Advertisement
Published: July 28th 2013
Edit Blog Post
Have we got everything?
Oh yes, don't forget the kids! Wow, what a summer! Here and down South the sun has been blazing it's little heart out. This was the first trip I think I've ever made where I didn't pack wellies, coats or waterproofs. I took one jumper for each of us, and none of them were worn.
Managed to take pretty much everything else though, as you can see from the photo. Two kids, two hold bags, three cabin bags, a stroller and two car seats, and this was honestly my best attempt at packing light. Next time we're taking Daddy, just so he can push the trolley from the terminal to the car hire building. We covered 500m in 20 minutes, in 30degC, but we made it without any one of us crying, shouting or needing a wee, which is all I ask for really.
Would have been nice to have navigated successfully through Bristol onto the M4 without going via a multistorey car park ('Mummy, are we lost?'😉 but we got there in the end.
Interesting to note just some of the things that J pointed out en-route, being raised in a wee Heilan toon, as he is. Cranes. The noise of the traffic
Good friends
Master Cockers is a big transport fan, and was in awe of J's t-shirt covered in vehicles. He said very seriously 'It's beautiful, your top'. when we stopped at the M4 services. Car transporters. Petrol station forecourts that don't feature disused aircraft.
First stop was Mr & Mrs Cockers, and the two lovely miniCockers. Very good friends who selfishly up and left us at the beginning of the year for pastures new. Much missed, particularly by J, who has known Master Cockers all his life, and still points out his house when we pass. They managed to find a tiny space for us in their cramped new home, somewhere in the West Wing, I believe! Just the one night, but was so nice to see them again, specially Miss Cockers who was only four months old when they left and now seems almost twice the size and into everything!
Then onto UncleE and AuntyA (G's godparents), and my godsons T & BigJ. Normally my two take a little time to get used to people and places, and stay close for a good while until they feel brave enough to venture out, but it was lovely to see how quickly they felt comfortable and were happily playing alongside T & BigJ almost as soon as we walked in.
AuntyA pulled a blinder, having
organised tickets to
Thomasland! Yes, there's a theme park devoted to Thomas the Tank Eninge, and it's blinkin' brilliant! It's set within the Drayton Manor Park which has a zoo and plenty of full size rides, but Thomasland has plenty of rides of its own, all watched over by the Fat Controller (a proper fat one, too, clearly gained a few pounds since we last met him)! We had a ride from Percy, we saw the original model railway, flew in Harold, rode the quarry engines, saw Thomas, Rosie, James, Terrence, J went on the runaway troublesome trucks, it was such a fun day! But boy, was it hot! The car said 34degC, blazing sunshine. The zoo provided some calm respite, and some cool shade for lunch, and in the afternoon we found an airconditioned indoor soft play, with big comfy couches and cold drinks machines, a blissful escape for half an hour or so. Later, back at the house the kids cooled down with a water fight, which was very welcome.
A four hour drive the next day took us to Nanny & Grandad's house. Thank crunchie for the new DVD players, they made a long journey with
two small children infinitely more bearable for all of us (although I have to say I did feel a bit lonely up front at times, pointing out tractors and diggers and getting no response at all, so they got turned off from time to time when Mummy wanted to chat).
Our lovely American friends, MommySquirrel and daughters C & A, joined us in Plymouth, and enjoyed a few days in the sunny South West, which is more than Daddy has ever experienced. (The South West being sunny, that is, not the enjoyment!)
We had three days to show them around, so Day 1 was the city, of course including the Mayflower Steps where the Pilgrim Fathers left for the New World in 1620. Day 2 was the beach, Goodrington Sands, a top spot for families, with a lovely park, clean beach, steam trains, ice cream - full-on seasideyness. Day 3 was supposed to have been the moors, until (duh-duh-duuhhhh) disaster struck!
Nanny popped outside to shut an open window and tripped on the front step. Crashing to the floor, she desperately called out for help, but no-one knew she was out there. Poor Nanny was lying there
throwing stones at the window until someone came and found her! Her ankle was very painful and very swollen so she headed off to A&E. A very efficient hour and a half later she was back home, having been x-rayed, seen a consultant and issued with crutches. Very impressive.
But very bad news, she'll be hobbling for up to six weeks, and no driving. So on the final day, MommySquirrel took her two squirrelets to the aquarium for some cool indoor relaxation and I took my two for a short trip down memory lane, to a stream we used to swim in as kids on the edge of Dartmoor.
We made our way back to the airport the next day, with some surprisingly successful management of rental cars, children and baggage and then home again to a waiting Daddy, and an almost equally hot Scotland. Phew, what a busy week!
Thanks to all our friends for making it such a great trip, and to MommySquirrel for coming all that way to visit my folks and allowing me to indulge my passion for my hometown. Forgive the excess of photos (38 in one blog is that a record?)
there was a lot to capture. I also have some video if I get time I'll add it later, but for now - sit back and enjoy the pics.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.068s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 6; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0337s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb