We love Kos

Gatwich very early 24th October 2018

Since returning last week, I have really wanted to write about my holiday in Kos. Only because it was such great fun, but I wanted to share the anxieties as a single mum that I had before going out to a foreign country, on my own, with my two children.

Exactly that.

I was going on holiday, to a foreign country, on my own, with my two sons. This actually scared me. A smidgen at least.

Ready for take off!

I haven't really travelled much abroad in the last fourteen years, opting for holidays in Cornwall with my young family. But thanks to the success of Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage getting into Sainsbury's, I was able to afford a holiday abroad with my two sons.

I thought this would be a good way to celebrate too and share my success.

I was recommended Atlantica Porto Bello Beach hotel in Kos as it had a water park as part of the all inclusive package.

About to get a drink at the beach bar.

Well, we had a fabulous time. The food was fantastic, the hotel was lovely, the beach, the staff, the water park.... couldn't fault a thing really.

I did tell the kids I was taking a break from real life, meaning no routine, etc. However, I couldn't take a break from parenting, as they were coming with me, but if they could be good as much as possible, so that I didn't have to do the parenting thing too much. Ha ha! And they did. To be honest, they were really well behaved, and I could trust them to keep themselves amused together - especially snorkelling or going down the slides at the water park. The three of us had a huge amount of fun - especially in the water park, which we visited every day! (I had to do each slide at least twice - once with each boy. Being that bit heavier, I made it go faster lol!)

Anyway, our week in Kos will certainly go down as one of our best holidays. I was reminded why I love Greece. The temperature rose to 24 degrees, sometimes a little warmer, but it was a lovely temperature allowing us to do enjoy the warmth but not hide from the sun as you need to in 30-40 degree heat. And I didn't have to worry about them getting burnt as the sun's strength was definitely weaker. I will definitely consider going away in October again.

So, I hope to take the boys away again soon - if I can get another book contract, obviously. And when I do get to take them away again, I won't be half as anxious about it.

Sand, Sun, Sea and Surf

Surfer Kieran

Back from my holidays, and I know I've been neglecting my blog, so I thought I would post some photos of my inspiration for Tinners Bay, which is a seaside town that features in most of my books (and I'm in the process of writing a series which Tinners Bay will feature).

Last year we changed our holiday location to Woolacombe, and although we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday, except for the naff weather, we missed the beach.

Woolacombe has a gorgeous beach, but where we were staying meant not being able to visit without taking the car down. It was a bit of a trek, so didn't get there every day, especially as the weather wasn't great.

Surfer Ben

However, in Polzeath, where we stay, the beach is only a short walk. So if it's miserable, we can head down for an hour or two, and if it's glorious sunshine we can stay there all day. High tide was growing later each day, so we ended up being on the beach later each evening actually.

We were on the beach every day!

When we first arrived, and walking the beach, the boys both said, "I've missed Polzeath." And so had I, if truth be told.

Revisiting Polzeath has kind of hit a reset button for me personally too.

I've made myself a promise that I must try to visit each year with the boys, while they're still children at least, and funds permitting. I paid for a surf session for them both, (it'll help with some research for me too) and they took to surfing with surf boards (rather than body boards) easily. In fact, the only reason they came out of the water - other than the boards needing to go back - was because they were bloody knackered!

Anyway, here's some photos I promised. I have put some on my Facebook page, but thought I'd share here too.

Two Minute Beach Clean Up #Springwatch

I'm back from my holiday! Did you miss me?

This blog post has a bit more of a serious message with fun pictures of our holiday.

Every year (it was my 11th year) we spend May half-term in Polzeath, Cornwall, and every year we watch the first week of BBC SpringWatch  There are two more weeks of the series, but I always forget to put it on, as real life tends to get in the way, and I want the boys in bed earlier as it's a school night. (Will try harder this year to remember!)

