just another morning here

This post will may or may not get added to at some point … suffice to say at the point at which I wondered ‘whose stupid idea was this anyway’, I remembered that it was mine, ha. There were some highlights and we did have fun, but on balance I’m glad to be home and wish I hadn’t squandered quite so much of half term as it feels like a lot of catching up to do now!

Ok, here’s the proper post. For the past few years, Steve has gone to see the Rally GB in Wales with Mr Portico. When I realised that the rally fell on the first weekend of half term this year, I decided that it would be a great idea for us all to go (hoping that the Portico family might fancy it as well), so booked a campsite in the general area for that weekend and a few days afterwards. As it turned out, we were left to go it alone, even though we did spend a very lovely afternoon with the Portico one and all on the Sunday.

The rally was fun … well it would have been fun if it hadn’t been so wet … well, it was still fun, just very wet as well. Lots of driving and walking between stages, and so much mud. I probably would go again, but I’m not sure I’d get the kids there again without much kicking and screaming! We enjoyed Sunday morning’s stage the most – mainly because it was dry, at Walters Arena you could see so much more of each car – *and* we had an hour extra to play with due to the clocks going back! Forgot the big camera (doh) so not many photos since the iphone isn’t known for its photographic abilities.

After the rally on Sunday we had the pleasure of catching up with friends on Southerndown Beach. They humoured me and not only did we work together to find info needed for an earthcache there, we also did two more real caches. I think the last one they only took me to so that they could laugh at me getting my feet wet on the stepping stones across the river to find it, but it was fun.

Had a lovely meal at the Watermill in Ogmore afterwards, before saying goodbye and going our separate ways.

After that we had three more days to fill, which, I think, was probably too much given that we didn’t have any plans. The Hymer was fine, but not the most spacious of vehicles for 5 people really. Luckily it was relatively dry for those three days and the children spent a lot of time at the campsite’s trampoline, inventing games which they played for hours.

We also walked along the coast from Llantwit Major to St. Donat’s (yes, another earthcache) and had icecreams despite the drizzle. Actually this was good, and I do enjoy earthcaches as they give you things to look for and learn about along the way – I wouldn’t even have noticed half of it otherwise!

We ambled round the shopping centre in Bridgend, went to the cinema and watched Up in 3D (fun but I could have lived without it!), then on the last day we sneaked into the first round of Britain’s Got Talent auditions with a friend for a couple of hours – fascinating, but we didn’t stay long – went off to do the Dr Who exhibition in Cardiff, as the kids wanted to see it (grown ups were slightly disappointed with it really).

And then we came home. And now, as every weekend, I’m left with a washing mountain!

Grimper is a particularly nice french verb isn’t it? Well I like it, anyway, surely one of my favourites.

We have had a very laid back day today; after sleeping in for ages we finally got up and had breakfast, then eventually the children got dressed. 2/3 of them went up to do the ‘children’s activities’ at the bar, which was nothing much, just making windmills, but it kept them amused. The other one lay in bed for ages … while Steve and I alternated between reading and internet, while sitting in the lounge area of the bar.

Back to the caravan for lunch, then afterwards came the highlight of the day, a tree-climbing session that Abbie and Joe had signed up for. They had great fun climbing up ropes into trees, and then doing the monkey bridge (see fairly rubbish video). I stuck around and watched for the whole time; the instructor only spoke a bit of English – one of the campsite staff was there as a translator but I did a better job so when she saw that I was staying she left!

Meanwhile Steve and Anna were cycling round the campsite doing daft tricks, Steve did a particularly stupid one and fell off his bike and hurt his back so we will probably have another quiet day tomorrow rather than going into Paris as planned! Luckily it wasn’t anything too terrible, he’s just bruised his back – and he knows it was all his own fault for being daft so he’s not moaning too much! Drugs and alcohol are helping …

The internet is here one minute and not the next. Well, it’s here at 7am and once everyone has woken up on the campsite, there’s no chance of much of the net actually reaching my computer! Thankfully I like early mornings

Had a nice day yesterday, which started with breakfast from the snack cabin (mmmm fresh croissants) and after that Steve & Josiah went off to play crazy golf. Thought that as Steve had promised to play with him we might as well get it out of the way otherwise Joe would have been going on about it all day!

After that we all got a picnic ready and went out to do a little bit of ‘La Loire a velo’, only just enough of a cycle ride to satisfy Roger’s cycling needs but plenty for the rest of us! A 6km ride down the Loire from the campsite, then we stopped and had lunch; the kids paddled, etc. A bit windy but no rain Photos may or may not appear on flickr depending on my patience levels, it really is not a high speed connection even at 7am.

Back at the campsite we relaxed a bit more – the rest of the children (and Joe again) had a round of crazy golf with Roger, Steve and I went to the supermarket, we read, they swam, they showered, we cooked a delicious turkey & lentil curry, then we pretty much all had an early night. The kids were all tired and we’re off to Puy du Fou today so we wanted them to sleep well!

Sitting, with a nice cold beer, at the little cafe on our campsite, the kids have been swimming (I took a book and sat by the pool reading) and they’re now all on the bouncy castle just near the cafe. Enjoying themselves greatly

Campsite is nice, bit busy, but perfectly pleasant. We got here around 6pm last night after driving all day from 3.30am, so a bit of a mammoth journey (although there is a lost hour in time differences there somewhere), but it was all fine, and we got the caravan and awning put up without so much as a cross word exchanged (did help that R&R took all the kids swimming!).

Today we have done nothing but lie around, find a supermarket, and laze around some more. It feels great Must get the camera out though, haven’t taken any photos yet.

Very glad to have internet too as it just helps us keep in touch with home without running up huge phone bills. Can’t log on to anything social networking-like though- facebook won’t load, it comes under ‘Forbidden Category, personals and dating’!! and, lol, Steve can’t log on to his Subaru forum as it comes under ‘Forbidden Category, games’!!!!!