50 Days of Summer - Our Holiday Round Up

This summer has been all about family and fun.  We have holidayed in a forest, been to the beach, sailed to the Isle of Wight, visited museums, learned new skills and the girls have even learned how to drive.  The children have seen all three sets of their grandparents in one week (this is the first time this has happened given that they have grandparents that are spread across Surrey, Wales and the Isle of Man) and enjoyed quality time with their cousin's baby, the gorgeous little Michael, who stayed with us for a week.  We've Skyped my nephew Tom and his beautiful new wife Ashley, following their wedding in Georgia.  Ella received her A'Level results getting an A, 2 Bs and a C (the Maths exam was a killer this year!) and is set to go to her first choice university in September. The girls went to V Festival (we bought them tickets for Ella's 18th birthday) and had the best day ever watching The Killers, Jason Derulo, Nile Rodgers, Rudimental and many more great acts. 

We've really enjoyed our time together this summer, nothing beats the time spent with my kids!

The weather has mostly been kind to us, and the sun has shone on the days that we wanted it to.  With just a couple more weeks before the kids return to school, we hope to make the most of the remaining days of freedom (even though the sunshine seems to have taken its leave!)

If you need any inspiration for keeping the family occupied, don't forget that you can get ideas for days out and things to do in the Robert's Bakery 50 Days of Summer guide.  You can download a free copy of the 50 Days of Summer guide here.

If you have any picnics on the agenda you can definitely make them more fun by making some creative sandwiches.  We made some amazing sandwich creations at the Blogger's Picnic earlier this year.

One other activity we are hoping to catch is the Playmobil 40th Annmiversary Tour where life sized Playmobil models will be making an appearance at the following venues:

Today: Fri 22nd Aug - Birmingham Cathedral

Sat 23rd Aug - Derby

Sun 24th Aug -Liverpool

Mon 25th Aug (Bank Holiday) - Manchester

Wed 27th Aug (Morning) - Newcastle

Wed 27th Aug (After school) -Glasgow

Thurs 28th Aug - Middlesbrough

Fri 29th Aug - Leeds

Sat 30th Aug - Nottingham

Sun 31st Aug - Leicester

To find out more details about when and where, keep an eye on the PLAYMOBIL UK Facebook page.

However you plan to spend the rest of the precious days of summer, have fun!!

A Fantastic Family Holiday with Forest Holidays

With the beautiful weather we have been having, holidaying in the UK has been a great option this year.  So we were delighted to spend a week staying in a gorgeous and luxurious log cabin at Blackwood Forest in Hampshire with Forest Holidays.  The stunningly beautiful 270 hectare Beech forest is the perfect setting for a tranquil break surrounded by nature, but with easy access to major roads, Micheldever railway station (which is just 40 minutes from London) and local amenities.

The large three bedroomed Silver Birch cabin was exquisite and quite honestly the nicest accommodation I have ever stayed in at a holiday resort.  A feature floor to ceiling window gives magnificent views of the idyllic surroundings and makes you feel a part of the great outdoors, while making the rooms feel light and airy. The decor was modern, clean and well conceived, bringing in elements of the forest along with a bold but tasteful colour theme that runs throughout the cabin.  The place was spotless and so well equipped, with an excellent kitchen, which included microwave, oven, hob, fridge freezer and dishwasher.  Little touches such as the inclusion of Jenga and Scrabble made you feel immediately at home.  The optional entertainment package offers wi-fi and TV channels if you want to stay connected to the outside world.  It was cosy, comfortable and a real home from home.

Having a private outdoor hot tub was the most luxurious addition to our holiday home.  It was serviced daily and had a rubber duck left on top to let us know it was safe to use.  It was wonderful to relax in the hot tub, and it was particularly fabulous at night with its underwater lighting.  Freddy absolutely adored it, thinking it was his own private outdoor bath/swimming pool.  

The forest setting is glorious.  The cabins are spaced well apart so you feel quite secluded, adding to the magic and enchantment of the break. The cabin has two parking spaces outside, which is really convenient. There are lots of walks and cycle tracks around the forest and a really great 3.8 km trim trail, which we went around several times in the week.  Some days we never saw another soul on our walks, it was so tranquil, peaceful and relaxing.

The exercise equipment around the trim trail caused some healthy competition as we tried to outdo each other.  On the squat lift apparatus, Ian felt quite superior, being able to lift the same weight as the three kids could lift together!  It was fun to challenge each other on the monkey bars, sit up bench and balance beam. All the equipment was wooden or made from green metal so it blended in nicely with the surroundings, and came with clear instructions for use.  It was a great way to enjoy some exercise and following the trail provided a well signposted walk through the forest.

The Forest Retreat is at the centre of the resort, offering a cafe, coffee shop, reception and well stocked shop.  You can book activities and in-cabin spa treatments and pre-order take away food such as pizzas (which can be delivered directly to your cabin) or baked goods to be picked up for breakfast.  The quality of the food was excellent, especially the freshly baked pain au chocolats that we all enjoyed as a morning treat. We loved the coffee shop and were able to sit outside in the sunshine with our drinks on the decked area. They have a nice menu offering light lunches and meals, and also have a bar. There is also a cycle hire shop and a children's play area. The facilities are more than adequate, providing everything we needed, with friendly, helpful staff on hand.

