I cannot believe it has been over a month since we returned from Bluestone

Bluestone National Park in Wales

I had been so looking forward to our break away

Having read so many glowing reviews

There was a real pressure to find everything amazing

And have a wonderful time

Our review stay was Monday to Friday

But then the week before I got an appointment

For a much needed double wisdom tooth extraction

We would have to cut our longed for holiday short

I spoke to Bluestone about moving our arrival date forward

The park was sadly full though for the weekend

But then there was a cancellation

One of the stone cottages became free

And we were offered to stay for a reduced price

It was a long hellish journey to Wales

We left Kent in a heatwave

And arrived much down trodden

In a sodden South Wales

The ten hour journey was just horrible

There is no other way to describe it

It was just horrible

We arrived late on Friday night

The cottage we checked into was tiny

Teeny tiny and so noisy

Every time we moved the house made a noise

Things were not looking good

David does not do holidays

He does not like going away

As we found more and more negatives about the cottage

I felt more and more sure that we would not stay

Our first full day Saturday was not great

We swam and visited The Circus Zone

All eerily familiar from the aggressive marketing campaign

We were now a part of

The torrential rain was not helping our holiday spirit

It was not a great first day

The night was worse

The bed was so small and noisy

David was sleeping on the floor in the lounge

Then in the middle of our second night

Bea was sick

In the early hours of our second day

So was I

I could not believe it

I felt so bad

With illness

And that now David was stranded on a holiday he had not really wanted to come on

With a poorly Bea

And a poorly me

I felt terrible and sure things were going to be really bad

After 24 or so hours of illness

I started to feel more human

And David had written me this

David rarely writes for my blog

I am so grateful that he wrote this

And so thankful that we went on to enjoy our stay at Bluestone so much

That one day

We may well go back

[19:45 Sitting on the step of our cottaging drinking a beer, with pizza in the oven, Esther and William nearly asleep in bed and Bea asleep in the buggy next to me.]

Bea had been being sick on and off all night, and as the murky welsh blackness outside turned into murky grey welshness Jennie started to feel and then be sick too. In fact as Bea recovered Jennie seemed to get worse and worse.

By the time Esther and William were out of bed Jennie was only vaguely coherent when I saw her on her trips in between the bed and bathroom.

Esther and William were up and feeling good and ready to play and Bea seemed to be fine. The plan for the day had been to go swimming but with Bea having been sick and Jennie out of action that wasn’t an option. So I put Bea in the carrier and we headed out to play at the playground / roped walkways in The Village. As we were staying in The Village this was a convenient 20 seconds walk away. I had been slightly scathing of this playground to Jennie after Esther, William and I were banished there so Bea could sleep the day before. But then it had been raining a steady and persistently wet welsh drizzle and everything was slimy and slippy, so although Esther and William had a good time I was pretty fed up of it.

Today however then sun was out and it was almost warm when you weren’t in the shade. Esther and William played on the playground for ages, playing Lion King and Robin Hood, shouting at me from up on the wobbly rope bridge – “Mufasa! you guard that way!” and calling each other “Nala and Simba”. At one point William got cross with a little boy for saying a certain area of the playground was his and I told him off quite sternly, and said he had to be nice to people. Then, in trying to be nice he was almost immediately befriended by a lovely little brown haired freckled girl who followed him everywhere.

William went from being bemused, puzzled and kind, to excited and then very proud. However this left Esther, who wasn’t very interested in the girl, on her own. She started getting herself in more and more difficult situations, which with Bea (who had finally fallen asleep) strapped to me in the carrier, I was having trouble getting her out of. Eventually after one bump and scrape too many I decided that we need to go home for a snack.

So we extracted William from his new friend and went back to the house.

Esther and William watched Disney Robin Hood and with Bea still asleep I gave them some grapes, a banana and a biscuit. Before long Bea

[BEEEEEEEEEPP!]

[20:24 BEEP BEEP BEEEP!!!!!!!!!! Stupid bloody idiots driving around in their stupid golf buggies beeping their horns have just woken Bea up, and I’ve just taken her up to Jennie who is now (I think successfully) feeding her back to sleep. It is hard to describe the anger which flows through you when someone wakes up your sleeping baby for no other reason than that they are an idiot!! But I’m starting to calm down now.]

