local park, it's very good.

Returning to the path and going further around there are more ducks and the wooden carvings start.

Keep going and you come across a fox, 

an owl

and finally the Gruffalo.  This is right before you get back to the car park, so it you want to keep it a surprise or maintain the pretense of a trail, you must take the path to the right of the car park or you'll see it straight away.

It takes about half an hour to walk around, twice is very managable.  We tried taking the scooter once but the gravel is not scooter friendly.  It would be great on bikes though.  There is lots of wildlife to look out for too: butterflies, frogs, dragon flies.  It is very popular with dog walkers, so if your child is particularly frightened of dogs, this is not for you.

The loch is a lovely place for a picnic and there are some benches but I would advise taking a blanket (especially if there are lots of you).  There is no cafe or kiosk and no toilets.

The car park off Kilmardinny Avenue is small (may be 10 cars) but we've always got it in (we've only been early or when the weather has been driech though).

The Beech Tree Inn

This venue is a little way out of Glasgow, close to the Glengoyne Distillery near Dumgoyne.  It is right on the West Highland Way.

We chose to visit the Beech Tree Inn following some good reviews and the promise of a sunny day.  I had intended to stop at Mugdock Park on the way to build up an appetite but we missed the turning!

Arriving a little early, we had a coffee in the garden and met all the animals.  It's not a petting zoo but you can buy feed.  There are Shetland Ponies, sheep, rabbits, ducks, goats and an aviary.  They seem very well-kept and loved.  There is also a small play area with a couple of fixed tractors to sit on, climbing frame and slide.  Enough to keep a toddler entertained for half an hour or more and whilst you are waiting for food etc.

We were lucky to get a table and I advise booking (or at least, arriving early and reserving a table, which is what we had to do).  The menu is vast and is pub grub food.  Angus and I both had soup (a delicious tomato and red pepper), mine with a sandwich.  There is lots of choice for children too.  Mr GFN had a chicken wings special and a side of chips, which he really enjoyed. We also had delicious desserts; so save room!

In the end, we were there from about 11.45am to 2.30pm.  So a fair day out with a toddler and not too much walking when you are heavily pregnant.

The toilets are clean (we didn't use the baby change).  The car park has a fair capacity.  I don't think you could get there using public transport.

Calderglen Country Park and Zoo

Sometimes you need to try somewhere new and you don't mind travelling a little further.  And the weather was sunny.  So we tried Calderglen Country Park and Zoo.

We went into the zoo first, which has a very small admission fee.  There are about 25 enclosures, initially indoors in a conservatory.

There are fish, monkeys, some leaf-cutter ants that climb overhead (no, they haven't escaped Mr GFN!), foxes (hiding asleep below) and more.

Once you leave the glasshouse, you are in an ornate garden with more enclosures scattered about.  They are numbered and set out as a trail.

Our highlights were the prairie dogs, wallabies, kookaburras, meercats but there is much more.  Our initial visit lasted 30-45 minutes.  Then we went on to the cafe, where we were greeted with welcoming signs.

So we sat outside, which wasn't a problem.  The cafe was not a bargain and had pretty standard fare.  It is not a gourmet destination.  We both had breakfast rolls and Angus had a ham sandwich.  There was also an ice cream hut in the courtyard.

Then on to the play park.  There is lots for toddlers, although a queue for the swings with support.  There are some brilliant, long slides down a hill.  More benches would be good as the park was very busy on a Saturday lunchtime and I had to stake one out so that I could sit a feed Douglas.

It's a really good, all round park with lots for older children too.  As well as just being really big with lots and lots to do.

If you're older there are lots of trails to walk or cycle, which would extend your visit by quite a bit.  Before going back to the car we went around the zoo again; your ticket is valid all day.

Next to the car park, is a specially designated toddler's play park.  It feels very small (more like a little local playground) and cut off from the rest of the park but was entertaining for 10 minutes.

There was ample parking and the park is well signposted from the road.  Picnic facilities are good.  We only used the toilets in the zoo reception which were basic but adequate.  I can't remember what the baby change facilities are like!

Bella Italia, Sauchiehall Street

What to say about this chain?  Our main discussion when we arrived was: "What used to be here?  Dino's?".

We chose this restaurant as we were visiting the Concert Hall with Gran and Papa and I was lured in with a Voucher Cloud code, which turned out only to be valid Monday to Thursday at this location.  Fail.

Also, Angus is a pizza fiend, so it seemed a good bet.

Bella Italia is a big chain which seems to have undergone a makeover of late.  The decor is very bright and colourful with lots to look at.  This location was sunny and we were seated at a large booth.

Everybody had and enjoyed a pizza (I couldn't manage all of mine and the staff were happy to box it up for me to take away).  Overall, I would say it is a little more expensive than Pizza Express.

The Piccolo menu is three courses and a drink for £5.95, so not the cheapest (there is another menu for older children).  We chose the veggie dippers for Angus to start (and they bought us lots of bread sticks too).  Then you can choose a child-size portion of any pizza or pasta from the main menu (as well as the kids menu choices), so Angus had a cheese and tomato pizza.  There is a big choice of desserts but Angus was sent up to the ice-cream cart, where they were very generous to him.  I think this was induced by the lack of chocolate flavour (they had run out!).  He had two scoops of his own choosing and mini marshmallows on top.  This is his perfect lunch.

