Thinking Summer Thinking Holidays

Aaron asked me yesterday "where/when are we going on holiday?" I said "We've already had a holiday" to which he replied "When?" I answered that "We've been to Bluestone" to which he said "that was ages ago". One of his closest friends at school just went to Manchester for the weekend and although it was for a funeral, because he told Aaron it was a holiday, Aaron's now got the holiday bug. So it sounds like he just wants to go away, so no big demands for sun, sea and sand. But give me a credit card and I think a beach or a pool by the hotel would be beckoning me. Either that, or a trip to Ireland to see my Mum and extended family. Digging out the Bluestone pics though (collage below) yes, I could happily do that again. WONDERFUL free range holiday.

Aaron knew in his early weeks of life, 2010, what it was to travel round the country, with breaks to Nottingham and Harwich in his former months:

Thankfully since then I have learned how to pack, so we have been to Ireland lots of times even meeting Ryanair's luggage restrictions. After years of mastering my packing and travelling light technique, the recent arrival of my newborn little lady, will have put me back to square one, of needing everything but the kitchen sink when going away. That's why families love to go to places that have facilities like high chairs and toys provided, which is increasingly the case in luxury self-catering accommodation that is family friendly. That was one thing we loved about Butlins when we went there for four days when Aaron was young.

The times we have gone away we have been burned, not by the sun, but by airport parking. We get stung, because Daddy does short-term parking, when he drops us off to go to Ireland, but given I always go there hours before (the cautious punctuality conscious side of me) he gets stung for the price he pays. A couple of times, when we went as a couple to Tunisia and Malta, he's left the car in the long-stay carpark and got stung then too, meaning you end up wishing you'd got the Stansted Express and left the car at home. There's something lovely about being able to just hop into your car though.

I didn't know till today that you can book your airport car parking in advance, thus making it more affordable. You can block book 7 or 14 nights and can choose whether your parking is on or off airport grounds. Personally I like the sound of the meet and greet service where you drop your car near the airport, exiting with your luggage, with a member of staff parking the car for you. Like something you'd see in the movies! Actually - in Stansted - they meet you in the short stay carpark in Red Zone Arrivals. 

Cosmic ordering really works for me, so I think I might start focusing on manifesting a Summer holiday and just hope that I can manage to pack everything my newborn baby, the lil lady, needs. Summer is far enough away that she will be 6 months by then and bonny, big enough to travel without being too fragile. To be fair she was BORN bonny and big at a robust 10 lbs 10 oz and is now already 4 weeks old since yesterday. Here she is at 1 and 4 weeks old:

I hope we get to go to Ireland again soon. Below, this is my Mum saying goodbye to Aaron May 2015 in airport departures, in Ireland. Our local little regional airport. Crazy to think May is round the corner and it'll be a year since we've seen her. Secretly, me and my Mum have got a dream of going abroad together but I think she's banking on a lottery win first.

Despite not seeing each other often, they have a very strong bond, fostered from her many flights to the UK in 2010 including one break of 9 weeks. We'll have to get her here again to see the latest member of our little family.

 

Dear So and So

One of my favourite linkies has made a comeback. Years ago I used to participate in Dear So and So, and back then it was hosted by 3 Bedroom Bungalow. Thankfully my dear blogging friend of old, Michelle Twin Mum has a few weeks ago resurrected it: Dear So and So Bank Holiday Weekend edition.

So here I go:

Dear Talk to Mums,

It was all a bit helter skelter, 

trying to fit in your 

Friday 24th April Blog Brunch event, 

when I was meant to be preparing for 

my family holiday to 

the luxurious Bluestone Wales, 

but boy am I glad that I fitted it in. 

It was slick, professional, and well organised. 

The venue, food, and brands present were all marvelous. 

I cannot single out any brand for a mention as they were all wonderful. 

I was also very happy to meet some 

of my favourite bloggers there.

I am so sorry that I have not blogged

about the fabulous event yet, but I have enjoyed reading your post:

talktomums.co.uk/mums-doing-what-they-do-best-talking/ 

Jo @mummyblogger spoke and gave some very wise blogging tips, and I see she HAS already blogged about the day:

slummysinglemummy.com/2015/04/30/talk-to-mums-blog-brunch/

I filmed her talk and I've finally 

had chance to upload to You Tube:

It is the first time I have made an effort
with my appearance, in years.
It did wonders for my self confidence, and I will 
treasure the picture above that Daddy took on the morning of the event.
He even said "Mum, look at my wife" just before he took that pic, which made 
my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.
Yours,

Grateful Blogger that you invited me, Liska x

Dear Blog Awards

I've never won one, but that is not to say I 

am not interested, as I am.

