Last full day at Baalse Hei

Sunday, August 26th, 2007

Had a walk around the fishing lakes in the morning – it was very very misty again. Loved the message written on the awning for me – I nearly missed it!

Fishing Lake Fishing Lake Fishing Lake Writing backwards is hard Walk around Baalse Hei See-saw outside the camping field See-saw at Baalse Hei

In the afternoon we were basically packing up as we had to leave relatively early the next morning, so we took the awning down in advance. The children played with a toddler who appeared in a nearby pitch, and we watched the phones for texts from Aunty Emma! Then the kids took great delight in stomping on my sandcastle!

Ready? Knocking down my sandcastle Go!

Another day of nothing!

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

You are meant to have Nothing Days on holiday, right? It was a day of hazy sunshine … we woke up late and after breakfast took the children to experience the delights of Carrefour. Bought buckets and spades for some more serious sandcastle building, so after lunch spent hours trying (and failing!) to build a decent sandcastle.

Tower of sand Serious sandcastle building Serious sandcastle building Serious sandcastle building Obsessive, moi? English Heritage Sandcastle Serious sandcastle building

The children swam in the lake again, and we rented a pedalo on another lake for a while as well. The girls had showers, then we all met back at the tent for dinner (various BBQ bits under the grill, chips from the Frituur onsite, and salad bits & bobs) and games on the field – ball tag was their favourite I think.


Ball tag Belgian beer

Very chilled out :)

Blazing Sunshine

Friday, August 24th, 2007

A beautiful start to the day, sunshine and completely clear skies. Everyone played and enjoyed the surroundings, and I was very relieved as it would have been awful to be on that wonderful site but not get to swim in the lake etc.


Sunbathing Tennis Abbie Tennis in the field Tennis boy Tennis in the field Holiday tennis
We mooched around near the tent all morning, played tennis, sunbathed on Anna’s campbed, then de-camped to the swimming lake in the afternoon, and swam, played, watched the world go round, and ate ice creams :)

Very pleased with herself! Fountain platform The big swing Girls on the fountain platform Josiah nearly there as well! Jumping off Slide Swimming in the lake Swings The big play area Sarah Abbie on the fountain platform The big swing Swimming lake and play area Swimming in the lake Abbie on the fountain platform Swings Swimming in the lake Drip Swimming in the lake Swimming in the lake Swimming out to the fountain The big swing

More rain, and some playing cards

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

It was wet for most of the night, then more rain started in earnest around 7am. The children slept on, so Steve and I watched a couple more hours of 24!

Had Belgian waffles for breakfast and then the kids and Steve watched Eragon while I fiddled around in the caravan. Over lunchtime it finally stopped raining! We decided to go into Turnhout, the town nearest the campsite, and visit the Playing Card Museum, and it was fantastic! Hadn’t realised, but Turnhout is historically a place where playing cards were produced, and now holds the headquarters for Copag and Carta Mundi, international card game companies. We didn’t know it was a special afternoon there, but it was – all the printing presses and machines were working and being demonstrated, and it was free entry!

Playing Card Museum, Turnhout Printing playing cards Turning the printing press Watching the cards get coated Cards being coated Playing Card Museum Card cutting machine Card cutting machine Corner shaping machine

Really really enjoyed seeing all the machines still working, and one particular volunteer tried really hard to tell us as much as possible in English. The kids all chose a pack of cards at the end, you can never have too many packs of playing cards ;)

We looked at Turnhout Castle as well, and probably would have mooched around and had coffee in the town centre but there was a fair in the main square, which was loud and offputting, so we came back to the campsite.

Turnhout Castle Sitting outside Turnhout Castle Anna

Sat outside with a beer while the children played cards and then had a sandcatle building competition, just like being at the beach but better, imo!

Sandcastle building Steve joins the sandcastle competition New playing cards! Sandcastle competition Beer and chocolate biscuits Playing cards on the climbing frame Josiah Building sandcastles Sandcastle competition Sandcastle building

Finished off the day with chicken and chips from the campsite Frituur, and another play at the big park.