Everyone was happy with their food and service.  I think I would only go back with a voucher or other offer though as it's a pricey treat.

The location is excellent as it is very central.  The nearest subway, Buchanan Street, is just around the corner and there are lots of buses nearby.  You could pay to park at metres near Cowcaddens or in the car parks in Buchanan Galleries or opposite the Holiday Inn.  The toilets were clean (we didn't use the baby change).

Bella Italia, Silverburn

Just a note now we have eaten at this branch too.  The staff were very helpful, although service was a little slow.  The menu, decor etc. was just the same as the Sauchiehall Street branch and we enjoyed our meal.  The Voucher Cloud deal is available on more days of the week too.  The only niggle, the toilets and baby change are up three flights of stairs (make sure you ask staff to show you where the lift is!)

Pick of Edinburgh Fringe Festival

With August nearly upon us, this post is very late.  With some clever scheduling, a trip to the Edinburgh Fringe can be a brilliant day out.  To make the train ticket worthwhile, try and see three shows in one day.  To accommodate three, make sure you check the running time (which is listed in the programme) and allow lots of time to travel between venues (and ensure the venues are in walking distance from each other).  Remember that you need to queue to get into each show as well (okay, you don't but there will be a queue for each show and you're not guaranteed to sit altogether otherwise).  There's no provision for buggies and I have never tried and would never try the baby change facilities - if your child can't walk that far or isn't using the toilet yet, wait until next year.

I heartily suggest planning your day with your child.  Programmes are available at lots of places in Glasgow.  I got mine in Soar.  They are in the bottom of Direct Distribution stands.  There is also a list of places they can be obtained here.

Don't just look in the children's section, there are plenty of shows suitable for children in cabaret and variety (magicians!), dance, physical theatre and circus, music, musicals and opera and theatre.  Each performance has a film style rating (U, PG etc.)

To make your trip as cheap as possible, aim for Preview or 2 for 1 performances at the start of the festival or you could try the half-price hut (might be risky as you are more of a niche audience).

Without further ado, what have I found for you?  Remember, I haven't seen any of these...but that's the spirit of the Fringe, take a punt and see if you win.

Cabaret & Variety

JJ and the Dancing Stick
Snap

Children's Shows

The Amazing Bubble Man
Ami and Tami
AnimAlphabet the Musical
Arr We There Yet?
BambinO (okay, this is Scottish Opera and it is coming to Glasgow but it will be good, nb. for babies)
Bitey and Bertie's Grand Tour
Calvinball (outdoor performance in the Botanics, I have seen work by Ipdip before and recommend)
CeilidhKids
Children Are Stinky
Cockadoodlemoo
David Walliams' The First Hippo on the Moon
Dr Zeiffal, Dr Zeigal and the Hippo That Can Never Be Caught
The Giant Jam Sandwich
The Giant's Loo Roll
Goblin's Peter and the Wolf
The Gruffalo's Child (theatre company, Tall Stories are excellent)
Hairy Maclary (or see it over the October week nearer Glasgow)
King Arthur and Wriggle Around the World (Recitals for Wrigglers are very popular over Edinburgh way, why won't they perform in Glasgow?!)
Nick Cope's Family Song Book
The Polar Bears Go Up (Glasgow-grown kids theatre with excellent track record)
Sarah and Duck
The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle-Duck
The Wonderful World of Lapin (seen this, it's a treat and you learn some French too)

This is just scraping the surface of what you can see and you'll know your child's interests best.

Musicals & Opera

Annie
Peter Pan

Theatre

The Egg-Born Princess
The Great Big Beautiful Sky
The Jurassic Parks (PG)
Me and My Bee

Lamont Farm Project

We have visited the Lamont Farm Project a couple of times now and is a really lovely, little place to go.  It's a community project and there are troops of children, tweenies and the odd teenager doing mucky jobs in wellies everywhere.

The main parts of the farm are clustered together but adjacent are two fields of lambs and horses, so make sure you go up there.  In between is a field of llamas, goats, donkeys and ponies.  Overall, there is a wide selection of animals to meet, including pigs, poultry, reptiles and lots of rabbits and smaller animals.

There is a little play area with (what appears to be) donated equipment: garden swings, slides, ride-on cars.  Small children can spend a good half hour or more there.

This isn't a commercial attraction, so don't expect sessions where you can feed or hold the animals, fairground rides, fancy play grounds, tractor rides etc.  I think you can buy a cup of tea but I'm not sure.  You could take a picnic as there are a couple of benches.

Overall, we spend about an hour to an hour and a half there.  It's a really nice farm to visit and support.  We stop at Braehead on the way back for shopping and eating (see the Eating Out section for some ideas) but you could plan your own route and diversions.  On one occasion we pulled up at the end of the airport runway to watch the aeroplanes take off and land.  I believe there are also pick-your-own farms in the area too (East Yonderton Farm).

