gothams3rdrobin (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gothams3rdrobin) wrote2007-05-20 09:03 pm
gothams3rdrobin) wrote2007-05-20 09:03 pm
Ah those post-Holiday blues....
So, after a long time in bed and a day doing sod all, I figured it was time I posted about the last five days.
Of course, then I had company and so I've finished this post the next day! *chuckles*
My previous entries about the holiday with my parents will give people the impression I wasn't looking forward to it. And there's an element of truth to that. My parents can be hard to spend a great deal of time with, especially when you can't get away from them for any length of time. And add Rowan into the equation and it's a nightmare. So five days of 24/7 exposure to all three of them was not something that filled me with any delight.
In general it probably went quite well. We started Monday morning off poorly as Dad claimed not to be feeling all that great. In fairness, he may actually have been ill - but since he does this pretty much every time there's plans to go anywhere, I hope you'll forgive us for being sceptical.
We got to my sister's house in Dawlish, South Devon, after lunch. The journey there was fairly reasonable; Rowan messed around with his crayons and puzzle books while I had my nose in my Grampy's copy of Eragon. After something to eat, Sarah and her husband Darran came with us to check in at the caravan park in Goodrington, near Paignton, my two-year-old neice Jessica in tow. The caravan was pretty standard as they go, though Mam and Dad - caravan holiday veterans that they are - were muttering throughout the week. Jessica was fascinated with the room Rowan and I were sharing and kept going in there, and the two of them eventually began playing hide and seek together. We took them both down to the little park on the campsite, before heading into Paignton to look around and get something to eat.
Rowan and Jessica on the slide. There's also an adorable shot that my Dad took of the two of them holding hands as we walked along the arcades in Paignton, but they haven't sent me copies yet.
On the Tuesday, we spent the morning in Newton Abbot, making the obligatory visit to ASDA for provisions. Naturally my ASDA-geek father couldn't resist having a good look around and comparing it to Cardiff Bay, and the other stores around here. I had a moment of triumph at the music section, when I came across a chart compliation album - NOW 66 - priced up at £7 when the others were £14. By law they're obligated to only charge the amount shown on the price tag, so I took it to the desk to give them a heads-up. They offered to sell it to me at that price if I wanted it, so I accepted *grin* I wanted most of the songs on the album, so bargain!
And no, I didn't mess with the tags myself! Though a friend of mine used to be a bugger for doing that in the Virgin music store *grins*
After that we went to pick up Sarah, Darran and Jessica again and went down to Teignmouth. The kids played in a very cool park down there, and we wandered along the beach wall watching a trio messing around on a jetski. They've just bought their own jetski, so it's pretty much Darran's main topic of conversation at the moment. My nephews love it too, especially the youngest boy Lee. Little Jessica's caught up in the excitement, so every time she saw one she'd ask if her brother was on it! *laughs*
On Wednesday we visited a Model Village in Babbacombe, which was stunning. I have a whole heap of pictures here. Rowan was running around the place like a mad thing, thoroughly enjoying himself hunting out the various characters from the Letterland series they used as a teaching aid at his old nursery. They also had a model railway, which Rowan liked very much.
Sarah and her tribe couldn't join us on Thursday, so it was just the four of us. We went to the House of Marbles, just outside Newton Abbot, which was pretty cool. Rowan loves to play with marbles anyway, and there were several very extensive marble 'runs' that he spent ages watching in action. We actually got to watch them making some glass birds in the workshop, and outside was a play-garden with various oversized games like skittles and jenga, and this gorgeous tree-waterfall;
The photo doesn't do it justice, but it's metalwork and the base is decorated with all sorts of multicoloured glass. After that we went to Trago Mills, whih is a shopping place with lots of other 'family attractions' such as cafes, a miniature railway and a small animal park. Then we dropped Dad off back at the caravan while Mam, Rowan and I went to the beach in Goodrington for an hour, to tak advantage of a break in the weather. Up till then it had been alternating between muggy and drizzly, though all in all it wasn't too bad. It was beautiful while we were in the model village, and that continued through thursday and friday. I think it also triggered an attack of hayfever for me as I was sneezing and wiping my nose almost constantly the latter half of the week.
