Half term at home

Pete, Nicola, Lola and Nell want to travel the world with a difference We hope to get a taste of loads of countries without adding to climate change (with needless emissions from aeroplanes) or having to waste hours of holiday time in airport terminals. We hope our adventures inspire you to take a Grand Tour of your neighbourhood. This post is from Nicola.

We head off in eight days for three months so this summer term's half-term holiday has been spent at home - except for an overnight visit to Granny Fiona in Hertfordshire. If we did any more travelling this week I think we'd be travelled out even before we'd set off...

As a result I've had lots of time to play and unhurry the children. They have spent their holiday putting stickers on their new wheelie suitcases, testing out wellies, waiting hours with a net to catch rabbits (nil so far) and campaigning to convince Mum that they each need a pink eyed mouse. This line would have got nowhere if Lola hadn't cheekily suggested calling them after our cousins, Harry and Tilly, which made me laugh so much it sounded like I was saying yes to the mouse deal.

After meeting a man on the tube with a snowboard - last used in Slovenia two months ago - Nell also devised a new sport with a Kinder bueno chocolate wrapper (found on the ground) which she used to "snow board" home by sliding along on one foot. It took ages, but there were no spills. I think kinder snowboarding has definite Olympic 2012 potential - part litter busting and part sport for absolutely anyone. As Nell points out: "It's fun, went fast and made pulling the suitcase home much quicker..."