WE HAD fun at Syon House at the weekend, taking a chilly winter woodland walk wrapped up in warm coats and wearing wellies to keep the whistling wind and eerie mist out.

Each evening, Friday to Sunday, the wooded grounds at Syon House are transformed with magical light effects and clever hidden installations that make you go, ‘Ohhh’.

Trees are illuminated, statues are transformed and you might spot the fairies having a picnic, or spy smoke from a dragon hiding under the roots of an enormous tree.

Every twist and turn brings something new to look at and it’s great for children of all ages.

The café is at the start of the walk, so we grabbed a hot chocolate and some of their delicious crumbly handmade mincepies to munch on during our walk.

Afterwards the children enjoyed a kidsburger from the barbecue, tasty and reasonably priced but far too small and swamped by the enormous adult sized portion bun. It would be better to buy an adult burger and split it.

There were also chestnuts roasting, and together with the aroma of mulled wine it not only felt Christmassy, it smelt it too.

The Enchanted Woodland Walk finishes on the December 4, so be quick if you fancy it. Visit www.syonpark.co.uk for more details.

As you read this, I’ll be ensconced in the funky upstairs meeting space at The Café in the Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome with my Netmums colleagues for the end of a three-day workshop.

It’s going to be great getting together with people I have spoken to every day for the past 12 months, some of whom I have met only once because they live in Scotland.

We’re really looking forward to meeting in an inspiring environment where many mums from the local area congregate – you couldn’t choose a better place to brainstorm ideas for a parenting website.

Go to www.thecafeinthepark.com for details of the café or the meeting room.

I’m also really looking forward to our evening team outing to the Hideaway Spa, in a hidden location between Denham and Rickmansworth.

A local beauty therapist mum has created a spa in her garden, complete with a pool, a Russian sauna and Turkish ‘hamman’ and a beauty therapy room.

It’s a great idea for hen parties or a special night with your girlfriends, and holds up to 15 people. As well as manicures there are a wide range of body and facial treatments to choose from.

The spa has a kitchen area so we’re planning to take along our own food and drinks to enjoy. Visit www.bania.me.uk for details.

AT TIME of writing, The Café in the Park has been shortlisted in the South Herts Netmums Favourite Family Friendly Place to eat out poll, and is in the lead at the moment. Its sister site, The Café in the Park at Marlow, is in second place on the South Bucks site.

In Hillingdon, there are 10 on the shortlist and Nando’s and Pizza Express, both in Uxbridge High Street, are currently neck-and-neck for first place. Also on the list are White House at Stockley Park, Pang’s in Hayes, The Fairway at Ruislip Golf Club, and in Uxbridge, Ask in the High Street, Jack’s Fish and Chips in Hillingdon Road, The Slug and Lettuce in the High Street and Griddles in Cowley Mill Road.

Who do you think should win in Hillingdon? Visit www.netmums.com/hillingdon before November 27 to cast your vote.