CL1 Family Jollies

Afternoon all.

Just back from our jollies last night. I'll post up pics later.

Day 1: Shineyland open day. That was a most excellent day, and it was good to finally meet a lot of you in person, and Shiney's garden is fantastic. A great day all round.

After Shiney's, we headed on our quest through the countryside in search of our hotel for the night. I'd forgotten how stunning the English countryside is, and maybe it was the sunshine, maybe it was because we were more relaxed because we were away, but the colours seem brighter darn saaf. We passed a pub that had a bouncy castle outside it so we stopped there for our tea. I don't think I'll ever understand how a four year old (our son) can eat a full meal and then immediately get on a bouncy castle and go crazy.

After more trekking through countryside and a phone call to the hotel because we thought the satnav was lying (seemed to be directing us deeper into the countryside), we eventually found our hotel for the night. We were pleasantly surprised. The details said it was close to a town centre, but it was actually right next to a massive country estate, and was very 'rural'. Perfect for sitting outside with a pint after a busy (but good) day.

Day 2: Off to Legoland Windsor. Can't really say much about that because it was merely ok. The lad enjoyed himself though which is the main thing. Traffic was horrendous though. We spent half the day in traffic jams.

That night, we stayed here:
http://www.beaumonthousewindsor.co.uk/about-hotel.html

I was in a moody when we arrived because traffic jams meant we didn't get there til 9:30PM and by the time we'd got in and got our bags in and had a quick face splash, it was 10PM and we'd missed last food orders and they wouldn't even sell us some crisps, but it was ok really. Next morning we had a walk round the grounds a bit. Then lad said out of the blue, "Daddy, what's on the other side of the sea?"...

Day 3: Off down to Portsmouth where we met up with a mate of mine, before getting a ship to the other side of the sea (the Isle of Wight). I'd put Gothilde in a car park in Portsmouth that shuts at 8PM. Having had a mooch about the island, including a trip to Shanklin on the most amusingly bouncy train ever, we headed back to get the fast cat back to Portsmouth. Horror and doom, it was running very late. Consequently we didn't land in Portsmouth til 8:15PM, and the car park was locked. All our bags were in the car so we only had what we were wearing. Panic stations. I phone the number on the sign and after much grovelling from me and huffing and puffing from the car park owner/manager, he agreed to send the security guard back to let my car out. It should have cost me £7 for the parking for the day, but while of course they wouldn't take a bung for a pint or two for their trouble, they did apparently have a charity box. I can't complain, it only cost me £20 in all.

Right, Gothilde bailed out of jail, its off to the hotel I booked at the last minute having realised that there's a very real possibility that we won't get Gothilde back before morning. Its off to... the Ibis

I'd better not say too much on that, seeing as I'm making a formal complaint to them about cupboard room they expected us to sleep in (if only the size of the place was the only thing wrong).

Had a few pints with my mate who lives down there before retiring for the night.

Day 4: Not feeling great after a horrendous night in the worst hotel I've ever slept in, we just decided to make our way back home. My satnav is my phone running Google's Navigation app. Its great for what it is (a phone running a free app), but not great as a satnav, so I quickly gave up on it. Bit of a mistake but never mind. When confronted with a choice of M25 East or M25 West, while travelling at speed, I had about 10 seconds to evaluate my choices. I'm aiming for the north east, Portsmouth I'd say is more east than west, so I took the M25 East option. In hindsight that was a bit daft, as it added quite a lot onto our journey time and meant we did most of the M25 and its traffic jams. As an aside, with all the technology widely available to all these days, doesn't it seem daft that the Dartford tunnel toll gates still actually require people to stop. In 2013 fancy actually putting gates on one of Europe's busiest roads. Still, the lad thoroughly enjoyed the tunnels and bridges we encountered on the way home. Oh, and Gothilde the gas guzzler isn't too bad at all on the open road I've found out. She gets to 70mph, drops herself into overdrive (sounds like the engine is switching off, because the engine note suddenly drops and then goes almost silent) and then she just rumbles along. I got 440 miles out of a full tank. After stopping several times on the way home, we finaly got in about 10:30 PM last night, absolutely worn out.

