We’re just back from a week in the Canary Islands (more on POD Travels soon) where the climate was somewhat more preferable than the blizzard we left behind. Our James Villa Holidays accommodation had a pool which we hoped would provide POD with the freedom to enjoy the water outside of her swimming lessons. When we weren’t galavanting around exploring Lanzarote of course.
Much as I love the Surrey countryside, it’s nice to escape to the beach too. We’re kind of spoilt where we live as we can be by the seaside within an hour. West Wittering is one of our favourite spots and I adore all the colourful beach huts down there. There’s a great mix between the freshly painted ones and those in need of some love. This was such an impromptu trip, we left without our wellies but that wasn’t going to stop us having a good time.
It was one of those days where it was drizzly outdoors but we were craving fresh air. By the time we reached Claremont, the rain was slightly heavier but we were itching to blow away those cobwebs. It always makes me laugh as parents we’ll head out whatever the weather whereas in years gone by we’d probably be more inclined to stay in the warm. Claremont is a wonderful spot though, the estate was once a dukes’ retreat and a playground for princesses and Queen Victoria.
We’ve had many great trips to Brighton in the past. Fatboy Slim playing an open gig on the seafront was certainly one of the most memorable. Some 250,000 people rocked up to see him play one hot summer’s day – over 4 times what the organisers expected. Those pre-parenting days seem a lifetime ago although of course we wouldn’t have it any other way. While POD always enjoys the likes of West Wittering, we made an impromptu trip to Brighton recently as we’d not visited for a while and she’d never been.
Just before POD went back to school, we escaped to Hatchlands Park in the Surrey Hills. Managed by the National Trust, there are a whopping 400 acres of parkland to discover so it’s an ideal spot for blowing away the cobwebs. There’s plenty to keep POD occupied from climbing trees to exploring the natural play area which has its own tree house. This last visit coincided with a trail which involved following the story of Morris and Callum – the Hatchlands Park donkeys.
We’ve been fans of the Alice Holt Forest in Hampshire since we moved from London to Guildford. I seem to remember my first visit was in 2011 when I was on maternity leave and we’ve gone ever since. Managed by the Forestry Commission, these woods are located just a few miles south of Farnham in Surrey. They provide the perfect stomping ground for POD what with the adventure trails and natural play areas which have always suited our little climber. There was something a little bit special about our last visit though in that the light was just superb.
You may remember I attended a macro photography workshop a couple of years ago. I distinctly remember the room gasp when I announced I didn’t actually have a tripod. Someone asked what I used for macro and my response was “my thighs”. That was followed was a general feeling of disbelief. I’m sure they thought I was joking. Truth be told, I do whatever it takes to get the shot whether it be kneeling, lying or standing in the rain. Perhaps that’s just me.
The letter from Father Christmas sat on the mantlepiece until POD returned from after school club. She was thrilled to discover she was one of the children invited to help the elves in a secret toy factory at LaplandUK.
There’s much to see in Surrey and we’re truly spoilt especially at this time of the year. Somewhere I have to visit in autumn is Winkworth Arboretum. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a picturesque sight throughout the seasons but when those red, orange and yellow hues arrive – it’s quite spectacular. And the clever planting of their maples, oaks and rowans ensures the views are impressive and last for weeks. The arboretum has been looked after by the National Trust for some 60 years now.
If you’ve visited our travel blog recently, you may have read about the Kakslauttanen resort in Finland. Their Christmas offering provides children with the opportunity to visit Santa’s home and the impressive Celebration House – said to be the largest log building in the country. The resort looks spectacular, I imagine myself there on a regular basis and five year old POD would undoubtedly be off the scale with excitement. But a weekend in a Kela-glass igloo would set us back around £1,000 and that’s without flights. Nearby Lapland could be a more cost effective alternative but not by much. While Finland remains firmly on the bucket list, POD is growing up way to fast. Don’t get me wrong she’s a huge believer and embraces all things magical but she turns six on Christmas Day. Yes I know we’re not sure how that happened either!
