South Devon 2014

No Salobrena for us this year - we opted for a hound friendly self catering holiday in South Devon. Why there? Neither of us had been before, and the accommodation looked good. We booked ourselves a quiet place in an environment, it turns out, not to dissimilar to home.

 

As always, the pics will remind us in the years to come of where we went and what we did. The kids already want to go back, so I'm taking that as holiday success.

 

C, a little too pleased with the pink princess in that book for my liking!

 



The weather was kind enough to allow plenty meals outdoors...

After a mammoth 13 hour car journey (free from electronic gadgets in true Victorian parenting style!), we ventured on a rather long afternoon walk through the woods. Great fun obviously had by all, however there was a bit of drama, we'll come to that in a bit.

Calm rivers and flat stones...we spent ages skimming. The bigger boys are getting the hang of it now.

Daredevil boy managed most of the walk on his bike, but there were one or two tricky, or just too muddy bits that meant some BMX trickery were required. I think he liked it...

That brought on his confidence to find that hard way around any trees, over their roots and jumping off rocks and ramps that nature left for him...

... no surprisingly, it ended in tears. He lost his balance on a pretty innocuous looing bit of the path and fell about 5 feet into the water. Luckily, the water was low, and not flowing fast, I managed to pull him out without getting wet myself. Normally, the big boys like a bit of rough and tumble with dad, but upside down by the ankles over a river wasn't on, so I had to wade in to recover the bike.

Thereafter, we ventured around to see what Devon had to offer...parks obviously

A rare breed farm offered the boys some hands on with guinea pigs amongst other things.

Clearly, it was too much for some and the return steam train journey passed him by...

A day out at Bigbury on Sea brought another full day of fun and frolics. Being roughty toughty northerners, the lads (more their tight dad) thought they could spend a traditional day on the beach in their trunks. After about an hour, I took pity on them, and hired wets suits - I think that was the best money we spend all week. They had a ball after that...

Even adults are allowed to have fun on the beach. Clearly, my elaborate sand castle (elaborate, but nonetheless far from picturesque) inspired MPLST to take on a dragon sculpture. How smug does she look?

This in turn inspired boyo to try some of his own. I think there was 5 in total - he's got the idea, but not for the first time, I couldn't help but capture his "concentration" tongue...

The final effort was pretty good - he obviously gets that from his mother.

On the way home, we detoured to visit an old (very old it turns out!!) friend of mine in Lincolnshire. Being as L was celebrating her birthday, our youngest took full advantage of fluttering his little eye lashes and winning some new lady friends.  I think they loved it there too.

I'm not sure we'll be investing in these any time soon. We might visit again soon so he can play again though.

All in all, another fantastic holiday. Lots of hours in the car, but I was very pleased the kids hacked the pace, and the hacked it old school as well. We had the option of staying on another night, but headed back - just as well, as Her Ladyship was required at work the following day, which we were not expecting!
That'll be the holiday over then...

It's All Happening Here

So much has gone on over the last couple of months since I last blogged - I've missed lots along the way. Here's a bit of a catch up on the bits that matter.

 

C started nursery after the Easter holidays. In his little world it was no big deal, he's been so familiar with the place dropping off and picking up his brothers that we waltzed straight in without so much as a backwards glance. This was taken on day one.

 



The eldest spent a month or two looking like a Gummi Bear (showing my age now...)

O has had a really eventful time of it. He did his bit on stage (looks like he was dressed in a hurry backstage). As I've always claimed, looks like the dancing does actually help with the balance because....

... Micro's Player of the Year 2014. Not bad for the lad who still has two more seasons at this level. One very proud boy with his shield and medal.



There was a rare opportunity to get a picture of the kids together as big sis was able to make the event. You can see how pleased O is with himself...





Just try and wipe that smile off my face....



As I said, I had a big birthday in there too - I was whisked off to Monte Carlo for the Grand Prix. As surprises go, I think Carlsberg could have done this one...



I missed sports day because I was at work. It's good to get these on the blog just to compare them with years gone by. The boy who once looked like he didn't possess a competitive bone in his body appears to have found some...and he still concentrates with his tongue out...

For the first time, we had 3 competitors on sports day. Only 4 more of those to come...



This one looks to be the sporty one so far though.





FRS??

Being Home Alone with the lads has made me branch out into the Free Range parenting world this week - so much so that my 7 year old proudly told me that all the responsibility he had yesterday made him feel like a "nine or ten year old." Oddly enough, I've not had time for some years now to read the link and any of the (very many) articles I receive into my inbox, but the gist of it still stands for me. MPLST and I often hark back to the days where we were lost to our parents between meals.

Of course, the beauty of living in the middle of nowhere is that a) you can keep a reasonable eye on your little'uns without them actually realising, and b) the inhabitants of every house within walking distance knows who they are and where they come from. Lots of eyes in such a little space is very re-assuring.

This boring pre-amble is just a little of what's gone on. As usual, the only reason I'm blogging is for Her Ladyship. Any day this week, the pictures could have been the same, because pretty much all it feels like we have done is walk, walk some more and then walk a bit further....

After rugby today (where R scored a try!), and eats in the café (complete with mucky knees - but I wasn't disturbing the mutt just to get them clean breeks), we went for a walk down behind the post office in the village. It was a glorious afternoon, but it was blowing a hoolie as they say...

One of the better efforts of your hound



C has a real tendency to find the most difficult route around trees, despite the path. Makes a walk in the woods last a loooooooong time...

But trees do have their uses...



Maybe we should all take a break? Anybody got a Kitkat?



See how much easier it is on the path son?



There was obvious delight in getting down to this wee shore as access was backwards down a rusty old metal step.



Getting one good picture of 3 children together is one of life's new challenges...



Coming up was much easier...



Side on, you don't get the Monster Munch look...



Shame that the youngest looks stoned in this one. I was all set to get a good picture, but this was the very last one your card would take. Hey ho...



As Sunday's go, or even weekends for that matter, it's not been bad. I think they've averaged a minimum of 2 miles a day walking since the holidays started. Big boy must have covered 4 today alone. After all of that, they came home and played outside until 6 o clock.

Guess what tomorrow holds...more walking. The camera ain't coming though.