Tag: Fun

Family · Lifestyle

Excitement In The Outdoors This Christmas

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Decorations, Bauble, Christmas Tree, Festive, Light

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Christmas is a truly wonderful time of year. With the world taking on a breathtaking hue of white, the temperature dropping very fast, and loads of little jobs to do, going outside will often be one of peoples’ least likely choices. Of course, though, this isn’t how the kids will feel. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the ways you can add some excitement to your child’s outdoors this holiday season. These can either be as Christmas gifts or as something fun in the run-up.

Sledging: When it starts to snow, a lot of people have an excellent opportunity. It’s unlikely that you live somewhere completely flat, giving you the chance to find some nice, slippery hills to send the kids flying down. Sledging has been a very popular winter pastime for hundreds of years. This makes it nice and easy to find all of the gear you’ll need, and it will just be a matter of doing some research to get all of the safety tips you might need.

Quad biking: Of course, in some cases, you might not be in a place where it snows, and this will make sledging impossible. Thankfully, though, you have an alternative; ATVs. Finding recommended 4-wheelers for kids will take some research. But, with your findings, it should be nice and easy to get started on your next adventure. Like sledging, you will need to adopt some safety methods before you get started with this sort of fun with your children. Along with this, it could also be worth looking for helmets and pads to keep everyone uninjured.

Snowball Fighting: Going back to snow, it’s time to think about another classic. Snowball fighting has been around for a very long time and is a great way to get the kids out for free. As long as everyone has a good pair of waterproof gloves, you will be able to handle the snow for hours at a time, and the kids will have loads of fun. You’ll just have to make sure to set up some rules before you get started.

A New Friend: Finally, as the last idea on this list, you could think of something much more long-term. A dog will live for many years, requiring walking throughout the course of its life. This sort of addition to your family will go down very well with children. With the right preparation, you could have this be the best gift of the year, arriving on the day itself. Of course, though, this is a very big decision to make.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start working on some ideas to get your kids outside this holiday season. It can feel very uninspiring to go out when the weather is bad, and a lot of families will spend most of the season indoors. While there are no problems with this, it could be much more exciting to do some outdoor activities, as well.

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Echos Of My Neighbourhood

IMG-Dubai – Echoes of My Neighbourhood

jacquelineobyikocha14 Comments

For several weeks, I’ve not shared photos taken for Echoes because I was initially contemplating letting the project fizzle out and start another photo project but I realized that I love taking photos of this and that around me and simply can’t stop shooting. I literally go everywhere with my camera and these past weeks I took loads of photos.

Over the holiday two dear friends and their family visited Dubai from Chicago and it was simply a wonderful time and they were happy to be away from Chicago cold for 10 days 🙂

One of the places we went to is the theme park – IMG worlds of adventure – where the children went on dizzying rides (for me) and they had fun. A lot of eating happened during this vacation and I’ve refused to give my scale the delight of making a mockery of me 😉

A Click A Day

Just How Green Can You Get – A Click A Day

jacquelineobyikocha4 Comments

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I spy with my naked eyes…

The man in the pistachio green shirt,

taking the dark spring green leaves

to the neon green trash can

besides the corrugated green fence of the compound

with the Dartmouth green gate.

I even spy another pigment of green

across the road in the neighbour’s quarters

bordered by lush green trees and the palm green of the date tree.

How many greens do you spy?

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

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Dubai · Echos Of My Neighbourhood

Circus at Mercato Mall – Echoes of my neighbourhood

jacquelineobyikocha20 Comments

On Thursdays, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple and you can find out more about it through this link.

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It’s Dubai Summer Surprise (DSS) time and there are little pockets of delightful free shows going on at different locations of the town.

It’s been an entertaining respite to enjoy stumbling on the freebies here and there without parting with my cash.  😉

Watching the twist and contortions of some of these artists was painfully satisfying. I wonder how they do it?

