Rory, refreshed

We had a glorious weekend, in the end.  I had a catch-up doze Saturday afternoon, then a really good night’s sleep (aided by a bottle of £24.99 Pinot Noir) and by Sunday breakfast I felt as right as rain. We then took a nice walk along the beach, then had a late-morning swim in the on-site pool, then popped into the restaurant for an admittedly pricey, but absolutely delicious, Sunday roast. The pool was a work of wonder. Two separate sections indoors – one much shallower than the other and designed especially for young children – and a flume that took you out through a first-floor extension and into the outside pool. That was unheated, so you landed with a sharp intake of breath, but it was so warm and sunny over the weekend that it was still somehow pleasant, and my God didn’t I appreciate the warmth of the indoor pool when I ventured back inside.

All the food was delicious. I believe their head chef was poached from a rather chic eatery up in Edinburgh, so it was proper, decent restaurant fayre rather than the café-style simplicity typical of most holiday centres. £12.99 for a full English Breakfast but it was FULL – 4 rounds of toast and butter and a refillable coffee mug, alongside all the usual accoutrements. (I apologise for using a French word while describing an English meal, and actually, thinking about it, I think ‘accoutrements’ only applies to clothing or equipment, so I used it incorrectly anyway. Ah, who gives a shit…)

The caravan was super cosy and the facilities on hand for baby changing, nappy disposal, breastfeeding and the like were all superb to say the least. Sorry if I sound like I’m writing one of those self-indulgent online reviews for one of those awful ‘websites for mums’ but I was really impressed by the whole thing, and just didn’t know how else to express it, so I’m dumping it here on my blogsite. I did manage to speak to the Reception manager-on-duty when I handed the keys in, and offer my thanks and praise, and I intend to send them an e-mail too, but if you have children of any age I would heartily recommend it.

We arranged to go back a couple of times next year, as we loved it so much, and as we got a decent deal by booking while we were there instead of waiting and doing it from home.

I feel like a different man from the one who was laying awake on Friday, and Philippa looks like she’s slept for three weeks, had a full face and body massage, and generally reconnected with life in a good way. It was only a few days, but it’s done us both the world of good.

If it wasn’t for every member of staff constantly trying to pressure you into buying a static caravan and then paying them to leave it on their site, it would have been a perfect break.

RC 24-9-19