JollyDays Supported Holidays

Twixmas and New Year on the Isle of Wight with Derek, Colin, Faye, Roni, Jen, Guy & Wendy

2012-01-06T09:28:00.009Z

We all met up at Brockenhurst and had lunch in one of our favourite pubs. We even had time for a game of skittles. On arriving at our hotel we all had complimentary drinks and mince pies.
We had very good food and also a great choice of meals. Our waiter & waitress were very nice too.
There was plenty of time to relax at our resort, but also many activities to participate in.
Trips were taken in our minibus around the island and we saw beautiful countryside and some lovely villages.
There was great entertainment in the evenings. The rock and roll group was absolutely fabulous and we had fun with the comedians. All the entertainment was excellent. As always, we danced till we dropped….well almost! Late nights were every night for most, but occasionally others would retire a little earlier.
Christmas day was similar to when at home. We start the day by opening presents and have the usual turkey dinner with crackers and silly hats etc…..loads of fun and laughs along the way!
We made use of the games room and played snooker, table tennis, bowling, darts and some board games.
Welly wanging took place and we all had a go….it was great fun.
Ten-pin bowling was something we all enjoyed and Roy won in his group and Kathleen won hers (even with a broken wrist). Colin’s group beat Derek’s group in their contest!! Amusements were something that some of our group enjoyed at the bowling alley.
Some lunches were taken out and we even had a cream tea.
Trips were taken to the monkey & owl sanctuary. It was nice to have a guided tour which helped us to understand more about each group of monkeys. One of our groups even had the chance to stroke some of the owls!
A steam train ride was for some. It is nice going back in time. We all had a good time. That night there was a big party and we sang and danced and saw out the old and in with the New Year!
Eventually it was time to set off on our journey home. As usual, we found nice country pubs and had lunch.

Thanks & Happy New Year to all

Christmas on the Isle of Wight with Derek, Colin, Faye, Roni, Jen & Guy

2012-01-05T19:51:00.008Z

Our holiday started with lunch and a game of skittles in a nice pub in Brockenhurst. From there we got on board the ferry to Yarmouth. On arriving at our hotel we all had complimentary drinks and mince pies.
Full board meals every day meant no one went hungry! The choice and quality was to the usual high standards.
An open top bus ride of the island was taken on Christmas eve and even though it was cold, we all enjoyed ourselves.
There was, of course, a real party atmosphere throughout the holiday, especially at meal times. Crackers were pulled to reveal the usual silly jokes and party hats, plus streamers and whistles.
Christmas day we woke to open our Christmas presents, which really gave us all that festive family feeling.
A full Christmas dinner was on the menu and we were serenaded by some of the entertainment staff!
Everyone dressed up in their best attire for the Christmas night dancing and entertainment. As per normal, we were amongst the last on the dance floor.
Every evening there was great entertainment from the resident team and also from visiting celebrities.
Day times were spent taking part in games, whether “welly wanging” or spending time in the games room. There we played table tennis, snooker, bowling, darts, chequers and other such games. Some of our party went swimming in the lovely relaxing swimming pool area.
Some holiday makers took a trip around the island in our minibus and saw the spectacular coastal scenery that surrounds the Isle of Wight.

Turkey & Tinsel on the Isle of Wight with Derek & Jen

2011-12-22T12:34:00.003Z

First stop was a lovely pub with log fires in Lyndhurst. We had lunch and had a game of bowling in their alley. It kept Fiona and Derek busy, replacing the skittles! From there we crossed the Solent to the Isle of Wight and had a mince pie and drink at the reception before unpacking. We got ready for dinner and an evening’s entertainment. As always, there was plenty of time to dance the night away before bedtime.

The next day we woke to a beautiful day. We had a large breakfast and decided to visit Osborne House. It was great. We had a guided tour and really appreciated the history and the beautiful surroundings. After lunch we went for a drive around the island, taking in the magnificent scenery. Back at our resort it was time to get the ladies all dolled up for our Christmas dinner and the night in the entertainment lounge. Jen painted nails and helped the ladies prepare themselves. It was a fun dinner with poppers, party hats and crackers. Another late evening of cabaret and dancing were on the cards!

On Sunday it was another lovely day so we made the decision to go to the monkey and owl sanctuary. It was brilliant, as we had a guided tour and watched while the monkeys were fed. It was so informative. The owls were also very beautiful. We had lunch there and then went to Alum Bay and watched a glass blowing demonstration. Afterwards we saw Santa in his grotto and received a present. We went back to the resort and headed to the games room for snooker and skittles. Lily must spend a lot of time at the table, as she was very good. Jessie was doing very well playing skittles! Georgina also played well on such a big table. It was soon time to get ready for our New Years eve party. We were piped into dinner by a man in his full regalia of kilt and tartans! It was another party atmosphere in the dining room. Into the entertainment lounge afterwards for another full evening of rock and roll and dancing before Auld Lang Syne and dancing the conga before bedtime.

Departure day, we got on the ferry back to the mainland and drove through the New Forest and spotted the ponies along the way. We stopped off in a really superb pub for lunch before heading home.

We all had such a lovely time and enjoyed the company of our holiday makers. Thanks to Lily, Fiona, Georgina, Jessie and Jackie for being such good company.

Bruges Christmas Markets with Colin & Wendy

2011-12-19T11:20:00.007Z

We started our trip to Bruges with a very calm crossing of the English Channel on the P & O ferry "Pride of Canterbury". Once in Calais it was just a short drive to our Hotel in Bruges located within walking distance of many of the historic buildings and of course the all important Christmas markets.
Although this was a relatively short holiday, as we were treated to very good weather during our stay, we were able to walk around and see many of the beautiful churches and museums and shop both in the markets and the all important chocolate shops.
Our Hotel has a very good restaurant where we had a wide choice of food for breakfast each morning and for lunch and dinner we experienced just a few of the many local restaurants.
Most of our group went on a horse & carriage ride around the city whilst we were out and all were very interested in the history of the city given to them by the driver.
We also visited the "Snow & Ice Wonderland" an amazing exhibition of ice sculptures this year using Disney characters as its theme. We all thoroughly enjoyed the festival and the -5 temperature in the exhibition centre set us up nicely for a hot cup of chocolate on our way out.
Although everyone enjoyed everything to be seen in Bruges the highlight for most of us was spending time in the numerous chocolate shops trying to decide what to take back as presents or what we should eat straight away.

London Show with Derek, Colin, Mags & Wendy

2011-12-13T09:24:00.009Z

Once we had checked in to our hotel near the ExCel exhibition centre, we took a train to Oxford Circus where we saw the Christmas illuminations. We visited the world-famous Hamleys toy shop where we watched demonstrations and wondered what Father Christmas may bring us this year. We walked to Piccadilly Circus where we had a pub dinner. We sang and danced and had a great night in the pub. It was time to get back on a train to our hotel as it was nearly midnight.

The next day we took the train to Embankment where we went to Trafalgar Square. We saw the clocks counting down to the Olympics. From there we went to Horse Guards Parade and then onto Piccadilly Circus before lunch. It was a matinee performance of “The Wizard of Oz”, which was at the famous Palladium theatre! It was a fantastic performance and we all thoroughly enjoyed singing along. Afterwards we walked through Leicester Square to Covent Garden. The illuminations along the way were lovely. We watched the street shows before having dinner at an Italian restaurant. After dinner we walked to St Pauls before heading back to our hotel.

