How a bad day turned to good!

Monday really didn't start very well in our house. I woke up literally to the sound of the boys ripping chunks off each other.

There were tears, bruises, shouting and insults being hurled and if I hadn't known better you would think that I have just placed two enemies in one room rather than brothers. This behaviour just got worse; the boys fought over cereal and a box even ended up on the floor!

After 2 very long hours later the boys were dressed, the mess had been tidied and I felt like I was on my last nerve and it was only 9am! What could I do? Everything was telling me get the boys out of the house but where?

Luckily, I turned to Facebook and Twitter and everyone came up with some suggestions. With the weather being nice it was suggested that we went to the beach and that would work perfectly with our current Home Ed topic.

Off we went to Whitstable beach.

The interesting part of our topic is that the boys are never too sure which type of beach that we would encounter. In this case we found a very pebble based beach rather than a sand one and the boys took some time to look and discuss what we could see. The fascinating part here is that this beach leading to the west Whitstable beach changes to a shingle beach.

Whilst standing there we noticed that we could see another coastline opposite which happens to be the beach that we regularly go to during the summer.

Now it was time to investigate it properly!

I think after the close tension first thing the boys wanted to separate and have some space. William went off to find different shaped stones which he later began throwing into the sea each time trying hard to skim them.

James' aim was to head off and "find something cool" which eventually meant different sized and shaped shells. His biggest discovery was a cuttlefish cuttlebone which he was unsure what it was so we spent time discussing it particularly on the feature of how each species' cuttlebone has a distinct shape, size, and pattern of ridges or texture and we could find out which type with the bone.

After doing this for a good hour the boys had started getting tired and wanted to move on. But managed to get this photo of them resting; I love it!

Whilst we were at the beach a lovely older couple started talking to us and told us about Whitstable castle. Now, if you remember, last year we had a whole topic on Castles and visited several but in our investigation we hadn't come across this one! How could we miss it!

The answer was instant when we got there!

Whitstable castle isn't a castle. The castle has changed over the years from an old alum mine, to a stately home to then a refurbished local project that has improved the ground and placed a tea rooms in the building.

What is obvious is the size when you stand next to it. It is no bigger than what you would expect a country stately home to be but the walls have been designed with battlements and towers. After some investigating and, of course, some drinks and cake in the tea rooms we found out that it is only just over 200 years old.

After our drinks and cake we explored the grounds which were absolutely beautiful!

Despite just having tea and cakes the boys pointed out that we couldn't go home without getting some chips and eating them with wooden forks which, according to them, is a must when we go to the beach! Clearly I have indulged this a few times!

Chips at a beach with a wooden fork always tastes better!

Explored, played, fed and fed some more and it was time to head home.

By the time we pulled up at home these two were fast asleep which I hope shows a clear sign of a good day enjoyed by all.

So much so that when James was woken he was devastated that we had got home because he wanted to head back!

The weather was lovely and we had a fantastic time out the day started so badly and actually ended in tears too but I am pleased we got out and explored and that the tears changed from anger and frustration to regret that the day had ended.

I think that I might have to spend more time focusing out outdoor activities now the weather is getting better and as it clearly benefits us all.