Bouncing Before Breakfast: Recent Episodes
Rowan
One little family's big adventures. Capturing daily life through a global pandemic and beyond. Finding the magic in everyday things.
A family trip to Wales including swimming in rivers, waterfalls, castles, mountains and nature.
The four of us went to Brighton for the day and saw a couple of shows in the Spiegelgarden, including some acrobatics and improv.
We spent a few days in Dorset with some home ed friends, and took a trip to Monkeyworld, a primate rescue centre in Wareham.
A family trip up to London for our friends' wedding. Such a treat after so long without sociable fun!
A year ago today we started our family podcast, as we went into the first lockdown in the UK. Tonight we shared some reflections from the past 12 months of living through a global pandemic.
A special story about a trip to the theatre in Victorian times, written by 12 year old Katie for World Book Day 2021.
Some snippets from January and February including baking, board games, snow, haircuts and ending with mummy getting her Covid 19 vaccine.
Baking gingerbread always makes us feel festive, and this year we're perfecting a vegan version.
We share stories about our cat Artois, a loveable rogue who made it to 19 years old before he sadly died. Also, a mudcake and a takeaway breakfast.
Making the most of fresh autumn days, and enjoying the beautiful leaves and fungi. Bike rides, US election results and Daddy fixes the loo!
A catch up with the ladies of the house, including what's been going on at the new school and a fun fact about the word 'hello'.
Two Sundays in one episode, both with a watery theme. The boys enjoying the water - at Bodiam boating station and then swimming at Falling Sands.
We are getting in the mood for Halloween, with a philosophical dinnertime conversation about ghosts.
We got our Covid test results the night before Mummy's birthday (negative; phew), and so were able to go out for the first time in a week, and enjoy the day.
A week after the schools went back, the first illness in six months hit our family. Some of the symptoms corresponded with Covid so we needed to isolate and get tested. The testing part was easier said than done....
A birthday in our house meant lunch out and a trip to see The Magic Flute at Brighton Open Air Theatre. It felt wonderful to be supporting live theatre once again.
Some random adventures and happenings as the summer holidays draw to a close. Daddy and Kyle went to Chichester Harbour, Mummy and the kids explored a nature reserve, and we all enjoyed a Macmillan coffee morning outside in our street.
Inspired by our trip to the British Wildlife centre, Katie has started a neighbourhood hedgehog project. We built a hedehog house, cut a hole in the fence, and then something exciting happened....
We learned all about British animals today, on a visit to the British Wildlife Centre. An inspiring and enlightening day out.
We turned our front garden into an archaeological dig for the day, and found plenty of pottery, plus something else unexpected...
Daddy is off work this week and so we've been having a bit of a staycation. Lunches out in Lewes and East Dean, and a canoe trip with river swimming at Bodiam.
We found an exciting spider in the house, and got bitten by some harvest mites (not so exciting) in the woods. Also a trip to Michelham. Priory, where we were able to go back inside the house.
The last two days of our Shropshire holiday. We visited Powis castle and stopped off at another National Trust place on the drive home to Sussex.
Days four and five of our little Shropshire holiday. More socially distanced family catch ups, a monkey forest and an interesting hike around Hawkstone Follies.
For today's holiday excursion, we travelled to Dolgoch Quarry and Nature Reserve, where we discovered bountiful fossils of ancient sea creatures. A magical and fascinating place.
Days one and two of our Shropshire holiday. We made a socially distanced visit to see our friend Linda, heard owls outside the holiday cottage, and explored an abandoned mine that's now a nature reserve.
More sunshine meant plenty of outdoor adventures this week: bike riding, beach time, paddling pool and the woods.
A day of mudlarking for Daddy and the kids ended up with a minor catastrophe and the finding of a mysterious object. We also went to Scotney castle, and did some cool science experiments at home.
A stressful week with building work going on at home was made more bearable by a few lovely day trips, including a safely distanced event in the Bluebell wood, where we made bows and arrows and potions.
We swam in the sea and caught up with cousins for the first time since lockdown. Still socially distanced, but fun evenso. A rainy Sunday led to culinary delights of the Spanish variety.
Sunny days means outdoor adventures. We've had beach time, a walk up on the Downs (including a visit to an archaeological dig) and a swim in the river. The last birthday Lego set was also finished.
The end of an era for Katie, and a bit of normality back for Daddy. Also, the building of a BIG birthday Lego set.
A lockdown birthday for the youngest in the family. Lego, the big wheel and a Zoom party.
A week in our lives as we aporoach another stage of the lockdown easing. Some rainy weather activities, baking, playing and a trip to the playground for the first time in nearly four months.
A weekend of rope swings and bike riding. Exploring a new trail led to some fun splashing about in a river.