Getting away together to such a lovely place, with amazing accommodation and being blessed with such gorgeous weather has made us even bigger fans of holidaying in the UK.  From our location in Hampshire, we had easy access to the New Forest, the Isle of Wight and Winchester for day trips, but mostly we just really enjoyed exploring the forest and relaxing in the hot tub together.  We even took part in the #getyourskillson challenge and had some fun in the great outdoors while we were there.

One of the biggest pleasures of our holiday was simply having fun in the forest: running, jumping, balancing, playing, hiding, swinging and exploring.  We looked at the flora and fauna of the forest and breathed the fresh air on our outdoor adventures.  It's exactly the kind of holiday that I would want my children to enjoy together.  It was perfect.

Forest Holidays offers "simple luxury in stunning locations" with nine idyllic resorts to choose from. Blackwood Forest was beautiful, tranquil and the cabins are outstanding. The resort wasn't overcrowded or commercial, it's just so peaceful, unspoilt and in harmony with the nature that surrounds it. It is definitely somewhere I'd stay again, we loved it.  Somewhere to escape to and reconnect as a family.

You can find out more about Forest Holidays and book your own break at www.forestholidays.co.uk.

We received a discount to use against this holiday in return for an honest review.  The opinions expressed are my own...we genuinely adored it!

We took part in the #GetYourSkillsOn challenge!

This summer, whilst away on our Forest Holidays break in Blackwood Forest, we took part in the Tots 100 #GetYourSkillsOn challenge with Robinson's Fruit Shoot. It provided a really entertaining framework for the activities we planned to do, and provided lots of fun photo and video opportunities, which may otherwise have been missed.

To take part, we had to choose ten challenges from a list of forty, and record the children as they tried  out their new skills.  There were lots of laughs along the way and it was lovely to see the three children joining in and supporting one another in their efforts.

Carrying out the activities against the backdrop of the forest and the beach added a real element of adventure and the children rose to the challenges brilliantly.

Some challenges were a pretty easy such as having to balance something on your head for 15 seconds. Kizzy did a good job walking with a frisbee on her head, keeping a straight back and her chin up.  Not to be outdone, Freddy had a go too, running with it on his head!

At the seaside, the kids wanted to get in the sea to catch a wave, but as we didn't have the kit for a day's surfing, we decided to let the waves catch them instead!  (A little artistic licence in the completion of this challenge!!)  Freddy loved his first ever taste of running in the sea and jumping the waves.  It was such a pleasure watching him and hearing his giggles as he experienced the joy of the seaside with his sisters.  The sun was shining and it was a gorgeous day.  His water confidence increased massively, as he was very timid around it before discovering the fun of the surf.

Den building has been an activity that everyone has enjoyed.  Using the fallen branches from trees and making a wigwam shape around a tree trunk has proven to be a very efficient way of building a natural, outdoor den.  Being in a forest provided the best environment for den building, Gruffalo searching and bear hunting.  Freddy has had a wonderfully imaginative forest adventure and the den building definitely added to his games.

We bought Freddy a frisbee from a shop and introduced him to the fun of the flying disc!  Due to the problem with his eyes, his 3D vision is not as good as it should be and I do worry about the limitations this may give him.  However, after putting the frisbee in his hand, he showed excellent throwing and catching skills and not once did his vision hinder his ability.  He very quickly got the hang of it and learned a fun new skill.

Piggy backs are always fun and it was lovely to see Ella and Kizzy giving each other rides through the forest. When I was a little girl I had a piggy back related injury and broke my nose after falling flat on my face while carrying someone on my back.  Thankfully the girls were much safer and more stable than I was!

Swinging as high as you can is one of the challenges that the children really loved.  Freddy has just learned how to swing on his own and can get himself going and swing really high with confidence.  He has loved the play area here at Blackwood Forest.  But when we found a rope swing in the woods it was too good an opportunity to pass by.  Kizzy had a go and managed to swing really high until she hit a tree and went into a death spiral!  It was very funny watching her spin round and around.  Maybe I should have saved her, but I was too busy laughing.

I was really proud of Kizzy for having a go at climbing trees.  She was a bit nervous, but felt the fear and did it anyway.  Challenging yourself physically is an exhilarating thing to do, and it feels so good when you accomplish what you set out to do.  Kizzy was very brave and managed to negotiate the branches of a tree to get quite high.

  

Other challenges that the children completed were building a sandcastle on Sandown Beach on the Isle of Wight.  It was not the best sand for making castles so they made a raised mound of sand surrounding a deep hole that quickly filled with sun warmed sea water.  (I really liked it as it reminded me of a fantasy land from Westeroes in Game of Thrones for some reason.)  They managed to get some dry sand from further up shore and mix it with the heavy, wet sand to make two turreted towers overlooking their miniature kingdom, using Freddy's new bucket, to complete the grand structure. They didn't last long though, because Freddy was desperate to jump on them!  That is one of the joys of building a sandcastle though.

After the excitement of the Commonwealth Games and in particular the thrilling men's 4 x 100 m relay, the children are all very interested in athletics.  So staging their own 100 m sprint (albeit clad in wellies) gave them a chance to embody their inner Usain Bolt and run like the wind!  Freddy enjoys racing his sisters and giving himself a cheeky headstart.  There were so many long stretches of open forest paths to run down whilst we were on holiday.  The children got plenty of exercise and fresh air in the great outdoors.

