Blogging: The Good, The Bad and The Downright Ugly!

(Ok – so far I’ve not really found anything bad, but if I do, I promise to update this post and report back immediately!)

Ok, so let’s start with…

The Good

Back in December of last year, there is no way I’d have imagined that I would soon be classed as a blogger!

Sat here now typing yet another blog post.

There was not even an inkling that other people in the big wide world out here might know an alternative ‘me’!

But it is something I’ve certainly grown to love.

My new found hobby.

I’m a VERY small fish in a VERY large pond, but I’m happy and content with that, as my reason for doing this was never to be ‘popular’ as such – it was purely to journal my family’s life.

So to think I’ve made some new friends along the way is amazing to me.

I never really even thought this would happen.

And going with the theme of fishes in ponds (!?!) I think I’ve met a few other lovely fishes along the way too.

And I know this may sound a bit silly or premature but it’s as if we’ve all become friends

We’ve bonded over a love of similar things.

Here is just a little shout out to the ones I’ve probably stalked the most:

We’ve obviously all got kids or are having kids, we make each other laugh, we feel each other’s pain and sorrow, we can reach out to one another for advice or a virtual hug to make us feel happier and warmer inside.

We’re talking all the time with people who are going through the same things as us.

We’re speaking in the same language.

I’m learning so much about other people, other situations, other peoples beliefs, other peoples traditions, listening intently to others hints and tips, words of warning and guidance, reviews, advice and wise words of wisdom.

On twitter it can seem like only minutes that you’ve been tweeting someone, whereas you’ve actually been chatting online for over an hour!

Tweets back and forth……

……..Another joins in……

……….It can take up your whole evening.

But how lovely is that?

It really has opened my eyes to a whole new world.

To new people,
To new things to see or do with my family,
To places to visit,
To new possibilities for the future.

My new found online friends have been thoroughly supportive too.

It was only last week that I posted a rather more serious post than my usual, jovial antics.

And the support and comments I received back were beautiful.

I can honestly say I was overwhelmed, and rather choked at how people I’ve never actually met in person, can be so kind, offer words of advice and comfort and just affirm that they’ll be there with you along the way, by taking an interest in your story and helping you get through the difficult bits.

So far, I can hand on heart say this has been a truly fabulous journey for me on a personal level too.

I love that I am being more creative.

I’ve found a love of words and photography.

Rightly or wrongly, it’s given my family life a new burst of excitement.

It’s making each minute, hour, day, week so much richer, as I’m learning to appreciate the little things so much more.

Yes, because I want to write them down in the blog, but hey – its making me take in every single moment in intricate detail.

Things I believe normarily I’d have probably just let slip by and forget over time.

The precious moments.

The ones that money can’t buy that I want to remember and keep hold of.

Beforehand, I found everything in life was going too fast, and there was nothing I could do to stop it or at least slow it down.

So, instead of stopping it, I had to record it.

And since that day I published my very first post, it’s become my beloved hobby, my bit on the side as Mr B calls it.

I love that it can be a sounding board, somewhere to go if you need a giggle, a place to seek advice.

But whatever it is – it’s my daily life and I feel privileged that people want to be a part of it.

But now to…

The Downright Ugly!

There’s a darker side to blogging though.

There are those people out there who attack others for their personalities.

I just don’t understand how there can be people out there who badmouth other people’s opinions, and points of view through nasty, vindictive and just plain rude comments.

I’ve not experienced this myself but know of others who have.

And its upset them.

And I can certainly imagine why.

Personally, my blog very much has an element of humour to it; with silly stories, and tales of immaturity. All very tongue in cheek and never meant to be taken seriously or offend.

But surely it by no means suggests I’m a bad mother,?!

I just like to have a giggle along the way – and I don’t see anything wrong with that.

I expect there are others out there who disagree with this though

Ok – so not everyone agrees on subjects, parenting matters etc, but hey- we should all be one big happy family.

At the end of the day – we’re all in pretty much the same boat, all of us with the same end goal of bringing up and raising happy, contented children and teaching them to look after themselves ready for that big scary world out there. And as long as we’re each doing it responsibly, with our children’s best interests at the forefront, it really shouldn’t matter to one another ‘how’ we each get there.

It’s funny really, as one of my fave mummy bloggers, Jess,  who blogs over at Mummy Of Boy Girl Twins has already posted something very similar to this (read it here), this very same week.

