We should have known. Anna has never been one to stand on the sidelines. Anna is most happy when she is in the thick of the action, exploring it all for herself. She certainly isn't going to be satisfied by standing back and watching others do it!
At a recent crucial hockey match that her Auntie Carolyne was playing in, Anna wanted to get on the pitch with them. (Last game of the season playing league champions in a bid for Carolyne's team to finish 3rd in the league. They won.) Whilst running towards the said pitch, she even picked up a stray hockey stick as she ran past it, just so that she could join in when she eventually reached the play. She was most annoyed when we pointed out that she couldn't be a substitute player and resembled John McEnroe as she nearly threw the stick down and stomped off with her trademark strut (Anyone that has seen Anna 'strut' her stuff will know what I mean which involves lots of bum wiggling and hands on her hips as she walks off!) Fortunately, thanks to a very thoughtful Auntie Carolyne and Uncle Steve, Anna was presented with her very own hockey stick at the end of the match (It is a genuine hockey stick made by a manufacturer of professional teams such as the England Hockey squad but just tiny, perfect for a 2 year old! They start them young in hockey!). In fact, while Anna was practising with her new treasured procession, the rest of the team was signing her up for next season! Anna is waiting for her call up!
So it appears that Anna is not destined to be one of life's by-standers. Instead, I think Anna will be in the midst of it all, creating chaos but having lots and lots of fun with it!
Monday, 29 June 2009
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Daddy Cool
Oops!! I can imagine that you have all been sat on the edge of your seats, holding your breath and just longing to tell me how the Dad and Toddler morning went (see previous post). In fact, I expect you have turned blue at holding your breath so long. OK... so nobody has wondered how it went but I thought I would let you know anyway!
At 12.05pm , Anna and her Daddy came strolling back through the door with huge beaming smiles on their face. Anna was very proudly clutching a monster mask that her daddy had helped her make at the craft table.
Apparently the morning had been a tremendous success and, on the way back, James decided to call in at the hairdressers ~(which happens to be very close to the community centre which is convenient) and get Anna's haircut (which was desperately needed!). Bonus!
For the rest f the day Anna was not interested in me at all. Daddy had to sit next to her while eating lunch and Daddy was the one who got invited into the playhouse for a cup of tea and a piece of cake while telling me 'Mummy go and clean'!!!
Anna and James no intend to make this a regular occurrence once a month. Therefore, I have no choice but to have a leisurely Saturday morning on the first Saturday of every month. I am sure I will be able to find something to amuse me!
Oh... and James says the Bacon butties were not bad either!!!
At 12.05pm , Anna and her Daddy came strolling back through the door with huge beaming smiles on their face. Anna was very proudly clutching a monster mask that her daddy had helped her make at the craft table.
Apparently the morning had been a tremendous success and, on the way back, James decided to call in at the hairdressers ~(which happens to be very close to the community centre which is convenient) and get Anna's haircut (which was desperately needed!). Bonus!
For the rest f the day Anna was not interested in me at all. Daddy had to sit next to her while eating lunch and Daddy was the one who got invited into the playhouse for a cup of tea and a piece of cake while telling me 'Mummy go and clean'!!!
Anna and James no intend to make this a regular occurrence once a month. Therefore, I have no choice but to have a leisurely Saturday morning on the first Saturday of every month. I am sure I will be able to find something to amuse me!
Oh... and James says the Bacon butties were not bad either!!!
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Who Let the Dad's Out?
It is Saturday morning and the house is silent! It feels extremely strange and very surreal. Why?
Anna and James have left me!!!!!
Well, when I say left me, that is not strictly true because they will back for lunch!
James and Anna have joined a toddler group, especially designed for dad's and their toddler's. It is their first day today. It runs on the first Saturday of each month. I think James was attracted to it when heard that there would be bacon butties, comfy sofas and newspapers to read. I didn't tell him that Anna wouldn't give him any time to sit on a comfy sofa and read the paper. For Anna, there is toddler toys, a craft activity and lots of other children to get to know but she will probably be too busy running around singing Lady GaGa and trying to cut her hair with scissors again
I didn't even know they were going until 5 minutes before they left. I was reading the local paper while watching Anna draw faces in her Weetabix and just happened to mention that there was this dad's club running in our local community centre. James actually didn't seem very interested until I mentioned the bacon butties and then his ears sprung up like a cocker spaniel and he suddenly was very interested!