On one of our day trips, we watched some street performers in Winchester who were doing a street dance demonstration. Freddy was so intrigued by the popping and locking and the break dance moves that the kids were doing. When we got back, he wanted to try his own street dancing moves based on what he had seen. He was utterly adorable pulling his moves and doing his thing.  As a result of the dancing, we are going to be finding a street dance class for Freddy to attend so he can perfect his B-Boying!  This has been the best part of this challenge, discovering a new skill that Freddy wants to explore further.

              


We have really loved taking part in this challenge, learning new skills and having fun together.  It was a great idea for keeping the kids active and entertained, and I absolutely adored watching them getting stuck in. Here is our video showing how the children got on as they embraced the #GetYourSkillsOn challenges.

              

This is our entry into the Tots 100/Robinson's Fruit Shoot #GetYourSkillsOn challenge.

What Kids Learn on Holiday

Holidays aren't simply a week or two spent away from home - they are so, so much more.  They are a chance for families to spend much needed quality time together, for relationships to reconnect unencumbered by everyday commitments.  They provide opportunities to discover many new things:  foods, cultures, things to do,  places to go. They allow individuals the freedom to grow and learn through exploration and adventure in an environment free from the restraints of  routine.  They unleash our fun sides and allow us to relax, unwind and de-stress while we experience a break from our real lives.
Holidays are also the perfect opportunity for children to learn something new, develop new skills and discover exciting things that they never knew before.  Whether you take an activity holiday where kids' swimming, surfing and abseiling lessons are on the agenda, or whether your child learns organically through play, holidays are a chance for children to grow as individuals.

Being on holiday is a great opportunity to visit castles, museums and stately homes, all of which give the children the chance to learn about history and how people lived in the past.  Zoos, botanical gardens and aquariums teach them firsthand about the flora and fauna around them.  
Visiting the beaches of Normandy opened my kids' eyes up to the realities of WWII and seeing the war memorials and cemeteries was a really educational and emotional experience, and much more powerful than reading a history book at school. 

My children have learned to fly kites, ride bikes, swim, ride horses, drive quad bikes and abseil whilst on holiday. Practicing old skills or learning new skills helps children to grow and is an enjoyable part of a week away.  I love to watch my kids taking part in new activities and seeing their confidence and independence blossom is a wonderful side effect!

Kids can unleash their creativity in lots of new and exciting ways: writing  their names in the sand, building sand castles, making art collages out of shells and seaweed on the beach, making a den in the woods or collecting pine cones, leaves and feathers to create a model.

Whether you holiday abroad or take vacations in the UK, the potential for children to learn is incredible.  We love to visit destinations in Wales, as it is relatively close to our home in Shropshire.  We've visited Bala with its water sports and love walking in Snowdonia, taking in the scenery.  But my favourite place in Wales is Portmeirion.  We had a glorious holiday where the children had a wonderful time exploring, playing, discovering and even learning a little Welsh! (Look up Visit Wales for some Welsh holiday inspiration.)

“This post is an entry for the Visit Wales #Wales4KidsFamily Holiday Challenge. Wales is the perfect place for a fun-filled family break.” 

The secret of the perfect Mother’s Day - a guest post

January is in its final days which means that edging ever closer to the promise of springtime.  This starts me thinking about special days that are coming up such as Mother's Day.  So now is the time to start concocting plans, especially if you are planning something big this year.  In the following guest post, one mum describes her perfect Mother's Day! It might give you some ideas about how to create the perfect Mother's Day for your own mum!

"Mother’s Day – that one glorious day of the year where mums don’t need to lift a finger. That blissful 24 hours of being waited on hand and foot by your devoted family, lying on the sofa watching rom coms, eating chocolates and then tucking into a delicious meal that has been lovingly prepared by your even lovelier children.

But hang on a second.

This is Mother’s Day we’re talking about and you can’t press the pause button on being a mum, not even for one day.

To be fair to my husband Jed, he does his best to let me relax on my special day but there’s always something that gets in the way. Like two years ago when he and the kids started off the cooking but I ended up taking over when they got stuck. So I ended up in the kitchen all afternoon, slaving away, making the roast that they were supposed to be making for me, which was neither relaxing nor quality time spent with my family.

When we went to bed that night I could tell Jed knew it hadn't been the lovely day I’d envisioned – which I suspect is why he made an extra special effort for Mother’s Day 2013. Here’s what happened!

My Mother’s Day surprise

A week before Mother’s Day, Jed told me to pack a bag. To my relief he wasn’t kicking me out but he wouldn’t tell me where we were going. All he told me was to pack enough for three days.

As soon as I’d packed the bag, Jed took it and put it in the car but he wouldn’t tell me when we were leaving. I only found out that Friday night when we were supposedly going to the supermarket and ended up on the motorway (which is not the way to the supermarket).

And where did we end up, you’re wondering? Two hours later we pulled into Combe Haven Holiday Park in East Sussex – the location of our first ever family holiday in 2001!

I’d actually caught Jed looking at UK holiday deals at Haven a while ago but thought nothing of it. Now it all made sense!

A perfect weekend

To describe it in one word, the whole weekend was perfect from start to finish. Away from the stresses of domestic life, we had a wonderful time being together as a family. It’s cheesy but that’s the best Mother’s Day present I could have asked for (you’re right, that is cheesy).

