Well, I survived the first solo flight with Minnie. Even better, so did she and the rest of the passengers.  And that’s despite the plane from Lanzarote taking off late – I think around 75% of my flights with a baby have been delayed, way higher than my usual rate. The universe has a twisted sense of humour.

Admittedly, I had a few helping hands – my brother and Dad dropped us off at the airport, so were able to help manoeuvre the buggy, car seat and trolley with suitcase, as well as saving a place in the queue while I gave Minnie her tea. Check-in opened exactly two hours before departure, so there was no way to get through early to feed her, and waiting until afterwards would have meant a stressful scuttle to the gate. 

But then I was on my own. Or, as it turns out, not completely. People are nice.

When you get morons like Jeremy Clarkson saying babies should go in the hold (yes, I know he only does it to get a reaction), it’s easy to forget that not everyone is sending out waves of hatred when they see a baby preparing to board (big blue eyes and a cute smile do go a long way as well).

So I want to thank the lady behind me in the security queue who helped hoist the buggy up onto the belt, and then held ‘la nina preciosa’ while I unfolded it on the other side. To be honest, I think I could have done the Maclaren Volo one-handed with Minnie on my hip, but given the way the two of them were enjoying their impromptu cuddle, who was I to break it up?

Then the security employee manning (womanning?) the X-ray who realised I was on my own and let me sort out all my belongings at the end of the belt rather than trying to transport everything to the tables at the side like everyone else.

Also the guy in front of me in the boarding queue, who helped me get the buggy into its bag while Minnie was strapped to my front and determined to grab the grubby wheels. And the five people in the queue around me who helped entertain her as we all stood boredly as the boarding queue failed to actually move – special mention to the man with the crutches who spent at least five minutes playing peekaboo from behind a passport.

Lastly, the couple returning from the Ironman super-killer-triathlon that had taken place in Lanzarote, sitting next to us on the flight (and, worryingly, looking less knackered than me) who joined in the entertaining, helped stop her nose-diving off the seat as I tried to get the infant belt fitted, carried on with their game of Uno without any pitying/cross sideways looks when Minnie melted down out of sheer tiredness and got my bag down from the overhead locker when we landed.

And as my reward for finally managing to calm her to sleep in my arms? She snoozed for most of the flight, enabling me several uninterrupted hours to read my book for the first time in the holiday.

Image: Rainier N/Flickr

Given that I’m fitting back into a lot more of my pre-pregnancy wardrobe, I’ve suddenly got less of an excuse to go window shopping – but as I do have a gift voucher for John Lewis, I’ve been able to do some guilt-free browsing with the sunshine in mind.

I’ve started feeling like I’ve spent most of the past 18 months in jeans (partly because I have – first maternity ones, then bargain denim in a variety of sizes) and while I’m not planning to break out a suit for the home office, I’ve been eyeing up a few more stylish odds and ends to upgrade my look slightly. All still suitable for nursery pick-up.

Bardot top, John Lewis

A couple of rather lovely tops have come from an unexpected place – Precis Petite. It’s a range I always tend to think of as being a bit more grown-up. But given I have a daughter, a mortgage and my next birthday is moving me firmly towards my late 30s, I suppose I am too.

And this Poppy Bardot jumper has got a great 50s feel and I love the print – all I need are some capri pants and shades (and a trip to the south of France).

The flashes of neon-y yellow in the range’s colour-block knitted top are perfect for summery days too, and remind me of a similar style from Phase Eight that I used to almost live in on holiday.

Thea top, John Lewis

Phase Eight are sorting me out for summer evenings meanwhile, with this gorgeous lace-detail Thea blouse while Oasis at John Lewis has a great lace front top in red – even better for coping with very small sticky mitts.

And for a slightly more fun vest top (well, you always need vest tops), I’ve got my eye on a mustard Antonia vest from White Stuff – much cuter than it sounds with a yellow fruit pattern against a soft grey background.

Then, just in case the British summertime isn’t quite as lovely as the last bank holiday promised, Warehouse’s draped contrast lace jacket will keep me covered up but summery right through to autumn.

Given how (relatively) close I live to Suffolk, I haven’t visited as often as I’d expect – a few trips to Bury St Edmunds and a stop to review the gorgeous Salthouse Hotel on the marina at Ipswich, and that’s about it.

But there’s plenty to tempt parents there this summer with special activities for toddlers to teenagers. 

The Punch Rock School in Ipswich is running two five-day courses in August for budding musicians, letting teenagers form a band, write music, record and play a gig.

Or for some different adrenaline thrills, try a high-speed trip out to sea from Southwold spotting porpoises, the occasional seal and possibly a dolphin during the half hour tour in a 400hp speed boat.

Go behind the scenes at the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary for a Wings Junior Falconry course for 10 to 14-year-olds, including an introduction to birds and the essential falconer’s kit, with dates from May to August.

And with a Horrible History walk around Ipswich, kids can enjoy the entertainingly gruesome sides of history, as well as a themed Dangerous Dragons and other Fabulous Beasts tour running throughout the summer holidays.

Or head to Smart4Art at Felixstowe for budding artists, with special classes and fun days for children.

Some of the activities must be pre-booked. For more information see the Visit Suffolk site.

Image: Farid Fleifel/Flickr

A few years back, well before my daughter made an appearance, I spent a fantastic romantic weekend at Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire. 

It seemed the perfect place for a grown-up getaway – a 10ft four-poster bed, twisting stone staircases, plus a large side helping of history as it once played host to Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Mary I (although not all at the same time).

But why should adults get all the fun? At least this is what the company behind the Tudor castle, Luxury Family Hotels, has decided with a whole programme of activities for kids for the summer holidays.

There’s treasure hunts (a digital version using smartphones and camera – after all, it’s not the 16th century any more) as well as the chance to design your own crown jewels or coat of arms. There’s even the TV-inspired ‘George and the Dragon’s Den’ where children have to think of a Tudor invention to present to a team of Dragons, made up of parents and the team at Thornbury castle.

Along with mural painting and croquet, you can even try your hand at welly wanging.

And for an extra charge, you can pre-book other activities from archery to falconry, as well as hot air balloon rides. Throw in afternoon tea and the hotel’s own vineyard for parents

Even just checking in should get the imagination going, with stone walls, arrow-slit windows, tapestries and carved ceilings in some of the 26 bedrooms, all of which are different.

Rooms cost from £399 for two nights for up to two adults and two children, including dinner for the adults on one night. Children’s meal packages cost £20-25 for two to 12-year-olds, or free for under 24 months.

Images courtesy of Thornbury Castle

More and more festivals are promoting themselves as family-friendly these days, for all the parents wanting to relive their glory days at Glastonbury. But if you genuinely want something aimed at children, it’s hard to beat Wychwood Festival.

Along with more than 70 musical theatre, dance and art workshops, plus live music, there’s a dedicated children’s literature festival featuring some of the UK’s biggest and best kids’ authors.

And as well as the team from the Roald Dahl Museum & Story Telling Centre, Booktrust is heading to the festival for the first time.

So if your kids fancy clay modelling, ukulele playing or joining in the story-telling of Revolting Rhymes, this is the place.

With indie, folk, rock and world music on the bill, anyone looking for a pre-parent festival flavour should be able to indulge too.

Wychwood Festival runs from May 31-June 2 at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire. Tickets can be booked on the festival’s site.

Image: flykr/Flickr