Brighton - Family Day Out

As I mentioned in my Stylish Sunday post, we headed to Brighton last weekend to lap up the sunshine.

Brighton is one of our favourite places to visit.  I remember the first time we went there back when Neil and I were both still students and we took the train from New Cross.  We took a picnic and explored the lanes together, discovering Choccy Woccy Doo Dah for the first time, falling in love with the cute arcades and wonderful shops.

As it is the seaside then obviously ice cream and fish and chips simply MUST be eaten.  I particularly like Scoop and Crumb which we have been two on the last two visits.  Personally I like to grab chips on the sea front even though they obviously aren't the cheapest place, it's the sense of living in the moment that I love.

Since that first time we have been back several times a year.  I do so love the sea and it's normally a spontaneous thing we do when the sun is shining and we fancy a London escape.  I kind of miss the fact that it's better for us to drive these days as there really is something joyful about taking the train to the sea side.

We took Nye for the first time when he was just a few months old and he slept through most of it whilst cuddled up in his baby carrier.  This time he broke out his shorts for their first wear of 2013 and enjoyed chilling in his pushchair and exploring the beach.  The light shone down on his round ankles as he kicked his feet merrily, despite us arriving amidst the crowds and road closures of the Brighton Marathon.

It was fun to see Nye cautiously mastering the cobbles bit by bit and once he was balanced we took him down to the sea to get his feet wet.  He loved picking up the sand and small stones as the tide tickled his toes.  I did find myself unusually cautious about him going too close to the water.  The waves were very big and came crashing towards us with force.  I constantly had the urge to run away for fear of something terrible happening even though by the time the water got to us it was more of a trickle.  Neil was laughing at me, so I left them there playing together, whilst I snapped pictures of them enjoying themselves keeping my protectiveness at bay.  

When Neil did eventually come back exhausted from holding Nye back from wading into the sea, he swiftly reverse crawled back to the sea.  Then came my turn to play in the sea, so I took off my sandals and let the freezing water cover my toes.  Nye was fascinated by the little streams that are left once the tide fades away and kept trying to pick the water up.  I was astonished by how brave he was, loving the sea despite the unfamiliar loud noises and smells.  I get the feeling sometimes that he would be quite happy exploring the world without us, knowing that he can come and find us when he gets bored.

As it was Sunday and we didn't head over until after Lunch, it wasn't long before the shops shut and the streets cleared out.  For us this was a nice opportunity to have some food, and Nye enjoyed sampling my cannelloni and Neil's meatballs.  Nye is quite the socialite and has developed a new trait of waving enthusiastically at everyone in the vicinity, kind of like he is the king and his 'people' are here to see him.  He also loves to copy adults so when he saw us with our menus he promptly picked up the wine list to have a browse.

It really was a wonderful day and I'm so glad I took my camera so I can remember what we got up to.  What a lovely way to spend the last day of the Easter holiday.

Center Parcs Family Blogger Holiday

So, it's time to give you all an insight into our wonderful holiday at Center Parcs last weekend.  I think it's safe to say that we wish we were still there in the woods.  There's even lots of snow there this week, if the weather reports are correct and being snuggled up in a lovely log cabin by the fire would be bliss.

I usually arrange my travel around Nye's naps and recently he has been taking his longest naps in the morning of around two hours between 9-11am.  So we did our best to pack the car up the night before and I jumped in the car with Nye, got some petrol on the way and drove the just under 2 hour drive to Elveden Forest in Suffolk.  Neil has a job interview that day and left at 5am to catch the train and would join us later arriving at Thetford Station in the evening.  

It was that morning that I remembered that our Sat Nav was broken so off I ventured with my rather temperamental phone.  Naturally my phone ran out of batteries but luckily for us, the directions there are easy.  It basically goes like this:

• Get out of London and on to the M11 
• Head on to the A11
• Look out for brown signs for Center Parcs.

However, letting my phone die had added consequences, I had my booking reference on my phone and of course didn't bring any of my paperwork.  I had visions of turning up there and being told to bugger off.  This was actually not the case and the lovely lady at the entrance kiosk asked for our details and found our cabin no problem.  Fabulous!  Nye and I then drove in to the car park, parked and headed in to the 'village'.  Still without phone, and with no use of the cabin until 3pm.  