On Mother’s Day itself, Jed sent me off for a day of pampering and relaxation at the owner’s-only spa (we were staying at his best friend’s caravan so we could enjoy all the privileges of an owner). After a little work out at the gym to re-energise, I watched all my worries and stresses disappear as I relaxed in the sauna. And as for the spa treatments – they were just heavenly.

But you know what the best bit was? When I got back to the caravan, Jed and the kids had made me a lovely meal. It looked quite elaborate for something cooked in a caravan (roast potatoes and everything!) but then I forget that these holiday homes have all the mod cons these days! 

To top it all off, they had one more surprise up their sleeves. After lunch they told me to put on my trainers because we were going for a walk. And where they took me was spectacular. There’s a spot on the park that has incredible views of the English Channel so once we reached it, we all got together for a family photo with the beautiful scenery in the background to help remember the day.

It really was the perfect Mother’s Day. And the secret? Don’t stay at home!"

A guest post in collaboration with Haven Holidays.

A Perfect Day at Center Parcs

Center Parcs have a new advertising campaign featuring real life families enjoying Center Parcs their way: Your Family, Your Time.  Featuring families with little ones; families with three generations holidaying together; families with children of mixed ages (the video that inspired me the most) and a group of families that holiday together, it is lovely to see how Center Parcs allows every family to spend quality time together doing things their way.

              

So what if I was given the chance to spend the perfect day at Center Parcs?  How would I spend my time with my family?  Moments spent together are priceless to me. As my eldest children grow up and start their own lives, I am constantly reminded of just how special time spent as a family is. Being somewhere where we can make the very most of that time really would be amazing.  Making memories that will last a lifetime and giving my children the chance to enjoy family life to the fullest.

This is what my perfect day would look like....

From the moment I awaken and open the curtains, it is the beautiful woodland setting that puts me in the holiday mood.  Being surrounded by nature has such a magical quality, making you feel like you are a million miles away from the stresses of real life.  Breakfast on the patio is a must.  Visitors in the shape of swans, ducks and sometimes even squirrels, tentatively approach us hoping to share in some scraps from the table.  We breathe in the clean, fresh air and feel more invigorated than we have in a long time.  Who can resist an early morning wander into the woods?  The little ones find sticks, feathers and rocks - treasures from their travels.  The wildlife is admired as we spot birds, bugs and animals along the way.  The beauty of the flowers and trees is appreciated as we brush past the soft leaves and clamber over fallen logs.  This is the perfect way to start the day.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors

Taking part in some of the many activities on offer onsite gives us all the chance to try something that we wouldn't normally get the opportunity to do.  Sharing new experiences is a great way to connect with the children, leading to enthusiastic chatter for weeks afterwards and usually a great deal of laughter at the time. 

 We'd get on our bikes and cycle to one of the locations where we could enjoy a couple of hours of something completely new!  Quad Biking is an adrenaline fuelled activity for dad and the older kids, while a gentle horse ride around the parc is a perfect way for myself and the little ones to take in the sights and the sounds.

Getting together afterwards for a Family Bowling Competition gets everyone in a competitive mood!  As we laugh at the 'gutter balls' and applaud the strikes we enjoy a hot chocolate to keep us going until lunchtime.

Trying Something New

A visit to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise is a must.  Even though everyone has a different level of water confidence and ability, we can all enjoy the waves, water playgrounds and whirlpools. The braver ones will ride the rapids and zoom down the flumes!  I'd love to hire a cabana where we could relax and enjoy the comfy seating, a light lunch and complimentary drinks.  The kids could continue to play to their heart's content in the idyllic paradise setting, whilst I relax with a good book!

The outdoor play areas make a fun stopping point on the cycle ride back to the lodge.  A moment to climb, slide, jump, swing, see-saw and spin on a variety of fun play equipment brings out the child in all of us!  You are never to old to let down your hair and have some pure, unabashed fun with the little ones. 

Unleash Your Inner Child and Play, Play, Play!

When it comes to a short break, I thoroughly enjoy eating out.  No need for anyone to cook or wash up!  Plus it's an excuse to get dressed up, do our hair and feel really good about ourselves. At Center Parcs' American Diner, Hucks, we would enjoy a fantastic meal, ordering a selection of veggie dishes from the menu and trying some of their fancy cocktails, whilst overlooking the beautiful lake as the sun begins to set on a perfect day.  There is no need to count calories after all the exercise we've had throughout the day, so the huge pudding we share comes guilt free!

Dress Up and Dine Out in Style

A slow walk back to our lodge allows us to enjoy the beauty of the woods and the lake as night falls. It is so much stiller and calmer by night.  Our comfy, cosy lodge awaits us, where we get into our PJ's and snuggle up with a hot drink and reminisce about all the things we have done.  My littlest two will fall soundly asleep and be carried to their beds.  The oldest children will share a bottle of wine with their dad and I as we discuss our plans for tomorrow.  Aqua Sana?  More swimming?  Aerial Walk? Maybe we'll take in a show and enjoy some live music?  An Indian meal in Rajinder Pradesh? As long as we are doing it as a family I know it will be fabulous. Because nothing feels better than family together!