As I was saying before long Bea woke and joined in the snack time and did lots of crawling around and causing general disruption to the Robin Hood watching.

William was very keen to go back to the playground to see his friend, Esther less so. I was starting to develop a plan of us all walking on the short nature trail to Camp Smokey with a view us possibly getting some chips there. So I put Bea in the buggy and we set off first to the playground. To my surprise Bea was very happy in the Buggy munching a rice cake and William’s friend wasn’t at the playground, so after a very short play I convinced them to come on an adventure walk, through some woods that might be Sherwood Forest, and Esther pointed out, the Robin Hood story was based on a real story he might be real. The insinuation that that meant Robin Hood might actually be there in these very woods went unspoken but was implicitly understood by all.

Fortunately I’d scouted out the nature trails yesterday evening with Bea asleep on me in the carrier (and a beer in children’s sized Legoland refillable bottle). So I knew where we were going, how long it would take and what we would find on the way, which was a big help.

The path to start the trail began just the other side of our cottage, however as Esther left the ever warming welsh sunshine she started to complain of being cold, so I decided we would head back to get our coats and some food.
Back at the cottage Bea was still happy in her buggy, so I gave Esther and William some mini cheddars on the door step chatting to her eating raisins whilst I hastily constructed some sandwiches. They were stuffed into a multi-packet of Frazzles (along with the three remaining crisp packets) and stuffed under the buggy with some biscuits. Esther put her coat on and we set off.

I realised about half way round I hadn’t thought to bring any nappy changing stuff for Bea, but as with lots of things today I got lucky. We set off on the nature trail which dives down a just about normal buggy (and definitely our off road buggy) friendly wooded path into a deep ravine which lies along side the rest of Bluestone Park, because of the steep sides and trees it very quickly feels like you are a long way from any houses (or lodges). We followed the path down over little wooden bridges, following arrows and numbers and talking about where Robin Hood and Little John were, and who were baddies and who were goodies.

I set quite a brisk pace pushing Bea in the buggy and often have to check myself when I realise that William and Esther are trotting alongside to keep up. However with very little fuss we started to see…

[20:55 Pizza eaten. Bea back with me now. Asleep on my chest. Beer number 2 opened ]

… evidence of Robin Hood’s camp. Platforms in trees, zip wires across the valley, and in the distance some kind of hut with smoke rising from it. We wondered what it could be as we approached whilst looking up at high high zip wire launch points, dangerous bridges through thick undergrowth and secret steep steps leading up and away.

When we got to Camp Smokey Esther and William were keen to go inside, so keen that whilst I paused to read the menu outside they already had started wandering in. It wasn’t obvious to me that they did chips (the only food I could be reasonably confident of all three of them contentedly nibbling on). But before I could be certain I followed them inside.

Inside I liked the feel of it a lot, rough wooden tables and benches, fire inside and a fire outside for toasting marshmallows on the deck. Esther and William aren’t massive fans of toasted marshmallows, despite our encouragement they generally would just prefer to just eat them as they come out the packet. And with Bea still miraculously happy in her buggy watching everything going on chewing on rice cakes I decided not push my luck and we just wandered though Camp Smokey passed the cooking / BBQ area, (which didn’t look like it did chips) and onto the boardwalk.

The journey up out of the ravine was the bit of the our journey I had been most apprehensive of from before we set off. When I’d gone out the evening before I’d walked up a road/track past Camp Smokey to get back up to main part of Bluestone. It was very steep and I thought at the time it would be better to come down this rather than up with Esther and William. However as it was nearly dark I hadn’t seen the boardwalk.

The boardwalk which leads straight to Camp Smokey is a zig-zagging buggy friendly wooden walkway which takes you up up up the side of the ravine, giving you the sense of climbing into the trees. Esther and William loved it and with very little encouragement they were charging up and we got the top in no time and with no fuss.

At the top we walked along into the sunshine to an, at the time, deserted field, and sat down on some benches. by a hut and some faceless archery targets. I’d said to Esther and William that we might see some people doing archery like in Robin Hood, so it was a pity we couldn’t see it in action. But they were happy to look at the targets, and even more happy to eat their sandwiches.