It’s so obviously hit a nerve.

Ok so we each have our own views, but it’s horrible to think that some feel they can express this opinion on others.

As I said above, this has been an amazing journey for me.

And I just hope that others who read my blog are appreciative that there are so many different types of mummy’s and daddy’s out there, all of us doing the best we can through a love of the blogging world.

Let’s all just enjoy reading and listening to other peoples tales and delight in sharing our own.

After all – isn’t this why we all began in the first place?

xx

CenterParcs Longleat (well half of it anyway!!!!!)

So, as some of you may have read from recent Twitter posts over this weekend, the first half being……

‘Woohoo – we’re off to Centerparcs’

or…

‘Having a great time at Centerparcs’

And the second half of the weekend being,……

‘Having to leave early after family emergency’

It was most definitely a holiday weekend of two halves.

And I must admit I do keep joking that I think I’ve only experienced the ‘Park’ section and am yet to experience the ‘Center’!!

But, what’s done is done, it was a shame but all I can do is focus and write about the wonderful time we had at Center Parcs before we had to go home early on the Sunday morning.

We’d planned this little trip a while ago, and it was going to be a girlie weekend getaway for a group of six of us who were all very well overdue a relaxing, kid free, un-stressy time away.

So, this isn’t a report I can write where I can say how well the place caters for children, although it was most obvious that this was truly the case just from glancing around, but more so for any mummies or daddies who need a little R&R time to themselves!

After some discussion as to what options were available to us as a group of girls, we decided upon Center Parks Longleat as we knew it would be able to cater for all our needs in one place, would be comfortable for us all to stay in quite happily for a long weekend and would be easy to get to.

Booking couldn’t have been easier – I love internet shopping!!

The website was easy to navigate and had clear and concise information for everything you need to know before you arrive.

We only decided to pre book a couple of things as were conscious that this was to be a relaxing affair with lots of lie-ins, which for us, would be as good as a holiday in themselves!!
As we only booked a few months ago – the majority of accommodation had already been booked up, but we were lucky enough to find a lodge with three en-suite bathrooms.  We didn’t really fancy sharing one between the 6 of us!!

We only live about 1 ½ hrs away from Centerparcs Longleat so this helped to make up our minds as to which park to choose, as we knew it would be easy to get there. The only real hiccup along the way was the traffic on the A303 as you pass Stone Henge, but this is always the case and was pretty much what we’ve come to expect along this road.  At least we got a quick photo!

The way there was hilarious and was pretty much just one big giggle between myself and my sister and the two other cars who were convoying behind us.

We listened and sang along to music, most of the time it being the Pitch Perfect soundtrack (if you haven’t seen the film – watch it – it’s brilliant!), Let It Go from Frozen (for those two of you out there who didn’t know already) or (as it turned out) Nirvana of all things!!!! Oh and of course we had one rendition of ‘Donkey Riding’ from H’s Kids Music Box CD!!! That was a real winner!!!

Rather random – but heh!

We were in total ‘girlie road trip’ mode and were generally just being silly out of sheer excitement about going away!

Had to be done really!!!

As soon as we’d passed Stone Henge, the sky became greyer and it began to rain. Not really the weather we were hoping for.

But onwards we went and very soon arrived at the entrance gates and filed along behind the other cars as we all took our turn to gain entry to the main car park.

We excitedly collected the key to our villa and parked up.

Once all the girls had arrived (we had to wait for the last car as they stopped to make sure their bikes were still strapped to the back of the car), we all made our way to the bike center to rent our bikes.

This was easy too. All the girls collected their silver coloured medium adult bikes, whilst I collected my small red one! Their legs are lots longer than mine!! But at least they didn’t have to cart me along behind them in one of those kiddy pull along buggies!!

We then cycled to the main plaza where we stopped for a quick bite to eat and a cocktail to freshen ourselves up (the non-drivers!) before we headed back to get the cars once the gates had been opened.

As you drive through the park it just hits you as to how you really are just in a big forest!!

It was totally amazing.

And some of the trees were amazing too!! I’m not sure if they really were, but they said they were giant redwoods! Absolutely gigantic! And so majestic (if that’s even possible with trees!!)

The ones below are firs – was meaning to get some pics of the others on the Sunday, but oh well – there’s always next time!

