Big quiz of 2016

So I've been tagged by the lovely Alex from Lamb & Bear to answer some questions about 2016 so here goes!

What was your highlight of 2016?

My biggest highlight has been James starting primary school. He's the youngest in his class by about six weeks. 

Name one thing you are likely to remember about 2016 if asked in 5 years time.

Extreme tiredness! Freddie used to be a brilliant sleeper till he got a stomach bug at just over nine months old and since then he's been petrified of his cot and bedroom. 

Sum up 2016 in one word.

Exhausting! When James was at nursery we would drop him off at nine then had to be back at the gate for 1145 for a 12pm pick up. So we literally only had a couple of hours. Now he's at school it's a bit more settled as we drop off at 0855 and pick up at 1515!

Name one pearl of wisdom that you will carry through 2017.

They are only small once so enjoy it!

Do you have any New Year resolutions?

Defined to try and be more organised! I'm terrible for leaving things to the last minute! 

How are you seeing in the new year?

I'm on the sofa in my pjs, have a can of fruit cider and a film on with Andy, while my none sleeping 13 month old Freddie sings as we rock his pushchair 

What would you most like to do in 2017?

Would love to take my blog self hosted and hopefully a holiday with Andy and the boys!

What are your main goals for 2017?

To try and build the blog more, go self hosted and hopefully attend some blogging conferences!

I tag anyone who wants to give this a go!

The Great North Snow Dogs

In 2015 London and Bristol held a Shaun the Sheep Trail with brightly decorated models of the Aardman Animations character dotted all over the cities, which were then auctioned off to raise money for sick children in the United Kingdom. These trails were both organised by the Wallace and Grommet Foundation.

Birmingham also did a tail in 2015 , there's was called the "Big Hoot", which saw brightly coloured owls dotted all over the city which were again auctioned off this time to benefit Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Now in 2016 the Great North Snow Dog trail has been launched! 

This sees 97 brightly decorated models of the Snow Dog from the Snowman and the Snow Dog story being dotted across the North East!

Funds raised from the project will go to support the work of St Oswald's Children's Hospice, who care for children and young people with life limiting conditions.

There are two trails running: The Big Dog Trail runs from 19th September 2016 till 29th November 2016 and the Little Dog Trail runs from 19th September 2016 till 20th January 2017.

I am hoping to attempt to do at least the Little Dog Trail with my boys on weekends as now James has started full time school weekends are the only time we will have together as a family. 

The Little Dog trail has been designed with public transport in mind, so they are easily accessible. 

Below is the Little Trail Map via Public transport. I'm sorry about the quality as I had to scan it!

The locations I have for the Little Trail are as follows with the nearest transport in brackets!:
1 Blue Reef Aquarium (Cullercoats)
2 Eldon Garden (Monument)
3. Fenwick (Monument)
4 Jesmond Dene Visitors Centre (Jesmond)
5 Newcastle City Library (Monument)
6 Seven Stories (Manors)
7 The Biscuit Factory (Manors)
8 Gateshead Leisure Centre (Gateshead)
9 Gateshead Central Library (Gateshead)
10 Sage Gateshead (Gateshead)
11 Trinity Square (Gatehead)
12 Galleries Shopping Centre (Bus from Heworth)
13 National Glass Centre (St Peter's)
14 The Bridges (Sunderland)
15 Sunderland Winter Gardens (Sunderland)
16 Sunderland Minister (Sunderland)
17 Empire Cinema, Sunderland (Sunderland)
18 Washington Arts Centre (Bus from Heworth)

Please let me know if you do either the Big or Little Trail as I would love to feature some photographs here on the Blog!

I know I will have my first Snow Dog sport next week as I will be at Sage Gateshead for a concert!

Shaun in the city logo from www.shauninthecity.org.uk
Big Hoot Logo from www.thebighoot.co.uk
Great Snow Dog Logo from www.greatsnowdogs.co.uk