Before I knew it, Anna was being whipped out of the high chair with the promise of lots of new toys to play with and they were heading off down the road! I was left on the doorstep waving goodbye as Anna cheerily shouted 'Bye Mummy. See you later', holding her Daddy's' hand and skipping! Anyone would think she was pleased to see the back of me!
It feels very strange, sat here on my own. The house is never normally this quiet any more. Don't get me wrong, Anna and James do spend a lot of time together but it is normally with me or I am, at least, in the background somewhere. I think it is actually really good for both of them to spend time together without me around but it just feels very peculiar at the moment!
After long days of being rushed off my feet, I sometimes dream of moments like this when I would actually get spare time to surf the Internet looking at completely random sites and now that I am doing it, dare I say it feels a bit boring! Before Anna, I used to do this all the time (when I was meant to be planning scintillating lessons for the week ahead!). Now I'm not sure how I wasted so much time! Of course, there is always piles of ironing and washing that I could be doing but never mind!
So I am sat here instead, writing a blog about Anna and wondering what she is up to? Is James racing around the community centre trying to catch an excitable Anna who has decided to run amok with the glitter. Maybe she is trying to eat glue or thinking that the play dough is looking like a tasty snack ? Or could it be that James is sat eating his bacon butty while Anna plays beautifully with some new toys that she hasn't discovered before. If that is the case, then I am going to have to find out what I am doing wrong because she never does that for me!
As James left, he said 'Well, we can see what it is like can't we. We don't have to go again if it is rubbish" so I'm really not sure what the reaction will be when James walks back through the door. It will either be "Never again. All parents do is talk about their kids all the time and Anna doesn't stop still for a second" or it will be 'That was great. Anna loved it and the bacon butty was delicious". I am truly hoping it was the second. I realise that it does feel incredibly strange not to be with Anna at this second in time but I could probably get used to having 2 hours off one Saturday per month!
I have just heard a police siren hurtling down the main road (which is quite close to our house and is the main road leading into Chester from the motorways). As you can imagine with it being such a busy road, that is a fairly common occurrence but I am now sat here thinking 'what if the police siren was heading for the community centre because Anna has decided to do something she shouldn't'. I'm not exactly sure what that would be though - I need to get a grip! What on earth am I going to be like in September when I have 2 mornings of this! At least today I know she is with her Daddy!
Only 40 minutes until they are back.
Anna and James have left me!!!!!
Well, when I say left me, that is not strictly true because they will back for lunch!
James and Anna have joined a toddler group, especially designed for dad's and their toddler's. It is their first day today. It runs on the first Saturday of each month. I think James was attracted to it when heard that there would be bacon butties, comfy sofas and newspapers to read. I didn't tell him that Anna wouldn't give him any time to sit on a comfy sofa and read the paper. For Anna, there is toddler toys, a craft activity and lots of other children to get to know but she will probably be too busy running around singing Lady GaGa and trying to cut her hair with scissors again
I didn't even know they were going until 5 minutes before they left. I was reading the local paper while watching Anna draw faces in her Weetabix and just happened to mention that there was this dad's club running in our local community centre. James actually didn't seem very interested until I mentioned the bacon butties and then his ears sprung up like a cocker spaniel and he suddenly was very interested!
Before I knew it, Anna was being whipped out of the high chair with the promise of lots of new toys to play with and they were heading off down the road! I was left on the doorstep waving goodbye as Anna cheerily shouted 'Bye Mummy. See you later', holding her Daddy's' hand and skipping! Anyone would think she was pleased to see the back of me!
It feels very strange, sat here on my own. The house is never normally this quiet any more. Don't get me wrong, Anna and James do spend a lot of time together but it is normally with me or I am, at least, in the background somewhere. I think it is actually really good for both of them to spend time together without me around but it just feels very peculiar at the moment!
After long days of being rushed off my feet, I sometimes dream of moments like this when I would actually get spare time to surf the Internet looking at completely random sites and now that I am doing it, dare I say it feels a bit boring! Before Anna, I used to do this all the time (when I was meant to be planning scintillating lessons for the week ahead!). Now I'm not sure how I wasted so much time! Of course, there is always piles of ironing and washing that I could be doing but never mind!