After relaxing on some of the sofa's in the village area for a while I gradually gained the courage to ask guest services if there was anywhere I could charge my phone.  To my surpise they offered to charge my phone in the office, I cannot tell you how grateful I was as I was waiting to hear how Neil had got on at his job interview.  While I left my phone to charge Nye and I grabbed a burger at Dexters Kitchen before returning to the sports area to watch some guests having fun playing Badminton.  Nye seemed to think Badminton was some kind of magic and spent ages captivated by the shuttlecock being hit back and forth.

Before we knew it it was 2.45 so we walked leisurely down to the cabin ready for the 3.00 check in. After quite a long, but enjoyable walk we arrived at a lovely warm and beautifully designed 2 bed cabin.    Nye was by this point ready for his nap.  At first i thought they had forgotten to give us a cot for him but I eventually found a fold up cot in the back of the utility cupboard.  As a single person it wasn't easy to occupy a 1 year old and get the cot out of the back of the cupboard, (behind a hoover, mop bucket and down a thin corridor) but once out it was really easy to put together (simply pull out and screw the base in place.)

I was also incredibly grateful for the grocery pack of essentials that you can order before you arrive.  It meant that we were free to relax as soon as we arrived and didn't have to immediately traipse around the shop looking for milk and bread like I would be at home.  It is meant to be a HOLIDAY after all!

For the rest of the afternoon Nye and I relaxed in the comfort of our cabin which was incredibly toasty, certainly warmer than our home.  We waited to hear from Neil as I needed to pick him up from the station just before 8pm.  Thetford station is only about a 10 minute drive away and once you get to the main road there are directions.  However, getting back to the park at this time meant that it was busy and we had to wait a little while to get back through check in but I was warned about this when I came through in the morning.  We then drove to the cabin, dropped of our bags, unpacked, got Nye into bed and then Neil had to drive the car back to the car park and walk back to the cabin.  Before he left we ordered from the DiningIn menu which was great because I was able to order Chinese and Neil could order Indian and it was all ordered from one place.  And, despite us being skeptical about how good it would be, it was actually really delicious.  Neil spent the next day saying "I can't believe how good the food last night was."

The next morning we had arranged to have breakfast in the Lakeview Restaurant.  We booked rather late abd our cabin was quite a way from many of the facilities. On the positive side we had beautiful woodland views but it did mean that we had to make time for getting to places which isn't easy with a baby in tow.  Needless to say we were usually a little late for our booking, but this was never a problem.  

The sunrise that Saturday morning across the lake was beautiful and gave such a sense of stillness that I haven't felt for such a long time.  It was worth treasuring.

The resturant itself is at the on site Lakeview Hotel.  it is a revolving dining room that serves fantastic food.  I chose eggs benedict, a tropical fruit plate for Aneurin and Neil had a fry up.  As the idiot I am, I actually asked for a table "near the window", to which the waitress kindly reminded me I would be there in a minute as the restaurant was REVOLVING. Oh the shame!  She assured me I wasn't the first (and hopefully not the last).

After breakfast we briefly left the park to meet up with my mum at the lovely Elveden Estate Tea Room and browsed some of the shops before returning to a choc-a-block car park.  We then had a less than joyous 15 minutes of trying to find a space.  There aren't any lines in the car park and this meant that some people had parked rather inconsiderately leaving massive gaps either side of their cars.  After our 3rd drive round we managed to find a spot and then headed back in to the village.

Later that afternoon after Nye had napped we arrived at the bowling alley for our 30 minute slot.  It's not like a normal alley where you pay per 'game' but you can play as many games as you liked within your time slot on your lane.  We should probably admit that Neil and I are so bad at bowling that Nye actually beat us in our first game!  We carried on to the second game where we had improved moderately but Nye was a little tired of the neon lights and noises so we left for some fresh air a little before our time was up.

The next activity we decided to try was cycling, so off we went to collect the bikes that we had reserved for us.  It wasn't easy to work out the logisitics of picking up two bikes, one with a child trailer whilst pushing a sleeping baby in a pushchair but we made it to the bike park in one piece and once we collected the bikes we left the pushchair in the buggy park.

 The picture above is of Nye sitting all cosy in his bike trailer.  It's the first time Neil and I have ever been on a bike ride together (with or without Aneurin) and it was fantastically special to have Nye with us to enjoy the ride. I will never forget the look of his face in this photo or how much fun it was cycling together.  We can't wait to go back and do it again, we will never forget our first time riding bikes in the forest as a family.