As we drove along we passed by the treehouses, and some other two story cabins before we came to the rear of the park which had row upon row of little shed looking huts. I must admit – I did look at these quite suspiciously wondering exactly how we’d fit six grown women into one of these as it really didn’t look big enough, but when we’d actually found number 732, and opened up the front door we were happily surprised.

It was kitted out in a comfortable modern décor, and looked perfect for our base for the next few nights.

Once we’d unloaded all the bags (we’re girls – so we’d packed as if we were staying for a fortnight – although I think the majority of the bags were taken up with Prosecco and Pimms and other alcoholic beverages!!) we drove back to the car park to abandon (park) our cars up for the weekend and to collect our bikes again which we’d left locked in the bike park.

Then we cycled to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise!!!

A quick change later and we were in the water!

What an amazing pool!!

It literally was tropical too as the main pool was heated to a wonderful 29.5°c complete with a wave machine which activated every 30 minutes!

I kept thinking how wonderful this would be to bring the girls to one day. There was just so much to keep us entertained.

In addition to the pool there was an indoor and an outdoor whirlpool, flumes and slides aplenty catering for all ages, a fast flow indoor river and our personal favourite, the wild Water Rapids which were just hilarious (my advice would be a swimsuit rather than a bikini as our group did have a couple of little mishaps)

We’d gone a bit out of season, and not throughout the busier times of the day either, so it was really quite quiet and easy to get a go at everything – I must admit – I can’t imagine what it would be like at peak time in high season!!

The word carnage springs to mind!!

That evening we’d decided to stay in and cook – so, after Thai Green Curry, we all settled down in our little villa with Prosecco and Pimms (and squash for the two who are pregnant!), music, nibbles, much chatting, reminiscing, cringing(!) and laughter.

Plus a couple of us were in our element as we fed the wildlife out on the back patio!!!  We both felt like Snow White!

After a pretty fabulous night’s sleep, with no…

‘mummy, I’m thirsty’

or

‘mummy, I want to come in your bed’,

….. and having no early morning wakeup call from a hungry 1 year old, I managed a lie in until practically 8am!!

We then all leisurely got up and had breakfast and showers, before heading off for a cycle ride to see what Centerparcs Longleat had in store for us.

There were activities as far as the eye could see – and again I wished the girls could be with me to experience this for themselves! Oh, and Mr B!! He would love it here too!! Oops!!

We decided to head back to the villa for an early lunch as we had all booked in for the three hour spa session from 1pm until 4pm that afternoon.

Now, with this I really didn’t know what to expect! For some reason I thought it included a treatment of some description in the entry price, but on finding out it didn’t I was a little disappointed and really thought we’d all be sat around some rectangular pool on sun loungers having to make small talk and read gossip magazines for three hours with the odd session in a sauna, a steam room and a Jacuzzi at one end perhaps!

How wrong was I!

After changing, we walked through the big doors into a restaurant area, full of people (mainly women I must say) all robed in white spa dressing gowns, sipping pink champagne and eating lunch!

On the left was where the ‘treatment’ rooms were located, and on the right was the main spa area. We walked through to be faced with almost a ‘cave like’ rabbit warren of little rooms all circling around a main pool in the middle! Each room had a different therapy e.g. a Balinese Steam room, a Turkish Hammam, a Greek sage infused steam room, Experience Showers, foot spa etc. etc.

There were relaxation rooms and meditation rooms in all directions and loungers, day beds, circular rattan sofas and even water beds scattered everywhere to relax upon (which we never got to go on as I think those who already occupied them were literally out for the count!!!)

I was the only one of the group who then paid a little extra on top for a treatment. I chose the scalp massage – one – because it was the cheapest and two – because it was all that was left as I asked at such late notice!! It was lovely and just what I needed to soak away any tension I had!

After the spa, we went up to The Grand Café for a drink and more chatting – seriously – girls can chat!!

Whilst there we decided to can the idea of a BBQ that evening as it was just starting to drizzle, and instead booked at table at the same restaurant for later that evening.

The staff in the restaurant were ever so friendly and welcoming, and the food was lovely. It was also quite nice to dress up (just a bit – I still had flats on!) as the rest of the time is so casual, it made a nice change.

And again with girls – we never need too much persuading to put our glad rags on!!

When we got back to the villa – again we cranked up the tunes and drank a few more glasses of Prosecco before everything went a bit wrong really.