Shortly after we’d sat down we saw a group of four or five young children (about 10 I’d guess) being lead to where we were by two red topped Bluestone workers. Spread out on the ground not far from us were lots of climbing harnesses, I realised we were sat on one of the benches that they usually get the activities participants to sit before getting them ready.

However the children all good naturedly squashed onto the other bench and we ate our lunch watching them get their harnesses. Esther and William were enthusiastically asking me and the Bluestone workers lots of questions about harnesses and what they would be doing with them. The children who had paid for the experience followed their instructions and put their harnesses on in a near total silence, which had an edge of fear to it.

Bea by this time was out of the buggy and happily crawling around on the grass.

Whilst this was all happening a golf buggy driving past, ladened with Mum, Dad, Granny and small girl suddenly stopped about a metre and half away from where we were sitting – they had run out of battery. They asked the Bluestone workers for help who radioed security to come and pick them up. In the meantime, they just sat there, all four of them in silence, 150 centimetres from us, watching us, watching the silent children get ready to go on the zip wires, whilst Esther and William chatted away like anything.

I found it most amusing,

After a while we’d eaten most of our lunch. The children, all harnessed up had set off into the ravine. We were disappointed they hadn’t launched from the really really high platform we could see not far away, but curious to see what they would do we followed them to the edge of the trees, leaving the golf buggy occupants still sitting alone in patient silence.

After a bit of persuading Esther to come out of the sunshine into the cold shadows of the trees we saw one of the children launch off a platform and disappear across the ravine into the trees. I don’t think Esther and William were as impressed as I was.

Then we carried on our way. As we set off I looked back and saw the stuck, laden golf buggy start, then do a three point turn then set off the way it had come some 20 minutes before. No sign of Bluestone security anywhere…unless I missed them.

We trundled across the disappointingly quiet, but quite impressive looking Tournament Field, gazing at the pretend castles we couldn’t go in and the giant catapults we couldn’t play with. Then through some huge tractor tyres that made up part of the assault course before running into trouble with William’s sandalled feet and some prickles in the grass and Esther having a fortunately uneventful wee. We then set off back through the main part of Bluestone, with Bea still being amazingly good in her buggy. Down to The Village past a family rugby game in front of the old church and back to the playground.

William’s friend was back! She was very excited to see him and the two them held both of each others hands then walked hand in hand down the steps. Esther was not very impressed and was keen to go back the cottage. William needed a wee so was relatively easily persuaded to leave her, although she started to say she needed a wee too!

Back at the cottage we all had our we’s and watched a bit more Robin Hood (on a loop) and I gave Bea some water which she drank happily. Checked on Jennie but she was still not doing very well.

It was only about 2 o’clock! I felt like it should have been 4 at least. Realising that there was still too much day left for Robin Hood to carry all on his own, I told Esther and William we were off to the Adventure Centre and loaded Bea back in her buggy with rice cakes and raisins. This time I did remember nappy things.

We set off up the hill past the playground (avoiding William’s friend). Earlier I had noticed the excellent Willow tunnel which leads up the path next to the steepest bit of the climb. So I headed for it and hyped it up, so when we go there instead of having to persuade them up the hill, they were racing for it and charging up through the tunnel. We covered the rest of the journey reasonably smoothly with only a few complaints and stones stuck in shoes, and most importantly, with Bea falling asleep in the buggy.

When we got to the Adventure Centre Esther and William opted for the bouncy castle first over the circus room (both of which they had been to yesterday). The main room of the Adventure Centre where the bouncy castle is, was really quiet and had a more peaceful pleasant atmosphere then when we had been there yesterday. The mini golf was completely empty, so with Bea parked asleep at the entrance of it we attempted one hole. It didn’t really work for Esther and William so I abandoned it (though they thought they had done the whole thing and were quite happy).

The bouncy castle was ok (had a picture of Robin Hood on it!) but was a bit dominated by big children for Esther’s liking so we soon went to the netted soft / adventure play area called the Chicken run, or maybe coop. They loved it in there and most of the time were the only children inside. They played together happily for a long time whilst Bea slept in her buggy.

