A Week away in Clacton-On-Sea

After a series of lockdowns, we were all desperate for a change of scenery so I found myself online one evening looking at what our possibilities were for the Easter holidays.  The easing of restrictions fell at the beginning of our second week off and I nervously booked a caravan break for the four children and I.  With things liable to change at any point, I decided not to tell the children until the last minute but thankfully everything went ahead, so on the 12th April I found myself in a car on the motorway for the first time this year, heading to Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

I booked with Parkdean and went for a slightly wider caravan than their basic option to give us a little more living space.  Our caravan had three bedrooms, a double bed for me and two twin rooms which the children shared.  The beds were very narrow (as you expect in a caravan) but the children all slept wonderfully.  There were radiators in each room which we appreciated on the cold April evenings and plenty of pillows and bedding.  The kitchen had everything we needed with a full sized oven and grill, microwave, toaster, kettle and fridge freezer.  We were assigned a caravan right by the park and other amenities which was ideal and we knew in advance where we were going so there was no check in process.  The whole week, I was impressed with the Covid measures that they had in place.  Everything was done through an app, including booking swimming and craft sessions and ordering click and collect meals from the restaurant. The whole park felt comfortable, clean and well maintained.

We spent a lot of time in the playground and I could order drinks to be delivered to the tables round the outside as I watched them play.  We did two swimming sessions which were 45 minutes long and with very limited numbers and we did two craft sessions which were capped at 7 children in total.  The park was around a 5 minute drive to the beach and we had two days out during our stay, one at Clacton Pier and seafront and one at Colchester Zoo which was roughly 30 minutes away in the car.

I was nervous about being away with the four children on my own, but we had the best week and they were all so well behaved (most of the time).  They thrived on the novelty and adventure of being somewhere different and having somewhere new to explore and it felt like the perfect detox after months of being inside more than we should be with far too much screen time.  I did take my laptop with some films so we could have some quiet down time when we needed to, but we were outdoors enjoying ourselves for most of the week.  All four children loved it and have asked to return there! The holiday park we stayed in was called Valley Farm

For me the key to solo travel with children is in the preperation.  My boot was packed with enough breakfast foods and milks for the week, two full dinners and lunch foods as well as snacks, so that I didn't need to take the children into a shop whilst we were away.  I had booked our tickets for Colchester zoo and looked up maps and distances so I was prepared.  Normally I am aware that I can pop out in the evening for anything I have forgotten but it isn't as easy without a second adult and I appreciated the time I had spent preparing and packing well.  This trip has made me realise how enjoyable it can be travelling alone with the children and I will definitely be booking more trips (although of course it is nicer if Ed can come along too!).

 

I will be writing about our days out in the area over the coming weeks too so keep an eye out if you are looking to travel to this area.

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Reasons to Travel More

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You may be a busy person and have limited free time, therefore, travelling might not be a priority on your to-do list. However, you may change your mind after understanding all the wonderful reasons that exist regarding why you should travel more.

The following list may be ideas you haven’t thought too much about before and may inspire you to want to get out and see the world. Travelling can be fun and exciting and a chance to embark on new journeys that can be rewarding and help you gain a whole new perspective on life.

To Experience an Adventure

One reason to travel more is that you’ll have the opportunity to experience an adventure. Think about all that goes into planning and preparing for a trip. Also, consider all you can do once you arrive at your destination. You can come up with a long list of activities and excursions you’ve never done before and see how enjoyable it is to step outside your comfort zone. You’ll soon feel relaxed and have a smile on your face as you discover new lands and have new adventures.

So You Can Learn & Grow

Travelling more is a chance for you to learn and grow as a person. Sitting at home may be relaxing and comfortable, but it’s not challenging you. When you travel, you can open your eyes up to different cultures and experiences and try new foods. You’ll learn more about your likes and dislikes, and it’ll help you see who you are as a person and what assumptions or judgments you may have had about something before seeing it for yourself. It’ll give you a whole new outlook that will be invaluable.

As A Chance to Fall in Love

If you’re single and looking for love, then travelling may be just what you need. You never know who you’re going to run into or meet when you’re out on an adventure in a new place or area. Go out and explore and give yourself the chance to fall in love by being open to the idea. Visit different countries and see if anyone you meet sparks your interest. If you do fall in love and want to come back home and get married, then you’ll want to look into getting a k1 visa so you two can begin building your life together as a couple.

Give Yourself A Break

Another reason to travel more is that it offers you a break from your daily responsibilities and work tasks. Travelling solo is an excellent opportunity to carve out some quiet time to self-reflect and think about your goals and future. On the other hand, if you travel with family or friends, you can grow a deeper bond without the hassles and stressors from your everyday schedule and routine. You can put your feet up by the pool one day and go hiking and exploring the next. It’s a wonderful way to get a break from thinking and doing and allow yourself to be present in the moment.

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Our Favourite Books for 8 and 9 Year Olds

I am really enjoying reading to slightly older children now, being able to pick books with more of a storyline and I am finding that I often enjoy them too. I thought I would share some of the books the bigger boys and I have really enjoyed recently and I would love to hear any recommendations.

