Our Summer In Pictures

We’ve had a busy summer, spent far too much money and now Autumn is rearing its slightly chilly head. So here’s a quick post of the best bits of our summer.
our summer - Weston Super Mare Sand Sculpture

Our summer began in Weston Super Mare. We always stop somewhere on the way to Cornwall and try to make it interesting. This year it was the hotel Bella Vista at Weston Super Mare which was in a great location for the beach and having a wander.  Their sand sculpture festival was brilliant – I loved this one the best. It says

My dad is an astronaut travelling to different planets
When he’s not scoring the winning goal
Or saving people’s lives
Actually my dad’s a plumber, but he’s my dad and I want to be just like him

Cornwall. A fab time was had by us all. We stayed at Hallagenna Cottages in St Breward and had a lovely little cottage at a brilliant price. It was ideally located for good beaches and getting around and we managed not to overspend too. H loved saying hello to Beatnik and Charlie, the two horses every morning. She made friends with two girls in the cottage opposite. They would all go and see the horses, often without Shaun or I. Hallagenna has some horse riding stables over the road, but we ran out of time. I’d highly recommend them as a good base to stay around Bodmin.

Our summer - Beatnik at Hallagenna Cottages

When we were in Cornwall we visited Polzeath which was a great beach – so much we went back a second time. Many sandcastles were built.

Our summer- the beach at Polzeath

On our way to Hallagenna we stopped at Tintagel – breathtaking views. Good walks. Fresh air.

Our Summer - Tintagel

When in St Breward, you have to pop in Coombe Mill, where Fiona made us so welcome (and made a delicious cake), and The Boy and Me gang invited us for a BBQ and a meal another night too. We’re going back there next year at the same time as TBaM gang – H and the boy got on so well! So that’ll be several feed runs in 2017 – H really enjoyed it.

Our summer - Coombe Mill

Padstow. Speedboat riding around the bay and wandering around the shops. (especially Seasalt)

Our summer - Padstow Speedboat

Hidden Valley Discovery Park, of course.

Our Summer - Hidden Valley Discovery Park

Yurtlife!

Our summer - Glamping

Then we got back to London and it felt a bit depressing.

But that was okay, we were only mid way through our summer so we went off to Paris for Shaun and H’s birthdays. We stayed at the Novotel Tour Eiffel which was a great location and quiet. It’s close to the Eiffel Tower which we visited on Shaun’s birthday, going all the way up to the summit. Prebooking tickets is a very good idea as you don’t have to queue.

Our summer - Paris from the Eiffel TOwer

We also went to Le Relais Gascon, a salad restaurant in Montmartre which makes really big, delicious salads. We last went almost ten years ago, so it was good to see it hadn’t changed one bit. A vegetarian salad and a glass of red wine was a great end to the day.

Our Summer - Le Relais Gascon

A cruise down the Seine is a good thing. We prebooked tickets and got to sit and have a quick beer while going up and down the river. It was very relaxing. We prebooked with Vedettes du Pont Neuf. It lasts an hour and you can go at any time. We went after our Eiffel Tower trip to have a sit down.

Our summer - boat trip on the Seine

H had no idea we were going to Disneyland Paris for her birthday. At all. She did not believe us until we got to the hotel and then she realised it was for real, and I wasn’t tricking her.

Our summer - Disneyland Paris

We had three fun packed days. It was crazy. Crazy non-stop fun. When I can gather my thoughts about it I will do a post, but we managed so much and ended up shattered.

We went to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Adventure

Our summer - Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at Disneyland Paris

We did a spot of Princess dining at Auberge de Cendrillon for H’s birthday. She was so full she couldn’t finish the white chocolate slipper.

Our Summer - Auberge de Cendrillon

H did Jedi Training Academy and fought Darth Vader on stage. Shaun queued for over an hour to get her a slot – in boiling hot sun too. What a star!

Our summer - Jedi Training Academy

Then it was time to come back to London, but not before the long weekend, our local Environmental Fair, and finally H’s inset day from school and a family trip to Crystal Palace Park.

Our Summer - Crystal Palace Maze centre

We did so much more too.. this is the short version.

Our summer in pictures.

I need a holiday…

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