So I am sat here instead, writing a blog about Anna and wondering what she is up to? Is James racing around the community centre trying to catch an excitable Anna who has decided to run amok with the glitter. Maybe she is trying to eat glue or thinking that the play dough is looking like a tasty snack ? Or could it be that James is sat eating his bacon butty while Anna plays beautifully with some new toys that she hasn't discovered before. If that is the case, then I am going to have to find out what I am doing wrong because she never does that for me!
As James left, he said 'Well, we can see what it is like can't we. We don't have to go again if it is rubbish" so I'm really not sure what the reaction will be when James walks back through the door. It will either be "Never again. All parents do is talk about their kids all the time and Anna doesn't stop still for a second" or it will be 'That was great. Anna loved it and the bacon butty was delicious". I am truly hoping it was the second. I realise that it does feel incredibly strange not to be with Anna at this second in time but I could probably get used to having 2 hours off one Saturday per month!
I have just heard a police siren hurtling down the main road (which is quite close to our house and is the main road leading into Chester from the motorways). As you can imagine with it being such a busy road, that is a fairly common occurrence but I am now sat here thinking 'what if the police siren was heading for the community centre because Anna has decided to do something she shouldn't'. I'm not exactly sure what that would be though - I need to get a grip! What on earth am I going to be like in September when I have 2 mornings of this! At least today I know she is with her Daddy!
Only 40 minutes until they are back.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Waking Up to Lions!
Did we really go on holiday? It seems so long ago but, in fact, it was only 3 weeks ago.
It is shame on me for not writing this blog sooner but I seem to have been so busy, mainly with putting on weight it seems. I actually managed to lose quite a lot in the last few weeks, even continuing to lose it on holiday (which is no surprise after all that cycling, walking and swimming we did on holiday). However, since getting back, it all seems to have gone wrong and I have put on half a stone! It is not fair. Losing half a stone takes months of hard work while putting half a stone on seems to take less than a week! (This has nothing to do with Anna or the holiday but I am having a rant because I just weighed myself 5 seconds before arriving at the computer... never a good idea!)
Anyway, back to the holiday!
We went to Center Parcs again but this time to Longleat. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Center Parcs. Before having Anna, I would have thought I had arrived in some kind of nightmare if I had gone there. However, when taking a 2 year old on holiday, I honestly can think of no better place to go! I love the fact that you can go to some decent restaurants and they don't bat an eyelid about having a child with you. I love the fact that all of the other families are in exactly the same boat so don't mind if your darling daughter decides to have a tantrum (She didn't but you always have that fear in the back of your head of that nightmare scenario of being asked to leave the restaurant). I love the fact that they have a great selection of food that is suitable for Anna - healthy and organic (but also allowing her to have yummy puddings - it is holiday after all!) I love the fact that you wake up every morning to the sound of birds and, after stumbling out of bed, happen to see a family of rabbits (Mummy, Daddy and several baby rabbits) every morning on your patio, along with several ducks and a squirrel (all of whom were sat waiting each morning for us to emerge from our bed!). I love the fact that you open the front door to your wooden lodge and can't see anything but woodland. I love the fact that there are no cars so Anna can wander around to her hearts content and you can cycle everywhere without fear of getting knocked down (although you do have to watch for fellow bike riders who only sit on a saddle once a year on their visit to Center Parcs and still think they are behind the wheel of their company car!) Above all else, I love the fact that Anna adores it at Center Parcs too and seems to be laughing and smiling every 5 seconds.
I think what Anna loves most is the bike! To have her very own chariot whilst her Daddy works up a very hot sweat, peddling her around the 450 acre site, just adds to her enjoyment. Each morning, we would open the front door and, whilst gathering coats etc, Anna would race to her bike trailer and sit herself down before shouting 'come on Daddy, let's go' at the top of her voice.
