Wales

Following a lot of time spent concentrating on work, I had promised Richard that I'd spend some quality time with him and Tilly when the market project was over.   Richard had done some research and we'd booked a lodge in Wales, a place called Bluestone - a bit like Centreparcs. 

Anyway, we had a lovely upside down lodge with the bedrooms downstairs and a lovely open plan living area upstairs with kitchen, dining room and living room.  

There was free swimming available in a new sports centre on site, called the Blue Lagoon, it reminded me of a place called Fantaseas that we used to go to all the time as kids. There was a lazy river, a wave machine, flumes and water sprays all over the place.  We all got changed in the biggest changing room I've ever been in for just us three. We took an inflatable seat for Tilly to sit in. We got into the pool and Tilly started to squeal as she splashed in the water.  The sirens went off warning us about the immient waves, we ummed and ahhed about whether to stay in or not.  We opted for the shallow end in the middle, the waves started and we were OK for the first few minutes and then they got stronger and stronger and we opted to get out as we were starting to get bashed about.  

After the wave machine stopped we went back into the pool, we decided to take her round in the lazy river.  The river had big sprays that jetted into the centre of the currents and Tilly splashed and squealed as we approached them, we took her down the sides shielding her from the worst part whereas she seemed desperate to get right in their aim. After the jets there were some large plastic flaps like those found in supermarkets which led to an outside part of the lazy river. As soon as the cold air hit us (it is November after all!) Tilly shrieked and laughed so much, a huge smile breaking out across her face.  She is such an adrenalin junkie - she loves stuff like that. It was crazy to be doing that at this time of year, as we got pushed round by the current she continued to squeal and shriek and then laugh until we got back inside. Richard went on a flume that was pitch black all the way. We had a lovely time.  Still, it wasn't as good asI remember Fantaseas being! 

The other big highlight of the holiday was taking Tilly for a walk in a big backpack carrier.  We've been given two of them but she's always been too small to use them.  She seemed a little unsure when we first put her in but depite the biting cold wind and a very snotty nose, Tilly once again laughed and squealed as we walked across the site to the car.