Two weeks in one post.
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.
love the pics, holiday sounded fab - you fell really good with the weather. V. jealous over Finland (actually v jealous of going anywhere!), when do you go?
Comment by Kirsty — 21 September, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
I’ve got your Island Story! Have had it for years
Claudie and E were 2 1/4 when we last went to the EP, because it was when Buttercup was a tiny baby.
Love all of those photos xxxx
Comment by Alison — 21 September, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
Of course! I remember she was still in nappies but couldn’t figure out when it was!
Mystery solved - I have no recollection of lending it to you & since I prefer the new one no intention of reading it lol
Comment by Administrator — 21 September, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
Kirsty atm it looks like we’ll be going on Boxing day until the end of that week
Comment by Administrator — 21 September, 2007 @ 7:40 pm
cool! Just been reading an article about Finland in winter from one of my travel mags, but the bloke had gone quite far north so there was LOTS of snow! Where you off to?
Comment by Kirsty — 21 September, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
Lapland - in the arctic circle - I’m in a minor panic about the temperature already!
Comment by Administrator — 21 September, 2007 @ 8:07 pm
but think of the retail opportunities
Comment by Kirsty — 21 September, 2007 @ 8:43 pm
Love the pics, my fave is the one of J on C’s lap both looking away from camera, it’s gorgeous
.
So could the campsite take a big group booking then in June do you reckon?
I thought Eden was perfectly managable with small children when we went, safe environment, lots of space, providing your children aren’t total loons of course! D&S were 2 and 4 when we went.
Been drooling over your woollen flickr-ing, sure you can knit something warm for you all in Finland
Comment by Nic — 21 September, 2007 @ 9:13 pm
Nic that was my thought exactly! It would be packed through August (& July) but maybe June? Chatting to them they say that September week is always nice - I remember the first week back at school being fantastic weather. I like going away in September.
They had statics, some pitches for tourers, hook-up & non hook-up pitches. If it was just nice home educators going I’m sure we wouldn’t destroy the ambience of the place
Comment by Administrator — 21 September, 2007 @ 10:23 pm
first week of Sept *is* always nice. Lovely photos, glad you had a good time away.
I love your bun cover thing, please can you make us one? I am crap at buns, I’m ashamed to go to Anna’s ballet class on open days
Comment by Sarah — 22 September, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
I live in Reading and was wondering which ballet school your daughter goes to. My daughter wants to start ballet and I don’t know how to chose a ballet school. I don’t know anything about ballet.
Thanks
Comment by Sarah — 22 September, 2007 @ 9:52 pm