One of the highlights of the week was doing a Treasure Hunt. This is where you have 8 teams and you have to find clues, which lead you around a 4 mile course. Each clue gives you a code and the last clue eventually leads you back to the start point. Providing that you have all the clues, you get a different prize depending on where you finish. On our last trip to the Lake District Center Parcs, we finished in 3rd place complete with medals and I was determined to beat our previous best. Luckily, James and Anna knew what was coming so had prepared themselves to just laugh at me when I started to get very competitive and tell them that they 'needed to buck their ideas up and start looking at the map closer' (after I got a little lost!!!). Unfortunately, this treasure hunt course was considerably more difficult than the Lake District. For a start, the site at Longleat is VERY hilly. Everyone who has been had warned us about this but we didn't realise how steep some hills would be. Also, being a much bigger Center Parcs, the course was also a lot longer. However, to make up for it, there were some amazing scenic viewpoints on the way such as a cascading waterfall and a meadow full of wild flowers. However, the best moment of the whole afternoon was when Anna grabbed a branch that was lying on the ground. This branch was huge with a massive clump of leaves at the end of it. It must have been at least a metre and a half long... which Anna decided was perfect for 'whipping' her dad into shape. So there was Anna, flogging her Daddy with the end of this branch and shouting "Faster Daddy Faster". I don't know where she gets it from. I am also proud to announce that we ended up in fourth place!
Anna also adored the swimming. We thought the Lake District was impressive but the swimming complex was amazing. It had the warmest pool outside , set amongst the trees and a Wild Water rapids that took you on a long journey through woodland. It was also great because you could take Anna to the outside pool, knowing that she was warm and also knowing that the air was not thick with chlorine like many indoor public pools. Anna adored it! Since having to give up swimming lessons last year (due to her asthma worries), I thought Anna may have lost confidence in the water but I was wrong! She loved every second and was soon jumping in off the side. The only problem was that 'Miss Independent' didn't want Mummy or Daddy holding her and insisted that she swam off by her self. Even when she tripped and was submerged in water for the briefest of seconds, she popped back up giggling like it was Christmas!
All in all, it was wonderful. The only downside was the journey! To get to the Lake District from our house takes 1 hour, 45 min (when James is driving. If I drive, it takes 5 hours!). Unfortunately, to get to Longleat took 4 hours. We already knew this before setting off and thought it would be fine. On the motorways (5 in total!), it didn't seem so bad but, once on country roads, it seemed to take forever. Psychologically, after 2 hours, I think our brains were telling us that we should be there (as we would be if we were going to the Lakes) so that last hour on A roads took forever. My dad met us at the gates of Center Parcs (Long story which I will say in a minute) and he even couldn't get a smile out of Anna which is unheard of. She was that cheesed off! Fortunately, within 1 minute of getting out of the car and seeing her Nanny and Grandad, she was laughing wildly. The journey certainly hasn't put us off going back because it was so worth it when we arrived but we will be better prepared next time!
So why was my Mum and Dad there? Well, since reaching 'maturity', they have found a new interest - a caravan!! For anyone that knows my Dad, the last place that you would imagine my dad is in a caravan. This is the guy who had hair down to his bum and had to have the latest fashions (still has!)! However, I think my mum nagged him that much that he gave in and, surprisingly to all of us including himself, he actually loves it! I think, because he works so hard 7 days a week and has done since he was 16, to go away in a caravan and do absolutely nothing for a few days is his idea of heaven. The fact that they have a caravan sat on the driveway also means that they have to justify the cost of it by going away a lot more often than they used to which is also another benefit after working 7 days a week for so long.
Anyway, getting back to the story (I am waffling tonight!!), my parents had heard many good things about a caravan site at Longleat, which happened to be directly opposite Center Parcs (they all share the Longleat estate which is huge!). I think they saw this as a great way of going on holiday while also spending a few days with their cherished granddaughter and showing her the joys of the caravan. I think they were also secretly trying to convince me that
1. That the Caravan wasn't that sad (as I often remind them it is!) and I should just give it a try!!!!
2. That taking Anna away with them on holiday would be a great thing and I should let them!!
I wasn't complaining. It meant that we got an extra 2 days of holiday (Centre Parcs holidays are Monday to Friday so it meant that we could stay on Friday night through to Sunday even if we did have to sleep in a caravan!). I have nothing against caravans. I am just a girl who likes my home comforts. I like to have a shower in the morning in my own semi-spacious bathroom and go to the toilet, knowing full well that once I flush the thing, I can trust on technology elsewhere to sort it all out after that!