Monday, after breakfast, we set off for Tower Hill. We took an open tour bus to Piccadilly where we walked through St James’ Park and onto Birdcage Walk, where we watched a military band playing. At Buckingham Palace we watched the changing of the guard. It was fantastic. We have a great tradition for pomp and ceremony! We hopped back on the tour bus and travelled to Tower Bridge. Here, we had lunch before taking a boat trip on the Thames to Westminster. Once back on dry land, we walked to Marble Arch, where we had dinner at The Hard Rock Cafe. It’s a brilliant, lively restaurant with loud music playing throughout dinner. From there we went into Hyde Park to enter “Winter Wonderland”, which was brilliant. As it was getting late, we took the train back to the hotel.

Our last day was another full programme. We drove to Greenwich and walked through the park to the jetty, where we boarded a river boat and took a return trip to The Tower of London. On returning, we had lunch in a cafe in the park before setting off on our journey’s home.

Thanks to Michelle, Sarah, Patricia, Paul, Martin, John, Dawn, Dennis, Adlin, Patrick and Emma for making the holiday so much fun!

Pantomime with Derek, Wendy & Steve

2011-12-12T10:54:00.006Z

We spent a great few days in Cambridge. Our hotel was very nice and after checking in we went for an afternoon walk around the city to see the lights before having an excellent meal at our hotel.
The next day we went for our regular game of ten-pin bowling. It is almost a must on every JollyDays holiday. Cathryn was our highest scorer with a total of 113. Well done to her!
After lunch we went to see Father Christmas in his grotto, where everybody received a present because they had been good. There were lots of great decorations around the store! Later in the day we had dinner in a lovely pub before going to the theatre for our main entertainment of the trip. We saw Cinderella, which got us all laughing and singing along with the cast. It was fantastic and we all thoroughly enjoyed the fun and frolics. It was the first performance of the season and this made it even funnier, as a few mistakes were made. We even managed to get the autograph of Prince Charming.
The next morning, as the weather was so good, we went for a walk around Cambridge and visited the market square. We also saw some magnificent buildings which Cambridge is so famous for! We then went to the cinema to see Arthur Christmas. This was a fun film and enjoyed by all. Afterwards we had an early dinner before making our journey home.
It was a fun packed few days. Thanks to Nalini, Cathryn, Sandra, Derek, Jimmy & Brian for making it just so.

Potters with Derek & Wendy

2011-12-08T15:05:00.008Z

We enjoyed the luxurious hotel, with very large rooms and silver service at all meal times. The meals are absolutely fantastic and the entertainment is first class!
Each evening after dinner we would dance and enjoy the spectacular shows! After the main show we would go to another, smaller venue for more dancing and singing until late.
There is something going on each and every day and our group made the most of this great resort.
The swimming pool was one of the first facilities we used and we enjoyed a long session swimming and splashing around. Gemma was very good, allowing Derek to support her to swim on her back.
As usual JollyDays had a team game of 10 pin bowling and Derek’s team took the honours. Everyone, it seems, loves bowling!
There were regular dance lessons and we joined in a couple of these. Michael was the first one on the floor and the rest of us followed.
Pool was played on several occasions and Adrian won the most games against Derek. We even had a game of snooker!
We all participated in a darts tournament which resulted in Michael winning a medal for being the champion.
More medals were awarded to all of us when we did archery, due to the high scoring from everybody.
We also had a go at air rifle target shooting. This was a little more difficult, although Wendy was the champion lady!
Adrian and Michael enjoyed the amusements. Adrian was a dab hand on the pinball, racking up credits with his high scoring.
Tracy was champion in our own curling competition and received a small prize from Derek.
Potters had an animal show of various reptiles, a tarantula and an owl. We were very lucky to be able to handle a snake and stroke the owl.
There were a couple of fun quizzes that we entered, but didn’t manage to win. Bingo was another game we played. We even had a go at making our own Christmas cards!
During one lunchtime entertainment session we had Adlin, Susan & Catherine being the backing singers for a while.
On our last day, as the weather was so lovely, we took a stroll onto the beach and skimmed stones.
Potters is a great place for all-round entertainment, with 5* luxury food & accommodation. We look forward to revisiting again next year!

Let's Dance & More at Warners with Colin & Roni

2011-12-02T16:00:00.007Z

Our week at Warners on the Isle of Wight was certainly full of festive entertainment and activities as we enjoyed not only a "Turkey and Tinsel" week but also 3 days of dance lessons from professional dancers that travelled over each day from Portsmouth.
We always receive a very warm welcome from everyone at Warners and this week was no exception. Our daily 2 hour dance lessons were a great way of learning a few moves that were put into practice each night in the entertainments lounge.
Everyone enjoyed the dancing and of course the wonderful programme of entertainment that we watched every night. We saw a number of shows from the Warner Show Team, danced to the resident band "Impromptu" and one night saw a very funny comedian called "Leo Shavers".
We had great weather all week for the time of year and we therefore took the opportunity to drive out and visit a number of picturesque places on the Island. This included Ryde, Ventnor and Yarmouth. We also visited Newport for a spot of shopping.
So although Christmas hadn't really come early we all had a great week and left looking forward to the next time that we could put into practice our moves that we had been taught on the dance floor.

Center Parcs with Colin & Mel

2011-11-28T10:57:00.006Z

Center Parcs is always a popular resort with our holidaymakers and returning for this holiday we were fortunate to not only be able to experience many of the activities offered in the park but we were also able to enjoy all the Christmas festivities that had been arranged.
The weather was perfect all week and on our many walks we were able to view the very colorful foliage and enjoy seeing many of the wild animals and birds that live in the woods. On a couple of occasions we stopped to feed the Ducks, Swans and Geese.
Everyone had a good laugh at the singing reindeer that were stabled just outside the main entrance and the extensive decorations made the whole place feel very festive.
During the week we had our customary game of ten pin bowling which was quite competitive as always and having agreed for the men to challenge the girls, the girls came out the winners !!!
Some of us spent time in the tropical swimming pool and there was also time for a little shopping but the most popular place all week was the disco. Everyone enjoyed spending the evenings dancing the night away and every night we ended up being the last to leave the floor. As happens on many of our holidays we were joined on the dance floor by a number of other young holiday makers who included us in their dances.
Again the end of the week came much too quickly but we left Center Parcs having had a great week.

Cuba with Derek & Pat

2011-11-24T16:01:00.007Z

Arriving at our hotel after a long journey was very exciting! We unpacked and had a nice dinner in one of the many restaurants. As we were all rather tired, we plumped for a reasonably sensible night.

Every day we woke to beautiful sunshine. Breakfast was good and a typical day was either spent at the pool, taking in the rays and swimming or looking over the sea sitting on a beautiful white beach. Bruce enjoyed the beach and sea the best as it was more fun with the waves. Also I think there were other beautiful sights on the horizon!

It had been Eugennie’s birthday, so she spent time relaxing by doing some fantastic colouring with her new pastel pencil crayons in her colouring books. Eugennie liked the pool best as she felt safer than being in the sea. She took nice long walks along the beach that stretched for miles.

On Wednesday we took a trip to Havana to enjoy the architecture and to see many old American style motor cars. There were some beauties. We went into the cathedral and then had a horse and carriage ride around the city before lunch in one of the best restaurants in Havana! It was a good day and we all enjoyed our day out.

The hotel had some fantastic dancing and musical shows in the evenings and also had a wonderful water show! There was much music and dancing in spots all around the hotel....and not only in the evenings. It was quite infectious. The staff were extremely friendly and it helped make our holiday a great success.

Every night we had to chose which restaurant to try out.....Cuban, Japanese, Italian and of course the buffet. It was all very nice.

We really enjoyed the company of Eugennie & Bruce and look forward to seeing them again next year.