It's located in between Inchinnan and Erskine, a bit a journey from Glasgow.  It is also up a narrow street; there is parking on one side only and a concrete car park in a field right at the end, I advise going right up to this car park.  (You will have to in order to turn around and leave anyway).  The toilets are cold, clean and functional but what do you expect on a farm?  There is a large baby change room.  Wellies are not essential unless it's raining.  I also had a massive attack of hay fever after my first visit, this is particularly unique to me but worthwhile noting if you are sufferer from this kind of countryside pollen.

Swim School - West Dunbartonshire Leisure

Angus, who is 3, took part in the pre-school Swim School this summer, which is one of West Dunbartonshire's Holiday Camps

The class took place every day from Monday to Friday during one week, lasting half an hour from 9am.  I'm not going to lie, there was a lot of organisation to get us there in time.  However, as it is not term time, it was an easy journey with almost no traffic.

Angus had been very confident in discussions about leaving me to go with the instructor before the course but in the event, there was tears.  The instructor was good at knowing how much to push and when to leave him be.  It would have been nice if he had introduced himself to the mums and even better, if he had told the children his name (I should probably give him the benefit of doubt, Angus being 3).

There were four children in the class and one instructor.  There was lots of splashing and building confidence in the water using toys.  The children were held by the instructor to swim across the pool, on their front and back and also to jump in and lie back to make a star shape.  I could see progress being built across the week and I'm definitely looking to book a weekly class.

It's really brilliant of West Dunbartonshire to make sure there is still swimming provision for the early years during the holidays as it's usually the first to go, to full credit there.

The facilities are very clean and the pool is warm.  There is ample space to change and staff are helpful and friendly.  There is baby change facilities close by.  There is lots of car parking close to the leisure centre but as it's all one with the council offices, it can be confusing.  Customers for the leisure centre have their parking protected by a barrier.  Get a ticket as you go through and validate it at reception.

Butterfly and Pig, Shawlands

Since my days of working in town, Butterfly and Pig has been a long favourite from the day it opened (and the subsequent tea rooms too).

One sunny day, we thought we would visit Queen's Park and get some lunch nearby.  There were a few options but we wanted something filling and perhaps a little grown-up. We chose Butterfly and Pig in Shawlands, in the old Corona building.

The inside is very pubby and, despite several families being seated in the dining area, feels like a proper adult destination.  It has the typical Butterfly and Pig decor of trinkets and nick-nacks and is dark and mysterious.

The food is delicious.  Mr GFN had a great burger.  There is no children's menu, you get a "half portion" of anything on the menu.  Angus had macaroni cheese with garlic bread.  We're fairly certain that this was full-size, just charged at half.  The two negatives for Butterfly and Pig are the prices (quite expensive for a lunch) and giving Angus a lollipop at the end of the meal.  I know this isn't a problem for lots of folk but it arrived without us being asked and we had to subsequently lose it in the park, as he's a bit young for boiled sweets.

You can find on-street parking further up Langside Avenue or on a road just off.  There is step-free access to the building (I think) but steps down to the toilets.  The toilets are clean, we didn't try the baby change.

Brick History - Clydebank Town Hall

Mr GFN is a huge Lego fan.  We have his constructions on display around our home and visited the Brick Wonders exhibition at Paisley Museum when I was on maternity leave with Angus.  It was very fitting that we could go to see another Warren Ellsmore exhibition, Brick History, now I am on mat leave with Douglas.

The exhibition is in the converted Bruce Street Baths part of the Town Hall, which has been done gorgeously.

This exhibition hasn't been trumpeted as much as the one in Lanark and it was very quiet when we went.  Your ticket gives you a time slot; I thought this would be for when you can enter but it's actually for the whole time you are allowed to be in.  So watch out.  Tickets weren't pricey but if you're not a Lego fan, it's probably not worth it.

I liked the local touch of the Titan Crane.

Ellsmore clearly created this exhibition for an American audience though as lots of the pieces refer to historical events such as slavery...

There is a trail suitable for littler ones, with clues to find minifigs and a quiz for older children.  Angus enjoyed the trail and had a quick look at the displays but was much more interested in the hands-on Lego.  He has since mentioned the underground train though and tried to recreate it with his Duplo.

As a Lego widow, I still enjoyed the attention to detail, particularly in this castle.  Mr GFN went round first, whilst I took the early shift with the kids, then we swapped.

There's lots of kid-friendly topics: dinosaurs,

boats...

There's this mega Lego, Duplo and original Lego to play with and some other activities too.  I think we stayed for the full hour.  Overall it was a good outing and enjoyed by everyone.

There is parking nearby; the old Council office car park is directed but there's free on street parking too.  It was fairly easy to get around with the buggy, although why there isn't a pedestrian crossing across busy Dumbarton Road from the town side to the library and Town Hall is a mystery.

The cafe in the Town Hall looked good but seating is limited so we couldn't try it.  We know Clydebank very well and can report that choice of cafes is limited.  Our usual place is the indoors market for a cheap and cheerful toastie or soup but we tried Roma this time and were very pleased we did.  Review coming soon!  The toilets and baby change in the Town Hall were immaculate.  Staff were very friendly.  The exhibition is on until 2nd September 2017.