The Christmasaurus - Both boys voted this as the best book I have read to them.  Written by Tom Fletcher it is a wonderful book full of humour and excitement and we enjoyed The Christmasaurus and The Winter Witch just as much.  I know it isn't the perfect time for reading a Christmas book but Archie has been asking if we can re-read it already so I couldn't resist adding this magical story.

The Girl Who Stole an Elephant - Nizrana Farook, the author visited Dylan's school pre-covid, but it took us another year before we got round to reading the book.  This is a tale of adventure set in Sri Lanka and opened up a lot of questions about different cultures and ways of living.  This book is aimed more at 9-12 year olds and I think for independent reading Archie especially would struggle, but he enjoyed having it read to him.

The Storey Treehouse Collection - I haven't tried reading these books to the children, but this is Dylan's favourite series for independent reading and books he happily got stuck into, even as a reluctant reader. He got the newest one for Christmas but there is a whole series and I think they are great for 6-10 year olds depending on their ability.  They are full of fun illustrations which make them less intimidating for younger readers.

The Danger Gang - This is another Tom Fletcher book but I couldn't not include it as we have just finished it and both children loved it.  This book is written as a series of letters, one for each month about the freaky goings on in a town called Freaky and we love how each of the Tom Fletcher books references the others in little ways. (We have read the Creakers too).  We all can't wait to see what he writes next.

The Secret Seven - This Enid Blyton collection is dated and I have to explain words and ideas to the children sometimes (and look them up myself too), but the themes of friendship and adventure seem to resonate with the children as they ask for the books and enjoy the stories.  I bought the collection on a special offer and we are working through it slowly, reading the books in between others (we are currently on book 5). I like the way that the books my mum read as a child and that I read as a child can still spark their imagination now, over 70 years since they were written.

I would love to know what children's books your children of this age like reading independently or like having read to them.

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Little Loves March

March is coming to an end so I thought I would share some of the little things I have enjoyed this month.  It has been an exhausting month, I think after so long of structuring our days as we choose, getting back into the school routine has been hard and with one day of term still to go, the children haven't got used to getting up early again.  Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new month and at 1.30pm, the beginning of the Easter holidays and with the new rules allowing us to meet one other family, we are excited to get out. Here are my March little Loves

Read- The Midnight Library

I had only heard good things about The Midnight library and it didn't disappoint.  Imagine if you could go back in time and change things and see how your life panned out?  It follows Nora who gets the opportunity to do just that after making the decision to end her own life.  I think we have all wondered 'what if', if we had made different decisions in the past, but sometimes taking a step back makes us realise all the promise our current lives have.  It is definitely worth a read.

Watch- Moxie

I saw the trailers for this and it looked like a brilliant easy watch.  If Cora was a few years older, I would watch it with her too.  The messages are about feminism, supporting women and calling out sexism - all things I am passionate about anyway.  It is available to watch on Netflix

Listen- I don't wanna wait 

I have finally finished watching Dawson's Creek on Netflix and it wasn't until a conversation with a friend that I realised they had used a different theme tune than the original.  I really loved the song they had been using, but for the last two episodes, they had the original 'I don't wanna wait' and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since I first heard it!

Wear- L'abu skincare

I was sent some skincare by L'abu and it is definitely helping me get back into a better skincare routine.  The oat milk cleanser is easy to use in the shower and the intense face serum feels beautiful on my skin.

Eat- cheesy wraps

Many, many years ago, I worked in Pizza Hut and for a brief period, they made cheesy wraps, just salsa and grated cheese wrapped in a tortilla and baked.  I couldn't get enough of them, but they didn't stay on the menu long so I have had to recreate them at home.  They have been my lunch of choice over March though, and probably April too.

I would love to know what has made you smile this month.

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Keeping up the Saving Post-Covid

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If you’ve been fortunate to cut back on your spending during the coronavirus pandemic, you’re probably enjoying the extra savings you’ve been able to build up. But what happens when the world opens up a bit more and those daily expenses start creeping up again? 

Well, the good news is, with some adjustments, you can keep saving and make it a permanent habit. Take a look at some of the following ideas to keep up the savings post-COVID. 

Keep your food shop down

Your weekly food shop is one of your biggest expenses. Has it increased or decreased in lockdown? Having all the children at home made mine sky rocket! Not only did we spend more, but we treated ourselves to take-aways more often too over the lockdowns. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can cut your food shop. Eating healthier, planned meals will make it much easier to prevent food waste and make sure you only buy what you need. 

Many people have switched to shopping online during the pandemic, which can be a great way to save money by sticking to a budget.

Cut down on your expenses

Are there things you could cut back on each month? While your gym membership might be on pause for now, could it be something you go without permanently? Home workouts are very effective, and a great way to save some money as is outdoor running and wild swimming, both of which have seen many new converts over the past months.

You can also look through all of your existing bills to see if you can make some savings. Could you cut your TV or broadband bill? What about your mobile phone? SIM only deals are cheaper and offer plenty of data, helping you save a lot of money each month. Over the course of a year, you could find yourself with some significant savings as a result of your cuts. 