Tenerife with Colin & Wendy

2011-11-24T14:15:00.008Z

Everyone looked forward to a week of winter sun as we set off for Tenerife from Gatwick airport and fortunately no one was disappointed. After arriving at Tenerife's Southern airport it was just a short drive to our hotel in Los Christianos.
Everyone was pleased with our spacious rooms at the hotel and the dining room not only offered a good time frame for us to attend breakfast and dinner but also the choice of food was excellent.....something for everyone.
We spent the week keeping pretty active with short walks to the sea front, refreshments in a number of different bars and taking time to relax around the hotel pool.
One of our trips out included a boat trip to see the pilot whales and dolphins that swim past the Island and for all of us it was a great sight to see the whales swimming alongside the boat. On the way back in we were also delighted to spot dolphins as well.
We hired a minibus for a couple of days and ventured out into the mountains to first take in the amazing sights of Tenerifes notorious volcano, Teide and then we drove to a little village called Masca, high in the mountains beyond Los Gigantes that is only accessed by a very narrow winding road......Amazing scenery !!!
On another day we spent our time in the Jungle Park, which claims to be the only jungle in Europe. We had a great time watching the bird shows and seeing many animals, including Leopards, jaguars pumas and 2 very rare white lions.
A couple of evenings we went into the main street of Los Christianos and Las Americas but most nights we enjoyed the varied entertainment that was performed at our hotel.
The perfect weather that we had just made the whole week go much too fast and non of us were keen to return to wet and windy England.

Potters with Colin & Roni

2011-11-05T16:28:00.013Z

This was a return to Potters for some of the group after many years. And how things have changed! After much investment Potters Leisure Resort really is a top class destination. Upon arrival we explored the facilities the resort had to offer.

The Garden restaurant at the resort was very nice and offers an excellent choice of food. Most days we headed to the Atlas Theatre to watch the evening’s entertainment and to do some dancing before bed.

We drove into Great Yarmouth, where we played ten pin bowling. We all had great fun and Fiona emerged as our champion. A fish & chips lunch was followed by a walk to the shops for postcards and a walk along the seafront. There's so much to see and do in Great Yarmouth that we returned two days later!

We made the most of what Potters had to offer, including Crazy Golf and swimming in the pool. The entertainment in the evenings was really excellent - of particular note was the comedian, who had us all laughing.

We also drove into Norwich, where we spent a long time exploring Norwich Castle, looking at the displays and also having lunch there. We went for a walk through Norwich town passing through the market before returning to Potters.

On our last day we drove back to Norwich so that we could explore the wonderful Cathedral. The food and entertainment at Potters was first rate, and we all enjoyed a great holiday.

Florida with Colin & Pat

2011-11-05T13:20:00.012Z

Our 15 day holiday to Florida was eagerly awaited by everyone who looked forward to a special trip full of fun and excitement and I have to say that everyone had a fabulous time. After all meeting up and checking in at Gatwick airport it wasn’t long before we started our adventure when we boarded our Virgin Atlantic flight to Orlando.

Upon arrival we collected our 15 seater bus and headed off to our 2 villas that were located just 15 minutes from Disneyland. Everyone was pleased with our spacious accommodation and happy that everyone had their own rooms and that not only were the 2 villas next to each other but they also had their own swimming pools.

During our stay in Florida we ventured out to the parks on 9 of the days that we were there, visiting The Magic Kingdom.....Disney Studios.....Disney Animal Kingdom.....Epcot.....Sea World.....Islands of Adventure......Universal Studios and the highlight of our trip Discovery Cove, where we were all lucky enough to swim with the dolphins!!!! Our dolphin’s name was Diego and even those amongst us that couldn’t swim very well were helped to fully partake in the experience. What a great day we all had!!!

We were also very lucky to have great weather for the time that we were in Florida. Over the 15 days we only had 2 short showers and the temperature was ideal for our entire group.

In the parks everyone enjoyed many of the rides....those that all could participate in such as A Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted House etc and then there were the rides that just a few dared to go on such as Space Mountain and The Hulk!! One of the favourites enjoyed by all was the ever popular E.T. and I have to say that Pat’s favourite was Harry Potter!! We also saw many shows, from a country Bear Jamboree to the brilliant stunt shows. We all got wet in the rapids at Animal Kingdom, loved the Safari experience where we saw many animals up close, were entertained by the whales, dolphins and sea lions in Sea World and of course were thrilled to meet Mickey, Minnie and friends in several of the parades.

We had several BBQs around the pool and travelled out to a number of restaurants which included a very nice Spanish/Cuban restaurant in the town of Celebration, but that was probably just tipped by the Irish pub in Downtown Disney where we had a great night celebrating Carina’s birthday.

Even though we managed to do so much everyone was unanimous that they would love to return to Florida and a few didn’t even want to return home.

We certainly had a fabulous holiday to remember and I for one am looking forward to our return next year!!!

New Forest Ponies & Dorset Coast with Derek, Wendy & Guy

2011-10-31T11:52:00.005Z

We arrived at our lovely country park setting in the forest, unpacked and organised ourselves for a nice dinner at a local country pub.

The next day we had a good walk around the park and played pool and air hockey. After lunch we went bowling. Neil scored an amazing 133 points! We had a nice dinner at home before ending the evening on the dance floor in our club.

Wednesday we went for a morning swim and then onto Beaulieu after lunch. It was a fantastic day (the best of the week) and we all thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful collection of old cars. We had a ride in an old double decker bus which took us to the manor house. At the end of the house tour we listened to the butler telling his ghost stories....well it was nearly Halloween! Again we found a country pub for dinner and as always, spent the late evening in our club dancing until late.

Thursday it rained for much of the day, but that did not dampen our spirits. We went for a drive to Sandbanks and went across to Studland on the chain ferry. Then we drove into Swanage and onto Corfe Castle. We stopped for a cream tea before getting a ride on a steam train back to Swanage. Megan, Mikey & Gary were allowed up on the engine plate to see the engines workings and coal fire. It was our usual evening of dinner at another local pub before dancing the night away.

Friday was a sunny day and we packed and went off for a drive through the beautiful forest. We spotted cattle & ponies and made time for an ice cream. We had a nice lunch on our journey home before we said our farewells.

Isle of Wight with Derek & Wendy

2011-10-24T09:52:00.006+01:00

With such beautiful weather it was the perfect place for a holiday. We lunched at lovely pubs and cafes, ate cream teas and enjoyed fine dining in the evenings! Every day was started with a full English breakfast and that set us all up for a busy day ahead.

Making the most of the weather, we spent our first day at Osborne House and revelled in the fantastic grounds and the marvellous house. We had a horse and carriage ride, which Michael loved. Later that day we went for a drive along the south coast, taking in the beauty of the coast line from Old Shanklin all the way to Freshwater. Naturally we had to stop for an ice cream!

The next day we headed for the donkey sanctuary and were lucky enough to get to stroke some. The highlight of the day was our ride on the steam railway and both John and Michael were allowed up on the engine plate to get a feeling of being the driver. Back at the resort, Michael & Derek went for a swim before dinner.

The following day we first went to Allum bay and filled our shapes with the coloured sand and afterwards went to see the glass blowing demonstration. We then went off to the Botanical gardens and enjoyed a walk through the lovely grounds before going to see the wonderful Waltzing Waters. It’s amazing how water, lights and music can be so entertaining!

Every night was filled with show time, comedy and dancing. It’s a great place to spend an evening until late, making sure we are all tired for a good nights sleep.

Our last day, we travelled back on the ferry and into the New Forest for a drive through the great landscape. We looked out for ponies, donkeys and even deer. Our last lunch was at a nice pub in the forest area and from there it was homeward bound.

Amsterdam with Derek & Roni

2011-10-17T09:50:00.007+01:00

After checking into our hotel we went for a walk and dined at a lovely pub in Waterloo Plein.