 

I'm warn out just *reading* about it Poor Mrs CL1 must have felt absolutely and totally washed out

Having looked at the link for Beaumont House, I can well imagine your disappointment with an Ibis

Isn't Portsmouth strange having car parks shut at 8pm I went last year with a couple of friends so we could do Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth before going over to the IOW and one of my friends panicking about the car park.

So pleased mini-man enjoyed LEGOLAND (it really is for the kids, eh) he was so excited about going.

Sounds very much one of those breaks away where you need a few more days off just to recover.

As for Dartford Tunnel .... .... I loathe having to use it

Glad you are all home, safe and sound, if a bit weary.

For my 'mate', mini-man ----> (he really is incredibly cute, very well behaved and adorable! )

 

A proper adventure there

 

Yep. I picked up a promotional mag for Harrogate and surrounding area on the way home. Looks nice, its payday tomorrow, and I still have the rest of the week off

 

You were in the same town as Aesculus, did he make you tea?

They still using old Tube trains on the Isle of Wight?

 

I forgot that was @Aesculus's turf, I should've gave him a shout

Yep, old tube train there. It was great. Very comfy well sprung seats, then it sets off, and you realise why. I couldn't decide if I was on a train or riding a galloping camel

 

My Dad saw the Tubes go down the London to Portsmouth line on their way there. Guess that must have been in the 50's or 60s.

 

Little A used to live in Shanklin and me in Bonchurch and we could have walked to each other ... but we didn't know each other then ... We may have even passed each other in Ventnor Botanic Gardens ... but again, we didn't know each other then ...

By the way, where IS he at the moment ... ???

 

Glad you et al are all home safe and sound Clue1. Thank goodness for the jewel in the crown at Shineyland's place eh?
Lovely to meet you; I have some piccies of you in the garden. Hope Mrs C is being allowed a chill out day today,
Jenny
for James

 

I left her in bed when I got up. She didn't come down til after 11AM. At least I don't think she came down before that, but then I wouldn't really know, but that's what time it was when she found lad and I out for the count on the sofa.

 

If you and your lad were "out for the count" ... how can you be 'certain'? (Unless she woke you?) Just saying

Hopefully, the delightful Mrs CL1, had a well deserved lay in bed; with your and mini man's snooze sofa stylie being the very least of her concerns for the day

Travelling, as a grown up, can be wearisome; travelling, as a child, can be taxing; travelling as an adult carrying a child, can be exhausting!! Most especially over speed humps (designed by male devils I tell you! ).

May all her speed humps be minimal, I say

 

Please give her my best wishes too Clue. You have a bonny family set up there,
Jenny

 

Blimey Clue that was an adventure and a halfIt was nice to meet the Clue family at Shineys
How many times did Clue Jnr say 'are we nearly there yet Dad'

Glad you are all home safe and sound

 

Indeed. It was all good (apart from the traffic jams and one bad hotel), but Shineyland day was the best day of them all, and I'm not just saying that. If I'm honest, I wasn't sure how the lad would take it, being 4 I was bit worried that he might get bored too easy, but he was in his element. He even asked me if we could do our garden like Shiney's. Also, poor Shiney. At one point in the day the lad asked me about something and I didn't know the answer, so I told him to go and Shiney. He did (the bird feeder question I think). Once he knew who's garden it was, that was it. Every time he had a question, which seemed to me to be every 5 minutes, he ran off to find Shiney. Credit to Shiney though for being patient enough to calmly respond to a determined 4 year old every time, including on at least one occasion, being dragged by one finger to come and look at something About half way through the day, I got bored of worrying about where the lad was this time, so after asking if there was anyway he could leave the premises without passing us, and being told there wasn't, wife and I just left him to it. I was surprised and amused towards the end of the day when people were starting to leave that by this time, he was on first name terms with nearly everyone, GC crowd or otherwise