However, I always knew that Anna would love it... and she did! After all, being in such close proximity to her Nanny and Grandad for so long was always going to be a winner! It is just a shame that the weather wasn't great because otherwise I know that she would have been running round making friends with every other caravan resident within a 5 mile radius!
Anna may have also loved it because the 3 days spent in the caravan were action packed. The first thing we did was go to Longleat Safari park. Both James and I had reservations about it! Firstly because we couldn't imagine Anna having the patience to be in a car for 3 hours whilst travelling at 5 miles per hour and, secondly, because Anna doesn't really like Chester zoo at all so we thought the animals wouldn't interest Anna at all. We were wrong! Due to the animals being allowed to roam free and come up close and personal to the cars, Anna thought this was brilliant. As for going 5 miles per hour, that didn't matter because Anna got to drive the brand new BMW X5. Sitting on her Grandad's lap should have meant that we were safe with Anna 'driving'. However, when Anna kept telling her Grandad to take his hands off the steering wheel because she wanted to drive by herself, my dad didn't want to upset his much cherished granddaughter so did what he was told! We ended up driving all over the grass and confusing all the other poor drivers behind us as well as the animals who gave us strange looks!
Anna's favourite part of the safari park was definitely the Deer. This was where you could buy food and feed the deer. Anna thought it was hilarious that several deer poked their heads fully through the car window and got very close! You would have thought that Anna may have been a little timid at first but of course not. Anna just burst into a fit of giggles and couldn't stop for about half an hour! She even stroked the deer with no hesitation whilst sat on Nanny's lap. I fear that Chester Zoo will never be able to win Anna over after the Deer experience at Longleat.
Another highlight with Nanny and Grandad was going on the boat to see the sea lions. Again, Anna got to feed them while they all 'talked' to her and Anna talked back.
Amongst the other things that Anna did with her Nanny and Grandad (with Mummy and Daddy trailing behind) were going in a huge maze, going on an old miniature train around Longleat (whilst waving her beloved Thomas the Tank Engine Flag), having the biggest ice cream you have ever seen (Anna's new favourite food ever!) whilst not wasting a drop (she ate it so fast that it didn't have time to melt) and also having 2 balloons bought for her (Anna has a slight obsession with balloons!). She already had one balloon but, when we all returned from the toilet, after leaving my dad in charge of Anna, we returned to find Anna holding the biggest balloon that you have ever seen in your life, in the shape of a lion. My Dad is the person who never ever goes into any shop ever! However, he wasn't content until Anna had the biggest and best balloon!
The last highlight for Anna, but one of the best in her opinion, was visiting 'Greendale'. For those of you who don't know, Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy are no longer a feature of Anna's life. They have been cast aside for another Hero of the small screen (apart from Kipper who is God in Anna's eyes!). Postman Pat is the new TV programme not to be missed in Anna's world. We even have a postman pat van with Jess and postman pat figures that was given to Anna for Easter and they have to go everywhere with us! Therefore, to visit the Postman Pat village was a dream come true for Anna. Apparently, the day before, my mum and Dad had taken Anna for a walk and, accidentally, they walked past the door which leads into 'Greendale'. Anna heard the music seeping out from behind the closed door and rushed over and started singing the words loudly. She then managed to look through a crack in the door and see the outline shape of Pat himself. 'Pat' she yelled. However, my mum and dad knew that James and I would want to see her face when she first cast eyes on her visit to Postman Pat's world so told Anna that he had gone to bed and they would come back tomorrow. Anna, being very very adorable at times, said 'OK Nanny' and walked away while looking back every so often to make sure that the door was still there, waiting until tomorrow when Anna would return. We did go back first thing on the next day and Anna got to see all the characters and walk through Greendale amongst the houses and shops. I can't really describe her face but it really was magical.
It was an action packed but wonderful and fantastic holiday. Each holiday that we return from, I keep saying that it can't get any better and it does!