I can’t go into any details, but can just say that after a long and very fraught night, we decided to up and leave as early as we could the very next day.

And unfortunately only half way into our little mini break away!

It wasn’t ideal, or how we’d imagined our weekend to turn out, but it was the only thing we could do in the circumstances.

So with heavy hearts, we left the park and drove back home.

The only thing I will say about having to leave in an emergency was that we really did have a difficult time of getting hold of Guest Services or Security etc. If you are there and you really do have an emergency – I would definitely dial 999 first before you then try to tell the park staff as to what’s going on!!

Overall though, for the time we were there, it was amazing! It was relaxing, it was quiet, it was stress free.

But, being my first experience of Centerparcs, it has only opened my eyes to what a great family holiday opportunity it really is, so we are currently looking at booking up again for very soon to go back and experience the whole thing over again, but this time with our families and the kids – so it will probably be just a tiny bit more stressy than this time around!!

But fabulous in a whole other way!!

Although we can only go if another couple are able to come too – as for a second holiday this year (we’re off to Greece in September) – it is too pricy for us to book on our own.

And I think we would try a different park this time too – although Longleat was beautiful, we may just find it too hilly with small children and their bikes!!

So fingers crossed for a few weeks’ time!!!

PS: sorry for the lack of photos – only half a weekends worth!

 

If you go down to the woods today….

 

So, after my rather disastrous Saturday (read here how I had just had enough and needed to send the whole family off for a couple of hours peace!), things seemed to perk up a bit on the Sunday morning.

The sun was shining and we were actually able to get a wash out on the line again, with no fear that the heavens would open and re-wet all our lovely drying clothes.

So, as I sat pondering what wonderful family adventure to partake in today in order to make the most of the sunshine, contemplating a quintessentially British country pub lunch, taking a road trip and visiting one of our local animal parks or perhaps even just to go and visit some friends for an impromptu BBQ.

The possibilities were endless.

That was until – all was suddenly decided for me by Mr B, who’d made last minute plans to head out to a golf range for midday which had a shop where he could also be custom fitted with some new golf clubs.

Oooooh!! How amazing. I was so thrilled! And I couldn’t contain my excitement! What a lovely family outing I thought!!

Yeah right!!

So in the end, my lovely day of planning turned into a bit less of an adventure.

Buy hey – it’s his birthday week – so he’s allowed to get away with a little more than usual.

And I suspect he knows this – as he’s milking it!!!

Anyway, so whilst he and a friend headed over to practice hitting a ball with a stick, the wife of said friend, and their daughter came over to ours for a playdate with H.

I say playdate – it was more of us catching up over drinks and pizza, while the two children H and her best friend M, bickered and squabbled with one another over the stupidest and most minute details….

‘Mummy,…. M isn’t playing with me any more’

‘Mummy, …. H isn’t sharing Ariel and Belle’

‘Mummy,…. M isn’t my best friend anymore!’

And at one point I didn’t know where H had got to until I found her sulking in a corner!

What a lovely fun playdate eh!

So we decided it was time to get the girls outside for some fresh air and a change of scenery!

So, once we’d all had lunch – and the boys had returned home, we packed up our cars with some drinks and snacks and drove out to some local woodland for a nice Sunday afternoon stroll.

And lovely it was too.

The sun was sparkling and glistening through the trees, the birds were singling and twittering in the treetops and the kids were actually having fun and not arguing anymore!

It was bliss!

So, having had the awful grumpy Saturday, it was nice just to be away from home, away from the mound of ironing spilling over onto the floor, away from the ever increasing pile of washing up and away from the carpet littered with toys and crumbs and Happyland people.

The adults all ambled along, whilst the children ran, chased, explored, giggled, got stung and fell over (a lot – especially little E as she was trying to catch up with the older girls!)

It was the perfect happy ending to my previously grumpy weekend and really cleared my head and cheered me up!

Just perfect 😊😊

A trip to Legoland

A couple of weeks ago, we were asked by some close friends if we’d like to take a trip to Legoland, to celebrate their daughters 4th birthday. (Her and H are the very best of friends!).

So, early on a Sunday morning, three families merrily convoyed along the motorway to Windsor, with only one emergency toilet stop along the way; which we thought was rather good.

We’d heard countless rave reviews about Legoland from friends and colleagues, so I don’t know who was actually more excited, the children or the adults!!

