JollyDays Supported Holidays - Blog

  Turkey & Tinsel (Gunton Hall) The start of our holiday began with a delightful surprise as Father Christmas visited at breakfast, posing for photos and spreading cheer.  The festive fun continued with a quiz in the Lakeside Pavilion, line dancing, and Christmas Clangers singalongs, followed by a relaxing Christmas card-making session under the glow of a woodland-themed tree.  The evening was a feast for the senses: a lavish Christmas dinner with turkey, pudding, and mince pies, entertainment from George Hogg, Blue Ventura, and comedian Lloyd Davies, and a magical finale from soprano Daniella Black that left everyone enthralled. Wednesday’s adventure took us along the coast to Southwold, a picture-perfect seaside town with colourful beach huts, a lighthouse, and a pier extending 623 feet into the North Sea. Boutique shops, the bustling harbour, and a warming hot chocolate at the Pier Café completed a delightful excursion.  Back at Gunton Hall, another lively eve...

  Bruges - Christmas Market  Before long  we were in Bruges, checking into a stunning former 1600s monastery-turned-hotel in the heart of the city. That evening, the streets were alive with Christmas lights, bustling market stalls, and festive costumes, and we enjoyed our first Belgian dinner overlooking the square, setting the tone for a magical holiday. Saturday brought bright blue skies and a very special birthday celebration for Alex. We explored the city’s cobbled streets, chocolate shops, and historic landmarks, before enjoying a canal boat ride along Bruges’ picturesque waterways. Twinkling fairy lights, 17th-century wooden buildings, and passing horse-drawn carriages made it feel like stepping into a storybook. Afternoon highlights included Choco-Story, Bruges’ interactive chocolate museum, where we learned about cacao, sampled exquisite chocolates. As evening fell, the Winter Glow Christmas market in Market Square dazzled us with lights, a towering Christmas tree...

 Bowling & Pool Competition - Essex Our JollyDays holiday began with excitement, chatting and getting to know each other ahead of the weekend’s competitions. The first challenge took us to Legends Pool Club, where familiar faces were warmly welcomed back. The pool tournament kicked off with tense, closely fought matches, plenty of friendly banter, and some standout moments including Wesley sinking the black under pressure, Julie showing incredible skill, and Morgon reminding everyone that “it’s the participating that counts!” The evening continued with our first bowling session, where strikes, spares, and near-misses had everyone cheering and laughing, and scores were recorded to set the stage for tomorrow’s action. Wednesday was a special day as it was John’s birthday.  We returned to Namco Funscape for the second leg of the bowling tournament, where the competition heated up and every strike was celebrated with cheers. Pool semi-finals followed in the evening, with nail...