Last week they had some guy (I'm sorry I can't remember his name) on talking about a two minute beach comb. Basically, I was astounded by the micro plastics and how they're in our waters because they are so small to get caught by the sewage system. They're in things like body and facial scrubs etc. In fact, I was looking at my dishwasher tablets and I think they're in them too. The scary thing is I think they're in just about everything!

Anyway, this guy says he does a two minute beach comb after he's finished surfing on the beach to eliminate some of the plastics and rubbish that gathers on our beaches. (Clearly you won't be able to remove the micro-plastics!)

Micro Plastics, Big Problem 

Plastic will never go away.  It can be broken up into smaller and smaller particles, but are called microplastics. Millions of tonnes of these tiny pieces are in our oceans. Investigative reporter Sonali Shah discovers that plastics found in beauty products are killing our marine wildlife, and asks what can be done about a problem that's affecting the whole of the food chain.
Taken from BBC SpringWatch website 

Well, the following day, I did two minutes, and could have spent two hours, if not more, going along the shore line and seeing the rubbish that was tangled among the seaweed.

This human race of ours is really on a self-destruct mission. It angers me the amount of rubbish that is left on our beaches. Some has come from boats out in the ocean, to visitors on the beach that day!

If we don't do something about these plastics in our waters, it will enter the food chain - if it hasn't already! It's killing wildlife, and the waters. And eventually it will kill us!

So the next time you're on a beach, as you walk off, spend two minutes taking rubbish and plastics, old bits of rope - all sorts you'll find - off the beach. Plus your own rubbish, of course. Stop it going back into the water and potentially harming a creature that has every right to be in that ocean.

I urge us, as consumers, to choose the products we use wisely. I'm certainly going to be looking out for micro-plastics in the products I buy from now on. It's better to spend a little bit more money on a product that doesn't cost the Earth. I buy my facial scrub from Lush, which is ground almonds as the 'scrub'. These products don't harm our Earth.

The scary thing is I think this is a much bigger problem but at least do your two minute beach clean! And watch SpringWatch.

Anyway, that's my rant over. As usual, the week went too fast. We ate plenty of ice creams, pasties and cream teas. We went for plenty of walks, made boats in the sand, surfing, and did our usual cycle along the Camel Trail from Wadebridge to Padstow.

Half-Term Antics

As my kids go back to school this week, I notice that others over the country are off for their half-term. The school holidays with my kids are sacred to me, even more so now that I don't see them at the weekends.

I've always tried to make sure we get a few day trips in during the holidays. Everything to add to their memory box as I call it. Something to look back on, reminisce.

February half-term is a difficult one to fill with fun. It's usually cold and wet. This February half-term was no different. But my mum visited, and we had a trip to the cinema, plus played board games like Scrabble. Ben loved it, and I also felt it was a little educational, helping him with his spelling.

On Thursday (14th February), the best day of the week for weather, we went to Slimbridge. I've added Dad to my membership now, as he likes coming with me, and the four of us ventured to the Wetlands to feed the birds. The paths are fine, but when the boys went off the beaten track they did get a bit muddy. Oh yeah, just a bit. Good job I found the wellies. (In the end I had to let them just be boys lol!)

They were given the choice of steam trains or Slimbridge, and it was nice that they both wanted to go to Slimbridge. I worry they may bore of the birds. We will save the steam trains for Easter.

This time we found two hides that were suitable for the kids to visit. (Trying to get them to be quiet whilst serious bird watchers are trying to take photos and 'watch' rare birds is very stressful. Kids just don't get the word 'quiet'.)

We sat and watched blue tits and woodpeckers feed from bird feeders, and then we found a warm 'hide' where we could watch swans, geese and various varieties of ducks on the lakes.

But their favourite bit is that they are able to feed the birds.

I put the boys in their thermals, so there was no fear of them ever complaining they were cold. But to be honest, when the sun came out, it was a lovely, mild February day. God, I hope that isn't our summer over already!

(I apologise for my lack of blog posting - been meaning to post for a couple of days now).