Picking fruit and veg from the garden on the hottest day of the year so far, and thinking about whether to go on holiday in the UK this summer.
A walk in the woods, baking whoopie pies (which Daddy thought were 'Wookie pies'), our first socially distanced playdate and some theatrical happenings at home.
Some extra bits that Daddy recorded while cycling up and down the Cuckoo trail with the kids this weekend. Topics include virtual reality calamities and slobbering dogs.
The last day of our themed suppers takes us to a favourite holiday destination: Greece. Kyle retells the Greek myth of The Minotaur, we talk about past holidays there, and have a go at Greek dancing.
A chilled Friday, rounded off with a Japanese supper and a socially distanced meetup in the park with grown up friends.
Two unexpected catch ups brightened the day, and we all enjoyed a Moroccan themed feast for dinner.
Next stop on our virtual holiday tour is Wales. We make Welshcakes and Rarebit, and talk about past holidays to Wales.
Our first National Trust visit since the lockdown, which felt like a real treat. Then this evening we had a virtual holiday to Mexico, with Mexican food, music and chat. And of course the obligatory sombrero!
As we can't actually travel anywhere at the moment, we decided to do mini imaginary holidays every day this week. Today it was to India, which mostly involved cooking and eating lots of delicious Indian food. If you are listening via Anchor or Spotify, the track at the end is from a film called 1942 A Love Story, and is the music to which I walked down the aisle when Ant and I got married.
We had our first takeout delivery of the lockdown on Saturday night, plus this weekend we made vegan cheesecake and milkshakes.
A parcel causes much excitement, we make a bird's nest from things in the garden and do some baking.
A milestone in our family lockdown journey today, when Katie went back to school. Listen in to find out how she got on...
Daddy and Katie went out for a picnic and fossil hunt, on which they concocted the idea to re-write then musical Hamilton to tell the story of a distant Canadian relative.
Mummy reads a poem from The Lost Words, the kids try on a load of new clothes, and the evening brings a Zoom catch up with friends.
Explaining text speak to a tween, getting a delivery of baking supplies and discussing going back to school.
A paddle in the sea, some silliness with bananas and Spotify, and making mashed potato.
SO many mating dragonflies/damselflies at the pond today. A lovely walk and a sing at the end of the day.
We went to check on the lost ducks now that they're back on the pond. Katie and Daddy tried a new board game.
A busy and sociable day, punctuated by good food and lovely music. A mother duck and 10 duckings wandered into our neighbour's garden, causing much excitement!
We can't stop staring at Daddy's hair. And Mummy should have been at a festival right now.
Two days in one episode. A lovely wildlife-rich walk on the beach near Newhaven, yet more baking, and a radio drama recorded with friends on Zoom.
For the first time since lockdown, all four of us went out together for the day, for a picnic on the Downs.
Three days in one episode. The kids went skating, we had a wedding anniversary, and there was much apprecation of nature and wildlife.
The paddling pool arrived on another scorching day. We went to Hampden Park and had homemade mushroom burgers for dinner.
Heatwaves and hosepipes go hand in hand. We had some fun with water and the slide on a sunny afternoon.
Some family roleplay led to a rather bonkers dinner time. Also a Sunday quiz and some kite flying.
Starting the day with a hearty breakfast seemed to put everyone in good spirits. We had a relaxing and productive day.
While trying to keep things light and fun for the kids, you can't help sometimes getting drawn into debates about the bigger picture. Thank goodness friends are there at the other end of Zoom to provide well needed light-relief.
Two days in one episode! Highlights include: feeding sheep over a fence in Pevensey and learning about a Roman Temple in London.
The kids spent ages making potions this afternoon. A strangely soothing listen. Oh and we heard, but didnโt see, a woodpecker on our walk.
The day after a very vague speech from the Prime Minister, we ponder the implications of the supposed changes to lockdown rules in the UK. Also a couple of snippets from Sunday.
Lockdown hair is a thing. But now it's not. Mummy let Daddy loose with the clippers on her overgrown hair. Luckily Mummy was happy with the result!
A socially distanced street party in honour of 75 years of peace in Europe. And also the bone cleaning continues...
Today we talked to a famous children's author, and interviewed her to find out all about her writing career and how the current lockdown is affecting her.
When Mum's feeling below par, the podcast gets neglected. But we did discover that Barn Owl chicks look a lot like aliens when they stand up.
Kite flying, bone cleaning, rediscovering the wooden train set and making a slapstick track. A fairly chilled Lockdown Sunday.
Tidying up made us all feel better. The boys went on a long walk while the ladies got creative at home.
A creative Friday, with drawing, more Lego building, some nature activism and a nostalgic playlist on the stereo.