Family Moments Spent Together

I'd fall asleep in my bed, replaying all the special moments from my day in my head.  Listening to the sound of silence and feeling wonderfully content.  A perfect day indeed!

‘This is my entry to the Center Parcs and Tots 100 January challenge. If I’m chosen, I would like to visit Whinfell Forest.'

I'd Love to be a #MarkWarnerMum

Today I've been writing out lists for my Christmas shopping, baking projects, meal plans and festive itinerary. I have a knitted blanket over my knees and a hot cup of coffee next to me.  My nose feels cold and I can feel the early sniffy sensation of an impending cold.

Allowing my mind to drift, I left the December tasks and transported myself mentally to a sunnier clime. Instead of sheepskin slippers I imagined bejewelled flip flops on my feet showing toe nails painted brightly in summery shades.  The woollen jumper I am wearing had no place in my imagination, and my drab winter wardrobe made way for a pretty, floaty, floral dress, coloured in a beautiful pastel shade.  Coffee is replaced with Pina Colada served with a twirly straw and decorated with a flambuoyant touch.  I breathe in deeply imagining the salty air at my nostrils and the kiss of the sun on my skin.

For me, it is this fantasy element of holidays that really hold me in its grip.  The part where I get to step outside real life and immerse myself into something new and hold those feelings in my heart forever.  I can relive moments from holidays long ago, replaying the best bits over and over as a means of escape. Daydreaming about dipping my feet into a crystal clear infinity pool and running along a golden sandy beach with my children or discovering new places, experiencing different cultures, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of somewhere new and exciting. And sharing these moments with my family as we make magical memories that each and every one of us will hold in our hearts forever.  That's the beauty of holidays.

Mark Warner are looking for bloggers to become a #MarkWarnerMum and work closely with them over the following year.  This is an opportunity I would love to be involved in and a chance to dream some more about holidays in the sun.

Next year is Ella's final year at home before she leaves for university and I'd love to make some really special holiday memories for her to carry with her when she leaves home.  A Mark Warner's holiday offers so much for a family - even one that includes a 17 year old!  And we'd love to put it to the test.

We adore spending family time together but with children of very different ages it can be tricky to keep everyone happy all of the time.  This is where a family holiday at a fabulous resort with tailored activities could really make our family time away into something special, with activities for each and everyone of us making the time spent together even more appreciated.

I think my family is perfect for an activity holiday in the sun.  Freddy is 4 and would love the kids' Mini Club activities where he could meet other children and have loads of fun.  Indoor and outdoor time would keep him happily entertained and I'd be so thrilled to hear all about his adventures over lunch.  Kizzy is 11 and very confident and outgoing.  She would love to learn some new things and experience some exciting activities like windsurfing.  Since she saw Teen Beach Movie she has fancied herself as a pro-surfer so this could be a good place to start.  The Kidz Club offers an action packed schedule for children who want a level of independence and the chance to be themselves around similarly aged kids.  The Indy Club is for older teens up to 17 and I think it would be perfect for Ella to kick back and join in with some age appropriate entertainment and gain some confidence.  She'd be able to come and go meaning she could spend some quality one to one time with myself and her dad too, while her younger siblings are being looked after and having fun elsewhere.  It would be a fitting final family holiday for my teenager before she goes off into the big wide world, and would be an adventure she'd never forget!

By having the opportunity to do things independently, I think the children would treasure the time spent together even more.  I can just imagine alfresco dinners where the children regale us with tales of what they have got up to during the day.  They might even convince me to try something new like trying my hand at water sports!

Spending some time together with my husband Ian would be a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and fall in love all over again.  Holidays in the sun have a habit of bringing out the romantic in me as I relax into the beautiful surroundings and forget all the worries of 'real life' and bask in the knowledge that my kids are safe, happy and having a wonderful time.

I would love to be an ambassador for Mark Warner and help other parents discover the joys of successful, happy and active family holidays.

So now, I'm back to reality and my Christmas list making, planning for the wintry weeks ahead.  But in the back of my mind I'm still dreaming of lying on a beach in the sunshine watching the children having fun!


This is our entry for the #MarkWarnerMum blogger competition.

Childhood Holiday Memories

The third week of August saw my family pack up our suitcases and catch a train to our annual holiday destination. I remember counting down the days until we went away, excitedly asking how many sleeps we had to go.  We would always go holiday clothes shopping before the big day and I loved picking out new outfits and making my holiday packing checklist. Hastings, Barry Island, Bournemouth or Phwelli were places that I remember going to as a child back in the 70's.  We stayed at holiday camps and Butlin's was a favourite choice, where we'd stay in a chalet instead of in a caravan.  It felt very posh to have our own bathroom and not have to use the communal toilet and shower block!

My fondest childhood holiday memories include riding fun fair dodgems with my dad, playing the penny falls in the arcades, shivering in the chilly outdoor pools, doing the Wiggle Wiggle Whoops at the family disco (although I was too shy to actually make it onto the dance floor), getting autographs of Red Coats after the shows, buying souvenirs from my travels to add to my collection and spending days at the beach exploring the rock pools and caves. Rock-pooling was without a doubt my favourite holiday activity.  I could spend hours exploring the rocks and finding shell fish, crabs, jelly fish and little fishes that had been trapped in the pools as the tide went out.  My dad was always very brave and would pick up the big crabs to scare us!  I had a real love of nature and wildlife when I was a child, and loved seeing the creatures in their natural habitat.