Friday was the day we had to check out of the caravan site and - you'd think - head pretty much straight home. Oh no, not with my mother around. Last year, when we went to North Wales, we didn't get back till dark 'cause Mam wanted to call by to visit a family friend living in Wrexham, and this time was no different. We ended up spending the day with Sarah, Darran and Jessica; first at their house in Dawlish, and then doubling back on ourselves to visit a jungle-gym in Torquay! Granted, it was a good physical outlet for Rowan, so he didn't drive me completely batty in the back of the car going home (I hate sitting in the back with him...) but I was very much aware that he was going to be very tired when we got back, and I needed to get some bread and milk in as soon as we got back or there'd be nothing for breakfast on Saturday.
In the end we got home at eight pm, and I put Rowan pretty much straight to bed. He went pretty willingly too, which shows how tired he was.
Having had very little sleep all week, you can bet I pretty much refused to do anything on Saturday! *laughs* I stayed in bed for as long as I dared, and the two of us lounged around the house; Rowan played with his toys while I got to work catching up on my flist. I've read all the Sports Night and Torchwood comms (very nice SN stories, btw guys, all of them - great to see so many!) but I haven't looked at the Due South ones yet. They're not such a high priority, though I will read them soon.
Today Tim and I took Rowan down the Bay for a spot of bowling and some ice-cream, which was nice as it felt like the holiday wasn't quite over yet. Plus I very much missed the Bay - it's wierd how my affection for that place has grown in the last six months. I must be such a sad Torchwood-fangirl *chuckles*
Speaking of which!
I can't stop watching this! They've messed with the ending of Torchwood, and I'm damn sure they've edited it out of its correct sequence, but man! It's so COOL! I can't wait till next month - I really can't!
In summary - fairly reasonable holiday, despite spending several evenings fixing a trojan on my nephew's computer. My Nintendo DS saved my life most evenings, when there was only the first four terrestrial television channels available and sod all to watch.
*exhales* Well, I guess I'm out of steam. More happened than I've noted, but I just don't have it in me to document everything - even if I am doing this in order to remember things at a later date. Back to reality tomorrow, with the school-run and my french tutorial. *sigh* I guess life has to continue.
Of course, then I had company and so I've finished this post the next day! *chuckles*
My previous entries about the holiday with my parents will give people the impression I wasn't looking forward to it. And there's an element of truth to that. My parents can be hard to spend a great deal of time with, especially when you can't get away from them for any length of time. And add Rowan into the equation and it's a nightmare. So five days of 24/7 exposure to all three of them was not something that filled me with any delight.
In general it probably went quite well. We started Monday morning off poorly as Dad claimed not to be feeling all that great. In fairness, he may actually have been ill - but since he does this pretty much every time there's plans to go anywhere, I hope you'll forgive us for being sceptical.
We got to my sister's house in Dawlish, South Devon, after lunch. The journey there was fairly reasonable; Rowan messed around with his crayons and puzzle books while I had my nose in my Grampy's copy of Eragon. After something to eat, Sarah and her husband Darran came with us to check in at the caravan park in Goodrington, near Paignton, my two-year-old neice Jessica in tow. The caravan was pretty standard as they go, though Mam and Dad - caravan holiday veterans that they are - were muttering throughout the week. Jessica was fascinated with the room Rowan and I were sharing and kept going in there, and the two of them eventually began playing hide and seek together. We took them both down to the little park on the campsite, before heading into Paignton to look around and get something to eat.
Rowan and Jessica on the slide. There's also an adorable shot that my Dad took of the two of them holding hands as we walked along the arcades in Paignton, but they haven't sent me copies yet.
On the Tuesday, we spent the morning in Newton Abbot, making the obligatory visit to ASDA for provisions. Naturally my ASDA-geek father couldn't resist having a good look around and comparing it to Cardiff Bay, and the other stores around here. I had a moment of triumph at the music section, when I came across a chart compliation album - NOW 66 - priced up at £7 when the others were £14. By law they're obligated to only charge the amount shown on the price tag, so I took it to the desk to give them a heads-up. They offered to sell it to me at that price if I wanted it, so I accepted *grin* I wanted most of the songs on the album, so bargain!