That night we had booked a table at Bella Italia for the three of us and we can't fault the service or food served.  Nye had a full 3 course meal including including a frozen fruit lolly which he has never tried before (but loved.) It was so funny to watch his face as he felt the freezing cold, turned it away then wanted it back because it tasted so good. Priceless!  We usually only have enough time for only two courses but he was so distracted by the environment and crayons that we managed to get in a full 3 courses without screams of boredom. 

Then we returned a sleepy little boy home with some supplies from the shop, including a log for the fire and some marshmallows.  Before we could say goodnight we decided to light the fire as we knew Nye would love watching it so we all shared toasted marshmallows in the living room.  One massive marshmallow was quite enough for us so when Nye settled down for the night Neil and I had time to cuddle up on the sofa.

Balinese Spa - Aqua Sana Elveden Forest

The next day was the day I had been looking forward to the most as it was time for our spa break.  It was a mixed blessing because although I was looking forward to some time just Neil and I, it meant leaving Nye in the nursery for the first time ever.  In the end Nye didn't even notice that I left as he was having far too much fun playing with the workers who were fantastic.  However, it all took a bit of a turn for the worse when we packed up the car and went to drive to the car park.  Neil managed to drive into a wooden bollard which was obscured by the front of the car just as we pulled away from the cabin.  So, our trip to the spa was cut a little short while Neil arranged for our car to be collected by our breakdown provider.  Now we are home it's easier to reflect on what happened, but at the time we didn't know quite what to do.  In the end we arranged to be collected and driven home after we returned from the spa.  Neil wasn't sure he would be able to relax with all this hanging over us but the spa was so relaxing Neil didn't want to leave to pick Nye up.  

Outdoor Pool - Aqua Sana Elveden Forest

 There were so many different facilities to use, so many different steam rooms and relaxation areas to try.  I personally loved the outdoor pool, the jasmine salt steam room and the water beds!  I've been to quite a few spa's in my time and this was by FAR the best.  And that was even before my treatment which was perfect despite the treatment area itself being very busy.  I even overheard an unfortunate story in the waiting area about someones neighbours cat being trapped in their car and them wanting to smash the window...  They were not impressed and I had to try my hardest to pretend I wasn't eavesdropping.

And as my treatment came to a close and I returned my bike on my way to meet Neil and Nye we walked to our car ready to be collected by the recovery truck who brought us and our car home to London. All in all we had a wonderful time.  I was particularly impressed by how accessible the entire park was, no crazy steps or muddy bogs.  There was barely a family there without a push chair which just shows you how popular Center Parcs is with families.  

I must say, one of the things I was looking forward to most was going swimming and trying out the new Tropical Cyclone water ride but because of our packed schedule, and Nye's naps times, we didn't even get round to going in the water! So, I think that's a good enough excuse to go back soon, if the spa, bikes and log fire weren't enough.  Thank you to Center Parcs for arranging everything for us, we will be back.

If you like the sound of our trip you can have a look at what's on offer and book now!

Stylish Sunday

So as this is posted up we shall be relaxing in the Aqua Sana Spa at Center Parcs.  Believe me it's not very often that this level of luxury is bestowed upon us so I shall be making the most of it for sure!  I'm busy finishing up the packing at the moment and hoping that the Sat Nav is not lying to me when it tells me I can drive there in just under 2 hours from London.  So, this fits in rather nicely with the current Tots100 & Center Parcs Challenge about creating a bit of luxury at home.

I have to say my favourite way to relax at home is to have a peaceful bath.  We are lucky enough to have an amazing stand alone bath in our bathroom that is wonderfully peaceful.  All I need to take me away from everyday life is a lovely cup of tea, a beautiful bath oil, google reader full of lovely blogs and a new nail varnish to play with.

Just so you know, Tots 100 and Center Parcs UK are giving away a wildcard entry to their favourite home-spa blog post author. Check out the competition on the Tots 100 page for more details of how to enter. You have until 4pm on 25 January to enter! So, get relaxing.

So, I've picked out a few of my favourite bits and pieces that can give you that little bit of luxury in your own home.  To see where any of them are from you can click on the picture above and it will take you to all the links you need, including some super budget buys.