After a nice breakfast we headed off into the city passing the flea market where some gifts were bought. We continued to walk towards Dam Square whilst taking in the sights of lovely shops, canals & barges. Before lunch we took a horse and carriage ride around the city. After lunch we walked around the flower market and stopped in a cheese shop to sample the goods. A few more gifts were purchased. Josephine had a lucky day and received three free gifts; the Dutch people are so friendly! That evening we went t o a really nice restaurant and met with two of Derek’s Dutch friends. After dinner we found ourselves a nice small bar and made even more friends. Robin has a new pen-friend!

The next day we awoke to a beautiful day and went for a walk into the “Red Light” district, where we all had a laugh and giggle at the sights. It was great fun! We stopped for refreshments as we walked the streets. Lunch was taken in Dam Square in the sunshine before heading off for a boat ride on the canals. It really is a beautiful city and we all enjoyed the rest. Unfortunately, Josephine wasn’t feeling so good that night, so Roni stayed behind and the girls ate in while the boys went for a night out. The guys went for dinner in a really nice Irish pub (Michael likes his Guinness) and then moved through the city, again taking in the sights before ending up in the same bar as the previous night. It was nice and relaxing.

All was well and the sun was shining again on Friday. We had time to kill, so we walked through the shopping areas and bought some more presents for ourselves, family & friends! We said our goodbyes to Amsterdam and set off on our journey home. As usual, onboard our ferry we had a very nice dinner in Langans Brasserie.
It was a fun packed few days and there was a lot of laughter and fun was had by all. We met some very nice people and that was all down to Robin, Josephine and Michael.

Blackpool with Derek & Wendy

2011-10-13T15:56:00.005+01:00

On our first night we went to a nice country pub for dinner before retiring to our very comfortable accommodation as we were all tired after our long day.

Tuesday we spent acquainting ourselves with the surroundings of our village before heading off to Blackpool and doing a little shopping. We went to the Winter Gardens for lunch, where there was live music playing in one of the bars. In the evening we had dinner at home before going to the clubhouse for a night of dancing and a game of pool. Paul was very good and had a competition with Derek. We were equal, so no winners or losers! Christine excelled on the dance floor and won a bottle of fizz.

The next day, after a big breakfast Trevor went swimming, while Christine, Ian and Paul played crazy golf. Paul won, although it was a tight game. After lunch we went for a game of 10 pin bowling. It was great fun and the scores were high! That evening we dined at a local Indian restaurant where everybody seemed to enjoy a really good meal. It is always good to experience different foods! We spent the rest of the night at our club singing and dancing.

On Thursday we went to Lytham and spent some time on the pier playing in the arcade before heading back to Blackpool to visit the Tower. Inside the Ballroom we had lunch before stepping out and showing off our silky skills on the dance floor. Afterwards we went to see the circus. It was fantastic. We all thoroughly enjoyed today. That night we went to dinner at one of the best fish & chip shops in Lytham. After dinner we drove on to Blackpool once again, this time to see the fantastic light show. The illuminations go on for miles and although it was raining, it didn’t spoil the show! We finished off the evening back at our club.

Friday was packing day and after breakfast we set off on our journey home. We stopped off at a nice country pub for lunch before saying our fond farewells as we dropped one after the other home.

Spanish Costas with Colin & Mags

2011-10-11T11:22:00.007+01:00

We stayed at the Hotel "Beatriz Palace & Spa", and everyone was delighted with our spacious rooms, all of which had a fabulous view looking out to sea. Breakfast in the Hotel was a buffet - and we certainly ate well this week!

The weather was perfect for our holiday, nice and sunny but not too hot. Most days we spent time in the pool, relaxing and soaking up the sun. We also had some great shopping experiences in the towns of Fuengirola and "Mijas". Mijas is an old and quaint little town in the hills behind Fuengirola.

One day was spent at Benalmadena, another nice resort along the coast from our Hotel. We walked around the very pretty Marina and had planned to go out on a boat but the sun was so hot and the boats had very little shade we decided it better not to go.

It was Tony's birthday while we were away. So everyone signed a card for him and at breakfast he opened the small presents that we had bought for him. After breakfast we drove to Marbella – a lovely place with many shops and bars. At dinner one of the waiters (Daniel) had arranged for a Birthday cake for Tony and we all sang Happy Birthday whist he blew out the candles.

Butlins with Derek, Jan and Pat

2011-10-02T09:34:00.008+01:00

After checking in and unpacking we had a walk around to get familiar with our new settings. We then got ready to go out to a very nice pub and had our dinner. Then, we went back to Butlins for the evening and enjoyed watching and listening to a “Kylie” tribute and danced the night away.

The next day we went swimming and Gareth was brave enough to go down the flumes and on the raft. Jon did very well too, trying his best to swim a few strokes. Later in the day we went to the mini golf course and played nine holes. Dinner was in another local pub and then it was off to Centre Stage for the evening’s entertainment and to listen to Storm. Some of the guys bought CD’s.

After a hearty breakfast we took a stroll along the prom in the lovely sunshine. We had ice creams and stopped off for a drink. There were people in the sea and we watched the kite surfers! After lunch we went to the fun fair and Gareth and Robbie practiced being Louis Hamilton and Jenson Button on the go-karts. Chris took to the bumper cars and flew round the ring. We all had a good time. In the evening, after dinner at the Yacht Club we were off to Reds for the night. First up was a “Robbie” tribute who was fantastic! He even came off the stage and danced with us all. Then it was another tribute act. We danced to the Blues Brothers. Wow, what a great time we were having.

The next day we went bowling and although Derek’s team beat Jen’s team, Chris had the highest score of 110. Well done Chris. After lunch we went to the games room and had a long session of snooker. It must have been one of the longest games in the history of snooker.....off to the table tennis table where Chris, Jon and Lesley excelled. Dinner was again at the Yacht Club and we again went to Reds for the night’s entertainment. Dancing went on until late.

Our last day and after a big breakfast it was time to pack and once done it was a quick mooch to the shops for last minute shopping. We stopped for a drink and as it was Andy’s birthday the next day, we had a present opening! Off we went on our journey home. On the way we stopped off at a nice pub for a good lunch and then it was time to hit the road and do battle with the normal Friday evening traffic.

EuroDisney with Colin and Wendy

2011-09-30T16:52:00.007+01:00

With good weather, our holiday began with a beautiful drive through the French countryside to our accommodation. After checking in to the “Cheyenne Hotel” on the Disney Park, it was a quick unpack, wash and brush up before we caught the bus to the Disney Village.

On consecutive days we were greeted at the Disney Park by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Over the whole holiday we were lucky enough to meet over a dozen Disney characters - making sure to get their autograph as well as a photo!

This was a particularly active holiday to Disneyland Paris for us. We went on many rides, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Small World, Teacups, Carousel and Toy Story Parachute. We also watched the Main Parade and the Auto Parade, seeing all our favourite Disney characters. We also took the Disney train ride around the Park.

We also visited the Disney Studios Park. Here we watched the excellent stunt show, another real highlight. The tram ride to the backstage experience was also very interesting. This evening we ventured away from the Disney Village for dinner, finding a nice Italian restaurant where we enjoyed our last night together before heading home in the morning.

Blackpool with Derek, Colin, Pat and Roni

2011-09-26T12:39:00.007+01:00

Although it was a long journey up the length of England for most of us,we made the most of the trip, stopping at a very nice country pub just outside Nottingham for lunch. We knew the drive was well worth it as we arrived at the beautiful and spacious cottage accommodation.
We were fortunate to have reasonable weather all week which allowed us to enjoy Blackpool both during the day and of course to experience the very extensive and colourful alluminations.
During the week we visited the famous old Blackpool Ballroom where all of us stepped out for a dance and of course we visited both the shops and the pier where e few of us braved the rides.
We always manage to find time for a game of Ten Pin Bowling and everyone did their best to beat Colin and Derek in knocking down the pins although on this day it wasnt too difficult to do.
Our accomodation has several activities that we made use of amongst which several went swimming and all enjoyed finishing the day in the Bar & Gril, dancing until closing time.javascript:void(0)
A number of our holiday makers had been to Blackpool before and thoroughly enjoyed re-visiting the area. Those that were visiting the area for the first time all enjoyed the holiday and vowed to return again next year.

