May activities
| Published: 28th April 2008 14:20 |
May is a good month to be out and about, as it start to get warmer and we have more and more nice days. There are also two Bank holiday's in May, perfect for getting the family together. May is also the start of the Agricultural and County show season, look out for your local one there's always something for everyone.
Things to do out and about in May
1. Have a Barbeque, (weather permitting) kids and men alike love barbecues, and they can actually be quite a healthy way to cook. Let them make vegetable kebabs, anything that comes on a stick is good in my daughter's eyes.
2. May is warm but can also be quite windy perfect for flying a kite, you can make one easily, using doweling, string and a refuse sack.
3. If you get a really nice day go for a picnic, it seems a lot of hassle when you could just grab a burger and ice cream, but a picnic is cheaper and more relaxed. It doesn't have to be a lavish affair, and if the weather's awful, my kids and I have been known to spread the rug on the living room floor and have a picnic.
4. Go play cricket, it's a great game for kids, you can get a cheap set from one of the larger supermarkets for under £5. Cricket is one of the activities I have done with the kids that resulted in the least arguments or injuries.
5. Plant your own vegetables is still not too late for tomatoes and strawberries. If you don't have a garden don't despair, I have done quite well with peppers and chillies grown on the kitchen windowsill.
Events around the world in May
Whitsunday 4th May
Whitsun is "Old English" for White Sunday and is the 49th day after Easter and is also known as Pentecost which commemorates the decent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.
Mayday 5th May
Traditionally a day of misrule, like many ‘English' holidays, it was an excuse to disobey your masters, act the fool and get drunk! Even recently the tradition was upheld in the May Day riots, in London. The festival in the Midlands is a time of Maypole dances, fates and Well dressing, where wells and springs are decorated with beautiful pictures made from flowers.
Spring Bank Holiday 26th May
Oak Apple day 29th May
A holiday to celebrate the restoration of the monarchy in Britain in May 1660,
Also..........
Fire-fighters day 4th May
Held on St. Florian's, the patron saint of fire-fighters to commemorate all of the brave men and women who have lost their lives and also to thank the ones who still risk their lives.
National Honey week 5-11th May
Celebrating its 10th Birthday, let's celebrate by buying some local honey. Did you know if you suffer from hay fever eating local honey could help.
World Fairtrade day 10th May
Teaching kids where their food comes from and who produces it is becoming more and more important. So go and look for some fair trade products. Or have a look at www.traidcraft.co.uk
Limerick day 12th May
Celebrate the birthday of great limerick writer Edward Lear (1812-1888) most famous for his book of nonsense poems. Try reading the Owl and the pussycat or have a look at www.nonsenselit.org/Lear/
National Vegetarian Week, 19th - 25th May
Celebrate all aspects of vegetarian life, learn more at www.vegsoc.org
Favourite Websites:
This is a great resource for children of all ages, there are fun print outs, educational material, loads of relevant information for parents and competitions.
www.ichild.co.uk
Find a local kite flying event at www.thekitesociety.org.uk/events.htm
Fun things to make in May
A kite
Really easy to make, I remember making a kite at school as part of a science class. Try this quick and easy kite and then go out there and get flying. As my kids are still quite small I get the kite flying and then hand them the string, but if you have older kids get them running with the kite to get it airborne.
You will need
3 pieces of dowel (one 30cm long and the two 60 cm long)
10 meters of string, the lighter the better, if the kids are a little older use fishing line.
1 Refuse sack
Glue
Tape
Method
1. Cut the refuse sack along the sealed edges and lay flat on the ground
2. Lay two pieces of dowel along the shorter edges of the refuse sack
3. Lay the third piece across the sack to meet the first two pieces approximately two thirds up
4. Tie the dowel together securely
5. Glue the dowel to the refuse sack
6. Tie two piece of string 1m long, one to each of the points where the dowel meets, and then knot them together.
7. From this knotted point, tie a piece of string.
The ultimate picnic roll
My kids love this, basically put in what ever you fancy, just remember to emphasise the savoriness and don't make the mixture too wet. Much more special than a boring sausage roll, I tend to cut mine larger and have them in place of sandwiches.
Makes: 30 small sausage rolls or 10 large sausage rolls
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 25 - 30minutes
You will need
500g Ready made puff pastry
1 egg beaten (for sealing and glazing)
For the filling
200g Sausagemeat
3 Hard boiled Eggs, peeled and chopped
10 Black olives, stoned and roughly chopped
1/2 Jar Char grilled peppers, drained and roughly chopped
pinch Cayenne pepper
25g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 tsp Thyme
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 190oC. Roll out the pastry into a rectangle roughly 20cm by 50cm, cut into two strips 10cm by 50cm.
2. Tip all of the filling ingredients into a large bowl and mix together. If you let the kids do this remember that they're handling raw meat and wash hands well.
3. Using a teaspoon put half of the mixture along one side of the 10x50cm pastry strips. Brush along the edge of the pastry with beaten egg. Fold the pastry over the filling sealing the edge down well.
4. Roll the long sausage roll over so that the sealed edge is underneath. Now using a sharp knife, cut the sausage rolls either into bite sized morsels or man-sized rolls. Place on a oiled baking sheet, remembering that they will expand a little on cooking.
5. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until the pastry id golden brown. Allow to cool before packing into boxes, or they will go soggy.
A tissue paper well dressing.
An ancient tradition of giving thanks for the purity of the well water, wells were decorated with flowers. In the Peak district of North Derbyshire the wells are decorated with beautiful mosaics make from flower petals. Have a look at come beautiful well dressings at http://www.welldressing.com/
You will need
Assorted coloured tissue paper
A4 Card
Glue
Pencils
Method
1. Draw a picture on your card in pencil.
2. Tear small pieces of tissue paper and roll it up into a ball. Using the glue stick it to the picture. Use different coloured tissue to ‘colour in the picture'.
Emma Allsop
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