Holiday Gift Ideas for Mom

Today I have a very special gift for you; a lovely guest post from across the pond directed at your lovely husbands and partners. So men of the interweb take note!  I'm so fond of the great tips that Jen has picked out including a link to a great website called tinyprints who sell gorgeous personalised cards and designs.  I'd not heard of them before and they ship stuff in the UK so there are just perfect.  There are some other great ideas for you to see below and even some practical tips on keeping note of those hints that we might give about what we'd really like.

Firstly, here's a little more about our lovely guest poster:

Jen L. is a freelance writer and aspiring blogger. She enjoys writing about parenting, cooking (especially cupcakes!) and crafting. Jen is happily married to her college sweetheart and a mother to two beautiful little girls. If Jen's not at home, you can find her at Whole Foods! 

"When it comes to gift giving many men know what they want to buy, know where to get it and want to do it as fast as possible on their way home from work. But here is a little secret guys. Women know exactly how much time and thought goes into everything you do. Almost every  woman puts the intention before the cost. Involving your children into the gift giving process will not only amplify your forethought but it also displays family values in you that will be appreciated beyond measure. You are showing your wife how important she is, while instilling in your kids how you truly feel.

Another great idea - ask the kids. Speak candidly with your children and ask them what they think Mommy would really like for Christmas. You may be surprised at what you hear. I guarantee you will not hear the word earrings. You will probably hear vacation, housekeeper or Nanny. You may hear of a designer bag that you were never aware of because you’re a guy and never watch Fashion Police or Wendy Williams. There may be a new fragrance, cashmere accessory or a pair of Italian designer boots. Kids are around Mom at times when you are not and have the tendency to remember everything they hear, even when she is speaking to a friend on the phone. If she loves to read, have her favorite book ready to go on an e-reader as a virtual stocking stuffer. Never, ever rule out a piece of fine jewellery. Just be certain it fits her style and taste and is something she will always treasure.

Keep in mind, Christmas gifts don’t have to wait until December 25 to be received. A thoughtful gesture a husband can do is to volunteer to take on some responsibilities that are usually delegated to Mom during the holidays. Aside from shoveling snow, stringing lights, and hauling in the Christmas tree, men can help in other ways, too!

One way would be to begin early, sit with the kids, go online, and design some personalized holiday cards using websites like Tiny Prints. You can select family photos and compile a collage card design. Your wife will be grateful to know that tedious task is completed. While you have the kids designing photo cards online, you can also use those pictures to make other personalized items for mom off the same website, such as mugs or a custom iPhone case, which  make perfect stocking stuffers.

With all the toys and items cluttering your house, memories from an activity will last longer than any gift will. Planning a day trip or activity is one of the best gifts, in my opinion. Cloud9Living is a phenomenal resource to find exciting, affordable experiences in your area. Imagine giving your wife the gift of a hot air balloon ride or a candlelight dinner from a personal chef. Experiences together can mean so much more than any physical gift.

My last piece of advice is the best anyone can give. Pay attention to what your wife says! Keep a mental note of any hints she may drop, such as a vacation, or things she wants to do. Utilize apps on your smartphone, like Evernote, to help with this. Can you imagine the look on her face when she receives a gift from you, based on something she mentioned during the summer? The greatest gifts are the ones that show true thought and dedication."

- Good luck everyone, the race is on to get everything ready for the holidays!  What do you think?  Is there anything in particular that you are eyeing up?

Center Parcs Family Blogger 2012-13

After entering the Tots100 competition some weeks ago to win a chance to be a Center Parcs family blogger, I certainly did not expect to be one of the winners! But amazing as it is, I am, after I entered with my Dream Short Break board on Pinterest. 

Yesterday saw the chosen bloggers making our way to Sherwood Forest, to have just a taster of what we can expect when we visit with our families.  Originally the gathering was due to be at the Elveden site but due to logistics Sherwood seemed a better location for all of us.  I was, at first, a little disappointed as for me, Elveden feels closer to home.  But when I went to book the train tickets, it was only a just over 2 hour train trip from where we live in South East London to Newark North Gate which is the nearest station. So, it's nice to be proved wrong sometimes!

The whole trip was a little daunting as not only was it the first time I would take Nye on a long train journey, but I would also be doing so alone.  However, the idea of spending the day at Center Parcs was enough to convince me that it would be worth the trouble and I am so glad I went.

The itinerary of the day came through a few days before the event and it sounded like a fantastic opportunity to get to meet the other bloggers and learn more about what we would be doing over the coming year.  This was my first time ever meeting other bloggers and it was a little daunting, but everyone was really friendly.  Thankfully, having a baby that smiles at everyone is a great ice breaker!