Butlins with Derek, Pat, Steve, Janette & Roni

2011-09-18T10:43:00.008+01:00

After arriving at Minehead, we settled into our accommodation and refreshed ourselves before going for dinner at a local pub. The night was then spent watching the tribute Take That group and dancing until late.

After a hearty breakfast we acquainted ourselves with the Butlins site and arranged for a game of bowling in the afternoon. Bowling was great fun and there was some very good scoring. Later in the day some of the ladies went shopping for some glitz while others had some fun at the fair. David was brave enough to go on the trampoline! Dinner was at another lovely country pub and then it was off to dance floor to watch an Abba tribute group and to have a sing along.

Shopping therapy was the order of the day, with a walk through the lovely gardens of Minehead for some, while others went swimming and rides on the inflatables down the flumes. It was a first for John, Mandy & Debbie. After lunch we drove through the lovely countryside of Exmoor and saw ponies & sheep. It was a beautiful day and we stopped off for an ice cream with the stunning coastline backdrop. The trip took us to Lynmouth where we took a stroll through the town and stopped at a fudge shop for gifts and just to indulge ourselves. We had a fish & chip dinner before returning to Butlins for a soul night and more dancing.

Thursday was a day of playing the slot machines in the morning and bowling in the afternoon. Yet another good game and it was a tight finish. However, Derek’s team just edged it for first place! Late afternoon was time for the ladies to have some more beauty therapy before going off to another very nice country pub for dinner. It was well recommended, Pat having been there before. We had both Kenny and Keith with birthdays in the next day or so, so they received the cards and presents from everybody with all of our best wishes. That night we went into both clubs and ended up dancing to the tribute Blues Brothers. It was fab. David even managed to grab the compares mike and gave us all a rendition on his mouth organ and also gave the audience a song. They all clapped and cheered.

Our last morning and the guys fancied a game of snooker before setting off for lunch and a long journey home.

It was a very successful week with everyone enjoying themselves. New friendships were made and we look forward to seeing you all next year, if not before! Thanks to Andrew, Kenny, Keith, John, David, Neil, Maxine, Caroline, Mandy, Debbie, Christine, Jackie, Barbara & Lee for being such a great group.

Steam Trains & Boats in France with Derek & Pat - September 2011

2011-09-11T08:21:00.007+01:00

We had a great time in France, even though the weather was not kind for most of the week.
Our gite (farmhouse) was fantastic, with lovely enclosed grounds and a games room with a snooker table & table tennis.
After arriving Sunday, we did the usual unpacking and getting ourselves acquainted with the house before setting off for our first restaurant of the week!
Monday was a day of playing snooker & table tennis before taking in the chocolate factory, which was very interesting. Naturally, we took the opportunity to buy some goodies!! We went for a drive to the coast where Pat & Justin braved the wind for a quick walk on the beach. The evening was spent at home with a curry and some games.
On Tuesday, we went to Nausicaa. It is a great aquarium and we all enjoyed looking at the beautiful fish, sharks, sea-lions & crocodiles. We also stroked the Wrays before buying soem souvenirs in the gift shop. In the evening we went to Montreuil for dinner.
Wednesday we ventured to the underground city of Naours. It was fascinating to walk below ground and trying to imagine what life must have been like in hiding. It was, of course, quite cold underground and the caves went on for what seemed like miles! Afterwards we had our picnic and went home for a dinner of roast beef and all the trimmings made by our Pat.
The next day we took a trip to St Valery and had a nice long walk along the prom where we saw some boats and made arrangements for our steam train ride. Lunch was at a nice cafe and afterwards we looked around the shops and bought a few more gifts. The train ride was much fun and at the end we were allowed up onto the plate of the engine....John even got to wear a beret! On the way home Justin managed to get his tractor count up to 53 for the day!!!!!!
Friday was a day for Le Touquet where we wandered around the shops and along the prom. We stopped in a cafe before taking our time to enjoy the classic cars that were taking part in a rally. We all chose a car that we liked the most and had our photographs taken. There was a band playing and we enjoyed listening and having a jig to their music. Dinner was at one of our favourite restaurants where we all enjoyed some French hospitality.
Saturday was home time, but first off to Le Touquet again for the market. Off to Calais for our ferry home and late lunch was at our usual spot in Langans Brasserie where we enjoyed a relaxing meal in comfort.
We all had a great time and it was made possible with such a lovely group of people. Thanks to Samantha, John, Justin, Tracey & Kenny for not moaning too much about the weather!!

Derek & Pat

Norfolk Broads with Colin & Roni

2011-09-07T10:36:00.007+01:00

Our week on the Norfolk Broads was a new experience for many of our holiday makers, some of whom had not even been out in a boat before.
Even though the weather wasn't the best for the time of year it did stay dry for most of the week and we experienced many trips out both on the water and into the countryside. We also ventured into Great Yarmouth on three occasions for fun packed evenings, some of the entertainment having not previously been attended by any of us before.
We started the week going out onto the Broads in a sail boat and most of us took a turn at both controlling the tiller and also handling the rigging. Everyone did a good job and all enjoyed the experience. During the week we also had a days cruise around the Broads, stopping for lunch at a riverside pub, and everyone took to the paddles when we went out rowing.
Our trip out on a steam train was also enjoyed by everyone and somehow we also managed to fit in a stroll in the countryside to find our local Boardwalk and a trip to the shops for the customary presents and souvenirs.
We went out every night and enjoyed Greyhound racing, Stock Car Banger racing another a very competitive night 10 pin bowling, which was briefly interrupted by a great firework display for the end of the season in Yarmouth and a couple of country pub diners.
By the end of the week everyone had had a thoroughly good time and enjoyed all the activities that we managed to squeeze in.

Out & About on the Isle of Wight with Derek, Mags & Pat

2011-09-05T20:39:00.006+01:00

We took the scenic route through the New Forest and spotted donkeys as well as many ponies, some with foals! It was very beautiful. Having checked into our rooms we set off for an evening of dinner and cabaret, followed by disco dancing until late!

On Tuesday we went to the Botanical gardens and walked through the lovely flowers and trees. We had a nice lunch in the cafe before driving along the gorgeous coast line and of course stopping for an ice cream. After dinner we watched the in-house cabaret and the guest one man band. As usual we all danced the night away!

Wednesday we set off to Osborne House and visited the house and gardens. We had lunch in the cafe and afterwards we went to Godshill to buy some souvenirs and to have our daily ice cream. The evening was spent at the resort. We played bingo and Mag’s actually won £15 for a line!! The show was great with singing and dancing. Again, we stayed up for the disco dancing and left the floor at the end of the night.

The next day we went on a steam railway ride. Graham, John and Carol were all allowed up on the plate of the engine and imagined being train drivers. We then went to the watermill for a spot of lunch and visited the museums and walked in the gardens. We spotted some eels in the river. Mags and Pat reverted to their child-hood days when they came across the swings. Next, we were off to the donkey sanctuary. Souvenirs were bought after we had had a good look around. It was our last night and the entertainment was great as always. Tonight’s guest star was a comedian and singer. We had fun and danced into the wee hours.

It was home time on Friday. We packed our bags and had another large breakfast before setting off to the mainland. Derek drove us through the New Forest again and we had lunch at a lovely pub before heading for home. Time for one more ice cream though!!.........

