Day five in Devon. A change of scenery.

We were sad to leave Glebe House today.  We have had a great time there and the kids loved Coco and the books as well as exploring the grounds and so much more.  After another fabulous breakfast there, we finished packing and then it was a trip further into Devon.

We did stop in Sidmouth for my daughter to have a braid put in her hair, something that she was wanted for a while.  We had the chance yesterday at the folk festival but the wait was too long before.

Anyway, we are now in our new locale.  It was an interesting drive at the end, as promised before we left Glebe House. What I had not expected was to drive out of a town into single track country roads.  But we arrived in good time and since being here have enjoyed the swimming pool, played Table Football, tried a game of pool and played about on the tennis court.

Not sure how we can beat that tomorrow!

Day four in Devon, kite flying

Another interesting day today.  We went to Sidmouth for the folk festival.  The day started with spectacular sunshine which sadly was replaced by clouds. But this morning my wife and daughter started off by buying one of the other guests a birthday present (she and her daughter had bought the two children some bookmarks) and a card.  After a lovely breakfast, we drove there rather than trying out the local team and Jurassic centre (we may try this tomorrow).

Sidmouth is a lovely town with a pretty wall along the beach which we walked along after parking near the sea front.  Walking we saw some people flying kites and the kids were tempted to buy some. I did promise to help fund this, but not if they bought things at the first stall they came to.  Along the walk, they saw hair braiding, finger spinners and many other things that fascinated them.  They climbed on some rocks which had been arranged as groynes and my son was ecstatic as not only was he able to climb, but his sister could not keep up with him (she was not wearing the right shoes for this task, having left them in the car).  We had a poetry recital and a delightful lunch before buying kites (the first one that my son bought had to be exchanged as it had not enough struts) but before lunch, we tried the kites.  My son bought the cheapest one there and my daughter bought a more expensive one using some of her own money in addition to what I had paid them both.  On the beach, I failed to get the kites up, but a kind man came over to help us and got my sons kite up.  However, that of my daughter was a lot more challenging.  It's tail was too heavy for the wind, and despite numerous attempts, and a fall from a height for me, we were not able to get it airborne properly.

But then, after lunch, it was a trip home, and after a rest, a journey to Axminster to eat at the River Cottage Canteen.  Sadly this meal was not up to the standards of lunch nor our expectations. But at least we have been there to say we did not enjoy it as much as we had hoped, rather than always wondering what it would have been like.

Day Three in Devon & a trip to Dorset

After waking this sunny morning, I took the kids out for a walk. We had discussed this the previous night and my daughter was keen to explore. My son was willing to walk a bit so we agreed to take him to have a look at the pool, and then to bring him back with a hair clip for his mother. However, once downstairs we were reminded that a naked swim takes place in the morning and therefore had to have a quick look. But we were given a recommendation, this being to take some windfall apples to the horse who lives down the hill. None of us had the courage to feed the horse with our hands but he ate the apples that we tossed over the fence to him.  After this, we walked back up the hill and my son was left with my wife while my daughter and I continued to explore, which included the pet cemetery and a walk past the solar panels to some fields above Glebe House where we saw some rabbits and sheep.

After breakfast, it was a trip down the coast where we found it a bit windy.  My son and wife were not keen on a walk along the Jurassic beach, so that was left to my daughter and me, though she decided to leave her walking shoes behind.  We had not brought a hammer with us, so our attempts at finding fossils meant breaking stones by throwing one down upon others. We found no fossils, but did make a Stone Age blade which my daughter has kept, and promised not use on her brother.

On the way back, it was a stop at a bakery where the food was excellent.  The chef was a bit abrupt at first, but warmed up later.  The only downside was the toilets which badly let the place down.  Saying that, we would love to return, but probably will not get the time to do so, if we are to see the Jurassic centre tomorrow among other things.

Once back at Glebe House, the kids went swimming in the pool. And when they say that the pool is heated, it is.  We have been to other places with heated pools, only to find that they had a different definition of heated to what we had.  This is the kind of heated that we had in mind, and this meant that we had no qualms with the children staying in the pool for a while.  Though, once they were out, it was a quick trip indoors to be dried off.  The kids rested and read books (and watched a Pokemon DVD) while my wife had a much deserved massage.  And then it was out for food.