On arrival at the station we were greeted by the lovely Lilly who escorted @MerrilyMe in a taxi to the venue.  The rest of the day ran just as smoothly and felt incredibly relaxed.  I really felt it came across how well organised every thing about the day had been, and I cannot fault how incredibly kind everyone was to me helping me juggle all my bits and pieces, keep track of what was going on and occupy Nye. Massive brownie points go to all the team for their amazing help, be it making Nye laugh hysterically with fluffy squirrels, carrying my bags or generally looking out for us.  All without ever having to ask.  I really did feel like an honored guest and that alone has left me feeling at ease but also refreshed.  There was a lot of talk yesterday about the brand image and what Center Parcs is all about and from what I saw and experienced everyone who works there seems to live and breath this.

As part of the day we got the chance to try our hand at some pottery painting.  We were able to choose from a massive range of things, ranging from the traditional mugs and plates to Christmas Decorations and Piggy Banks.  I wanted to do something for Nye's room and decided to go for a ceramic picture frame.  You'll have to keep hush about that as it is being sent to us next week (after being fired) and I want to keep it a surprise from my husband!  We were having far too much fun to be taking photos by this point so I shall have to upload a picture of the finished product when it arrives. (I hope it comes out as good as I remember it!)

So, basically we had a fantastic day in the woods, all topped off by running for the train home which the amazingly lovely station staff held up for us.  

All we have to do now is browse through the brochures, decide what we'd like to do, when and with whom .  Then, the next thing we know we shall be holed up all cosy in an amazing little log cabin in the woods.  Nye's first holiday no less.  What could be more idyllic?

- You can also read all about our day as Center Parcs family bloggers here, on Jo's blog - From the Kitchen Sink, Anne from Raisie Bay & on Here Come The Girls.

Our Holiday

Just before Christmas we had our last couples holiday. It seems like an age ago now but just remembering it makes me smile.  It was cosy, relaxing and very lovely.


















It was October when I first suggested to Neil that we might want to go away while we can, i.e whilst we have the time, money and lack of screaming baby.

It started out as an open book; should we go to the spa we've been to twice before and love (http://www.ardencote.com/) or perhaps fly away somewhere.  The German Christmas Markets seemed alluring as I've always wanted to go to Germany as I've heard so much about it, but I soon realised this would be a bit impracticle (heavily pregnant woman flying) and by the looks of it also mighty expensive.  Time passed, we still hadn't made a decision.

A few weeks later, after visiting the Southbank and stumbling upon a small food festival with my dear friend Nicola, I picked up some guide books on luxurious places to stay in Wales where fine food in on the menu.  I wasn't sold at first, but having seen how gorgeous the places looked, how reasonable they were and also the added thought that we are quite settled on naming our son after a famous Welsh politician, it all fit together.  Soon after I started to ponder this idea and managed to convince Neil, I realised that my Godparents actually run a bed and breakfast with amazing reviews just on the Welsh border (http://www.steepmeadow.co.uk/).  So I emailed them to ask about availability and the rest, as they say is history. All the pieces of the jigsaw fit with the added benefit was that we could also bring our dog with us.

So Friday arrived and I booked a day off work so that we could head off as soon as Neil finished work for Christmas.  Unfortunately I forgot to pack the night before so I couldn't pack our stuff in the car before Neil headed off to work, so I ended up taking the train to Plumstead with enormous rucksack and little dog in tow.  It felt like something of an adventure, and became even more of on when we looked at the weather forecast for Wales... naturally it was snow.

The traffic was a pain and poor Neil, after a full day teaching, had to drive all the way there.  We arrived at what felt like the dead of night.  In reality it was about 6pm but the hair raising drive through the hills and valleys as sheets and sheets of snow flew towards us was somewhat terrifying.  When we finally got there and it occurred to us that we were about to stay somewhere called 'Steep Meadow' it also dawned on us that in the snow this could be interesting...  And as we got closer the cars going in the opposite directly had gradually increasing amounts of snow sitting on top of their roofs.  All we could do was laugh and persevere!

My wonderful Godparents were good enough to feed us soon after we arrived as they were already cooking for another couple who were also staying with them, (for what turned out to be the last weekend of business as my Godparents have now sold the house and are in the process of moving).