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A collection of collections at the Kaleidoscope Gallery

I have never been a collector (I was always quite jealous of my cousin's pig collection when I was little, but never had the staying power to have one of my own . . .)

Sevenoaks Kaleidoscope Gallery is showing off a collection of collections this month - from frogs and owls to comic books and teddy bears. It's quite interesting to see what people have decided to spend their time hunting for and cherishing.

Each collection has a little tale about why the collector started and which pieces are really important to them. I like all that!

Orla liked the shiny shells (downstairs in the library) and the stuffed wild cat (which I actually think is not part of the exhibition).

There's a little area with owl pictures to colour in. Take a look when you're there and see if you can find Orla's . . .

Sevenoaks Library
Buckhurst Lane
Sevenoaks TN13 1LQ

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Planes and helicopters on my Kent big weekend . . .

Hundreds of free tickets to attractions in Kent are up for grabs once a year as part of my Kent big weekend.

We've never entered the draw before, but this year I was very organised and put us down for some really great days out - Eagle Heights, Riverhill Gardens, horse riding, rock climbing. You name it, we were up for it.

The draw took place, and I have to say I was a bit disappointed when the email arrived to say where we were going.

We headed off to the RAF Manston Museum, just outside Ramsgate. Perhaps the attraction furthest away from our house and I really wasn't all that excited by the prospect of a day of old planes.

We even toyed with stopping off at Whitstable instead, but I never turn down a freebie so we perservered.

I'm really pleased we did - the visitors' centre has a renovated spitfire which Calum and Orla really loved. There a hundreds of little things to look at - and each one has a story that the great volunteers there are really happy to tell you about. Calum even got to ring the bell on the WW2 fire engine.

That part of the museum is completely free too.

The main part is in an old aircraft hangar - it costs a whopping £1.50 each when you don't have free tickets.

We got to peer inside some old aeroplanes, look at RAF motorbikes and cars, and get freaked out by models of people in bunkers.

I must say I felt a bit stingy not paying because, although it is great and Calum and Orla had a brilliant day, the museum does feel a bit old and tired. It looks like it needs a bit of TLC - I'm not sure how many £1.50s it will take though.

RAF History Museum
Manston Road
Ramsgate
Kent CT12 5DF
T: 01843 825224 

Last chance to horse around

There are hobby horses galore at the Kaleidoscope Gallery in Sevenoaks - but only until Saturday.

The Farningham Hobbyhorse Project was launched last year as part of the Kent Cultural Baton. Its 120 horses were decorated by the people of Farningham and are meant to represent an ancient horse fair.

They are very bright and colourful - perfect for little ones. Orla and I loved looking at how different each one is. We might even have a go at one ourselves!

The exhibition is free and the project is run by Rosalind Barker and Franny Swann.

Kaleidoscope Gallery

Sevenoaks Library

Buckhurst Lane

Sevenoaks TN13 1LQ