The start of the holiday wasn’t pleasant so I’ll gloss over that
The campsite was probably the-best-in-the-world-ever! Nic you’d love it
clean, great facilities (heated outdoor pool, crazy golf, hook-ups, musical toilets, nice little shop etc etc) and quiet. I really enjoyed my time there on my own with the children and managed to read lots and knit a little. I like Cornwall - I’d take it over Devon any day (I’m sure that has a lot to do with not living there for years)
I must sort my photos out.
We left the campsite in search of a beach on Wednesday and found a very nice National Trust one with a cliff & sand dunes, river for damming, lots of sand & shells & masses of rock pools (oh & a toilet). The children did the sea both with and without (crazy) wetsuits & a good time was had by all.
On Thursday we visited the Eden project on, the last time we went was at the Okehampton camp when Claudia was just three (ETA: nope she was 2) it was fascinating to see what had grown and if you have reasonably sensible children (I’m including C in that group
) a great place for them to explore without masses of supervision. We whizzed around at top speed then sat & listened to a story teller in the warm biome. A took C with the around the hot one for a second time & J & I chilled out people watching. The highlight of the day? The shop of course
We stopped at Dartington Cider Press for lunch on the way home on Saturday (I debated introducing Si to the hell that is Totnes but decided we should finish the holiday on a slightly higher note !). I haven’t been there since I left Devon when I was 18, it hasn’t changed at all! Got the slowest/dappiest service in history in Cranks, but it made me giggle at how totally Devon it was. Claudie & Jasper played in Tridias for ages.
On Sunday I attempted to deal with the washing, do a big food shop & we had a friend round for late lunch, then headed over to A & C’s to say hello to Ros et al
We were suppose to go to Legoland on Monday but I woke up with a really sore throat & ear ache & Claudia woke up close to hysterical (being away for a week then late nights/visiting etc) so I cancelled (evil, evil, evil) and we stayed in & watched HSM2 (small consolation but we really needed a day at home).
On Tuesday we were out most of the day. First we had to get Claudie’s new ballet uniform (lovely but £70 …. ouch) then, in the afternoon, she had her fist riding lesson. It was really good fun! Her teacher was great, the pony was cheeky & by the end of the session she was trotting without being led. I had a 2 hour chat/catch up with a local HEor I haven’t seen for ages (very pleasant - swapping war stories
) and Jasper loved crawling around watching all that was going on. The stable is only 15 minutes from us so once the weather gets worse I’ll just drop her off & come back home.
Wednesday was ballet (grade 1!) - C looked so grown up in her new uniform & really enjoyed the lesson, especially the character dancing and barr work. Managed to coax her hair into a reasonably neat bun (which I photographed since it was such an achievement!). My Amazon order arrived (Simon had some vouchers) so I was pretty happy - read to Claudia The Story of London & Britannia: 100 Great Stories from British History (I’ve lost my An Island Tale somewhere).
Claudia had her first piano lesson on Thursday. Ee’ve struck gold with the teacher, she is lovely and quite coincidentally teaches at a local HE group. C loved the lesson & K was very complimentary about her
Jasper & I watched CBeebies (he wasn’t that impressed) - they have the same programmes on as when C was a baby! K & I had a long chat about HE (something I usually avoid at all costs), she was interested to meet a child who hadn’t been taken out of school to be HEd. The kids were starving by the time we got out so I took them to Sainsbury’s for lunch
They shared a tomato & pesto panini and apple juice and it took an age for them to eat. We ran a few boring errands then went to visit Buttercup on her birthday
Dragged Claudia home but we decided to give Jelly Legs a miss to try and claw some money back. Claudie read to me & Jasper & watched some Life of Mammals DVDs, I read her more Harry Potter.
Today we’ve been reading & cooking - we have GB later but no ERAPA (don’t fancy drumming). I’ve been playing on Ravelry and trying to plan Finland, C & J have been doing their thing (made a den in the understairs cupboard amongst other things). Claudia is going away for the weekend with my parents and Si & I are planning to prepare for the plasterer (last time ever!!!) & nurse the Smart car.