The photos above were taken at Mercato Mall. A pretty mall with lovely ambience and eye-popping beckoning displays that can put a nice dent on your card. I oh and ah over them as I admire the items and move on. I can be a cheapskate a lot of times and that’s just fine with me 😉

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

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Dubai · Echos Of My Neighbourhood · Travel

Ski Dubai and Two Birthdays – Echoes of my neighbourhood 29

jacquelineobyikocha16 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple and you can find out more about it through this link.

It was a busy last week for my household with two birthdays in the house. A good reason to celebrate, indulge and get a bit spoilt. We went to the Ski Dubai, though I’m still trying to figure out why we paid to go and get cold in a – 4 degrees indoor resort – I guess the blistering heat in this place makes it novelty 😉

A visit to the Cinema to find Dory and The Cheesecake Factory for the birthday celebrations was the icing on the cake so to speak.

Gosh, all the buttery, delicious popcorns and generous slices of decadent cake indulgence this Summer has convinced me to join the children in Karate/Dojo classes.

I hope I don’t kill the Dojo master this time around 😉

Thankfully we can’t eat food online otherwise, I would have taken a bite out of Lady Lee’s delightful pie while watching the full moon, and the glorious Sunset on St. Johns River with the waving palms where Pamela took me was just enough to make me sigh in pleasure.

I must say that Brigid’s Irish village’s Tidy Town practice with the blooming bikes is such a delightful aesthetic and horticultural idea. From Ireland, we traipsed through a little Monsoon drizzle where we sang in the rain and filled our eye’s with beautiful blooms.

Kat took us on a journey to the National D.Day Memorial at Bedford and with respect to the solemn photos of those who sacrificed their lives in pursuit of the freedom that today’s generation enjoys, we must never let certain history repeat.

So, when do we get to visit your neighbourhood? Do invite us over.

Jacqueline

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

Jacqueline writes from her heart on passion, pain, suffering, loss and LIFE. I have been incredibly moved by her poetry and I know I will return to “Out of the Silent Breath” again and again.

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Everyday People

Team building Works – Everyday people

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“Unity is strength...when there’s teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” Mattie J.T. Stepanek

“Sometimes the most ordinary things can be made extraordinary simply by doing them with the right people.” Nicholas Sparks

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I met these folks in the photo having a good time as a team. Their whoops and cheerful sounds drew my attention and like I had suspected a member confirmed that they were having their team building activities.

I have always believed in the power of togetherness because you can achieve so much more when you have others with you. An African adage says “when you want to go fast you go alone, but if you wish to go far, you go with others.”

We also say that “a boat will not go forward if each individual is rowing their own way.”

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

“Beautiful Poetry of Life and Love.” Amanda

Out of the silent breath

Echos Of My Neighbourhood

Underwater Zoo – Echoes of My Neighbourhood 28.

jacquelineobyikocha23 Comments

On Thursday’s, I share pictures about ‘Echos of my Neighbourhood.

I would like to invite you to participate. The challenge is quite simple and you can find out more about it through this link.

 

Part of my effort to balance Summer break with cheap fun stuff to do, academic exercises, cooking and so on is also to seek out occasional fun stuff that equally imparts some knowledge on the children, though they might cost a bit of money to achieve.

Our quest took us to the Underwater zoo located at The Dubai Mall. A worthwhile experience.

Pamela took us on a nature walk and we got some weekly smiles at Lady Lee’s corner. Louise’s was just at the right place to catch and take snapshots of Stalwart Chinook helicopters from the RAF airbase around her. I love such happenstances 🙂

So, when do we get to visit you? Now, don’t be shy and invite us over😉

Jacqueline

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

Stars, Five Stars, Logo, Icon, Symbol, Five, Rating

Jacqueline writes from her heart on passion, pain, suffering, loss and LIFE. I have been incredibly moved by her poetry and I know I will return to “Out of the Silent Breath” again and again.

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Featured Blogs

Featured Posts 99 – Share your posts.

jacquelineobyikocha

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‘PLEASE KEEP SENDING IN THE LINKS.’ 

