summer holidays

we went to sandhills in mudeford with my parents, my sister and family. it was a rather excellently placed caravan park, being a short walk from the quay one way along the promenade [for crabbing, a pub, a shop and a ferry!] and a short walk in the other direction to the beach [another shop and icecreams!]

i don’t think i will do a blow by blow account! [though may well add into it] SB started off shakilly on the journey down – it was uncomfortable for her in teh car, so we left late, when the temps were cooling down. we had more stuff in the car than when we go camping due to extra craft kits, a buggy adapted for her, camping chairs etc. a LIMBO and the sealskin arrived in good time and were very well used on holiday! the worst bit of the journey was when she was sick in exorcist proportions [actually, i will have to admit to never having actually watched the exorcist, but i believe it is a lot of vomit!!] we came off motorway for me to clear it up [joanna avert eyes!] and whilst i was scooping handfuls of sick out, she asked me if i minded doing that – errrr yes!!

but anyway, we made it, and were greated by cups of tea on our arrival. much excitement! WHilst we were there, we tried to make full use of the pool. initially SB was a bit hesitant, and she remained a bit worried about possible leaking of the limbo. however, by the end of the holiday, she was showing me how many backwards somersaults she could do in the water, and swimming like a fish – albeit with an unusual leg! BB was more amusing [sort of] because she stubbed her toe, and would insist that i hold it out of the water whilst she splashed about. [it was fine to dunk it in the paddling pool!] on one occasion I was swimming with my head under water with SB watching her do various things, with my arm up vertically to still hold BB#s foot! [what a sight we must have been!] i acheived TCS status at least once by ageeing to take them swimming just after i had got the pasta bake in the oven. SInce SB could only go in for 20 mins stretches, i couldn’t think of any reason not to except that i didn;t fancy it. however, i enjoy swimming, so was fine once dunked! the girls had wetsuits to take the edge off!!

we also went to the beach – not as often as we would hope because the weather – particularly in the first week – was a bit iffy! sandcastles made, shells found, wave chasing etc. also the icecream shop had some interesting local variants. i was quite keen on gooseberry grumble and rhubarb and ginger, less so on the cointreau and choc chip. my niece rather liked the white chocolate and malteser! chris also enjoyed the lemon meringue – had they been watching the apprentice?? a rather cunning idea employed on the last day was to make sandcastles in lines just up from the incoming tide, to tell us when to have icecream – saving the discussion!

we did crafts – mask scratching [like at deependers party] magic painting, painting by numbers [actually a bit difficult for SB] dolphin pin picture, various pompom crafts, air drying clay, drawing etc. SB made a fab indian with air drying clay [though fell apart once dried, as it seems to do] and I was impressed by the people BB drew for me, complete with belly buttons.

we went out and about. in the first week to poole – including a visit to the pottery where the children got to paint something, and all 4 did a marvellous job. we bought a seconds vase, which now I’ve got it home is very similar to a duvet set we have – weird! we went on the ferry and a land train to the headland, and both girls enjoyed that. [BB fell asleep having been slightly challenging wrt icecreams!]

we went walking in the new forest twice. i use walking in the loosest sense, as only nephew actually did much walking of the children. SB would have, but still not entirely confident on the ‘crutchelators’ and easily tired. so i pushed her around in the buggy [somewhat hard work on bumpy stoney ground, espec when uphill!] and bB had a fair number of should carries [well it was 2 miles] a lovely walk, we looked at dif trees, fircones, flowers, heard bird calls etc and finished with yummy picnic. the second time was just us on the way home, when we stopped at the reptile place, which houses native species in habitat – so v difficult to spot! we did see grown up and baby adders, a smooth snake, a glow worm, some natterjack toads and a lizard. the walk there was outstanding for the amount of ant activity along the path. there were lots of ants nests, and one was particularly hyper – chris even took a video. made me think of a number of B movies…

rather good on a rainy day when we needed some just our family time was the electricity museum in christchurch. it is free and fab. the fabness is in the really interested guides there, and the demonstration room, where SB had the man’s attention and he took her from greeks with their amber through various inventions to victorian home electrocution kits! it was quite hadns on as well, and she was enthralled. he even gave bb his only choc biscuit so that we would have some peace!

we also went to adventure land, the entrance price made v bearable by chris being free as a carer for SB [reduced] and the rest of us on tesco vouchers. this being in the second week, SB was a bit more confident, though did so much scampering in the indoor bit when it rained she entirely knocked herself out. BB loved the flying elephants. since the day was gey, and schooly, there were no queues – fantastic!

obviously we went into bournemouth. the first time early on, so SB mostly in buggy, and we went round the aquarium there – which we enjoyed. BB particularly enthralled by the tortoises! and had a meal at the cafe on the pier. the second time was to play crazy golf right at the end, just me, SB dad and my nephew. dad was v patient with sb, holding her in a good position and teaching her how to swing and aim. she loved it, having been initially uncertain. on the drive dad told me stories of coming there in his training days in air traffic control, and it was lovely to spend time together like that.

oh, and we went to loads of tat [aka local souvenir] shops to spend their holiday money from little nanny and chris’s parents. BB ended up with a tribe of reptiles and closely related! SB was more diverse, with a mermaid, a dophin, a vase from poole pottery, a pinball game etc. we were disappointed not to see any pig souvenirs [though michelle might not be] as a thankyou to chloe, who sent a fabulous cheer-me-up to SB whilst we were there – it was extremely succesful! She is supposed to be doing a card…

ermm, oh yes, crabbing! SB was the only child to actually do this, adults were roped in a surrogates for the others. she caught 8 and was mightily pleased. BB and E made every passer by admire the crabs though! we did kite flying with extremely cheap kites i bought from tesco – which was v succesful and lots of giggles. lots of games played. SB was teaching M chess.
so was it relaxing, am i refreshed – well no! chris and i did a lot to keep SB happy and entertained, and BB needed some work to, as she was feeling a bit under represented. so part of that was requiring bandages on every little scrape and bruise – so don’t panic when you see our holiday photos! SB needed dressings every 3 days, constant pain killers and antibiotics to remember. keeping ours happy included crafts, games and peacekeeping with my niece and nephew too. my sis was tired and washed out a lot of the time, requiring rest and nap time, which her children weren’t always happy with. And family dynamics is family dynamics! Actually, i could do with a holiday! but i was sad when it was over. our girls had a fab time, and i hope my sister and her children did.