Our Hols

So, we went camping......

In the grounds of a gorgeous Chateau

Near to Mont St Michel

and we went to the beach

Folksy Friday

A fair few Folksy users have been having a Folksy Friday where they choose some of their favourite items on Folksy.
Here are some of mine.
We spent Christmas day, which seems like ages ago now, in my parents new holiday flat. It is in Marazion within smelling distance of the sea and a fantastic view of St Micheals Mount. They have spent the past 6 months or so getting it decorated and sorted out. Which made me think, what would I put in a holiday flat if it was mine? Or what would I have at home to help me remember my last holiday. Here are a few of my favourites.

A beautiful cushion from Ticketty Boo

A custom made beach hut by Elli Moody. I bought one of these for my dad for Christmas for in the flat and it is fab.

Some groovy fish from Half an Acre

And some fab photos from I Like to either send home or frame to go on the wall.

I don't know about you, but I am now counting the days till summer.....where's the beach?

Back from Boston

Obviously that is not our plane taking off from Logan airport but you get the idea. Anyway, we had a fab time in Boston and visited loads of places.

I will post some more photos soon, once the huge pile of laundry has been conquered and I have recovered from the time difference and the imminent arrival of both sets of family.
Meanwhile I would like to wish my hubby a happy wedding anniversary for today - 8yrs have flown by.
Don't forget there are still a few days to enter my fab giveaway - thank you for all the entries so far. I am loving your jewellery choices.

Boston here we come

It's booked - finally :) Boston here we come.

We have settled on an Embassy Inn. They have one bedroom suites so we can have the lounge to ourselves in the evening whilst little man sleeps in the main bed. We can transfer him to the sofa bed when we are ready to go to sleep at least that is the plan. They also have a small kitchenette in the room with a microwave and fridge. Plus the hotel has a pool and gives us a buffet breakfast each morning. The hotel is 5 mins walk across a kids play park to the T, which apparently is $2 into town. We are also close to the car hire so can just book what we want when we want, which is good as parking costs at the hotels are sky high.

A downside could well be that the hotel is at Boston airport, but all the reviews say that you can't hear the plane noise in the hotel. I am hoping on the plus side that a bit of plane spotting will keep the boys amused :)

So flights and hotel is booked, now I just need to look into what we are going to do whislt we are there. It's times like this that the internet is a fab resource.

One thing I have learnt though....when booking through expedia check your prices as a package and seperately. We booked the hotel and flight seperately, saved nearly £200 and have got premium economy seats rather than economy. Hubby really does need the extra leg room.

Boston on a budget.....ish

So, last week we planned to go to Brittany for the week.

We have not really been away with little man before except to friends and family, let alone abroad and we are both worriers when it comes to being away with him.

We have spoken to friends who have taken kids:

"give them their tea, put them to bed, put them in the buggy asleep and then go out yourselves" ummm despite being only 3 1/2 he hasn't fitted in a buggy for about a year (too heavy and too tall) and unless he was really pooped he would sooo wake up

"just keep them up late and eventually their body clock alters, take them to the hotel entertainment, they will love it" hmmm may work but someone needs his sleep, he still has an afternoon nap of an hour and sleeps about 11-12 hrs a night. He gets very crabby and grumpy when tired and I am not a mum who does crabby lol. Plus I am not really a hotel entertainment kind of person - unless it is good.

"just put them to sleep and read on the balcony" wouldn't work for us. Little man is very good at going to bed, but if he can see us sleep he will not. Plus sitting on the balcony reading is not my idea of a holiday.

So, where does that leave us??? "camping" I thought.

I have lovely, possibly warped, memories of camping as a child.

Photo courtesy of Eurocamp

You get your accomodation, you get a pool/s, you get entertainment/kids clubs if you want. you can come and go as you please. You can cook or eat out. Plus you can sit out (or in) whilst small child goes to sleep. Ok, so it's camping. You have to do your own washing up. But for me it works.

Problem....the week we want to book was the last week most of the parks were open. Hmmm would all the facilities be available?? plus Britanny has had an issue of toxic seaweed on the beaches and they were what we were going for. So, Brittany went by the by and we ahd the week at home (See previous blog post).

So, where does that leave us???

• Me sulking "but I want a holiday"
• "if we don't go abroad this year with little man, we never will"
• "I really fancy new England in the Fall"
• hubby who has been very quite up till now "ok"
• Me "errr what"
• Him "that sounds like a great idea"
• Me - stunnned silence

Photo courtesy of freefoto.com

So, I am frantically looking at trying to book us a holiday in Boston. But it is sooooo expensive. A friend has suggested that we look at residence inns or similar as they can have a seperate sleeping/living area so we could have a little bit of comfort whilst someone goes to bed earlier than us. Problem is that most are out of town. So, do we go in town, pay more and use public transport or go out of town, pay less but get a hire car??? Hmmm tough one especially as I don't know the area.

Twitter came up trumps today though, as I tweeted my dilema and the Charles Hotel offered me a very good twitter rate. It looks very nice and convenient, and we can book two ajoiining rooms, but still prob far too pricey for us - haven't dared ask my bh yet.

One thing for sure though, wherever we stay, we are going to have to fly premium economy as hubby will need the leg room (he is 6ft 8). It will cost more, but I think we are going to have to do it for his comfort. So, that's any budget blown before we have even taken off! Defiantely means the room will have to cost less......

Any advice on places to visit, stay, eat in Boston all greatfully recieved....I need this holiday to work else I don't think we will have one until littley has flown the nest! Off to look at hotels again now - wish me luck.

Holidays at home

The past week we have been on holiday - we were planning away. Eurocamping in Britanny. We even got little mans passport sorted out for him. But, due to the campsites shutting at the beginning of Sept, toxic fuming seaweed on the beaches and a small child wondering where home is as we had been visiting so many people this summer we decided not to go. Instead we spent the week doing daytrips. Legoland was visited a fair few time - it's on our doorstep and we have annual passes. We also visited Wellington Country park, which was fantastic - i would thoroughly recommend the snakes and ladders play area, fab slides.

To end the week we visited the Ashridge Estate on our way to visit relatives.

This is the Bridgewater tower, which apparently has fantastic views from the top, but seeming as I don't like heights I didn't even dare go up it - I would of got good old Elvis leg, with a whole lot of shaking going on.

Autumn is defiantely on it's way.....

This was the best "feet firmly on the ground" view.

And finally the boys at the top of the tower....little man had no fear and was even trying to climb the railings. Rather them than me.

How much fun....

can you have with some fishing line, bacon rind, a bucket and a pontoon? Loads when you go crabbing.

We caught 13 of the lovelies and my son had the best time ever. Catching crabs is ever so exciting when you are 3 and a bit. This is grandma showing little man how to hold a crab - you would never get me doing that!

And here is one of them making a bit back to freedom off the pontoon - as far as I know he is a shore crab. Our fisherman catch them for bait, but the french apparently eat them. I am far happier with them back in the water and no where near my toes!

The best way to start a holiday....

Is with a scrummy breakfast - courtesy of Gylly Beach Cafe.

Food with a view......this was hubbies order, I just had a sausage sarnie but it was just as impressive :)

More pics from our hols soon.