WHEN was the last time you made a stress-free trip into Derby city centre? Can you remember the last time you wandered around the Market Place and had time to actually enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life? No, I couldn't either, writes Kerry Ganly.
But last weekend, I took a break from Christmas shopping and enjoyed a girly day out with my three-year-old daughter Grace, cousin Lydia, mum and auntie.
We had booked tickets for the ice rink, which is in the Market Place until January 5, and planned on having afternoon tea at Bennetts as a treat... providing our day wasn't cut short with an unplanned trip to the Royal DerbyHospital's x-ray department!
Tickets were booked online at www.derbylive.co.uk and collected from the ice rink's box office, which is opposite Ask Italian. They're reasonably priced. An adult ticket starts from just £6 with concessions from £4. Family tickets are also available at a discounted rate, while the rink is also available for hire for special occasions.
Lessons can be booked, too, but although it had been a while since I last skated, I used to skate regularly and was sure that I'd be like Jayne Torvill once I got out there.
Of course, I was nothing like the Olympic medallist when I finally did get on the ice – but then I did have the safety of a penguin-shaped aid to steady me (although this was supposed to be for Grace).
The aids are an extra charge. It's £4 for a penguin and an extra £1 for a banana – a plastic yellow, curved aid with enough room for two small bottoms to sit on and a useful handle to hold on to.
We collected our skates from the hire centre and booked a penguin aid for Grace, who was given skates which were attached to her normal boots, although junior boots do start from a size 8, so she could have had her own skates.
Thankfully, the hire centre is under cover with lots of seats so you don't have to change shoes in the middle of the Market Place.
The overhead loudspeaker told us it was time to hit the ice… although, in all the rush to get outside, the man next to me literally did hit the ice! Thankfully, St John's Ambulance are on hand to help soothe bumps and bruises.
The rink is small, which is why each session has to be pre-booked, to avoid over-crowding. But, you know what they say, all good things come in small packages and we found the rink just the right size, especially for little Grace and novice Lydia.
Also, if you're pushing one of the banana aids round the rink, you will be grateful that it isn't any bigger.
Each session lasts 50 minutes, which we found was ample time.
For complete novices, there are experts on the ice to help you stay on your feet. And don't forget to smile for the camera as you're whizzing round.
We swapped our penguin for a banana aid midway through the session and were glad that we did, as it meant that Grace and Lydia could be pushed round with relative ease. It also gave us adults a great work-out – a fab way to work off a few calories before tucking into a hot turkey cob in the café afterwards.
Our session was at lunch-time but the rink is open late, so you can enjoy skating under the twinkly Christmas lights.
There are also special events planned over the next few weeks; every Thursday there is a theme. On Thursday, December 11 from 5pm, the theme is Film Hits; come dressed as your favourite Disney character, superhero or Hollywood heart-throb.
The following Thursday promises to be a Christmas cracker, with all the cheesiest pop hits being played and skaters are invited to don their festive jumpers.
There is also family fun at the weekend with a live band and ice sculptures visiting next weekend, a giant snowman the following weekend and, on Saturday, December 20, real reindeer will pay the rink a visit before heading back to the North Pole in preparation for the big day.
After working up a sweat on the ice rink, we walked up Iron Gate to Bennetts for a bite to eat.
It has become something of a tradition in my family to pay Derby's oldest department store a visit over Christmas, if only to look at its magnificent tree.
However, it was lunchtime and we were hungry so, after browsing the various departments, we headed off towards the café for coffee and cake.
Tea at Bennetts really does have a grand feeling to it; you can treat yourselves to traditional afternoon tea with all the trimmings or choose from the extensive dessert menu. Light bites are served, too.
I went for a warming soup – tomato and basil according to the menu – but was disappointed when it arrived; it was potato and leek as the tomato had all gone. Still, this was only a minor gripe as the cake was delicious.
With full tums, we decided to do what we girls do best and hit the shops. The Cathedral Quarter was buzzing and the busker on St Peter's Street was doing a roaring trade – perhaps because he was playing hits from the Disney smash, Frozen. He impressed Grace enough to earn her £1 pocket money.
The Intu shopping centre was packed, too, with shoppers keen to snap up a bargain.
Intu staff are also hosting a number of festive events to keep little ones entertained over Christmas – and some of these events are free.
Santa will be in his grotto, which is outside Build-a-Bear, until Christmas Eve and you can even have breakfast with the big man. There is a charge for both these events but Grace was given an "elf yourself" make-over and it didn't cost a penny. One happy little girl = one happy mummy!
Stores are also open longer over the festive period for those last minute bargains. Visit www.intu.co.uk/derby for details.
It may have been the busiest shopping weekend before Christmas but our trip into Derby made me feel festive and not frazzled.