On the whole, the day was thoroughly enjoyable, and both children and parents alike had a wonderful time, leaving the stresses and strains of general life at home for the day.

But I must say, I think I left the park feeling just ever so slightly disappointed.

We knew the tickets were expensive, so our friends had collected enough cereal packet tokens together to get one adult in free of charge with each full paying child or adult (at least I think that was how it worked – it took us a while at the kiosk to sort it out!!), and E was of course free as she was under 1.

We then realised we had to pay for parking on top which we all thought was a bit cheeky!

Though perhaps this is standard in all theme parks nowadays – it just shows how long it is since we last visited anywhere and I am probably just behind the times!!

And so, forearmed with the knowledge that entry was a bit pricey, our friends had planned to play ‘party hosts’ for the day and had come prepared with picnic hampers full of freshly made sandwiches, home baked cakes and biscuits, fruit and drinks.

Leaving the hampers behind in the car (ready for ‘host husband’ to go and collect at lunchtime – lucky him!!) we all trundled merrily in through the park gates wondering with anticipation as to the wondrous rides that lay beyond.

Now I’m not sure if it was because the day was so dull and overcast, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations, especially considering the cost of entrance if you didn’t have any offers included in the price.

Unfortunately, the great british weather put a bit of a dampener on things – quite literally actually, as the heavens well and truly opened at one point in the day, throwing rather large and somewhat painful hailstones down from the black clouds above.

So much so, that all you could see was people scattering and rushing to take cover in any nearby shelter they could find.

It wasn’t really the weather that annoyed us, more that the park didn’t seem to cater as well as other places we’ve visited in such times.

Lunch was interesting.

The word I was going to write here was ‘shambolic’, but I’m wondering if that might be a little dramatic!!

As I said earlier, our hosts for the day had lovingly prepared picnic hampers to try and cut costs as much as they could for the group, but due to the wind and rain we had to eat in the only place we could find which was sheltered.

This took us a while too – as we weren’t too clever when it came to reading the map!!  It was only when one us figured out the key that we all ran in the right direction!!

The only place we could find on said map, that was covered/indoors was a ‘pay before you eat’ buffet type canteen.

You basically paid, £10 per person, before being shown to your seats from where you could then head on up to the buffet counter and eat as much as you like!

The queue to get in was ridiculous, as obviously everyone was trying to do the same thing (hide from the wind and rain) and the poor  staff were being prompted by their managers to apologise to the visitors at five minute intervals!?!

So in the end, we got inside, paid and managed to get the staff to set up an adequately sized table to fit 11 of us, which was tricky as the place was just heaving, but bless them, they did it.

It was all a bit of a mission, but we really did all have a lovely time.  The adults sat back chatting as the children all giggled and generally made a mess.

Lunchtime culminated in all of us singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to the birthday girl, whilst she proudly blew out her four candles (ha, ha – you’d be laughing too if you know of a certain ‘Two Ronnies’ sketch I’m thinking of) on her beautiful homemade birthday cake.

It was just such a shame that this was the only option available to us, when lunch had already so kindly been catered for.

So of course, we made sure we got our moneys worth and returned to the counter for seconds (and in some cases, even thirds!!)

I think the general feeling was that for a theme park in England, with such changeable and unpredictable weather, you’d have just thought, or at least hoped, that more provisions were made for outdoor undercover seating, where you don’t have to pay for a full on meal!

Anyway… complications and frustrations aside, the sun eventually decided to show its face, so we made the most of the rest of the day and went on as many rides as we could.

We couldn’t go on any of the larger rides as the children were just an inch or so too short still (though who am I to talk!!), but heh – the queues for these ones were also rather long, so at least we had more time to do lots of smaller rides.

All in all, we really did had a fabulous time (although I sound like a total misery!! – perhaps I forgot to take my happy pills this morning;)

It was great for Mr B and I to spend time with our girls, and also for us as a family with young children to spend time with our friends and their young families, who were really in need of some quality ‘time out’!!

The children had such a great time that they were thoroughly worn out by the end of the day.

And so, the children all armed with their party bags; the parents all armed with leftover picnic (sandwiches, drinks, home baked cookies and cakes!!) , it was time to head home.

We will most definitely return when the children ar a bit older (and taller!) and perhaps this time the weather will be kinder to us.