Maybe it is because of this childhood love of animals that my most vivid and memorable childhood holiday memory continues to endure. There were signs hung on every lamppost in Hastings advertising an exhibition that was coming to town called 'Jonah's Whale', offering paying guests the chance to see a real whale!  I was so excited at the prospect of seeing one of nature's biggest creatures and asked to go. I had seen the Blue Whale at the Natural History Museum and was mesmerised by its sheer size and majesty. To see a whale in the flesh would be a dream come true and beat anything we could have found in a rock pool! (These were the days before we were fully aware of animal welfare remember!) My parents agreed and on the day of the show we paid our entrance fee to see the whale. Unfortunately my image of a big, healthy, happy whale swimming in a giant tank of water was a million miles away from the reality.  We went into a car park where there was an articulated lorry parked up with a very large, very dead whale laid unceremoniously on the trailer. It was covered in some sort of tar-like substance to help preserve it, blackening its skin and was a really sorry sight. Someone was clearly cashing in on finding a washed up whale, displaying its corpse to holidaymakers for cash before it decomposed. Funnily enough, no one else in my family remembers this event.  My parents probably wrote it off as a rip off and just forgot about it.  But it's something I have never, ever forgotten.

Holidays were an opportunity to get away as a family and to experience new things together in new and exciting places.  Life was a lot more simple then, but some things never change.  As a parent, nothing beats spending quality time with my children, seeing and doing new things and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Competition sponsored by Butlins Holiday Parks, helping your family make memories.

How to Avoid Spending Money at the Airport!

With the summer holidays in full swing, many of us will be looking forward to going abroad for a fortnight of sun, sea and sand. With your suitcases packed and the family in tow, your first stop will undoubtedly be the airport to catch your flight and head off to sunnier climes.  Feeling in the holiday mood, it is all too easy to get carried away as you wait for your flight and can easily overspend in the airport shops and restaurants.  In fact, according to a survey of Gatwick frequent flyers, 88% admit to spending too much and eating into their holiday cash before they even reach their destination.

I have been challenged by purpleparking.com to come up with some tips to save cash at the airport.  They have an excellent airport money saving advice hub on their website, with lots of ideas to avoid wasting your hard earned pennies unnecessarily, such as pre-booking your car parking before you travel. 

So here are a few of my own ideas to save money when travelling with the family:

• Take something to entertain the little ones.  Pack their Nintendo DS or get some fun free apps for your phone or tablet to keep them occupied.  Bringing a paperback from home is a good idea for older kids. Pop a few pound shop toys in your bag to surprise the little ones. Nothing works out more expensive than a child who is bored when surrounded by shops!  If they are fed up you may find yourself buying expensive magazines, comics, books and toys to distract them.
• Make sure you have a good meal before going to the airport.  Food and drink is always overpriced at airports. Kids with full tummies are much happier too and less likely to demand expensive fast food at the airport!
• Pack your own healthy snacks and take a refillable drinks bottle with you in your hand luggage. If you do get peckish, you can avoid the over inflated prices by bringing your own food and filling the bottle with drinking water at the terminal.  Having the refillable bottle is also a great asset whilst abroad as you can fill it up with juice from the hotel's breakfast buffet to drink later.
• Don't be seduced by the goods in the Duty Free shops.  Nowadays, a lot of the things in the airport shops are not much cheaper than items sourced online or found in supermarket promotions.  Unless there is something that you really want and plan to buy in advance, avoid those impulse purchases.  In fact avoid the shops altogether to avoid the temptation if you are that way inclined.
• Avoid last minute shopping.  It might seem like a good idea, picking up essentials at the airport, but if you plan ahead and take advantage of special offers in supermarkets and on the high street, you will save money and avoid the stress.  
• Don't forget sun tan lotion...you'll pay much more at the airport than you would in a BOGOF offer in town.  So keep an eye out for bargains in the weeks leading up to the big day!
• Don't get foreign currency at the airport.  Plan ahead and shop around for the best exchange rate before you travel.  There are often special offers at this time of year.
• Don't buy holiday souvenirs from airports.  There will be plenty of lovely things to buy at your destination and they will be much cheaper too. Do you really need that 'I Love London' T-Shirt??
• Pack some emergency supplies such as paracetamol, travel sickness tablets, tissues and plasters in your hand luggage.  That way, if there is a problem you will have it covered without having to spend over the odds.
• Carry a small amount of cash with you, and don't spend more than that amount. Don't get out the credit card!  This makes it easier to resist buying things you don't need.  Just remember that the money you don't spend now, will be able to buy you a Pina Colada or an ice cream on the beach later!  

I hope everyone's travels are safe and happy and on budget!!

How to you save money on your holidays?

This post was written by me in association with Purple Parking.

LEGO Friends Flash Mob to Celebrate Summer!

School’s out and the summer holidays are finally here so what could be more fun than celebrating the summer sun with a bit of dancing!  Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff, performed  in a flash mob style routine to 'Surfs up!' from The Disney Channel's newest film “Teen Beach Movie”, on Brighton pier in conjunction with LEGO Friends to celebrate the start of the holidays.