As for the caravan, I am still not convinced myself. Don't get me wrong, I had a fantastic time and I can cope with sleeping in a caravan for 2 nights but there is something nice about having a dishwasher and fully equipped bathroom close to hand! Anna loved it though. However, having been in a caravan with Anna for more than 24 hours, I think my mum and dad are now fully aware of the little ball of energy that Anna is and the fact that she doesn't stand still for a second so may need a little more time to prepare before taking Anna away on their own in a confined space like a caravan. Either that or they will have to go on another holiday directly afterwards in order to re cooperate after running after Anna!
However, there was one redeeming feature about the caravan which I did like. The caravan site backed straight onto the safari park so, each morning when waking up, we didn't hear the sound of birds - We heard the sound of lions and sea lions letting everyone know that they wanted breakfast! It was a little surreal to be lying in bed, having just opened your eyes on a new day and hearing the lions roar. I'm not sure what Anna loved more - the sound of the lions themselves or the sound of her Grandad doing the lion impressions, complete with the lion balloon which took up literally half of the caravan! Happy days!
It is shame on me for not writing this blog sooner but I seem to have been so busy, mainly with putting on weight it seems. I actually managed to lose quite a lot in the last few weeks, even continuing to lose it on holiday (which is no surprise after all that cycling, walking and swimming we did on holiday). However, since getting back, it all seems to have gone wrong and I have put on half a stone! It is not fair. Losing half a stone takes months of hard work while putting half a stone on seems to take less than a week! (This has nothing to do with Anna or the holiday but I am having a rant because I just weighed myself 5 seconds before arriving at the computer... never a good idea!)
Anyway, back to the holiday!
We went to Center Parcs again but this time to Longleat. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of Center Parcs. Before having Anna, I would have thought I had arrived in some kind of nightmare if I had gone there. However, when taking a 2 year old on holiday, I honestly can think of no better place to go! I love the fact that you can go to some decent restaurants and they don't bat an eyelid about having a child with you. I love the fact that all of the other families are in exactly the same boat so don't mind if your darling daughter decides to have a tantrum (She didn't but you always have that fear in the back of your head of that nightmare scenario of being asked to leave the restaurant). I love the fact that they have a great selection of food that is suitable for Anna - healthy and organic (but also allowing her to have yummy puddings - it is holiday after all!) I love the fact that you wake up every morning to the sound of birds and, after stumbling out of bed, happen to see a family of rabbits (Mummy, Daddy and several baby rabbits) every morning on your patio, along with several ducks and a squirrel (all of whom were sat waiting each morning for us to emerge from our bed!). I love the fact that you open the front door to your wooden lodge and can't see anything but woodland. I love the fact that there are no cars so Anna can wander around to her hearts content and you can cycle everywhere without fear of getting knocked down (although you do have to watch for fellow bike riders who only sit on a saddle once a year on their visit to Center Parcs and still think they are behind the wheel of their company car!) Above all else, I love the fact that Anna adores it at Center Parcs too and seems to be laughing and smiling every 5 seconds.
I think what Anna loves most is the bike! To have her very own chariot whilst her Daddy works up a very hot sweat, peddling her around the 450 acre site, just adds to her enjoyment. Each morning, we would open the front door and, whilst gathering coats etc, Anna would race to her bike trailer and sit herself down before shouting 'come on Daddy, let's go' at the top of her voice.
One of the highlights of the week was doing a Treasure Hunt. This is where you have 8 teams and you have to find clues, which lead you around a 4 mile course. Each clue gives you a code and the last clue eventually leads you back to the start point. Providing that you have all the clues, you get a different prize depending on where you finish. On our last trip to the Lake District Center Parcs, we finished in 3rd place complete with medals and I was determined to beat our previous best. Luckily, James and Anna knew what was coming so had prepared themselves to just laugh at me when I started to get very competitive and tell them that they 'needed to buck their ideas up and start looking at the map closer' (after I got a little lost!!!). Unfortunately, this treasure hunt course was considerably more difficult than the Lake District. For a start, the site at Longleat is VERY hilly. Everyone who has been had warned us about this but we didn't realise how steep some hills would be. Also, being a much bigger Center Parcs, the course was also a lot longer. However, to make up for it, there were some amazing scenic viewpoints on the way such as a cascading waterfall and a meadow full of wild flowers. However, the best moment of the whole afternoon was when Anna grabbed a branch that was lying on the ground. This branch was huge with a massive clump of leaves at the end of it. It must have been at least a metre and a half long... which Anna decided was perfect for 'whipping' her dad into shape. So there was Anna, flogging her Daddy with the end of this branch and shouting "Faster Daddy Faster". I don't know where she gets it from. I am also proud to announce that we ended up in fourth place!