Today’s featured blogs posts are:

Do step in and show some love.

Blue Spider Woman: a beautiful, strong woman comfortable in her own skin and finds delight in the simple things.

Survivor, not a victim: when a relationship goes bad the collateral damages can be enormous. Joan’s short story tells it.

Are you present or can today wait: how much of a procrastinator are you? I think this should be kept where the eyes can fall on it each morning.

Simplest ways to attain peace: Taming the mind to find inner peace can be a challenge. However, it’s doable.

Goodbye my mango:  are you able to paint delightful pictures in the mind with your words? Bellybytes did a beautiful job painting the brief Summer and Monsoon season in my head. I can visualise that lady rushing down the street with her umbrella turned upside down by the blowing winds.

‘Do you want more eyes on your words?’

Well then, add your LINK INTO THIS LOOP.

P.S. Comments are disabled here to keep the loop tidy. Any comments or link you want to send can be added through the link in the post.

Thank you for your understanding and regards.

‘We create a cohesive community when we come together.’

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

Jacqueline writes from her heart on passion, pain, suffering, loss and LIFE. I have been incredibly moved by her poetry and I know I will return to “Out of the Silent Breath” again and again.

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉

Online Blog Party

Let’s cook up a party – Party Live Link. 💃🎶🎹🍰🍡🍗🍎🍺🍸

jacquelineobyikocha296 Comments

Come on in, let’s get this party started.

You are most welcome. Do make yourself comfortable and join the fun.

Some of you are used to the party mode, but just a quick run through on a few party etiquette’s for the new one’s in our midst; nothing tedious.

Refreshments are nicely arranged down the page: Drinks, Chocolates, Cakes, Donuts, freshly squeezed juice, Coffee, Tea and so much more. :-)

We have our own Intercontinental Chef in the house, just place your orders😉

The little rules of play:

  1. You must mix and mingle with others. Don’t be a wallflower. Go say hello to someone and you can participate in the Tag a poem/story below, riddle and do tell us where you are partying from:-)
  2.  Please leave your blog link or post link in the comment box below along with an introduction.
  3. It’s one link per comment, but come back as often as you’d like, that way it’s easier to focus on a link at a time for others.
  4. Please reblog, spread the word of the party like butter, or like, share on Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Facebook, etc. Tell your family, friends,  blogging neighbours, even your blogging pets.
  5. Have fun, it’s a great way to find bloggers and have them find you.
  6. Please show some love. Reblog this post. It helps all of us! The more people that see and participate in it, the more potential new follows! So, share and share voraciously!

There we have it. Since all the rules have been clearly explained, have fun and make the most of it :-)

Thank you for coming to my party and supporting my blog. You rock.

We are COOKING A LARGE POT OF FOOD THIS WEEKEND, so what shall we make? Let’s know where you are partying from and what are you going to add to the boiling pot?

I currently write from DXB – Dubai and I am adding some Chilli peppers to the pot 😉

Hope poem – you can add your own stanza to build it…

She stirred HOPE in her pot

hoping that the delightful aroma 

will blossom and spread some LOVE

to those around her….

 

Riddle for Kids

Which creature walks on four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?

hiddenPlease have some fun, mingle and make friends. Once again, thank you for coming:-)

Rononvan's Weekly Haiku Challenge

Summer cheer, Yes! – Ronovan writes weekly haiku challenge.

jacquelineobyikocha12 Comments

Ronovan, thank you for this week’s prompt ‘Summer and fun.’ You are totally in tune with my state of mind.

lazy_mornings[1]

At last Summer fun loading

the children will vacate in two days.

Yes! Lazy mornings are here

ℵℵ

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

P.S: You can join our online party this weekend. It’s always a good time:-)

Below is my first just published Poetry Book “Out of the silent breath” which is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

When you buy my book, you support me in an invaluable manner.

 

“Beautiful Poetry of Life and Love.” Amanda

Out of the silent breath

If you enjoy my works and would like to do so, you can fuel my creativity with a slice of cake or coffee😉