my take on hols

we set off monday a bit late as the car battery died on us, and i did some cool dosey doing in the punto on the drive so that we could jump start it. Easy drive down, with SB doing a classic SB doh moment en route. I had said we would be about half way at dartford bridge. we are on the bridge looking over the river, and she asks me when we will get to the bridge. bangs head and giggles simultaneously!

We got to Fishbourne roman Palace and Nic was there already wit monster and teeny. the children ate and rampaged and then went into the museum. SB and the MT’s were too excited at seeing each other again after such a long 2 week gap! i thought SB didn’t notice that much this time, though we have been before, but actually she talked relatively sensibly about mosaics and hypocausts and skeletons in the evening. Def a brain in there!!

BB just an adorable cutie [yep I'm biased]. ALl were taken by the modern mosaics on display, and SB very keen that we do some. SHould be manageable. Actually, she wants a roman day sometime!

We went to tescos [I know!] afterwards and car battery failed on us again, so much hilarity at me pushing the car to start it! We went to a dif campsite this time. A lovely site, with a fantastic park. once the tent was up we had had dinner, the girls had a lovely time at the park.

our holiday was a lazy mornings and doing afternoons type of affair. so the next day we tried really really hard to get to nic’s before lunch – and succeeded in surprising her by our promptness! The chickens are lovely, and will hopefully be hens. BB was a bit scared of them though. Also lovely to see lucy and the beyond my wildest and Ali where the days go and ros, whom I’ve not seen for ages. lovely day. SB had a few wobbles over complete incomprehension on dr who!! we left really late as easy hospitality and comfortable conversation. made it back before curfew though.

Wed and BB got her hearts desire as we went swimming. she adores going swimming, as no fear at all and has a good kicking action. SB and i also had a swimming lesson moment with me ploughing widths in front crawl to show her how to move arms, not whole body, and minimal head. I’d forgotten how fast front crawl is, as its not conducive to keeping your eye on children! She got the idea. Back at the tent, there was more general playing at park and cycling around, and SB made friends with an 11 year boy.

thursday was a beach day, and we had a great time, swimming, making sandcastles, the usual. it had looked initially gloomy but soon was a lovey hot day.

friday was the rainy day, so we escaped to portsmouth, the hms warrior predominantly. Sb and bb loved looking around we were 2 hours on that one boat! SB had a go in a hammock and ‘firing’ a cannon as well. towards the end bb started shouting that she wanted food, so we left the ship just as the heavens opened, and the mad dash to costa coffee saw us completely drenched. we then spent an exorbitant amount on lunch! sb wanted to be a bit interactive, so we looked at the dockers apprentice bit, and then the action stations until it closed. sb was most impressed with the climbing wall. and also the canoe simulator. I was a bit less impressed with all the opportunities for firing weapons at things!

Both girls managed to spend some money, and we had chips on the waterfront before going home. then BB stayed awake most of the nigt, but we were entertained by the harry potter twitterfest. i bought the book today, have read the last chapter, and will now read the whole thing. and no, it doesn’t spoil my enjoyment at all!!!

saturday, a park and play morning as another family had arrived and SB played with their 6 year old lad, and bb their 2 year old. so they got well acquainted before we went to the weald and downland [not download as chris seems to think!] museum. we really like it, there is loads to see and think about, as well as a pleasant walk in rural england. sb was much more inquisitive about building structure, and working out functions han before, and did remember what she had seen last time – a year ago – though we went to mostly different bits this time. BB proudly shew off her new corcs to allcomers, and just was cute. she was particularly good at finding things for us to look at. i think she was most taken by the wee hole in one house though [rolls eyes!].

SB had wanted a BBQ, so that was the BBQ night. BB did more painting – did i mention we had a craft fest? doing some foam prince and princess guing kits and painting. we also read books by the heap – particularly SB.

on the last day, after a final parkfest we left and went to amberly working museum which is great. the garage made me think v strongly of my grandad and great grandad. we rode on the open top bus, peered and talked about various things. spent ages in the telephone bit, with sb working out how to man an exchange. the elcetricity bit was my fav. there was a demonstration o

of a tesla coil as well as lots of other high volt bits of kit!! Sb also enjoyed the rather safer hands on bits around the perimeter, and we did lots of talking about the finer points of volts, amps, electromagnets [hopefully correctly!!]

finally exhausted we came home. and here we are! today the girls have been pronounced dentally sound, bb has painted, and when i came home we went to the library and signed up to the reading challenge -sb has already read all 6 books!! BB was quite insitant we did a craft kit, so we have made a spider pot. she is most proud. i think i need to start seeing her as a competent little girl rather than my squidgy baby.