Anna also adored the swimming. We thought the Lake District was impressive but the swimming complex was amazing. It had the warmest pool outside , set amongst the trees and a Wild Water rapids that took you on a long journey through woodland. It was also great because you could take Anna to the outside pool, knowing that she was warm and also knowing that the air was not thick with chlorine like many indoor public pools. Anna adored it! Since having to give up swimming lessons last year (due to her asthma worries), I thought Anna may have lost confidence in the water but I was wrong! She loved every second and was soon jumping in off the side. The only problem was that 'Miss Independent' didn't want Mummy or Daddy holding her and insisted that she swam off by her self. Even when she tripped and was submerged in water for the briefest of seconds, she popped back up giggling like it was Christmas!
All in all, it was wonderful. The only downside was the journey! To get to the Lake District from our house takes 1 hour, 45 min (when James is driving. If I drive, it takes 5 hours!). Unfortunately, to get to Longleat took 4 hours. We already knew this before setting off and thought it would be fine. On the motorways (5 in total!), it didn't seem so bad but, once on country roads, it seemed to take forever. Psychologically, after 2 hours, I think our brains were telling us that we should be there (as we would be if we were going to the Lakes) so that last hour on A roads took forever. My dad met us at the gates of Center Parcs (Long story which I will say in a minute) and he even couldn't get a smile out of Anna which is unheard of. She was that cheesed off! Fortunately, within 1 minute of getting out of the car and seeing her Nanny and Grandad, she was laughing wildly. The journey certainly hasn't put us off going back because it was so worth it when we arrived but we will be better prepared next time!
So why was my Mum and Dad there? Well, since reaching 'maturity', they have found a new interest - a caravan!! For anyone that knows my Dad, the last place that you would imagine my dad is in a caravan. This is the guy who had hair down to his bum and had to have the latest fashions (still has!)! However, I think my mum nagged him that much that he gave in and, surprisingly to all of us including himself, he actually loves it! I think, because he works so hard 7 days a week and has done since he was 16, to go away in a caravan and do absolutely nothing for a few days is his idea of heaven. The fact that they have a caravan sat on the driveway also means that they have to justify the cost of it by going away a lot more often than they used to which is also another benefit after working 7 days a week for so long.
Anyway, getting back to the story (I am waffling tonight!!), my parents had heard many good things about a caravan site at Longleat, which happened to be directly opposite Center Parcs (they all share the Longleat estate which is huge!). I think they saw this as a great way of going on holiday while also spending a few days with their cherished granddaughter and showing her the joys of the caravan. I think they were also secretly trying to convince me that
1. That the Caravan wasn't that sad (as I often remind them it is!) and I should just give it a try!!!!
2. That taking Anna away with them on holiday would be a great thing and I should let them!!
I wasn't complaining. It meant that we got an extra 2 days of holiday (Centre Parcs holidays are Monday to Friday so it meant that we could stay on Friday night through to Sunday even if we did have to sleep in a caravan!). I have nothing against caravans. I am just a girl who likes my home comforts. I like to have a shower in the morning in my own semi-spacious bathroom and go to the toilet, knowing full well that once I flush the thing, I can trust on technology elsewhere to sort it all out after that!
However, I always knew that Anna would love it... and she did! After all, being in such close proximity to her Nanny and Grandad for so long was always going to be a winner! It is just a shame that the weather wasn't great because otherwise I know that she would have been running round making friends with every other caravan resident within a 5 mile radius!
Anna may have also loved it because the 3 days spent in the caravan were action packed. The first thing we did was go to Longleat Safari park. Both James and I had reservations about it! Firstly because we couldn't imagine Anna having the patience to be in a car for 3 hours whilst travelling at 5 miles per hour and, secondly, because Anna doesn't really like Chester zoo at all so we thought the animals wouldn't interest Anna at all. We were wrong! Due to the animals being allowed to roam free and come up close and personal to the cars, Anna thought this was brilliant. As for going 5 miles per hour, that didn't matter because Anna got to drive the brand new BMW X5. Sitting on her Grandad's lap should have meant that we were safe with Anna 'driving'. However, when Anna kept telling her Grandad to take his hands off the steering wheel because she wanted to drive by herself, my dad didn't want to upset his much cherished granddaughter so did what he was told! We ended up driving all over the grass and confusing all the other poor drivers behind us as well as the animals who gave us strange looks!
