Jules Boutique

Its always a rush trying to get organised for a weekend away, especially as I  work till 3.30 pm. Luckly the kids are pretty good now at packing for themselves and as hubby finishes work at 2pm he has filled the car up with fuel and thrown the bags in the boot by the time I walk in the door. So after a quick change and the all important toilet run we pile into the car.

This is a journey we have done numerous times as we are fortunate enough to own a static caravan on a Haven Holiday park in Weymouth. So, as always, we stop at the Macdonalds, Tot Hill Services, Newbury-by-Pass A34 Trunk Road, which we have always found to be welcoming and clean. This is idea for us as it is an hour into our journey and the kids are usually feeling a bit peckish by then.

Once back on the road it takes another hour and a half to reach our destination but its worth it, the sight of the sea and the stunning senery as you come down the hill into Preston lifts your heart and chases any worries and stresses far away.

Friday night we unpack and wander up to the club house for karaoke night in the aqua bar and a few drinks. The kids disappear with their friends and we sit putting the world to rights with my parents, who also owe a caravan there, and father in law who is staying with us at the moment. Before we know it time has flown and its midnight! We gather the kids and return to the caravan happy but exhasted and are all asleep as soon as our heads touch the pillow.

Saturday we awake refreshed, be it rather late in the morning, and rush down to the restuarant for our owners breakfast which consists of 5 items (choice of beans, tomotoes, fried mushrooms, fried bread, toast, hash brown, fried egg, scrambled egg, black pudding, sausage and bacon) for £1. An absolute bargain and it keeps us going till the evening.

We all then take a walk through the Holiday Park, fields and over the hill to Bowsleeze Cove, an idilic location with stunning views of Portland and Weymouth where you can paddle in the sea, build sand castles and/or watch the jet skis and yachts messing about on the horizon. After we have soaked up the sea air and sunshine we opt for fish and chips in the Beachside Leisure Centre restaurant which does the most mouth watering fish and chips I have ever tasted. Once full we chat, drinking tea while watching the day go by on the sea shore and after a couple of hours decide to start back to the caravan as black clouds appear above us threatening rain.

Its a slow walk as the kids run back and forwards while the grandparents amble along stopping periodically to catch their breath or use a puffer but all have enjoyed their day and home seems a million miles away as we arrive sun-kissed and weary back at our caravans ready for a early evening nap.

By nine o’clock we are ready to party again and stroll down to the club house for more karaoke and alcohol. Another late night/early morning, we are going to need another holiday to recover at this rate.

Sunday we awake late but still in time for breakfast, I hate to think of the calories I have consumed over the weekend but who cares I’m on holiday and will start the diet on Monday.

The kids go off doing their own thing with their friends, like swimming, cycling around the park and playing ball games on the field, we pack the car ready for the journey home and tidy and clean the caravan. Once our task is done hubby and I stroll to the local Spar and purchase a selection of scrumptious cream cakes which we return with to my parents caravan and devour whilst soaking in the sun on my parents decking and reminiscing about our idilic weekend.

We travel the 3 hour journey home with no stops as the 3 kids and 3 grandparents snooze in the back and in no time at all we are back to reality with work looming ahead of us as I frantically wash and iron the school clothes which were hurriedly disguarded on friday. My only consolation is we shall return to our haven at the seaside in a couple of weeks!