A day of simple pleasures: finding cowslips on our daily walk, baking retro buns, and making a snake from some old tights!
Another lockdown birthday in the family, some live theatre at home, and the quest for the perfect yoghurt lid continues.
The first rainy day since lockdown started. An afternoon of puddles, Lego and minestrone.
Disaster! We are about to run out of coffee! Daddy investigates local artisan delivery services, while the girls do some baking.
Another Sunday in lockdown. The kids have been missing the playground, so we bought and built a new climbing frame for the garden. More adventures on our daily walk, too.
A fairly relaxing lockdown Saturday. Some dancing and singing, shed time and a campfire.
Day 39 of family lockdown. Some nature learning in the woods, a spot of opera singing in the kitchen, a haircut in the garden and the grown-ups mulling current affairs over a glass of wine in the evening.
Our daily lockdown walks bring new sensations, with some restorative sea air for some of us, and a fragrant evening stroll for the others.
We dug out some colourful wigs and clothes for recording a singing video, and decided to keep them on for a trip to the park! We also learned about stoats and weasels, got the bath fixed, and found a moonball.
Since the lockdown we're having to do more things we wouldn't normally do for ourselves, like cutting our own hair and fixing up old toys. It was fun to take apart a toy car today and get it working again!
Two of us walked to Willingdon to visit a family grave - finding more animal bones along the way - while the other two stayed home and played.
A lockdown Saturday which brought the invention of a new board game, some outdoor role play and the discovery of manu animal bones.
Creativity abounds in our lockdown household. Today's project was a watercolour cuttlefish. Friday night was made jolly thanks to a video chat with friends, which included lots of book talk again!
More baking, and a good old family laughing session at tea time as we try and stay upbeat during lockdown.
Day 29 of family lockdown. Lots of happy playing for the kids, some baking, some drawing, and a bath time chat about graphic novels.
Back to the routine after the Easter weekend. A nice walk, some sewing for Katie, and a very juicy apple from our new veg box delivery.
We celebrated my mum's birthday by organising some remote and virtual activities, and enjoyed an afternoon of pampering and musicals in her honour.
Easter Day in Lockdown. We tried to add some excitement by staging our own Crystal Maze instead of an Easter egg hunt. It was fun!
Our Good Friday was fuelled by buns and pizza, and a lovely virtual catch up with friends.
Today we talk a lot about some of the culture weโve been consuming in lockdown, including online theatre and our favourite podcasts.
We learned about Hedgehogs, pimped a Hotwheels track with Magtiles and drew a horse skull. Mummy also reads a story at the end of this episode.
Two of the kidsโ friends had birthdays today, so we did our bit to try and help make them feel special, even in lockdown.
A fairly chilled Saturday, we started the day chatting to Neel in Australia while having our breakfast, then heard some lovely uplifting news later on.
After a day off from podcasting yesterday, we got back in the swing with some fun Friday lockdown activities.
A day of ups and downs, in that order. There was much excitement when a parcel of goodies arrived for the kids.
Being in lockdown means using our imaginations to keep the kids occupied. Today we put up a tent in the garden for playing in, and as an escape from the crowded house!
We attempted to introduce some variety by scooting instead of walking for our fresh air today, but it was not popular! Some virtual socialising was had, and more baking was done.
The second weekend of official lockdown. We decided to warm our cockles with a campfire.
Friday may not have the same buzz about it when youโre stuck home, but it did bring some definition to our week, and the season finale of Picard!
Ten days into our self-isolation and weโre thinking up new ways to occupy ourselves each day. Today there was a two hour online sewing lesson and Ant had a go at fixing the breadmaker.
Today the government announced stronger measures to enforce social distancing, which weโve already been observing as a family for a week now. At least the sun is shining and weโre still allowed out for a walk.
Trying to keep spirits up, one week into our family lockdown. The main ingredients seem to be cake, fresh air and laughter.
Having been cooped up together all week, the kids badly needed some 1:1 time, so we decided to divide and conquer, even though it was Motherโs Day.
Today felt like any normal Saturday, apart from theatre school being online, and seeing Nana via a screen. The kids foraged for nettles and wild garlic which I then cooked for dinner, and we ended the day with some family karaoke!
Day four of self isolation seemed to be very food oriented, perhaps because some groceries had finally arrived. A FaceTime chat with our friend Linda lifted our spirits after a rather sleepless night.
Itโs day three of our self isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we managed to talk to friends in Totnes, do a fun workout and get down to the beach for some geocaching and rockpooling fun. Plus some musings on home education for those about to be unwillingly flung into it!
In day two of self isolation, the Miller family appreciates nature, bakes buns, and takes advice from a mystical starfish.
Day one of our official self isolation. The Miller family considers how we are being affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and how we plan to get through these difficult times.