Soak up the outdoors

Lockdowns have brought some big changes to how we spend time together. Nights in have had to get more creative, while days out have been a lot more focused on being active outdoors instead of going places. Knowing what you know now, would you keep up these types of activities in the future? Being able to soak up the outdoors, go for bike rides and walks and make more of your local area can help you keep costs down while keeping your family active too!

Reduce your energy costs

Reducing your energy costs is another way to keep up your savings. While you might not be at home as much, saving on heating and other costs, you can still make some savings while you are at home. Unplugging devices, turning the heating down a few degrees and using smart lighting are all great ways to keep your costs down. Looking after the environment as a family can be rewarding and educational for you all, helping you save the planet as well as save some money.

While there is sure to be some initial excitement once the shops reopen and going out for meals becomes normal again, there are still things you can do to control your spending and grow your savings. Track your progress over the coming year - you could be surprised at how much you save!

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The Ordinary Moments // The End of Home Learning

For nearly three months, the children have all been home full time and today schools reopened for all pupils marking the end of this period of home learning.  It has been challenging in every sense, it has been full of battles and tears and I am desperately hoping we never have to go through that again.  I think I have focused so much on our failures though, that I neglected to see how well we have done.

During a time when just staying sane seemed an accomplishment, we got on with it.  We logged in every day, the big two worked semi-independently at times and it took Dylan getting a headteachers award on the last day of term for 'unwavering effort over lockdown' to realise that we didn't fail at all.  He may have lacked enthusiasm which I can't blame him for, online learning is not the best for anyone, but he got up each day and did it.  I got up each day and encouraged and motivated them (bribed at times, yes).  We have come out the other side of this strange period and I have confidence that the resilience that helped us all through the past three months will help us as we readjust back to school routines.

I wanted to mark the last day before school with a treat so we went for ice cream and to the park (our options for a special day are still very limited).  I wanted to let the children know that whilst I may not have been the most patient teacher, I am immensely proud of them all.  I am so thankful that I get to just be their Mummy again now and I am looking forward to picking them up from school and asking about their day, because for the first time in a long while, I won't know every aspect of it already!

These photos are from our last day before school, before I laid out their school uniform, dug out the water bottles and set the alarm for a time earlier than I have been awake in months.  I write this in a house quieter than it has been all year surrounded by the mess that seems a natural part of having them all home for three months.  It is going to be strange!

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Little Loves February

I meant to write this at the end of February but it always catches me out with only 28 days so here I am on March 1st, looking back at the little things that made me happy last month. February saw us have snow which was amazing as we rarely get it down on our little corner of the country, yet by the end of the month the sun was shining brightly and Spring was in the air.  February had two birthdays, Archie turned 8 and a week later Finn turned 6 and we made it through another month of home learning.  March holds the promise of Spring, school and a little bit more normality after an anything but normal start to the year.

Read - The Nightingale

I read more than ever in February, there were books I just couldn't put down and I found myself making more time for reading and watching less in the evenings.  My favourite book of the month was without a doubt The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.  I had been recommended this several times and I ended up buying it without even looking what it was about.  It made me feel every emotion going and left me sobbing and wanting to buy it for everyone I know.  I have recently finished another book by the same author which was also amazing.  If you haven't read it yet, add it to your list! 

Listen to - Hamilton Soundtrack

Every since Hamilton the Musical hit Disney Plus back in lockdown 1, I have been obsessed.  I loved everything about it and Lin Manuel Miranda is officially on my fantasy dinner party guest list.  The music is powerful, sing along and I listen to it on repeat.  I keep waiting to get bored of it but it hasn't happened yet.  Seeing the musical live is high on my to do list once theatres can reopen!

Watch - Dawson's Creek

I didnt watch Dawson's Creek when it first came out in the 90s so when I saw it on Netflix I thought I would give it a go.  I enjoy it but I am not loving it as much as some of the other shows from that time so it is taking me a long time to get through.

Wear - Dungarees

Dungarees have been my outfit of choice for much of the month. They are easy, comfy and perfect for wearing around the house.  My favourite pairs are from Lucy & Yak and Run & Fly.  On the coldest February days I wore them with leggings and chunky knits underneath, on the warmer ones with just a long sleeved t-shirt.

Dreaming of - Holidays in the sun

The summer is still looking uncertain to me, despite the aim of June 21st for the lifting of restrictions.  I haven't risked booking anything yet but I am dreaming of summers spent away from home, even if that means camping 30 minutes from our front door.  I want to start saving now so that if things are still looking positive in a few months time then we can book something last minute.

Eat - Hello Fresh

We were in such a rut with cooking and I think the monotony of lockdown has only emphasised the fact that we cook a limited number of meals on repeat.  We have used Hello Fresh on and off over the past few years when things get like this and it always gives us new meals, more enthusiasm for cooking and usually healthier meals than what we cook on our own! We are on week 3 now and I am looking forward to this weeks dinners! The children aren't as keen so we go for a 3 meal box and they eat separately on those 3 days.

I would love to know what has made you smile in February either as a comment below or over on social media.

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