Birthday Bliss

Dylan's birthday couldn't have been more perfect. A glorious English summer day greeted us as we rose with two over-excited boys at 6am to start the present opening. Early morning sunlight over horse field and hills has made a rather special back drop for birthday celebrations this year, it won't be quite the same in our Annandale living room.

The lucky birthday boy was thrilled with his pile of presents, including a Lego aeroplane, Playmobil boat, Meccano Concorde and racing car, mini cars and a Lazytown lunch pack and DVD. Jason was unable to resist spending the next few hours constructing the lego plane with him.

Jason spontaneously then took the day off to join us at Dylan's special picnic at Chatsworth. We met Dylan's friends from school, Callum and Sam, and their sisters and mums, at the gates to the farmyard/adventure playground. We could have spent all day just there - the farmyard is like a mini-easter show, complete with tractor rides, and the playground is one of the best I have ever seen. It includes a huge sandpit, waterplay driven by the brook and waterfall nearby, trampolines and a flying fox.

After our picnic lunch, candle-blowing out, and tractor ride around the vast 1000 acre estate (where we spotted a herd of young deer), we walked over to the main house and gardens. The house dates back to the early 16th century, and is quite stunning. But the main attraction for us was the long fountain, which flowed down steps from a grotto house towards the main house. All the childrem splashed about in the fountain's chilly shallow water while we ate ice-cream (made on the estate by Chatsworth cows) and admired the views.

On the way home we all stopped for a pub dinner at the Grouse and Claret in Rowsley, perfect for kids with a playground in the sunny back garden. Dylan has never looked happier as he did that day, basking in the glory of grown-up-five-year-old status with his best friends. It will be a hard birthday to beat next year, when he will be at school on a wintery Thursday.