We all had a great time with much laughter. Thanks to Linda, Carol, John, Graham & Corbett for joining in and making it another success.

Zoo and Countryside with Roni & Wendy - August 2011

2011-08-27T12:44:00.006+01:00

We all arrived at our luxury lodges and dropped off our bags in time to go to a local pub for lunch. After unpacking and exploring our holiday village it was straight off for a couple of games of ten pin bowling. Well done Fiona for winning both games! We then had a very enjoyable and fun evening having a meal in another pub and getting to know a local disability group who were spending the evening there.
The next morning after a full English fry up we set off for the zoo. We had a brilliant day looking at so many different animals, watching the displays and animal training and were even able to stroke a python and speak to the keepers. Tired and happy we headed back to our lodges where we sat on the veranda watching a beautiful sunset before enjoying a delicious home cooked meal.
We started Thursday with a swim in the pool and a wallow in the jacuzzi which we had all to ourselves. After lunch in another Country Pub we explored some villages along the Crouch Estuary travelling through some lovely countryside. We then headed for town and a bit of retail therapy! That evening we went back to our favourite pub for our last evening meal together.
On our way home we visited the Tropical Wings Zoo and were able to see many different birds, reptiles, mammals and invertebrates. It was amazing to be able to walk around surrounded by beautiful butterflies.
After lunch in a Country Craft Centre we did some last minute souvenir shopping before setting off for the magnificent grounds of the Audley End Estate where we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways home.
Thank you to Sandra, Wendy, Isabelle, Fiona, Julie, Stephen and Michael for making this such a fun holiday.

Roni & Wendy

Isabelle leading the bowling

The elephants went in two by two.

And the Rhino's.......

Just need to stretch a little further!

Simples......

Sandra holding court!

Shopping therapy day!

Bling bling....

One of our superb bungalows!!

Who's a pretty boy then?......or in this case, girl???

Could someone, please tell me what the sign says???

Giant among butterflies.

Do you think if we all pooled our pocket money , we could afford this one??

Norfolk Broads with Pat and Richard

2011-08-27T10:26:00.010+01:00

Our week on the Norfolk Broads was challenged by the good old English Summer but that didn't stop us from venturing out every day and experiencing life on the water.

On our way to Norfolk we enjoyed lunch in a country park which was in a beautiful woodland setting. We then journeyed on to our holiday home, a spacious bungalow on the water’s edge and after unpacking we strolled by the water’s edge admiring the boats. We then travelled into Wroxham where we enjoyed a delicious dinner overlooking the river where we watched the swans gliding past.

The next day was spent sailing down the River Ant and River Bure before stopping at Ranworth. We then returned to Horning for a lovely pub lunch.

As always on the Broads we are treated to seeing lots of bird life which is pointed out to us by our qualified instructors.

During the week we took the opportunity to visit Great Yarmouth and apart from a brief visit to the amusements we all enjoyed a very competitive game of 10 Pin Bowling which was won by Horace !!

Our next trip out onto the Broads was the highlight of the week for a number of our group who had not experienced sailing before. Several took the chance to take the tiller and later in the day they even had the chance to take the wheel on the cruiser, all done under the watchful eye of our instructor Steve.

Unfortunately the end of the week came much too quickly and after a trip through the beautiful countryside we stopped for lunch at yet another country pub where we all said our goodbyes, exchanging phone numbers with promises to keep in touch.

There were many highlights of the trip, which included Bruce taking the tiller and driving the cruiser; Jeremy sitting on the front at Yarmouth and whilst on the boats being in charge of the tiller; Horace ten-pin bowling; Rachel singing, especially on the boat; Jeanette being looked after; Paul enjoying Yarmouth and the countryside; and Beryl enjoying everything.

This was yet another very nice week spent on the Norfolk Broads

Austria with Derek and Wendy

2011-08-25T09:46:00.010+01:00

Everyone arrived at Heathrow in good time. We had first time flyers in Dennis, Patsy & Nigel. They were fantastic. Well done to them.

We arrived at our beautiful hotel after a lovely journey through the marvellous scenery. After unpacking our cases, we settled in to our hotel with some refreshments before going out for the evening and having enormous pizzas. It had been a long day and we were happy to get to bed at a reasonable hour.

The next day, after a relaxing breakfast, we took a stroll around our lovely Austrian village. David & Nigel played chess on a giant chess board in the village square. We looked into the church and were surprised at how beautiful it was inside. It was nearing lunch time, so we bought some provisions and headed back to our hotel and sat out on one of our balconies and had lunch in the glorious sunshine. Off to Zell am See for a trip on a boat around the lake and time for a drink and an ice cream. There were mountains all around the lake. It was beautiful. We went back to the hotel to freshen up for the evening. It was off to another nice restaurant for dinner. This was where we met a couple of very nice ladies (mother & daughter) from Germany and we all enjoyed each other’s company during the evening!

Wednesday was our chance to go to Salzburg. We got there early and had a walk through the superb Mirabell Gardens and into the old town. We had lunch and then took our places for the “Sound of Music” tour. It was wonderful. The trip was well worth it and we had a great tour guide, who kept us all amused. Naturally, there was singing on the coach, which added to the atmosphere. We saw all the important places and had several stops along the way to take photographs and to have some refreshments. It was a good day! Afterwards it was back for a quick change and off for another evening for some more authentic Austrian food.

The next day was a little slower. We went for a walk around our village and went to the bakers for some nice savouries for lunch. We took it back to our hotel and sat in the shade and ordered up a shandy each! Off for a nice drive through the fantastic countryside, taking in waterfalls and lovely villages along the way before stopping for a drink at a nice hotel close to a river setting. There was mountain water on tap....the guys made much of this to quench their thirst. It was another hot day! In the evening it was out in the village, to yet another lovely restaurant (I think this was our favourite)!

Friday, we set off for a drive to Krimml waterfalls. Along the way we stopped off for a light goulash soup before continuing to Krimml. This is the biggest waterfall in Europe. We had a nice walk to the lower part of the waterfall and soothed ourselves in the spray and marvelled at the beauty all around us. We had ice creams and bought some souvenirs before heading for a scenic drive home. In the evening, before dinner, we went to the village community hall and watched some traditional singing and dancing. It was wonderful to see old traditions like yodelling and to see them in traditional costume. That night we sat watching a storm whilst having dinner. It was fun.

The next day it was decided to go to Hallein to the famous salt mines. We had some fun dressing up in our white overalls before getting onto a small open train ride down the line into the mine. We had to walk and then slide down further into the mine whilst getting a guided tour. It was fascinating and fun. Wed also had a boat ride on a salt lake. Everyone did so well to get out alive. hahaha. More souvenirs were bought before we went to a nice cafe for a late lunch. We went the even more scenic route home (if that is possible)? Everywhere you look is magnificent. It was our last evening, so we went to our favourite restaurant for another great meal and to enjoy the company before settling down for the night.

The last day was here. No one wished to go home. It was sad after such a lovely holiday in such gorgeous surroundings. We had had great weather and the hotel and staff were lovely. We couldn’t have wished for more! The journey home went without a hitch and our first time flyers are now seasoned flyers.

Thanks to Patsy, David, Richard, Dennis & Nigel for having helped make it a holiday to remember!!