And no, I didn't mess with the tags myself! Though a friend of mine used to be a bugger for doing that in the Virgin music store *grins*
After that we went to pick up Sarah, Darran and Jessica again and went down to Teignmouth. The kids played in a very cool park down there, and we wandered along the beach wall watching a trio messing around on a jetski. They've just bought their own jetski, so it's pretty much Darran's main topic of conversation at the moment. My nephews love it too, especially the youngest boy Lee. Little Jessica's caught up in the excitement, so every time she saw one she'd ask if her brother was on it! *laughs*
On Wednesday we visited a Model Village in Babbacombe, which was stunning. I have a whole heap of pictures here. Rowan was running around the place like a mad thing, thoroughly enjoying himself hunting out the various characters from the Letterland series they used as a teaching aid at his old nursery. They also had a model railway, which Rowan liked very much.
Sarah and her tribe couldn't join us on Thursday, so it was just the four of us. We went to the House of Marbles, just outside Newton Abbot, which was pretty cool. Rowan loves to play with marbles anyway, and there were several very extensive marble 'runs' that he spent ages watching in action. We actually got to watch them making some glass birds in the workshop, and outside was a play-garden with various oversized games like skittles and jenga, and this gorgeous tree-waterfall;
The photo doesn't do it justice, but it's metalwork and the base is decorated with all sorts of multicoloured glass. After that we went to Trago Mills, whih is a shopping place with lots of other 'family attractions' such as cafes, a miniature railway and a small animal park. Then we dropped Dad off back at the caravan while Mam, Rowan and I went to the beach in Goodrington for an hour, to tak advantage of a break in the weather. Up till then it had been alternating between muggy and drizzly, though all in all it wasn't too bad. It was beautiful while we were in the model village, and that continued through thursday and friday. I think it also triggered an attack of hayfever for me as I was sneezing and wiping my nose almost constantly the latter half of the week.
Friday was the day we had to check out of the caravan site and - you'd think - head pretty much straight home. Oh no, not with my mother around. Last year, when we went to North Wales, we didn't get back till dark 'cause Mam wanted to call by to visit a family friend living in Wrexham, and this time was no different. We ended up spending the day with Sarah, Darran and Jessica; first at their house in Dawlish, and then doubling back on ourselves to visit a jungle-gym in Torquay! Granted, it was a good physical outlet for Rowan, so he didn't drive me completely batty in the back of the car going home (I hate sitting in the back with him...) but I was very much aware that he was going to be very tired when we got back, and I needed to get some bread and milk in as soon as we got back or there'd be nothing for breakfast on Saturday.
In the end we got home at eight pm, and I put Rowan pretty much straight to bed. He went pretty willingly too, which shows how tired he was.
Having had very little sleep all week, you can bet I pretty much refused to do anything on Saturday! *laughs* I stayed in bed for as long as I dared, and the two of us lounged around the house; Rowan played with his toys while I got to work catching up on my flist. I've read all the Sports Night and Torchwood comms (very nice SN stories, btw guys, all of them - great to see so many!) but I haven't looked at the Due South ones yet. They're not such a high priority, though I will read them soon.
Today Tim and I took Rowan down the Bay for a spot of bowling and some ice-cream, which was nice as it felt like the holiday wasn't quite over yet. Plus I very much missed the Bay - it's wierd how my affection for that place has grown in the last six months. I must be such a sad Torchwood-fangirl *chuckles*
Speaking of which!
I can't stop watching this! They've messed with the ending of Torchwood, and I'm damn sure they've edited it out of its correct sequence, but man! It's so COOL! I can't wait till next month - I really can't!
In summary - fairly reasonable holiday, despite spending several evenings fixing a trojan on my nephew's computer. My Nintendo DS saved my life most evenings, when there was only the first four terrestrial television channels available and sod all to watch.
*exhales* Well, I guess I'm out of steam. More happened than I've noted, but I just don't have it in me to document everything - even if I am doing this in order to remember things at a later date. Back to reality tomorrow, with the school-run and my french tutorial. *sigh* I guess life has to continue.