And relax!!
We have had almost a week off this week and it has been lovely, although slightly disappointed that we are not in France as initially planned.
The pre-school where I work have also finally been in contact and I have been offered just three sessions a week, due to a massive drop in numbers.
With the return of school next week, the kids beavers, cubs and scouts are all resuming too, but because numbers are being restricted it will only be every other week for them. New swimming rota’s have also been released and the number of sessions has dramatically dropped, but the fees have increased. Isaac and Eliza are only going to be able to swim twice a week, so we are looking into other options.
Here is our week:
Sunday 30th August
Last week we took part in a Harry Potter twitter party and got some amazing themed goodies to review, so I decided to continue the theme with a visit to Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire.
Lacock Abbey has stood in as Hogwarts for two of the Harry Potter films and more recently was used in the filming of Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald in 2017, as well as Downton Abbey and Wolf Hall.
The kids really enjoyed exploring the grounds and the village, where they also filmed some scenes in Harry Potter, including James and Lily’s House in Godric’s Hollow. Beware, some of the houses are very enterprising and sell souvenirs outside their front doors, so take change with you!
On the way home we stopped in Shaftesbury to see Gold Hill.
The day didn’t end well. I always seem to have a camera around my neck in photo’s so took it off and put it on a table. We didn’t realise until the next day that I left it there and it’s now nowhere to be seen.
Monday 31st August
Although we booked the week off, I chose to work Bank Holiday Monday as we rarely go anywhere as the traffic in and out of Bournemouth is ridiculous and Eliza went to stay at her cousins house.
Tuesday 1st September
I booked our first night away from home in 6 months and we headed to the Wookey Hole Hotel in Somerset. We left home early so we could visit Cheddar Gorge before we checked in.
Sadly the caves were closed, but we made the trek up to the top.
Oh my goodness, those steps are a killer and it’s quite a challenging walk to the top, but we made it and the views were spectacular.
We then visited the Museum of Pre-History which tells the story of how our ancestors lived through a 40,000 year struggle for survival during the last Ice Age.
It is only a short drive from Cheddar Gorge to Wookey Hole and we were soon checked in to the hotel. It is all socially distanced now, and our key was waiting for us in our door, rather than being handed to us.
We were going to head offsite for dinner, but the receptionist advised us that they were still running the eat out to help out scheme so decided to eat at their Captain Jack’s restaurant.
Sadly, it turned out that they had stopped the scheme and the food was disappointing, so it wasn’t the best start to our break.
Wednesday 2nd September
Thankfully breakfast was better than our evening meal and staying onsite mean’t that we got into the caves nice and early.
It was lovely exploring the caves on our own and the kids got the undivided attention of the tour guides, who answered all the questions they had.
Sadly the rest of the attraction was rather disappointing as much of it is dated, or closed.
We spent less than an hour exploring, before heading off to explore elsewhere, starting with a visit to my friend Sarah, who has recently moved to the area and then for another climb – this time up Glastonbury Tor.
Thankfully it wasn’t quite as far to walk as Cheddar Gorge, but the views were still stunning.
It started to rain when we were at the top, so it was a bit of a race back down to get back to the car. If it had stayed dry we would have stayed longer, but we decided to head back home.
Thursday 3rd September
Another trip to the West Country, this time to move Kian into his new university accommodation.
His university doesn’t start until the end of September, so he is staying at home until then as he is still working at Splashdown, but it is nice to finally have some space back in the house.
Friday 4th September
We decided to stay a little closer to home and headed out for a walk around Old Harry Rocks in Studland.
We kayaked out to the rocks back in July and the kids were excited to see the instructor Kyle there with another group. I always wonder how much information they take in on our days out, but Sebby noticed that the tide was flowing out and that one of the kayakers made a mistake and got caught in the drag.
It is a beautiful place to walk and we made it all the way around to Swanage and back.
Saturday 5th September
The last day of our holiday and we had planned to take the paddleboards out, but sadly I am not feeling great, so we have stayed at home and caught up on some household chores and reviews.
How has your week been?
That is a shame about the swimming sessions being reduced but the prices going up. That doesn’t seem fair.