Mid-Summer Delight with Colin, Derek, Faye and Pat

2011-08-17T13:30:00.007+01:00

We spent our 2 week holiday on the South Coast in very comfortable accomodation just outside Dawlish.
At our camp site we were able to enjoy the crazy golf, indoor swimming pool (with a jaccuzi) and a very good standard of entertainment every night. The camp entertainments team were of a high quality and together with their performances we were also able to see a "Soul & Motown" group and a guest night with Jimmy Cricket.
As usual every night we were always the last to leave the dance floor when the music stopped at midnight !!!
In the first week away we spent a day at the races in Newton Abbott, none us being able to pick a winner, we also went to the Zoo in Paignton, visited the Donkey Sanctuary just outside Sidford and spent time enjoying the weather on the beach.
Our holiday included many good meals. We visited a number of local pubs, had a few BBQ's, a couple of Chinese meals and even experienced a Greek restaurant on a couple of occassions. Somehow we also managed to fit in the customery fish & chips, a few picnics and the compulsary cream teas !!!
During the holiday it was Karens birthday so everyone was able to enjoy a piece of her birthday cake and we all dressed up to go out to dinner in Dawlish that night.
The highlight of our second week was the talent show held on the Tuesday in the entertainments hall. Both Mark & John asked to take part in the show and their rendition of the ever popular Grease was well received by the audience who clapped throughout their performance.
Somehow, in the second week we managed to fit in more time on the beach, a trip out onto Dartmoor, a visit to the model village, a trip on a boat, a steam train ride and a Double Decker bus ride.
Our stay in Devon was a great success and it was a shame when the holiday came to an end. Everyone had a wonderful time and all talked about coming back again next year !!

A day out at the races...

The local wildlife...

John and Mark pose with Nicky, one of the entertainment team...

A round of crazy golf...

"Cheeeeeese"

Our winners...

Megan loves the goats...

How we all felt at the end of the day at the zoo...

How do you get an ape to smile?

Karen's Birthday!!!

Everyone enjoys an ice-cream...

...and a cream-tea!

All winners at the fair...

Games in the park...

Time for dodgems...

Some of the many animals seen on this holiday...

John and Mark enter the talent show...

Spot us on the beach...

Megan enjoys a paddle...

Teresa asks to drive the train...

Every night ended up on the dance floor...

New Forest & Hampshire Show with Derek, Wendy & Pat - July 2011

2011-08-02T10:57:00.010+01:00

We arrived at our lakeside lodge and after unpacking and enjoying a fish and chip supper it was straight to the club house for the fantastic entertainment and dancing.

The next day we headed to the New Forest for a picnic, pony spotting and walking in the beautiful surroundings. Down by the stream Wendy was the only one brave enough to swing on the rope over the water....the rest of us weren't so daft!

We started Sunday with a swim in the pool. Becky swam on her back without any aids and when the wave machine came on it was time to hold on tight to the side. We then drove to the Jurassic Coast to see Lulworth Cove and we all made the steep walk down to Durdle Door. There was time for an ice cream – or even two if your name is Derek! Then it was back to our lodge for a delicious BBQ and more dancing at the club.

The next day Becky and Graham went horse riding on the beautiful Lulworth Estate, while Andrew, Derek and Wendy tried to keep up on foot. In the afternoon we trekked the holiday park nature trail and after another BBQ headed to the club to watch Becky perform in the evening “WOW Factor” competition. She did brilliantly coming equal first, winning a medal and certificate. Congratulations Becky!

We spent the next 2 days at the New Forest Show. What a wonderful time we had watching all the different displays and competitions, browsing amongst the stalls and being able to get up close to so many farm animals.

On our last full day we had a trip to Monkey World to see the many types if rescued monkeys. We then drove through the Dorset countryside, past Chesil Beach to Portland to see the Portland Bill Lighthouse. It was then off to a pub for our last evening meal, and then we watched an amazing magic show before dancing the night away.

On our way home we stopped in the pretty village of Burley where we browsed the shops before having our last pub lunch together.

Thank you to Becky, Andrew & Graham for making this such a great holiday.

JollyDays in Blackpool with Colin & Mags - July 2011

2011-07-25T10:33:00.008+01:00

For many of our group it was their first time to visit Blackpool and, although we had mixed weather, everyone said by the end of the week that they would love to return.

We stayed at a beautiful "Leisure Village", just outside Blackpool and not only did we have extremely good accommodation but we were able to experience great entertainment every night.

We ventured into Blackpool most days and spent alot of time enjoying the activities on the piers, including rides on the Dodgems and Big Wheel. When we were not enjoying a lunch on the front it was time for an ice cream. The men enjoyed a challenge at the crazy golf and everyone enjoyed looking around the shops.

The highlight of the week had to be a visit to the Blackpool Ballroom. Many of us not only enjoyed the wonderful atmosphere in the great hall but were able to experience a dance to the organist who was playing the grand "Wurlitzer".

During the week we dined out in a several country pubs, managed a BBQ between the showers and finished the week in a very nice Chinese restaurant.

Most nights we ended up in the village entertainment bar dancing into the early hours and one night we were entertained by a very good female singer, Caroline Lowe, and a male Comedian called Frankie Allen.

Later in the week we timed our customary game of 10-pin bowling to counter the wet weather.

I am sure that many of our holiday-makers will look to re-visit Blackpool again in the future !!!

Our first day out in Blackpool...

Time for a cuddle...

A walk around our accommodation...

Michael checks out the horses...

New friends on the dance floor...

It's Mags' Birthday!!!

Some rides are for watching...

Getting ready for a bumpy ride!

Michelle bags a prize...

Thumbs up for Blackpool...

Not sure about the locals...

Having a good time...

Jonathan shows off his moves on the dance floor...

Concentrating on the 4th Hole...

The Grand Tower Ballroom in Blackpool...

Doreen has the right steps in the Ballroom...

Our night out at Bowling...

Everyone likes a Chinese meal...

Latitude with Derek & Wendy - July 2011

2011-07-21T11:38:00.009+01:00

The first of many more trips to the family oriented festival was a complete success.

Forget the concerns over the weather, we managed to dodge the showers and breathe in the air at Latitude, Suffolk.

We found our comfortable bungalows overlooking Oulton Broad and settled in for the next four nights. It was a great base for our festival experience, in a picturesque area and a very pleasant club house. As usual we nipped off to a nice restaurant on our first night.

The first day of the festival was blessed with a dry sunny day. We took full advantage and set off early to enjoy the atmosphere as much as possible. Passing rainbow sheep on the way, we made our way to the Sunrise Arena and enjoyed our very first experience of live music in a beautiful woodland setting. We organised ourselves on our waterproof matting and just relaxed. That seemed to be the order of the day! Picnic lunch was soon on the cards, as it was on another day at the festival. The bands were fantastic and it was a good start to Latitude. We explored further as the day went on and familiarised ourselves some of the other areas around. It was so busy, but also comfortable. The festival grounds seemed to go on and on. There was more food stalls than you could count and of every variety. We visited the Literary Arena and chilled listening to a budding author reading from one of his early novels. The Comedy Arena was mobbed, so we didn’t get the chance to be involved with the fun unfortunately. We moved on and visited the World Arena and watched other acts and danced along with the music. It was good to have a wide choice of food stalls as we were going to have our dinner there too. Off to the Obelisk Arena to watch KT Tunstall before deciding nearly nine hours at the festival was enough for our first day. We decided to head home to our club house too rest and look forward to day two.

We awoke to a miserable day. Therefore it was decided to make our way to Great Yarmouth and have a game of 10 pin bowling. Amber was the top shot! There is hardly a holiday, it seems, where we don’t get a game or two in! Off home for a late lunch and then those that wished to, went for a swim before setting off for the evening at Latitude. The weather improved vastly, but of course it was rather muddy. Trying to park our minibus was fun....we managed to get stuck in the mud and needed some assistance to get out before finding a dry area to park. We were off to the main arena, The Obelisk Arena, to wait for Paolo Nutini. Apart from enjoying other groups, it was well worth the wait and we stayed late into the night. Off home we went to get some sleep for day three at Latitude.