Anna's favourite part of the safari park was definitely the Deer. This was where you could buy food and feed the deer. Anna thought it was hilarious that several deer poked their heads fully through the car window and got very close! You would have thought that Anna may have been a little timid at first but of course not. Anna just burst into a fit of giggles and couldn't stop for about half an hour! She even stroked the deer with no hesitation whilst sat on Nanny's lap. I fear that Chester Zoo will never be able to win Anna over after the Deer experience at Longleat.
Another highlight with Nanny and Grandad was going on the boat to see the sea lions. Again, Anna got to feed them while they all 'talked' to her and Anna talked back.
Amongst the other things that Anna did with her Nanny and Grandad (with Mummy and Daddy trailing behind) were going in a huge maze, going on an old miniature train around Longleat (whilst waving her beloved Thomas the Tank Engine Flag), having the biggest ice cream you have ever seen (Anna's new favourite food ever!) whilst not wasting a drop (she ate it so fast that it didn't have time to melt) and also having 2 balloons bought for her (Anna has a slight obsession with balloons!). She already had one balloon but, when we all returned from the toilet, after leaving my dad in charge of Anna, we returned to find Anna holding the biggest balloon that you have ever seen in your life, in the shape of a lion. My Dad is the person who never ever goes into any shop ever! However, he wasn't content until Anna had the biggest and best balloon!
The last highlight for Anna, but one of the best in her opinion, was visiting 'Greendale'. For those of you who don't know, Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy are no longer a feature of Anna's life. They have been cast aside for another Hero of the small screen (apart from Kipper who is God in Anna's eyes!). Postman Pat is the new TV programme not to be missed in Anna's world. We even have a postman pat van with Jess and postman pat figures that was given to Anna for Easter and they have to go everywhere with us! Therefore, to visit the Postman Pat village was a dream come true for Anna. Apparently, the day before, my mum and Dad had taken Anna for a walk and, accidentally, they walked past the door which leads into 'Greendale'. Anna heard the music seeping out from behind the closed door and rushed over and started singing the words loudly. She then managed to look through a crack in the door and see the outline shape of Pat himself. 'Pat' she yelled. However, my mum and dad knew that James and I would want to see her face when she first cast eyes on her visit to Postman Pat's world so told Anna that he had gone to bed and they would come back tomorrow. Anna, being very very adorable at times, said 'OK Nanny' and walked away while looking back every so often to make sure that the door was still there, waiting until tomorrow when Anna would return. We did go back first thing on the next day and Anna got to see all the characters and walk through Greendale amongst the houses and shops. I can't really describe her face but it really was magical.
It was an action packed but wonderful and fantastic holiday. Each holiday that we return from, I keep saying that it can't get any better and it does!
As for the caravan, I am still not convinced myself. Don't get me wrong, I had a fantastic time and I can cope with sleeping in a caravan for 2 nights but there is something nice about having a dishwasher and fully equipped bathroom close to hand! Anna loved it though. However, having been in a caravan with Anna for more than 24 hours, I think my mum and dad are now fully aware of the little ball of energy that Anna is and the fact that she doesn't stand still for a second so may need a little more time to prepare before taking Anna away on their own in a confined space like a caravan. Either that or they will have to go on another holiday directly afterwards in order to re cooperate after running after Anna!
However, there was one redeeming feature about the caravan which I did like. The caravan site backed straight onto the safari park so, each morning when waking up, we didn't hear the sound of birds - We heard the sound of lions and sea lions letting everyone know that they wanted breakfast! It was a little surreal to be lying in bed, having just opened your eyes on a new day and hearing the lions roar. I'm not sure what Anna loved more - the sound of the lions themselves or the sound of her Grandad doing the lion impressions, complete with the lion balloon which took up literally half of the caravan! Happy days!
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