Looking forward to the summer holidays?

‘I can’t wait for the summer holidays’ said one of the mum’s from school

‘Are you completely insane?’ I replied.

Okay, I’m looking forward to lying in, not having to do the school run, making packed lunches, spending more time together and a family holiday but the sheer thought of entertaining my daughter for 6 WHOLE weeks completely freaks me out.  This may have something to do with her being an only child as we don’t have any built in play mates and our cats can only take so much.

Sally Whittle, from Who’s the Mummy, wrote a post a week or so ago, talking about not ‘selling boredom as a virtue‘, it’s worth a read.  I do agree with her to some degree.  But I find it challenging, at times I need my daughter to be able to entertain herself and as an only child I find myself organising too many things for her and then when we have nothing planned, all I get is ‘I’m bored’ ‘what are we doing today’.  She seems to have lost the ability to do this herself and I’m partly to blame.

So, I need to find a balance between organising some things together but also encouraging her to amuse herself a bit more.

Things to do with kid's during the summer

Got any tips?

This is why I’m looking forward to the #matalansummertips Twitter Party this Thursday the 18th July from 1-2pm, where we will all get together to share our tips for surviving the summer.  Join in the chat for and be in with the chance to win 1 of 10 £20 vouchers!

My top tip ‘get a loads of wine in and I mean loads of it”!

Disclosure:  I have been compensated for this post and my participation in the twitter party.

 

 

Caravan Holidays in France

Prior to having children I wouldn’t have set foot in a caravan park and to be honest, I couldn’t think of anything worse; spending my holiday with loads of screaming kids and their egg and chip eating parents, I’m such a snob!  One day I will have to tell you more about my new best friend ‘Bev’ from Barnsley who liked to nick Stella glasses, she was a right laugh and lovely woman.

When our daughter was first born we did attempt to carry on travelling as we always had, we even took her to a B and B in a pub when she was 10 days old, with cord still attached, to celebrate our first wedding anniversary, not  one of my better ideas.  What we find, when trying to carry on as we did pre-kids, she really doesn’t enjoy herself and as you know if the kids aren’t having fun neither are the parents.

So this year, when we were offered an opportunity to stay in a Caravan Park in Brittany, France, we decided to give it a go and for the most part it worked out.

We used the caravan park as a base and spent the days exploring the nearby historic villages and stunning beaches.  Brittany is beautiful; we were staying just outside of Pont-Aven.   Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t brilliant, a mix of sun and rain, but we made the most of it.

Our top 5 places to Visit near Pont-Aven (with kids)

Anse de Rospico a lovely sheltered beach, with a picturesque stream flowing into sea. It’s  less than 5 miles away from the campsite, turn right when leaving the site.  It’s a bit difficult to find but worth the effort.

 

Concarneau Medieval Walled Town, it may not look impressive from the outside but once you’re inside you can explore the narrow streets lined with shops and restaurants.  There are also some great views of the harbour.

 

Bénodet is about a 30km drive away.  One of Brittany’s most fashionable Seaside resorts with stunning beaches.  The highlight for us was having Fruit de Mere on the Seafront at a place called Le Transat.  Winkles were a hit!

 

Pont-Aven is an attractive village, full of galleries and shops with some lovely riverside walks.  It’s a great place to spend a rainy day as you can dart in and out of all the shops, including the Chocolate Shop!

 

Trevignon Start with crepes on the promenade followed by a stroll along the sea wall, perfect.  If you carry on past the historic house there are some fabulous rocks to climb on and a chance for some rock pooling.

 

Kid’s Highlight!

However, our daughters favourite bit of the day was coming back to the caravan site. The caravan in itself was a real novelty for her.  Plus, there were several play areas, indoor swimming pool with waterslide and kids clubs.  Most evenings they have children’s entertainment in the form of the Pirate Club, an experience not to be missed, which all the children love and the parents can sit on the Veranda enjoying a drink or two from the Ocean Bar.

If I’m honest, I’m still not convinced Caravan holidays are for us, but this may have to do with the weather and the fact we went outside of school holidays so it was really quiet.  However, our daughter would disagree as she loved it and as you know it’s not about us anymore!

Disclosure:  Our holiday stay and ferry crossing were compliments of Siblu Holidays and Brittany Ferries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Best cottages to visit this Christmas

It’s Christmas and it’s time to do something special with your family. Have you ever considered searching holiday cottages UK to do something really unique?  There are so many fabulous places in the United Kingdom, so why not drop one a visit during the festive season?

I know what you’re thinking, it’s impossible to pick a place out of a hat and just head off. Well, don’t worry, because we’ve sourced five of the best cottages for you to consider.

Merle Cottage, Middleton-in-Teesdale – Found in the Yorkshire Dales, this cottage boasts an open fire and sleeps four to make it the perfect spot for a romantic weekend or a family getaway. The village is charming and the people are friendly, meaning that it is a great place to enjoy the festivities. Attracting many walkers each year, there are many waterfalls and trails to enjoy if you keep wrapped up.

Coachman’s, St. Nectan’s Glen – Cornwall has many coastal cottages to choose from but this is the ultimate for a romantic getaway. At this time of year, is there anything more wonderful than having footpaths to the coast and up the glen during the day before cuddling up in front of an open fire in the evening?

Brambles Cottage, Kerrykeel – There’s more to the United Kingdom than England, and this is evident when you get chance to head to Northern Ireland and enjoy the wonders of County Donegal. This pretty village is perfect for a quiet getaway, and it sleeps eight people so make a family trip of it!

Pencoed Cottage, Capel Llanilltern – To Wales now, and this cottage found near Cardiff makes the list. A stunning property found within a rural village, you can use this as a base to head to the Welsh capital or just enjoy this scattered village from your charming cottage.

The Old Coach House, Arrochar – There are also parts of Scotland that can’t be forgotten when chasing a holiday cottage for a Christmas getaway. This property is found in a beautiful setting within Argyll and the Isles and although it is roomy, it is also very cosy. The
surrounding area is great for climbers but being at the head of Loch Long, it is a popular location for many reasons.

So there it is, the best cottages to visit with your loved ones this Christmas. Making the holidays even more special for you and your whole family.

*Featured Post – for more information see my disclosure policy