Again, we headed off early to make the most of day three. The weather was very changeable, but overall sunny with intermittent showers. It didn’t dampen our enthusiasm for the festival and we happily found cover when the rain fell. True British spirit! Our first stop of the day allowed us to watch a dance troupe rehearsing for their performance later in the day. It was a very nice location, set over the lake. We wandered on from there and made straight for the official festival merchandising stall to buy tee shirts and other memorabilia. On from there we visited the Poetry Arena and thoroughly enjoyed some of the readings. Some were extremely funny. We had a nice time and it really made a change to listen to poetry. We wandered on and took in more of the music and had another picnic. During the day we said goodbye to both Amber and Caroline. After they both went, we decided to go back to Oulton and get refreshed for dinner and a game or two of pool at the club house.

Our last day and we were off home after our usual full breakfast. Also, as usual, we didn’t head straight home. There was still plenty of time to enjoy a day together. Off we went to Ely and visited the lovely city where we marvelled at the cathedral and the immense size of such a structure in what appears quite a small city. Looking for a nice place for lunch, we found ourselves down at the Maltings. We came across a very nice restaurant overlooking the waterways. Unfortunately after lunch we had to make our way home. It was sad, but what a great time we all had at Latitude.

Thanks to Colin, Amber, Caroline, Robin, Robert, Mikey & Christine for making our first venture to Latitude the great success that it was!!

The remainder of our group enjoying a trip to Ely before heading home.

Pool at our club house in Oulton.

Robin proudly presenting his new tee-shirt.

Rainbow sheep.

The rain can't dampen our spirits!

Picnic in the park.

Rehearsal time for the dance troup.

I need a push!

Happily waiting for the next group.

We even find time to go bowling!

Lake view.

Rockin' to the band.

Inside stage.

Main stage.

KT Tunstall on stage.

What's on next?

Food City!!

It's getting crowded!

Literature stage.

Stage in the woods.

Happily waiting for the next band.

Seasoned festival goers!

Wander in the woods.

Painting & Drawing in France with Derek & Pat - July 2011

2011-07-13T07:41:00.010+01:00

Another fantastic week at Sorrus! We had the luxury of a fabulous gite for the second year running. The art sessions that are run by Peter Wyatt are really worthwhile and very enjoyable. Everyone, including Pat, managed to paint their own style on canvas of a vase of flowers. As you can see, same subject, but with an individual stamp on each one! Well done to all. I’m sure that they will be hung on an appropriate wall for the appreciation of all. Excellent work!! As it was themed as an art holiday, we even managed to visit an art show in St Valery, where Bruce was more than miffed that we were only painting a bunch of flowers hahaha
As usual the rest of our holiday varied from day to day. We had a lovely picnic by the river in Beussent, where Eugennie decided to test the water for temperature, which I can assure you was not too warm! Naturally a visit to the chocolate factory was called for......if only they would shut the doors for a few hours!!
We played table tennis at home, where Bruce was a marvellous ball boy for Pat & Eugennie. As the weather was fine we managed three evenings with the BBQ. Several times we ate out and enjoyed the local restaurants, with their great hospitality.
Back at home, when the weather was less than sunny, we even played a couple of games of scrabble. I must remember not to play with Pat & Trisha, as their home rules are different to mine....hence, I lost!
On another day we visited the aquarium in Boulogne. It is fantastic. We spent quite a few happy hours there and watched the seals getting fed as well as seeing the penguins. Bruce managed to stroke a ray and we all thoroughly enjoyed the displays of marine life.
We visited the coast at Hardelot and also at Le Touquet. We bumped into our friends Laurence with his family and their new puppy....a Cockerdoodle. How lovely was that!!!
Travelling through the villages was wonderful too, as they have the most wonderful flower beds. They are rated for their blooms. As usual we managed to make plenty of stops for ice creams & drinks at cafes along the way.
On the way home we visited the market at Le Touquet before heading for our usual spot at the Brasserie on board ship.
It was a really good week and our thanks go not only to Eugennie, Trisha & Bruce for being such good company, but also to Peter for his enthusiasm and skill in showing us all how we can all create a painting to be proud of.

Derek & Pat

Cheers. It's almost time to say goodbye.

Our last stop in Le Touquet market before hitting the homeward bound journey.

Tickled pink!

Pick up a penguin......

Feeding time.

There's something fishy around here.....

Our beautiful gite.

Four very satisfied artists!!

Nearly the finished articles.

Now, do I need to add anything else to my masterpiece??

Midway stage

Mmmmmmm.....not just one, but two chocolate eclairs!

Now, why didn't we have a model to paint??

Ok, so what do we do next??

Chocolate heaven!!!!

Not a bad place to work.....plenty of chocs

Anyone for table tennis?

One of several BBQ's

It's a CockerDoodle.....do do do

Brrrrr......that was cold!

First night out

Summer Sun on the Isle of Wight with Colin & Pat - June 2011

2011-07-08T14:31:00.005+01:00

We started our holiday to the Isle of Wight as we tend to do most times that we visit the Island by first stopping for lunch in a very nice country pub in the New Forest.

Our stay at the Warners Hotel, Norton Grange is always very comfortable and the food and entertainment are excellent.

During the week we visited Osborne House (a must for the first timers)where we toured the house and the grounds. We also paid a visit to the Donkey sanctuary, the picturesque village of "Old Shanklin" and of course the customary trip to see the "Needles" where much time was spent in the sand shop, glass making factory and sweet factory.

During the week we also found time for a swim in the Hotel pool which included the Jacuzzi and steam room and also a game of snooker and darts.

One night we travelled out for a game of 10 pin bowling otherwise on all the other nights we headed for the Mariners Bar for an evening of entertainment and dancing.

Everyone had a good time and all said that they looked forward to their next holiday with JollyDays !!!

Smiles all round on board the ferry.

Hold on tight!

Beautiful "Old Shanklin"...

At the Donkey Sanctuary

'Can I have this one?'

Friends...

Two professionals...

Our winner at the bowling alley...

Resting in the grounds of Osborne House...

Marge joins us for dinner...

King of the dance floor...

Relaxing in front of the Solent...

Lymington at its best...

New Forest ponies...

Nothing like a cream tea...

French Countryside with Colin and Wendy - June 2011

2011-07-08T09:39:00.007+01:00

Our holiday to France started early in the morning so that we could enjoy as much time as possible in the French countryside.

We spent our week in lovely accommodation in a beautiful French village, from where we did not let the mixed weather stop us from getting out and about every day.

During the week we experienced a steam train ride through the Somme, several walks along the extensive sandy beeches, only interrupted by the stops for a drink or an ice cream,and a visit to the largest Aquarium in Europe.Here we were able to see many of the 35000 animals being kept there and the highlight of our day was watching the seals being fed and showing off their skills.

During the week we ate out a number of times experiencing French food and when we did eat at home we enjoyed a pretty good BBQ prepared by Colin.

One night when visiting the quaint town of Montreuil we were lucky that one of the many summer shows that go on in the area was taking place in the square and we were entertained by a very good French band.

Other trips during the week included a visit to the local chocolate factory, far too tempting for most us, and a trip to the market in Le Touquet for those necessary presents and souvenirs.

Everyone had a thoroughly good time and as always it was a shame when the time came to return home.

Our first dinner in a French restaurant...

A walk along prom in Boulogne...

Who's helping who?

I like chocolate...

Yes please!

Time for an Ice Cream...

Everyone enjoys a BBQ...

Where's my guitar?

Barbara treats us to a sing-song...

Is it the cheese or the Frenchman we like?

Our steam train refuels...

All aboard!

Sarah enjoys the mussels...

A rest on the Somme...

A walk in the square of 'Old Boulogne'...

Fiona enjoys her desert in Langans...