I felt a bit stuck as I couldn’t go in and play with them without leaving Bea and I couldn’t go and get a drink or really sit down properly without leaving them. There were various families around with one of the parents or Grandparents going to get a drink for the others and I very nearly asked one of them if they’d mind getting me a coffee too, but the timing of me being in the right place at the right time to ask didn’t work out so I settled for a Pepsi from machine hidden in a corner. (I was dismayed to find the single small bottle contained 68% of my recommended sugar intake for the day – I had time to read the label, to read all of it). However Wifi was free and worked well so BBC News website on my phone filled the remaining time before Esther and William were happy to move onto the Circus room. Bea woke up on the short journey through building and up in the lift, which worked out well as there was much more for her to do there.

The circus room, part toddler soft play, part toddler activity room was almost too young for Esther and William but they had a fine time. William managed to acquire a little helper in the form of a small boy who he kept busy carrying huge foam blocks up some steps just so William could throw them back down again.

Bea had a very nice time looking at the bubbly fish tower and clambering around. She did get hit in the face by a flying foam block (not actually thrown by William) but she soon recovered.

There were a few other parents in the room who were very friendly and listening to them talk I was reminded of a children’s music something or other which happened in the marquee in village at 5:30 that Jennie had wanted to take Esther and William too. These parents were remarking that is was a bit of a funny time to have it as it was around the time they would normally have children’s tea, which I must say I agreed with.

However as it was on our way home I thought we would try and go it. So shortly after 5 o’clock we left the Adventure Centre and headed down to The Village. We got there with time spare for a(nother) quick play on the playground, then we walked over to the tent.

As we approached William’s friend came rushing up to him in a pretty party dress and was all wordless smiles and holding his hands. William was excited and pleased to see her, I told him he should tell her she had a pretty dress, and I think he did, but I couldn’t be sure as Bea had finally decided she had had enough of being in her buggy.

There was some pre-party music on (Crazy Frog) and Esther and William had a good time jumping around to it like crazy little frogs. Then the music thingy stated properly with everyone being told to stand in a circle and hold hands, William was taken by his friend to far side of the circle and whilst I was busy with Bea Esther joined the circle in between a little girl and her Mummy. The mummy was slightly taken a back to be holding Esther’s hand rather than her daughters but went along with it.

Next they all had to say their names and something they had done that day, William was about the third child to speak and he said he had played in a park. The lady running the show (who was quite good) quickly interpreted that as going on a slide and everyone did slide actions. When it got round to Esther’s go she suddenly was very aware of being on her own and got worried, so I had to quickly join the circle with Bea and help her say her name and say she had walked in the wood which she was happy about. I then rearranged her to be next to William and his friend.

After they had finally got round everyone’s names and activities, the dancing started. This was a choreographed dance of silly actions which William enjoyed but Esther got a bit bored of. By the time it finished I was thinking that we were probably done, tired and hungry, and when the next activity was a game which started with everyone having to come and stand right where I was lurking discreetly off to one side I decided it was time to go.

Back at home for more Robin Hood and tea of macaroni cheese and toast. Full pouch for Bea which she happily devoured followed by melon for everyone, followed by Nutella dip thingies for hungry Esther and William.

Bath time was (mostly) good natured mayhem with everyone all over the place in a very high sided bath. Getting into pyjamas was turning into a farce with a naked Bea busy stealing everyones clothes until Jennie was able to take her and feed her allowing me and Esther and William to have a nice calm story on the top bunk before they snuggled down to listen to their bedtime songs.

Back with Jennie Bea had fed all she was going to feed and rather than falling peacefully asleep in Jennie’s arms was happy being busy biting and wriggling around over a rather distraught Jennie. I took her downstairs and after deciding that she was definitely tired thought I would risk trying getting her to sleep in the buggy. So I walked up and down in the early evening sunshine outside our cottage, with Esther and William’s monitor held to my ear pushing Bea back and forth.

Normally Bea could be got to sleep like this but she would protest loudly for quite a long time, but today after a few very small tired yelps of indignation she fell asleep. And stayed asleep as I paced up and down passed by parents with knowing smiles carrying their own sleeping children home, and she was properly asleep when Esther needed help getting down from her bunk bed to have a wee, and she stayed asleep until the blimin’ idiot with golf buggy horn did his thing.

[And she is now snoring loudly on me at 22:53]

The end.

I will share the rest of our Bluestone Break soon

After a soggy, miserable start

We really did have a wonderful time

We were invited to stay at Bluestone for 4 nights free of charge in return for an honest review