I watch the awards with a great deal of pride in the deserving winners.

I just don't like the whole pimping for votes thang.

Don't like it! Don't do it! I say.

But I do so love that the awards bring blogs to our attention that we wouldn't have otherwise known about and that our bloggy friends get the recognition that they so deserve for the work that they put in to their blogs.

If you are a shortlisted BIBS award candidate, like my dear friend Anya is in the Writing category, then I wish you every luck and success. If it will be your first time to BritMums Live, you may want some insight as to what to expect.

Here is my footage, filmed from a round table last year. As you can see the awards are all very swish, and @KatyHill is very very funny

Yours, bloggers awards viewer from afar

Liska x

Dear Bluestone

What can I say, last week was a dream come true.

Our first family holiday, and in luxury.

And it's all thanks to you.

Thank you for having us.

Our upside down house in Preseli View 

was spectacular. 

Love that with the living quarters being upstairs, 

you get spectacular views during the day

and not so, at night, when you're in the land of nod anyway!

Aaron loved it, Daddy loved it and I loved that they loved it.

Highlights were the Blue Lagoon onsite waterpark, that is definitely one of your bragging rights! 

Wow just wow!

How has it taken me till the age of 42 to go  to a pool THAT good.

Can't wait to go again, and show your beautiful resort to my whole extended family. Already thinking of reasons to go again

Oh and I WILL do the review soon I promise.

I was plagued with problems. 
Actually I will save the details of those
for the NEXT dear so and so below.

Thanks again

Liska x

Dear Camera, and your partner in crime: laptop

It hasn't been funny that you have BOTH been full. 

But then my camera has been full for about a year, so I guess you thought you'd join in the fun.

It certainly wasn't at all humorous in Bluestone when it meant I could only film Daddy's zip wire in the Deep Ravine in short bursts, because I managed to free up a tiny bit of memory.

Well here's some news for you:

I am not impressed. And let me inform you, with an extensive background in human resources, performance management is quite my thing, so dear camera and dear laptop, you better sharpen up your acts, or you will be replaced. You were hired and just like in The Apprentice you can be fired too!

I have taken the two LARGE Bibs videos off my computer, and am now solely relying on them being on You Tube. I have done the same with Jo's 5 Blogging tips. I am hoping that gives me a couple of GB to play with both metaphorically and for real!

But having a full camera, laptop and phone, when my game is meant to be social media, is all a bit constipated to be fair.

Until I find a solution I will be weeding out content that just does not need storing, and then ultimately trying to find a way forward.

Yours

somewhat technically challenged

Liska xx

Dear Al Fresco

You really do pick your moments don't you?!?!?!

Just this morning, on the school run, I said to my favourite fellow parent 

"I need a holiday from the holiday"

when she asked me what Bluestone was like. Don't worry Bluestone, I only said it, after fulling filling her in on how amazing it was.

But suffice to say, I have already unpacked all the many bags, and the kitchen stuff, 

but the suitcase that had Aaron and I's stuff in is still upstairs, still full.

It is only Daddy that has sensibly unpacked. 

So that his laundry could be done 

prior to returning to work.

I suppose it did not help that we fitted in a late night to see Disney on Ice on the way home, with me already having fitted in Talk To Mums just before, with that all being right off the back of my Aunt's stay here, which was off the back of Easter which was off the back of Aaron's two trips to hospital having lost 4 teeth at school 

and breathe......

So, back to the reason for this letter....

THANK YOU AL FRESCO.

They have sent me a pamper parcel, with the theme

Holiday from your Holiday.

All my favourite things are in there like Soap and Glory products (their Hand Food is the best handcream I have EVER used) and a holiday themed Yankee Candle, which smells divine.

There are SO many goodies in there, I think I will be able to do a You Tube haul video :-)

Thanks so so much Al Fresco

The timing could not have been better

Liska xxx

Dear You Tube

You are currently my biggest focus, but I really do not know what to do with you.

I wish I had tackled you sooner, but sadly the hubby dropped my Macbook on Boxing Day a few years ago, and imovie was my favourite way to edit.

I am now getting to grips with 

Windows Live Movie Maker.

I am pleasantly surprised with it and wish I had spent the last couple of years playing with it. 

Regrets I've had a few....

Bye for now, Liska xxx

I think that's enough navel gazing with my letter writing now, BUT I can safely say, writing a few letters is a GREAT way to get stuff out of your head.... and it used to be when I used to participate in Dear So and So years ago. Great to be back, so thank you Michelle for restarting it. I guess this should have been a Dear So and So to you!

I am adding the blog hop code now so that my readers can visit the other Dear So and So participants:

Liska xxxxxxxxxx