The routine featured 100 young girls aged 10-12, all recruited from the Stagecoach theatre arts school.  The audience definitely enjoyed the high energy, fun-filled show!  It was the perfect way to start the summer fun rolling. You can watch it below.

              

To find out more about LEGO Friends visit www.legofriends.co.uk   

How Do You Holiday?

As the Summer holidays are almost ready to bid us adieu, I have been reflecting on the concept of what a holiday means to me.  As Winter threatens to sweep in with its wet and windy weather, (I feel we seem to bypass Autumn in the UK...where are those seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness??) I'm already looking to summer 2013 for the inspiration  I'll need to batten down the hatches and get through my least favourite season.  What is it that I want from that magical week, when my husband books his annual leave and we head off together again with the children with a head full of dreams and a heart full of hope as to what this week will mean to us?

One week a year.   Seven days out of three hundred and sixty five.  One hundred and sixty eight hours out of eight thousand, seven hundred and sixty hours.  This is the time that the average family dedicates to their annual holiday.  It's just a tiny percentage of our year, a year that we spend working hard with jobs, school runs, housework, cooking, cleaning, laundry, gardening, DIY, getting stuck in traffic jams and queuing up at checkouts.  Don't we deserve those seven days to be ones filled with unadulterated luxury, relaxation and pure pleasure?  An escape from the mundane tasks that blight our everyday existence?

When those magical seven days finally come round, I look forward to spending quality time with my husband and my children.  I don't want anything to ruin this.  I don't want to worry about where we'll be staying or even have to erect my own accommodation, heaven forbid!  From the moment I arrive I want to feel like I'm on holiday.  No cooking or cleaning.  I want to concentrate 100% on spending every moment having a good time with my family.

I want a comfy bed with a real mattress, not something that pulls down from the wall or needs blowing up!  And don't even get me started on the issues of bathrooms.  A holiday to me does not equate to queuing up for a dirty, lukewarm shower in a block that is half a mile away from where I sleep!  I want something better than I have at home.  I want a whirlpool bath, a power shower and a spotless toilet that I can stake my claim to for a week in the knowledge that no unfamiliar bottom will plant its cheeks on the seat.  Surely that is not too much to ask?

When I'm on holiday I want to eat great food.  I want to experience new cuisines and immerse myself in the hospitality of where I'm staying.  I don't want to worry myself with shopping for groceries, planning meals that can be made with the inadequate kitchen equipment that self-catering always seems to offer and then wash-up afterwards. That is a worse case scenario than cooking at home!  Nor do I relish the idea of heating a can of beans over a calor gas stove in the middle of a field. Oh no!  I want to eat amazing food cooked by a professional on china plates washed up by someone on minimum wage.

When I wake up in the morning I want to be infused with a shot of joyous disposition.  I don't want to have to worry about the weather spoiling my day.  I want to feel a sense of smug righteousness knowing that I won't be stepping out of my bed into a muddy field, batting away flies drawn to my body heat.  I want to pity those whose first job of the day is to scrabble together a breakfast using unfamiliar utensils in an unfamiliar kitchen.

As I take on the lady of leisure persona, I want to immerse myself in how the other half live.  Just for this one week out of fifty two.

Cheers x

Failing this, a four night break at Disneyland Paris is and will always be the perfect alternative!!

I'm A Butlin's Ambassador!

I am so pleased to be picked as one of the forty Butlin's Ambassadors for 2012/13!  As someone who has many happy childhood memories of staying at Butlin's Holiday Camps as a little girl, this role is filled with nostalgic thoughts as well as excitement at experiencing Butlin's 21st century style!

Butlins in the 70s

Today I phoned up to book my family holiday at Bognor Regis staying in the brand new Wave Hotel in one of their incredible appartments.  With room for up to 4 adults and 2 children they provide accommodation for larger families and extended families.  They also include a kitchen area and a lounge to relax in.  Perfect if you want the freedom of self-catering with the luxury of a hotel stay!  We have opted to add on the premium dining package which gives us breakfast and dinner every day in their new Restaurant.  With a range of different meals on offer every day as well as some food cooked to order (they have a pancake station at breakfast!) they cater for all tastes.  I'll be really interested to see how well they cater for a family of vegetarians!

There are loads of add ons such as Character Lunches, Spa Days, Leisure Passes and Adrenaline Passes so you can plan your visit in advance with lots of fun extras.

We are looking forward to reviewing Butlin's during the Easter holidays in 2013!  If you want to check out  Butlin's holidays for your family, take a look at the website at www.butlins.com

Our Al Fresco Holiday Review

When my blog post won the Tots 100  Al Fresco holiday competition, I was absolutely delighted to have the opportunity of trying out a luxury holiday park in France for a week.  The experience started when I booked our break in a six berth luxury mobile home in the Yelloh! Village Cote de Nacre in Normandy.  The lady who dealt with our booking was just so helpful finding us the best dates, accommodation and the most suitable ferry crossings.  She even gave me some sea sickness advice!

Once all the details were finalised, we just had to wait for the day of our holiday to arrive.  I prepared myself with buying sea-sickness tablets and Sea-Bands, prepped the Sat Nav with European maps and got our pounds exchanged into Euros.