It looks like you’ve had some fab days out. Exploring the caves sounds like a lot of fun.
I hope you are feeling better now x
We eventually need to start coping and continuing our life… until doctors finds a cure…
I have been to Shaftsbury and walked up and down the hill all the time with the Hovis theme tune going around in my head
The whole world feels a little upside down, I’d be very cross with the increase in swimming costs. It seems to be the in thing though to add extra costs in for cleaning etc
It looks like you’ve had a beautiful family week x
I am so sorry that such a lovely day ended with you losing your camera! Lacock Abbey is somewhere I would love to go and isn’t that walk way just iconic now?
What an incredible week and adventure you had apart from leaving the camera.
You certainly get out and about. Apart from the odd day trip we haven’t been anywhere but it’s great to see places slowly opening up again. Glastonbury is one of my favourite places and the view from the top of the Tor is amazing, isn’t it? Your lad is a bright spark as well noticing the tide like that.
So glad you’ve managed a short holiday to the Wookey Hole Hotel, I’ve not been to Somerset but it has been on my list ever since a friend went. Cheddar Gorge is also another place I want to head to.
I’m so glad you made it into the caves. It must have been very pretty to see. We’ve done very little in comparison. Just preparing for school returns one of which started last week.
I am so sorry you lost your camera. How frustrating that must have been. But you still had a good holiday with the family. The photos are lovely! The kids sure looked like they had so much fun.
Those steps really are a killer – when we went, I had to keep stopping to take a break! What a shame the caves were closed – we loved visiting those.
Looks like a lovely place to visit and also really does look like Hogwarts inside. We love Harry Potter, all your goodies looked fab.
Such a great post. What an incredible week and adventure you had apart from leaving the camera.
Thats a shame the swimming schedule is inconvenient. WOOOAAHHH! This is the Abbey where Harry Potter was filmed? Awesome!! Oh no atleast you have a couple of pictures like this one. The trek looks like fun. That view does look amazing. The cliffs look lovely
Looks like you had a fun packed week! So glad you got to get away, but so sorry you lost your camera!!
What a pain about swimming. Ours isn’t reopening for normal lessons or school lessons until post half term, but not sure how school swimming will work given there’s usually 4 year groups in the pool at once. N isn’t due to go this year with school til possibly summer for extra chance, and doesn’t want to go back to lessons. I think it’s good for his tennis and fitness, but I can’t drag him there. Hope you manage to find something more suitable for them.
Our cubs is the same split into two. My eldest has his first this coming week. Sorry to hear your shifts have been reduced in the pre school. Looks like you had a great break, we did a day trip to Wookey Hole a couple of years ago and the caves were brilliant. Sorry to hear the rest was a little run down.
I love the photos of the kids in their Hogworts uniforms at Lacock Abbey. I didn’t know it was used in filming. What a shame to leave your camera behind though. We’ve had a similar thing this week with hubby leaving my new camera behind somewhere and losing it. Hope you’re able to get a new one. Well done for making it to the top at Cheddar Gorge. Glad you enjoyed your trip to the caves but a shame that the rest of the attraction was disappointing. What a lovely walk around Studland. Good luck to Kian at university. #project366
How annoying about the camera! Otherwise it looks like you’ve had a great week. It’s a shame you didn’t get more hours at the preschool. Will the supermarket hours make up for it?
Sounds like a good week with the days out!
Shame about the swimming, doesn’t seem fair the prices have increased. Ours hasn’t started up yet as it was ran in a school pool and no permission has been given to use it again!
Oh no re the camera.
Wow looks like you’ve packed an awful lot in before back to school. Shame about the nursery pace and the activities, I guess I understand why prices have to go up, but with cuts in salaries for most it’s not going to be viable. I was fortunate enough to be on set of the first ever Harry Potter Movie filmed in Gloucester Cathedral, met all the stars and had to sign a disclaimer not to sell any photos of the cast.
Oh dear, a lovely time together before the new normal hits but so many problems you faced. Such a shame about the camera, eat out to help out scheme and attractions closures. #project366