When my wife had talked about a trip to Beer for my daughter and her to get a crab sandwich and my son eating something else, I did not think that she met eating in a restaurant. So I was not too fussed about rushing, which meant that everywhere was booked.  We drove to Seaton and my wife started to get stressed about feeding the children. We went to one place to find it was booked, and she decided to go into the Co-op and get some food to eat in our room.  Fortunately she listened to the option of driving through Seaton to find a restaurant and to ring them while in the car.  And so we had a meal at Tandoori Tonight. And the food was quite nice.  No where close to the standards of lunch, but much better than dinner the night before.

Anyway, the kids have finally gone to bed, as must I.

Day two in Devon which involved marbles and no loss of them

Rain, rain and more rain greeted us today.

We had expected some rain today but when we looked at the forecast yesterday, we had thought that this would just involve a few showers allowing us to enjoy the sun shine later.  A bit like yesterday really where it had rained earlier only to be followed by spectacular sunshine and warmth.

But that did not happen. It rained and rained and rained.  So while we would have loved to visit somewhere local, instead we drove for an hour to see some glass blowing. When we arrived in the dismal car park, we found no spaces. It appeared that almost everyone in Devon had decided to come here.  

Starting on the positives, it did have a bit of educational information for the children to learn about glass and they got to was some glass blowing. In addition to that, it has a gift shop geared to kids, and some great machines using marbles.  And it is free. So considering that, it was value for money, but it was not what we were looking for to spend time learning about glass and spending time indoors, especially after an hours drive.  But the kids loved the things that they got, a memory game and a marble each (and big ones at that).  After this, it was a trip to Dartington crystal, which was further away. Sadly, when we arrived, we found out that the trips were all booked, so the children spent some time painting glass instead.  While my wife went shopping afterwards, while we waited for the paint to dry, I bribed the kids into learning things by paying them to find out bits of information. It worked, and they seemed to not resent having to wait.  On the long drive back, bribery was used again, this time in feeding them snacks.

We went to eat later, and sadly this did not come close to matching the superb meal that we had last night at Glebe House.  But we are back now, the kids watching some Pokemon before they get sent to bed.

Day one in Devon

Well, today we have arrived at Glebe House in Devon. To describe the place as clam and tranquil would be an understatement. 

The drive down was a challenge for the two children and we had to ban them from talking to each other at times. Knowing what I used to do to my brother on car journeys, I allowed them to make faces at each other as I would have done so.  (Apparently one took advantage of this.). My wife insisted on driving the first part, kicking me out of the drivers seat, which meant that she got to drive on the 'Road To Hell' but to be fair, things were not that bad with only a few traffic jams. Though once we started to argue, we swapped. This, though was after we drove past Stonehenge which the kids were amazed by. I would have loved to have stopped, but it was raining and there was a huge queue to see it.

When we arrived at Glebe House, we all loved it. The view is amazing and the kids ran to explore the area and also investigated the cows.  And when they thought that we were not looking, they explored the rest of the house as well.  Coco, the dog here, seems to like them as much as they like her.

We did have a drive around the area to explore but failed to bring some carrots back for a horse we met.  Anyway, time for me to have a walk now.

Why Labour will make the NHS worse

In PMQ's this week, the Prime Minister quoted a study by the Commonwealth Institute which has rated the NHS as being the best in the world.  And on many things it is.  But this is actually due to the effects of underfunding on the NHS that has occurred under the Conservatives.

Due to the lack of decent funding in a drive to make the NHS more efficient (which has been occurring since the election in 2010) the NHS has moved up the rankings due to the efficiency savings that have occurred. But this study also rates the NHS as being second from bottom (of the compared healthcare systems) when it comes to health care outcomes.

The thing is that when Labour take power, they will correct the issues with funding in the NHS.  Increasing staff numbers to serve the needs of the nation, as well as increasing staff pay to correct the issues with staff retention.  And that means that costs will go up.  Health outcomes will improve, but this will take time. Which means that based on the measures the Commonwealth Fund use, it will get worse.

But Labour will save the NHS from the mess the Conservatives have left it in.  It will take a lot of time and money though.

Happy birthday your majesty

Today was fun, though the children now are knackered and in bed.  While I went to work in the morning, my son went to play cricket and when told to stop chucking, was good at bowling.  My daughter was not too keen on playing so sat it out.

But on the way back from work, I got to see some of the RAF flypast, the kids having a great view of the Red Arrows, and then they watched it on television as the planes flew over London.  I missed taping the red arrows as I was cycling when I heard them come over after recording the video above.

Later, we went out to the Scouts group that my son is attached to (he is in Cubs) where my daughter and I accompanied him on a powerboat on the Blackwater.  The kids loved the thrill and speed of the ride more than the turns that they took being in charge of the boat!  It was the other way around for me.

Anyway, time for bed again.