Wales Weekend Part 1 Trecco Bay



This weekend just gone we took a road trip to South Wales for a long weekend. The main reason for the visit was because I had got tickets for me and the boys to watch the Monster Jam truck show at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. So whilst we were heading that way we decided to make a weekend out of it and booked a caravan on a Park Dean resort on Trecco Bay. The kids have been nagging us for a caravan holiday for some time now.

 

The drive to South Wales was a bit of a pain and took us about 4 and a 1/2 hours with one stop to grab some dinner given that we left straight after the kids finished school. The resort at Trecco Bay was really nice and our caravan was pretty amazing, a 3 bedroom van that could easily sleep 6 or 7 and had all the amenities you needed.

 

Weather wise we couldn't have picked a better weekend for South Wales with temperatures in the mid 20's meaning we could actually go to the beach. Who would have thought you could travel to South Wales in May and we worried about getting sun burnt! After settling in the first night we got up Saturday morning to head to Cardiff which is an absolutely amazing city. We spent the morning there exploring the town, some parks and having a picnic before me and the boys split off to head to the stadium whilst the girls went shopping for the day.

 

 

Road trip to Wales, only a weekend away but the car was jam packed.

 

Our luxury caravan accommodation for the weekend.

The kids soon settled in and found the caravan very exciting.

 

Holly and Brandon settled down to do some colouring whilst we unpacked everything.

The main centre of the Trecco Bay caravan park.

The kiddies quickly found the arcades and this was the start of the money disappearing.

Brandon doing some truck racing.

A silly picture, but quite impressed with the lighting and timing of the photo.

Brandon's attempt not quite as good.

The sun starts setting over Trecco Bay.

Joshua and Brandon on a racing game.

Asusual Holly was just happy on the 2p machines.

We took the scooters and skate boards with us so the kids could play around on the site.

In Cardiff we found this great Welsh novelty shop with the wicked moped and suit of armour.

Cardiff castle is amazing and literally right at the bottom of the town centre.

Tina and the kiddies outside Cardiff castle.

I think the lips were some sort of advertising campaign for the Rolling Stones. I might be wrong there.

Brandon outside Cardiff castle.

The detail on the clock tower is beautiful.

Holly with a miniature house in the park next to Cardiff castle.

The river looked stunning and made is wish we had brought our canoes (if only there was room in the car).

Tina and the kids on the wobbly millennium bridge.

Not sure if this is meant to be a Grufallo or a Welsh dragon coming out of the ground.

With all the hot weather it was time for an ice cream before heading off to the stadium.

Leo Sleep Over and Eurovision 2018

Last Friday night Joshua had a sleep over at his friends house, Leo's, along with a load of other mates (brave Mum for taking that lot on). Leo's Mum and Dad have a ginormous back garden with loads of quad bikes, electric ride ons, golf carts and many, many cars. So Joshua seemed to have a fab time playing out in the garden all night.

 

The funny thing was with a group of lads all staying in the same house they were never going to go to sleep at a normal time. After playing Playstation, watching films, talking, messing around, pillow fights etc. it sounds as though they never went to sleep until around 4am. Joshua seemed extremely proud of this and was gloating to his brother about how late he stayed up. This back fired the very next night.

 

You see the next night we was around Auntie Nicky's for the Eurovision song contest (which incidentally was won by Israel with an artist that looked and sounded like Bjork!). Anyway Joshua was really feeling the effects of his super late Friday night and ended up falling asleep under Nicky's dinner table - much to the amusement of his little brother.

 

Boys being boys - not sure I'd invite this many over for a sleep over.

Having a blast in Leo's back garden in a gold cart.

Joshua riding on a little electric scooter.

Dinner time at Leo's.

Big boys toys.

A proper tree house to play in.



 

Brandon enjoying revenge on his bog brother. Only earlier in the day he was gloating about staying up until 4am, next he is asleep under Nicky's dinner table.

 

Mean while this lot were all engrossed in the Eurovision Song Content.

First Canoe Trip of 2018

Hard to believe that it is a mid May and we have not had our canoe's out once yet this year. Anyway today we had no football and the weather was reasonable so Brandon and Josh both suggested we went canoeing. We kind of figured why not given that we are going to be away for the next 3 weekends which would mean no canoeing until June!!! So with the car loaded we headed off to our usual Boreham bridge and then rowed the 0.75 miles up to Papermill Lock.

 

To be honest we would have preferred going the town end of the Chelmer rather than Papermill Lock as we desperately needed to go in to the town to pick up some bits for on holiday in a few weeks time. But Brandon always has an ulterior motive when going to Papermill Lock - its called their "chocolate cake". Anyway we had a beautiful, peaceful and relaxing row where we leisurely meandered down the river spotting loads of wildlife. We saw lots of bird life and a few fishes and even found and abandoned duck or swan nest which had 4 eggs in it.

 

Once we got to Papermill Lock we had a picnic followed by a nice coffee whilst the kiddies tucked in to their chocolate cake. Then it was time to pack up the boats and head in to town for a bit of holiday shopping.

 

First trip out for 2018 - looks like the boys have grown and the life jackets are looking a bit small.

 

Touch wood no punctures this year and all 3 canoe's have survived being packed away all winter.

All 3 canoe's rafting up.



Holly still teams up with me and she is way too young for her own boat - although she was asking today!

Thumbs up from Brandon.

Joshua sitting back and chilling as we had a real leisurely row.

Hardly any current today and lovely calm water.

Great shot of Joshua with some river plants in front of him.

Then Brandon's turn.

Finally time for me and Holly to get amongst the plants and lily pads.

Quality time with my little ones out in the great outdoors and with no PS4's or IPADS in view.

The abandoned nest that Joshua spotted with 4 duck or swan eggs inside.

Maybe this swan was heading back to the nest.

And after all that activity the reward at the end is the Papermill Lock chocolate cake.

Wick Splash Park

So in April we had the hottest day for many years and so far the weather through early May has also been promising. So in a desperate attempt to get the kids outdoors and off of the PlayStation's and IPADS I set up the paddling pool and the water slide to have our own little garden splash park. All 3 kiddies loved running around and sniping each other with the water pistols (it was almost like real life Fortnite as opposed to PS4 Fortnite). Holly got equally stuck in and was squirting her brothers as much as they were getting her. For me - it was just nice to get some very aching and tired leg muscles in to the freezing cold paddling pool water!

 

Out comes the paddling pool for Wick Splash Park.

Holly trying to shoot Joshua whilst he bounces on the trampoline.

Aiming high and letting the water rain down on Joshua.

Brandon and Holly having a reload.

Brandon using an inflatable surf board as a shield against Holly's shooting.

Joshua getting nailed by Brandon.

And revenge as Joshua and Holly team up to get Brandon.

Another action shot of Brandon getting a long range shot on Josh.

Holly is about to cop a load from Brandon.