On the morning of the 14th July we made the long trek down to Portsmouth docks in order to catch the 2.45pm Brittany Ferries slow ferry to Caen.  I was actually filled with trepidation about this part of the journey as I am really sea sick and I was worried that Fred would be bored.  We had a cabin booked so we had a private area should I have needed to collapse in a heap somewhere.  However, thanks to the combination of Sea Bands and travel sickness tablets, I was nowhere near as bad as I have been before.  Also the Mont St Michel ferry was less a boat and more a resort at sea.  Plus, once we lost sight of England, we had blue skies and sunshine all the way meaning that the deck became a glorious sun drenched setting for relaxation.  Fred was kept entertained by a play area, a dance floor and a magician which made the crossing really fun for him.  The onboard cafe was really well priced and served a good veggie pizza!

We arrived in France at 9.45pm to a gorgeous balmy evening.  The Yelloh! Resort was just half an hour away from the port and the Al Fresco Holidays rep (who was English) was ready for our arrival.  Our Vivaldi mobile home was spotlessly clean and well equipped.  We had ordered the bed packs giving us fresh, crisp linen and towels.  We made up our beds which were surprisingly comfy (although having sheets and blankets caused the kids to tie themselves in knots overnight!)  There was a double bedded room and two twin rooms in the mobile home, each room having storage and shelves.  The open plan kitchen, dining and living area was very homely.  We also had a separate shower room and (real) toilet.

The mobile home was comfy and cosy, but was a bit of a squeeze with four adults and two children in.  Thankfully though, the kids all get on really well and had a lot of fun together in their little house!  Their consensus was that it was a really "cute", "comfy and cosy", "homely" and "fun" place to stay.

Everything was very well equipped with everything from a bottle opener to saucepans, crockery, cutlery and even a BBQ outside.  The oven and fridge-freezer were both full size and their was adequate storage for food.  There is an Environmentally Friendly ethic to the park and you are encouraged to use water and electricity responsibly, recycle your waste (including glass, paper, cans, cartons, plastic and cardboard) and to walk and cycle where possible.  They even provided a recycling basket to carry your recyclables to the bin area.

The site itself is really impressive.  There is a tropical water park with an indoor area, slides, flume, lazy river and sunbeds.  (Just make sure the men don't wear swim shorts...it's tight little speedos all the way in France or they won't let you in the pool!) The shop sells a variety of essentials including freshly baked baguettes which we bought every morning.  A play area boasted a massive selection of climbing frames, bouncers, swings, roundabouts and bouncy castles!  There was a take-away, a launderette, a restaurant, a bar area (with free wi-fi!!), an outdoor stage where entertainment took place and also a spa.  A shower block provided some very impressive shower cubicles with plentiful hot water which the girls used to avoid having to queue for the bathroom in the mobile home!

The pitches were landscaped with palm trees, bamboo and other greenery.  A mix of mobile homes from various tour operators sat alongside campers in tents.  The atmosphere on site was very friendly and felt safe and secure. It was also very peaceful at night.

The swimming pool was a real hit with the kids and we spent many an hour lounging by the pool and swimming.  I have to admit that the outdoor pools were far too cold for me to get into, but the covered pool was great!  Meg and Kizzy were brave enough for the colder pools and enjoyed the slides and flume.  Freddy really enjoyed the water and Kizzy became a more competent swimmer during the week.

There are a lot of sunbeds and we had no trouble finding space for us all to sit by the poolside.  It really was lovely in the sunshine.  Reps from the resort organised Aquafit and water polo games to keep the younger campers busy and entertained.

There was other scheduled entertainment laid on but we were too busy in the pool or exploring Normandy to really take part.  We were just so busy enjoying the sun and the local attractions!  The Al Fresco rep was on hand with advice with regards to places to go to (or not go to!) which was helpful.

Cote de Nacre is a resort where lots of French people go to, which implies to me that it is a well regarded place.  Many Dutch and German families were also enjoying holidaying there.  We didn't see too many other British families during our week.

The area of Normandy was absolutely wonderful.  We visited Bayeux and the D-Day Beaches, we went to a traditional (if not rather alarming) French circus, visited a fabulous Safari Park and explored the Calvados countryside and Operation Overlord coastline of the area.  It is an area steeped in history and very unspoilt.  We loved it!  It was also lovely to see the British flag flying proudly alongside other flags throughout the area, showing respect for other countries involved in WW2.

I would highly recommend both the resort and the area as a great holiday destination for families.  Getting there was certainly easy enough despite my reservations, and staying in a mobile home was comfortable and quirky!  We would definitely visit again!!  We would recommend the slow ferry if you have kids as the fast ferry (3 and a half hours) had no entertainment on board for them.  There were lots of bored and crying tots on board.

Al Fresco Holidays have luxury accommodation available at 56 of the best holiday parcs across Europe.  These self-catering holidays are ideal for families offering a great range of amenities, facilities and attractions.  Holidays Al Fresco style can be as lively or as relaxed as you want them to be.  Take a look at the website for details on the parcs and facilities available and to book your own Al Fresco holiday.

www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk

Huge thanks to Tots 100 and  Al Fresco Holidays for this amazing holiday!

*We were meant to review the independent spa but unfortunately due to illness, the lady who runs the spa was unable to open it during the week we were there.  I did however peep through the window and it looked really nice and new inside.  It offers various treatments, hamman and sauna, which would provide a lovely relaxing escape for the grown-ups.  It was a shame that we couldn't experience it for ourselves.